Going to struggle today with the weather, its raining here now and that weather is heading towards Leeds. Looks better after lunch, fingers crossed.

Brilliant, everything comes off the middle of the bat, one of Englands all time greats. Free admission tomorrow, direct service from Preston 🤔

Off to Leeds shortly, weather looks good for the day which is a bonus. Been a great series, thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and isn't it great to see these players playing with a smile on the face, the mcCullum factor. Come on England.

He just couldn’t get going today Overton, that wicket was coming, but a great knock chaddy, he’s brought us back into the game. Bairstow superb also and Broads knock was worth the admission fee.

Nyambe is replaceable, but this sets the tone, shows the ambition of the club and despite all the fur coat over the appointment of JDT, we're wearing no knickers, its the same old story I'm afraid. The only hope here is, JDT/Broughton can find cheap players from abroad, we're going to need them.

Weather not looking wonderful for the Test Match today, its a glorious morning but the rains coming. Hopefully get an early breakthrough under overcast skies, Ossett brewery beer by the Wharf before then though.

We have to work within the confines of FFP I guess and it takes someone with more nous than Waggott to manoeuvre around those restrictions, it can be done if you have the desire. The bottom line in this league will always be, the biggest wages and the biggest budgets eventually get promoted, its as simple as that, no matter how good the manager is or isn't.

It will remain in place, GB has alluded to that in his interview and is probably the reason why we've lost the club captain.

Superb stuff. John Williams didn't get much wrong during his time at Ewood, but not taking the larger allocation for the cup game away at Celtic was one, it would have easily sold out.

Come on RV, thats doesn't mean anything.....the list of players wrongly released at 18/19yr is endless. I remember one game last season where Dolan ran the show from start to finish, absolutely superb performance from a 20yr old, had the defence in knots, the midfield couldn't cope with him, excellent work rate too. You don't sell your better players if you want to progress, not even for £3m, which is good money in the current climate I agree.

Spot on Tom. The lads 20yrs old, he's still one for the future, how anyone can justify selling him is beyond me...

I certainly don't believe we have the best man for the job, I don't believe this was some sort of coup either, all that said if he's exciting the fanbase and stirring something in the towns across the area that can only be a good thing. He's the Manager of Blackburn Rovers and I'll support him 100%, the only question is, will Venkys......

Do you believe they got the best man possible for the job?

Clubs in the Championship don’t get promoted unless they have significant funds for transfers or wages. We can be optimistic, but the facts still remain the facts…..

I was wondering if you’d gone Matt, how’s the trip? I’ll never forget when Rovers played Feyeonord, what a trip.

Finance. I always attribute season ticket sales to finance rather than bums on seats, at most clubs below Premiership the financial side of season ticket sales is essential for operating moving forward, our lot don't give a toss, they sign a cheque every year for £30m to keep the lights on, its pocket change to them. But yes I agree with you on the numbers part, its much better playing Luton Town at home on a Wednesday night in September with 10,000 season tickets holders than 7000, I see your point, apologies.

You're coming at this purely from a support point of view? Numbers in the ground on a regular basis?

We won't agree on this subject and I'd be firmly in your camp if this was a normal football club, but it isn't. What I will say is if JDT is given a healthy budget, the club is in top 6 come new year, with some decent offers on tickets, crowds will be around15/16/17k down the home straight if we're challenging, season ticket sales are irrelevant in this scenario for me.

Spot on, I assume darrenrover had just come in from the pub 😀 I couldn't really care less about season ticket sales to be honest, Waggott pays them lip service only, his prices show he doesn't care and the owners don't care either. Its always been the case that if the product on the pitch is worth supporting the fans will turn out, been that way since time immemorial at Ewood and will remain so long after we've all gone.

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Allardyce robbed the fans throughout his time at Ewood by refusing to deal with agents and players that wouldn't feather his nest. We could have seen much better players and much better football had he been open to signing anyone from anyone. He was doing what everyone criticizes Venkys for, dealing with one/two agents and that pool of players, just because we sat mid table Premiership doesn't alter that fact. His football was awful, the man himself was a complete arsehole, who eventually ruined his reputation and should never work in football again. Now back to JDT, ignoring the utter shambles of a recruitment process, I must admit to feeling more optimistic by the day, the messages coming out of Ewood are positive and thats something we've not been able to say to often over the past 11yrs. 290 miles to Dundee, thinking about it.......

https://www.jororestaurant.co.uk/ I was fortunate enough to dine at Joro last night in Sheffield, superb food, no wonder the waiting list is over 2 months right now. Fine dining but in a relaxed atmosphere, staff very knowledgably and the food was stunning. In the same building, this place, the cider hole and what a character that runs the place, chap from Brooklyn. http://istheciderholeopen.com https://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/sheffields-first-ever-cider-centric-bar-the-cider-hole-to-open-in-shalesmoor-next-week-3374538 If you in the area its worth a visit for the cider bar alone, the building also has several other bars to choose from and if you plan ahead visit Joro, you won't be disappointed.

Yes, feelings still run deep in those mining communities Tony, they're still divided and its been 40yrs since the miners strike. I know someone right now looking to move into those areas, mining villages and they've been warned by work colleagues it takes time to be accepted, they're not welcoming at first, be prepared!

Is anyone watching ‘Sherwood’ On BBC? Murder, mining communities, unions, corruption, based on true events. 2 episodes in, good so far.

I know this is a cricket topic, but as we have @gumboots posting in here. Did you get to Sale Sharks? Not a bad season on the whole I felt.