Well if hes decided to do that he will also absolutely torpedo his chances of getting a decent next job. Cant see it myself.

Hmmm we are conceding so easily consistently I think the alarm bells need to start going. If JDTs ambitious being a manager who precides over so many goals against won't do him much good. People aren't going to blame Venkys for that.

Leicester have figured out if they sit back there isn't much we can do

I wonder of we had a Vardy wed be a bit more conservative in the way we play as he could nick one.

I think hes done okay, all the attacking players have.

I guess my issue with committing as many players forward as we are is teams who do it usually have some the best players in the division, not a good but flawed squad. Feels like there's a mis match between the relative quality of what we have versus the opposition and the way we play.

He ruptured his achilles in December 2020, but had his excellent season in 21/22. So unless it recurred in some way don't think its a factor. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-rovers-scott-wharton-interview-22356765.amp

It would be a real statement if we continue with the ultra attacking football on Sunday. Basically if we play this way against Leicester we are going to setup same way against everybody. I'm very interested to see what happens. For what its worth I think we will play a bit more conservative with an extra mid as @roversfan99 says. But I think more likely Garrett comes in as he has a left foot and scored a good goal mid-week. Also I think as Moran and Sigurdsson seem to like getting in the box (unlike say BBD, Hedges or Gallagher) not having a proper 9 on the pitch could be less of an issue than it was last season. We shall see.

Ah yeah you're right. He was great in that back three with Lenihan and JPVH. Still I can't really see why he isn't good in a back four. He's got good all round attributes.

I really dont get whats happened with Scott. He was superb season before last but seems so off it these days. I cant think of a young established player having such a drop off in form except Jansen and obviously he had a serious head injury. I dont think Scott had a major injury? Anyone know of anything that moved him from being superb prospect to fourth choice so quickly?

I would be tempted to go for the below if Leonard isn't fit. Extra body in midfield, look to out compete them. Fair enough no number 9 but the front three all scoring.... not carrying players who are not goal threats up top. Worth a go, can always bring a proper 9 on. Wahlstadt Brittain Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Wharton Garrett Sigurdson Szmodics Moran

We don't even really need to look as far into the past as BBDs early days... most recent example being Hirst who was absolutely abject for us last season. Now looks a decent if not particularly exceptional Championship striker. Also we don't really need to jump off the deep end with him. We have Ennis, Gallagher and Leonard who have all looked decent at times competing for a single number #9 spot. So we don't have all our chickens in the Telelovic basket.

We had a poor last two months of the season yes... but we had a good season overall. I think its a bit dramatic to talk about relegation.

Abbey returns!!

Like last season you mean?

Ah good point! Still wonder if we will be so open or tighten things up a bit.

Yeah - just need to sort out the midfield now. Hopefully with a bit more confidence up front we can be a bit more sensible in midfield. Will be fascinating if we go to Leicester and play how we did at Ipswich or we do setup a bit more normal.

Could just be has been bang out of form for a long time. JDT has binned off players out of form for extended periods in the U21s (Markanday, Travis, both Whartons etc). Dolan has been so poor think that could be whats happened.

Big story here is Siggy, Moran and Markanday all scoring. Our big issue is finishing. So that they are getting goals, along with Szmodics' form, gives us a lot of confidence.

Rovers commentators waxing lyrical about Markanday. Does seem with JDTs recent comments Markanday is properly in line for starting games. Think Dolan will be slipping down to fourth choice as wide forward behind Siggy, Moran and Markanday.

I think we should focus a bit more on what sounds like a quality performance by Moran and Sigurdsson... will watch the play back tomorrow with interest. In terms of Telalovic we know it can take players quite a while to bed in (BBD is a great example, he was absolutely horrendous for a season). Telalovic has never played significant minutes at this level. He might be terrible, but we may as well give him 6-8 games.

It's not on tv globally so no tv stream. Game can be watched back on Rovers TV tomorrow.

Surprised Batty doesn't even make bench. Pickering needs a breather as much as anyone.

Strong team. Will be interesting if one of Tronstad or Garrett plays as a one man midfield or if they play as a pair. Hope Wahlstadt, Hill, Tronstad and Telalovic all impress.

I am pretty sure that rise is due to us being top six all last season. If we fall down the table attendances will fall. I don't think our marketing strategy will have changed attendences much either way.