roversfan99

It has been mentioned numerous times before, acknowledged but nothing is done. Whether it be bottle bars, pre pouring pints, it just gets worse without change.

If Ainsworth cannot adapt based on the players at his disposal then he won't last long. His style worked amidst an underdog mentality at Wycombe, but QPR have a lot of technical attacking midfielders with quality that aren't suited to direct football.

I thought that aside from an excellent finish, Markanday was poor yesterday, and Hedges to me would be a likelier bet next weekend, but has missed the end of pre season. Could essentially be a chance for both to show who should start on the right at Rotherham.

Would certainly agree with a lot of that. The main curiosity is as much the general narrative that I have seen a few times that Tomasson may not rate Travis, that he doesn't fit the way he wants to play and that he might happily let him go. To me, there isn't much evidence of that, his captain who has started every game bar a 6 game spell last winter. No one has really questioned Buckley whereas there seems to be much more evidence that he is not as fancied, unused yesterday and seemingly down in 4th choice when all are fit, assuming that he would be selected over Garrett. I think a lot might be based on the fact that Buckley is obviously a more technical player but it overlooks that a big part of Tomasson's game is pressing and Travis is really good at that. I do wonder if Buckley could benefit from playing further up as when he has played deeper, I don't think it suits him. He lacks the intelligence and speed of though of Wharton.

Hopefully we can get that new keeper in today and start him on Tuesday although I would like to think that he will be number 1 from next Saturday anyway, so maybe best to get him a full week of training with Pears as the cup keeper. Pears Brittain Barnes Wharton Batty Garrett Wharton Markanday Buckley Hedges Ennis

I mentioned yesterday that I think there has been a lot of nonsense over the last few months about Travis not being a Tomasson player. That's now 40 of 46 available league games (suspended for one last season) that he has started in. He is by no means a standout in a negative sense when on the ball, albeit it's not his main asset, but it also goes under the radar how important he is when we press, often leading it with Szmodics. He is also our captain so we need his leadership. I would also dovetail that point with the situation with Buckley. Forget the made up nonsense about being seen as a £10m player etc, he seems to still be well down the pecking order as shown again an unused sub yesterday in favour of Travis, a new signing and Wharton who has missed most of pre season. He has been not picked many more times when available compared to Travis and has really stagnated since Tomasson came in with the decision to move him back into a deeper position causing many problems with him struggling to adapt with the lack of time you get there. Obviously we need Buckley still as we are light on numbers and he does have ability, but I think he might struggle to get past any of the 3 ahead of him whilst they remain available. I hope Tomasson considers him as an alternative to Szmodics as I think he is better further up the pitch, his assets when thriving under Mowbray were best utilised further up and whilst he struggles in front of goal, he can also press well and he can pick out a through ball when further up despite his struggles to dictate games from deeper.

Obviously the initial and majority of the blame for their goal goes to Markanday but a poor pass by Aynslea "good on the ball" Pears in the build up. Also nearly got caught out in the first half.

Tomasson has been saying similar stuff throughout his tenure. He said last week that the ambitions (ie promotion) may have to be changed. People just have this weird fixation on Mowbray due to an unsubstantiated hate of him.

Weve been very fortunate with the opening fixtures weve had in the last 3 seasons. Home games against middling sides, and have won all 3.

I think Pickering is our most underrated player, he was very good again. He is such a steady, consistent player who is good on the ball and doesn't often leave his lack of pace exposed. We had years of the erratic, error prone Bell and I feel far more secure now in that position. Though the lack of cover is a concern.

Very good way to start the season, I thought first half bar a couple of ruthless minutes we were quite passive and I feared after West Brom's early second half goal but we went up a gear after it and the second half was very good. Defence was solid, the full backs are good at this level and I just hope Rankin Costello is ok, Pears had nothing to do with the centre backs doing a solid job. It was a worry how often they picked up the ball behind our midfield, I thought Tronstad was underwhelming, he was a yard off the pace and kept giving it away. Wharton was sloppy at times but he is a special player, his pass to Leonard was Tugay-esque. Travis for me was man of the match. There is a lot of nonsense about him not being a Tomasson player but he has played 40 of 46 league games he was available for under him and is key with Szmodics in us pressing, at Rotherham I would go with Wharton and Travis, we can't afford to lose our captain. I seem to be in a minority in thinking that Markanday was poor, aside from a good finish he was so sloppy, kept losing the ball including for their goal. The subs improved us, Hedges wasn't perfect but he is a better player. Dolan was poor again, Szmodics was as busy as ever. Leonard definitely has something about him, the opposite of Vale. He missed 2 sitters but his movement creates chances and thats a big asset to have. We need to really work on the set pieces, they look so off the cuff and end up back in our own half.

Squads will change but the relegated trio look so much stronger than anyone else, even allowing for the likes of Ward Prowse, Lavia, Walker Peters, Livramento, Gnonto, Adams and of course Leicester have already been raided. Many of the questions may surround the managers rather than clubs. Southampton have loads of top Championship players, Bree, Manning, Armstrong, Adams, Tella and Smallbone, plus exciting younger players like Edozie, Alcaraz, Mara and Shea Charles, the main question is the weird managerial appointment. Leeds have players who were out on loan like Cresswell, Drameh and Gelhardt, again experienced Championship quality like Harrison, Darlow, Cooper, Bamford, Ayling, James and some interesting talent like Summerville, Rutter, Ampadu and Sinistierra. Leicester have recruited well in Coady, Winks, Mavidivi and Doyle amongst others and still have lots of quality left over. Beyond that, Coventry are showing some serious ambition and Stoke have recruited well.

20 goals? Seems like a deadlock at the moment. If he is genuinely being priced at £40m as reported, its little wonder he hasnt been taken yet. Good player but you can definitely find better for cheaper. I know it was due to a clause but Mac Allister went to Liverpool for less and Ward Prowse couldnt lace his boots. English tax.

Easy to just assume he wasnt putting in the effort.

Well, obviously. But the point is that such things make people believe that the probability of winning decreases. Excitement to see the season start and being apprehensive about how we are looking dont have to be mutually exclusive.

Which changes do you speak of?

Final judgements at the end, but why can't we judge along the way? @roverandout even said "if."

Was Cruzcampo being sold in the Blackburn End on Saturday? It was in the JW but so was Heineken which was JW only for some reason last season.

It hasnt been tried once in pre season so probably not.

Really does somewhat tarnish the usual excitement with the farce that is going on at the moment. Really scraping the barrel for a goal. West Brom have Thomas Asante up top who whilst much more of a threat than our strikers isn't prolific but they do have players like Swift, Diangana and especially Jed Wallace so they carry a threat, we don't. Kaminski Rankin Costello Carter Hyam Pickering Tronstad Travis Hedges A Wharton Szmodics Ennis My hope for Ennis is like others, he can do an hour especially if they are playing a friendly behind closed doors tomorrow. Temptation either to either put Szmodics further forward as I have done and stiffen the midfield, or even put Rankin Costello further forward but I am not convinced on Brittain and Rankin Costello gives us something unique from RB. I would be annoyed if Adam Wharton didn't start but I suspect he and Ennis will be on the bench for Dolan and Leonard. Such a gigantic ask to expect him to start the season in the side with minimal other goals in the side.

Looking at the Championship this season, obviously its bang average in general but there are very few really obviously poor teams. The worry is if we dont recruit that there isnt that usual dense layer of real shite should we end up in a rut due to a thin squad, lack of goals and lack of experience. Cardiff have recruited well and have an attack far superior to us. Birmingham have also recruited well and should be more steady this season, and both Plymouth and Ipswich look good enough for the league to avoid relegation. Huddersfield have Warnock too so will stay up. Maybe looking at Rotherham, QPR and Sheff Wednesday as the weakest 3. Rotherham usually dont make a second season and dont have the strongest side, our first away game could be important. QPR are managed by Ainsworth who was overhyped on here as a Blackburn lad and look light although do have a core (Begovic, Fox, Clarke Salter, Field, Chair, Willock and maybe Dykes) who are solid at this level, and Sheff Wednesday have not really strengthened.

Was there a reason why neither the LT or Lancs Live seemingly had any presence at the game? Have they given up completely?

Maybe just learn to use his body better as he ages. It isnt a criticism of him, he is so young and ultimately we shouldnt need too rely on him and if we are it is failings of the owners. He definitely has something about him so he certainly is a prospect who it is good to see tied down.

Ive asked him how he currently feels about the owners a few times in the last few weeks now signings have stopped and the budgets have been cut. Nothing back yet.

Why does Tomasson not know if any signings are coming in or can be made and if any incoming money can be reinvested?