arbitro

I thought Travis looking extremely weary aided Swansea in their control of midfield. On several occasions he allowed their midfield runners to go last him unchallenged so much so that Lenihan called him out twice. I would have changed him for Garrett who would have been more suited to stopping Swansea coming forward. Also Nyambe was left exposed when Gallagher went off as neither Buckley or Dolan tracked back to help him primarily because neither are wide players in my view.

I predict that the Nobbers manager, a glorified number two, will be the first manager sacked in the Championship. I can see Paul Gallagher taking over too.

It's really good to start with a deserved win with lots of pleasing aspects to admire. No disrespect to any Rovers players but Armstrong would have had a hat trick today and that is what I believe will bite us on the backside over the course of the season. The pressing game won it for us today as Swansea were over playing in the wrong areas time and time again. The work rate was good today as was the intensity with which we played. As I said a win is a win but Mowbray worries me enormously. His changes resulted in players moving about and we lost some momentum with this disruption. It's simple for me, if you are comfortable in the game just go like for like and maintain the control you have by keeping the same system. In my book Mowbray handed the initiative to Swansea who could have stolen a point they didn't look like getting.

An apt description my friend.

It does matter what the gate is Gav. It is probably the truest barometer of where we are as a club. At a normal club low attendances would send shock waves through to the owners and senior management. We get excuses like 'we have tried' as an excuse for ther ineptitude. In fact I would be surprised if the owners had any idea on season ticket sales and attendances.

First day of the season which is normally one of the best days in the football calendar. Every club starts off the same and dreams and aspirations abound but today my feelings are different. I'm going today having bought a season ticket this week but I just feel disconnected from something that's has been a fundamental part of mine, my families and friends lives for decades. There are many reasons for this but the common denominator in these reasons is the owners who have decimated almost every aspect of the club in their decade of destruction and today that will culminate in our lowest opening day attendance in decades. And I still hear of people (I don't know any personally) who believe that they are good for our club. It's incredible to think that lots of fans will be happy with a fourth bottom placing before a ball is kicked. Sad times indeed. I expect Mowbray today to once again be too clever and come up with over complicated systems and tactics whilst having square pegs in round holes. Swansea are in a bit of disarray so it could be a first day six pointer. Wow.

If this was his own work and idea then surely it would have been far better to do it in a video and play it just before kick off tomorrow to ensure more people are aware of it and then a general press release. As it is lots of Rovers fan's won't even be aware of it. They take us for fools and look down on us with some kind of subservience.

Mowbray, Venus, Waggott, Pasha and Cheston have played a huge part in the financial mess we are in. In every year of their tenure we have massively over spent on wages, last year alone it was 187% of the turnover which is upwards of £10m. The contracts and contract extensions they have given out account for millions and we have had the arse end of nothing in return. I would love to know his much his budgets were and by how much he has over spent. And now Mowbray says he has sympathy with the owners. He speaks with forked tongue. There is no accountability amongst the lot of them.

It's strange. I've read this twice and nowhere did I see the word SORRY. The arrogance of the man to try and erase the last decade with no mention of it is staggering. Whoever is advising him should have told him the first step to redemption is to admit there is a problem. To mention Covid is an insult to our intelligence and dilute their mismanagement. Keen to know when they will return to Ewood? Never will be too soon. The patronising oaf can shove his coat of arms up his ample backside.

You missed my point. We have to force the mistakes (just as Bournemouth did) with a really high pressing game. If we stand off they will pass it around for fun. Mowbray has to factor this in to his team selection and tactics.

Out of curiosity I watched the highlights of Bournemouth v MK Dons game from last weekend. Hopefully the new Swansea manager, Russell Martin tries to play the same way as he did at Bournemouth. I really hope Mowbray has seen this and adopts a really high press.

Aya's killers have been sentenced to over 200 years collectively. Hopefully they never see the light of day again. https://www.lancashire.police.uk/news/2021/august/seven-men-jailed-for-more-than-200-years-for-the-murder-of-aya-hachem/

Signing on fees are paid over the period of the contract so I would say that is wages rather than transfer spend.

Mowbray dithered and dallied for ages before creating his European Scouting Network and now Brexit has pretty much out paid to any potential signings for a club of our size. It's another expensive failure and Mowbray is at the wheel again. How much has that bloke cost us with his benevolence to players and other failures.

I posted the other day that I actually rang Millwall on Monday to confirm our allocation. I was told that we are '100% getting an allocation'. She said Rovers are aware as they were talking to them on Monday morning.

I would start Garrett ahead of Davenport. He has been one of the main features of the pre season games. At Bolton on Saturday in the half hour he was on he was better than Travis and Davenport combined. When Buckley came on he played just behind Armstrong and looked really good.

You don't have to apologise mate - all you did was post something you were told. I think the majority like things like that being posted on here.

I'm not sure if anybody else has been following the Aya Hachem murder case which has been going on for about ten weeks now. Six of the seven defendants have been found guilty of murder and attempted murder and one guilty of manslaughter. Aya was the innocent victim of what was an intended drive by shooting which came about because of two businesses on King Street being at loggerheads. The Lancashire Telegraph has been really good in their coverage in what has been a quite compelling trial. I felt that all the defendants were telling lies and I hope now that justice is served. Credit to just to to Lancashire Constabulary for their thoroughness and professionalism. I hope Aya's family can take some comfort in the verdict.

We were given five paper tickets yesterday although only two had moved into the senior category and would need new cards. The young lady said everybody would have a paper ticket as the turnstile system wasn't ready for Saturday but would be for the next home league match.

I'm sure Bentley used to cover that lot for the Lancashire Telegraph before he got the job with them.

All roads lead to Swag.

I think that's a bit unfair on the staff who are there who work hard and are helpful. Yesterday there was one girl in the ticket office dealing with the public a few days before the season starts. The problem is that a significant number of key staff are still on furlough which is undoubtedly seen as a saving by Swag. I think some of these currently on furlough will be let go once it finishes.

I remember something coming out at a Supporter Consultation Meeting when it was described as something akin to pay day loans. I think it was the meeting when Coar was called out by some fans.

The information from Rovers was non existent so I rang Millwall yesterday and was told that '100% you will get an allocation' and the lady they were trying to sort the numbers with Rovers.

Two of our group have become seniors since we were last at Ewood so on renewal today we were expecting new season cards but we were all five given paper tickets for Saturday. They simply don't have any plastic cards in stock and the turnstile system won't be updated by Saturday to accept any season cards. The helpful young lady said it will be sorted for the second home league match and new cards would be posted out to anybody who didn't have one.