The general co consensus is that we need up to eight new players who can be in and around the first team come August. The big question for me is do I think Mowbray is capable of bringing the right players in and then fitting them into a team. The next question is what he does with the dross he gave lengthy contracts to as a reward for doing their job. I'm wavering on both at the moment.

I thought we played quite well today offensively and under normal circumstances scoring two goals should get you at least a point but once again defensive errors cost us massively. To describe them as schoolboy errors would be a huge injustice to schoolboy footballers. My patience has completely gone with Raya who I don't think has the fundamentals of goalkeeping and simply is responsible for too many goals conceded. He does the difficult things comfortably but some of his basic goalkeeping is shocking. I would bench him for the rest of the season and sell him on in the summer. Our full backs today hardly stopped a cross coming in and that's dangerous when the centre halves can't head it (Magloire excepted) or defend pathetically. I haven't heard Mowbrays interview but read he criticised Joe Rothwell. He was the player who excited me today going forward. He was a breath of fresh air and I really think Mowbray could be losing the plot as his recent interviews are all over the place. He needs to look at himself as much as his awful defenders. I suppose the big question is would anyone trust Mowbray to rebuild the squad given that the bulk of his signings have been poor and some players who I thought would push on this season have regressed.

It's interesting to see that Rankin-Costello has been converted to a full back. Do you think that's were his long term future lies? Given that we are thin on the ground for quality full backs it's an interesting move.

I don't mind mate if you want to swap.

He retained a 10% ownership in Salford when he took the Oldham job. I think there was also something about each club not being able to do transfer business with each other. As you rightly say it doesn't matter now but I was surprised the EFL allowed him to have any interest in another club particularly one on the verge of promotion.

To my knowledge it only happened once to me. Referees are often publicly criticised but it's not that often it is of a personal nature.

Which bit are you meaning?

I'll do Villa.

All players and managers are in the public eye and therefore will receive criticism (and praise) but that should be limited to how they played, not what colour they are or what their faith is. I once read in a national paper that a manager said I was a disgrace. I took umbrage to this and rang him to tell him that describing me as a disgrace reflects on me, my family and the responsible position I held at the time. He apologised and agreed that in future he would criticise decisions and not the individual.

I'll do one. I don't mind which.

In the article below it says we could only name six substitutes for the second time that season. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/14213138.FULL-TIME_REPORT__Newport_County_1_Blackburn_Rovers_2/

I have a recollection of us not having the full quota of substitutes in the recent past. I'm sure a couple of players fell ill on the morning of a long distance away match. Anybody remember this?

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17501598.rovers-suspend-supporter-after-defender-racially-abused-online/ This is the LT article.

It's cowardly to post things like that on social media. I don't understand why people like that aren't before a judge.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11945/11665044/champions-league-final-ticket-allocations-revealed-by-uefa The Champions League final ticket allocation has been announced with each finalist getting 17,000 each while 25,000 tickets are allocated to the local organising committee (whoever they are), UEFA and national associations, commercial partners and broadcasters.

He was given a new contract recently until Summer 2021 and I would think he is one of the highest paid at the club. I can't see his transfer value being that high. I just didn't see any justification in him getting a new deal.

Rovers supporters, as a collective are no different than fans of any club. When I read posts like that its almost like there is public outcry against Mowbray. The vast majority who have been critical of the manager and players have done so quite constructively. Probably the biggest 'moaner' has been Mowbray himself who has criticised individual players and the team in general. Not on a fans website though but in the local newspaper.

I can't agree with 'resting' Graham. After Saturday we don't have a game for two weeks and he can recover then. I don't believe we are the same team without him and his presence in our own penalty area cannot be underestimated particularly as Wednesday are a big side.

On the plus side though Matty it looks like we are losing Ipswich and Norwich and possibly Reading. I quite like going to the London clubs as it's easy on the train. That could be Fulham and Charlton added to Millwall, QPR and Brentford.

I won't give this pillock the satisfaction of reading his drivel but I bet he doesn't mention Mowbray publicly calling out players and being generally critical of the team. I find people like him put themselves on a pedestal and endeavour to take some moral high ground over us mere mortals. Still if it wasn't for this website some of the 'bloggers' would struggle for material for their weekly diatribe.

Nobbers one down at Middlesbrough. It'll be interesting to see if they delay every restart now. And they had an allocation of 602 tickets. Still two cup finals in four days is a big ask. They call us plastics.

I honestly can't see any further action. There absolutely was contact around Reeds chest from the high foot of the Wigan player. I thought Reed was clever how he came on the blind side but for me it was nailed on. I think there is an element of the world's against us (perhaps to instil a siege mentality) from Cook as they lost to a controversial goal on Saturday.

Last night we had four Academy graduates playing and they all played really well. I'll be happy if another two or three under 23's can get some game time over the coming weeks after the notion of 'not being ready' or 'too big a step up' was broken last night. One way or another these lads are our future. I understand that Paul Cook and Joe Royle have complained to the EFL about the penalty. I thought it was a penalty but Reed was clever how he got it. He knew he was coming in on the blind side of the Wigan player and if he got there first there would be some contact with his upper body. It was a turning point in the game but I don't think anybody was say it was definitely wrong.

A really welcome win which should give the players some confidence after the poor run we have been on. I thought we looked like a team who hadn't won for some time until Reed cleverly won the penalty and Graham despatched expertly. In the second half I thought Dacks play was excellent as he got on the ball and looked hungry. I was delighted when he scored and he looked relieved. Graham was terrific throughout and other players seemed to feed off him. Magloire looked good and it was pleasing to see him square up to that nasty little shit Garner. He looked tired towards the end and lost a few headers but overall he can be delighted with his debut. And I think Mowbray deserves some credit for his changes. I liked it when McManaman outpaced Conway early in the second half. Mowbray saw that Wigan were going to target Conway down our right and immediately swapped Conway and Bennett over. Chuffed to win because ultimately that's all that matters.

I think the Scottish doctors are allowed to examine him to ensure the injury is legitimate. I also think he has to report for duty so presumably he will be in a car for three hours, ideal for a hamstring strain. Hopefully they don't shout at him though to make it worse.