After the meeting closed Mowbray chatted with a group of fans... Patrick Bauer was mentioned as a potential signing and Mowbray said something along the lines of “We bid for him last summer, but now he’s on a free his agent thinks he’s worth 40-50 grand a week. He’s playing in league one. We want bigger, better players to come straight into the defence”. I mentioned Jake Cooper from Millwall and Mowbray said he could be a target. He was asked about Wharton and said he is not ready for Championship football yet. Few other points that might be on the Radio Lancs broadcast... Mowbray spoke about the possibility of doing some part exchange deals, as well as mentioning he wouldn’t be averse to bringing in proven quality, older players on frees and big wages from PL teams who could bring a bit of quality and help younger players. Waggott rates Rankin-Costello and Butterworth... so I’d presume Mowbray does too.

Up until last night I’d have voted “not until Venky’s go” but the consultation meeting has changed things. I feel that, for the first time in a long time, there are people within the club willing to listen to and consider supporters interests and ideas. Steve Waggott has given me some hope that things are moving in the right direction, and that he is capable of managing things effectively. I think he will continue to do what he can to bridge the disconnect and re-engage supporters. I still despise Venky’s, but they have created a situation where we are dependent on their subsidising us to remain competitive, let alone to have a hope of promotion, and it seems this will be the case for the foreseeable. I still ticked undecided because I want to see some of the talk become reality - I’ll be really disappointed if their isn’t a decent level of investment in the defence (I expect Mowbray would be to), and I think failure to do this would confirm some long held suspicions I have that were categorically denied last night. I have felt for some time that I’ve been cutting off my nose to spite my face by continuing my boycott. I’ve been to games on a free ticket and realised how much I’ve missed it. While we are stuck with Venky’s I’d prefer them to remain in the background, I don’t want to see them at Ewood (I realise that some people do, but don’t understand why), I don’t even like their logo plastered all over advertising hoardings, but I can cope with it due to the fact that I feel as though there is someone decent and competent running things day to day, who appears to be allowed to do so. So all being well, I’ll be getting a season ticket.

That was my feeling.

After the meeting closed Mowbray chatted with a group of fans... Patrick Bauer was mentioned as a potential signing and Mowbray said something along the lines of “We bid for him last summer, but now he’s on a free his agent thinks he’s worth 40-50 grand a week. He’s playing in league one. We want bigger, better players to come straight into the defence”. I mentioned Jake Cooper from Millwall and Mowbray said he could be a target. He was asked about Wharton and said he is not ready for Championship football yet.

The main points I’d take away from this meeting are as follows: There seemed to be a lot fewer attendees this time round.Not many questions/challenges from the floor (I think only 6 people from the floor asked anything, which was very different from previous meetings I’ve attended. Waggott came across well. Didn’t necessarily agree with everything he said, but he made a good case for what he said. Happy to acknowledge and take things on board and appears to value supporters. Very commercially driven and would like facilities such as a hotel, conference centre etc to open up new revenue streams. Believes price is the main factor in attendances, but seems to be looking for a magical way of increasing gates without drastically cutting prices. Seems to understand football, but is very business orientated. Thanked me for challenging things and seemed genuinely interested in what would get me to break my boycott. Expect ST prices to remain the same. There was disappointment from Waggott that they hadn’t been able to release details yet. Mowbray wants a crack at promotion. Rangers away pre-season (not official, but I expect it) Many questions were answered pre-emptively... mainly around the defence and transfers. The Suhail issue was probably made bigger by those at the top table. They went to great lengths to stress how much they valued what he does. I pointed out I thought him being more visible would set minds at rest as a lot of mistrust still exists due to past Venky appointments. There was some worry he would get abuse, and the “that’s not his role” argument. It was all quite defensive. Any questions about Venky’s were answered with the usual lines... it’s clear they aren’t going anywhere any time soon, and the subsidies will keep rolling in. No further clue as to what their motivation is though. Nothing revolutionary, quite an easy evening for the management team.

Is anyone else on here attending?

With those, or similar as our home and change kit, we’d have no need for a third kit... can’t see us playing Feyenoord any time soon.

I like the red trim, and though it’s not wholly traditional, the two white sleeves.

Agree with this. He was much improved yesterday, but still a long way to go to prove he has anything much to offer long term, discounting the fee.

Out of contract in the summer. In fact he’s still on a scholars contract and they haven’t tied him down to a pro-deal! I’m hearing Burnley is the likely destination...

Exactly this. Every error Raya makes is down to attempting to do things he is not naturally good at or that he doesn’t possess the physical attributes to do effectively. If he was encouraged/allowed to keep goal in his 6 yard box he would be fine. Mowbray coming out in the press claiming he wants a “commanding goalkeeper”... well, you would be better off signing one than trying to turn Raya into one. Though I’d suggest a far better investment would be a goalkeeper coach who has actually played football who can mentor Raya and get him playing to his obvious strengths.

To be fair he’s banged them in consistently for the U23s. Seems to get on the end of crosses well enough. If Brereton had set Dack up on Tuesday as Nuttall did, people would be raving about it. A bit like ‘that disallowed goal’... which is approaching the realms of ‘that tackle’.

Bringing Armstrong in for Conway immediately changes our shape and unbalances us. Against Derby Conway played on the right hand side of a 4 in midfield... Armstrong will never offer that. Wingers in, wide strikers out!

There seems to be an acceptance, sometimes more grudging than others, that Venky’s aren’t going anywhere soon. I’m asked on an almost weekly basis ‘but what can we do?’... Well, you can get behind this. The more innovative and creative ways there are to keep the message alive the better in my eyes. And aside from that it should be entertaining!

Still don’t believe this was a Mowbray signing. If it was it’s a sackable offence. If the plan is a long term one, why did we only sign a 19 year old to a 2 and a half year contract? If by some miracle he does anything next year and suddenly becomes hot property he’ll be going in to his final year. While I don’t think this will be a worry it’s pretty illogical.

Closest we will play to a 4-4-2 while Dack is here, and it was a joy to watch. We played with two wingers playing as wingers, and our best two central midfielders and we turn in a performance like that. Rothwell was absolutely superb, needs to start every game... in fact that midfield 4 does, maybe give Chapman a run too. Play that system and Conway could still have a place in the squad next season. Lenihan defending like a proper defender tonight, he can play a bit too. Get another proper centre half alongside him (stick a bid in for Jake Cooper from Millwall) and I’d be happy with that. Nuttall head and shoulders above Brereton. May not possess masses of ability but positively influences games. Not perfect by Mowbray though, dropping Nyambe and putting Bennett at full back is a bad call.

7/2 for us to concede in the first 15 mins...

Team I’d start: Raya Nyambe Lenihan Magloire Williams Chapman Travis Rodwell Rothwell Graham Butterworth subs: Leutweiler, Bell, Nuttall, Doyle, Buckley, Davenport, Conway Team I expect so see: Raya Lenihan Mulgrew Williams Bennett Smallwood Evans Bell **This void is deliberate** Armstrong Dack Graham

I think he’s also quite lazy and greedy. Might be better more central, but I don’t think so.

Today was the straw that broke the camels back for me. Has to go. If it wasn’t for Raya we’d have lost 3-0, which would have reflected the game more accurately. The lad has the makings of a good keeper, if he is allowed to keep goal in his 6 years box. He doesn’t have the physical attributes to be a “commanding keeper” yet he’s expected to do so to cover for our centre backs failings. He also doesn’t have a coach at the required level to work with. Nyambe, like Raya, has been used as a scapegoat by Mowbray. I think he’s doing extremely well since he must be the most isolated full back I have ever seen. He’s expected to operate up and down that right hand side, never gets any defensive help from Armstrong or Evans/Smallwood. I’d be putting in a transfer request if I was him... and being subbed off for Brereton and Bennett dropping in there is an insult to the lad. Travis seems to have got worse the more he has settled in to the team. He’s still infinitely better than Evans or Smallwood, but he seems to be stifled. Mowbray seems to want 2 midfielders who never stray beyond the centre circle in either direction. Those two jokers he started with today offered absolutely nothing. Rothwell looked to make things happen, but I expect he will only have that drummed out of him given a run of games. Bennett, Smallwood, Mulgrew, Bell, Williams, Evans and Armstrong are all crap. So is Brereton, so let not pretend his signing is anything than an absolute disaster for a minute longer. If Mowbray wants to take responsibility for wasting 7 million on him, that’s a sackable offence on its own. Rodwell won England caps as a midfielder. Reed has been a standout this season. Yet they can’t dislodge the least dynamic duo, who offer fuck all at either end of the pitch I have ever witnessed? Dack needs a heavy fine and if we had anyone resembling a proper captain, a bollocking/good hiding. He will probably get a paid holiday and a cuddle. Shite.

The words I’ve heard used, from a club employee, where “looking worse for wear”

I’d be amazed if three of Bennett, Smallwood, Evans, Mulgrew don’t start the first game of next season. What I think we will get - Bauer now seems viable as he will be free. 2 on loan, 2 “for the future” and a striker.

You also need some help from the players in front of you. Ours don’t generally get that.

Rather than discussing the merits of Hughes, Wagner or Jakanovic, we would be better debating Glenn Roeder, Adrian Heath and Brian Little judging by Venky’s track record. For that reason... Mowbray in. It’s not difficult to see where our issues stem from.

Look where the initial idea comes from. I hardly think you can accuse that poster/blogger/tweeter of having that particular agenda! He’s never slow to criticise any anti-Venky talk. I’ve heard similar talk about Davenport. I see Jim voicing the same thing as pretty strong corroberation. I’ll be the first to admit I view Venky’s with absolute suspicion and believe the worst of them readily. He doesn’t. Personally I think not being suspicious of Venky’s is at best extremely naive. It would only take a couple of minutes to identify dozens of suspect transfers that have been made over the last 8 years that benefitted certain individuals rather than the team. I suppose it comes down to this with Brereton... if you believe that Mowbray was given 7 million to do with as he pleased, and instead of addressing a threadbare and below par back line, he spunked 7 million on a player he doesn’t rate enough to play in his natural position, if at all, then surely he deserves all the criticism he is currently getting and some.