garnersfags

I'm really sorry as I'm sure this will have been mentioned loadsa times, but performances aside, many of us would have taken a point against Burnley, Preston and Norwich. I couldn't find a single Rovers fan with a good word to say about JDT after the PNE fiasco. Strange days, indeed. Don't get me wrong, I thought his decision to change the forward line that had won us six home games in a row, is up there with the worst footballing decisions I have seen. However, dropping Trav was a similarly unexpected decision and obviously it really paid off. Norwich were poor, even when we didn't press as well, but we were very composed and consistent, and deserved the comfortable win. I think this will be the nature of our season because a winning run isn't an objective under JDT, so expect more baffling experimentation. 11 changes on Wednesday, anyone.....? Maybe this is why we're not selling many tickets, I'm taking 5 more family members than usual, so hope there is a late surge....

Ok. Now we are getting somewhere. I wanted to find the one other person who agreed with JDT that playing Dack instead of Gally would be likely to ensure that 6 wins out of 6 would become 7 out of 7. I thought at kick off, that it would lead to a disjointed performance and a loss. If he had played Gally and left Dack on the bench, I thought we would have matched Preston, and got at least a point. Fitting Dack into the team(which I agree would improve us if he was fit), at the expense of a different player is a separate discussion.

This is interesting, as I just want him to stop being so bloody-minded, and occasionally accept that it may be a good idea to play the team that has won us 6 games in a row. He will be here all season, and probably next, so we just need him to grow up quickly and develop a pragmatic side to complement his visionary ideas. There has been as much good as bad this season, but it is hard to accept that it has been just as much of a roller-coaster as last season. Ouch.

Ok. The dust is settling. We won six home games in a row. All 12 players who predominantly delivered that dominant, consistent run of results, were fit and available to play today. Did anyone reading this agree that suddenly playing Dack (who hadn't started a home game for months and months) instead of Gallagher, was likely to help continue this brilliant run? (Answers please. There won't be any). It was clueless, experimental, apprentice management, based on training pitch form, and a managerial hunch, rather than hard-nosed, proven, Championship experience. I thought, based on watching the team for the whole of the season, that we would be less likely to perform and win with this experimental line-up. There were also many, many calls for the manager to be wary of Ched Evans having a similar physical impact on our central defenders, as Barnes did in our last game. All this is ignored by our manager. Let me tell you that without those six home wins in a row when we played predominantly the same team and tactics, we would be in 16th position in the Championship. I repeat, our focus at the moment is not winning games, it is focusing on our (or at least JDTs) style of play, which coincidentally is not the style of play that won us the last 6 home games. Those results were often based on long ball breakaways finished by BBD, when one of our defenders had the audacity to break free of the shackles of our 'style of play'. Jesus, I'm hurting, as the midweek away poisonous tactical ineptitude has now infected our decent home and away weekend form. I'm hoping the manager will see that the team that will win him many more games is still there and waiting to be selected, but for me, the tinkering is killing us. And me.

When we saw that Dack was starting ahead of Gally, none of us could believe it. 6 home wins in a row, since September. JDT was the only person on earth that thought changing the personnel and formation was the way to keep that run going. These changes were the reason that there wasn't a single Rovers player that was comfortable with the new formation, and we deservedly didn't have a sniff in the 1st half. Then when we scored and developed a tiny bit of momentum, he decided to arrest that momentum by making the substitutions (taking off our only goalscorer), and sure enough, although Gally played well, that was our miniscule chance gone. I've said before that it is not JDTs objective and priority to get the ball to Brereton, or to score, or to win. The priority is to play the ball out from the back, pass it slowly through the phases, and eventually involve our front players. It is of no concern to him whether we win or lose, regardless of the opponent, as long as we perpetuate the experiment, and stick to the project plan. I'm not saying JDT out, or anything of the sort, but to change the players and system that has produced 6 consecutive victories, over 3 months, shows where his priorities lie. I do not agree that the players were to blame today, any more than they were to blame for our disastrous run of midweek away performances. The players do not buy in to these experimental tactics, and they sent a subconscious but clear message to JDT today. Pathetic doesn't even touch the surface. Defend away, project fans.

Just called the club about picking up tickets, and they confirmed the pitch has been checked and the game is on!

Yep, the exact thoughts of many of us. The Burnley performance hit me harder, and longer, than I expected. Still not ready for tomorrow, another week would have helped, but by the time we beat Forest, all will be back on track 🥳

Yep, £30+ for an early ko sky game, on an expensive world cup drinking day was always gonna limit the attendance, at both ends. 16,500 is more like it, and could be lower. There will be 1000+ late arrivals, so will take a while for the atmosphere to crank up, 1st Diaz goal will ignite the sleepy fans, and 2nd half will be fun. Lotsa rushing around in morn, so will be arriving at Ewood around 11.58... COYB!

I don't agree with this. If Burnley residents (not fans) have the slightest suspicion you are from Blackburn, I believe there is a reasonable chance you will be violently attacked, verbally or physically, especially if they lose. I would take no risks and try to follow the police. It's really sad that physical violence is still the answer for some. I'm quite worried that someone innocent will get hurt.

Strangely, Buckley's was the best of the lot.

Ha-ha. Crazy how nervous I still was, watching those pens....

EVERY. OUTFIELD. PLAYER. TOOK. AND. SCORED. A. PENALTY. 🎤

Ewood will be rocking on Sunday, should be a few hundred knocking about to see the coaches off before heading into the Premier Suite and Blues Bar for brekkie and to watch the game. Buzzin!

Wow, talk about mixed feelings for Hammer Sammy! 🤣

Aaarrrghhhhh.....poor Jason Wilcox.....don't remind me 🤣

I am soooooo proud of every one of those young lions! This group are going places! What a perfect set up for our game of the season!!!!! Bring on the Burnley!!!!

Good response to the equaliser, Markanday needs 1st team match sharpness. Really good 1st half against a team of internationals. If we start the 2nd like we started the 1st, we may have a chance. All to play for, I'm relieved...

It's on R Lancs FM, not sure bout DAB.

Just need to hear Dack's name a bit more. If we can continue to sneak into their half, BD will potentially create something out of nothing. Good to see Vale having 2 good chances, and the goal will really help his confidence. Great performance so far, taking the game to them early on, and now showing resilience. Great to clearly hear the 2000 fans. COYMB.

Whichever side of the JDT fence we sit on, we need to stay calm, there's a hell of a long way to go and West Ham are likely to win, but we now have hope. I'm so happy that whatever happens, those brilliant fans are having the night of their lives, they deserve it.

That deafening rendition of 'No Nay Never....' sent tingles down my spine... Could hear it from Lancashire. Brilliant support!

In terms of the game, I genuinely think it will negatively impact on the build up to Sunday, and the confidence of one or 2 of the players, if we lose by 4 or more goals tomorrow. Scott W probably needs game time ahead of the weekend, but I agree we need both Wharton's involved on Sunday. It's a difficult decision to decide which 3 first-teamers to play tomorrow. Brittain, Hedges, and Kaminski? It's a lottery, but still think its important to be competitive, to build some momentum that midweek away games usually sabotage. Brilliant effort by anyone travelling down from the North. Good luck and enjoy. COYB!!!!

Not sure I get the joke, but please could you pin it back. Can't see how the members, mods, or visitors benefit from it being unpinned. I'm too nervous about Sunday to see the funny side of anything, but I'm looking forward to following the match comments on here on Wed night.

Unfortunately, I missed this brilliant offer. I've been looking for this exact shirt since my last one finally bit the dust around 10 years ago. Please order another run, and I will order a long sleeve and a short sleeved one, or 2 long sleeved ones. Can't believe I missed this threads thread. Would've loved it for Xmas. Anyone selling them on, I'll pay £40 for a large! Again, brilliant idea, guys.

Did it look like 2nd place playing 23rd place? Our midweek away performances are consistently poor, do you think JDT needs to accept a different approach is needed in these games?