I thought managers got to reset the clock at the start of every season? In all seriousness though, it’s amazing how long failing managers get at Rovers compared to other clubs. Mention it on here and people don’t like it but the same people nod sagely when other clubs sack managers.

.

Same as you Chris. I’m not sure why the word ‘inspire’ is so hard for people to understand. Maybe it’s because we’ve forgotten what it feels like to be inspired by Venky’s Rovers. Looks like we are heading back to going for the cheapest option. Probably because Mowbray wastes all of our money on strikers who can’t strike!

Not sure what you are driving at here, Bruce. You seem to be trying to make some kind of point and going about it in a very petty way. The bloke has no pedigree in the game with which to “inspire”. His playing career zenith was at Crewe in the 90s and his management experience is non-existent: a couple of brief caretaker roles. Does that inspire you in that you look up to him or are impressed? He has done very little in the game to make fans sit up and take notice as far as I’m concerned. Please do enlighten everyone with where I have said he is a bad coach, if that is the point you are trying to make? Our U23s are about to go backwards, and all because Mowbray has pulled Johnson and is in no hurry to bring in a credible replacement which, given his recruitment record, is about par. Now we are looking like not bothering and just promoting from within because it’s easier. Fire away with whatever clever comeback you have lined up.

I’m not set against him. I said I wasn’t inspired.

It wouldn’t help if he was Barr’s Iran Bru.

Yes, definitely. That’s what it is. Billy Mowbray preferably.

Billy Barr. Kind of has a Ben Benson, Ben Brereton, Bruno Berner, “BB” edge to it. Doesn’t inspire me in the slightest. Wonder if it will inspire the young players?

Bolton have had their 2019/20 squad photo taken...

He only posted it an hour ago. Give us a chance to finish work! Duly laughed and liked. ✅

That’s a good side but why people keep leaving Bennett out I don’t know. It’s a recipe for disappointment.

I agree with the sentiment but we need something on the pitch to get excited about. Until we scored on Tuesday the atmosphere at Ewood was dreadful. Unless you were an Oldham fan. If Mowbray expects to get nothing out of these games I’d prefer he took them by the scruff of the next and we lose 4-3 than play conservatively, lose 2-0 and bemoan fine margins.

There is a danger that this starts to become like Bowyer and Kean before him (in a slightly different context) in that fans will get angry and react to our continued failure and then nothing will change. At that point, fan apathy will set in. Mowbray has already set his stall out that he has written off August because we are playing teams with top 6 aspirations. It’s such defeatist talk. Lower end teams beat higher end ones all the time in this division. Mowbray may be a positive football man but he’s a very negative football manager.

The selection will say a lot about the future direction on the U23s - and Mowbray’s view of it. Another Ben Benson and it’s curtains. A credible appointment - an ambitious ex player or experienced development coach - and maybe it still has an important part of our future. Surely Venkys won’t let their investment be wasted.

Players are inherently dishonest when talking about managers and other players. The football family looks after its own. Heard anything bad from anyone? Nuttall? Mulgrew?

It was right in front of us Bazza. He was too far out and knew he was never going to make it so he went down.

He needs three points. Surely at this point, he must know that Brereton and Gallagher on the field, with Graham and Rothwell on the bench is not going to deliver that? It’s bad enough we have to play Walton in goal and our alternative is Leutwiler!

Only just seen this. That’s really odd. Almost childlike.

I assumed he is still injured.

Right now, something to show for it would be signs that a team and a playing style are forming, with a first XI forming on merit and contribution rather that the carousel of fringe players. But even then, upsets happen all the time in this division, why not us?

That’s the thing. In isolation Bennett at right back whilst not ideal would be tolerable if everyone else was a square peg in a round hole. Or even a right winger to frighten their full back to the point of doubling up. Playing Gallagher or even Rothwell in front of Bennett means another player out of their natural position and blunts their potential attacking threat because the need to be more defensive minded.

I think a lot of folk thought they’d have had an entertaining evening against poor opposition. The half time boos told their own story. Although it ended up being an entertaining end to the game, we were 7 minutes away from an extremely embarrassing episode.

This team picks itself at the moment I’d say...

I meant early in the match (90 seconds)

He thinks the same about central midfielders and full backs, full backs and centre backs, centre midfielders and wingers so fair’s fair. Jacks of all trades valued over masters.