The loan market has been an epic fail this season. Morton, Hirst, Mola and Thomas have not really improved the squad certainly not compared to what we already had whereas Burnley, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough have hugely improved their squad with loans. I don't believe ours have scored a goal between them and single digit assists. A meagre return from Broughton and his recruitment team. They simply have to do better.

Southampton are playing like they have already been relegated. They should be fighting like crazy for the PL life but they have shown absolutely nothing. West Ham aren't much better though.

I don't think he is as bad as some of his critics suggest but fundamentally I'm against this type of loan where in truth they aren't really better than what we have. There are exceptions of course (Harvey Elliot) but essentially they are impeding the progress of our own. Mowbray loved the name dropping of a top six loanee and their club but hopefully Tomasson will realise that the grass isn't always greener.

My understanding is that both Adam and Ash Phillips were given bit of time off after a heavy schedule with England the week before. Neither of them were in the senior or under 21 squads yesterday

I think it might become the norm for high risk fixtures. The remaining Old Firm games won't have and away supporters this season after a steady reduction in allocation. With the high cost of security for such games I think clubs will be happy to reduce away numbers.

And surprisingly still a 3 o'clock kick off.

I would be tempted to play Dolan simply because he has the energy to press high up the pitch as Norwich will try and play out from the back. He did this successfully in both wins at Carrow Road this season.

And that is the story of our inconsistency for me. Pressing high, high tempo, low possession football is when we are getting results by invariably playing forward. If opponents sit in and let us have the ball in our half we simply don't have anybody capable of picking the killer pass so most of our play is safe play, keeping the ball but going nowhere. The evidence is there in that when we have the bulk of possession we lose.

I have just seen the goal back and there is a real weakness there which has seen us concede three goal in the last two games. We are so slow getting out to challenge players outside the penalty area and giving them time to control the ball, take a touch or two and shoot. In fact Travis, the nearest player to Khadra today turns his back on the shot. Hopefully Tomasson recognises this too and addresses it.

With two games in four days Tomasson will have to be creative with his selections and try and keep players fit and fresh whilst winning both games. Thomas won't be playing on Monday so he will have to use him on Friday and replace him on Monday. Norwich will be a tough test but I think they are the type of team we flourish against as the try and play out from the back. A high press coupled with some high intensity should get us something out of the game.

After travelling to hundreds of football matches over the years the journey to Birmingham today was the worst I have had after travelling four hours and actually missing around fifteen minutes at the start of the game. I must admit I questioned myself several times whilst crawling along and asked if it is worth it all. Today was a day when it wasn't worth it as we looked quite ordinary against a Birmingham team who have been struggling recently and, if we are to be promotion contenders have to beat. It wasn't the worst performance of the season by a long way but it was the worst for some time in my view. There were flashes of the bad habits which have cost us so many times this season as we over played at times and moved the ball too slowly. We were crying out for creativity but we just don't have that type of player who can create for us and make things happen. As frustrating as the day has been in the bigger picture I'm not too despondent as Tomasson has shown recently that he has enough about him to take us forward but it's important that he is backed and Broughton does his job better than he has shown so far and delivers the right players.

I know Matty but I'm struggling to admit I want them to win. It's a weird feeling 🤣🤣

I thought Mowbray got it right tactically last night (it's not too often that has been said in the last half decade) as he squeezed the life out of them and didn't allow them and time on the ball. Hopefully Tomasson will have taken note and plays a similar way when play them soon and not the way we did when we surrendered to them in November. It's a real quandary I find myself in looking at their next two games (Middlesbrough and Sheffield United) when them winning would really help us but I just can't bring myself to actually want them to win.

I honestly can't see Ayala being offered a new deal (and will be disappointed too) for a few reasons primarily his injury record and wages but one big consideration for Tomasson is that Sam Barnes will be fit by then. Tomasson talked highly of him in pre season and I saw him a couple of times in friendlies and he looked comfortable.

It tickles me that some posters who are knocking our potential following at Birmingham aren't going themselves and in some cases don't even go to games at Ewood.

He has done exceptionally well because they aren't on sale yet. There will be idiots claiming to have tickets all over Ewood as we get closer to the game but, as we have seen before there will be none anywhere apart from the Darwen End on the day.

These entitled footballers really annoy me. They blame everyone and everything apart from themselves. Beaten by Scotland, suck it up and move on instead of making an absolute fool of yourself. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12844556/scotland-boss-steve-clarke-on-beating-spain-we-have-put-a-marker-down-rodri-the-way-scotland-play-is-rubbish

Scott has signed a new deal until 2027. Hopefully he regains his form soon and pushes for a starting place.

Pears deserves to keep his place ahead of Kaminski. He hasn't done much wrong to warrant being dropped where as in pretty much each match he played since Burnley Kaminski has been responsible for at least one goal conceded in each game. Dropping Pears sends out the wrong message and one thing I'm learning with Tomasson is that if you have the shirt you keep it if you're performing, exactly how it should be. It appears the days of having favourites (Bowyer and Mowbray) are thankfully gone.

In a similar vein Macclesfield announced this last week.

Seeing him at close quarters yesterday I hadn't realised how one footed Brittain is. The jury is certainly still out for me.

Yesterday was a good point earned against a very good Arsenal team. We were bossed for the first half and changed to a back four in the second half and matched them up in midfield. We were much better because of this and enjoyed more possession and attacking play although we didn't create too much. Gilsenan came on and had, up to then three of our best chances, one of which hit the post. Our perseverance paid off with a scrambled goal in stoppage time. Out of the first team squad I thought Edun looked the best starting at wing back and moving in to midfield in the second half. Mola, Wharton, Dolan and Brittain looked a long way off Championship football on this showing. Tomasson was in attendance and would, I think be happy with the result after the change of shape but disappointed with some individual performances.

Anybody who is in need of a real live football fix can watch the under 21's against Arsenal today at the Lancashire FA ground in Leyland, kick off 1 pm. It's free for season ticket holders (you have to show it at the gate) and there could be a smattering of first team squad players getting valuable game time.

I would have certainly liked something more radical in terms of pricing and innovation but I guess we have to be grateful for small mercies. For me it's about attracting new season ticket holders and I'm not certain this will entice too many. Waggott knows the usual 8500-9000 will generally renew irrespective of price so something like an 18 match flexi ticket to entice shift workers or fans travelling to midweek games who are reliant on public transport.