Andy

He's been fine and hasn't made any match-defining errors, so I think we've come away from what was a concerning period for the majority of us, when Toth got injured. But, for sure, Toth comes straight back in. He's proven to be levels above Pears, when he was given a proper run in the side.

Merry Christmas guys and thanks for the work you do - I moderate on another site and know how thankless a task it is. Regularly listen to (and enjoy) the pod, some really good content out there for Rovers supporters. Have a good one.

I actually noticed whilst driving past the stadium yesterday that they've replaced the 'Welcome to Ewood Park' sign above the JW/Darwen End corner entrance. That's this year's maintenance budget blown.

Really pleasing to win, especially when you have a couple of Academy lads making their debut at the back and with both strikers scoring. Cantwell works so hard for the team - at one point, he was making a sliding block on the edge of our area, to prevent a cross coming in. He gets pre-judged because of how he looks / is a technically gifted player / whatever, but he works as hard as anyone. Saw the difference Sondre makes to the team today, particularly in the first half. (Also my team won earlier in the day, 4-0 win against a set of Dingles, for a 3rd consecutive win 🏆)

I have a league match with my U11 side in the morning and, genuinely, I am more invested in that than the Rovers game. I'll probably catch Rovers on (entirely legitimate, of course) telly when I get in, but my weekend mood will be defined by how my twelve 10-year-olds get on just before. We're going for a 3rd consecutive league win and playing Dingles 🫡

Agreed - you cannot convince me that Gueye is going to perform better than any of these.

Appreciate this is going back a few pages (I'm catching up), but I've been saying this for a long time - just not as eliquently, Historically Rovers are a very successful club and have spent more time in the top division than any other. A rough period in the 60's/70's/80's doesn't change this - and it certainly doesn't define 'our natural level' in the football pyramid. I definitely agree with the 'I was there before the JW era' attitude with some, almost like it's a badge of honour instead of it simply being defined by when you were born.

I'm a fan of that; to the point and with purpose. Though it's hard to see them doing anything other than ignoring it. On the general point / club video though, why are they making an issue out of a non-issue? It makes it sound like players/staff have been personally abused. All that has ever happened has been criticism of performance, as absolutely should happen. Can anyone, anywhere, point to an incident where anyone at the club has been unfairly targeted or abused?

I've been saying the same recently. Might be way off the mark, but it's feeling like the end game in a lot of respects.

Miller was signed to be our RB, I think - and to cover at RCB when playing 3 at the back. If we can either get one of our CBs fit enough to play more than a few games and/or we buy a new chap in the transfer window, I think Miller goes to RB.

Yeah, this. Even when something highly likely bollocks, such as the Cantwell thing, the combination of silence from the club and the history of malfunction enables conspiracies to be taken as truths. Can the club come out and quash every rumour? No, of course not. But their communication efforts seem to be funnelled into a Twitter burner account, a food tec teacher and Mr Red Top Rag Nixon. Communication is such a simple thing. But get it wrong and you expose yourself to things like this.

I feel like I repeat myself after every home game, but two incredibly poor quality sides hoofing the ball back and forth. Marginally better when Cantwell and Baradji came onto the pitch, but just not good enough. 1 home win in mid November is beyond awful.

Ohashi really isn't good in front of goal, is he? One thing I will say, Alebiosu is a better crosser of the ball than Callum Brittain.

Could do with a bit of rain about now.

Really like Gudjohnsen, I think he's the best proper forward we've had at the club since Danny Graham.

Even Tavares looks confused by his selection.

Might have spoken too soon. just nipped out to do the school run and it’s pissing down again (Lower Darwen).

Bit of blue sky coming through now, rain was torrential an hour or two ago, but seems to have stopped. Presuming it doesn't start up again now, there are literally no excuses for this match not to go ahead.

I've always been a big believer in communication; at times like this, silence is probably the worst thing you can do. Be honest, open and have a plan. All of those things are gaping holes at Ewood these days.

I agree on the owners. But the bigger worry for me is the people actually left in charge of running the club locally. Amateurs and non-football people trying to run a club of Rovers' stature. We've been seeing the impact of this over the years, but we're now at the stage where games are being abandoned due to a lack of action/knowledge/experience/lack of willing to spend money on anything to do with the upkeep of the facilities.

In fairness, I don't remember anyone being unfairly critical of him. He's just made proportionately huge - costly - mistakes in important games for us, pointing to a lack of general competence as a number 1 goalkeeper at this level. Just take the single error against Sheffield at home last/previous season in isolation; no professional GK should be making that mistake. And he's rightly criticised for that.

Had a yellow 'severe' weather warning earlier today, for Tuesday (I live within a mile of Ewood). The club can't say they weren't forewarned, absolutely no excuses.

Where's the conspiracy? That's the exact point that the family stopped engaging / visiting. By all accounts, they are proud people and see us as underlings who should be grateful to them. Why's it a stretch for that exact incident to be the point where they said 'right, fuck them then'?

I still genuinely believe that we're all collectively paying the price for that snowball.

He's made a couple of errors per game, but none have been significant and/or have been punished. Today's example was the dropped catch, under no pressure. But, as I say this as his biggest anti-fan, otherwise he's been perfectly ok in the games he's filled in for. As many have said before, he's acceptable as a number 2.