Mattyblue

BB is 20 in a few weeks. James at Swansea just turned 21. Same age as Tammy Abraham . Leeds have them sprinkled through the team. Clubs like us don’t buy ‘development players’ for big money. Too much of a risk due to the fact many young lads just don’t kick on, which is fine for Man City, a disaster for us. Name me another player being bought for big money to ‘develop’ in the U23s anywhere else in this league?

Hell of a lot of players at 19/20 are making a name for themselves in this league and are regular starters. Very few clubs at this level, if any, are spending big money on ‘development projects’ that aren’t getting a sniff of pitch time for the first team, that’s normally the operation of clubs like Man City. Beyond bizarre signing whichever way you dress it up.

‘Rothwell’s like a little boy out there’ Amazing comment that. Can’t say I’ve been seeing much ‘big boy’ defending from the likes of Williams and Mulgrew

Neil Yardley on comms summed up the Rovers set up perfectly for me. When Rothwell got taken out by an horrendous tackle, our players didn’t bat an eyelid and just ambled back into position. Yardley: ’Most sides would’ve been backing up their team mate, getting in his face. Far too soft this lot’. Follows on from the naive nonsense kicking the ball out last week. This is pro football and we are in an relentless league. Need to get real.

it’s getting to the stage where Raya is making a goal costing ricket every other game.

Yes it does take time to bed in youngsters. That's why it is absolutely vital that the transfer policy this summer must focus on bringing in some experienced pros, otherwise we will be perennially in development limbo waiting for 'potential' to mature (or not, as some young lads just don't), whilst the likes of Dack, Mulgrew, Graham either leave or end up over the hill, weakening the 11 and you are constantly spinning your wheels.

Villa? Aye, they were chanting for his head from memory.

I’m fine with finishing mid table, considering the haphazard recruitment we couldn’t have achieved much more. Biggest summer in a long time coming up. Could make or break the next few years.

We’ve somehow got though to mid March with one experienced striker. The (surprising) robustness of Graham has saved Mowbray’s bacon, as recruitment at the top end of the pitch has been as bizarre as centre half.

Once he’s fit (how long is it taking, by the way, can we send him altitude training up Kilimanjaro or something?) get him in. Give the fans, especially at Ewood, a bit of excitement for once.

I don’t wear colours myself, but that was the only place in a city centre I’ve been for a long time where they made a lad who was with us wear his top inside out!

Not just shirts, anything with a badge on...

Wait until there is this ‘super’ east Lancs council, be every club for themselves. Well apart from nicey nice Rovers not wanting to ‘step on any toes’.

If comes down to Waggott, unlike Williams he just doesn’t seem to get the demographics of the area. Though a look on his season ticket database should make it pretty clear where more and more of our fans reside, and it isn’t the town of Blackburn.

Oh I am, but still very small numbers in comparison to the make up of the town.

Are we neglecting them? I think the club does try to engage and must as the demographics of the town are only going one way. The club certainly doesn’t do enough to engage with the support outside the borough, but that’s another issue. However, an issue is that football (Man Utd, Liverpool etc) is massive within the Blackburn Asian population, however most Asian lads I’ve talked to look at you if you have two heads if you ask them if they are a Rovers fan. As always, it’s about kids, get them involved young, 18,000 empty seats so fill them with as many schools as possible. Lets hope Stoke sees the start of that...

Play offs are back on! (We just need to win 9 on the bounce) https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17500415.boss-feels-bradley-dack-is-an-easy-target-for-criticism/ Not sure what’s in those biscuits of his.

I also like to peruse other club forums and I reckon a fair few are much more kneejerk than this place.

I’m talking worst case if Preston somehow scab it. I suppose Hudds is only an hour of so away, but I was more thinking Lancs.

That’s exactly what 1875 should be used for. Now the bulk of those that initially joined - regular away attendees who wanted to guarantee tickets for the likes of Fleetwood, have drifted away, it needs to be properly re-launched and advertised as a match day ticket saving scheme.

London games are always pretty well attended too due to our decenf numbers of fans in the south east. Places slightly on a limb with poor transport links like Swansea, Boro seem to be the most poorly attended. Well, plus the likes of Leeds and Sheff Wed with their ridiculous pricing. Though Sheff Wed are very canny on how they rip off away fans. £23 for members, £33 for non members.

Way things are going we could have zero local games next season...

Doncaster was a great moment for the young ‘uns. For cynical bastards like us, it was largely a relief to get out of that god forsaken league at the first attempt. But as an example, a 16 year old that we know, goes every game home and away, only really remembers the Venky era Rovers, he said it was one of the best days of his life.

At two separate groups no less. End of the day Mowbray’s received zero stick in the ground. 20+ years ago the grumblings he’s had on the Internet would have been elsewhere like the boozer or perhaps an angry letter to the LT letters page. Was ever thus, but it has allowed Smith to resurrect his usual nonsense.

‘Cook huddled into his latte like a subway busker on a break.’ Move over Oscar Wilde