The "Ask Gregg" Podcast

[Leonard Venkhater]

6 hours ago, Mike E said:

Having listened to the podcast, it has solidified my confidence in this 'project'. Genuinely.

I've said all season, the fun won't begin til next season, and that's still my opinion. There are people who say strike while iron's hot (which is true) but we equally need to keep building from where we are.

Results need to improve, but I'll repeat that if we make the playoffs this season, it will be an achievement.

Hmmm.

Reminds me of  a difficult public meeting, when it was down to me to try to explain an organisation's plan to a hostile audience.

Just as I was making a little headway, someone shouted out,

"Blimey. If this bloke told you shit was ice cream, you'd bloody eat it!"

Cue much hilarity...

Edited January 16, 2023 by Leonard Venkhater

[Mike E]

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Not disagreeing with any of those reasons, but again this doesn't fit the narrative that this season is purely one of laying the foundations for next.

Brereton won't be here next season, so keeping him and playing him every week not only reduces the game time for those who will, but loses us a significant sum to reinvest to aid that.

I am not saying we shouldn't play Brereton, Dack and Ayala, we are a much better team with those 3. But I am not having this supposed idea that we essentially write a season off and more importantly, numerous decisions made go against this idea.

Laying the foundations by increasingly giving time to youngsters and getting underperformers to improve where possible.

On individual bases, I see the above as being the case throughout the side.

What bothers me, however, is the tactics being applied. I'm hoping (I think it's what they are trying to do, at least) they are laying foundations for a specific set of tactics to be used with appropriate players, and I hope players with the talent of A. Wharton.

[chaddyrovers]

4 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Does the fact that we are allowing Brereton to run his deal, have loaned in 3 players including one who plays every single game, and are seemingly looking for more loanees not all fly in the face of this theory that is emerging that this year is purely for building foundations? Ayala is preferred to Phillips, Morton to Wharton, Brereton to Dolan, Dack at times to Szmodics, so many decisions made looking to win each individual game rather than with one eye on next season.

Either the onus being on next season is management spiel (that people are taking too literally) with the intention of buying patience, or the plan is genuine and just being executed poorly.

We haven't allow BBD to run down his contract has we offered new contract before Christmas. Plus no offers were near our asking price. Morton has played well this season overall. We currently 2 loan players and maybe adding another loan. Is that effective? not really as it has allow Garrett and Adam Wharton to experience the league whilst not be expecting too much from them. 

We have to play and introduce the young players at times when need without be over reliable or expecting too much from them. i think some people are expecting far too much from Adam Wharton at this season. 

 

[Mattyblue]

So playing Vale and Garrett on a regular basis is undoubtedly the correct decision, and not playing Adam Wharton on a regular basis is also the correct decision… now I wonder why that could be? 🤷‍♂️

[SuperBrfc]

The gymnastics from Broughton on the definition of 'winning' and what winning means for Blackburn Rovers are something to behold.

Have a listen at 35 minutes of the podcast.

GB: "We have to have a really good understanding of what winning means to Blackburn Rovers. Does it mean winning at any cost or winning without the cost to other people?".

He goes on to add that we are seeing a shift in marginal gains in sport where there is an absolute drive to win at any costs, and that this has led to scandals such as ball tampering in Cricket and "blood gate" in Rugby. He cites these as examples where winning has been put ahead of anything including the welfare of fellow colleagues.

What the bleeding 'eck is he going on about? Nobody in the fan base is asking for us to break the rules or to go against moral principles. The length he's going to here to take away any expectation of winning is astounding. He ends this part by saying the following:

GB: "So, I think we need to have a definition of what winning looks like for Blackburn Rovers, and for me that's very clear. Clearly, it's just improving our performance every single day and in every single month and every single year".

That is not my definition, nor I suspect many other Rovers fans' definition of winning. Another performance based chump at the helm, spitting out corporate waffle. Great.

Funny how Mowbray said he hoped we didn't appoint a "bully" who just wanted to win all the time. Now Broughton is attempting to play down calls for a winning mentality by mentioning scandals in other sports. You can't make this shit up. There's a deeply ingrained losing culture at Rovers, which will not be shifted under this ownership.

[Mattyblue]

That’s the talk of an Academy director whose job it is to improve and develop youngsters for onward progression into full pro squads, the results on the pitch of the development teams is not the be-all and end-all… however they kind of are in first team professional football.

Edited January 16, 2023 by Mattyblue

[roversfan99]

56 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Laying the foundations by increasingly giving time to youngsters and getting underperformers to improve where possible.

On individual bases, I see the above as being the case throughout the side.

What bothers me, however, is the tactics being applied. I'm hoping (I think it's what they are trying to do, at least) they are laying foundations for a specific set of tactics to be used with appropriate players, and I hope players with the talent of A. Wharton.

As you will have gathered, I think the idea of essentially writing a season off at this level with so many poor teams is a nonsense.

But I don't think that it is genuinely the case anyway. The Brereton situation is the obvious sign, but we would have discarded the idea of loans, why sign Morton if we have 4 central midfielders of our own, of which Morton is I think in the middle age wise and not an upgrade on them? We aren't behaving like a club regardless of interpretation of any soundbites and I can't fathom how people can be pacified by them against tangible evidence of some short term thinking.

The most constructive way of going about things would have been to sell Brereton, sign a couple of loans if anyone was available to improve the team by all means, and have a push with a newly signed striker bought with the Brereton money, knowing that even if we don't go up, we won't have a huge gap in the summer and no money to fill it. We go into next season in a massively worse position without our only goalscorer and penniless, so how can this be the foundation of anything?

32 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

We haven't allow BBD to run down his contract has we offered new contract before Christmas. Plus no offers were near our asking price. Morton has played well this season overall. We currently 2 loan players and maybe adding another loan. Is that effective? not really as it has allow Garrett and Adam Wharton to experience the league whilst not be expecting too much from them. 

We have to play and introduce the young players at times when need without be over reliable or expecting too much from them. i think some people are expecting far too much from Adam Wharton at this season. 

 

I think you have lost my point in your attempts to defend every thing the club does. The initial reply was to the assertion that this season is a platform towards next season. My point is that there are numerous blatant decisions that have been made with short term priorities, so I can't fathom how anyone can trust the process IF the plan is to use this season as a springboard for next season.

Take the Morton example. I am not saying that we should dismiss the idea of loans because I hate the idea of writing off seasons, each team selection should be made to win that individual game. My point is that having him at the club at all doesn't tie into the idea of next season being the one that we push on in. 

[tomphil]

3 hours ago, SuperBrfc said:

The gymnastics from Broughton on the definition of 'winning' and what winning means for Blackburn Rovers are something to behold.

Have a listen at 35 minutes of the podcast.

GB: "We have to have a really good understanding of what winning means to Blackburn Rovers. Does it mean winning at any cost or winning without the cost to other people?".

He goes on to add that we are seeing a shift in marginal gains in sport where there is an absolute drive to win at any costs, and that this has led to scandals such as ball tampering in Cricket and "blood gate" in Rugby. He cites these as examples where winning has been put ahead of anything including the welfare of fellow colleagues.

What the bleeding 'eck is he going on about? Nobody in the fan base is asking for us to break the rules or to go against moral principles. The length he's going to here to take away any expectation of winning is astounding. He ends this part by saying the following:

GB: "So, I think we need to have a definition of what winning looks like for Blackburn Rovers, and for me that's very clear. Clearly, it's just improving our performance every single day and in every single month and every single year".

That is not my definition, nor I suspect many other Rovers fans' definition of winning. Another performance based chump at the helm, spitting out corporate waffle. Great.

Funny how Mowbray said he hoped we didn't appoint a "bully" who just wanted to win all the time. Now Broughton is attempting to play down calls for a winning mentality by mentioning scandals in other sports. You can't make this shit up. There's a deeply ingrained losing culture at Rovers, which will not be shifted under this ownership.

It's a plodding mentality and clearly when these people have the jobs offered to them it comes along with very minimum expectations by the owners.

Just do enough and that's enough don't bother us with talk of 2 or 3 year promotion plans.

[chaddyrovers]

On 16/01/2023 at 18:21, roversfan99 said:

I think you have lost my point in your attempts to defend every thing the club does.

If I feel Rovers need to be criticise then I will but I won't do it just to point score on here. 

On 16/01/2023 at 18:21, roversfan99 said:

The initial reply was to the assertion that this season is a platform towards next season. My point is that there are numerous blatant decisions that have been made with short term priorities, so I can't fathom how anyone can trust the process IF the plan is to use this season as a springboard for next season.

Take the Morton example. I am not saying that we should dismiss the idea of loans because I hate the idea of writing off seasons, each team selection should be made to win that individual game. My point is that having him at the club at all doesn't tie into the idea of next season being the one that we push on in. 

Morton was signed to play here regular whilst Garrett and Wharton develop as part players this with the aim of being regular first team squad players next season

 

[Sparks Rover]

37 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

If I feel Rovers need to be criticise then I will

 

No you won't 

Edited January 19, 2023 by Sparks Rover

[rigger]

54 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

If I feel Rovers need to be criticise then I will but I won't do it just to point score on here. 

Morton was signed to play here regular whilst Garrett and Wharton develop as part players this with the aim of being regular first team squad players next season

 

The problem being that you never feel the rovers should be criticised. 

Edited January 19, 2023 by rigger

[Miller11]

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

No you won't 

The two caveats being Ryan Nyambe and the half time pies.

[Mattyblue]

*Three, Bradley Dack.

Sorry, my mistake, he’s his first name on the team sheet again.

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

If I feel Rovers need to be criticise then I will but I won't do it just to point score on here. 

Morton was signed to play here regular whilst Garrett and Wharton develop as part players this with the aim of being regular first team squad players next season

 

Point being, signing Morton as a loan signing to play every game does NOT fit in with the idea I was quoting about this being a development season with results to come next season.

It reduces the game time of Wharton and Garrett when surely if it was a free pass almost, they would play as much as possible.

As I said, I hate the idea of writing off seasons anyway so I disagree with this "blocking pathway" bollocks.

[Upside Down]

I'll tel you what winning doesn't look like for this club, laying down and being completely bummed by Burnley and Preston. 

[chaddyrovers]

23 hours ago, rigger said:

The problem being that you never feel the rovers should be criticised. 

criticised plenty over the years but I don't go OTT with it or keep mentioning it every day all day. 

22 hours ago, Miller11 said:

The two caveats being Ryan Nyambe and the half time pies.

still going on a player who wasn't good enough for us? He thought he was better than Rovers but his 1 year contract at Wigan shows he was never good enough for Blackburn Rovers football club

21 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Point being, signing Morton as a loan signing to play every game does NOT fit in with the idea I was quoting about this being a development season with results to come next season.

It reduces the game time of Wharton and Garrett when surely if it was a free pass almost, they would play as much as possible.

As I said, I hate the idea of writing off seasons anyway so I disagree with this "blocking pathway" bollocks.

You aren't going to expect Wharton and Garrett to play a major part in the season as this season has shown when they have been used and not used. This season of develop will aid them to be more involve and trust more next season. 

[Sweaty Gussets]

8 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

still going on a player who wasn't good enough for us? He thought he was better than Rovers but his 1 year contract at Wigan shows he was never good enough for Blackburn Rovers football club

That's unfair, Nyambe is a good full back that was pissed about by Mowbray. He was offered a new contract AFTER GB/JDT came to the club so they obviously thought he was worth keeping. 

Edited January 20, 2023 by Sweaty Gussets

[Mattyblue]

Nyambe ‘never good enough for Blackburn Rovers’, how ridiculous. But to be expected from said poster.

[Miller11]

15 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

criticised plenty over the years but I don't go OTT with it or keep mentioning it every day all day. 

still going on a player who wasn't good enough for us? He thought he was better than Rovers but his 1 year contract at Wigan shows he was never good enough for Blackburn Rovers football club

Plenty being Nyambe, Bell and Mola. Hirst was good enough though according to you.

Questionable judgement, if we are being generous.

[chaddyrovers]

11 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

That's unfair, Nyambe is a good full back that was pissed about by Mowbray. He was offered a new contract AFTER GB/JDT came to the club so they obviously thought he was worth keeping. 

football is all about opinions. never a fan of Nyambe and yes I know we offered him a new contract but GB and JDT withdrew the contract aswell. Nothing more than mid table championship right back

3 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

Plenty being Nyambe, Bell and Mola. Hirst was good enough though according to you.

Questionable judgement, if we are being generous.

That's fine if that your viewpoint on my judgement if you want. Whilst we talking about my judgement, why not mention Brittain and Hyam who I said would be good signing and both have been so far

[Mattyblue]

1 minute ago, chaddyrovers said:

Nothing more than mid table championship right back

 

So how’s he not good enough for BRFC then?

[Miller11]

10 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

football is all about opinions. never a fan of Nyambe and yes I know we offered him a new contract but GB and JDT withdrew the contract aswell. Nothing more than mid table championship right back

That's fine if that your viewpoint on my judgement if you want. Whilst we talking about my judgement, why not mention Brittain and Hyam who I said would be good signing and both have been so far

Because you say everyone will be a good signing before they come through the door, and you stick with it til they leave or look like they are about to, apart from a very select few.

Jury is still out on Brittain as far as I’m concerned.

[Sweaty Gussets]

22 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

ootball is all about opinions. never a fan of Nyambe and yes I know we offered him a new contract but GB and JDT withdrew the contract aswell. Nothing more than mid table championship right back

Agree about opinions, but yours was he wasn't good enough for Rovers. JDT and GB disagree with you, they offered him a contract and didn't withdraw it based on his ability. 

And we are a mid-table Championship team. We have been for the last 4 years. We're now only a few points above 15th. And I'd have RN at full-back before JRC and Carter. RN is a specialist full back. 

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

criticised plenty over the years but I don't go OTT with it or keep mentioning it every day all day. 

still going on a player who wasn't good enough for us? He thought he was better than Rovers but his 1 year contract at Wigan shows he was never good enough for Blackburn Rovers football club

You aren't going to expect Wharton and Garrett to play a major part in the season as this season has shown when they have been used and not used. This season of develop will aid them to be more involve and trust more next season. 

If that is the case, then why dismiss 27 year olds as if they would block a pathway anymore than Morton?

[Upside Down]

7 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

So how’s he not good enough for BRFC then?

Coz chaddy fuckin sez so!