Harvey Elliott was sat in the JW Upper in the second half today. Was there with a group who were cheering on Tyler Morton.

Not defending Vale, I think he's offered very little but I'm sure I read on here the role he's been asked to play hasn't played to his strengths. With Sorba in the team - a proper winger - could that suit him more? I don't think he'll start, Hedges in for BBD and a switch to 4 at the back with Carter (wrongly) out for Britain is my guess.

The LT article: Uncomfortable questions for Blackburn Rovers after transfer failings Deadline day has become deadline week, a sorry saga that has brought unwanted attention, and many uncomfortable, unanswered questions. It has reopened old wounds, and for some, raised concerns about the future direction of the club. On a reputational level, you have to consider the knock-on effect this will have. The club opened themselves up to criticism from all angles. It is hard to think of an issue in recent times that has united Rovers fans with a sense of anger, frustration and hostility in the hours following 11pm on deadline day. This has grown much bigger than (potentially) failing to add to the squad on deadline day, with accusations over the competency of the very people tasked with bringing about positive change. It must be recognised as such. Following Blackburn Rovers is a full-time commitment, a lifetime of emotional investment. To include a buzzword of recent years, most definitely a journey. This week will have tested even the most patient of Rovers fan. A club statement published in the wake of Thursday’s ruling that deals for Lewis O’Brien and Ethan Brierley were rejected was, by its very nature, vague and lacking in detail. The legalese meant there was little by way of acceptance of their role in what unfolded. On Friday came Jon Dahl Tomasson’s pre-match press conference, and only one topic in town, a story that had garnered attention beyond the usual Rovers media bubble. Tomasson continues to stress, as he pointedly did after the Birmingham City replay, his focus is on matters on the training pitch, not the negotiation table. But so often it is left up to the manager in such situations to face the questions meant for those above them. Due to broadcast agreements, they have little choice but to be under the spotlight. There has been more than an element of sympathy for the head coach, some supporters even concerned he may consider his future as a result of this last week. Tomasson appeared weary, frustrated and exhausted by the events that had unfolded. He wasn’t alone. Yet willing to front up beforehand was director of football Gregg Broughton, first with the club’s inhouse channels and then the local media. You could argue Broughton wasn’t left with much choice, yet the club have tried to ride out many a storm before by leaving the manager to face the heat. This was a situation felt throughout the club, the fans’ response having broken through the walls of Rovers’ inner sanctum. If Rovers’ reputation had been damaged by the events of Tuesday night, their response on Friday won some of that back. The line of questioning from Neil Yardley was strong and concise, deserving of praise for someone placed in his difficult position. Rovers’ social media channels, whose mentions had gone from ‘announce O’Brien’ to ‘shambles’ in the space of a matter of hours, now fielded responses of ‘fair play’. While confidentiality issues given the ongoing appeal meant specifics couldn’t be aired at the time, Broughton fronted up and accepted full responsibility. He felt that a non-negotiable given player transfers fall under his remit as director of football. It had undoubtedly been, and will continue to be, the toughest period of his tenure to date, and Broughton looked as he sounded; devasted. He found himself in the eye of the storm. Though simply facing the music and accepting responsibility shouldn’t be the green light for everyone to move on and be done with it, even though that was a positive first step. If there were things systematically wrong with how the deals were processed on deadline day, they must be addressed. Rovers followed the methods they have for the last 10 years, but equally, they wouldn’t recruit players in the same way as a decade ago, so the behind-the-scenes operation should be as ready and willing to change. There will be sympathy from some when the mitigating factors are aired, though Rovers aren’t looking for any. While the club feel they have strong mitigation in their case, they are accepting of their responsibility in the deals falling through. There is simply no getting away from the fact paperwork was submitted late. The EFL has to serve the best interests of its 72 members, and with no appeal having been successful to date, it feels hard to see Tuesday’s hearing going in Rovers’ favour. There is a train of thought that Rovers should simply draw a line under what has gone on in a bid to put it behind them. Yet Broughton feels they have a good case and owe it to the players concerned to go through with it, irrespective of the expected result. Quite how Rovers find themselves in such a position is staggering. Tomasson appeared frustrated when conducting his post-match press duties after the FA Cup replay which concluded 15 minutes before the deadline was up. That was likely due to the realisation that Rovers hadn’t brought in a striker, not knowing the drama that was about to unfold. There was no sign of panic as 11pm came and went, no reason to suggest anything but waiting on timings to be agreed on the announcements. Everything was done. Or so it was thought. Concern grew as time ticked on and by Wednesday morning Rovers joined the backlog of clubs locked in talks with the EFL over the deals. Like waiting for a jury to pass their verdict on a defendant, is the longer time passes a positive or negative? By Wednesday night, Rovers had been given the opportunity to present their case to the EFL the following morning, a last chance to resurrect the deals, or so we thought. On Thursday afternoon it was announced the club were launching an appeal after being knocked back in their application to register both players. And so it would drag on, the appeal not being heard until Tuesday, February 7, the make-up of which is unclear at this stage. The EFL have a test case from 2020 when they rejected Nottingham Forest’s appeal to register Kamil Grosicki, then at West Bromwich Albion. An arbitrator turned down Forest’s appeal, their case that one document being 20 seconds late shouldn’t be a barrier to the deal going through. Their case thrown out, the EFL’s standpoint clear. The ramifications of this are wide-ranging, not least should Rovers’ appeal be successful and the proverbial can of worms that would open for the league. The players too have a lot riding on this. Lewis O’Brien, one of the Championship’s stand-out players last season, valued at around £10m by his club and with 13 Premier League appearances to his name, faces six months on the sidelines having been omitted from their 25-man squad. Forest now have a player on their hands who they can’t use, whose wages they will have to pay, whose re-sale value will be affected. It was no surprise to see Forest boss Steve Cooper respond with anger, even if you could argue loaning out a player after only six months selling him the Premier League dream, to make room for a 33-year-old free agent on a deal until the end of the season, doesn’t entirely strike you as having the players’ best interests at heart. Then there is Ethan Brierley, whose only comparison to O’Brien is they play in a similar position. His signing would represent a climb up two divisions, the 19-year-old progressing his career with a move to the Championship after just 31 appearances at senior level. For Rochdale too, fighting against relegation out of the EFL, how could the potential financial impact affect them? Those weren’t issues lost on Broughton as he stressed Rovers would endeavour to reach a conclusion whereby the midfielder joins the club in the summer and the League Two side recompensed. And then there is Rovers. They looked to have pulled off a deadline coup in O’Brien, midfield an area of the pitch many supporters wanted to see strengthened, and here they had the opportunity to bring in a player who would get in almost every team in the league. In football terms, this signing was an open goal. Yet Rovers put it wide. There would have been questions around the change of heart from last summer when Rovers opted against a similar signing in preference of another young player in Tyler Morton, but equally, an acknowledgment this was an excellent bit of business. Whether it would have helped gloss over the fact that Rovers hadn’t added a recognised striker to their ranks, despite seeing George Hirst return to his parent club on January 8, is another debate. The speed of Rovers’ dealings in transfer windows has been criticised for some time. The latest saga does nothing to ease concerns around the chain of command in getting deals over the line. When other clubs are interested, Rovers rarely win the race. Money makes the world go round, and also helps the transfer cogs get moving. Rovers were unfortunately stalled for much of the month as deals slipped through their fingers. It was a hard luck story supporters didn’t want to hear, but a reflection of where Rovers find themselves in the food chain. They are reliant upon the decisions of others, forced to dance to other clubs’ tunes. Irrespective of the outcome of Tuesday’s appeal, Rovers failed to replace Hirst with a like-for-like replacement, and with Dilan Markanday leaving the club, albeit for understandable reasons, it has left Tomasson an option light at the top end of the pitch. Rovers’ new-look recruitment team has been in the firing line of some supporters, but it should be made clear their job is to identify players, not to close their deals, so often where things break down. The approach may appear scatter-gun based upon players, and their positions, that have made it into the public domain, but countless others whose names were inked on whiteboards at Brockhall will remain just that. If there could be sympathy around Rovers’ summer window given the late arrival of Broughton and Tomasson, the same patience hasn’t been afforded to January. The one deal they did get done was a loan deal for Sorba Thomas, a player known well to head of recruitment Gus Williams from his time at the Welsh Football Association. Broughton strongly refuted the reported finances involved in the prospective O’Brien deal, this while the club’s continued message is one of sustainability and prudent spending. Yet at the same time, they are set to lose an asset in Ben Brereton on a free transfer, a year after the departures of a trio of players (Ryan Nyambe, Darragh Lenihan and Joe Rothwell) with over 500 combined appearances. It is commendable that Rovers stick to their valuations of players and won’t be pushed around in the market. However, there has to be a level of acceptance that selling player doesn’t have to be the negative it is so often seen as. How can they be seen to progress if valuable assets walk away for free? The January window was expected to be a quiet one, and the short-term solutions that Rovers eventually tried to do aren’t part of the long-term vision fans were promised, something Broughton conceded. Much faith was placed in George Hirst, described as the club’s top striker target in the summer, only to leave after just three Championship starts and a little over four months. His loan agreement, and permanent option, ripped up. He remains the only striker signed in the last five transfer windows since the signing of Sam Gallagher. For the second time in three summers Rovers face the challenge of replacing their star forward, this time without any money to reinvest. The outcome of the January window means pressure has been heightened on the summer. The Academy are holding up their half of the bargain, and the recruitment will have to follow if Rovers aren’t to stagnate. Rovers have been outside of the play-off spots for only six of the 28 matches played this season. Yet their lofty position has felt an uncomfortable one, and the playing down of expectation has come across as defeatist to some supporters. Rovers have seemingly been in transition for some time now. It leads to the thought of when will Rovers next be in a position, and the expectation be, to challenge? Promotion, whether ready or not, would be a game-changer. You must always be ready and willing to take advantage. Rovers’ plan is to build for the long-term, but they can’t take their eye off the short-term and allow opportunities to pass them by. There is some irony that 2020/21 felt the most ready Rovers have been to challenge, promotion-winning experience added to a squad that had an X-Factor in attack, only to record their lowest points tally since promotion from League One. In the two seasons since, with arguably weaker squads, they have found themselves in a position to challenge. They have fallen down once, and in light of the January window, the fear is lightning will strike twice. The club were accused of incompetency in the wake of transfer deadline day, but it is complacency that will be of greater concern moving forward. Fans want hope, ambition, to be given belief, to feel involved and invested and not taken for granted and kept in the dark. Communication is a great cure, which is why Broughton speaking with meaning resonated with a fanbase who have longed for that. It is the least they are owed.

If we've cocked this up as seems are we going to be liable for a massive wage for a player we can't play? 😕

Didn't understand why we didn't go 5 at the back. We did it against Huddersfield after just over an hour (which I think was the wrong decision) but also a few other times previous to that and nullified the opposition. When Birmingham brought Scott Hogan on it became much more physical and an extra body in there would have helped see the game out. Positives - JRC, Dack and Dolan.

The issue was, the pitches we would use were frozen. Not sure how many local pitches have undersoil heating which would have solved that? Though I'd have thought the indoor ones would be used when conditions don't allow...

Really enjoyed the first half - as a game of football probably most enjoyable since WBA/Watford? Shame about the second half. A point on Adam Wharton - I don't think he was asked to warm up at all in the second half. Strange given it's usually 2 lots of 3. Might be mistaken but quite sure he wasn't out.

Shouldn't there come a point where Broughton needs to intervene and say this shit doesn't work with these players? Where does the buck stop - JDT or him? Did anyone see what was happening in the Jack Walker - looked to be kicking off when we left after the fourth goal.

Did we at least trash the bogs? (joke) I called 3-0 earlier in the week, Bumley are miles ahead of us but the lack of fight and passion leave a bad taste. Watching JDT's interview, they'll just shrug it off and be on their holibobs tomorrow.

There's an option to watch live in the match centre on the Rovers site but I was under the impression it wasn't available for this cup. The last tie at Bradford did have audio commentary though.

I'd go with JoeH's team but expecting Szmodics will come in for Travis and it will be a return of wide(r) strikers.

Gone Stale Tomasson 👍

Need to stick with 3 at the back. Zero chance of this team but I'd fancy their chances. Kaminski Carter Hyam S Warton Hedges Pickering Morton A Warton Gallagher Dack Breton

An article in Turkey from this morning had him signing for Alanyaspor... 😕 https://www-fanatik-com-tr.translate.goog/alanyaspor-caulker-ve-borja-transferini-bitirdi-2297782?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Given Matt Clarke had won three player of the year awards in succession, was obviously out of favour at Brighton and a good age at 25 years old I can't help thinking we've messed up an opportunity to bring in someone who undoubtedly would have improved the side. Especially at that fee. Should've been in for him weeks ago.

To compare: August 2021 https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19527935.blackburn-rovers-boss-tony-mowbray-west-bromwich-albion-clash/ “It’s a very difficult team to play against, as Sheffield United - another team who came down from the Premier League - found in midweek. We’re looking forward to the challenge of it, but we understand it’s a big challenge.” February 2022 https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/tony-mowbray-sends-warning-to-his-blackburn-team-ahead-of-west-brom-clash/ “I’ve felt that in the Forest game recently, the two strikers, you could feel their potency. I thought we were on top in the game, and yet every time the ball got transitioned to their strikers you could feel their threat. I think West Brom have players like that.”

Sorry to disappoint but Alan Nixon's "exclusive" went out on the 23rd July - https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19297029/blackburn-loan-liverpool-tyler-morton-exclusive/ His signing was being talked about on here 2 days earlier. I'm pretty sure there was a tweet in the morning of the 21st/22nd with a story to say it was happening too by another journalist - possibly The Mail?

I thought Markanday looked well off the pace and missed a couple of sitters. Of the players that started I'd say Dolan, Dack, Morton, Edun looked like they'd step into the current XI without any issues. Question marks over the rest for me but a lot of that is because of age/experience. Think JRC could do with loaning out - I don't think he's anywhere near first team standard but that would leave no cover.

He'll get on next week at Swansea (I can't see us holding on to a lead with 20 min to go and will be chasing the game) and will start a few days later against Hartlepool where he'll get MOM. Put him in that front 4 and his class will come through, there's 9 other players that can run around.

For all those jumping on posters saying GB shouldn't be / doesn't need to be doing interviews, I'd suggest the manager shouldn't be coming out with quotes such as "I think that’s a question for Gregg." when asked what's happening on transfers.

Not sure how true but a North End supporting mate of mine told me yesterday that he still lives locally and his wife hasn't been well over the last year (might explain head not being in it at Sheffield). A move to Rovers would probably suit him and whilst we might not pay as much as the other teams linked, not having to uproot may give us an edge.

Pretty sure Raya went on loan to Southport early in his career who couldn't have been too many levels if any above Bamber Bridge at the time. Seemed to go OK for him. I've no idea about the lad but I expect 5 months out of his comfort zone there would do more for his development than sharing U18 duties for the first half of the season.

There are 3 Bundesliga clubs looking for a new manager - Borussia Mönchengladbach, Augsburg and Schalke. If we're waiting for Farke, I can see him waiting for those openings to close first by which time it will be time to return to pre-season training... 😕

Clutching at straws and looking for positives... Had a look at Ferguson's record: 3-1 v Chelsea (H) 1-1 v Man Utd (A) 2-2 v Leicester (H) - Lost on Pens in league cup 0 0 v Arsenal (A) 0-1 v Aston Villa (H) The first set of results aren't bad and is it worth considering he'll have taken over sides short of confidence on the back of crap runs? 100% there are better options out there but if it happens it's nowhere near the level of Owen Coyle disappointment.

Only if they're selling them at £2,800! There's an extra 0 in there - £476,000. But still...