[Archived] Bowyer

[Leonard Venkhater]

Bloody shame they can't put in more than one decent cross per game.

I suppose my post after the Wednesday game rekindled this debate. My point was this I'm not calling for Bowyer to be sacked but I don't believe his approach is one which will get us promoted. Now I realise some posters can see this as a hidden agenda or fence-sitting. I would argue it isn't.

I'm satisfied with what Bowyer has done but at the same time recognise it is workaday, average football which overall is devoid of excitement or entertainment. This isn't what I want to watch nor what the club needs but to call for his sacking would simply to throw us back out of the frying pan.

We are clearly settling for average which I think means administration once we are deemed safe.

I posted once before March 27th will be a very important date in Rovers calendar. I don't think many picked up on that.

If that is the case, it presents them with a dilemma re Rhodes. Do they they try and get as much as they can for him in January? or would that reduce the chances of survival after the 10 point deduction?...Do they even care, whether we survive relegation after they have gone? I genuinely can't read them or their agenda. I just know that we can.t even begin to heal while they are still here...

[den]

I think that could be qualified by replacing the word 'else' with 'of quality' .

They have all got qualities Gord, some more than others.

There's some knicker twisting going on here about posters "boxing clever", "moving goalposts" and "alluding" to things. All posters are there to be rebuffed.

[Rover_Shaun]

I think that could be qualified by replacing the word 'else' with 'of quality' .

Hence all 4 full time managers they have employed have been/are poor.

The quality/talent drain at Ewood has happened on every level from top to bottom

[patrickvalery]

Absolutely they are den. So here is my view and feel free to shoot it down.

I didn't want Bowyer appointed. I thought his decent spell last year would be the exception and not the rule.

However, now he is in the job I like him and I think the side he has assembled has the potential to be playoff material.

I do not want him sacked.

I expected a mid table position this season and I believe we will finish mid table. So, from my point if view he isn't underachieving.

I don't believe, with our budget and management structure that another manager of realistic proportions would give us any more chance of success at this time.

I don't trust anyonr at the club to manage to appoint anyone of a better standard than Bowyer is displaying. In fact I'd be confident they'd manage to go the other way.

So there it is. Shoot from the hip.

What I have an issue with are those who continually say Bowyer isn't doing well enough, don't believe we will get promoted, won't acknowledge the chances of a better replacement coming in are minimal with venkys form, refuse to acknowledge the improvement and seem to have little consideration of the mess Bowyer is trying to haul us from. But then say they don't want him sacked. That is sitting on the fence and is designed to be immune from debate either at the time or retrospectively.

In fact scrap that. I just feel like there are lots of rovers fans who are extremely ungrateful for the work Bowyer has done. The club has been through the mud and it feels as if the one bloke who has done more to try and get things back on track cops stick. The boos are a disgrace imo. The fans deserve to be angry and expect more. But it feels harsh to boo the current side and management when the blame lies with the owners, a rogue ex manager (I use that word begrudgingly) and an opportunistic agent.

I know that I have taken this to the extreme and I am sure the vast vast majority of those doubters express their views in good faith and are really only chewing the fat. But, like the Rhodes thread, it seems to be our best player and a decent honest manager are the only ones who's performance is up for debate.

[RevidgeBlue]

You won't get a reasoned response Patrick. Den continually carps and snipes away at Bowyer but has not once to the best of my recollection put forward a viable alternative candidate.

If you have Den, I apologise.

[Rover_Shaun]

Bowyer is doing exactly as I expected.Largely drab to poor signings, unimaginative performances and a laboured mid-table finish. An improvement but not nearly enough to save the club from the pain and rationalising that will last decades. If only he would stop his pointless toadying trips to India to see, how he calls it 'madame' (#puke), a'la Steve Kean that damages his credibility imo.

[yoda]

You won't get a reasoned response Patrick. Den continually carps and snipes away at Bowyer but has not once to the best of my recollection put forward a viable alternative candidate.

If you have Den, I apologise.

Well if Den can't think of one, I can, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

[BlueMonday]

The starting point is change owners. We can sort the rest of the holy mess up afterwards.

Bowyer In, Venkys Out.

[Amo]

Well if Den can't think of one, I can, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

You know, at this stage, I honestly don't think I would swap Bowyer for Solskjaer. He's done very well in Norway, but it's a tinpot league and there's no guarantee he could jump into the Championship (under Venky's of all owners) and not only pick up from where Bowyer left off but improve on it. I believe the last thing the club needs right now is more managerial upheaval. I think any replacement for Bowyer at this stage would have to be a 'safe pair of hands' who has a proven track record at this level, and we all know that ain't happening. The time for Solskjaer was last season, but for one or rather three reasons (Shagnew & Shebby), that didn't happen.

[AlvinStraight]

Bowyer is doing exactly as I expected.Largely drab to poor signings, unimaginative performances and a laboured mid-table finish. An improvement but not nearly enough to save the club from the pain and rationalising that will last decades. If only he would stop his pointless toadying trips to India to see, how he calls it 'madame' (#puke), a'la Steve Kean that damages his credibility imo.

should read 'hoped' from what ive read of yours!

The starting point is change owners. We can sort the rest of the holy mess up afterwards.

Bowyer In, Venkys Out.

The starting point is remove kean(and agnew,). We can sort the rest of the holy mess up afterwards,

oh! wait that was last year.

Wi doin O'reight, who can ask for anything more.

[DE.]

Absolutely they are den. So here is my view and feel free to shoot it down.

I didn't want Bowyer appointed. I thought his decent spell last year would be the exception and not the rule.

However, now he is in the job I like him and I think the side he has assembled has the potential to be playoff material.

I do not want him sacked.

I expected a mid table position this season and I believe we will finish mid table. So, from my point if view he isn't underachieving.

I don't believe, with our budget and management structure that another manager of realistic proportions would give us any more chance of success at this time.

I don't trust anyonr at the club to manage to appoint anyone of a better standard than Bowyer is displaying. In fact I'd be confident they'd manage to go the other way.

So there it is. Shoot from the hip.

What I have an issue with are those who continually say Bowyer isn't doing well enough, don't believe we will get promoted, won't acknowledge the chances of a better replacement coming in are minimal with venkys form, refuse to acknowledge the improvement and seem to have little consideration of the mess Bowyer is trying to haul us from. But then say they don't want him sacked. That is sitting on the fence and is designed to be immune from debate either at the time or retrospectively.

In fact scrap that. I just feel like there are lots of rovers fans who are extremely ungrateful for the work Bowyer has done. The club has been through the mud and it feels as if the one bloke who has done more to try and get things back on track cops stick. The boos are a disgrace imo. The fans deserve to be angry and expect more. But it feels harsh to boo the current side and management when the blame lies with the owners, a rogue ex manager (I use that word begrudgingly) and an opportunistic agent.

I know that I have taken this to the extreme and I am sure the vast vast majority of those doubters express their views in good faith and are really only chewing the fat. But, like the Rhodes thread, it seems to be our best player and a decent honest manager are the only ones who's performance is up for debate.

Great post PV, couldn't have put it better myself. Except I admit I did want Bowyer in from the start as I really liked the bloke and still do. Otherwise your post lays down my own thoughts perfectly.

[Paul]

What I have an issue with are those who continually say Bowyer isn't doing well enough, don't believe we will get promoted, won't acknowledge the chances of a better replacement coming in are minimal with venkys form, refuse to acknowledge the improvement and seem to have little consideration of the mess Bowyer is trying to haul us from. But then say they don't want him sacked. That is sitting on the fence and is designed to be immune from debate either at the time or retrospectively.

I really don't see how you can describe this as fence sitting or immune from debate. My view, which I've developed over the season and expressed for the first time after the poor Boxing Day offering is Bowyer has stabilised the team/club but is not equipped, possibly hampered by the finances, to take us forward. Unless he's given money the question will remain unanswered but from what I have observed his approach is cautious in the extreme and he is not a risk taker, this I conclude from team selection, tactics, substitution and his own match demeanour. We sit 10 feet from the dugout and watching GB during a game provides little inspiration - often he seems a little isolated. This may be an unfair comment but as a fan it's the only way available to judge.

Initially I was delighted to see the honest, hardworking ethic Bowyer returned to the team. This was needed but is only the first step and is the absolute minimum the manager and fans should expect and receive from players earning small fortunes. It's pleasing but hardly warrants high praise. We now have a side which performs the basics to what I would say is an acceptable standard for a professional football team. What Bowyer and his players are not currently achieving is to create anything outside of the basics - our play is entirely predictable in every match. The one area GB has not addressed, and he really must, is the midfield's continuing failure to support Rhodes. Against Wednesday, and not for the first time, Rhodes was so isolated he might as well not have played - that is down to the manager not the player. A 20-30 yard gap between striker and midfield will never work.

In fact scrap that. I just feel like there are lots of rovers fans who are extremely ungrateful for the work Bowyer has done. The club has been through the mud and it feels as if the one bloke who has done more to try and get things back on track cops stick. The boos are a disgrace imo. The fans deserve to be angry and expect more. But it feels harsh to boo the current side and management when the blame lies with the owners, a rogue ex manager (I use that word begrudgingly) and an opportunistic agent.

Grateful? I'm eternally grateful to Jack Walker but grateful to club employees? No. I'm delighted to acknowledge we've been fortunate to have great players, club management and managers in the past but I've never felt grateful to them for deigning to come to Ewood. These people, Bowyer included, are paid a great deal of money to do a job. I've been delighted and proud of what has been achieved but not grateful. We paid the money and are right to expect the results.

I know that I have taken this to the extreme and I am sure the vast vast majority of those doubters express their views in good faith and are really only chewing the fat. But, like the Rhodes thread, it seems to be our best player and a decent honest manager are the only ones who's performance is up for debate.

Yes I feel you have taken it to the extreme. One can acknowledge the achievements and abilities of any individual in any job or role. Similarily recognising individual's limitations is perfectly acceptable, whether one acts on those doubts determines whether or not more progress is made. That is a decision for the club owners and management and reflects on their ambition or lack of. I recognise what GB has achieved but don't believe he can take us further, that's an opinion based on a season. It's not fence sitting. If it was every club would stick with any manager who produced average performances but we all know that doesn't happen.

[Paul]

If that is the case, it presents them with a dilemma re Rhodes. Do they they try and get as much as they can for him in January? or would that reduce the chances of survival after the 10 point deduction?...Do they even care, whether we survive relegation after they have gone? I genuinely can't read them or their agenda. I just know that we can.t even begin to heal while they are still here...

Agreed this a big dilema for for them. I feel the stark fact, and this is the wrong thread, is Rhodes would fetch only £3-4m at present. Regardless of his ability or perceived, by some, shortcomings, neither of which I'm going to debate here, our situation is perilous and Rhodes is not setting the league alight. I will be very surprised if any club offers the £8-10m people think he is worth and Venkys will certainly want. On that basis, they want at least their money back, I think he's staying simply because Venkys won't lose money on him

[chris_h]

Well if Den can't think of one, I can, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Unrealistic and destined for the Premiership (Cardiff according to Pat Murphy)

[patrickvalery]

I really don't see how you can describe this as fence sitting or immune from debate. My view, which I've developed over the season and expressed for the first time after the poor Boxing Day offering is Bowyer has stabilised the team/club but is not equipped, possibly hampered by the finances, to take us forward. Unless he's given money the question will remain unanswered but from what I have observed his approach is cautious in the extreme and he is not a risk taker, this I conclude from team selection, tactics, substitution and his own match demeanour. We sit 10 feet from the dugout and watching GB during a game provides little inspiration - often he seems a little isolated. This may be an unfair comment but as a fan it's the only way available to judge.

Initially I was delighted to see the honest, hardworking ethic Bowyer returned to the team. This was needed but is only the first step and is the absolute minimum the manager and fans should expect and receive from players earning small fortunes. It's pleasing but hardly warrants high praise. We now have a side which performs the basics to what I would say is an acceptable standard for a professional football team. What Bowyer and his players are not currently achieving is to create anything outside of the basics - our play is entirely predictable in every match. The one area GB has not addressed, and he really must, is the midfield's continuing failure to support Rhodes. Against Wednesday, and not for the first time, Rhodes was so isolated he might as well not have played - that is down to the manager not the player. A 20-30 yard gap between striker and midfield will never work.

Grateful? I'm eternally grateful to Jack Walker but grateful to club employees? No. I'm delighted to acknowledge we've been fortunate to have great players, club management and managers in the past but I've never felt grateful to them for deigning to come to Ewood. These people, Bowyer included, are paid a great deal of money to do a job. I've been delighted and proud of what has been achieved but not grateful. We paid the money and are right to expect the results.

Yes I feel you have taken it to the extreme. One can acknowledge the achievements and abilities of any individual in any job or role. Similarily recognising individual's limitations is perfectly acceptable, whether one acts on those doubts determines whether or not more progress is made. That is a decision for the club owners and management and reflects on their ambition or lack of. I recognise what GB has achieved but don't believe he can take us further, that's an opinion based on a season. It's not fence sitting. If it was every club would stick with any manager who produced average performances but we all know that doesn't happen.

Paul, you seem to be under the impression my posts were in reply to your own. Thats not the case.

[Stuart]

Bowyer has stabilised the team/club but is not equipped, possibly hampered by the finances, to take us forward.

This is bang on.

Halting the decline was not the end game, certainly not in the circumstances, the end game has to be to return to a stable position where our finances cover the costs of running the club.

We have an awful combination of FFP, low gate receipts, low sponsorship, an hatred of our owners, and lack of PL opposition (to be blunt) keeping it this way.

Ticket pricing being so low does not compute with non-PL football and puts us at a massive disadvantage under FFP - unless we fill the ground - so if we are to remain a going concern in the football league then we will need one of the lowest paid squads in the entire football league. This means all three divisions.

Allardyce/Williams found the right price formula to get people through the door - whatever anyone thinks of the football, we had very good crowds. If people don't rally round, then we could be watching League One football very soon.

Ergo our salvation lies in promotion, if Bowyer is only capable of steadying the ship - which seems to be what he is suggesting - then we are heading down fast. FFP almost makes the owners an irrelevance so it's ALL about the manager. The teams with the best ones invariably get promoted. This will be polarised under FFP. Because Bowyer is a good guy he seems to get the benefit of the doubt, that could chance if he continues to play negative football and criticise the fans when they become frustrated.

[FGS5635]

The trouble we face is all the kean we have been though has left us as a very frustrated fanbase. It simmers under the surface these days, but its still there and surfaces alot quicker than other clubs. The booing after the Shef Wed game wouldnt have happened pre venkys, but the frustration and anger that boils leads to it. Pre venkys bowyer would in my opinion have been treated and liked more but again the frsutration/anger levels leads to sometimes unfair criticsm.

On top of that I'd say this league is the most frsutrating league in the world to be in. Quite often in the prem I'd go into games hoping we could get a result of some kind, but know the chances where slim as some of the sides where way way stronger than us. We punched above our weight for a long time and I was very rarely left frustrated. In this league I dont see any sides better than us really, so go into every game thinking/expecting us to get some kind of result. In a way that diminishes the good days and makes the bad days way more frsutrating. Not sure if many of you feel the same, but for me that seems to be what leads to the insane yo yo moods of many posting on here.

[JBiz]

This is bang on.

Halting the decline was not the end game, certainly not in the circumstances, the end game has to be to return to a stable position where our finances cover the costs of running the club.

We have an awful combination of FFP, low gate receipts, low sponsorship, an hatred of our owners, and lack of PL opposition (to be blunt) keeping it this way.

Ticket pricing being so low does not compute with non-PL football and puts us at a massive disadvantage under FFP - unless we fill the ground - so if we are to remain a going concern in the football league then we will need one of the lowest paid squads in the entire football league. This means all three divisions.

Allardyce/Williams found the right price formula to get people through the door - whatever anyone thinks of the football, we had very good crowds. If people don't rally round, then we could be watching League One football very soon.

Ergo our salvation lies in promotion, if Bowyer is only capable of steadying the ship - which seems to be what he is suggesting - then we are heading down fast. FFP almost makes the owners an irrelevance so it's ALL about the manager. The teams with the best ones invariably get promoted. This will be polarised under FFP. Because Bowyer is a good guy he seems to get the benefit of the doubt, that could chance if he continues to play negative football and criticise the fans when they become frustrated.

There is much more to football than just the manager. Very important part, but he cannot be successful without the other cogs turning efficiently. How many times have you seen "successful" managers have nightmares at different clubs. Lots of examples I could pick of league managers who are successful for 5 minutes. E.g. I personally think Holloway is a joker, with as much talent for organising a football team as Brian Kidd, but in essence he would be counted as successful (2 promotions) despite never keeping a job/club in the top flight.

Look at the coyle; Can it be argued he is a decent league manager? Considering his last two cock ups?

The manager is often the most important piece of a large jigsaw puzzle. The smaller pieces we have are all "wet behind the ears" at current, and it's gonna take time (not money) for these players to improve. You can guarantee that Hanley, Rhodes etc will be sold, and hopefully that money will be enough to help us keep a "decentish" wage bill to keep the young players coming through. The advantage we still have stuart, over lots of league clubs is that Academy.

Our salvation is common sense - Common sense to take time to rebuild, repair etc - no more 30 something 30k a weeks, leading to no more stadium full of protestors and most of all no more Shebby.

[Blue blood]

The trouble we face is all the kean we have been though has left us as a very frustrated fanbase. It simmers under the surface these days, but its still there and surfaces alot quicker than other clubs. The booing after the Shef Wed game wouldnt have happened pre venkys, but the frustration and anger that boils leads to it. Pre venkys bowyer would in my opinion have been treated and liked more but again the frsutration/anger levels leads to sometimes unfair criticsm.

On top of that I'd say this league is the most frsutrating league in the world to be in. Quite often in the prem I'd go into games hoping we could get a result of some kind, but know the chances where slim as some of the sides where way way stronger than us. We punched above our weight for a long time and I was very rarely left frustrated. In this league I dont see any sides better than us really, so go into every game thinking/expecting us to get some kind of result. In a way that diminishes the good days and makes the bad days way more frsutrating. Not sure if many of you feel the same, but for me that seems to be what leads to the insane yo yo moods of many posting on here.

Spot on. IF finances weren't such a pressing issue I'm sure all fans would be happy with Boywer and giving him time to build a hungry hard-working young team that can push for promotion. Yes, we could do better manager wise - but then given every other idiotic decision that's been made, we could do a lot worse, and perhap are more likely to. So I think everyone would be happy to let Bowyer as a good bloke with promise who knows the club have a go.

However given finances are so dire it really is promotion or bust. If that's the case we DON'T have time for Bowyer to learn, we DON'T get a second chance, mid table is NOT good enough. We need promotion, and ergo must do better. Of course it doesn't help that Bowyer doesn't have any financial clout, or pros in the boardroom helping or experience from a DoF or whatever - we really are making a half arsed attempt to get promotion. But all those mitigating circumstances aside, we need to be doing better - because as it is IF it's promotion or bust, we're heading firmly towards bust.

There is much more to football than just the manager. Very important part, but he cannot be successful without the other cogs turning efficiently. How many times have you seen "successful" managers have nightmares at different clubs. Lots of examples I could pick of league managers who are successful for 5 minutes. E.g. I personally think Holloway is a joker, with as much talent for organising a football team as Brian Kidd, but in essence he would be counted as successful (2 promotions) despite never keeping a job/club in the top flight.

Look at the coyle; Can it be argued he is a decent league manager? Considering his last two cock ups?

The manager is often the most important piece of a large jigsaw puzzle. The smaller pieces we have are all "wet behind the ears" at current, and it's gonna take time (not money) for these players to improve. You can guarantee that Hanley, Rhodes etc will be sold, and hopefully that money will be enough to help us keep a "decentish" wage bill to keep the young players coming through. The advantage we still have stuart, over lots of league clubs is that Academy.

Our salvation is common sense - Common sense to take time to rebuild, repair etc - no more 30 something 30k a weeks, leading to no more stadium full of protestors and most of all no more Shebby.

I'm honestly not sure this is the case. I'm no financial expert, but I cannot see that route leading to salvation for numerous reasons.

1) our operating costs - inc. youth set up, stadium etc. are too big to be sustained at this level as is and credit will run out

2) we won't be able to shift a lot of drains on our resources - we've 2 more years of Etuhu, then there's Best, Campbell, Orr to name but 3 we'd want to get rid of but have very little chance of doing so - which will lead to credit running out

3) sell Rhodes, Hanley, and the two lads from Hull (assuming Cairney becomes ours) and any of our other better players we're probably looking to avoid relegation - relegation will lead to less funds, and again credit will run out. This is assuming we get enough from the ones we sell to keep the debt manageable.

Whatever way you look at it, if we're not promoted then administration, and possibly liquidation is a very likely outcome. Whilst I would love us to start again without Venkys, I just cannot see that happening or working. We really need promotion, and then rid of Venkys for our long term survival.

[den]

Absolutely they are den. So here is my view and feel free to shoot it down.

I didn't want Bowyer appointed. I thought his decent spell last year would be the exception and not the rule.

However, now he is in the job I like him and I think the side he has assembled has the potential to be playoff material.

I do not want him sacked.

I expected a mid table position this season and I believe we will finish mid table. So, from my point if view he isn't underachieving.

I don't believe, with our budget and management structure that another manager of realistic proportions would give us any more chance of success at this time.

I don't trust anyonr at the club to manage to appoint anyone of a better standard than Bowyer is displaying. In fact I'd be confident they'd manage to go the other way.

So there it is. Shoot from the hip.

What I have an issue with are those who continually say Bowyer isn't doing well enough, don't believe we will get promoted, won't acknowledge the chances of a better replacement coming in are minimal with venkys form, refuse to acknowledge the improvement and seem to have little consideration of the mess Bowyer is trying to haul us from. But then say they don't want him sacked. That is sitting on the fence and is designed to be immune from debate either at the time or retrospectively.

In fact scrap that. I just feel like there are lots of rovers fans who are extremely ungrateful for the work Bowyer has done. The club has been through the mud and it feels as if the one bloke who has done more to try and get things back on track cops stick. The boos are a disgrace imo. The fans deserve to be angry and expect more. But it feels harsh to boo the current side and management when the blame lies with the owners, a rogue ex manager (I use that word begrudgingly) and an opportunistic agent.

I know that I have taken this to the extreme and I am sure the vast vast majority of those doubters express their views in good faith and are really only chewing the fat. But, like the Rhodes thread, it seems to be our best player and a decent honest manager are the only ones who's performance is up for debate.

We're not a million miles apart Patrick.

I think Bowyer was given the job based on an overhyped spell as caretaker. For me, a football club should always do the best it can, go for the best players and best managers it can attract. With the obvious impending financial crisis, it was more important than ever that we go through that process. Venky's didn't see it that way. Bowyer is a nice guy ( as far as we know, although his recent criticism of the fans might show there's another, unseen side to him - we don't know) and has done OK, so far. Now then, - is OK enough? Like I've said before, for me, it's sh1t or bust this season.we must go up. Venky's knew that but chose an inexperienced coach and allowed him to bring in 13 players. Why - because they have no idea whatsoever.

You won't get a reasoned response Patrick. Den continually carps and snipes away at Bowyer but has not once to the best of my recollection put forward a viable alternative candidate.

If you have Den, I apologise.

I don't play pointless games about who I would like Rev, but if you read my post above, you won't see - and haven't seen all season, any sniping against Bowyer, only the owners. Bowyer couldn't have done more than he has, but just think - if he's managed to get us within three points of a play off place, where could a better manager, with better use of the transfer budget have got us, in this pisspot league? We could certainly have been in the play off places or better.

And what difference would that make to our immediate future?

[Rover_Shaun]

Why am I still reading people saying we are one win off the play-offs when the league table is easily accessed at dozens of websites. We are 4 points off the play-offs and 5 points from 5th but a massive 10 points off 4th. And this is most likely the nearest we will get all season.

[den]

Why am I still reading people saying we are one win off the play-offs when the league table is easily accessed at dozens of websites. We are 4 points off the play-offs and 5 points from 5th but a massive 10 points off 4th. And this is most likely the nearest we will get all season.

4 points then. I don't think that changes anyone's point of view.

[Guest Norbert]

Better than being 4 points off relegation.

[Majiball]

Paul, you seem to be under the impression my posts were in reply to your own. Thats not the case.

Could you not just cut to the chase and name who you think is doing as you suggest?

I now believe your comments are aimed at me as I critic Bowyer and I don't really wish to write out a long reply to get a response like Paul did.

[Gav]

I think most people have hit the nail on the head with Bowyer, he's doing a good job with the current crop, but isn't equipped to take us to the next level. The players he has at his disposal are mid table championship players, and Bowyers a mid table championship manager himself at best, so anything better than a mid table finish should be seen as a success.

The club has been in freefall since the idiots from Pune came in, so lets not take anything away from what Bowyer has done with the squad. We’re now playing football again, which is a great achievement under the circumstances, and the circus seems to have shut up shop for now, all under Bowyers tenure, so lets give the guy credit, even if hes not untimely responsible for shutting the owners up, its been on his watch.

All that said, and I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but if the right man was available I’d change the manager and give Bowyer a job in the backroom. If this season is critical to our survival and we need to get promotion then Bowyer needs replacing, because he’s not capable of gaining promotion with the current squad.

Who could come in?

No idea but we need experience, someone who can extract that extra 10/15% from the players we have and someone who can bring Rhodes into play more often, as thats the key to promotion to my book. Look what Pullis is doing at Palace, thats the sort of reaction we need from anyone coming in, but I think Bowyer will stay, and we need to look more towards next season than this in my opinion.