Absolutely. Broughton can say whatever he likes. But there's no way a manager, who was a top striker in his day, who wanted Colak, who wanted Berget, who may have been interested in Birmancevic, would have looked at a non entity of a striker like Hirst and gone "yeah, that's the signing for me". It's a signing that reflects the person behind it.

Respectfully, Atko, he also said we would be stronger come the end of the window just gone. I wouldn't say that has transpired in the way that he said it would. Personally, I'm not placing any importance on November. It's not like he's had no time to train the lads to date. In the same interview where that quote is from, Andy Bayes asked him whether he expects the ups and downs to settle down at some point and results to steady themselves. His response? He expects the ups and downs to go on for a long time and that this is normal. So which is it? We'll be better after November or that this will go on for a long time? Don't forget, just days ago he said he's setting no expectation for this season. Why the heck not, is my question. This is Blackburn Rovers Football Club. Not some tinpot outfit where you can experiment to your heart's content and write off year after year. Like we haven't wasted 10 already. He has also talked about his main focus being performances slowly becoming better. Is that not what Mowbray got slated for? When he called himself performance based, when he kept stressing performances were good despite results during those dismal runs of 2 wins in 15 (and 17). JDT is constantly saying "young side" too just like Mowbray, taking the pressure off himself, but nobody is mentioning it. Why? I appreciate that you are trying to remain optimistic, Atko, but I can't help but feel you are missing clear warning signs that are there to see. I don't know if you saw yesterday's game, but it was pitiful, pathetic stuff and it isn't a one off. We lost against Sheff Utd, Reading, Bristol City and yesterday in the same manner. Bullied off the park, panicky, couldn't get a hold of the ball, men against boys, never looked like laying a glove on them. There are more opponents of Luton's nature than Watford's in this league and unless something changes, there is plenty more of this to come, I feel. He's even preparing us for it by saying "this is normal" and referring to the players being young and the club losing experienced players. Again, Mowbray-esque! JDT is showing tactical naivety and stubbornness in games. There's little evidence of his famed style of play. Throw in the "project" and "young side" references, and it has to be asked, is he any better than Mowbray? I know you won't agree, and that's fine, but we are in trouble, IMO. We all know what happened when Allardyce was sacked and was replaced by the odious one. We are now at a poundland level of that scenario in a division below (No, to clarify, JDT is not like Kean in any way), where getting Mowbray's replacement wrong might just send us down. Mowbray had to go, no question, but the club has messed up, IMO, for sure in appointing Broughton, and possibly JDT too.

Of course he is, Chaddy. Especially now. Would you rather have Travis, Buckley or Carter at right back over Nyambe? I certainly wouldn't.

You don't seriously believe that a nondescript forward like Hirst was a JDT signing and somebody he wanted all along, do you? He's a cheap stopgap signing who doesn't block the pathway for Vale. In terms of Nyambe, we had posters on here, who some may see as 'ITK', happily claiming that an offer was withdrawn from Nyambe. This was also used as a point to big up GB. "Haha, we called his bluff, his agent's a clown, the best he could do was Wigan, haha". That was the gist of the comments. Well, who's laughing now (not saying you were) when we're playing all sorts at RB out of desperation and getting outplayed in games? Add in the fact that JDT wanted Nyambe to stay. Suddenly, it doesn't look like such a "well in, Gregg" move. Nyambe saying he wanted a new challenge might just be typical footballer speak and him putting a brave face on the situation, IMO. On the last line, I can't give kudos to somebody based on a scenario that hasn't happened yet. That too, to a person who, IMO, has significantly downgraded the quality of our squad through poor signings (not deliberately, obviously) and whose philosophy will lower the standards even further and have us potentially set for a return to League One football soon.

He scored a belting towering header in that Southampton game. I can still see his celebration, arms outstretched like Superman running towards the Riverside, Darwen End side. I was sat there for that game, so had a good view of it. I remember the fans were desperate for him to do well and the roar when that header went in was brilliant. He scored away at Boro shortly after and I thought we might be onto something, but it wasn't to be. Only 8 appearances, but he did get to play a small part in us winning a trophy, so fair play.

I'm concerned about another Fulham style mauling in this game. Our last few performances, Blackpool aside, have been dire and Watford have the quality to punish us. Watford have pace and strength all across the top end and experienced campaigners at the back. Sarr and Joao Pedro are the obvious dangers, but their wing backs, Kamara and Sema are quick and love to get forward too. A midfield three of Kayembe, Asprilla and Chowdhury are likely to have a field day against any pairing we have in the middle. We simply don't have the quality in midfield, IMO. Rovers 0-4 Watford.

JDT wanted Nyambe to stay. Broughton himself said he was going to speak with Nyambe. Yet the offer on the table for Nyambe was withdrawn. By who? JDT wanted experienced players to come in during the window just gone. Broughton failed to deliver on that front. JDT wanted 2 or 3 signings post Hyam's arrival. Broughton got him Mola on loan. Kudos to Broughton though. I don't know what for, but kudos to him.

I was too young to go on my own and remember being told "we can watch the games on ITV". That's what we ended up doing. I've always been intrigued by the visiting fans for those group games at Ewood, for some reason. Wondering how many they bought, were they loud etc. I read somewhere that one of the opponents only bought 50 or so fans and were placed in the Jack Walker Upper Tier. How true that is, I don't know. A dull group to end up with when you consider the possibilities. Favourite memory, Mike Newell's hat-trick, even though it was in a dead rubber game.

Some of his comments have been similar to Mowbray's but they haven't been picked up on, maybe because he is new to the job. I have to admit, the last two interviews, where he kept on repeating the word "project" did begin to grate a bit. I thought it was interesting how he said he expects this (the ups and downs) to happen for a long time, when Andy Bayes asked him whether he expects results to even out at some point. JDT and Broughton have bought themselves 18 months on the face of it, by saying it will take three or four windows. Let's hope results pick up, because if they really go south in the next few months, it's likely he won't be going anywhere despite any fan frustration.

This would have been around 2012/13 with the Portuguese players. On the topic of Souness. I was reading just yesterday how he dealt with Bellamy at Newcastle. He subbed Bellamy off one game, with Bellamy aiming expletives his way when walking off. Souness only found out about it later on when looking at the video footage of the game. He grabs Bellamy by the throat, tells him he'll knock him out and to get in the gym where they'll sort it out like men. Shearer and a few of the others had to jump in to get Souey off him. It never got to the gym, but Kieron Dyer, who told the story, said it was the quietest he'd ever seen Bellamy. Can't mess with Souness 😁.

Yeah, he had. I think he left for Newcastle a week or two after the Matteo on the left wing game.

I'll be honest, having seen Hirst on Saturday, it might as well have been McBride up there. I wasn't impressed. It's only one game, so there will be calls for time. Fine. Personally though, I don't think he is the answer. It's a cheap, stopgap signing so as not to discourage Vale, IMO. In terms of your original question, Brittain is a definite. Hyam has a chance too, he certainly gets in for me if we're going three at the back. The rest shouldn't be starters.

From what I can remember, Zurab covered a few games at right back, but not at left back. Lucas Neill played some games at left back though, quite well too. Putting his exit to one side, Neill was a solid defender. No nonsense, comfortable in any role along the backline and he got forward well. We could do with him today (and plenty of others). The one that used to scare me was seeing Dominic Matteo at left back. There was even one game where Souness had him on the left wing, bizarrely. That was a sight 😁.

A classy backup defender to have. I remember he would slot in without a fuss when one of the main centre backs was missing. We wouldn't feel their absence much as Zurab was just as reliable.

14-20th. I think we'll be hovering close to the relegation zone. The next five fixtures are a worry as all five opponents are physical and will look to bully us.

This has all the hallmarks of another Mowbray situation, IMO. Where even if results are crap, even if performances are crap, JDT won't be going anywhere because it is a "project". We already know long runs of poor form mean nothing to these owners, and they've obviously bought into this project.

I couldn't have put it any better. Spot on. There's a lot of wishful thinking that goes on, but I can't blame anybody for trying to remain hopeful. It's just painful to see what these owners have reduced our club to, and it seems to get worse. Nothing changes until they leave.

This 'project' is only heading one way and that's to League One. Most of them out there today look League One standard. Hearing JDT yesterday talking about the minutes given to Academy players is concerning. It's exactly what the DoF referred to on day one too. Today is more evidence of how that is likely to go in this Division. Don't bring in experience and quality, focus on pathways and this is what you get. We are screwed as a club, IMO, and going in the wrong direction. Project, my arse.

This is dire. Again, worse than anything Mowbray served up. Many of us who highlighted the problems with this window and our squad were jumped upon. No amount of positive thinking or wishful thinking can cover this crap up. It's going to be a long season.

Their midfield is running things with Matty James and Scott having a field day so far. It's naive for us to be going in to league games with two youngsters in the middle, as promising as they may be. Our midfield is likely to be a concern for most of the season, unless it is addressed in January.

This is awful stuff. No tempo to our play, no bite, no creativity. Can't say Bristol City don't deserve that. They have been playing through us.

It's all so slow and pedestrian at the moment. Same issue again with us not being able to string more than 3 passes together. Bristol City passing it around better and look the more likely to score.

Hero? This is the guy that looked down at our club and talked us down. He blew the best chance of promotion we had in years and just shrugged it off, yet you want to roll out the red carpet? If you want to embrace mediocrity and even applaud it, that's up to you. Some of us won't accept that for this Football Club. By the way, you should pay more attention to DunnFC over your gaffe. He's on the money with his posts and will be proven right in time.

Yes, totally agree. That's where I have always sat, in the Riverside, row 5. Good view and often plenty of room in those first few rows. I recommend it too, Nuttall.

Am I right in thinking the bubble operation started in 2009/2010? I'm sure both sets of fans were allowed to travel without restriction to both cup ties in 2005. Something must have happened for that to change later on, but I can't remember what it was.