Then some will say, let's give him another window, let's see how we start, let's see where we are after 6 matches, let's see where we are after 12 matches, let's see where we are at Christmas, let's give him another window, let's give him the season. And, IMO, round and round in circles we go on a feckin journey to nowhere other than to Mowbray's pension pot. He's been here almost four years now and I think enough is a feckin enough.

What cost us is the manager who signs players and select players who are either prone to error or simply not good enough and hence error prone - it's compounded when he continues to select them! You also make your own luck!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sadly, I think Mowbray's journey finishes back on Teeside with a huge pension pot courtesy of Rovers.

As deflated tonight as I was elated on Saturday. Just fed up with, IMO, Mowbray's bullsh1t. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18826614.lacked-confidence---mowbrays-verdict-reading-defeat/ "We’re a team on a journey, the signs are there" - think it's a journey to nowhere! “There was no intention to get him any game-time this soon, playing outside of his box is foreign to him, to be part of the build-up, and to concede a goal after eight seconds is very disappointing for him" - IMO, bullsh1t, a goalie's main job is to command his box and make feckin saves.

If Pears is number 2 then, IMO, the Greek lad must be utter sh1te. Just where on earth do we find them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bang average IMO. Can see why Norwich off loaded.

Warnock's no fool. IMO, more charitable work from Mowbray - a four year deal for a bang average goalie is ludicrous. Don't think he's any better than Steele and worse than Walton - says it all.

Whenever Ayala is fit!?!? Mowbray said he could have played on Saturday if needed but not fit for tonight...............WTF!?!?

The lad hasn't got it. Talk about PL £10million - IMO, must be same idiots who scouted / rated Gallagher. Elliott is 17, Buckley is 21 says it all. IMO, Buckley not even good enough for Championship.

Big, strong, athletic, very good technically and very well drilled. Could go straight up.

Reading look a very good unit - better than I expected. Think we are a shambles. Pears - unconvincing, IMO, looks like an expensive four year mistake Nyambe - MUST come on, far better defender than RC Lenihan - think he's gone Douglas - flattered to deceive Evans - IMO, sh!te, again Trybull - not offering anything Elliott - our one shining light Bottom line - Mowbray, IMO, still tinkering where he shouldn't and after almost 4 years, we still have not got a defence. Very, very disappointing so far tonight.

Think all Rovers' fans are looking forward to this test - are we going to be pretenders or the real deal this season? I don't think Reading will shut up shop. I think there will be plenty of goals - we've shown we can create and score plenty but I am not quite sure that there is sufficient familiarity or understanding yet in our 'new' defensive unit to prevent other teams (particularly the good ones like Bournemouth, Watford and perhaps Reading) from notching at least once. I expect us to edge this by the odd goal tonight and I am sticking with my 3-2 forecast in what I think will turn out to be a bit of a thriller.

I did say off the top of my head - we are gong back some 60 years or so now and reaching the periphery of my recollections! Anyhow, good shouts! Think I'm right in that Pointer, Angus and Harris were all capped by England at full international level though none of them became regulars in the England team. Remember also seeing Pointer playing in his thirties for Pompey in his latter career where he was still banging them in but not quite the same force. Didn't Angus stay at Burnley all his career - a top class full back. 'Bomber' Harris was not to be trifled with (could be nasty even with his own team mates!) and and always got his fair share of goals whether it be from the wing or midfield - recall him going back to the NE to finish his career at Sunderland. Friend in Blackpool told me Jimmy Robson still lives there and I also remember seeing him play for the Tangerines when he left Burnley. Talbut not quite in the same league as the others and ended up at WBA - seem to recall reading he died from dementia (perhaps football related, like Jeff Astle, heading all those heavy balls as a centre half). Yep, spot on about O'Neill and a 'real hard bastard' (if I'd a pound for every time I heard someone call him that). My best mate at the time was a Burnley fan and his dad also took me along if Rovers weren't at home - what an upbringing!

You are right. The guy in question was a Jack Hixon who Shearer remained friends with until Hixon's passing. Hixon did work for Newcastle in his latter years but the recruitment game had changed and Newcastle had missed out on all Jack's earlier gems. Off the top of my head, I think Jack found for Burnley up in the NE the likes of Ralph Coates, Dave Thomas, Stan Ternent, Arthur Bellamy, Brian O'Neill , Dave Merrington and Les Latcham who all excelled in the top flight. At today's prices you've probably got about £250million of talent there. A remarkable man.

Pricey was a little gem and chipped in with a fair few goals for us - think he was about a 1 in 5 man, pretty good for a winger. Sadly, I think he passed away in his early fifties. Remember Freddie quite well (think he'd left us when Pricey joined us) - thought he always gave 100% but felt he should have got a few more goals for us. Last I heard, he'd followed Bonnie Tyler's lead and got 'Lost in France'!

As the great Bill Shankly said: "Aim for the sky and you'll reach the ceiling. Aim for the ceiling and you'll stay on the floor". Our aim has to be top 2 - who the feck wants to finish 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th and still be in the Championship next season.

TBH, last night was a bit of a blur from ten onwards though certainly good before! A full English this morning and a ten miler (walk!) cured any remnants of a hangover. To me, we've got our two most difficult away games out of the way now (Bournemouth and Watford) and we should go out every game with the intention of mullering the opposition. We have nothing to fear and we have players who must give opposition managers nightmares. All Mowbray needs to do is to ensure he doesn't try to ram square pegs in round holes and let the lads off the leash - fear kills more dreams than failure ever will!

Nothing to fear here. Let Reading worry about us. Be bold, positive and on the front foot from the first whistle. If all fit, same team for me except Ayala for Lenihan. Rovers to edge it by the odd goal it in a 5 goal thriller (stuck a tenner on @ 36/1).

Firstly, I think this is a bang average league which is wide open. Defensively, we are better equipped with Kaminski, Douglas, Ayala and almost by accident, Del Boy at centre back. In midfield, Holtby is now showing what a real class act he can be. Throw Rothwell and Travis into the mix and also the steady Trybull. Up front, Brereton is now really delivering and looking a real player, Armstrong should get 20 goals / season, Elliott will just get better and better and Dolan will prove a big, big plus (if managed correctly). Dack also to come back. If Mowbray puts players in their best positions (no more square pegs in round holes) and remains positive and lets other teams do the worrying about us then I think we will blow many teams away and we have the ammunition to put even the 'bigger' teams to the sword like Bournemouth and Watford. Confidence and momentum are key to going on a roll - it might be surprising where it takes us!

To quote @Dolly blue "Round pegs in round holes, positive approach , front foot .....all we’ve ever wanted"!

Corrected for you.

As posted earlier, next 5 games should give us 4 wins and a draw. After 12 games, we will be soarin' and flyin' (lyrics from Breaking Free). Keep saying it but confidence and momentum are everything in this league. Unstoppable, invincible and so powerful (more song lyrics). The wine is working well!

Indeed! What an afternoon. Rovers' romp (could have been 10). Douglas and Elliott big pluses. Holtby and Brereton mega pluses. In play bet of more than 3.5 goals up (just) and 5 acca up - thanks Rovers, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Reading and Norwich. Tomorrow might be a long recovery day!

Good stuff! Let's have two more goals in this game (don't mind if Coventry get one of them) and then I've a good excuse to uncork a Barolo - first bottle of red didn't last long as wife quaffed a few glasses. Brereton for England! (only joking).

Better to come to the party late than not at all..................but 2 years is a bloody long time to wait!

To me, Holtby should be a 10 goal / season man with the positions he gets in. Think he's only netted 2 or 3 times for Rovers whilst close to 20 with Hamburg if my memory's correct.