Miller11

I’ve tried to take some time and reflect on the actual match and performance, but I’m still pretty crushed. Wharton was obviously a class above. Him and Benson provided the moments of quality. JRC is one we must tie down to a good long term deal immediately and I’d also make him captain. The bully Barnes was put in his place. Unpopular opinion, but Hyam is in a poor spell of form at the moment. He’s a way off the massively high standards he set early doors and his distribution last night put us in trouble a few times, while Carter made a single more costly error he was more consistent. Pickering should probably have been hooked as soon as he got booked. Obvious what Benson would try and do and being on a yellow stopped him preventing it. I’m not even sure he should’ve been booked as it looked from the back of the Riverside like it was Wharton who actually committed the foul. Hedges and Dolan huffed and puffed but neither ever looked like threatening the keeper. For the first time I thought Brereton lacked enough effort, perhaps I was being kind to him over recent weeks. Travis was disappointing, liked how Sorba Thomas showed some fight at the end. We are hampered by the lack of a centre forward, but we also limit ourselves by overplaying around their box and not getting a shot off. I’m still annoyed at how we continued to play about incessantly at the back when we were desperate for a goal. Oh, and Craig Bellamy is still an absolute prick. Very unlikeable little man. Bankruptcy is karma.

Darrenrover, formerly of this parish, hinted that he was appointed directly by Venky’s and would work independently of and was lined up to eventually replace Waggott. I doubted this as soon as I met Fielder, and having met the two together it was very clear Waggott was his superior.

Whose fault was it we haven’t got a striker? Never really needed O’Brien. Just needed to play Adam Wharton.

He was so far ahead of everyone else on the pitch last night it was ridiculous. Not for the first time either. Freezing him out for so long has cost us badly. We’d be comfortably in the playoffs if he’d played anywhere near the amount of minutes Morton has.

It’s sickening what Venky’s have done to our fans expectations. We managed about half a dozen top 6 finishes in this league in the 80s, but now we are looking on jealously and shitting ourselves at the prospect of playing a team that was non-league when those cretins bought us. Even if we end up finishing 8th some people will call our performance miraculous. I don’t get it. After last seasons collapse I’m not sure I can handle us blowing and opportunity again this time round.

But the fact remains that he could’ve played in a pair of wellies tonight and still been the best player on the pitch by some distance.

I’m not dwelling on any positives. Why should we… this is a dark day in the history of Blackburn Rovers. Moderate annoyances: 1. It’s all well and good sending your keeper up for a corner in injury time, but a minute prior our centre backs we’re playing one-twos with each other at the back for a good 30 seconds. We never mix it up, we are far too wedded to one style of play, and it leads to us trying (and failing) to walk it into the net. 2. Greg Broughton has a lot to answer for, but so does JDT. In Adam Wharton we have an exceptional footballer. How he has played so few minutes is a disgrace. Tomasson has sabotaged us with his lack of use of him and cost us points. Major annoyance: The Venky disease. 6 defeats by the dingles on the spin. No victory against them since they darkened our door. Now they’ve won the league (albeit the second division) at Ewood. Jack would be turning in his grave.

Also, Venky’s should be offering an enormous win bonus - their record of us having never won a derby since they rocked up is one of the most shameful stains on their dreadful ownership.

I’m having to have a drink to try and settle my nerves. It’d be bad enough playing them if we were both mid table, and I’m less bothered than I thought I’d be about the prospect of them winning the league, it’s only the second division after all. But the fact our season hinges on this game (totally unnecessarily thanks to our recent crap form) makes it practically unbearable. If ever there was a night for a big performance it’s now. Anything less than 100% effort, passion and graft will be unforgivable. Time for heroes to be made.

He’s a decent enough squad player, but he’s no goal threat as he goes to pieces in the box. Handy to have around, not ideal to bring on to try and change a game though.

The more I think about it, the more I want Dack to start tonight. End of the season (and possibly his time at Rovers) approaching, chance to go from cult hero to legend. Barnes was instrumental for them in the reverse fixture. Dack has far more about him than that knuckle-dragging potato with legs. He can be our difference maker.

Really depressing seeing so many people resigned to/advocating him being sold already. We aren’t Crewe. Personally I want to see an Adam Wharton inspired victory against the Dingles tonight, and eventually him playing for us in the Premier League.

I don’t understand the clamour for Brittain either.

Garrett froze last time against this lot. I’d drop Szmodics a bit deeper and start Dack.

Would sorting out “an eyesore” really be your first priority if you had money to spend?!?!

I can’t believe it’s the fans being accused of throwing the towel in?!?!

He did ok for the most part yesterday, but I don’t think he has the stomach for this fixture and I wouldn’t want him playing any part in the game. He’s put in plenty of substandard performances and kept his place, so I’m well aware it won’t happen.

Pears JRC Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Wharton Hedges Szmodics Brereton Dack Kaminski, Ayala, Phillips, Garrett, Dolan, Thomas, Leonard The prospect of Morton against this lot terrifies me. Scott Wharton’s recent performances aren’t good enough for a place on the bench regardless of where he was born. I’d also take away any temptation to bring him and Brittain on as it leads to disaster. No expectations, but a demand of 100% effort and no stupidity.

Apologies for the link to this absolute rag, but here goes… https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12003345/amp/Burnley-investigation-EFL-potential-match-fixing-draw-Reading.html They’ve definitely been playing a weakened side. Points deduction or fine won’t make a blind bit of difference unless it’s an enormously disproportionate one that stops them getting promoted… be much better to ban their entire squad for their next game! A cynic might think they were deliberately dropping points so they could win the league at Ewood.

Obviously lack of strikers is a big issue, but we overcame that today. We were persistent in our attacking, found a bit of quality where it mattered and managed to get the goal. Unfortunately our good work was undone at least in part by a tactical change that has been tried several times, never worked, and has led to us conceding goals on every occasion we’ve done it.

Pears JRC Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Wharton Garrett Szmodics Dack Brereton Kaminski, Ayala, Hedges, Dolan, Thomas, Phillips, Leonard

Leicester - Brittain comes on, gets run ragged, concede a goal from that flank within 5 minutes, let them back in to a game we were dominating. Quarter final - Brings on Brittain and Wharton to go 5 at the back while we are leading. Concede an equaliser within a minute, go on to lose the game. Coventry - brings Wharton on to go 5 at the back. Concede in the last minute of injury time. Preston - Brings on both, goes 5 at the back. Both look crap. Concede an equaliser in the last minute of injury time. The only time bringing Brittain on worked was against Stoke when we were 3 down and he did some attacking for 5 minutes. Can’t remember the last time Scott Wharton looked good. Unfortunately our manager, for all his good points, is also supremely arrogant and prone to making costly stubborn decisions. This repeated change did us out of the cup and more than likely the playoffs. Persisting with Morton over Wharton has cost us god knows how many points. I’m fucking furious with him tonight. Don't know why anyone is surprised with what Hedges did either. His brain seizes up and his legs take on a life of their own when he sets foot in the opposition box. If he had any composure he’d be a very good player. No blame on Hyam, just unlucky for the goal. That said I thought he was crap today (that belting late tackle aside), but he’s got a lot of good grace still. Oh, and Adam Wharton is our best player by a country mile.

Get Dack on!!

Dolan, Travis and Hyam dreadful there. Need Dack and/or Brereton on. Thomas has looked pretty good, need someone in there to get on the end of a cross.

Too narrow. No real desire to see Morton again.