arbitro

I was looking for a game to go to next Tuesday and saw Southport are playing Macclesfield so decided to get a ticket. Out of curiosity I had a quick look at the Southport squad and saw a number of ex Rovers. Their manager is Neil Danns and amongst their squad they have Dan Pike, Jordan Slew and Paul Murphy-Worrell.

With so many variables that could affect a result I never really do predictions but I'm quite fearful for today's game. On the evidence of our first two games and based on what Gestede and Ismael said I was expecting a high tempo pressing game but I haven't seen much evidence of that. In truth at times we have looked far too ponderous in possession and the lack of forward movement alarming. In fact the slow starts in both games have been almost the opposite of what they promised. After going behind in those games we did increase our intensity but we created very little, something of a recurring theme under Ismael. He is going to have to earn his wages today for sure and come up with a game plan to hinder Birmingham's intensity. Compare that to the start Birmingham have made in both of their games. High intensity, high energy and pressing all over the pitch. They will surely fly out of the traps and try to exploit our propensity to start slowly. With that in mind we have to score first if we are going to win and at least give us something to defend.

I get he did an Irish jig. 😂

Thanks for taking the fight to them Kenny and on a personal note thanks for asking questions on my behalf. I fully understand your rationale and doing what your conscience and heart tell you.

I'm not unduly concerned about replacing Travis as a player but his presence as a captain and leader will be sorely missed. Quite simply I can't see anyone (maybe over time Miller) from the current squad who will be able to replace him in that respect. It sounds like he wants to go and has made it public but this has been coming for some time now so it doesn't surprise me. It boils down to the awful management and poor handling of players new deals and our anger should be directed towards those people.

On Saturday and again last night we started really slowly. I don't know if it's a mindset but it's going to cost us dearly if we don't correct it. We have been outdone by the tempo management of both West Brom and Bradford. Having seen Birmingham on Friday their main asset was the intensity in which they played. If we don't at the very least match that from the first whistle it will be a long afternoon.

The last I heard was that the trial evenings they had recently for recruitment of new players were a disaster with very few potential players turning up. The season kicks off for them this Sunday.

Last night was disappointing from Ismael. I really thought we should have made changes at half time (despite scoring just before) along with a change of shape. I felt we should have gone to a back three and got our wing backs really pushing forward as we just didn't hurt them from wide positions. Pickering and Montgomery hardly got forward at all. The disappointment for me was that Ismael didn't do anything and when he did later on we looked all over the place with too many square pegs in round holes. Last season when we went a goal in front his changes invariably were to make us more solid defensively to hold on for the win. Going behind presents him with a situation I really think he struggles with. At 2-0 down yesterday he was bringing everyone back for Bradford's corners and set pieces. I found that infuriating but in fairness the last four Rovers managers have done this. It's almost like he is conditioned and finds a reluctance to do something different during the actual game.

It's symptomatic of so many things that are wrong with Rovers. For the last few months it has almost been like an afterthought to announce information relating to both our under 21's and under 18's. I don't know where the blame lies but it certainly is beginning to grate with supporters.

Unless Lowe is taking them to a tribunal (purely speculation by me) for unfair dismissal. Not knowing the circumstances and the confusion caused by Shaikhey it's left open to speculation.

The new guy, Nacho Sancho (great name btw) only joined a couple of weeks ago and he is listed as Head of Performance (it had to be head of something).

Jack Vale, James Brown and Joe Nuttall amongst the players still looking for a club.

Two of those clash with first team matches. As well as tonight we play Sheffield United on October 21st.

Well done Ian and Scott again. Hopefully your contract extensions are being negotiated between your agents and the club - we can't let you both go for free. Get the open top bus provisionally booked 😂😂

Send in the Clowns is my request especially the last line which goes 'well maybe they're here'.

What a way to get cautioned. 😂

We said similar yesterday. O'Hare could be another to leave. Sheffield United still have parachute payments coming in which makes selling so many players whilst not spending much seems odd.

I heard on the radio travelling back from West Brom that Sousa has also gone. I completely missed that one. He was one of the top three Championship midfielders for me.

If I remember correctly the message was on headed paper with eggs included in the actual heading. Something tells me golden egg cup but I could be getting mixed up with a Royle Family episode. 😂

One certainty today is that Rovers will be well supported on the road again.

On this video?

I see the town and people as part of our heritage and mutually inclusive.

Well done Glen for keeping calm to what I saw as a provocative, ill informed post.

I watched the video that Shearer presented and thought it was good, a potted history celebrating what is good not just about Rovers but about Blackburn people and the town. Personally I would like to see that on the big screen before every match.

The Birmingham v Ipswich game contained one real ingredient that can make for a successful Championship season - the intensity you play at. I thought it was relentless and significantly several players from Birmingham were suffering from cramp from 75 minutes. Two big decisions went against Birmingham too. It's difficult to categorically way they were wrong but both, I thought were extremely harsh. Kyogo looks a real player. I really thought Ipswich were favourites in paper but I saw a few chinks in their armour last night and this season could be a really open one in the Championship.