In recent weeks we have played quite well (apart from Oxford when we were poor) and in some of the defeats actually played better than in some of the games when we won six on the spin. Nobbers will undoubtedly try it on both physically and mentally but we simply have to match that including the dirty tricks. The game needs a strong referee unlike the one we had against Burnley recently. I was told that a few days after the Burnley game Eustace took all the first team squad into the video analysis room at Brockhall and made them watch the Dingles taking the piss out of our club with their ridiculous celebrations particularly with the corner flag stunt. The gist of his message was this doesn't happen again on our home ground. Hopefully the players heeded this.

As Tuesday was the claim your own seat deadline I ordered ours and was was surprised to see an option of 'add to your season card' which I took. I couldn't remember seeing this option on the first ticketing information the club put out but it is an option for any season ticket holder to use.

I know, I was using them as an example of how in recent times they have bullied us. Ledsom, Osmajic, Potts and the centre halves will be at it tonight.

In recent games against Nobbers they have, by and large bullied us. Players like Evans, Whiteman, Stockley have had the measure of us physically and in my view that has gone a long way to them getting a result. I genuinely think they see us as soft. The first thing we have to do tomorrow is compete and every player has to win his individual battle. The game also needs the referee (Josh Smith) to be strong on their gamesmanship. They will try and slow the game down at every opportunity particularly restarts and I wouldn't be surprised if they have employed the latest tactic of the keeper going down 'injured' so an impromptu team meeting can be held on the touchline. It's going to be a tight affair I think with not too much entertainment. I'll happily take that as long as long as we win.

I'm confused by the 'couple are close' comment from Eustace. What does it mean? Medical done? Fees agreed? Contract about to be signed? It's farcical once again. The reports of Kagbo coming after we increased our bid is embarrassing. The morons at Ewood trying to play hardball and end up paying what the selling club wants. The amount of time wasted on this when he could have been here much sooner (and potentially others too) borders on the ridiculous particularly when Eustace has been crying out for reinforcements for weeks now. They clearly have learned nothing from the last two botched January windows but maybe this time they won't be able to find a sacrificial lamb. Welcome to amateur hour John.

I saw the Barrow v Doncaster match and Duru was ordinary (although he is a player I really rate) and was taken off just after the hour mark. I don't know if he was playing to instructions but he hardly got forward at all and having seen quite a lot of him I believe it's one of his strengths. Also it can be difficult to shine in a low quality match As this one was.

I don't get the 'kind get any enthusiasm' line for this match. We are playing our second biggest rivals at home and we have an opportunity to shut them up for a while. They have had the Indian sign over us for some time now and beating them would only be bettered by beating that lot for me. For a few hours on Friday I'll forget all about the off field nonsense and concentrate on the football.

I saw Batty play for Stanley last night and the match made Burnley v Leeds look like a classic. It was difficult for any player to shine in the dross served up and Batty was in this category. I suppose from a Rovers perspective the fact he looked fit is a bonus and his substitution looked to be tactical (although shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic springs to mind). Predictably the game finished 0-0 and the match ball ended up in A & E.

What an awful match at the Hovel last night. The lack of quality was the most apparent thing to me quickly followed by both teams continually giving the ball away. If anything I thought Leeds just shaded it but when you look at the cost to assemble both teams it strengthens my opinion of Eustace.

Possible auditions for Garrett and Gamble? Also there is the possibility of another pair of brothers playing in a Rovers team.

To be honest I'm only interested in Rovers and the fact that other clubs haven't signed any players is immaterial. Our need since the window has been open was apparent to everyone including Eustace who has stated so several times. The fact we have dropped points in that period when new players would have given us a real chance of getting some speaks volumes about the state of our club and the lack of ambition. The excuses don't cut it with me and many others.

I understand he was approached by a few disgruntled fans who asked him about new signings. Given his penchant for evasion it could have been him just trying to appease them. Either way his rock bottom stock has dropped even further.

The transfer window is open for 34 days of which 27 have gone. So far Championship clubs have spent £44.1m and we haven't spent a penny. However you want to dress it up it's looking bleak.

But we didn't sign Thomas-Asante though despite Pasha posturing in the lounges before the Portsmouth game telling people that he was having a medical on the following Friday. If he was right what happened? I'm sorry but you are just making excuses up for the ineptitude and lack of ambition by the club.

According to this £44.1m has been spent by Championship clubs so far this window. I'd bet that we have actually reduced our wage bill with Forshaw and Sanderson in against McFadzean and Baker out. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj91z0zeklro

Why are you so obtuse? Do you get a kick out of it? It's really tiresome how try to be such a contrarian. Your ridiculous reply to JHRover sums you up.

So I'll compromise. Do you think if we had some new, quality players in the last three games (halfway through the window) we would have stood a better chance of getting more points. I don't buy this 'slow window' excuse. It's perpetuated by clubs like ours to cover up for inadequacies. We have had four months to identify targets and now almost four weeks into the actual window. Once again we have been let down by the hierarchy.

Let's assume we sign three players between now and the end of the window. Had we signed them before the Burnley game on January 4th do you think we might have more points than we do now? I think I know your answer but I'm asking anyway. In my view if we had added some quality to the squad and had them for the five league games we would have had more points. And from that perspective the window has been a failure.

On the subject of Sky match choices it looks like our match at QPR next Tuesday (which was scheduled for live coverage on February 8th had we not been in the FA Cup) isn't now being broadcast live.

Not quite Rovers Till I Die but more like Sometimes Rovers Till I Die.

There are already moves afoot by the top clubs and people in the HOL for the Independent Regulator to be scrapped or at the very least to have any proposed power scaled down. It was included in the Kings Speech in June and as yet nothing has happened. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6077532/2025/01/21/football-governance-bill-lisa-nandy/ https://www.osborneclarke.com/insights/new-independent-regulator-english-football-announced-kings-speech

I genuinely think that in the minds of some of them they feel that being critical is being disloyal so they simply support anything and everything that the club does to prove their loyalty. It's only my theory but having tried to converse with some of them I believe it to be true in most cases.I The most obvious ones are 'where would we be without them' and 'badly advised'.

I was awarded one in the summer (albeit thirty years late) and they are real quality and I would imagine quite dear. Your suggestion of not charging them might call on stony ground 😄.

Should that not read 'fat and improper owners'.

Nobody is hanging him out to dry or unfairly criticising him rather pointing out his glaring error. The really strange thing to me was that he clearly invited Twine to put it where he did and then never reacted. He has been far better this season and made a great save just before half time. Most of his errors are so elementary and thoroughly preventable.