They wouldnt have a bench as weak as ours. It was a sub keeper with no league experience, one defender, a young striker playing his first proper season, Markanday who couldnt get a game for Aberdeen and Tomasson is clearly very reluctant to use, and then beyond that, none of the other subs would have ever come on yesterday regardless of circumstances. But again, the conversation was about where we will finish. My point was that we have had a small squad in the last 2 seasons and our seasons both had significant declines in the final months. With an even smaller squad, compounded by added injuries due to fatigue, and even less experience and guidance, I cant see how a similar path will be avoided.

That will partly be down to being overly reliant on players to keep going again. But surely more injuries reducing the squad further only increases the likelihood of a second half of the season dip? I certainly have never suggested its a relegation squad, obviously not. The strength in depth is one of the worst in the league, our bench at the moment will probably be the worst in the league, but our first 15-16 players are obviously well above that.

Its really hard to judge performance because its clearly a downgrade on the last 2 seasons but equally the squad more than ever is lacking depth, quality and experience. The home record and the record for v against late in games is piss poor. Recruitment has been a very mixed bag on a pitiful budget. As mentioned above, Tronstad stands out as an excellent signing. Hill has been pretty good, dont think he makes our best 11 but a good signing. Moran a mixed bag, tidy but lightweight and often ineffective, certainly not what we needed and like Hill regularly played out of position. Sigurdsson is a useful albeit inconsistent pick up, Wahlstedt has ability but huge weak areas and the 2 forwards speak for themselves. The managers performance is difficult to fully judge because there are definitely signs of a style but results arent great. But he has been dealt such a bad hand that much of that is out of his hands. Im not convinced based on his job here, due mainly to those external reasons, that he has definitely done enough to get a "top 5 league" job as people have assumed before. But he is better off away from here because he is above where we are as a club with these owners.

The thing is, in the last 2 seasons we have had small squads, albeit bigger than this seasons. So its all well and good saying we have spent a good proportion of the first half of the season in the top half, but we have evidence that our small squad struggles to last the pace of a full season and falls off in the last few months. That could be exacerbated with an even smaller squad.

The thing is, people often say "when everyone is fit" but the likelihood of any spell without injuries is unlikely, so when they come back, we might have a few out elsewhere. It has felt like some bad luck on the injury front but when you have a small squad to begin with, the added physical strain can lead to further injuries and by the time the physio room starts to clear up the strain on the current 11 might lead to a few issues. Im not saying we cant get into the top half but I think play offs are certainly a pipe dream. Im also sick of the "played well" but lost narrative after a home game. We have lost 7 at home I think and I feel like after most weve said how well we played for x minutes. When a pattern develops you maybe think it wont suddenly change. The lack of experience and numbers is killing us.

There was certainly a lot of frustration and annoyance in the second half of that last season and also at a point during the season prior to covid. He was also lucky that his worst season here was behind closed doors. I have never sensed at all anything that suggests that people around me are in any way pining for Mowbray back or are dissatisfied with Tomasson.

Gelhardt has ability but is not what we need, we need a number 9 and a winger first. Probably Nixon hedging his bets. Or maybe Broughton is scrambling for the Mowbray transfer list again?

I personally wouldnt agree that the fans around me anyway were overly protective of Mowbray and comparatively harsh towards Tomasson, more the opposite. So maybe it depends on location.

Even if Wahlstedt is absolved of spilling the ball centrally for the second, he is at fault for his weak punch.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24009906.blackburn-rovers-ratings-adam-wharton-runs-show/ I think the current reporter is not the best and these ratings are very high. You would think we strolled to a 4 nil win. Moran and Sigurdsson were both quiet, not sure how that warrants a 7. A goalkeeper making 2 goal costing errors doesnt warrant a 6 even after making an excellent save. Wharton was fantastic but not sure a perfect score is quite right.

Is there anyone on his back? Depends how you define it I guess. Any criticism on here in isolation even if it was lacking perspective doesnt equate to being on his back IMO. Full support for all players at the ground and thats all that matters. Dont like this common implication that the players are having to deal with not having the full support of the fanbase.

Wharton was limping badly at the end. I really hope he is ok because he is both crucial and also he stands out like a sore thumb. So pleasing on the eye and effective with it.

I just think you seem particularly and bizarrely focused on criticising the fans today. This is a place just like talking down the pub and even if they are young, if they arent up to it one day (or in general) then they will receive criticism, and if they are (or if they are freaks of nature like Adam Wharton, what a joke he is) then they will be praised. Its a difficult one because obviously people vent post game and I get that people will go over the top so I would concede that at times just after games people can lose perspective. But when young players are criticised, I think a lot of the frustration is not at the player themselves. Its at the club for making us overly reliant on them too early in their development. Leonard is a good example, he obviously has something about him and is a promising talent but clearly isnt ready to play week in week out for asupposedly ambitious Championship club. Wahlstedt is a different case, I get the point about settling but we have seen enough to see his strengths and also his weaknesses but the latter are recurring quite alot. I dont get this "its not 1995" narrative youve built about early leavers and where this anger has come from. Ive never understood it or done it but it happens not just at Rovers and each game. I dont see the point in it, maybe its to avoid traffic or whatever, but I dont get why you think its an indictment on the players. The Shearer and Sutton stuff has come from nowhere. Fans pay huge amounts over the season and give up their time, again I dont see why youd leave early but attending shouldnt be like an obligation where you must stay for it all and even if they do leave, its money in the coffers and numbers on the gate, thats the main thing.

He keeps spilling shots in front of goal and 3 in 2 games have led to rebounds being put in.

You seem very keen to berate the fans today. Wahlstedt made 2 errors that cost us 3 points. Thus on an internet messageboard that he wont see, he is getting criticised for that. No one has said that he did it on purpose. It has no effect on him. But he did fuck up twice and it cost us the points. Sometimes Leonard is totally anonymous, hes a young lad who has played more than he should this season at this level due to a lack of money. If saying that on here is beating the players down and it questions the status of their support, then I suspect you have the thinnest of skin and/or zero counter argument in regards to their performance.

What a terrible attitude. You would get along with Waggott and the owners. Get a grip? He cost us both goals, surely that warrants criticism. And people are slagging the bench not at the fault of the kids on there but because its not fit for purpose hence why Tomasson never brings most of them on. They are making up the numbers.

Same old story. Not acceptable to be lose a game you are winning with 10 to go but its predictable. Even when we are 2 or 3 up we struggle. Pitifully small squad due to the owners and no experience allowed. Wahlstedt has cost us 3 in 2 by spilling shots straight in front of goal. Not good enough. The second was after a weak punch, a goal from one of those was in the post because he regularly flaps at catchable crosses. Wharton was a class above anyone on the pitch. Ennis is miles off it.

But come the summer, if he does well between now and then, we then likely have to sell just to get any money for him.

I dont get why its so short. We go into the summer and hes in the last year of his deal.

Hes never played there before, and the type of player is (left footed, likes to start wide cut in) suits the modern winger role. Ultimately either way, his biggest issue is a lack of ability.

There has never been any suggestion that either the club nor he has seen him as a number 10. He is a typical modern day wide man, likes to cut in. Hes just not very good.

He has never from memory played through the middle.

I hope not but I think he will play Garrett instead, which is a monumental downgrade. Id either stick Travis next to Wharton ahead of Tronstad but neither are naturals when expected to go further forward. The alternative is trying to get Moran in his natural position but the only option out wide would be Markanday. There is also another unnamed doubt. I wonder if its a centre back with Hyam getting minutes.

There was a clear opportunity at 2 down with 10 men at Southampton to take him off, as well as in recent home games where Tomasson has chose not to so I do wonder if this could have been managed better. Cant see us offering much threat in his absence.

The problem with the perception to these offers is always people not appreciating that a doubling/tripling or whatever it turns out to be of walk ons is a great success, taking it out of context. We know the type, "still nowhere near full," "people just like to slag off the club" or "what more can the club do with fans like this." The ground wont be full but it will be a much bigger crowd and crucially once you take away the season ticket sales which obviously provide a low base, a considerable increase in walk ons are what matters. So the numbers seem very healthy if people see it in context and dont have unrealistic expectations. It could also lead to further sales beyond this game and should also create additional indirect sales of merchandise etc.