Buckley should’ve scored today, but I’m encouraged by the fact he seems to get into decent shooting opportunities. If he keeps doing that, a goal will come. If he scores a single goal this season that’ll be more than Trybull, Downing, Travis and Evans managed between them last year. He’s clearly worked on the physical side of things lately, and you can see the difference. The stick he gets from some is bizarre to me.

Well deserved three points which we fought hard for. Can’t fault anyone’s efforts tonight, though the centre backs and Travis deserve special praise. We weren’t ever really seriously troubled after we’d settled, disappointing goal conceded aside. Chapman with an impressive display, and maybe he can be a worthwhile part of the team going forward. Really enjoyed seeing us actually attack the ball from set pieces. I’ve got a slight worry that a massive influx of loanees might disrupt things a bit. This core of players are good, and most have room to improve and develop too. We’ve also got some quality to come back from injuries. Another quick one on the game, I felt the ref that supposedly hates us was pretty generous for the free kick for our second, and I’d have been livid if one of ours had received a booking for that. Credit to Mowbray tonight. Made some big calls and got them right… just switch Gallagher and Dolan round in future!

I know I’m overly cynical, but Nyambe has been training all week. Makes me wonder if it’s an injury or an “injury”.

Yeah, mine did indeed arrive today. You get a ten quid off voucher for Peter Jackson jewellers in the envelope. They must be the longest standing sponsor left by some margin. About the only one Waggott hasn’t driven away.

Only caught the highlights, but that’s a cracking header from Brereton! Didn’t think he had that in him, and I’m delighted to hold my hands up. That yellow kit looks brilliant! Today was always going to be a very different proposition to Swansea. 4 points from the opening two games has far exceeded my expectations.

Nice change from the none too subtle reminders from the club that it’s not the 90’s any more! Looks a nice shirt!

Reversing the halves on the back = bar raised!

A terrible, terrible appointment. Came in and made the right noises, but he is clearly in a job that is way beyond his capabilities. His track record supports this. He is bad at everything, has zero successes, can’t see how he’s met a single objective and has seen us regress in many ways. As well as being absolutely rubbish and completely out of touch, he’s also vindictive and dishonest.

The word “injury” seems to crop up a lot, which sets alarm bells ringing.

Absolutely. First order of business has to be offering better deals to Nyambe, Brereton, Kaminski, Lenihan and Rothwell.

I didn’t expect that at all, and pleasantly surprised is a big understatement. Buckley’s first half performance was incredible. Very confident this is the season he really marks his arrival. He absolutely bullied Grimes! Great to see both Brereton, sorry, Diaz and Gallagher on the score sheet. Diaz would’ve had another with a better ball from Rothwell at the death. No complaints about anything on the pitch. It was good to be back, and very quickly felt like I’d never been away. Would’ve been nice if they’d cleaned the ground up properly and done a few repairs. The tannoy at the back of me in the Riverside has finally given up the ghost after years of threatening to do so.

Rovers Radio returns with the pre-match show at 12:00 today. If you’re of a positive persuasion it might not be for you! We do have a couple of guests though, and I had the pleasure of speaking to Michael Hodkinson about his new book chronicling the story of the East Lancs derby, as well as Scott Sumner from 4,000 holes. Some good music too! https://roversradio.co.uk/listen-live

I’m expecting any optimism will be gone by five past three when it becomes apparent it’s Gallagher and Brereton out wide with Dolan through the middle.

It’s an independent fanzine sized magazine devised by a Rovers fan. 2 issues so far which have both been superb. Really good production quality, great articles, retro feel. On Twitter at @turnstilesmag and available at https://turnstilesmagazine.bigcartel.com/ Tends to sell out quickly, but I highly recommend.

I buy fanzines, programmes at away games, occasional print magazines like WSC or Fourfourtwo, and I’m really enjoying Turnstile magazine that’s 2 issues in and is bloody brilliant. I gave up buying our programme regularly as it was crap. Printed media still definitely has a place… has to be good though. Obviously it’s far easier to bin it completely and suits the general approach of everything at the club at the moment.

It’s not engagement though, it’s more empty words. Engagement would be responding to correspondence put to them. I wouldn’t read too much into who it is signed by. It’s clearly written by Waggott and hits all the key points he’s been spouting for the last couple of years. They committed to respecting the legacy of Jack Walker… look how that turned out.

Just a quick thank you to BRFCS and the posters on this thread so far. My head was about to explode reading Twitter.

I bet the same people reckon Gerry and Kate McCann are good parents because they took their kids on holiday. Well funded, terribly run.

I’m surprised it took as long as 9 words for him to mention “challenges”

I don’t know him personally, but by all accounts he still cares deeply about the club.

Because I think it’s an uncomplicated formation that is balanced and allows players to know what their job is and use the attributes that suit them.

Against Leeds the formation looked 5-3-1-1, almost a normal system with Dolan given a lot of Freedom. Today we started with 5–2-3, wing backs and wide strikers, nothing in midfield. We finished the game with Mowbray’s trusted 4-3-3. A week to go before the season opener and it’s impossible to predict what formation we will play, and at best you can only predict 4 of the starting 11 with any degree of certainty. And while we don’t really have a discernible playing identity, the inevitable loss of Armstrong will have to mean a fundamental change to the way we play. Ridiculous. Today was a real wake up call after Wednesday. As much as I raved about Magloire on Wednesday he struggled tonight and should’ve done a lot better for their second. If allowed to use his physical attributes and concentrate on defending he’s going to be useful though. We looked miles off it in midfield (numbers and performance) until the subs, all of whom looked lively. Dolan and Nyambe linked up well a few times, but seemed to both be occupying wide space and limiting our outlet for a ball into the box when we did break forward. Gallagher looking good getting on the end of crosses rather than putting them in. Good to see Brereton in the goals, he will need to be. The second was very nice.

Big difference between this showing so far and the performance against Leeds. We’re a body lighter in midfield and it’s showing.

1. Yes. Unfortunately. 2. Yes. Unfortunately. 3. Brereton will win it whether performances mean he deserves to or not 4. 20th 5. West Brom

I’m not even that bothered by the lack of signings at this point, and I’m certainly not surprised. We should’ve got whatever money we could at the start of the window for Armstrong and used it to pay off Mowbray, Venus, Lowe, and whoever else, as well as Waggott. A compensation package should’ve been agreed with Wycombe for Ainsworth and Tom Finn should’ve been approach with a sincere apology and a handsome offer to try and get the club back on track. Just a quick one on Waggott, if his salary was talked about weekly instead of annually, it becomes apparent he earns more than most of our first team squad. More than we are offering Nyambe. It’s ridiculous. I’d be happy going into the next season with no new signings, but with major changes in the dugout and boardroom, in fact, I’d be delighted.