SuperBrfc

Last season there were times he was in ultra cautious mode and I am beginning to think that was due to the situation we were in. It was a case of 'just don't lose the game' and draws were almost viewed like 'we've collected another point, one step closer to safety. Phew'. Of course, there was justifiable criticism from many of us here at the time about Rovers looking shit scared against the likes of Plymouth, Millwall, Sheff Wednesday etc, but I think it might have been to do with the overall situation, rather than a case of Eustace being a loser or not wanting to win. For me, he has already shown so far this season that he wants to win. I was pleased that the first thing he said after the Norwich game was that he was disappointed with a point, as he felt we should have won the game. That's the attitude I want to see from a Rovers manager. There have also been good noises from one or two who have been observing him by the dugout and how he has been a tough taskmaster after games. It doesn't look or sound like he is here to just plod along to me. He's not a JDT, but I don't think he is a Mowbray either. The problem as always, is the pillocks at the top and whether they will back him or not. Whether there is any truth in the leaked transfer targets and there being disagreements between Eustace and Rudy/Park, remains to be seen. It could be a deflection tactic for all we know. I wouldn't put it past the car salesman. However if true, part of me wouldn't mind us signing some of the alleged Eustace wishlist. Dembele could be electric for us, there's a player in there, it sometimes needs the right club. Baker as an addition without selling anybody would be fine (too much to ask of that lot though). Stansfield would be a quality signing, but again, a big ask of this lot. The tricky part is, I'm also happy for Rudy and Park to pick out signings for us as they look to have delivered so far with Gueye and Ohashi. Who else can they surprise us with? They have supposedly pleasantly surprised Eustace too, so let them carry on with it, is another thought that crosses my mind. They need to reach a compromise pretty quick, if a disagreement exists at all. I'd personally let Eustace go after Dembele if the choice is between him and Germain. I would love to see Dembele on one wing and Poku on the other. That would scare teams imo, along with them having Yuki and Mak to deal with too.

Aye, Mashed. Nothing to see here. I'm not sure what people are complaining about. Things aren't that bad. The last 14 years haven't been the disaster people make them out to be. The club still exists and Venky's are paying the bills. Jack would be happy about that. This forum could do with a bit more positivity.

Yuki!! What a header. Get in.

This was one of the tougher Championship fixtures in years gone by, but not so much today, imo. Not taking them lightly, but they are there for the taking tomorrow. They've lost a few quality players in recent years, they have a new manager who is trying to figure things out, this Rowe fella seems to be causing a bit of a rumpus too and they have Hanley and Duffy at the back. Any club that is relying on those two must be desperate (as we know). Looks more of a challenge than Derby, but these are a poor imitation of previous Norwich sides in this Division and are doable. Norwich 1-2 Rovers.

37. Sammie Szmodics

We've got to be ruthless here. Keep going for more goals. You never see Pep and City letting up, even against lower League opponents in the cups. Let's get Mak on in the second half.

I think this is could be a rout of the Harrogate proportion. That is a much stronger side than I expected. Hopefully Yuki can bag a few more.

Check inbox, Steve.

36. Lucas Neill

Go on, Yuki! I think we've found a player there. What a finish from him, love the celebration too. Excellent first outing from Gueye. He has the hold up play, the first touch and the ability to make runs, his finishing needs working on, but he looks like he is going to be a problem for the opposition. How good was it to see passes played into a striker and the ball sticking with a neat first touch? He already looks like an upgrade on the striker that has just left. Travis, very impressive. That was a bit like the initial Travis we saw before he started to play crab football under Mowbray. He has a role to play in this team. Fair play to Carter for a heck of a run and cross for the second goal too. We definitely need a new keeper though, he just doesn't inspire confidence. If we had somebody quick out on the left instead of Hedges tonight we could have caused havoc down that side. That needs addressing as we are slow out wide on both sides with Hedges and JRC out there. I would also look to bring in somebody better than Brittain, I don't think he's good enough, but they probably have other priority areas to strengthen. Looked decent attacking wise in patches, but we still looked nervy when Derby came forward and they aren't all that. Looking forward to Norwich, we've done alright there in recent years.

It was unreal. There were a few times when we were attacking in the second half and it felt like the Blackburn End was sucking the ball into the net. A game I always remember is the Everton home game. We were piling forward second half, it felt like Neville Southall was keeping everything out, then up pops Tim Sherwood with a late winner from a corner for 3-2. The place erupted, the scenes of the Blackburn End and that corner of the Riverside where the players were celebrating! Damn. Superb. I was in N01 for the Leicester game as a one off, when Sutton scored a hat-trick and that was a great experience. We always preferred the view from the Riverside though, so have always sat there since then. I think we can get the atmosphere back, the fans are still out there, we're still selling well in the Blackburn End. We just need this mess upstairs being removed, which is easier said than done, and for us to be ran like a normal club again. They have been a massive drain on the atmosphere no doubt, as apathy has set in over many years. Let's hope it's a winning start tonight.

Absolutely packed. The Blackburn End has always been good for atmosphere, up until the obvious. I remember it being particularly special that season though in 1997/98. I was sitting close to it in the Riverside and the atmosphere coming from the Blackburn End throughout the season was fantastic. Hopefully, one day.

Haha. To say 'it isn't the best' would be an understatement. 27 years though. Flippin 'eck. I can still see Ripley swinging in the corner and Gallacher heading it in. It was a cracking sunny day. I'll take a 1-0 again tonight.

The thing that baffles me about the in house media team and particularly people like Neil Yardley, he's the one putting the questions to Waggott and Gestede in these latest interviews, is that he (Yardley) has lived through and witnessed the decline of this club under this hierarchy. As he works for the club, he will have seen it and felt it day in day out for the last 14 years. Surely? He was a constant on Radio Rovers during the good times before Venky's. I recall so many of his interviews on there with players like Morten, Savage, Benni etc. I also recall him talking excitedly with Gerald Jackson many times about our prospects under Mark Hughes, for example. My point is, he fully experienced the good times like most of us did. He was there, he lived it and as somebody who has remained at the club during the Venky reign, he has seen the decline unfold before his eyes. Yet, still, STILL, he goes easy on the likes of Waggott and Co in interviews. I'm not naive enough to expect in house media to go gung ho and be "Venky's out" or "Waggott out", but surely put some challenging questions to these pricks? Whenever I have heard Yardley during the Venky years, he has come across to me as trying to paint a rosy picture. It's disappointing for me as a fan who used to listen to entire Radio Rovers broadcasts, I'm talking 4pm till 11pm jobs midweek (Yes, I was that invested/sad/crazy, take your pick), where he was buzzing about Rovers just as much as I was, to see the softly, softly approach that there has been throughout the Venky reign.

I'm thinking the same regarding Dolan. It looks like he's going to be playing centrally in the Szmodics role and it could work out for us. He looked more active against Stockport, more involved, looking to get on the ball. I think he might relish being 'the guy' to take over from Sammie. There are signs of him linking up well with Gueye, but let's see. It's not a good strategy to just hope somebody steps forward, but we've seen it happen here for a few years now. Dolan might be the next one. Of course, it would be typical for him to have a storming season only to then leave us next summer, just like those before him.

On this day 27 years ago. It was a season opener too:

Something that has been seen numerous times over the last 14 years. Have a re-watch of the crocodile tear sky interview, the "we are confused" interview and any king rat interview from back then. They all exhibit the same. The latter displayed 'duper's delight' on many occasions, just as he had spouted the biggest load of crap ever before the press. It doesn't need a body language expert to tell us what we can already see. Which is why 'communication' from this lot is a waste of time.

Yep, he said hopefully we can be up in the top half and hanging around the play off places as you never know what could happen in that situation. Also said that the League isn't as strong at the top end this season as compared to last. Oh and he touched on four areas that we needed to improve the squad on: leadership, resilience, pace and power. The older defenders and Weimann represent the first. Travis coming back adds to our resilience. Those are swag's words. Doesn't sound like Travis is being sold. However, a £1m bid or anything they deem decent for Travis will probably knock that 'resilience' on the head pretty quick. Mak brings pace and power but they want to bring in more on that front. Two or three more to come in according to swag, whilst Eustace apparently wants five more of first team quality. You and the rest of us too, John. It will probably be two or three loans, I'm guessing.

Looking forward to seeing what the Mak can do. He looked a handful against Stockport and could have had a hat-trick on another day. Looks different to what we have had upfront in recent years and could be one of those 'where have they found him from' signings. Very early yet though. Despite the shambles off the pitch, I think we'll do a job on Derby. Not that pre season results matter much, but their manager doesn't sound impressed with how they have looked. A reality check for the Derby masses tomorrow. Rovers 1-0 Derby. Mak.

Watch him call it a day just as the crap is about to hit the fan. I'm expecting him to announce his retirement at some point during the season. Then whatever comes next season will be for somebody else to think about. I don't think it will take much to push him out. He was rattled by a few chants last season. We could do with those who are bowled over by the corporate experience waking the f"#! up though. No doubt there are a few like that telling him how wonderful he is, how he's doing his best, how they back him and that the 'spoilt fans' who don't are the issue. The lounge experience and ego stroking from bullshitters means eff all to me. We need our club back and back where it belongs at that.

A desperate one that sees pound signs before his eyes. Take your pick as to who that might be. 'Wrap him up, lads. Hey, hey. Let Sammie rest up, he's just got back from the Eur...oh, wait, erm, he's had a long season, extra rest for Sammie. He can appear in the Youtube clips though'. It's abysmal that he hasn't trained for the last month. Desperate for the pound notes.

The end of an era. There are certain things that remind me of the good times at Rovers. To name a few: 'The final countdown' 'Simply the best' Gerald Jackson Radio Rovers "And the Peter Jackson the Jeweller's man of the match award goes to...". Yeah, it's a sponsor, but they were a part of the good times and like a part of the furniture at Ewood for me. Bollocks to the last 14 years under these clowns, I'm sure the Jewellers has also noticed the vast decline in standards and class at this football club since November 2010. The good memories are all from before that though. I think there will be a few that think back to the good times when they hear the words "Peter Jackson the Jeweller" and it can't be fairer than that.

Graham Fenton 👏

You're thinking of a different game at Derby, Oldgregg. I think Best might have scored there around 2013/14. Daz was on about the first day of the 2001/02 season, when Blake scored in a 2-1 loss: