Mercer

Agree. However, toxic fans at Ewood? If only.........!!!!!!!

TBH, an absolute battering will give Pasha, Gestede and Ismael nothing to hide behind and the wider media might just start to take note of what is really happening at Rovers. It's time the fans turned big time on the club and it's powers that be - Saturday would be a fine time to start should the expected battering materialize.

We presently have 8 central midfielders and IMO: Travis: going Tronstad: anyone else thinking he looks off the pace this season, maybe disinterested? At best, we have him for this season only. Tavares: showed up well last night but let's keep into context given opposition were League 2 last season and also made 6 changes last night. Axel: couple of nice passes but doesn't look like he'll do the hard graft and could be something of a loose canon (will collect bookings for fun) Buckley: we know he's not the answer and needs to go (worrying Ismael brought him back into the fold last night) Forshaw: we didn't want him at the end of the season but signed him out of desperation in June when little else seemed to be happening. Unsurprisingly injured. Wages down the sh1tter, no longer young enough / good enough to start a match, at best a 10 minute sub 'cameo' towards the end of a game Montgomery: an over-hyped young player who most likely found his level at Marine / Chorley last season. This lad is 21 and it's not a case of 'he's not ready', it's a case of he never will be ready, simply not good enough. Shown no footballing ability at all to me. Garrett: struggled to even make loans at lower league clubs work - surely when he recovers from his surgery he'll be out the door in January So when Travis goes, think we will need at least one more midfielder through the door as 4 of our current 8 are simply deadweights.

That was an excruciating watch. Context - we were playing a team just promoted from League 2 and they themselves made 6 changes !!! Without doubt, City were the better team and arguably had the best player on the field in Metcalfe - a young lad signed from down the road at Everton. Just wtf do our scouts do? Michalski doesn't look ready to be our number 2. His development would be best served by playing a full season in either League 1 or 2. Signing an experienced back-up to Toth is essential. Montgomery is not a full back, in fact he is not even a player. Way out of his depth and it really looks like Marine and Chorley are his level. Miller steady and throw a real asset but only marginally quicker than Hyam and McLaughlin - we have a real lack of pace defensively. In midfield - Tavares looked decent, Axel a couple of flashes but other than that innocuous and Tronstad, doesn't look interested. Wings / upfront - Tyjon, not ready to start, De Neve scored but nothing else - not a footballer, Gueye, a nuisance value but will never ever be prolific as not a natural finisher. Creativity - virtually nil. Subs - Kargbo, little end product and is he a one trick pony? - Bradford handled him well. Alebiosu, technically poor and clumsy, completely missing his kick at one point. Alarm bells are getting louder and louder. Brum will eat us alive. You reap what you sow. So depressing.

Montgomery is crap - well and truly over hyped. De Neve is simply crap. My first impressions about these two spot on. My God, we need an e perienced back-up to Toth. Michalski nowhere near ready. Cost us 2nd goal and spilled a shot and lucky it went to a Rovers. Tavares and Axel showing some decent touches but remember this lot were in League 2 last season.

Think they have problems in midfield according to this report: But the numbers told the story - Stoke completed 381 passes to Derby's 125, controlling the game through an industrious midfield. Stoke midfielders Lewis Baker, Bae Junho and Ben Pearson dictated play with composure and bite, while Derby's central trio couldn't match their control. Kenzo Goudmijn was peripheral with just 20 touches in 68 minutes, Liam Thompson was busy but ineffective and captain Ebou Adams showed energy but lacked influence. Carlton Morris's fine finish came from Derby's only truly cohesive move. David Ozoh's introduction after 68 minutes injected some presence as he won key tackles, came away from duels with the ball, and showed why, if he stays fit, he could be a pivotal figure. This wasn't a poor performance, but it was a revealing one. In the Championship, matches are often decided in midfield, and Derby lack proven operators in that area when injuries hit.

Much better option than playing Hedges. Reported Brum have sold their allocation. Think we'll be lucky to avoid defeat especially if Travis has gone (Derby desperate for midfield reinforcements).

Think it's the domino effect following Rovers' total buggeration of contract renewals. Brittain, Travis and Tronstad have seen the departures of Dolan, Batth and Weimann and the arrival of largely virtually unknown, unproven and cheap foreign imports. Who can blame our better players? Brittain gone,Travis almost certain to follow and Tronstad who knows (is he merely going to barely tread water and see out his contract). Just one huge feckin mess.

Good point! Surprised by his omission - let's be honest, we are short on goal threats.

Firstly, I think you are right in that our expectations have dropped though the floor in recent seasons and we are in danger of getting a tad over excited when we see an average player following some of the dross we have seen (sadly I think De Neve falls into the dross category). Did okay yesterday but do wonder if he could have been stronger in the moments just before the ball ran loose for their goal as he fluffed his clearance. He isn't going to lose many one on ones, as evident yesterday, given his pace. Technically, I'm not too sure - looks clumsy with the ball at times.

Mafoumbi - I think Dave Whelan's words on the Raos' purchase of Rovers are similarly applicable to this lad's signing "doesn't sound right, and it doesn't look right". Myles Anderson Mk 2!? Travis - there's so much noise around his departure it seems inevitable. Not a world beater but feck me, Rovers are a far different proposition when Travis plays. Again, his replacement will be a virtually unknown, unproven and relatively cheap foreign import who may well not even be fit to play for weeks with his foot injury! Tronstad - another worry, doesn't look the same player as last season and at 30, are those legs going or already gone? Yesterday showed the importance of Championship experience when signing new players - McLaughin was steady without being spectacular but having two centre backs who are so slow is a huge worry. Needless to say - when a team is ripped apart and replacements brought in, it takes time to gel - when the bulk of those replacements are from overseas and unproven with little pedigree, it is even more highly problematical. Lose against Brum and we will already be in crisis and come the end of September, may well find ourselves already adrift at the bottom of the table. The warning signs are already there.

Against a bang average WBA that was as bad as I envisaged. Punchless with no creativity and the only way we were going to score was through a lucky bounce. Any employee or fan of Rovers who thinks a strike force of Ohashi, Gueye and Leonard will be enough need to give their head a serious, serious wobble. Our set piece delivery was appalling - what do they do in training1? We had no control in that game and Travis and Tronstad were not at the races today - Travis both last Saturday and today looked like a player who knows he's on his way. Special mention for Hedges - just what the feck! Thought generally defensively we looked vulnerable and better teams will punish us - not sure how we will cope with Kyogo and Stansfield next week. Of the new players (and the expectation bar isn't see that high!): Alebiosu - decent but not the most technically gifted McLoughlon - steady but lack of pace a concern Henriksson - tough debut circumstances but looked 'lost' (expected him to show a bit more) and potentially a loose cannon De Neve - can't see anything the lad has to offer; criminal not to start Kargbo who terrorises defences (we need to be on the front foot trying to get our noses in front) Miller - might not be fully fit but looks a tad slow. Inexplicably dived in when he first came on and could have proved costly leaving our right flank completely open. Throw could prove fruitful. A useful signing. Today just underlined that at the very minimum we need a quality right winger and a quality striker. Alarm bells are ringing already - would be foolish not to heed them.

Only a goal down so anything can happen if we can keep it that way. Should have had a penalty but that shouldn't disguise how poor we have been. Barely a positive. Overall defensively we look very vulnerable. In midfield - Travis (mind elsewhere?) and Tronstad not at the races, Henriksson looks lost and potentially a loose canon, Hedges totally anonymous and De Neve way, way out of his depth. Yuki not equipped for sole striker role. Will be luck to get a point. Second WBA goal kills it.

Only positive is we are ony 1 goal down.

Grim and disjointed.

Sadly, I think we'll feel battered, bruised and depressed after today's game so If I was on holiday I'd be making the most of it and wouldn't bother trying to find a stream. If it's your first time in Tenerife, pretty sure it wont be your last! One of our favoured places for a winter break. Enjoy!

So true! Barrie Ratcliffe obviously fell short of the other three but a lovely bloke and we used to buy our meat from him on his 3 day Blackburn Market stall.

From photo of a Cantwell flying acrobatic volley in training 8/9 days ago to 'a knock' excluding him from the NEC game last Saturday to an Ismael statement "he's fit but he won't be ready for the game" doesn't smell right to me. Wouldn't surprise me to see him back at Norwich.

Thought it was a decent game. Impressed with Brum - great intensity and played some good stuff. Big mistake was they scored and then sat back instead of going for killer second. Top 6 finish for them - Davies spoke well and clearly has them well drilled, thought Neumann and Osayi-Samuel were outstanding at the back and free transfer signings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ipswich were Ipswich, so resilient - McKenna is a terrific manager and still lining his ducks up in a row. A point tonight given where they are (in transition) is a great result. Will get promoted in 1st or 2nd. Brum will stuff us at Ewood next week - far better quality of player and so well coached.

Saw pre match interview with Wagner and very impressed. Spoke with clarity, passion and purpose and emphasised importance of relationships with fans and community. In another league to our owners and executive management.

'One more signing unless there is an unexpected departure'. Wow, think we will need to batten down the hatches. Frightening. Out - all proven Championship performers: Batth, Beck, Brittain, Dolan, JRC and Weimann (and 20+ goals between them!!!) In - with Championship experience: Forshaw (washed-up, we didn't want him at end of season and possibly only re-signed him out of desperation, looks like wont be fit until almost September) McLoughin (signed as a centre back but only played half his games for Hull in that position last season, strange if he's good - what we've seen so far, looks painfully slow) In - with no Championship experience: Alebiosu (strong and athletic but is he a footballer? Looks clumsy with little technical ability) De Neve (even the locals in Belgium expressed their surprise at this signing. Can run all day, as could Jason Lowe, but haven't seen much else) Henriksson (Could prove to be well worth the punt - scores goals, aggressive and wants to win) Miller (Aggressive and wants to win - a good start. Should be okay defensively but another Nyambe going forward?) Tavares (only started half the games for his previous club and actual completed 90 minute games could be counted on one hand - unconvincing and unproven) I think, unarguably, we start the season with a considerably weaker team/squad than we finished last season with. We might have names on paper that make a squad of 24 or 25 but a good number of them are simply not good enough or ready for the hurly-burly of Championship football. IMO, we are at least 3 players short - a quality striker, a quality right winger and an experienced goalie (if Pears goes, as seems likely, it would be folly to run with a young inexperienced Michalski as only back-up for Toth). All in all, an underwhelming window IMO - you simply can't replace proven Championship players of a good ability with, in the main, cheap and unproven foreign imports and supplement them with Academy lads who are either not good enough or not ready. ATM, feels like it will be difficult to keep out the bottom six.

What would Ken be worth today? A complete midfielder. Had the lot in his locker including a cannonball shot - think he averaged something like a goal every 5 or 6 games for us. Would have eaten Travis for breakfast - twice the player Travis ever will be.

IMO, it's just to hide the true cost so the club through the media can then over-egg and over-hype the transfer fees so the gullible in our fan base think we are really splashing the cash.

Think you are right leading to an almost inevitable opening day loss.

If the ultimate goal is to get Rovers back to the PL then I think it's pretty clear there is no plan: Do Rovers have direction: No Do Rovers have a focus: No Do Rovers have a clear path to achieve its ultimate goal: No Without a clear plan, players, coaching staff and other employees can become demotivated, disillusioned and morale suffers - what better examples than JDT and Eustace and how long before Ismael snaps !? All I see is a club failing to protect and secure its playing assets and an ongoing degradation of the club as a whole. 'Wing Commanders' Pasha and Gestede - IMO, just versed in the art of 'winging it', and 'winging it' poorly!