arbitro

The players that are under contract will allegedly take a pay cut, I heard that one in three staff will lose their jobs but I would be amazed if the likes of Cheston and Senior will be affected financially. It would be interesting to know how many staff we employed pre Indians to how many there will be next season if we go down.

Well done in getting some time with the Sports Minister. I think any opportunity to air our plight should be taken and I hope she realises the damage that has been caused not just to our club. We have to keep chipping away and hopefully the longer game will be somebody in power actually takes some action to prevent this type of owner ever being able to buy a football club ever again.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4421510/Championship-relegation-battle-analysed.html

Has the Barnsley keeper morphed into Steele?

Following on from the Barnsley debacle I don't think we will get above three points from our remaining games. In all honesty I felt our chance of staying up disappeared when Mulgrew and Lenihan picked up their injuries at Reading. At such a crucial time any team would struggle without their two best and possibly most influential players in really important positions and such inadequate replacements.

Unlike Saturday Barnsley must have stopped running and grafting tonight. Either that or Wigan don't have as many 'bottlers' in their side. We should do away with blue and white and play in yellow with these cowards.

An article worth reading (apologies if it's already been posted). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/coventry-city/11448162/Tony-Mowbray-vows-to-reignite-Coventry-City-with-passion-honesty-and-a-blend-of-romance-and-realism.html

And once again that would say far more about the people running the show/owners/associates than Mowbray.

I'm not sure what people were expecting but this appointment pretty much fits the profile that Blackburn Rovers 2017 have created. First and foremost he will be cheap and for that they have got an experienced guy who can set up teams defensively. I don't think the next fifteen games will be pretty and relegation will be very much in the balance to the end of the season. For what it's worth I have just had a conversation with somebody who knows him well and has done for a long time. He praised his honesty and diligence and feels he can eke enough points from our remaining fixtures to keep us up.

That is what happens when managers continually blame other things and dance around their handbags instead of facing the truth. Players will use any excuse for mediocrity but when the manager gives them one on a plate they will undoubtedly use it.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11834/10749691/steven-nzonzi-signs-new-contact-with-sevilla

Well done to the team and management. It's always good to beat that lot at any level.

Can you elaborate please Philip?

Great work by DE and Bob. What struck me is how, despite being patently useless these players always get fixed up with a club somewhere. A general rule of thumb for clubs buying players should be the number of clubs they have played for. Generally they will have a plethora of short stays at clubs for a reason.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3780495/Alan-Shearer-statue-unveiled-outside-St-James-Park-ex-chief-Freddy-Shepherd-footing-bill-250-000-sculpture.html

And so far today those two must be thinking why would I sign a new deal. A good manager and coaching staff would improve those two considerably and we just haven't got that.

Sad news about the Accrington Football League which has ceased to be in existence. I think I have read posts on here which make fond references to it. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14666139.Final_whistle_for_amateur_football_league/

Sad news indeed Andy. If I remember correctly he was Blackburn born and bred and lived in Mill Hill. Memories of him as a player are sketchy but I do recall him being sent off in an FA Cup replay at Altrincham which was played on a midweek afternoon. Condolences to his family.

Moving Coyles ego and head in?

ITV4 did a really nice piece at the end of their TdF highlights programme this evening. It was all Chris Boardmans own words and was quite moving. RIP.

Quite extraordinary watching Chris Froome run up part of Ventoux and then be given a neutral bike with a different pedal to his cleats. Still as you say common sense prevailed and everybody seemed happy. Richie Porte looks really good and with some luck could really challenge.

Are you really comparing Coyle and Lambert as managers? Or are you forgetting who brought Irvine and Kelly in? Pretty sure they must have held Lambert in high regard to come here in the first place. I think you are making a mistake if you are being taken in by Coyles 'positivity'.

Ah but I can hear the people who want to give him a chance saying 'what do the Americans know about football'? Didn't the Bolton fans nickname him clueless and the comments from Dave Whelan are similar to the Houston supporters comments. The man is a bullshitter and has blagged his way into jobs and (with one exception) crashed and burned. His interviews are full of superlatives (he likes the word magnificent), something that makes me wary straight away.

Chris Neville was there under Bowyer when we had probably the most unfit side in years. If the manager takes a hard line regime players will follow. If Coyle wants to be one of the boys like Bowyer ill discipline will follow.

I certainly won't be giving him any stick because I won't be anywhere near Ewood on match days to do this. I implore all like minded Rovers fans to do the same and simply not renew their season tickets.