I think you overstate the influence of Damien Johnson. He had one day coupled with Lowe who doesnt get a mention coaching the side, and afterwards a long meeting with Eustace who clearly had a big influence. In both games the tactics were quite similar. Goal kicks long, the same team and new formation, set pieces more direct etc. Maybe it was a mixture of Stoke being so bad, we were at home, a bit of a bounce and things falling for us. Not often even for an effective direct side will someone get put through via one good flick on from a goal kick. I wonder if Eustace is just prioritising not losing in away games. Both he and Hyam implied it post match, Hyam mentioned getting a result (and 4 or 6 points he said this week) at Preston rather than a win.

Proof in the pudding will be in how we play rather than soundbites in interviews. He has a reputation for pragmatic, direct football and we certainly played long ball on Tuesday, it ws horrendous to watch. Its all about results but I think he needs to find a balance as he gets used to the players because aimless punts wont work.

If Fleck isnt fit until the international break, it makes the signing totally pointless. McFadzean (37 this month, hadnt played in 2 or 3 months) and Hedges (out with a serious injury for 4 months) both are set for their third game in a week. Surely Fleck can do an hour.

And why would any of them leave to be honest. This idea of leaving out of shame or whatever is so naive, none will get a similar job. Until Venkys go, we will continue to be a shambles. The hope wouldnt return with even them 4 going.

McFadzean is 37 this month and hadnt played for months yet is now likely to play a third game in 8 days. Just making it up as we go along to justify the managers decisions. Play Fleck and bring on Buckley for him, either 60 mins and 30 mins or half each. No Garrett.

Fleck. Then Buckley for Fleck when he inevitably tires. Hedges LWB, Wharton LCB.

Rankin Costello is having a knee scan. So Brittain at wing back for the forseeable and Garrett in CM, great.

And absolutely none would be removed by our absent owners who as long as the budgets are heavily slashed with them refusing to authorise spending a couple of million then their desires are met.

I suppose aasumig Pickering hadnt got injured then it still in theory makes sense because the loan becomes cover playing occasionally and our own player gets to play regular football.

Really? I thought he was rubbish, obviously not alone. His technical/passing limitations were on full show.

I may have missed them, but has anyone actually said that they want him out? Obviously its early days, his first proper game in charge. But we made a clear and considerable change to go from overplaying to blind launching it up the field. We know the players probably more than Eustace, so we can have strong opinions on how we feel that will go, and how it did go last night.

😂 of course.

Garrett starting and Telalovic primed for another role off the bench. No thanks.

It doesnt have to be one extreme or another. We dont have the personnel to be so insistent on playing out from the back. Equally we dont have the personnel to aimlessly punt it long every single time. Peoples reactions will be determined by results. Win and play pretty well as we did v Stoke directly or pick a random win this season under Tomasson, it will get praise. Play like we did last night or v QPR and criticism will come and people will point to how we played.

Based on his finishing across the season, im not convinced he would. He isnt ready for this level but certainly is an improvement on Telalovic who is the worst striker I can remember. I think he was just not selected like the pointless signing of Koumetio.

No.

I dont really remember any hoofball to Armstrong, so thats not right. The football wasnt "absolutely dire."

Fleck has to come into the midfield. I desperately hope that Rankin Costello is fit to put on the right and Scott Wharton or O'Riordan need to come in as the third centre back should we continue with that formation. The former would give us better balance but the latter has looked promising albeit in brief cameos. No Telalovic and no Garrett. Im not optimistic. In a short space of time its clearly a tactic of lumping it long and we dont suit that style just as we dont suit the opposite extreme of having to pass it out. There has to be some middle ground. We only have one tall attacking player who himself is more dangerous running in behind.

Im guessing you didnt watch the QPR game the other week. He is the worst striker ive seen come to Ewood, couldnt hit a barn door. I know hes young but he has 2 goals all season and you are desperate for him?! Gallagher has come back and got 2 goals and an assist since. He was crap tonight but none of our attackers did anything, the ball barely went near them. We needed someone ASWELL as Gallagher, who is an average Championship striker as opposed to the joker that is Telalovic and Leonard who is nowhere near ready.

I dont even know who Montgomery is to be fair. But you say they couldnt do any worse, they are players that have never really come close to playing senior football, they possibly could. And I think most of the loanees shouldnt be playing but not "because they belong to other teams." McFadzean wont be here next season. Should he not play? This attitude of not playing loanees IMO should be reserved for if and when we are safe. Until then, it shouldnt matter whether a player is here short or long term. Hes maybe the one exception but is there a reason even under Tomasson he doesnt make the bench when we are stretched? Perhaps just bad judgement, but the step up from a not too successful (this season) under 21 side is a big jump.

No excuse culture. Ive only had an hour with them! Im glad weve gone away from playing it out to the naive extent that we were. But literally just aimlessly punting it long isnt the answer either.

Surely the answer is not just loads of untested kids. Fleck is one of the most obvious options, Garrett is full of energy but cant pass a ball, get some composure into the team. I dont think Leonard is ready but he should leapfrog the inept Telalovic, Nsangou I think has a poor return even at under 21 level, he shouldnt be leapfrogged just because hes quick. Scott Wharton and O'Riordan are the most obvious options if we want defensive changes.

That was probably the worst performance all season. Tomasson's football was painfully naive, but there is a middle ground to just aimlessly smashing it up the pitch which doesnt suit us either. Telalovic is an absolute fraud, neither Brittain nor Chrisene can defend, Pears was all over the place, Gallagher and Dolan totally invisible, Szmodics spent the whole game looking pissed off and Tronstad was poor but Garrett was woeful and isnt close to being up to this standard. McFadzean was decent and thats about it.

It is midweek to be fair.

Based on?