QPR Preview for @LoftForWords Full article including YouTube clips etc here for reference https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/57143 Well, look at us, hey, look at us. Who would have thought it? Not many of us, let’s be honest here. The loss of out of contract players, the return of loanees to parent and the sale of Adam Armstrong in the summer of 2021 served notice that the upcoming 2021/22 campaign was going to be a season of concern, consolidation and perhaps contemplation. *checks league tables* crikey..! How has this happened? How much is accident versus how much is design is hard to say, but what is clear is the following:- Possession on its own butters no parsnips If you play a formation that exploits your team’s inherent strengths, this is generally a good thing Transforming one of your forwards into a world-conquering super-hero is a handy trick to pull off How’s Tony turned it around? He seemed on his last legs last time we spoke? Yeah, about that; Mowbray has just celebrated five years in charge and is showing all the resilience and indefatigability of Status Quo. The obituaries are written repeatedly but the farewell tours continue apace and the audiences keep turning up; “Again And Again” you might say. (Nobody will get this reference - Ed). I’ve written him off now more times than sub-prime mortgage portfolios in the US in 2009. (Again, nobody will get this reference - Ed). He has re-fashioned the side to exploit pace and trickery of Khadra and Dolan together with the strength and newly-found cunning of BBD and it has worked. Tony Mowbray…more comebacks than Sinatra (I give up - Ed). I’ve got to ask about the first game. Blackburn came for a 0-0, showed zero ambition, lost, and afterwards TM seemed incredulous that you’d try and do anything else. Then an explosion of form. Did he change? Was that some sort of turning point? I think about that game a lot, you would never have guessed what was coming next for Rovers on that evidence. See answers above - bluntly, no. The alchemistic impact of *that* Fulham result seems to have transformed the side - at least for a dozen games - into a strong, brave, attacking unit capable of scything apart any opponent not doing sufficient pre-match homework on Rovers’ capabilities. Again, not sure how much is down to fate or design, but Mowbray appeared to take the Fulham defeat quite phlegmatically and superficially at least appeared to be supremely relaxed. Whether that was because he was expecting a response from the squad, or he was expecting a P45 from the board is a moot point, but whatever he did, it clearly worked. Confidence breeds confidence and momentum was now with us…extraordinarily. What January business did you do? What did you need to do? A reasonable amount but with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, almost certainly not enough. Dilan Markanday joined from Spurs, amidst a fanfare from disgruntled Spurs fans, unhappy that a bright prospect had been allowed to depart. The excitement at Ewood soon dissipated however, as Markanday suffered what seems likely to be a season-ending injury during his debut. Ryan Hedges, a soon-to-be out of contract Welsh international based in Scotland joined from Aberdeen, presumably to fill one of the “wide midfielder cum striker” roles that Mowbray seems to adore. We also added loan signings. The talented and admired Ryan Giles further added to our “Ryan” quotient (Nyambe, Hedges) joining on loan from Wolves and Deyo Zeefuik (yes, commentators just LOVE that surname) arrived from Hertha Berlin, then got injured. Many hoped for a striker to bolster the ranks to reduce the over-reliance on BBD but as long as Ben doesn’t pick up an injury that were to keep him out for 7/8 games, then we’ll be fine. (*checks Twitter notifications* “Ah feck…”). POTY candidates other than the next president of Chile? Stand out candidates would probably come from the defence. The skipper, Darragh Lenihan (out of contract in the summer) has led from the front; Ryan Nyambe (out of contract in the summer) has had another solid season; Jan Paul van Hecke (on loan until the summer) has impressed for his whole-hearted endeavour & taekwando schtick (see the highlights from *that* Fulham game); plus Joe Rothwell in midfield (out of contract in the summer) has also had some sublime moments. I’ve not been able to put my finger on what these guys have in common, but they all deserve plaudits for their ample efforts so far this season. John Buckley also has stepped up a level this season despite not being imminently out of contract. Ben could miss the remainder of the season now and still be POTY though. Technically, he too is out of contract in the summer but apparently we do have a further 12 month option which I suspect we will exercise…although knowing Rovers, it wouldn’t entirely surprise me if we somehow contrived to forget. Weak links in the team? The injuries are starting to accumulate and fatigue seems to be setting in which means players playing out of position and form is unsurprisingly, tailing off and becoming more brittle. It would be unfair to single out individuals in those circumstances, especially given the over-achievement so far. Not sure where the goals are coming from though between now and mid-April. Recent form - bit of a wobble or more serious? (We’re asking ourselves the same question) It is right on the cusp of moving from a concern to a crisis. I’m always reminded of the definition of a crisis as used at Ipswich Town in the heady days of the Cobbold ownership and Robson management as being “when the boardroom runs out of chilled white wine…”. Neither do I believe are we yet into “Blackadder” levels of crisis…it doesn’t have 12 storeys, nor “a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour porterage…” etc. But, Marks & Spencer presently has an offer on men’s underpants and WH Smith’s at the station has had a run on pencils, so who knows ? So, are you going to do it? How do you see the season panning out from here? Until the recent BBD news I felt reasonably confident that Rovers could accumulate enough points to secure top six. The loss of our talisman striker is a body-blow. How it unfolds now depends upon whether we can design/stumble across another formation and complementary tactics to enable us to fashion some honest to goodness battling 1-0 wins (see, Middlesbrough at Ewood) sufficient to bring in another say, 24 points. That would need 8 wins from 14 remaining games or perhaps, 6 wins & 6 draws… With the December team in the form of December, I’d back us to get the 8 wins in the next 10 games, but the world has changed. If pushed, I think we will still be in the hunt with a couple of games to go but fear it won’t be entirely in our hands. The final home game of the season is against Bournemouth. Winning that to secure top six would be an astonishing achievement. I’m just off out now…I need to go to Marks & Spencer and WH Smith…again… @ianherbert www.brfcs.com

Rovers "entertain" Sunderland at Ewood in September 1989...

It seems so…😁 https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/17259-beer-and-steelworks/

Sheffield is not short of great pubs…this is definitely one of them

2017/18 through the eyes & ears of a real musician…and Rovers season ticket holder… https://roversradio.co.uk/listen-live

Furphy, Field, Garbett & “first £1m footballer” David Bradford of course. They all went on to have careers in the NASL, I think with NY Cosmos at the time Pele was there. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6130493.ewood-youngster-might-made-history/

“BRFCS…the home of all your great water table chat…an oldie from Coldpay & then we’ll be back with news & traffic…it’s 20 minutes to the hour…”

Loved this concept…👌🏻

I stepped off the train, made my way out of the station, reached for the map in my pocket showing the location of Courtwood House; carried out some quick calculations and decided to walk. Time was on my side and I could save the taxi money to put towards an LP. I was fifteen years old and on my way for my first ever interview. It was with Midland Bank… “The Listening Bank” - ask your grandparents - applying for entrance into their graduate scheme. I was far from confident. Frankly, I felt as welcome as David Dunn visiting “The Royal Dyche” for a swift half and couldn’t wait for the ordeal to be over and soon to be on the earliest train home. That was the first time I had ever set foot in Sheffield and had it been the last, I would have been neither surprised nor concerned. Fast forward fourteen years or so, I’m standing in the ballroom of the Royal Victoria Hotel in Sheffield, delivering my groom’s speech. I’d married a Yorkshire lass and Sheffield was now always going to be a significant part of my history; notwithstanding that at this point I lived in the West Midlands. Sheffield’s claws were now in me. Visits to the in-laws meant trips to Meadowhall and if I played a shrewd strategic game, could be timed conveniently to “coincide” with away games at Hillsborough and Bramall Lane…how fortunate ? By 2007, we’d moved both jobs and house. Birmingham was firmly in the rear-view mirror and Sheffield now became my home, as it remains to this very day. As a Lancastrian, I never expected ever to settle in South Yorkshire; but as I reflect for this piece, Sheffield has constantly appeared at significant junctions in my life…destiny perhaps ? If I’m being scrupulously honest; I’ve never felt more at home anywhere, than I do here.. I’d secured the Midland Bank gig, I’d married a Sheffield girl and as my Twitter bio proclaims…I’m now an “exiled Lancastrian undertaking important missionary work in South Yorkshire”. As luck would have it, there is a little cluster of Rovers fans in this neck of the woods. We provide mutual succour and comfort to each other and when circumstances allow; we travel to Ewood together, meet up at away games and chew the cud on social media. So it is that on 23rd February, I will proudly welcome my fellow Roverites to the Steel City and we will descend on Bramall Lane keen to secure three vital points. Sheffield has suffered during the Covid lockdown. Many of our favourite shops have closed. The exit of John Lewis especially, being felt much like a death in the family. At least some of my favourite bars, restaurants and venues have somehow battled to keep heads above water and all being well, will survive and hopefully thrive. If you’re arriving by train, visit the Sheffield Tap on platform 1 of the station. If you’re arriving by car (& not driving of course), the best selection of ales close to Bramall Lane is probably “The Beer Engine” on Cemetery Road. Most folks won’t have time on a Wednesday evening, but if you ever find yourself in Sheffield with more leisure time, check out the Kelham Island district in the city; especially The Cutlery Works, the Kelham Island Tavern and if you like pizzas and real ale, Craft & Dough. From a footballing perspective, the city has seen the Owls spending more time fighting financial meltdown of late than footballing foes; whilst the Blades rose to the Premier League, taking the division by storm, only then to implode and drop back to the Championship. A period of readjustment now seems to have calmed things down, thanks to the appointment of former Barnsley & Leeds Utd boss Paul Heckingbottom. In his enjoyable sporting memoirs, Michael Parkinson often used a generic name of “Arthur Strongitharm” to describe an all-purpose composite Yorkshireman; presumably to avoid legal issues with some of his more ascerbic pen portraits. Ignoring that fictional name and with the possible exception of Arnie Sidebottom, is there a more stereotypical Yorkshire sporting name ? Legend has it that the Blades tend to attract the working-class Sheffielder, whilst the Owls are viewed as the more aspirational, middle-class club. Whichever opponent, Rovers have suffered some heartbreak in the Steel City over the years; the most memorable recent victories tending to come at Hillsborough rather than Bramall Lane. The (if you believe it) working-class Blades have traditionally proved to be obdurate opponents and similar can be expected this February. The victory at Ewood earlier this season after *that* Fulham game, proved to be a catalyst for a sustained run of positive results which catapulted Rovers into automatic promotion contention. The New Year however, has served only to pour cold water on those heady dreams. Poor recent form means that Rovers really need to secure a decent Bramall Lane result this time, else the great work of November and December will turn us into footballing Bullseye contestants… “Look at what you *could* have won…” The form table after the draw at The Hawthorns certainly calls out the size of the task ahead for Rovers. A re-energised and re-invigorated United are seemingly starting the sort of late season surge that can easily propel a team to the play-offs. We all know the challenges that Rovers currently face in the goal scoring department and given the Blades’ defensive record, this match in the Steel City requires Rovers to be on their mettle. , With a hat tip to my fellow Sheffield-based Roverite Mike Delap - here’s a list of alumni of the two clubs… Kevin Arnott James Beattie Marcus Bent Alan Birchenall Nick Blackman Nathan Blake David Bradford Viv Busby Harry Chapman Gordon Cowans Tony Field Garry Flitcroft Paul Gallagher Terry Garbett Keith Gillespie Mick Heaton Alan Kelly Andy Kennedy Matt Kilgallon Jay McEveley Nicky Marker Andy Morrison Mark Patterson Neil Ramsbottom Jack Rodwell Craig Short Mick Speight Phil Starbuck Jon Stead Keith Treacy Lee Williamson Alan Wright Sheffield has many positive attributes that I find endearing - if United could afford us the sort of warm welcome that Wednesday managed in January 2020, then I’m sure many fellow Roverites would enjoy the city every bit as much as I do. 😊 #COYB

Portman Road Ewood

Aye…predictive text fail 🤦‍♂️

John Waddington was a Darrener if that counts

Stuart Metcalfe John Byrom Neil Ramsbottom Brett Ormerod

https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/podcasts/ep-147-biryani-and-worthy's/5 In a packed episode, we consider the emotions stirred when meeting footballers in real life, chat Ewood Express & biryani (& much more !) with Yasir Sufi & quiz our panel on their collective Rovers knowledge - including the 2002 Worthington Cup final.

We voted to cut ties with Europe…

Can’t agree with this… Football fans love it when their players do this sort of thing to the opposition. Therefore, if you dish it out, you got to take it in return. No excuses for throwing stuff at players.

I’d love to ask the players whether the presence of away fans fires them up or intimidates them…& if it’s intimidate…get a decent sports psychologist in immediately.

A bit I did for BRFCS with @Forza_Garibaldi https://www.forzagaribaldi.com/forest-away-blackburn-rovers-wednesday-9th-february-fan-guide/

Home of World Cup winners (great quiz question…) 😉

https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/articles/flashback:-blackburn-rovers-v-oxford-utd-2989/170 If anyone knows who the mascots were...let us know..!

Rovers travel to Elland Road in August 1989. Look out for SuperAtko ghosting into the box & a Leeds midfield containing a veteran, a movie star & a young tyro...

Not so sure…WBA fan

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11743/9827260/who-is-afc-bournemouths-russian-owner-maxim-demin