[Archived] Transfer Talk

[EgyptianPete]

Does anyone believe that there is a possibility that the implications and ramifications of FFP might be lost on our club?

I'm pretty sure the venkys will have no understanding of the basic concept never mind the small print, GB might have some inklings but he is a football coach not a business lawyer, which leaves Derek Shaw who despite experience of selling shelves and running PNE for a time might (and I'm not criticising) just be out of his depth with it all. Have we used any consultants perhaps?

I would suggest the Venkys are not as stupid as most portray them to be, we know their failings here at Ewood, but at the end of the day whether we like it or not are astute business people and let's don't think they are not, they will use consultants, maybe not the right ones at the right time (As Eric Morecambe said to Andre Previn) There is something brewing that's for sure and if i was in GB shoes or shelfy's i would and should be very concerned for my job after last seasons performance.

[onlyonejackwalker]

10th best defensive record in the league last season, the same as the season before. Hardly 'pathetic'.

'Confusion he fostered in goal'. WTF does that even mean? He brought in Steele and Eastwood, one played in the league, one in the cup, and then raya came back to the club and he gave him a shot at the end of the season, just like he said he would. How do you find that confusing?

'Uncertainty at left-back'. Again, what does that mean? Olsson has played there all season. Spurr has been injured.

'lack of a certain starter in defensive midfield'. Williamson has played there all season, along with Evans. Lowe has been injured.

'dumping baptiste at right-back'. Henley is the right-back. He's been injured most of the season so Baptiste has played there and done well. That's why he was brought in, because he can play centre back and right-back. Bowyer even said he was looking for that type of player before he brought him in. someone who can play in both positions. How does that equate to 'dumping him out there'?

Remember when i said some people try to blame everything on Bowyer? Well, you've just gone one better and just started inventing things

Oh ok we are back to Bowyer being the bees kness again are we? Where's Mick gone?

I'll humour you anyway, as what can't speak, can't lie. You are fast enough to remind people how Bowyer single-handedly kept us up . Do keep up and try and remember the following season as well. Bowyer has been boring me rigid for longer than this season. Do you remember who his first three signings were?

My standards are obviously much higher than yours if you are lauding the 10th best defence in the Division as a wonderful achievement. And yes I would call that record pathetic recognising that every Tom, Dick and Harry found it easy to score against us and we badly underachieved. Again.

2013/2014 - Goals for 70 - Goals against 62.

Carlisle scored 3 against us in the League Cup and City 5 in the FA Cup.

It took Bowyer's team 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

All of the following scored two or more against us that season.

Brighton 3 - Millwall 2 - Watford 3 - Doncaster 2 - Barnsley 2 - Leicester 2 - Wigan 2 - Blackpool 2 - Brighton 3 - Ipswich 2 - Millwall 2 - Birmingham 3 - Forest 4 - Barnsley 2 - Bolton 4 - Burnley 2 - Huddersfield 2 - Sheff Wednesday 3 - Birmingham 2 - Wigan 3.

2014 / 2015 - Goals For - 66 - Goals Against 59.

It took Bowyer 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

League Cup - Scunthorpe - 0 - 1.

All of the following scored two or more against us this season.

Norwich 3 - Bournemouth 2 - Wolves 3 - Derby 3 - watford 2 - Rotherham 2 - Millwall 2 - Wednesday 2 - Brentford 3 - Bolton 2 - Derby 2 - Norwich 2 - Brentford 3 - Birmingham 2 - Forest 3 - Huddersfield 2 and Ipswich 2.

*Not all these games were lost, but clearly indicate we are very, very easy to score against.

Seems from your comments that you disagree we have been all over the place at the back. Secure and confident in goal, (is it 4 keepers or 5 that Bowyer has used?) settled at full-back and centre-half, competent and proficient in defensive midfield. (How many clean sheets has Bowyer enjoyed? I know the answer, look it up).

My view remains quite the opposite. Burnley were promoted in 2nd place in 2013/2014. They scored two more goals than us with 72. They conceeded 25 goals less than us with 37. Is this helping you at all?

Try and spin it how you want, but until such time as Bowyer organises the team's defences professionally we will plod around in mid-table winning just as many as we lose. An experienced manager on appointment would have recruited a decent goal-keeper and focused immediately on his back four, clean sheets and being very hard to beat. Just like the majority of knowledegeable posters on here would recommend. This is professional sport, not jumpers for goal-posts and three and in. Bowyer decided a million wingers were more important, bully for him, but the record shows this approach was foolhardy and he has clearly struggled, often proven out of his depth and the experiment clearly hasn't worked 30 months down the line.

I've been guilty of getting involved with niggles with you to the detriment of other readers. Apologies to the board. But you are gulty of getting in regular niggles with about 10 other posters to the extent some don't even bother posting. You work it out BlueyBoy.

Time for Bowyer to be put out of his misery. Knowledgeable and experienced manager installed immediately please, preferably someone with some balls who will say it as it is, has achieved something as a player and a manager, who understands football and this Division and will focus on our defence, make Ewood a fortress again and get these overpaid chancers playing every week like their lives depended on it.

Venkys Out.

[rog of the rovers]

Oh ok we are back to Bowyer being the bees kness again are we? Where's Mick gone?

I'll humour you anyway, as what can't speak, can't lie. You are fast enough to remind people how Bowyer single-handedly kept us up . Do keep up and try and remember the following season as well. Bowyer has been boring me rigid for longer than this season. Do you remember who his first three signings were?

My standards are obviously much higher than yours if you are lauding the 10th best defence in the Division as a wonderful achievement. And yes I would call that record pathetic recognising that every Tom, Dick and Harry found it easy to score against us and we badly underachieved. Again.

2013/2014 - Goals for 70 - Goals against 62.

Carlisle scored 3 against us in the League Cup and City 5 in the FA Cup.

It took Bowyer's team 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

All of the following scored two or more against us that season.

Brighton 3 - Millwall 2 - Watford 3 - Doncaster 2 - Barnsley 2 - Leicester 2 - Wigan 2 - Blackpool 2 - Brighton 3 - Ipswich 2 - Millwall 2 - Birmingham 3 - Forest 4 - Barnsley 2 - Bolton 4 - Burnley 2 - Huddersfield 2 - Sheff Wednesday 3 - Birmingham 2 - Wigan 3.

2014 / 2015 - Goals For - 66 - Goals Against 59.

It took Bowyer 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

League Cup - Scunthorpe - 0 - 1.

All of the following scored two or more against us this season.

Norwich 3 - Bournemouth 2 - Wolves 3 - Derby 3 - watford 2 - Rotherham 2 - Millwall 2 - Wednesday 2 - Brentford 3 - Bolton 2 - Derby 2 - Norwich 2 - Brentford 3 - Birmingham 2 - Forest 3 - Huddersfield 2 and Ipswich 2.

*Not all these games were lost, but clearly indicate we are very, very easy to score against.

Seems from your comments that you disagree we have been all over the place at the back. Secure and confident in goal, (is it 4 keepers or 5 that Bowyer has used?) settled at full-back and centre-half, competent and proficient in defensive midfield. (How many clean sheets has Bowyer enjoyed? I know the answer, look it up).

My view remains quite the opposite. Burnley were promoted in 2nd place in 2013/2014. They scored two more goals than us with 72. They conceeded 25 goals less than us with 37. Is this helping you at all?

Try and spin it how you want, but until such time as Bowyer organises the team's defences professionally we will plod around in mid-table winning just as many as we lose. An experienced manager on appointment would have recruited a decent goal-keeper and focused immediately on his back four, clean sheets and being very hard to beat. Just like the majority of knowledegeable posters on here would recommend. This is professional sport, not jumpers for goal-posts and three and in. Bowyer decided a million wingers were more important, bully for him, but the record shows this approach was foolhardy and he has clearly struggled, often proven out of his depth and the experiment clearly hasn't worked 30 months down the line.

I've been guilty of getting involved with niggles with you to the detriment of other readers. Apologies to the board. But you are gulty of getting in regular niggles with about 10 other posters to the extent some don't even bother posting. You work it out BlueyBoy.

Time for Bowyer to be put out of his misery. Knowledgeable and experienced manager installed immediately please, preferably someone with some balls who will say it as it is, has achieved something as a player and a manager, who understands football and this Division and will focus on our defence, make Ewood a fortress again and get these overpaid chancers playing every week like their lives depended on it.

Venkys Out.

Love posts like this one, opinion backed up by facts.

A bit of research has gone into the post, and my word some alarming statistics revealed, I knew we were leaky at the back, but this speaks volumes.

[Stuart]

Oh ok we are back to Bowyer being the bees kness again are we? Where's Mick gone?

I'll humour you anyway, as what can't speak, can't lie. You are fast enough to remind people how Bowyer single-handedly kept us up . Do keep up and try and remember the following season as well. Bowyer has been boring me rigid for longer than this season. Do you remember who his first three signings were?

My standards are obviously much higher than yours if you are lauding the 10th best defence in the Division as a wonderful achievement. And yes I would call that record pathetic recognising that every Tom, Dick and Harry found it easy to score against us and we badly underachieved. Again.

2013/2014 - Goals for 70 - Goals against 62.

Carlisle scored 3 against us in the League Cup and City 5 in the FA Cup.

It took Bowyer's team 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

All of the following scored two or more against us that season.

Brighton 3 - Millwall 2 - Watford 3 - Doncaster 2 - Barnsley 2 - Leicester 2 - Wigan 2 - Blackpool 2 - Brighton 3 - Ipswich 2 - Millwall 2 - Birmingham 3 - Forest 4 - Barnsley 2 - Bolton 4 - Burnley 2 - Huddersfield 2 - Sheff Wednesday 3 - Birmingham 2 - Wigan 3.

2014 / 2015 - Goals For - 66 - Goals Against 59.

It took Bowyer 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

League Cup - Scunthorpe - 0 - 1.

All of the following scored two or more against us this season.

Norwich 3 - Bournemouth 2 - Wolves 3 - Derby 3 - watford 2 - Rotherham 2 - Millwall 2 - Wednesday 2 - Brentford 3 - Bolton 2 - Derby 2 - Norwich 2 - Brentford 3 - Birmingham 2 - Forest 3 - Huddersfield 2 and Ipswich 2.

*Not all these games were lost, but clearly indicate we are very, very easy to score against.

Seems from your comments that you disagree we have been all over the place at the back. Secure and confident in goal, (is it 4 keepers or 5 that Bowyer has used?) settled at full-back and centre-half, competent and proficient in defensive midfield. (How many clean sheets has Bowyer enjoyed? I know the answer, look it up).

My view remains quite the opposite. Burnley were promoted in 2nd place in 2013/2014. They scored two more goals than us with 72. They conceeded 25 goals less than us with 37. Is this helping you at all?

Try and spin it how you want, but until such time as Bowyer organises the team's defences professionally we will plod around in mid-table winning just as many as we lose. An experienced manager on appointment would have recruited a decent goal-keeper and focused immediately on his back four, clean sheets and being very hard to beat. Just like the majority of knowledegeable posters on here would recommend. This is professional sport, not jumpers for goal-posts and three and in. Bowyer decided a million wingers were more important, bully for him, but the record shows this approach was foolhardy and he has clearly struggled, often proven out of his depth and the experiment clearly hasn't worked 30 months down the line.

I've been guilty of getting involved with niggles with you to the detriment of other readers. Apologies to the board. But you are gulty of getting in regular niggles with about 10 other posters to the extent some don't even bother posting. You work it out BlueyBoy.

Time for Bowyer to be put out of his misery. Knowledgeable and experienced manager installed immediately please, preferably someone with some balls who will say it as it is, has achieved something as a player and a manager, who understands football and this Division and will focus on our defence, make Ewood a fortress again and get these overpaid chancers playing every week like their lives depended on it.

Venkys Out.

Brilliant post.

It also puts paid to the posts that Rhodes and Gestede don't score enough. Despite our cautious style and negative approach to games, we are not good enough at keeping goals out. In my view this is because we are too soft centred on midfield but also that we do not have a solid enough defence. I'd also say that this is epitomised by Lowe and Hanley, both of whom are Bowyer's men - but it's more than just them.

A decent manager would be putting paid to this as a priority.

[K-Hod]

Brilliant post.

It also puts paid to the posts that Rhodes and Gestede don't score enough. Despite our cautious style and negative approach to games, we are not good enough at keeping goals out. In my view this is because we are too soft centred on midfield but also that we do not have a solid enough defence. I'd also say that this is epitomised by Lowe and Hanley, both of whom are Bowyer's men - but it's more than just them.

A decent manager would be putting paid to this as a priority.

I think that might be a bit harsh, I wouldn't say Lowe is any worse than Williamson or Evans, though we do seem to defend better minus Hanley. But I do think we are hamstrung by our system (and the lack of movement forward from the midfield). We have no drive forwards from the centre of midfield.

If we found a way of playing 1 up top with 5 in midfield (I'd say with Marshall or C Taylor (assuming he signs!!) in behind, though still maintain we should have kept Judge, especially considering Dunn's advancing years) there wouldn't be the gaping chasm between midfield and attack (or at least I'd hope not!!).

Your last point is spot on mind.

[den]

Brilliant post.

It also puts paid to the posts that Rhodes and Gestede don't score enough.

Bet you can't link to one of those posts Stuart.

[yoda]

Oh ok we are back to Bowyer being the bees kness again are we? Where's Mick gone?

I'll humour you anyway, as what can't speak, can't lie. You are fast enough to remind people how Bowyer single-handedly kept us up . Do keep up and try and remember the following season as well. Bowyer has been boring me rigid for longer than this season. Do you remember who his first three signings were?

My standards are obviously much higher than yours if you are lauding the 10th best defence in the Division as a wonderful achievement. And yes I would call that record pathetic recognising that every Tom, Dick and Harry found it easy to score against us and we badly underachieved. Again.

2013/2014 - Goals for 70 - Goals against 62.

Carlisle scored 3 against us in the League Cup and City 5 in the FA Cup.

It took Bowyer's team 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

All of the following scored two or more against us that season.

Brighton 3 - Millwall 2 - Watford 3 - Doncaster 2 - Barnsley 2 - Leicester 2 - Wigan 2 - Blackpool 2 - Brighton 3 - Ipswich 2 - Millwall 2 - Birmingham 3 - Forest 4 - Barnsley 2 - Bolton 4 - Burnley 2 - Huddersfield 2 - Sheff Wednesday 3 - Birmingham 2 - Wigan 3.

2014 / 2015 - Goals For - 66 - Goals Against 59.

It took Bowyer 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

League Cup - Scunthorpe - 0 - 1.

All of the following scored two or more against us this season.

Norwich 3 - Bournemouth 2 - Wolves 3 - Derby 3 - watford 2 - Rotherham 2 - Millwall 2 - Wednesday 2 - Brentford 3 - Bolton 2 - Derby 2 - Norwich 2 - Brentford 3 - Birmingham 2 - Forest 3 - Huddersfield 2 and Ipswich 2.

*Not all these games were lost, but clearly indicate we are very, very easy to score against.

Seems from your comments that you disagree we have been all over the place at the back. Secure and confident in goal, (is it 4 keepers or 5 that Bowyer has used?) settled at full-back and centre-half, competent and proficient in defensive midfield. (How many clean sheets has Bowyer enjoyed? I know the answer, look it up).

My view remains quite the opposite. Burnley were promoted in 2nd place in 2013/2014. They scored two more goals than us with 72. They conceeded 25 goals less than us with 37. Is this helping you at all?

Try and spin it how you want, but until such time as Bowyer organises the team's defences professionally we will plod around in mid-table winning just as many as we lose. An experienced manager on appointment would have recruited a decent goal-keeper and focused immediately on his back four, clean sheets and being very hard to beat. Just like the majority of knowledegeable posters on here would recommend. This is professional sport, not jumpers for goal-posts and three and in. Bowyer decided a million wingers were more important, bully for him, but the record shows this approach was foolhardy and he has clearly struggled, often proven out of his depth and the experiment clearly hasn't worked 30 months down the line.

I've been guilty of getting involved with niggles with you to the detriment of other readers. Apologies to the board. But you are gulty of getting in regular niggles with about 10 other posters to the extent some don't even bother posting. You work it out BlueyBoy.

Time for Bowyer to be put out of his misery. Knowledgeable and experienced manager installed immediately please, preferably someone with some balls who will say it as it is, has achieved something as a player and a manager, who understands football and this Division and will focus on our defence, make Ewood a fortress again and get these overpaid chancers playing every week like their lives depended on it.

Venkys Out.

Well said

[Neal]

And for the record, the time i apologised to you i did because things had got out of hand. It was you who started it then, just like you started it today when getting involved with something that had nothing to do with you. Oh, and a mod actually contacted me at the time of the spat via PM and told me i was spot on with the things i said to you. I'd never had any contact with that particular mod before and haven't since. If my 'behaviour' was so bad i'd have been banned at the time. Plenty of others have been. So don't go whining about things that happened months ago just so you can score some petty points now. Like i said, you're a mard arse. If you don't like people disagreeing with your views then a football MB really isn't for you.

1) Bobbins. It's amazing how committed you are to arguing the complete opposite of the truth.

2) I honestly believe you've made that up, in fact i'd go as far as to say you're a serial liar fella. I honestly think you can't remember what you said or what it was about even because you've argued with that many people on here you've lost count. At least (in your mind) one person agrees with you, slow claps.

3) Dunno what you mean by that, I don't know you or anyone else on here so pointless.

4) Pathetic

You cry about apparently not saying you want Bowyer out when in fact you have the same opinion now as every one else.... No one wants the club to replace Bowyer with a no mark, they want an improvement on him JUST AS YOU DO but for some reason you think your opinion something special, something different but it's not.

The way you debate with people is like a pubescent teenager who's got no mates.

Aaaaaaand ignore... Thank god for that.

[Blueandwhitemike]

Lots of good things about Onlyonejackwalker's post but the first line is poor... In fact it rather proved Blueboy's point...

I'm no fan of his posting style but you turn 'hardly pathetic' into Bowyer being 'the bee knees'

Anyway, as many have said, centre mid is the problem for me... possibly the most important, surely the hardest, place to play and we don't have one good one never mind two. Cairney shows flashes, Evans and Lowe can't pass and Williamson is slow of mind and body. Actually I think they're all decent but to get promoted that's not good enough.

How to fix that for money I've no idea.

[onlyonejackwalker]

Lots of good things about Onlyonejackwalker's post but the first line is poor... In fact it rather proved Blueboy's point...

I'm no fan of his posting style but you turn 'hardly pathetic' into Bowyer being 'the bee knees'

Anyway, as many have said, centre mid is the problem for me... possibly the most important, surely the hardest, place to play and we don't have one good one never mind two. Cairney shows flashes, Evans and Lowe can't pass and Williamson is slow of mind and body. Actually I think they're all decent but to get promoted that's not good enough.

How to fix that for money I've no idea.

Fair point when taken in isolation, but when considered against all his previous posts and regular insults (to me and numerous others) prior to the recent dramatic 'Mick Mcarthy U Turn' and the fact he actually believes our defence to be satisfactory, then I make no apology for it. I shouldn't really have to detail our porous defence to any avid fan of the club. Basic stuff, documented in the record books forever. Google is your friend.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Lots of good things about Onlyonejackwalker's post but the first line is poor... In fact it rather proved Blueboy's point...

I'm no fan of his posting style but you turn 'hardly pathetic' into Bowyer being 'the bee knees'

Anyway, as many have said, centre mid is the problem for me... possibly the most important, surely the hardest, place to play and we don't have one good one never mind two. Cairney shows flashes, Evans and Lowe can't pass and Williamson is slow of mind and body. Actually I think they're all decent but to get promoted that's not good enough.

How to fix that for money I've no idea.

It may be controversial - but aside from Williamson I don't think our midfield is that bad considering the division we are in. Tactics are the key - we play far too deep - which means the opposition pushes us into our own half increasing the gap between midfield and our forwards - added to this we have no pace up front with which to push the opposition back. If we could sell Rhodes and replace him with someone with pace it would help the bank balance and overall team play.

[tomphil]

What about the goals for column ?

I've been a critic of GBs tactics since the beginning of his first full season however I'm not sure he can do much when different persisting with Evans. I don't think he can play any other way than he does but maybe could be deployed better or needs different players to compliment him. Lowe is Lowe but could probably do half a job anywhere in the middle being the utility man he is. Willo is ok in the middle next to Evans but is too lead footed and clumsy played directly in front of the centre backs imo.

[Gav]

Fair point when taken in isolation, but when considered against all his previous posts and regular insults (to me and numerous others) prior to the recent dramatic 'Mick Mcarthy U Turn' and the fact he actually believes our defence to be satisfactory, then I make no apology for it. I shouldn't really have to detail our porous defence to any avid fan of the club. Basic stuff, documented in the record books forever. Google is your friend.

People are allowed to change their minds, it's not allowed on here, but in the real world happens all the time, but I have no time for insults even though I've been guilty in the past of getting drawn in.

The defence is cr@p, no need for stats, but I'm sure we all appreciate your efforts OJW. The defence gets little or no support from the midfield or forwards so it's not as black and white as it may appear.

[onlyonejackwalker]

People are allowed to change their minds, it's not allowed on here, but in the real world happens all the time, but I have no time for insults even though I've been guilty in the past of getting drawn in.

The defence is cr@p, no need for stats, but I'm sure we all appreciate your efforts OJW. The defence gets little or no support from the midfield or forwards so it's not as black and white as it may appear.

Thanks, but it was very easy to reference, so no big deal really.

If the defence does not get enough support then who is to blame for that?

[JBiz]

Thanks, but it was very easy to reference, so no big deal really.

If the defence does not get enough support then who is to blame for that?

It's no good pointing the finger in one direction all the time IMO. Stepping away from the blame game, it's easy to see multiple reasons for inconsistency. Whilst the defence has never been solid under GB, we've seen goals conceded from set pieces aplenty- that could be attributed to a plethora of issues; size, concentration, training etc.

Playing 442 is also quite gung-ho these days IMO. We've suffered going backwards for the sake of going forwards. On some occassions, the boro away game and cup run spring to mind as examples of when we have defended properly.

Inconsistency has been the key feature of the past two seasons- I don't think we've ever kept a level of performance further than week to week. Up and down, hence why the cup run probably suited our form.

I think the inconsistency comes from pressure. Some may think that the lack of pressure on the players and staff is a reason for under performance, I'd argue that we just haven't had the players and staff who can cope with the league.

It's a long season, points need to be ground out. We've let too many slip from bad defending, to not taking chances. The striker stats somewhere will also tell you that JR has his worst completion rate this season (if I'm correct) and to still bag 20+ shows how many chances we fluffed.

I don't think all this can be attributed to one mans "negative approach" or basic bad luck. It's a mixture of a lot of problems that stem from the very top of our club.

Namely the embargo caused by lunacy after relegation. Some see many of our midfield as square pegs in round holes... If we'd spent a fraction of the near 10m etuhu and Murphy cost us in pay offs/wages on a proper midfield, we wouldn't be need to scratch round the bargain basement or stick to a mid table championship maximum wage.

That's not to say the current manager has done the optimum possible either- He's signed many I don't rate.

[West Yorks Rover]

Oh ok we are back to Bowyer being the bees kness again are we? Where's Mick gone?

I'll humour you anyway, as what can't speak, can't lie. You are fast enough to remind people how Bowyer single-handedly kept us up . Do keep up and try and remember the following season as well. Bowyer has been boring me rigid for longer than this season. Do you remember who his first three signings were?

My standards are obviously much higher than yours if you are lauding the 10th best defence in the Division as a wonderful achievement. And yes I would call that record pathetic recognising that every Tom, Dick and Harry found it easy to score against us and we badly underachieved. Again.

2013/2014 - Goals for 70 - Goals against 62.

Carlisle scored 3 against us in the League Cup and City 5 in the FA Cup.

It took Bowyer's team 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

All of the following scored two or more against us that season.

Brighton 3 - Millwall 2 - Watford 3 - Doncaster 2 - Barnsley 2 - Leicester 2 - Wigan 2 - Blackpool 2 - Brighton 3 - Ipswich 2 - Millwall 2 - Birmingham 3 - Forest 4 - Barnsley 2 - Bolton 4 - Burnley 2 - Huddersfield 2 - Sheff Wednesday 3 - Birmingham 2 - Wigan 3.

2014 / 2015 - Goals For - 66 - Goals Against 59.

It took Bowyer 8 matches to keep a clean sheet.

League Cup - Scunthorpe - 0 - 1.

All of the following scored two or more against us this season.

Norwich 3 - Bournemouth 2 - Wolves 3 - Derby 3 - watford 2 - Rotherham 2 - Millwall 2 - Wednesday 2 - Brentford 3 - Bolton 2 - Derby 2 - Norwich 2 - Brentford 3 - Birmingham 2 - Forest 3 - Huddersfield 2 and Ipswich 2.

*Not all these games were lost, but clearly indicate we are very, very easy to score against.

Seems from your comments that you disagree we have been all over the place at the back. Secure and confident in goal, (is it 4 keepers or 5 that Bowyer has used?) settled at full-back and centre-half, competent and proficient in defensive midfield. (How many clean sheets has Bowyer enjoyed? I know the answer, look it up).

My view remains quite the opposite. Burnley were promoted in 2nd place in 2013/2014. They scored two more goals than us with 72. They conceeded 25 goals less than us with 37. Is this helping you at all?

Try and spin it how you want, but until such time as Bowyer organises the team's defences professionally we will plod around in mid-table winning just as many as we lose. An experienced manager on appointment would have recruited a decent goal-keeper and focused immediately on his back four, clean sheets and being very hard to beat. Just like the majority of knowledegeable posters on here would recommend. This is professional sport, not jumpers for goal-posts and three and in. Bowyer decided a million wingers were more important, bully for him, but the record shows this approach was foolhardy and he has clearly struggled, often proven out of his depth and the experiment clearly hasn't worked 30 months down the line.

I've been guilty of getting involved with niggles with you to the detriment of other readers. Apologies to the board. But you are gulty of getting in regular niggles with about 10 other posters to the extent some don't even bother posting. You work it out BlueyBoy.

Time for Bowyer to be put out of his misery. Knowledgeable and experienced manager installed immediately please, preferably someone with some balls who will say it as it is, has achieved something as a player and a manager, who understands football and this Division and will focus on our defence, make Ewood a fortress again and get these overpaid chancers playing every week like their lives depended on it.

Venkys Out.

Excellent post !

The highlighted bit imo, is our biggest problem and stems from weak management, compare us to the Dingle's promotion season and how

their players hunted in packs and defended their goal, indeed, as if their lives depended on it.

[Amo]

It also puts paid to the posts that Rhodes and Gestede don't score enough.

Isn't it that Rhodes & Gestede are the ONLY ones who score?

[Gav]

Thanks, but it was very easy to reference, so no big deal really.

If the defence does not get enough support then who is to blame for that?

Buck stops with the manager

[Stuart]

I think that might be a bit harsh, I wouldn't say Lowe is any worse than Williamson or Evans, though we do seem to defend better minus Hanley. But I do think we are hamstrung by our system (and the lack of movement forward from the midfield). We have no drive forwards from the centre of midfield.

If we found a way of playing 1 up top with 5 in midfield (I'd say with Marshall or C Taylor (assuming he signs!!) in behind, though still maintain we should have kept Judge, especially considering Dunn's advancing years) there wouldn't be the gaping chasm between midfield and attack (or at least I'd hope not!!).

Your last point is spot on mind.

With Bowyer's penchant for playing CBs as full-backs, I'm surprised we've not deployed a 3-5-2 formation. We could have played - Spurr - Hanley - Baptiste across the back. Or maybe Hanley or Duffy central with Baptiste as the anchor midfielder in a 5. That would have allowed Gestede and Rhodes to play together.

An option for last season...

--------- Rhodes - Gestede

Olsson -- Cairney -- Marshall -- Conway

------------------ Williamson

------- Spurr --- Kilgallon -- Baptiste

--------------------- Steele

The potential alternates for next season...

--------- Rhodes - Other (Gestede if he's still here)

Olsson -- Cairney -- Marshall -- Conway

------------------ Lenihan

------- Spurr --- Kilgallon -- Duffy

--------------------- Steele

For me there was too much attempting to out-think the opposition and change the team to nullify the threat (0-0 being the target) rather than setting up a team which played to our side's strengths. Worst of all it didn't work all that well - especially at home.

[AllRoverAsia]

Good try but unless sold Hanley will be first name on the teamsShit

[chaddyrovers]

I wonder Rovers have any interest Emmanuel Ledesma? Left foot winger just released by Boro.

[gumboots]

Do we need another winger? No! Well be interested then

[glen9mullan]

Thought this was pretty funny lol

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JT9xmE8exP0&feature=youtu.be

[frosty]

Thought this was pretty funny lol

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JT9xmE8exP0&feature=youtu.be

That's quality haha, 1:25 made me laugh in particular!

[Stefan Hedgehog]

Met one of john walters relatives tonight, never realised he was on a free.Mentioned his misdemeanour in his earlier days and would he be interested in paying rovers back and signing for us.His answer surprised me.