Certainly been a good advertising campaign already! 4 pages is more than most pre match threads these days! 😂

As a clothing decorator myself, if they're going to allow fans a chance to get the new sponsor on their existing shirts, that can only mean a box transfer over the existing Recoverite logo. There is a facility to peel off the Recoverite logo, but would leave glue marks anyway, thus meaning a logo without a white (or most probably black - as is their complete marketing colour palate) box would just look awful, as you'd still be able to see where the old logo was. Also, unfortunately, the Recoverite logo was on two lines (with the snowflake logo above the text) meaning an even bigger black/white box needed to cover the existing logo. Very rough guesses attached. The black logo patch should look nice on the red/black away shirt, but will look rather jarring on the yellow 3rd kit I'd imagine. As a side note, Rovers wore yellow away at Cardiff when they could/should have worn red and black. Rovers record in the Red/Black halved away kit is P3 L3 Pts 0 (Blackpool away, QPR away and in the FA Cup Wigan away) Whilst in yellow the record is P8 W4 D3 L1 Pts 15 I wonder if internally (maybe even the players) the yellow kit has almost become the choice away kit, due to results and superstitious staff/players......or maybe I'm reading too much into it? 😁

Easy to forget how young Dolan is. Only just turned 20. Similar sort of season to last year for him thus far, burst out of the blocks quickly with some impressive performances and goals, through the festive period however, has stalled with the COVID isolation, loss of his place and therefore lack of production. His time will come, much like BBD or Armstrong, probably next season or 2023/24 the season whether he'll kick on and 'make it'. Premier League level youth players like Khadra, Poveda, Elliott, Markanday give him an idea of the standards he needs to reach.

Back in our promotion campaign of 2000/01 we had a healthy cup run, all the way to the quarter finals, losing to eventual runners up Arsenal, who probably should have won, remember Michael Owen's late brace in Cardiff? We despatched of Chester City at home in round 3, beat then Premier League Derby County 5-2 at Pride Park in the fourth round replay, before needing a replay at Ewood to see off promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers in the sixth round. In fact we played Bolton at the Reebok twice in the same week, Saturday in the FA Cup, where it finished 1-1, though Rovers went down to 10 men after Flitcroft was sent off after just 9 minutes! Before famously, thumping our nearest rivals to automatic promotion at the time, on the following Friday night 4-1. I suspect Souey's teamtalk was simple. If they can't beat 10 of you, what will they be like against 11? Adding 5 games to our ''busy'' schedule didn't seem to cause any issues to that squad. Winning is a habit and winning breeds confidence and competition. A Rovers victory tomorrow with a series of strong performances from fringe 1st XI players like Ayala, Gallagher, Dolan, Butterworth, Edun etc... would send out a message to those currently in possession of the shirts.

Mowbray usually makes a sprinkling of changes, so expecting four/five. Amazing to think the Daniel Ayala (arguably our best player for the first 10 games of the season) hasn't played much recently due to the great form of the back three. I'd suspect he definitely comes in, Dolan and Gallagher too. Pears for Kaminski also seems an obvious one. With Pickering carrying a knock I'd suspect. Pears Nyambe - Lenihan - Ayala - Wharton - Edun Johnson - Buckley - Travis Dolan - Gallagher Subs - BBD, Khadra, Kaminski, van Hecke, Butterworth, Rothwell, Davenport.

Pears has played 5 (and the remainder of the Stoke game) matches for Rovers and kept 3 (and a bit) clean sheets. He may not look the most convincing, but he's got a decent record! 😄 Like everyone delighted with the result and enjoying the recent run. Long may it continue! Still sticking to my 10 points from the festive period of games as being what I'd hoped for, so over halfway there. A huge January coming up!

In a different thread I spoke about 10/12 points over the December/New Year run of fixtures. Last weeks victory at home in some respects makes this a bit of a ''free hit'' so to speak. Expectations are low, would be happy with a point, delighted with a win.

I'd guess Poveda and Clarkson may go back from their loans to free up some spaces? Another striker, full back and central midfielder would be on my list. Dack to come back also. Could really do with Rankin-Costello staying fit as another fullback option.

I think the Preston managerial list is a good indicator of who we'd be looking at should Mowbray be shown the door, or leave at the end of the season. Ryan Lowe (links to North West - Scouser, ex Bury) Callum Davidson (obvious links to Blackburn Rovers - former player) Gareth Ainsworth (obvious links to Blackburn Rovers - Blackburn lad and fan) Michael Carrick (links to North West - ex Man Utd coach)

In modern day management won't Mowbray succeed all of the fitness responsibility to a dedicated fitness coach? Totally random (yet somehow still interesting) stat alert. This is the time of year that we usually do well. You don't want to face us between 1st November and Boxing Day under Tony Mowbray. Blackburn Rovers record (November to Boxing Day from 2017 - present) P45 W24 D12 L9 F75 A54 Pts84 GD+21 Automatic Promotion form for us!!

I'd take 11 points now if offered!

I also do think this is the start of a season defining run of six games. Particularly in regards to whether we can sneak into the playoffs, or whether we'll revert to type and close back into the pack. Preston [17th] (h) Bournemouth [2nd] (a) Birmingham [14th] (h) Hull [19th] (a) - Boxing Day Barnsley [23rd] (h) Huddersfield [8th] (h) - 2nd January 2022 Brentford [48pts], Watford [47pts], Reading [47pts] and Bournemouth [42pts] occupied the playoff positions after 26 games last season. 4 out of 6 at home, 18 points available, given the above stats, and the fact Rovers currently sit on 33 points, you'd think if we still want to be in the playoff positions/contention after this period you'd have to get 10+ points. Meaning 3 wins and a draw the minimum requirement. After those the FA Cup returns, the transfer window opens, maybe some departures? Maybe some arrivals? Dack should be back in January also.

Over 20 years since Rovers last beat Preston in any fixture at Ewood Park. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1108526.stm Admittedly we didn't play them for 14 years between 2001 - 2015, but since the 15/16 season. Rovers v PNE at home P5 W0 D2 L3 F5 A8 Pts2

It was all going well until age 12 in 1999, then was great til aged 25 in 2012. Admittedly its been a bit grim since! 😂

Mowbray's place in Rovers' history is assured with his promotion campaign of 2017/18. Bob Crompton, Johnny Carey, Gordon Lee, Howard Kendall, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Tony Mowbray the only Rovers managers to oversee promotion campaigns. Lee, Kendall and Mowbray from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Crompton, Carey, Dalglish and Souness from Tier 2 to Tier 1 Being born in 1987 and a season ticket holder since 1992/93 I obviously don't remember the era of Bobby Saxton and Don Mackay. Data shows similar records with all three Saxton, Mackay and Mowbray, all around the 40% win rate, with around 200+ games managed over several seasons, primarily in the second tier. Saxton 36% Win Rate Mackay 39% Win Rate Mowbray 41% Win Rate (36% at Tier 2 level) For those who are old enough to remember the 1980s, how fair a comparison is Mowbray v Saxton and Mowbray v Mackay From numerous sources (friends, relatives etc) who remember the era, knew Rovers we a club without the preverbial pot to tinkle in, so Mowbray has maybe had more favourable circumstances? Although this season with the numerous outgoings and reliance on youth/loans maybe turned the tide?

Fourth! Nose bleed territory. Chuffed for us all, the players, the fans, Mowbray and the coaches. Lets keep this going. Bring on PNE next week! Hope Ewood is rocking.

When I left, I'd say it was about a 50/50 split. More recently has made big strides, hence the Guardian article above.

Despite having spent many of the last dozen years as a member/administrator at East Lancs, I can't really answer any of your questions, the asian players themselves would have to answer those questions. Admittedly I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to hear some, if not all, saying they experienced some sort of prejudice whilst playing Lancashire League cricket.

Absoltuely BigUts, no offence taken, we're all desperate for Rovers to do well. I respect your views wholeheartedly. The Labore part in particular is extremely valid. We're all hurting today, no matter where you feel the buck stops. Last night was as tough a watch from the Riverside as I'm sure it was from anywhere else...be it Clitheroe, California or Australia!

I did refer to that underneath the graphic, I'm not condoning or forgiving the attitude or commitment of the players and the manager, it was very poor, unacceptably so. Just looking at the statistical facts.

Some interesting stats from last night's two teams I thought I'd share. This in no way is a reason to excuse or forgive a 0-7 home result, but I just wanted to have a look at the various budgets and experience of both sides. The fact these two sorts of teams are even in the same division (and Rovers were only 5 places away from Fulham before the start of play) shows the real problem with the Championship, the behemoth the Premier League is and how far away promotion actually is. Top 5 Stats (Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue One and Serie A - largely accepted as the biggest 5 leagues in world football) Values courtesy of transfermarkt.co.uk

Love that stat MarkBRFC Don't remember any sixes in the league either!

Thanks for all the positive feedback, pleasure to write the preview! An addition '' 19th April 1986 - Blackburn Rovers 6-1 Sheffield United - Garner, Patterson 3, Thompson and Barker. In front of just 4,736 fans. Was anyone from this forum there that day? '' This fixture jumped out for both the scoreline and the attendance!

A bit before my time, but my apologies!

Blackburn Rovers vs. Sheffield United Its preview time once again! This takes me back to when previews were the norm on BRFCS, a simpler, pre Venkys era, where mythical figures like ABBEY, Bob Fleming (still of this parish?) and the nodrog ran riot. The glory days of Premier League mid-table obscurity, where fans bickered over the ambitions of the Walker Trust and hierarchy to push the club forward and how tepid the tactics and football had become under the watch of Big Sam. Self indulgence alert, I think this is the first ''proper'' preview I've done since the Norwich City home game in the fateful relegation season of 2011/2012. On that occasion we were victorious, a 2-0 home victory with goals from El Gato Formica, our OG South American star and Mr days away from signing the contract....Junior Hoilett. With an undefeated run in previous previews, lets hope we can continue the trend! Fast forward nearly 10 years and this bring us to the match this Saturday, Sheffield United at home, and, in a shameless nod to the ''good old days'' I'm going to party like its 2007 and try and give you a classic BRFCS preview. The Form (last 5 games) *Pre the midweek Fixtures Rovers - L D L W W Sheffield United - L W L W L The Opposition The feel good story of the recent, pre pandemic, Premier League. The 2019/20 version of the Blades under stewardship of local manager and boyhood fan of the club Chris Wilder were the team everyone outside of the top 7/8 clubs aspired to be. Powered out of their six year purgatory in League One, by the brilliant man management skills of Wilder, a style, culture and philosophy was born in their historic 2016/17 campaign. In came John Fleck and Jack O'Connell, along with the goal scoring Leon Clarke, plus a solid core of Billy Sharp, who scored 30 goals that season and club captain Chris Basham, along with a crucial switch to the fluid 3-5-2 formation and an EFL juggernaut was born. 2016/17 - League One Champions, 100 points, 14 clear of second placed Bolton Wanderers and 18 clear of 3rd placed Scunthorpe United. 2017/18 - Championship consolidation and a top 10 finish, further shrewd signings of John Lundstram, George Baldock and Enda Stevens laid the foundation for the 2018/19 - Championship runners up and automatic promotion that followed. Oliver Norwood, John Egan and David McGoldrick joined an already well oiled machine to power United back to the Premier League for the first time since 2006/07 and the whole Carlos Tevez affair. Anyone who was at Ewood on 3rd October 2018 will remember that team and their ruthless efficiency as the Blades ran out deserved 0-2 winners thanks to a Billy Sharp brace, in my opinion, one of the most impressive displays I've seen by an opposition Championship team at Ewood in the last several years. 2019/20 - Premier League, after a shaky opening few fixtures, Wilder's men settled impresively into their new surroundings and began to thrive. A top half Premier League team from the middle of October and sat in 7th position in the table with ambitions of Europe as the pandemic struck. Cue the collapse? Yes, but it maybe wasn't as bad as you'd think. Sheffield United's post lockdown record P10 W3 D2 L5 Pts 11 But three defeats in a row at the end of the campaign foreshadowed what was to come. 2020/21 - Premier League, including the last three games of the previous season, the Blades went 20, yes TWENTY, Premier League games in a row without a victory! Not only that, but in that time a home draw against Fulham and a point at the AmEx Stadium was as good as it got! 2 points out of a possible 60. In the relegation zone all season and duly relegated back to the Championship with six games remaining. Wilder was dismissed after 28 games. 2021/22 - Championship, Back to the second tier, now under the stewardship of Slavisa Jokanovic, the Blades have had a mixed start, but remain a real threat due to their talented squad. At some point you feel that the team will 'click' and go on a run of victories, lets just hope its after this Saturday! The Team The lineup vs. Blackpool last weekend. Not to forget squad players Chris Basham Oli McBurnie (Scottish international - £17.5m signing) Billy Sharp Rhian Brewster (England u17 World Cup winner in 2017 - £23.5m signing) David McGoldrick (Irish international striker) Ben Davies (on loan, former Preston defender, signed by Liverpool in February 2021) Rhys Norrington-Davies (Welsh international and part of their EURO 2020 squad) Sander Berge (Norway international - £20m signing) Connor Hourihane (Irish international) Adlene Guedioura Oliver Burke (Scottish international - £6m signing) You really do get the sense of the squad depth and under achieving talent they have at their disposal. A Foot in Both Camps A forum favourite, players who have played for both teams. This one may be harder than most to put a decent team together? Matthew Kilgallon, Jack O'Connell (youth for Rovers), Jordan Slew, Keith Gillespie, Alan Kelly Jr, Nathan Blake, Mark Patterson, Marcus Bent, Andy Morrison, Frank Talia (never made a full appearance for Rovers, but plenty as sub), John Curtis, Alan Wright, Ashley Ward, Craig Short, Garry Flitcroft, Jon Stead, Colin Kazim-Richards, James Beattie, Lee Williamson, Andy Taylor (youth for Rovers), Jay McEveley, Harry Chapman. Managed both Ken Furphy, left Rovers to manage Sheffield United in December 1973. Howard Kendall Coaching connections Brian Kidd, Lee Carsley Famous Fans As you'd expect with a big city like Sheffield, the club has several famous fans. Most famously Sean Bean. Jessica Ennis-Hill, Joe Root, Kell Brook and Paul Heaton amongst other famous Blades. From the archives 146th Anniversary Credit to the club who have made the tickets for this game, the 146th Anniversary of Blackburn Rovers Football Club. £14.60 for Adults in all areas £10 for Seniors £5 for 18-13 year olds £3 for 12-17 year olds £2 for 0-11 I wonder what Messer's Lewis and Constantine would think of how far the club has come since the inception in in 1875. Overall record vs. Sheffield United (1875 - present) 149 previous meetings Rovers 54 victories Sheffield United 59 victories Draws 36 Memorable matches 15th January 1894 - Blackburn Rovers 4-1 Sheffield United - Chippendale, Haydock 2 and Calvey with the goals (first ever meeting) 29th March 1907 - Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Sheffield United - Aitkenhead (the score from the black and white footage above) 3rd March 1930 - Sheffield United 5-7 Blackburn Rovers - Bourton 4, L. Bruton, Puddefoot and J. Bruton (highest scoring match between the two) 19th April 1986 - Blackburn Rovers 6-1 Sheffield United - Garner, Patterson 3, Thompson and Barker. In front of just 4,736 fans. Was anyone from this forum there that day? 16th March 1993 - Sheffield United 2-2 Blackburn Rovers - Sheffield United won 5-3 on penalties. FA Cup Quarter Final Replay 15th January 1994 - Sheffield United 1-2 Blackburn Rovers - A fine Shearer double, as United finish with 9 men! 1st April 2000 - Blackburn Rovers 5-0 Sheffield United - Duff 2, Ward, Ostenstad and Jansen (the first of back to back 5-0 victories on 1st April, see 1st April 2001) 9th September 2006 - Sheffield United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers - Brad Friedel saves two penalties at Bramall Lane! (Neill also missed a penalty for Rovers) 3rd February 2007 - Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Sheffield United - Morten Gamst Pedersen with a dramatic last minute free kick winner (the last time Rovers beat Sheff Utd) Predictions I'll leave that for you to discuss. I hope Rovers can continue their good home record in a tough week against Fulham and Sheffield United. Two victories would really kick start a playoff push! Here's hoping!