This is Venky world. Have they ever done anything that makes sense ? You just never know.

I've heard Brereton is a great centre half in training sessions !

Every window is an opportunity to improve the team. Mowbray stated at the supporters consultation meeting that money would be available in January if we were 'challenging in and around the playoff places'. So perhaps the owners assess each window based on our current league position and judge the chances of the investment generating immediate benefits. Since we are unlikely to go up or down this season they may not be too interested at the moment. This is not the way to steadily build for the future and - as previously stated - staying still will probably result in going backwards.

Pretty sure it wasn't Mowbray

It would make no sense at all to loan Travis out at this point after he has just made an impact in the first team. I don't think Mowbray is one to put personal issues before the good of the club. Also can't see Travis pushing for it now given his current opportunity to impress. Don't think he is going anywhere

NAPM

Thought he looked really decent at Sheff Utd. Wonder if that convinced Bristol to go for him ?

Are Newcastle likely to fill the whole end ? They are not exactly in love with their team / owners at the moment. Even at £10, the first tie attracted 36,000 as opposed to their usual 50,000 for a league match. Not sure they will turn up in their usual numbers.

Who knows ? He also said Armstrong was only on the 'C' list and then bought him. Maybe bluffing ?

That contradicts what Mowbray said at the supporters consultation meeting. He said Boro were constantly on the phone asking if Rovers are still interested in Chapman. Mowbray then went on to point out that Chapman currently wouldn't get in our team and his contract is up in the summer so why would he make any commitment at this point in time. This may not have made the radio edit.

Another 3 or 4 months of current form and I think most people will be casting judgement. This season could be catastrophic by then.

I think he has potential. His pace while in possession of the ball is amazing but may sometimes affect his ability to pick a final ball. He sometimes holds the ball too long but that will improve with experience. Overall he did well but diving when he had a clear chance to equalise really blotted his copybook. Got to cut that out.

The last 3 games I've attended were at Preston, Wigan and Sheffield Utd. I've seen us concede 10 goals in those 3 games and the reaction by the players to each goal has been the same - look down at your boots and shrug your shoulders. Not once have I seen cross words between players, encouragement for each other, pointing fingers, no discussion about what went wrong, no communication of any sort. Just no fight at all in this team. I think they have inherited Mowbray's 'this is where we are' attitude. The team is spineless and leaderless. I think we showed in the first hour today that there is ability in the side - Palmer was good, Reed and Travis both busy. Rothwell seems to be more bluster than end product and that dive was a disgrace. I didn't see any real threat from Brereton at all I'm afraid. But the overriding worry I have is that this team is beginning to accept these heavy defeats as par for the course. The attitude in the last few weeks has been as bad as anything since we were relegated from the Premiership. I don't see any confidence returning to this side without a big change in personnel or a change of manager. I don't think we will go down but we can't plod along like this into next season.

we've been quite lucky with lack of injuries and suspensions so far this season - they often have a big affect around Christmas. However, I really don't want to watch us plod along with Evans, Smallwood, Williams etc for the rest of this season but I don't think Mowbray will shuffle the pack unless he's forced to. No point keeping a settled team if we are not winning. I am hoping we are safe from any relegation scrap so why not experiment a bit?

And why start Palmer instead of Brereton at Preston ?

I don't really understand how the 'loan with a view to permanent transfer' works if it is outside the window for transfers. If there is a clause that states that the loan MUST be converted to a permanent move on a certain date then it is clearly a permanent deal made outside the EFL transfer window which is against the rules. Does it mean clubs can make permanent signings during the loan window and just call it something else while the authorities turn a blind eye? If it is just an 'agreement' then do we need to stick to it ?

The buck stops with the manager. Currently he is not doing a good job. The thing that worries me most is his apparent lack of emotion after each defeat - He should be absolutely fuming but appears to accept our plight as somehow inevitable - 'its just where we are'. If that attitude is prevalent in the dressing room then we might as well give up now. Too many excuses not enough action. Mowbray needs to change his attitude but it won't happen. He's under no pressure after that recent contract renewal - Not good news for Rovers immediate future in my opinion.

This is exactly right. I don't see how Venky's don't understand this. No business will ever succeed without the correct infrastructure. Rovers need a proper board of directors who understand football, understand the club and understand the fans. I can't imagine Venky's allowing their other business interests to be run with the same model used at Rovers. Maybe they see themselves as Mowbray's supervisors and think they don't need any help. It's either that or they are not particularly bothered about future progression. Still totally baffled by their intentions and actions after all this time. Without changes behind the scenes Rovers will stagnate and slowly continue on a downward spiral.

There is definitely something in this story. I believe Mowbray was consulted but not particularly keen. The deal went through because Brereton seemed to fit the criteria currently being used for Rovers' signings.

I heard the same from a member of the scouting staff. Mentioned it on this thread weeks ago.

This is exactly what I thought after his post match interview - "I guess that shows just about where we are" when talking about losing a two goal lead. He should have been absolutely fuming but he seemed very calm about it all. Oh dear never mind! At the supporters consultation he was saying we could compete with every other team in the division and was talking about getting significant backing from the owners if we are in with a shout of the playoff places in January. Now he seems reasonably content with mid table. He hasn't just had a long contract extension by any chance?

I fit the description exactly. I'll keep an eye on my email. Thanks

I really want to do the survey but they haven't sent me one. Is there an email address supplied to reply the survey to ? I might return one anyway

I have been grappling with this question for a day or two now. What does this Venky visit mean to us? Apart from the 1875 protest against Wolves, I have not attended a home game since the act of sabotage that resulted in I have been stopped from posting this by moderators. Coyle being appointed manager. My preferred option would be that Venky’s leave tomorrow even if it means Rovers starting again in the Conference - I’d be back at Ewood immediately. While those responsible for appointing Coyle and committing many previous misdemeanors are still in charge I don’t want to pay any money into the coffers . My main gripe these days is the apparent aloofness and total lack of respect shown by Venky’s towards us fans. They have made no attempt to engage or explain their actions. Even the official ‘messages from the owners’ issued after promotion and Mowbray’s new contract were obviously written by staff at Ewood. It seems to me that they run Rovers as a footnote at their AGMs and supply enough money to keep the club running without really caring too much because they can afford it. Any chance of making money via player sales they will take as a bonus. Despite the upturn in good feeling recently, I think the club is stuck in limbo. Without a board of any substance ( Waggott and Cheston are money men not football men) and owners who take an interest every blue moon, I can’t see us progressing significantly. The board needs to consist of people who understand football, understand Blackburn Rovers and understand the fans and the local community. Without that soul, Rovers is becoming a faceless corporation with no real empathy with the local community (Mowbray aside). There is more to our club than results on the pitch – History, pride, nostalgia, tradition etc. All these aspects will be lost if Venky’s remain in charge and the situation remains as it is. The club is a shadow of it’s former self. So, what does the visit of Jagdish Rao signify? Do we dismiss him out of hand because he is related to the three stooges? It’s a tough call and, as usual, with no communication from the owners, we are completely in the dark as to whether it could be the start of a new era or a one-off jolly. Assuming Venky’s will be here for the foreseeable future, what is the best to hope for? I can’t forget the past and I will be more than happy if Madam and the brothers never appear again ( maybe the protests and boycotts and snowballs have been useful after all). But is there any hope of some sort of uneasy truce that will allow Rovers to move forwards and get out of the current limbo? How would people feel if Jagdish becomes a regular visitor, gets involved at a board level, starts a clean slate, engages with the supporters and proves by his actions that he understands the situation and is willing to be totally honest ? Would that be enough to start a peace process? -As long as the others stay away - maybe. Some people may prefer no visits from Venky’s and just leave everything to Waggott and Mowbray but I think we need more infrastructure to have any chance of progression. Change will need to take place at some point or I think Rovers will stagnate. As much as we hate the fact, the only people in a position to make changes are the owners. They need to (preferably) leave or step up to the plate. We need people who care to run our club.

It is a hell of a long contract. I like Mowbray and am willing him to succeed so I a am pleased he has been given an extension. However, the thought of his conservative style of football for the next 4 years doesn't really excite me too much.