That's the thing though for i don't actually think the players bottled it, or the manage. We started brightly they were grafting it was just an unholy mess of a set up that played right into Derby's hands. They just sat in and picked us off, excellent strike for the first but it was as clear as day it was coming. Oceans of space opened up every time all across the back inviting that on. The formation, selection and tactics were about as wrong as you could get it was so obvious early on. The conductor was conducting the wrong tune on the day.

The Smallwood situation as well and i fully expect Samuel to be lavished a new deal before the end of the season. This is why i simply refuse to believe if he asked for decent money for defenders he was turned down. He's the Mowfather at Ewood he even has his own flag half the size of the pitch !

We are also growing players and shop windowing them for other clubs in our key positions which means it is start again next season. Yes we know that is part and parcel of the life of a middling championship club but it's arse about tit here. The money has all been shoved into to non scoring 'forwards of some description' up top and with the exception of Armstrong, wasted. That's going to leave us scraping around again all summer to put a worthwhile keeper and defence together then another half season for it to gel not helped by any injuries or the tombola on the sidelines. This isn't poking the manager for the sake of it these are facts and it isn't a slow build it is plugging gaps. Maybe he'll pull a rabbit or two out the hat again but as Mark Hughes said sooner or later the hat is empty. He's had ample opportunity and money whilst here to build a proper defence that mostly belongs to the club but he'd rather carry players in his squad, or his mates players. Rebuild in the summer yet again and mid table stability will be the target yet again next season, round and around we go. But of course some will try and pass it off as out billionaire owners bankrolling promotion bids !

Which is the same as wanting to be paid up and refusing to go out on loan or play for the U23s as he was earlier in the season. Bit of a shithouse really when you think about it but they gave him the contract so basically he's doing as he pleases. Being allowed to by the looks of it, not a good look or example.

SEM group plc He'd probably have jumped if he'd been paid up and whilst i'm glad we don't do that anymore you'd think they'd have been able to exert some kind of pressure to get him out the door and free up some space. He's taken a big gamble with his career though so he must have something sorted for next season.

Smallwood, he of the those agents, will have been paid a very nice wedge to do jack shit for an entire season soon. Just digest these things when we are told we can't afford certain players wages. Rides are still being taken at this place, allowed to by the looks of it.

Isn't there a poem titled 'The two sides of me' ? Perhaps that's more apt.

I thought a lot of them tried but that was an uncomfortable set up from the start. Seen it so many times now.

Great spirit, all in it together.

Be fair he was no worse than the casual defending in front of him and he saved a one on one you'd have expected them to score. Tipped another one from a good reflex save and the free kick second half. I think 50 percent of goals scored anywhere fall into the 'could have done better' category it always looks easy from the side.

All they've got to do though is sell a couple of players for big money to ease FFP and claw back some running costs. Then refuse to spend anything unless they can convince those lot it's long term 'investment' from trusted channels and that'll guarantee it goes on for another year or three. Still a tenth place finish is on paper at least progress but you do feel at some point it will cave in like it did for GB. Money and chances cannot keep being wasted for that reason alone. Today it's not the defeat it's the manner of it, then he comes out and blames the lack of balance he's responsible for creating at the beginning of that match. Unbelievable really it's like he's a pundit commenting on someone else's game he's just watched completely devoid of any responsibility for it. That's what annoys fans even those who fully support him.

Same old excuses, club demanding too much ( we knew that ), wages demands too big ( other clubs then pay it ), dressed wrong won't fit in with the group ( how does he actually know this ? ) But when it comes to the little black book, old boys network, right agents then suddenly all that goes out the window.

Homework and this lot clearly don't really go together when it comes to buying players. They seem to do ok with the loans so best bet is probably on that score. Then waste half a season to bed them in and find out how best they gel......

I certainly wouldn't pay silly money and big wages for him but i feel it wouldn't be money wasted if we do sign him. If TM and co are let loose in the desperate hunt for a keeper i feel money IS about to be wasted again. I've little to no faith in this fella when a decent wedge is available to spend.

Walton did well again today it would have been four or five if not. Think i'd prefer better the devil you know if we got him, surely we can get 3 million back on Brereton to buy him instead..................?

Well February is over and i did reasonably well to stay off his case but today just showed why it'll always be a step forwards and a step back under this fella. Players were up for it but found themselves 2 nil down then some heads go down but they were up against a brick wall today in terms of their own formation and tactics. Just a case of sit and wait for Derby. Yes we could have done with the bits of quality that are missing but we've coped fine so far and that wasn't the issue today at 0-0 or 0-1. What was was the disjointed tactical mess that hindered us everytime we had the ball, which was quite often for a second at a time ! So so predictable and the main point is your marquee signings have to step up in these games, they never do. WHY ? Well for a start they are stuck in stupid position that only utilise any workrate they might have but hinder any actual talent there may or may not be there. They were signed to the tune of 12 MILLION POUNDS yet offer nothing but water carrying the likes of Jason Lowe and Elliot Bennett are known for. Honest Tony has plenty about him to have us in with a shout but he's flaws a plenty as well, that's the issue they hold us back as much as push us forwards. Never mind it'll all be the players and refs fault.

Absolutely fuming at that a tactical shambles from the off, ridiculously easily out thought yet again !!!! Players were grafting hard at the beginning but you might as well place a couple of cones in the box instead of expecting Gallagher or Brereton to get in there on the end of something. Gallagher a 5 million pound striker covering the midfielder at right back and Brereton basically running around in midfield then they all run down the right hand side with Travis. Seriously Mowbray WTF !!! Tried hard second half but totally and utterly devoid of any idea, direction or guile and that's just on the sidelines never mind the pitch. Derby won't have an easier afternoon or 3 points all season. No excuses, no blaming in juries we've turned in those type of tactical clusterf###s too many times no matter who's available. Unacceptable pish when there's something to play for.

All he understands is he made an overambitious projection based on nothing really and now he's trying every opportunity to cover the shortfall. Covering his own back in other words.

Plenty players to sell........

Tickets priced over £25 for live tv games for home or away fans. Disgraceful industry that allows this but more fool those Yorkshire turkeys who pay it.

I thought Del would fall into the favs category to be honest. He was the one who told the manager he was now a centre half not a left back and he went in as one for a spell. Maybe that cost us bringing another in. Decent back up to have around on a modest contract but never first choice material now.

People have PR people, they hire PR firms etc and part of their job is to go round social media to try and dampen things, distract, twist, peddle and the main one.. spin ! It happens all over and it'll have happened on here down the years, again nothing unique in it.

That explains it then.

Is his contract running down ?

When fans want a player upgrade it doesn't mean they have an agenda it just means they want a better team. I like Bennett but his time is almost up and i'd swap him tomorrow, i like Gallagher but wouldn't have signed him, certainly wouldn't deploy him where he usually is and would swap him tomorrow for a decent right winger or proper target man. I like Mowbray but would swap him for an upgrade if it was possible at the end of the season. There's my 'agenda's' all laid out bare.