Just now, BiggusMickus said:

I can. Because for every couple of Samuels and Gladwins, there's been a couple of Dacks and Smallwoods. We've had a good season and the majority of players have done well. I think Mowbray's earned a bit of trust and leeway in the next window. If we're 24th and his signings are doing shoite by time December comes round, by all means slag him off. But right now, as the great George once said, you gotta have faith a faith a faith..

He has earnt some trust. Signings are a mixed bag but 1 or 2 stand out as excellent.

Judge each signing on his individual merits surely would be the mantra.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

sentimental on what grounds? 

big risk? every signing or every managerial appointment is a risk so why bother making them then? 

Every manager made bad signings even the great Sir Alex Ferguson or Bobby Robson made bad signings. 

I wouldn't say Samuel has been bad signings as he has scored 5 goals and had positive impact on the season. He hasn't been a regular in the starting line up since Christmas due to the form of Dack and Graham. 

in other news I don't think Payne is signing permanently here after his latest tweet. 

Hes a likeable lad, hes already popular here in a way not many are after starting 1 game for the club, seems a good fit in the dressing room. And hes an exciting type of player, or was pre injuries.

Some players are bigger risks than others. Obviously. A player reliant on pace becomes much more of a risk after the injury he had. We arent limited to only signing former players.

I never said that managers shouldnt make poor signings. I was just debunking your comment suggesting I should trust Mowbray when I never said I didnt.

Samuel is crap. Agree to disagree.

11 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

and you don't know if Chapman will be like that either so stop with such tenuous comments. 

You just got to trust Mowbray, scouts at the club and the medical department to sign the right players

I agree there AJW

I do but I never said I dont; on the same topic though, I am allowed my opinions, we may aswell remove the whole topic if our mindset is unequiovical trust.

Mowbrays made a few bad signings, Gladwin and Samuel to name but 2. Potential rumours are worthy of discussion, I feel the Chapman deal would be sentimental and a big risk considering the type of player he is and the injuries hes suffered. 

Just now, LewisF said:

Sat in the Darwen End for 2 seasons before not renewing last season, and now this season moved to the Blackburn End. Nowt wrong with the Darwen End. Good atmosphere being right next to the away supporters

Another good reason, and why many will choose to go in the Jack Walker near the away side, rather than fall in line.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Yes you are right it doesn't affect me as my season ticket is in the Blackburn End. 

I always said that the Darwen end should be just for away fans unless we sold out the other 3 stands. 

You have lie again with your second line of your comments. 

I can ask why you like sitting in the Darwen end? seem strange to me but hey ho

My point is, that because it doesnt impact you, you dont seem to have the ability to understand and appreciate my point of view. If they said the Blackburn End is closed to home fans im sure youd think differently. Even if it doesnt directly affect you, you need to see it from the point of view of those who are affected.

Ive said before, I like that its flexible in that its unreserved, I stand at the back and thus dont impede anyone elses view by doing so. Its also good like @Stuart said in terms of if someone else decides late to attend then they can come with me rather than mess about moving seats.

35 minutes ago, Stuart said:

I can see your point of view yes. You’ve had something you enjoyed taken away from you.

The thing is, you have no ‘rights’ with regards seating. And you definitely have no ‘right’ to stand in an all-seater stadium. The club can put fans where they want, it does work like that. That’s not a pop, those are just the facts. Apart from being kept reasonably safe, your only ‘right’ is the right to not attend.

I don’t think that the idea of merging the singing fans is a fanciful one, it just seems that there is a reticence from some fans to join together at all - possibly from the anti-Venkys protest days.

Where I do sympathise is in that the club have withdrawn the unreserved seating arrangements. Although I expect most people will have a ‘usual’ or ‘preferred’ seat, it does give flexibility to bring friend with you on a walk-in basis that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to do. In that regard it’s a retrograde step. The club should have tried to find a way to keep an unreserved seating area at the rear of the Blackburn end.

The really disappointing thing though is the apparent lack of consultation. It would be interesting to get a FF view - if they are still invited to meetings.

Maybe right is not the appropriate word.

I disagree that they can move people round too much, ie they do have the right to remove an option but I feel like the Jack Walker option suits some people for more reasons than any internal fan friction, maybe its the banter etc with the away fans, not sure. My point was more that they can only do so much to try and get the fans together in the Blackburn End and i dont feel it will work like some think or hope. I personally dislike side stands so will probably have to go to the Blackburn End.

Totally agree on your points on unreserved seating providing a unique flexibility thats been needlessly taken. Also on the point of consulting the fans. Ive seen fans claim before theyve been assured that this wont happen so wonder whats changed?

Just now, Stuart said:

Like I said, it’s a shame.

I can see why they would make the DE away fans. I see positives from all the singers together.

The way this becomes a winner is if the back 8 rows of the BBE lower becomes bundesliga-style safe standing. Sadly we are a long long way from that because of the political implications (due to misconception and lack of imagination).

I would love to see Rovers leading the way to pilot / trial such a system.

Firstly, would be a total supporter of the prospect of safe standing. Shrewsbury I believe are implementing it.

Can you understand, from my perspective as a regular in the Darwen End, and a fan of the unique aspects that sitting (or more so, standing) there provides? And why I feel annoyed and usurped that my right to that has been randomly removed, presumably to give some away teams up to a needlessly high 8000 fans?

The idea of everyone singing together is a nice one, but for me, a fanciful and unrealistic one. The club cant put fans exactly where they want, it doesnt work like that. 

19 minutes ago, Stuart said:

I do think that closing the DE is the right thing to do. Even though I know people that this will upset. Getting the BBE full and singing together has to be a good thing. It will also make it easier to milk the larger Championship clubs as others have said.

I wasn’t expecting a price reduction but I think the club need to carefully consider their plan of significantly increasing the price by stealth every year. It’s a clever marketing trick calling it an early bird offer when you are really asking people to pay at last season’s price hike rate to avoid this year’s price hike for one season. “Too late and you’ll pay next year’s early bird price today”. There will be a limit to what people will pay so this needs to be monitored.

Next season is going to be really tough compared to this year so much may depend on the calibre of Summer signings. Without a marquee (or at least notably positive signing) we may well top out at 11-12 ST holders. A marginal increase on this season.

But then if we win the League tomorrow and are presented with the trophy tomorrow...

(Who am I kidding, nobody cares about that).

As already touched on, fans will just move elsewhere, not just into the Blackburn End.

Darwen End also has the unique selling point of being unreserved, when I've had to move elsewhere for certain games ive felt incredibly restricted compared to being able to stand on the back row without impeding anyone at all.

Id probably agree with your estimate of season ticket holders for next season, as positive as tomorrow will be, it is very much a one off, im sure we will get a bit of a spike but it wont be loads.

18 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

very pleased that we announced the season tickets prices finally. will be down next Thursday to sort my season ticket out. 

I can understand why the club has decided to use the darwen end just for away fans. sensible move and fill the other stands in the ground and if enough people renewal we might open the BBE Upper end to home fans. 

I'm hoping we can get 15 k plus fans who get season tickets for next season

 Absolutely no empathy with anyone else. It doesnt affect you so its fine. Grimly predictable.

Of course you will agree with the clubs decision, you always do, but for me, its an aggravation to fans that didnt need to be made.

It is pandering to the wills of potential away supports, presumably, ahead of the wants and needs of home fans who are happy in the Darwen End.

19 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

thats why you get to trust you fitness/sport science staff and phsyio staff that why players do full medical these days.

I think Chapman would be good signing for us.

Lets just calm down and see if a deal is done first and what then terms are. cant see Mowbray agreeing to that clause in the deal so lets see what happens 1st.

my friend knows people at Brockhall and I have no reason to doubt the info or source

Many top players have struggled to deal both physically and psychologically after such a bad hamstring injury, including Michael Owen.

There are more players out there.

That said, wont be getting hung up on such a tenuous rumour.

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

On the other hand I completely agree with this. We should be trying to fill the ground with home fans not taking the easy option of filling it with away fans. It's also effectively capping the home support at around 22k. I had numerous run ins with John Williams about this over the years and thought that negative short sighted policy had gone forever.

Pricing is good but bad move in that respect.

Totally agree. Not gonna grumble about prices, cant ever really complain about them. But no need to aggravate loyal fans.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

A Friend of mine has txt me this afternoon..has good contacts at Rovers

Mowbray met with Pulis regarding Chapman earlier this week, Pulis unsure at what level Harry can play at and is happy for another year at Rovers, snag is that Middlesbrough want an immediate return to them if he looks the part, Rovers won’t agree to that. If Chapman is at Ewood tommorow he is a Rovers player for the next 12 months. Just to make it clear that the recall clause is the key to all this happening.

Hope thats not true. Chapmans hamstrings make any deal one massively based on sentimentality in my opinion. Plus the implied deal is a no win situation for Rovers.

That said, how would your friend know?

My whinge is about the Darwen End situation, there is no need to upset a band of loyal fans to accommodate 8,000 away fans, maybe move us for Leeds and Preston, even then at a push, but how many other Championship teams offer such a generous allocation to away fans? Totally unnecessary.

The club prefer to put the needs of away fans above those of home fans.

Makes no sense at all. Making a masisve deal about tomorrow to potentially bring more fans, then on the other hand upsetting some of those who have been attending for a few years.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/may/early-bird-season-tickets-2018-19/

Think its total, total stupidity to stop selling Darwen End tickets for home fans.

Been happily in there basically since it opened, much prefer it to anywhere else, like being able to have unreserved seating, and being able to go to the back and stand rather than have to sit.

No doubt many will defend the decision who are unaffected, but I think its a disgrace.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16198729.Fans__jury__Should_Rovers_offer_Craig_Conway_a_new_contract_/?ref=mac

Some view on here similar to me:

"Will he be able to cope with the rigours of the Championship when he couldn't be guaranteed a regular place in Division 1?"

"He has struggled with injuries this year and on his return has not demanded an automatic place in the first eleven. A year older and a division harder, I don't see Craig Conway as a step forward and to be competitive, we may also need to be ruthless.

"The winger has struggled to make a big impact this season, failing to register an assist in 19 league starts."

We cant be too sentimental, or lacking ruthlessness, no point keeping around Conway who cant impact games or Samuel just because hes mates with Dack.

Hope they are announced soon, that prices are similar and that they continue to sell unreserved in the Darwen End.

Strike while the iron is hot.

If I recall correctly, regular reserve goers on here suggested he was hardly consistently impressive in the under 23s.

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Mahoney would have played as he is a winger and we ended up playing strikers on the wing for most games. Terrible decision to leave 

Thats clearly a ploy from the manager, even last season we had Sam Gallagher wide over Mahoney.

3 minutes ago, DE. said:

Mahoney showed flashes of potential, and I think Mowbray would have brought him on in the same way he has Nyambe and Raya. I don't think Mahoney would have been worse than Samuel on the wing, for example. Or Antonsson for that matter. I'm not going to fault the lad for having the ambition to go to a Premier League club with a young, positive manager that plays decent football. It obviously doesn't seem to have worked out for him yet, but it's early days. If Mahoney was available on loan next season I wouldn't be averse to having him here if Mowbray felt he would add something to the team.

To be fair, Samuel has rarely played wide, and Antonsson had a real purple patch in front of goal that Mahoney showed no evidence of being able to match. 

If we was to sign him back especially on loan, id feel it was done purely on sentiment. He showed very little really in terms of end product and struggled to make the squad at the end when we improved.

Would he have played much here though? 

Feel like a lot of the excitement comes from him being a local lad. When in fact he did very little and seemed to drift further and further from the team.

Even in arguably our weakest position, Mahoney wouldnt have gotten into our team. Absence makes the heart grow fonder with Rovers former players at times I feel. Easy to forget he ended the last season out of the 18.

12 minutes ago, Stuart said:

I guess you didn’t see Charlie hopping and then sat down holding his knee just before he was taken off in the last game.

Trust me, I hope you are right. It’s a gamble though.

I saw him v both Peterborough and Doncaster looking like hed been through the wars towards the end. But thats all part of being a centre back, his physicality is actually a side of his game that is at times underestimated in my opinion.

You touched on the fact that contrary belief, I do agree that it will be more demanding and more difficult in the Championship, in terms of ability. 

I just think that you cant argue with the number of games hes played this season and theres nothing to suggest hes about to hit any sort of sharp decline based on recent history.

@DE. as you touched on, Marshall I would go as far as saying hed walk into our team, hes been superb for Millwall and key to their promotion push. All hatred aside Duffy would walk in to our team, a consistent Premier League defender. So much crap in that side aside from them.

2 hours ago, Stuart said:

So £60k-plus per week for influence?

If they stay fit I’d certainly want Mulgrew and Graham. It’s a gamble though. The Championship is a hard hard season.

But neither have shown obvious signs of physical decline, quite the opposite towards the end of the season.

29 minutes ago, Stuart said:

I honestly don’t think Mulgrew will stay fit. He has been head and shoulders above almost everyone in L1 but not sure about the level above. I’d hate for him to fade from the game (or Rovers struggle through sentiment). He deserves better.

With Conway, id totally agree, his legs are clearly going, he doesnt affect games anymore.

Mulgrew on the other hand, his intelligence and ability have never been in question, just his fitness and Im not sure what more he could have done this season, albeit I admit its a weaker league, to suggest he can cope physically.

Hes got a year left on his contract anyway I think, so im sure he will stay.

38 minutes ago, Stuart said:

If we’ve any ambitions of being a Championship club we need to buy (or loan) some Championship (or even PL) players not League One.

Armstrong on loan would be on my list because it looks like a good fit for both clubs and the player.

We need a right back (still), and we need adequate replacement for Evanshittingham. Tbf Evans has come good this last few games but he has been dire for large parts of the season.

Being really ruthless, a striker to replace Graham and a centre back to replace Mulgrew. Purely down to legs and injuries, it wouldn’t be one season too far for both, in my view.

His age will probably tempt some to offer him another year but I’d rather let Mulgrew walk away a hero. That’s said, I’d love to be wrong as he’s a fine leader.

Let’s just hope we aren’t approached by Jason Lowe’s agent/mum. We’ve not missed him and he can’t get a gig anywhere but we will still have the same stupid debate if he is even remotely linked.

As much as we do need strengthening, its critical not to totally discard the heart of the side whose incredible consistency has got us promoted in the first place.

Mulgrew has played alot of games and avoided injury in the main, and provides us with leadership and know how that we would sorely lack. Graham also gives us that, and the pair of them get the best out of Lenihan and Dack alongside them. For me, the way that theyve both ended the season shows that theres no evidence that they are no longer of massive use to a side promoted to the Championship. 

Mulgrew, Lenihan, Bennett, Smallwood, Dack, Graham, need to build around that. Then beyond that, Raya, Williams, Nyambe, Bell, Whittingham and Evans will all be able to play a part in my opinion, to varying degrees.

Agreed on Lowe though, in fact ive seen us linked with a few ex players on here, Gallagher, Mahoney, we need to look forward, for the first time in a while we have something strong to build on.