I liked him from the beginning - understood that we were buying potential and I felt that some genuine talent was underneath all of that initial raw endeavour. I took a LOT of stick on here (and elsewhere) for suggesting that he'd play in the Prem and internationally, right from that first season and whilst he's not played in the Prem yet, I think it's a matter of time. Massive, massive confidence player. If he gets off to a good start at Villarreal, anything is possible for him there. Conversely, if the ball starts bouncing off his shins or he keeps playing his simple passes into the byline, it could turn pretty quickly for him. Hard to ignore what appears to have been a lack of effort over the last few months though. Lack of talent you can sometimes forgive; a lack of effort for any professional sportsman is unforgivable. Pleased he's ended on a fairly positive note, but we could have done with that version of BBD for the previous several games. Still say he's not finished developing yet and, under the right coaching & guidance, there is still unlocked potential in there. Heard a whisper the other week that we did a deal with Villarreal in Dec/Jan whereby they were able to secure his signature and we locked in a sell-on fee. No idea if it's true, but could be an unexpected bonus if we did (and he does well out there).

B+ Looking at the whole season, finishing where we did and being in with a chance of the Play Offs on the final day represents a good season for me. JDT has been consistent and transparent all season that this wouldn't be the season for a promotion push - it was about implementing his style and developing the players, which we've seen some real successes this season (Wharton, JRC, Carter, etc). The new lads have mostly been successes - Hyam and Szmodics particularly, but I rate Brittain as well and think he'll be a big part of the side next season. Balanced with the duds of Hirst and Mola. We all know what happened in Jan and that was what undoubtedly derailed our unlikely promotion bid. Those late goals against Coventry and Preston, not to mention failing to score against teams like Hull...the opportunities were there, but I'm hoping it's a big learning curve for the side ahead of next season. The main aspect for optimism for me is that we have a progressive, development coach with a clear vision and style. Until JDT, we've had plodders and chancers through the door, with no plan or strategy; they were just tootling by and picking up their salaries. I believe that we'll see an improvement next season, on top of (hopefully) new faces. Genuinely looking forward to how we fare next season.

Agree with this. Fully expect JDT to be here next season. The focus is now on the recruitment teams, SLT and owners to show a bit of ambition and back the best manager we've had since...well, probably the first one they potted to kick off this entire shit-show we've endured over the last 10 years.

A season is 46 games, not various hot/cold spells throughout it. You finish where you deserve to. Only Dingles and Sheffield have spent more time in the top 6 than us and whilst we miss out, on the final day, by GD, that is way above what any of us expected this season. Gutted to miss out, but let’s put some perspective on it. Plenty to be encouraged about for next season.

Absolutely not. We’ll be stronger next season. But we do need to replace the weak links: Pickering, Travis, Hedges, etc.

I was just too young to have seen Garner play for us, but fortunate enough to have seen this man on a weekly basis and have him as my childhood hero (hence the profile image). You genuinely felt like you were 1-0 when the game started, he was incredible for us. Never boo'd, of course and always felt that was ill-judged at the time, but fortunately time glossed over any ill feeling and he seems to still speak of us fondly. We've had some players at Ewood, but I'd struggle to believe that any of them were as good as Shearer; absolutely world class.

We've been a victim of our own 'success' this season - by being in/around the top 6 all season and then stuttering at the death, it feels like a failure. Had we made a late run for it and been in tomorrow's situation, on the last day, we'd have been delighted. Important to apply context; to be in with a chance of the play offs with a game to play represents a good season for us, particularly so in a transition season. I think we'll win tomorrow, but it won't be enough. And to be completely honest, even if we made the top 6, Boro are going up this season. As a final point, for anyone 'not arsed' about tomorrow's game...maybe you need to take up a new hobby. Days like tomorrow are exactly what football is about.

What a really strange thing to take from that statement...

Not sure I'd agree with that - me and my little lad were watching the drill from directly behind it (in the B'burn End). Loads of players were surprisingly decent, even Pickering and JRC scored a couple of crackers. Szmodics and BBD also decent. Dack did look the better of the lot, but it'd be unfair to suggest the rest were shite.

Not sure about that - certainly not when passing the Blackburn End. Lots of smiles, waves and JDT encouraging his boys to take it all in.

We'll do them today, by 3 or 4. Early goal to settle us down and young Adam will have them on strings for 90 minutes. Also a first goal for Leonard today, heard it here first.

We're missing out on GD, aren't we? The most Rovers-est situation you can imagine.

I think that’s a team that beats Luton.

This, this and then this again for those at the back. I've been saying for months that the whole 'fallout' thing was bollocks - it wasn't an educated guess; I knew that it was blatantly made up. And now Adam's come out and said as much himself, in last week's interview with one of the local rags. Yes, we'd have all liked to have seen more of AW this season, but he's a much better overall player now than he was; and that's down to how JDT has developed him. His long term development is more important than burning him out this season. He's doing similar stuff with Ash Phillips now and he'll be a huge player for us next season (or maybe the one after).

It's mental seeing such a nothing team like Luton in a play off position. I haven't watched them play, barring our first game with them, so I have no idea if they're actually any good or not. And, to be frank, I don't care; we need the points at any cost - and then we need to beat Millwall on the last day as well. I'd stick Leonard up top from the start - he's hungry, knows where the goal is and (perhaps most critically), he's actually a striker. Not sure I can bear much more of Dolan's pointless stepovers.

I agree that he has the right to choose which games to go to, but his 'length of service' is irrelevant. There are no tiers of fandom; we're all in the same boat whether you've been to 10 games or 100.

This x1,000. Under plodders like TM, we slouch from season to season with no real plan or ambition. JDT has us in the play off race with 2 games to go, with limited resources and literally no striker. He’s said all season that this is our transition season; we will be inconsistent and mistakes will be made across the board. He’s developed, improved and introduced players like Wharton, Philips, Leonard, JRC, Carter and Pears. Is he infallible? Of course not, he’s made loads of errors himself. But if he was the finished article as a manager, he’d be nowhere near Rovers and we’d be plucking dead fish out of the barrel, the likes of Ainsworth, Coyle, Appleton. Its now down to the recruitment team to bring in the right players over summer and we should be excited for next season. JDT out? Have a word with yourself.

No, we need a player in his style (someone who can hold the ball up). We don't need that actual fat, balding prick under any circumstance.

We did actually play well in long sections of that - Wharton is a gem, Szmodics needs better players around him and the defence (even Carter) are solid enough for this division. But players like Dolan, Hedges and Travis are just not good enough. Massive window in the summer. Make or break.

Nailed-on red, that.

A point takes us back into the top 6, with no games in hand for anyone - meaning it's in our hands. Prefer 3 and the points are there for the taking, but a point would be ok.

We need some presence up front in the 2nd half - Leonard is the only real option. We've been the better side, had more chances and looked the most likely to score, but need something better than Dolan and Hedges.

JRC telling Barnes to fuck off 👌

At the risk of repeating everyone else, Adam Wharton is incredible. And, it has to be said, much better off the ball than he was at the start of the season.

They've been here for hours - saw some wandering around my estate around 3pm (Fernhurst/Oakdale). Either have no jobs, or Blackburn is a proper quality day out for them. Or both.