Amazes me that subset of Rovers fans that always try and downplay our heritage and standing in English football, like Leeds fans in reverse...

Wake up indeed!

Think it’s still a feature in Private Eye..

Bit like when Brighton fans travelled to Mellor of all places to confront their owner back in the day...

Bit of naivety from Pakistan. Young bowlers and an inexperienced captain. Where was the short stuff at Woakes? Especially as they weren’t finding any reverse swing. Wasim was going mad in the comms box. P.s. How nostalgic for the 90s does it make you when you hear Wasim and Athers commentating? Rovers champions of England and Lanky as cup kings!

Oh sorry I get you, it’s early. Well maybe three centre halves is the panacea, we know TM has been dying to try it since the day he arrived...

Very simple. You can bring in a Henderson every year (we won’t, by the way, just more Waltons), it won’t get us in the top 6 with our managers approach to the defence and the constant changing personnel (and Bennett).

There are no coincidences in Venky World!

Kinda the point!

But, but... Sheffield United! Conveniently forgetting their fantastically well drilled and athletic back 4.

Crap... then decent... then pandemic... then really crap.

Apart from the incoming Gareth Ainsworth, TM is the longest serving manager in the Championship. Not sure if it says more about this madcap League than our manager’s proficiency, but he can have no complaints on having the time (and the freedom) to mould together a side and way of playing. So with what looks like a wide open league this time, surely we need to now see a sustained assault on the top 6? *And of course, such freedom and stability means there should be no shortage of interested parties when there’s next a vacancy...

Exactly, so a release clause is a no brainer for both sides. I could certainly see him signing a new deal, the club has generally been better at this in recent years - though Nyambe is a worry, but expecting one to be signed without a clause? No chance for a player on a quick upward trajectory like AA.

But that isn’t what Chaddy was suggesting, your example shows a bit of compromise between both parties. Chaddy wants our negotiation tactic to simply be... ‘sign that, 4 years, no release clause’ Knowing that he is now on the radar of PL clubs, AA holds all the cards, so why would AA and his agent be willing to do that?

The naivety hurts my head. He’d be off like a shot if a PL club comes in. ‘Developing with Mowbray’ in second tier mid table on a second tier wage? Or a chance to play in the top flight, further develop by playing with and against better players and double/treble the wages?

Because it’s not it his interests to. Basic negotiation tactics from AA and his agent to insist on one. He knows he is becoming hot property, the advantage is with him, he can run his existing contract down and get a free transfer and mega wages, ‘so you want us to sign a long term deal to protect your asset? Fine, but there’s a release clause being put in there’ Don’t become an agent, Chaddy!

Why would he sign that?

There will always be the more ambitious L1 owner that will sniff out an opportunity, through promotion bonuses etc. You can’t imagine much of a fair playing field in a year or two if things become a little more ‘normal’. It would be a farce if attempted in the Championship.

Clubs will get round it, especially bigger ones; bonuses, paying family members as ‘consultants’, you name it!

Yeah from memory he was on most games in the Souness era

‘The fans didn’t get behind the club’.

If only we could all be so sanguine about the wrecking ball put to this fantastic football club...

Ended up working at Calderstones hospital for many years as a mental health nurse with my mum, also as Rev says was a regular in the boozers around Pleckgate and Brownhill, as people have said, different times! RIP Stuart.

Steve Kean

I’d say you were right - up to L1 relegation. I’m talking anecdotally, and also look on social media (not here), apart from the standard ‘get him sacked’ after a defeat, LT comments, Twitter and Facebook groups are always at pains to say how we have no right to be challenging, can’t compete, small club, TM is a miracle worker etc. I hear it repeatedly at Ewood and at away games too, but as I say, I can only speak as I find it, it’s not scientific. And it’s certainly not everyone, I am still fiercely ambitious for Blackburn Rovers! Though I am surprised you haven’t picked up on a general lowering of expectations and standards post 2017.