https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6269885/2025/04/11/premier-league-chelsea-regulator/ This is a really good read and details a lot of the loopholes being used by predominantly PL clubs to circumvent P&S. With the clubs themselves voting on any rule changes and needing a two thirds majority to force any changes it appears very little will change soon. No wonder a lot of PL clubs are opposing the new Football Governance Bill.

Gestede is trying the 'conditioning' tactic - something he probably learned on his course. Keep expectations low is the mantra from Ewood as any ambition is stifled and suffocated. Waggott tried it with his interview a couple of summers ago when he did an interview at the Academy. Outside on a sunny day, in shirt sleeves trying to give off an aura of confidence he pretty much said that staying up was his aim. I think it was the same interview when he lied about buying a new coach.

Adam Wharton and Kristi Montgomery As kids. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JiT3SABLSC8

That is Valentin Joseph I believe.

I deduce from that he is thinking of himself, his seat in the Directors Box and a nice meal before each game. If I remember correctly he was for many years involved with the FA on some committee. Didn't he threaten legal action when someone asked him if Jack Walker was alive could he look him in the eyes? I'm pretty sure it was at a Supporters Consultation meeting and he stormed out.

Humility is a really good trait in any person as it gives off the right impression. He seems arrogant, cold and aloof. Throw in the most important ingredient for any manager, results and there is little to admire about him. I would respect him more if he at least tried to connect with the fans.

It was clear to me that something happened at half-time as you just couldn't have envisaged two contrasting performances without some radical actions or words in the changing room. It changed for me when Hedges thundered into a challenge (Hedges and thunder in the same sentence 😂) and the tempo and mentality was immediately different. No doubt rumours will abound over the next few days but whoever/whatever it was certainly worked.

He seems a cold individual and just doesn't endear himself to people. Tomasson and Eustace were extremely good in that respect but this bloke appears to lack any humility.

At last a performance (well the second half) to get me excited. In many ways I was reminded of the infamous Derby game in which an alleged revolt took place in the dressing room at half-time. I'm not suggesting anything like a mutiny but something certainly happened as the players were unrecognisable from those of recent weeks. I have never felt it was a lack of effort from the players but rather a lack of confidence and a real lack of any intensity. The second half tone was set by Hedges tackle when he (fairly) smashed a Wednesday player and the rest of the team fed off this. It was almost visible how confidence returned to some players particularly Tronstad who took the game by the scruff of the neck and really dictated play. There were many others in this category and a high, intense press certainly favoured our players. In contrast to most players though Travis was the exception. He looks devoid of any confidence and I definitely think he would benefit from a spell on the sidelines. I applauded the players off for the first time in many weeks and for at least an hour put all the travails of the club behind me and actually enjoyed watching Rovers playing. A couple of special mentions to Kristi Montgomery on his debut (I've never seen him play right back before but he did well) and the supporters who unveiled the 'Pasha Out' banner in the Blackburn End. However from a playing point of view Summers and Swallows and all that so the challenge is to play for a full game at Luton like we did for the second half.

I was there and he didn't come near the Rovers supporters. If he did acknowledge us it was from the sanctuary of the other side of the pitch. When you are in a high profile, public role criticism is part of the job description. A lot of it is borne out of frustration. Providing it doesn't become personal or abusive I don't see it as an issue.

Neville is bang on. Probably the most sterile derby match ever - I've seen testimonials played with more intensity.

Without a shadow of a doubt.

There is an interesting story regarding Lowe to which I add some credence. Eric Kinder was appointed Academy Director and noticed a lot of Liverpool based staff who were offering next to nothing. He made it his mission to cull the lot of them including Lowe. The story is that Lowe spoke to the Punekars directly and not only was reinstated but promoted to first team coach.I There is a strong suspicion that he is the eyes and ears of Suhail and this is the reason Eustace didn't want him and found him some menial task.

He is in Year 11 at St Bedes and lives in Lower Darwen. I believe his family are Rovers fans.

Others do with your hypocrisy.

And therein lies the problem.

It's all relative. There are lots of clubs where supporters want to just have something normal. https://talksport.com/football/3064085/yeovil-town-owner-stepping-down-chairman-stadium-bans-fans/

So you spend money on individual tickets but feel able to criticise anyone who buys a season ticket. And it was you who said anybody buying a season ticket was 'part of the problem'. Can't you see how ridiculous you are making yourself look?

It is in the stooges interests to paint the players as 'victims' too. Aside from a bit of booing I have heard nothing directed towards the players. I don't know for sure if it's true but I saw something about Dolan being forbidden by the club from some event later the week.

Spurs fans are protesting today about ownership and Levy. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgkgjn3z40xo

I have been told this morning that the players on the club's advice didn't exit the ground through their normal route (via Reception in the JW Stand) for security reasons. They were secreted through a side door and had some of the Security team escorting them to their cars. If this is true I'm waiting for some narrative from the club about hostility towards the players when there has been nothing of the sort. It also shows a weakness amongst this group of players. Why shouldn't they face the fans providing there isn't any personal abuse or threats. Shades of Kean here with his own bodyguard.

Surely walk ons are supporters otherwise why buy one? Unless you are trying to exonerate yourself as someone who buys individual tickets.

What was strange about it was that the player coming on, Craig Mahon is a winger (also the player-manager). It meant quite a reshuffle of players to accommodate this. It was odd when Warrington were really pushing for an equaliser.

After seeing Rovers capitulate recently and finding myself getting angry again I needed the sanctuary of a live game as a neutral. I went to Curzon Ashton v Warrington with a keen eye on Matty Litherland who is on loan at Curzon. I was surprised to see him playing at right back. I have seen him play there for the under 21's but he is a far better centre half. He pretty much coasted through the game as Curzon looked quite comfortable with their one nil lead. I was really surprised when he was taken off with a couple of minutes to go. This coincided with Warrington twice almost getting an equaliser. I'm not saying this was entirely down to him going off but it didn't help. The Curzon fans around me were also surprised to see him taken off. Another ex Rover, Stefan Mols came on as a substitute for Curzon.

It was said last week that they were friends from some time back. Gestede was bigging him up in the interview they did last week. The story I heard was that Eustace had been marginalised by Pasha and Gestede but Waggott wanted to support him.