Surprised by the lack of mention about Dack's injury , since after the match.

If true, gutted for him .

That would be 3 years of his prime and development gone .

Can you come back from these 2 injuries , the same player ?

Great result , especially via the gunners channel , with some very deflated gonners😁 spent more time watching this than the first team.

Good pressure from the front and commitment ,perfonified by Pike .

1 hour ago, ben_the_beast said:

Mowbrays recent comments about the owners needing a plan and if he isn't on the journey, not letting them throw it all away are odd. Does he have an eye on an upstairs, director of football type role...

If he did. My view is he wouldn't allow a manager to manage. I think he'd be sticking his oar in. He does love to talk football. He's a stubborn man as well. Too principled at times. I think he'd cause conflict. 

But.. at the same time. We feel a bit fucked. Venkys don't have a plan. As soon as Mowbray is gone the vultures will be circling to mug us off once again. Because the owners still don't have a clue what they are doing. The perfect situation of a proper set up is never going to happen. Having a person with football experience in place at director level in Mowbray, even though I'm sure it would come with conflicts and challenges could be the next best scenario.

I'm not a fan of this as I'm typing it. But. Like I said. In my opinion we really are a bit fucked.

I can see this as an option , I agree with the work behind the scenes to impove (scouting , analysis, etc ) and a focus on youth. 

There needs to be a long term club plan and identity , I would hate to return to a revolving door of managers/staff and no plan .

Having a D of F or similar I feel is needed, as we are lacking in the club management roles and the owners don't have a clue. So we need some other than waggott .

I want TM to leave as manager , but wouldn't want an old journey man . DJ perhaps for the rest of the season.

1 minute ago, Athlete said:

Hes unsackable more than kean was

What was Kean's worst run ? We are on 6 loses out of 7 .

Next 5 games are 4 top half teams and our record is terrible.

Shocking interview , just reeling of the same sound bites and never looked at the camera.

Never trust someone who doesn't look you in the eye .

He will be gone before the next international break imo ,can see this form continuing a while yet.

15 minutes ago, tomphil said:

The whole idea of his wasting last season on transition to possession is so we could compete with the better teams. Well we've transitioned now and still have Gallagher as a wide player. Dack won't fit this style and the full backs still can't create anything.

He's just stringing it along by the end of the season he'll have come up with something else.

It does make a mockery of the reasoning behind the style change, though I do prefer the new . Agree with SG not working there. I think Dack can do well in a few positions , like Harvey. When Dack got injured my hopes for that season went , he was that important. We have found a way to play without him,  but getting him back should be a game changer. Even now we aren't being out classed by any team , just aren't being clued up and being native. The injury list doesn't help with a settled defence and understanding, was that 9 unavailable today.

Mowbray's after Stoke game comment about  teams with large possession not equaling wins . At the start of the season it was top teams have the possession . I think it's consistency and being wise 

38 minutes ago, TheRoversReturn said:

It's almost like we could do with a 6'4" centre forward being played in his actual position in the middle and not out on the left bloody wing...

Gallagher isn't working on the left and the difference compared to Ben is huge, he just doesn't have the craft, he's a limited CF . Previously we were strong down the left and now it's all down the right via Harvey . Feel slightly sorry for Gallagher, he's drifting central leaving Douglas with too much to cover on the left and when he does get in good positions team mates don't take his option.

2 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Still wouldn't play Bell ahead of Douglas - there aren't many decent wingers around so although he isn't great defensively if you want to drop Douglas I'd  put Downing at left back.

Rothwell's strength is running the ball from deep, so to have him up front doesn't make sense.

I'd go 4-5-1

Nyambe, Lenihan, Ayala, Douglas/Downing

Elliott, Holtby, Trybull, Johnson, Rothwell

Armstrong

This gives Armstrong a free role with support from the attacking midfielders.

On another note, games come thick and fast so the players must be knackered at the moment

Wouldn't be surprised to see Rovers make another very sluggish start. Their efforts in midweek will have taken alot out of them 

 

I'm in the rothwell LF camp until Ben is back . Seen a number of comments about missing Ben's ability to carry the ball and that's what rothwell can do . Against Rotherham, rothwell was to deep and pretty infective. 

I as much as anyone is frustrated at not being able to break the glass ceiling of the top 6 .Whenever we get close , we lose , repeat , repeat. But to say the manager is a joke , I feel a sense of perspective is needed. A couple years ago we were lost without a hope and at least now we are getting pissed off that we are not beating Norwich and co to get into the premier. There is progress there and at least we are top of one league, the future is looking brighter than the recent past and for that I am grateful.

Under 23's Vs Liverpool , today ko 1 pm apparently free to view

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/419200-12-55pm-gmt-watch-liverpool-u23s-v-blackburn-live

49 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

I don't think we need to replace Brereton's direct goal threat. He only has 3, which is the same as SG who hasn't played as much. It's the way BB helps us stretch defences and can find that ball through to the likes of Arma. That's what we need back.

Perhaps a brief cameo of rothwell moving LF ? He's got a bit of form behind him at the moment and could hopefully continue but in that position , until Ben's back. Then give Davenport a chance to add some bite in midfield. Once Travis is back he won't get a look in .

7 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

I don't recall ever seeing such a selfish display to be honest.

Does anyone else? 

I agree and if it happens for a couple of games I would be pissed off as a team mate. It's a team game and if it was not his day he should have supported the team more . On the flip , every attempt he took, previously he has scored a similar.

Bit like a greedy/ selfish girlfriend who is top of the league for looks, so longs you keep scoring , you don't care about the personality

21 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

Buckley at right back was dreadful yesterday, he desperately needs a loan in January he is not even close to being ready to play at this level.

So many times they got past him like he wasn't there including for the second goal where his defensive effort was pitiful. Thankfully Frank took pity on him and took off Canos and Henry and focused on attacking down the other flank which allowed us back into the game.

Bit harsh , Buckley isn't a RB and only play's there in training to make up the numbers, plus only option left in game. Seeing how BB ,JR, SJ  and others are now first team level , I hope Buckley & co will soon come of age . patience

2 hours ago, bazza said:

Im predicting that Arma and Toney both fail to score.

I predict the opposite and they both do 

Thanks Dolan , anyone else go with a hunch 

23 minutes ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

Dack will score more in a season than BB, SG, Elliot & Rothwell put together. First name on the team sheet very week. 

How Mogga adjusts his team to accommodate him is the interesting bit. Maybe we will go 4-2-3-1 again but with Dack a bit deeper than he used to play?

                

That's the way I see it , same formation as now with Dack the most advanced of the midfield three. Could do with his timed arrivals in the box and finishing, no other player is offering us this.

27 minutes ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

Sensational stats. 

Dolan - 3 apps 2 goals. 

 

Dolan reminds me of the road runner at the moment, just without the running. Faces up ,a wherl of legs which confuses , then passes backwards. I like him but ... Pleased with the performance , arma worth 20 m plus and so important to our best way of playing , lost without him . Can't wait until dack is back add him to this , plus Travis and the new rothwell & Ben etc then we are really rolling. Future looks bright I just want it now 

Feeling more confident given the line up and hopefully another rovers jackal and hyde performance. With us back to our best, can't be a performance remotely like the last , that was a serious low point !

5 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Glad we kept a clean sheet tonight and glad we didn’t lose. 
Not so glad we had £12 Million worth of strikers on the pitch that couldn’t hit the onion bag though.

They didn't even get in the greengrocers to be able to hit the onion bag 

Never post but here since the beginning. Utter crap performance hence the post . Don't know the way back from that . Typical of last couple years , put money on promotion from early form then we go down like a woopy cushion , without the woopy. I know we have team depleted but .....