Rover down South

John Eustace and this squad have got me loving Blackburn Rovers again. I think we all thought after Sammie went we’d struggle. What a job he is doing. I know Venkys & Waggott will do their best to f*?k it up again in January, but at the moment I just cannot wait until the next matchday 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵⚪️

Feel more confident of three points in this fixture than I did in predicting the previous four, so……..3-1 Dolan, Travis & Baker.

Great support from the travelling fans. Fantastic to get another three points and clean sheet. And what a job John Eustace is doing. Of course the players deserve credit, but he’s got this squad fired up and the ‘togetherness’ is a delight to see. Venkys need to back him in January, I truly believe he is the manager to get us promoted.

👀

🤣🤣🤣

Gut feeling says 2-2 draw with Cantwell & Gueye getting the goals.

Two games that I doubted we’d even get a point and we’ve come away with all six. Clean sheets in both too! Huge credit to John Eustace 🔵⚪️

Weimann/Leonard Cantwell. Baker. Ohashi. Tronstad. Travis. Beck. Batth. Hyam. Brittain. Pears. Subs: Toth, Pickering, McFadz, JRC, Buckley, Hedges, Siggy, Weimann/Leonard, Gueye. If ACD fit, then he goes on the bench for one of either JRC or Hedges. No place for Dolan either, so its him or Siggy I guess. Would like to see something like the above. Gueye causes defenders issues with his physicality, but with no goals in 14 league games, I'm not sure we can keep persisting with him. No doubt, sooner or later he'll get one, but there is no way if he plays every minute between now and May, he's getting double figure returns. Ohashi has now gone two months without scoring, and despite those four goals early in the season doesn't look like he is going to be the answer as our main striker either. He does however give his absolute all for the team, displays some good football intelligence and can make some encouraging runs, so maybe, Portsmouth at home would be an ideal opportunity to see if playing him as one of the three behind the striker would benefit both him and the team. If it doesn't work out, there are options on the bench. Main striker for me has to be either Weimann, who showed on Saturday he can get into the right position to finish those chances or Harry Leonard. With AW unlikely to last 90 minutes and Leonard returning to fitness, it's maybe an ideal opportunity to give them a half each. Just feel more confident of those two scoring than Ohashi or Gueye at the moment, but as soon as the January window opens, this position should be a priority. I think Lewis Baker deserves to start so would play him centrally of the three behind the main striker. Would get stuck in a bit more than Dolan or Siggy too and proved Saturday, he has a good eye for goal. I think Pears (looks better recently), the back four, Tronstad, Travis and Cantwell pick themselves at the moment. Just my opinion!!

Giving some thought going forward and taking into consideration some of the comments regards Ohashi not being a target man and Baker getting more minutes. Weimann showed today he has that finishers instinct inside the box today, so is he our answer as a goalscoring striker? Would we be better lining up something like this?…. Weimann. Cantwell. Baker. Ohashi. Tronstad. Travis. Beck. Hyam. Batth. Brittain. Pears. Just a thought.

Crikey. Now Gueye too 🤦🏼‍♂️

Eustace has made some questionable substitutions recently. Taking off a player hungry for his hat trick and bringing on a sloppy JRC could well cost us three points. Momentum with Cardiff now.

Hit the nail on the head. Gueye makes a nuisance of himself but is quite clumsy with it. Offers little else. Ohashi, clearly has some football intelligence but just looks completely lost as our main striker recently. Looks more suited to a number 10 role, so that’s where I’d be tempted to try him in place of Dolan. Who plays as our striker though? Leonard, Tyjon or even Mafoumbi? 8 hours & 32 minutes of championship football and zero goals from Gueye suggests he isn’t going to cut it in this league and we need to try something different. A number 9 he isn’t.

2-1 win and Cantwell to get his first goal for Rovers.

Agree 100% with you 👍

A better side would have destroyed us on that showing tonight. Neutral supporters watching that would seriously question how we were unbeaten. Our passing was absolutely woeful and we created nothing. Still can’t understand what Dolan was doing for their second goal. We were in their half and he didn’t need to go all the way back…..shocking from him. He does have some talent, but sometimes thinks he’s Messi. We have to go with what we’ve got and I still think Gueye should start on Saturday. His finishing doesn’t look at all deadly, but his presence at least gives us a target and without him we look far too lightweight up top. I’d drop Dolan now and try Cantwell, Ohashi & ACD as the three.

What the hell was Dolan doing?? Looked like he was attacking with intent, just heading the wrong way??!

Gueye looked like he was warming up before half time. I reckon straight swap for Ohashi. Dolan and Cantwell seem to find space off each other, so would leave Dolan on for now. Pickering been poor and Travis not got into the game at all tonight. ACD for Weimann who hasn’t got into the game at all yet. Need to take the game to Coventry. They look poor. We are the in-form side. Be disappointed not getting something here.

I’m one of Pears biggest critics, but his performance today ensured we at least got a point. I know it’s what we should expect from our keeper, but apart from Dolan hitting the post, we never looked like scoring, so Pears saves today were vital and deservedly our MoM. Dolan for me now needs to drop to the bench. He struts around like he should be first name on the team sheet, but offers so little. Ohashi or Weimann in that 10 role against QPR. Gueye, when available must start. His presence is vital. Just needs to work on his shooting.

First post since Feb 2017! Been a mere spectator on the forum ever since! I’ve been really impressed this season (Blackpool game aside) and the recruitment has been fantastic considering the ‘allowable’ budget given. The new players have been superb so far and given 100%. Silly moment from Gueye today, but he plays with so much passion, I think it got the better of him in that moment. Owen Beck looks a fantastic addition and if he keeps up that consistently, our defence will be so much stronger for it. Andi Weimann to me, is such a great acquisition. Always been a player I wished we had and his goal today was something special. Brings a wealth of experience for the younger players and the recent arrivals from other leagues. I have a real positive feeling about this season. I think John Eustace is the right man for the job. It’s early days, but top half finish definitely achievable. All four teams we’ve played currently occupy top half so fingers crossed we can keep up the momentum🤞 Looking forward to a great season and the introduction of ACD & TC. ⚪️🔵⚪️🔵

Starting away to Burton this week then have three home games versus Derby, Wigan & Cardiff which if being optimistic are all winnable. We then face Norwich (A), Fulham (A), Preston (H), Brighton (A), Reading (A) & Barnsley (H) which are all tough games. Final five games are crucial after that run with Forest (A), Bristol City (H), Wolves (A), Villa (H) & Brentford (A). Mowbray must of looked at the fixtures, looked at the squad and thought it was possible or why take the job and have a relegation oh his CV.

Just out of interest..... Stats based purely on time at Middlesbrough. Gareth Southgate P 151 - W 45 - D 43 - L 63 (win percentage 29.8%) Steve McClaren P 250 - W 97 - D 60 - L 93 (win percentage 38.8%) Tony Mowbray P 153 - W61 - D 37 - L 55 (win percentage 39.87%) Two of these were deemed good enough to go on and manage the national team. I know that doesn't say much, but interesting nonetheless.

Maybe he can persuade Venkys to @#/? off then

I'm not sure what everyone was expecting? Ferguson to come out of retirement? Dalglish or Souness to come back and save the day? Regardless of who became manager, with no financial backing from the owners, we are pretty much up that well known creek. We are going to spiral further until these idiots sell up and we get someone who understands what running a football club entails. Until that day, we will continue to hire and fire the likes of Coyle & Mowbray etc. What is the incentive for any manager to come here and work for these people. In Jack Walker, we had one of the best owners of that era. Somebody who cared deeply about the club. Someone who backed the manager in every way. An era where football clubs were owned by fans of football. Sad times. Last game I went to was Crystal Palace away when Henning Berg took over. I vowed way back then that I would not spend another penny on any tickets or merchandise as I refuse to make these @#/?s a penny richer. If I get slated for that, I don't care. When Venkys are gone, I will return

Not been on for a few weeks, but very sad to see this news this morning. My thoughts are very much with Kelbo's family at this very tough time.

Deeply shocked by this news. One of my closest friends took his life three weeks ago in the same way. No one saw that coming either & we will never know why. My condolances to his family & friends at this truly terrible time. R.I.P Gary Speed