Without doubt the most frustrating manager iv'e seen at Ewood, certainly not the worst far from it so some of the criticism is over the top. Constructively though he readily provides ammo for it he is his own worst enemy yet it would be no surprise to see us bounce back and trash Leeds. Just the type of match the owners might take an interest in and watch so everything is rosy again in their world if so. You do ask yourself though just how he managed to get West Brom promoted. Some of his waffle is now in the coyle mould and some of the tactical messing around is straight out of Brian Kidds book of recurring confusions.

Well we are safe then. Might have escaped your attention but there might well be a huge reduction and n wages incoming. Not sure he's in a great position to choose unless he goes abroad. He should be worth a few quid so the chance to be a guaranteed no 1 at a local club for a few years might appeal over money. Then again who am I kidding ...

The two things you've highlighted there with Smallwood and Mulgrew really stand out and make you think just what is he actually playing at. Do the deckhands run the ship to the extent he's terrified of mutiny if he breaks up their comfy little club i wonder ? Something really isn't right about this.

No idea if it was true or just another urban myth but i wouldn't be surprised as a few years back there did seem to be a big swing with that paper basically just being the clubs mouthpiece. They report what they see and what they are told but nothing of what they hear, very little journalistic license it seems.

Tentacles everywhere i heard in the past another LT Rovers reporter was on books connected to these lot. They did have Media in their title once over.

That just never works though especiailly with someone like him who suddenly pulls it out the fire every time the pitchforks are out. November then becomes Christmas the Christmas becomes the end of the window then it becomes the end of the season. Time to make change is the summer the time to put the wheels in motion for recruitment of someone potentially better is now. Pretty soon we'll be desperate for change just for changes sake and that's a sticky wicket. Look to improve and start looking now.

And IF we spend any big money chances are they'll be connected to the above somehow.

They have half an interest i think that's the main problem. Most of the time they just won't be arsed what's happening but when they take an interest and ask questions we probably suddenly get a reaction from the manager. I just don't think they are that bothered that's why it's easy street and when a manager has been here long enough to see how it works they just play it to their own advantage. The void between here and India remains huge for a host of reasons. The inbetweener messenger man is either thick as pigswill or on such a good number himself that he doesn't want to risk by rocking their boat. On Mowbray yes by and large he done a decent job but far from flawless yet if he did leave or get sacked you look at the squad and he's left us in a bit of a pickle. There'd be a hell of a hard job for the next guy to sort out really although he'd have some decent stuff to work with there is no proper defensive base no reliable goal scorer.........and probably no money !

Yep i nearly inserted that bit.

I'm telling you all now that with the way things might go in terms of finance we'll be starting next season again with Mulgrew. Williams and Bell in the back line. Bennett shoehorned in somewhere and Samuel given a new deal. He hasn't got either the finances or the spine to get rid of a lot of those. Number one priority for him is looking after everybody.

If anything sums him up it's the last 3 games and i don't for one min think the guy is that muddled. He's absolutely effing coasting it here, maybe he has an eye on next season and the short summer and doesn't want to beast them. When you are a few points off the play offs though and in with as good a shout as anyone you need to give it a right go. He's no intention whatsoever of that though despite what he might say. I seriously question his motives now. His absolute dogshit signings of Brereton & Gallagher cost us time and again and SAmuel ? Well iv'e been saying it since i first saw him the guy is just not, never has been and never will be a goalscorer. Another of Tony's 'nice guy' projects though. #### off !

For 5k per week Hart would be worth a punt i don't rate him but at this level he can't be any worse than what we've had or what else we are likely to have foisted onto our books. £15k or more pwk no thanks.

Competent performances ??? Give over he just turned in two back to back more lively efforts than he's ever done. That's the sum total of it. Most want to see him given a chance to at least build on them. But for a 7 million pound buy he's shown little if anything to be described as competent. Running around and getting stuck in is a must it isn't optional.

I said that back in September it's an old post. Things have changed considerably and if they can grant a budget similar to last season it's game on taking into account what you've just pointed out. Like you though I don't think we'll take advantage of it. It's there's enough in the pot the first thing TM will probably do is chuck new contracts at his mates. If it means tying up some of the good ones and youth a bit longer then fair enough. I can see deadwood being handed a lifeline again though. That isn't progress.

At leat Wharton has consistently been out there grafting away and cutting his teeth. It'll stand him in good stead in the near future you don't learn anything on the bench.

Its been touched on before but spewing 12 million on 2 'investment' types and selling your homegrown keeper for a few million to the club who's formula you claim you want to emulate is actually a million miles from it. This is why i find some of the pure waffle insulting it's just backside covering at worst and straw clutching at best. Both Brentford and Sheff Utd put their building blocks in place years ago and have stuck to a formula. In the last few years alone we've changed tack several times and look like doing again. Ok there's a transitional period but from what to what ? Unless you buy quality footballers you won't achieve quality football consistently enough to be at the top. Unless you spend your money on an actual goalscrorer or two you won't get the chances put away in tight games to make that extra bit of difference. You can't be surprised when the types we have miss the chances they do. All this needs building on a reliable regular keeper and a solid pair of regular center halves not changing every season or window. Where actually are we on all this ? Surely that's how you build a successful team over a number of years.

Sheff Utd was the other one but we've in no way ever resembled what they'd been building for years apart from flirting with a back 3 maybe. Preston as well although i think that was more comparing improving finishing position year on year. There's probably another in there as well but can quite recall who. Now he's bemoaning the constant not converting chances whilst highlighting Armstrong as our most potent weapon but totally absolving himself of the signings of Gallagher, Brereton and Samuel. The one's most guilty of missing chances but also the one's nobody else is surprised they do given their lack of goals before HE paid money for them. I'm done listening to him now he's a total waffle merchant and to be honest some of it is insulting now really. However we have a director who'll always have his back because he basically works for him and owners who swallow any old guff by the bucket load if they like you. We are still on course for our best ever Championship finish under this lot even if we miss the play offs so for that he deserves credit if we manage it. However it's always tinged with a large dose of a feeling we are blowing a good opportunity that might very soon evaporate and some of that is down to him as well.

Just proves what we've been saying all along this guy has no real core style. That's why his signings are scattergun and he's constantly swapping around. He's trying to copy other teams but he keeps changing his mind which one. How many has he held up now as the benchmark in the last few years ? Problem is he's trys to mould players he already has and the square pegs for round holes he's signed into something resembling what other clubs are doing. How about sign some bloody players to fit a style instead of the opposite way around.

Formica mk 2 I think he's a league above his natural level at the min.

Nobody in the first team best 11 should be benched for Elliot Bennett it's as simple as that but it doesn't work like that and nor does the manager. You need cogs in the wheel so it wouldn't be so bad if he was one of those in a consistent well moulded first 11 but he isn't that either he's every bit the utility man. They though are supposed to fill the holes when required not have different berths in the team created for them weak on weak. There are 3 tombolas at Ewood at present in TMs office, one for selection, one for tactics and Benno has one all of his own. Just has number 1 and number 10 removed but every other number is up for grabs ! Keeps it interesting i suppose.

More muddling around with the team and tactics will result in a more resolute performance this time but the usual weaknesses will cost us. Barnsley 2 Rovers 2 - After being 2 nil up !

The plan seems to be marginal gains each season and plenty flannel in their direction and they'll keep signing the cheques. Problem is as we've seen before it works in cycles and will only last like that a season or two at a time. So you've got to grab the bull by the horns before it starts to go backwards or all get broken up again.

That's a massive issue and some of comes down to just carrying players in the squad instead of going all out to try and find a game changer of two. Or even a nasty git or two who drag the rest along when needed. I know things can't be helped at the min but next season the likes of Smallwood, Samuel and one or two others simply must be moved on in order to bring in something that'll contribute more than just being nice around the place.

Yeah i'd like to think so although his influence on the team isn't on a par with Shearer even taking into account the different levels of ability. Worth considering though in line with what i said about the bigger picture having Dack in doesn't stop Walton gaffing, doesn't stop the manager providing the opposition with weak spots to target with his frequent square pegs in round holes approach. Also Dack good as he is was often doubled up on by the opposition or targeted by their henchmen as he surely would've been yesterday. So whilst i agree i think he'd have coniored up another goal & assist or two i'm not sure we'd be miles better off points wise because other things negate it. We don't have the quality in the squad to exploit other areas when the opposition minds are being occupied by him, with Rudy & Rhodes ably assisted by Conway & Cairney and to a lesser extent Marshall we did. Less carrying nice lads in the squad for the sake of harmony and a bit more quality and steel needed if we are to get over the line into top 6 contention on a regular basis.

Exactly that plus doing the same things over and over again yet expecting different results. We have subs coming on who rarely if ever change games they just slot in. If we are 2 nil up and he brings on Samuel and the like we might just kill it off and win by 3 nil or whatever. How often do we rescue a game or turn it round though ?