That's the thing about cult hero's these days when they are doing the biz they are the man and whatever else they are up to doesn't matter in fact it just cements their status. I can shag about, go out, not train hard and i'm still better than anyone else. When they aren't doing it then it's a massive stick to beat them with because the fact they are all over media and social media doing it comes back on them as the reason they aren't performing. Back in the day they just had to stay out of the pub or the bookies for a couple of weeks until the heat was off and they scored again. Not possible now with all the media self promotion and every fan wanting a selfie.

I'd go with that we need someone a bit fresher and a bit more bold or maybe ambitious. Spot on about the 'click' bit Souness was prime example of that it now needs someone to drive it forwards and give it some fresh ideas and for gods sake just move away from the two defensive mids sitting back football we've had flung upon us ever since Corry frigging Evans somehow parachuted into BRFC to earn good money from a lifetime of mediocrity. Surely some manager somewhere must be able to see beyond that and have the balls to implement it and stick with it even if we lose a few.

A livelier effort and a goal for us in this one but the same old bizarre in game tactical switches and subs. Elliot Bennett starts up front on his own or in goal. Rovers 1 Derby 2

You only do what he does with Bennett when you are in the midst of some humungous injury crisis and it's all hands to the pump. What he's doing is desperately shoe horning him into the side every game just for the sake of it. Like I said the other day it's insulting to fans now when there are other options. That's not a dig at Bennett it's a dig at the manager who clearly is terrified of either upsetting his pecking order or putting faith in his other players.

That's what I've been saying ages in regards to people expecting massive changes- it won't happen he's tied us to them and them to us and they aren't the types coveted by others who'll pay a fee or they'll take a pay cut off their lucrative contracts to go somewhere else. It would take a massive injection of funds of huge wage bill hike to bring in better to replace them and plonk them on the bench as back ups never mind what it would do to this fabled dressing room spirit. What you saw yesterday will make up the core of the team that starts next season and in all likely hood similar football because this guy and his sidekicks can't coach anything different that much is obvious. There'll be no huge upgrade in personnel and no big tactical change either what we realistically need to hope for is a bit of quality. verve, and steel at the back adding to what we have and a bit more consistency turning loses into wins they way we play now. It's plain daft to expect anything else we've seen nearly two and a half seasons of Mowbrays management and style now. Hows he going to turn all that on it's head in one summer at this stage of his career ? Not happening, best we can hope for is an improvement on the same stuff !

The Bolton game would've been the right one to do that offer it'd let them learn about a bit of local rivalry at least. No disrespect to Stoke they have good support always up here but they have to be one of the most bland football clubs around. If ever there was a club invented to sit in the middle of the Prem or the Champ for eternity it's them for some reason. Probably say the same about us mind ! Anyway losing the first game you attend is the right of passage for any true future diehard not fortunate enough to start in the Kenny/Shearer era surely ?

It was an odd one and that's why I think the money men have had a say maybe telling him to trim a bit if possible despite what was trotted out. He's thought i'lll utilise the squad seeing as Rodwell is looking fit and his long term plan for Williams is centre half but it bit us almost straight away and although Downing had his limitations he was tall and a decent header of the ball at least. Can understand them wanting to let the lad get fixed up but Mowbrays thinking on this for someone so experienced is poor in terms of shunting on a proper centre half for gambles on an injury prone all to prove converted midfielder and a potential converted left back !

I agree he was at the end of the road a while before that but after he'd raised them so much money you'd be forgiven thinking he was entitled to reinvest a bit of it and rebuild after the austerity forced on him. I'm sure if he'd gone on a run like this he'd have been facing the huge question marks. This fella can't live off that promotion forever he's fast approaching the point where he has to prove himself at this level all over again seeing as his best spell for us was in league 1 and before that he was in league 2 with Coventry. If they aren't a bit worried in the corridors of power at Rovers they've learnt absolutely nothing.

It bit us within a couple of weeks just as predicted it would he made a weak defence even weaker. Piss poor management that from someone so experienced and what we've seen of him second half of this season is exactly what they did at WNA, Boro, Celtic & Coventry after he'd been found out. He has obvious strengths the main one being experience something we just haven't had under Venkys but on the pitch he's very far from being astute, average on a good day piss poor the rest. All the evidence is out there and it is fact i'm afraid, he was on the scrap heap when someone scooped him up and plonked him in front of Venkys that's another fact. Head has to rule heart in football nothing else matters. Bowyer was cut a bum deal when he was sacked but if TM was sacked now after the past few months we couldn't really say that in all honesty could we, he's had money and 8 months since promotion. No we don't expect the play offs but I think we are perfectly entitled to expect a bit better than what we are seeing the alarm bells are ringing loud and clear now.

He's had it that easy here with the fans yes I think he does. The lengths he's going to now to explain this bullshit it's like he knows he spinning it but he's trying to convince himself as well as everyone else. Worrying traits developed in him the last couple of months he's going more Coyle like as time goes on but I think like all managers do he's just covering his own arse at the end of the day.

But you know what it's like at Ewood a lot keep their lid on even Souness commented we are the most patient crowd he's ever come across. However being an odd bunch it sometimes takes something odd as a tipping point but when Ewood blows it blows big style and it's usually too late then for team and manager. Only notable exception I can think of is the first home game last season when I think TM and the players were visibly shell shocked at the force of it out of nowhere after we'd gone down with barely a whimper. Turned out to be the best thing the crowd did in the last few years, they'd do well to remember that tonight in the bowels of the club.

Not saying he's playing to lose I don't think he's that type for one min but the contract he's on will be a good pay off and I think maybe a while back he got to the point of not being that bothered if he is potted. Maybe he was denied funds and took the flack for them or maybe there wasn't enough to spend on what he wanted and he bottled spending what there was but since then to me he's increasingly wore the look of someone just going through the motions and it certainly rubbed off on the team. Gone as far as he can here ?

Nothing against Bennett he's been a good player for us but Mowbray shunting him around the team literally every week and in every game when there are better options is bordering on insulting now. The only thing I can think of is he must be very influential in the dressing room and must keep a lid on a few dissenting voices in there !

Dog turd again and again and again is there a more casual team and management in this league ? But I guess when you're bullet proof a shrug of the shoulders will do. Dire but hey only 0-1 this week after 1-2 last so surely a draw to celebrate soon !

Just how much money are they throwing the little git ? About time he started earning it I really think we have Bentley mk2 here.

The distraction of her will ruin his career but he'll only realise when it's too late. Pity she's so far below z list to get on even Strictly but something like that would end it for good it usually does for other celeb 'climbers'.

I'd take Bauer I think but is he actually a Championship ready player ? Also we migtht have missed the boat on that one if two or three ambitious clubs come in offering good wages.

Will be any different than usual though ? Two kids on loan from Prem clubs and a free transfer who needs 6 months to get up to speed will cover half the 5 or 6 mooted incomings and won't make a jot of difference. Be nice if the other two were actually good enough to come straight into the team and dislodge some who continue to hold the shirts despite not being good enough consistently at this level !

Good gesture by the club it's about time they did this although a bit sneaky seeing as they know not many will go anyway. Hope we take full allocation and all coaches fill up, few extra grey hairs for Waggot !

He was the guy saying he wasn't concerned about the defence and we had plenty capable cover ! He really is away with the fairies these days the number of times he's contradicted himself in the past few months is getting a bit annoying now.

The LT are on the case now after Mowbray waxed on about new signings basically saying it might be 5 or 6 with seemingly one for every position. We know exactly what that means, back ups, punts and a couple of Prem loan kids again. The PR machine is cranked up and on the road again. Throwing numbers around is one thing but backing it up with anything decent is another the focus already seems on how many rather that what. We'll be fed this line relentlessly now but anyone with half a brain knows we won't be signing half a new team of starters....apart from you know who ! I'm dreading summer already.

IT glitch ? Perish the thought they'd have to just place stewards on the turnstiles to check tickets and take cash to let people in. I thought they needed the money from the home games ? I know Boltons players are a bit robotic but surely they aren't controlled by IT as well !

I think the main problem is Mowbray just doesn't fancy players of his type other than impact subs.

In an ideal world i'd go target man, proper midfielder and experienced captain material centre half and i'd be after quality not any old gamble. Right down the spine of the team and it wouldn't need to upset everything else or massively alter the way he plays it would imo just improve it enough to have a better season than this. Failing that I wouldn't be adverse to a good centre half, a back up one, a good left back and a decent striker on loan. All that should be perfectly doable if the other ideal world isn't. Somehow from inside his dense wooded tree house I think Mr Mowbray will see it completely different to us though.

Wasn't Rothwell carrying injuries when he was signed and it took him a long time to get up to speed ? I see similar in Chapman and being so young I think TM is following his instincts and letting him grow into his body a bit and hopefully grown out of the injuries so after a clear summer of a full pre season he should be useful from the start of next so I can understand this seeing as we've zip all to play for. Rothwell now he's fit should be starting more and more importantly he should be used in his proper position to bed in for next season. For me though again it all comes down to not signing players good enough and match ready to straight into the first 11 and stay there if they merit it. Until that changes we'll continue to see the other approach.