Something very sinister about these people. They get very angry and very personal when someone challenges a manager. As though they are related or something. I can’t work out their agenda. If Mowbray walked away tonight, or if he was sacked, they’d be the first to say that his time was up. It can only be that they always want to be right. So if they don’t stick their neck out they can have been “right” when we win, and jump down the throats of the “haters” who are “full of shit”. Then when they do get it wrong they talk about how it’s “easy in hindsight”. Even if we had won today it would still have been time for a change. More so even. The first half today showed that there is something to work with in this squad. But the tactical nouse just isn’t there. Our odd and erratic subs week-in-week-out demonstrate this.

There’s something very wrong here. We all know what Rothwell is capable of, we saw it last season. Mowbray seems to think he can change the midfield players every game and they will all perform. Some players need to get into a rhythm. Rothwell didn’t have the perfect start in his spell at the end of last season but he grew. Now he has become “the ultimate headless chicken”. Is this because he is expected to do so or risk being dropped for not working/trying hard enough, or has he regressed under Mowbray? Either way it’s a sad indictment.

So the players’ fault. Again. There used to be a time when the manager was made responsible for things like this. Out of interest was Rothwell’s withdrawal forced or tactical?

He’s talking about the half time result, er, or something...

Cheers. If it wasn’t clear I wasn’t predicting, they are his actual comments.

Second Stephen King reference in a couple of days. I’ll add my own (from Dreamcatcher): “SSDD”. He must feel that he will come under scrutiny during the current run. Could be 2 points out of 24 going in to the Barnsley six-pointer.

Selective post match comments: ”If they don’t score their first goal they don’t score”. ”Referee’s performance was naive - didn’t know what a foul is and what a foul isn’t”. “Really really really poor today”. “Our players were naive too”. “Preston played long balls and played four fouls”. “Dominant in the second half against Birmingham”. ” Difficult start for Gallagher because he has had to move his family 250 miles and find a house and settle in”. Towards the end of the interview he did sound like he was talking about Sam Gallagher’s future at the club a being something he wouldn’t be part of himself but maybe I’m Reading too much into that. He could just have been down about the result.

You do wonder what Venkys make of Tony’s opinion on Rovers. When they took over we were in the top division and now Mowbray talks as though we are lucky to be in the second having been in the third for a season. They are further away from making any money or getting any prestige from their continued ownership than ever. Surely they would have learned from the Coyle experience not to replace Mowbray with someone similar. If whomever they trust in the UK isn’t already sounding out Hughton or Hughes really isn’t doing their job.

The Mowbray supporters (who seem to support each incumbent manager more than the club itself - until they leave of course) are busy making cases against individual players. Nothing to do with Tony, just players making “mistakes”. “Walton at fault for the first” - who bought him and decided to have Leutwiler still as number two. No pressure on the number one. ”Bennett at fault for the penalty” - who decides that he has to play every game. Three different positions in the last four games and the captaincy to boot. “Nyambe to blame for the third” - our only genuine right back at the club and who has been dropped for a centre midfielder for most of this season. Called on because the manager has no choice. Must be great for a player’s confidence that. One thing that is pretty consistent is that these people are pretty obnoxious in how they label those who do doubt Mowbray can take us forward.

Thanks Chris

Having spent £12m on strikers.

Current circumstances do suggest that he didn’t leave Coventry for noble reasons. At this range you’d have to say he was allowed to jump before being pushed. Will Waggott be under any pressure to act at Rovers?

Anyone not yet decided?

3-2 means we “competed” and that’s all Mowbray wanted from the players.

Maybe Mowbray was reading a book...

Looks like Rothwell was the one hooked after their goal - injured or made the predictable scapegoat?

The start we had today suggests that a new manager would have something to work with.

And yet it was somehow expected.

Sheff Weds Leeds I don’t even fancy us to best Barnsley.

There is no joy. I just feel really sad about all of this.

Sadly that character is Mickey Mouse...

Bloody hell!

Hahahahhahah!!

Just knew he would. That’s one of the worst teams he could have fielded. Rothwell lined up to fail, especially with Bell behind him. There could be a few scapegoats made after today’s game. But not Bennett or Armstrong of course. Only hope is that Preston have a bad day.

The captain should be the leader on the pitch. Reminding people of their duties. Encouraging, chastising, demanding. Being the person who wants the ball when things are going wrong. If your captain goes missing or isn’t good enough then this translates. I keep mentioning it for various reasons but by and large footballers are overgrown school kids. The need to be led and need to feel appreciated and from time to time need a kick up the backside. That can come from the manager but it is a lot more meaningful when it comes from one of your colleagues on the pitch. If you have respect for them that is. Not sure how many players had respect for Jason Lowe (or if he even commanded their respect). Not sure if Bennett does with but here we are.