arbitro

One of my gripes about playing Hedges at centre half was that we lost his experience playing out wide and De Neve defensively isn't diligent enough to play that role. He didn't let us down as you say but Ismael weakened us by playing him there.

He will be banking on Carter staying fit and Tronstad not going in January. Given Carter's injury record I can't see it which could well put us in a situation where a winger will have to play centre half. Just on Carter was there any elaboration from Ismael with regard to his cryptic interview recently where he questioned aspects of Carter's lifestyle?

There is an under 21 match tomorrow against Derby at Leyland. This is a perfect opportunity to give Carter some playing time. I'm not holding my breath though given the reluctance we have shown in this respect.

On the long throw in aspect it was frankly pathetic. Miller can regularly hit the near post with with some accuracy and pace. So the best header of the ball, McLoughlin was usually on the far post which nullified any danger we might have posed. I can't recall one attacking throw where we got the first contact. And our corners were generally poor too. De Neve took two corners in quick succession in the second half, one must about made it to the near post the other went that long it almost went out for a throw. Ventre really has his work cut out. I noticed he was prominent in the Technical Area for our set plays but it's too early to apportion and blame into him. He now has two weeks to improve an aspect of our game that frankly has been shocking so far.

For the time he was on I thought Montgomery was our best midfielder today. You won't know if they are good enough or not until you try them. Ismael's reluctance to do so is apparent.

A real worry for me going forward is that, starting at Nobbers on November 21st we have ten league games before the end of the year. Given our wafer thin squad and the rate at which we are picking up injuries it is really going to stretch our meagre resources. Ismael might have to integrate a few young players although his apparent reluctance to do so could hinder us.

And Ryan Hedges is a modern day John McNamee? He doesn't half insult our intelligence.

Similarly we would have stayed had the result been different but we were flat after our result and waiting the best part of an hour to watch was more than we could bear. I don't think there was too much (if any) mention of the 150 year thing before the game. Even the minutes silence/last post was disorganised.

What another frustrating afternoon at Ewood where our awful home record has become a huge problem. After four away wins the question has to be asked if we are more suited to playing away. Of course losing three of our most important players was going to be difficult but the set up, for me made that even worse. I was really surprised to see how we lined up at the start. Ryan Hedges at centre half? Come on Ismael, that frankly is a nonsense. Henrikson in central midfield? Again a square peg in a round hole. It was obvious that under Eustace Derby would bomb the ball in. Allowing two unchallenged headers was ridiculous from our point of view but as worrying was how uncompetitive we were. Derby won tackles, second balls and invariably got the first contact on set pieces. We simply allowed them to do that knowing that is exactly what Eustace would have done. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and I thought Ismael got his half time change wrong by taking Gardner-Hickman off instead of Henrikson who I thought looked like a fish out of water in central midfield. We competed much better in the second half and played at a much higher tempo. We got in behind several times although the final ball was generally poor. The goal gave us a real boost and at that point, with Derby rocking I thought Ismael should have brought Gueye on right then. Eustace did his usual after going in front when they sit in and invite pressure. I believe they were rocking after the penalty and in my view bringing Gueye on would have really worried them. Despite a couple of half chances the game petered out and another home defeat left us all flat. I hope this set piece coach can improve us because today, particularly from Miller's throws we were awful. In the first half all our taller players stood on the far post. On which planet would those thrown ins get that far. I hope Morris had a packet of anadin after the match because his head must have been pounding as he headed the ball many, many times at both ends of the pitch. No doubt Ismael will use injuries as his main reason for losing but in my view his team selection was one of the factors in the first half. Something has to be done about this abysmal home form but can Ismael come up with a winning formula. Personally I doubt that.

I hope your youngest has a great day and remembers his first game for the rest of his life.

Excellent mate. The club should use that, make sure you get a copyright. 😂

Not that I believe there is a snowball (no pun intended) in hell's chance of it happening but today of all days should be the time the Indians turn up to witness a unique milestone in Rovers history. They own the club, profess to watch games and allegedly want the best for the club. As I don't believe that will happen will there be some patronising message from them? I'm sure the fans who think they are doing a good job will blame the fans who are vocal against their ownership for their non attendance. Hopefully if they are conspicuous by their absence it will be commented on by the national media and put them in the spotlight again.

If you racially abuse a player at Ewood you will get possibly a three year banning order. Similarly if you bit another person in the ground you would likely end up with a criminal conviction. Why, because it happens on the pitch is this any different?

Thanks Ian - the t-shirt arrived today and is quality.

It really is bordering on the extreme mickey taking with the Ipswich and Norwich games being brought forward to 12.30 kick off times. Anybody who is driving will be leaving at 6 am allowing for weather and traffic. There should be a provision in the contract whereby clubs can make a couple of challenges to the Sky selection (not that our lot would care) simply as a consideration to travelling long distances at ungodly hours.

I think it was one of those 'not as bad as first feared' situations.

We really have painted ourselves into a corner with this. I get selling Hyam and the reasons behind it. My issue was the timing of his departure and just doesn't reflect well on those in charge with absolute on the hoof management. It looks like Craig Dawson is still without a club. Bringing him in weeks ago should have been the priority.

Should read ten weeks.

Here is a little teaser. 😂 It the foreword from Kenny Dalglish.

Pickering has played in a three and did well. He was in a defensive trio with McFadzean and Carter when we beat Leicester to stay up.

The win at Bristol has come at a real cost. Aside from Toth Scott Wharton has an achilles problem and the early prognosis is the weeks I'm told. Hayden Carter will be on the bench due to lack of minutes. I have a problem with this though as we had an under 21 game last Friday and if Carter was a bit short on match fitness (he has been in full time training now for a couple of weeks) then why not give him 45 minutes with them. If one of the two or three centre halves gets injured early in the game (or even in the warm-up) then surely Carter will be called on. It makes very little sense to me not to utilise under 21 matches for some of the first team squad.

I picked mind up yesterday. Although I have only skimmed through it the quality of it is excellent. As for the content from my ten minutes looking through it that looks good.

Eustace exploited Pears' weakness in the air in the first few minutes at their place. Now they have Carlton Morris who will be his normal, physical self.

I honestly don't know. I don't have any real knowledge of how they work.

That was kind of my point. Out of the three I had one was 10 days but the others were longer. I recall Ally McCoist coming back within two weeks after a meniscus tear. Everyone is different with regards to recover. I'm hoping Toth is a quick healer. Ally McCoist suffered a meniscus tear (a common type of knee cartilage injury) during his playing career, and famously returned to action in less than two weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery for it.