We had a real chance to make a statement with this appointment, i.e. that we were going to give the play offs "a right good go". If it's Ismael or Wagner we're making a statement all right, and it's "We're happy to bumble around in the lower reaches of the Championship for the forseeable future".

thought of either being appointed leaves me feeling flat as a pancake.

No. Of course either COULD come in and do really well but right now the

So do you think this is the correct way to operate? Would you rather have Gestede/Owen picking the players than an experienced manager of Head Coach like Eustace.? I'd rather have Eustace picking them all day long.

1976/77 would have been Paul Bradshaw who was a great keeper and who was sold to Wolves for £150k or John Butcher who was terrible and nicknamed "Dracula" because of his fear of crosses. Arnold came later when Howard Kendall was manager c1979 I think. Agree about the generally appalling standard of goalkeeping now though. The art of catching the ball, shot stopping, and narrowing the angles etc seems to be completely dead. Modern coaches seem to want a keeper who thinks he's Messi with the ball at his feet rather than someone who can actually stop the ball going into the back of his net.

Id say Walton was worse and Wahlsted was miles worse.

So, we know we offer less than the going rate for a top Championship manager and that therefore we will always struggle to get a decent replacement if anyone leaves. Yet having lucked upon a really good head coach at that salary level, we turn him down flat when he seeks assurances about a contract extension for himself and renewal of players' contracts. Can anyone make any sense of that?

So to summarise, we need someone in within the next 72 hours but........there's no panic "at all?"

Nice try at baiting everyone.

Wouldnt be crowing about Eustace yet. As things stand we've got David Lowe.

Id imagine management were desperately hoping we'd win today then they could have given it Lowe until the end of the season as by far the cheapest and easiest option following which we could drift tamely out of the picture. Giving it Lowe now would look too much like an act of sabotage even for them so after 2 weeks, let's see how far along we actually are with the search. My guess would be not very. Someone inspiring with a fresh eye and one or two new ideas needed. I bet Waghail are cacking it at the prospect if they bring someone new in they'll get us over the line.

At 20k p.w. Steve sure knows how to spot a bargain.

We're getting John Sitton?

I'm sure many will try to blame Eustace.

I sort of expected this. Any annoyance at Eustace wearing off, full week of training under Lowe making it feel more like the norm. The silver cloud if we get stuffed today is hopefully it will put an end once and for all to any silly talk of Lowe getting the job. The situation is STILL taylor made for Warnock. Other than that I hope Gerrard or O Neil get it.

He never started. Have always said, how he's had a career as a professional footballer absolutely baffles me.

Have never understood the "Let's stay in the game until half time and then give it a go in the second half" type mentality favoured by Bowyer and Mowbray and to a lesser extent Eustace and Lowe. It's far more difficult to win a game over 45 mins than 90. I dont like that starting line up personally, but after two wins I suppose Lowe has earnt the right to tackle it exactly as he chooses. Whilst it's working - no problem.

That must have been a quick conversation. "So Mr. Southgate. How do you fancy coming to Ewood for 10% of your England salary?"

That sarcasm and condescending attitude will look rather silly if we do end up with a particularly poor appointment, but, each to their own I suppose. Nothing like tempting fate.

Presume this is is a fairly imaginative wind up but couldnt resist looking him up nevertheless. Sacked by Aston Villa in October 2016, technical advisor to South Korean Club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors since Jan 2023. Lol.

Leicester 0-4. Boro losing. You'd imagine that's another couple of vacancies that could be coming up that anyone decent will find more attractive than us in the long run

I mean we're sat in 5th, it's 2 weeks since the managerial crisis arose, allegedly 150+ applicants for the job (according to Nixon) and seemingly we cant even fill the vacancy. Certainly not with anyone decent by the looks of it. That should speak volumes and lend some context to Eustace's decision to move.

You're completely back to normal now I see chaddy, nothing that happens is ever the Club's fault, it's always the fault of an outgoing employee. I was worried about you there for a while! Lol.

Yeah, they've been shocking. Half the players look like they dont want to be out there.

Im watching Jack Draper v Lehecka from Doha now. Haven't spotted Gerrard in the somewhat sparse crowd yet! Im with you though. I want that to happen so it almost certainly won't.