All things considered, the performance of the season so far!

Win % and Points per game stats shouldn't really be used for Gary O'Neil as all his managerial games have come in the Premier League. Just as you should caveat Tony Mowbrays 61% win rate and 2.09 points per game numbers from the League One campaign. Of the names muted, he (O'Neil) is the only one with any real top level credentials. He was mentioned in the Manager of the Year discussion in the Premier League as recently as last season. Then in the summer lost his best player, Pedro Neto, before a poor season with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Glad the podcast has been well received, not bad given the lack of planning and notice. Hopefully we can talk more positively and about more 'on field issues' when we meet again.

Emergency Podcast Incoming ⏰ There are no winners in this. Eustace, Rovers, the fans. A tough day in the proud history of the club.

We can come back to that statement when they appoint a "cheap" replacement. If you're angry and serious, go out an get a top candidate. We know how this ends though, more futile correspondence from Statement FC

Making their Ewood curtain call.......👀

A left field name, but someone who has worked wonders at their club is Dave Challinor of Stockport County. In the League One playoff spots, lost his best player (Louie Barry) but has them playing really well. I think I'd prefer him to a Rooney/Gerrard type. Interesting to see Hull have had a uptick in fortunes from a League One manager, Ruben Selles appointed from Reading. Not many inspiring names out there!

Bowyer 1.44 points per game Lambert 1.27 points per game

As were likely closing the book on John Eustace he finishes with a 35.4% win record in the league, but only 0.01 points per game behind Mowbray and JDT. The table shows in the first part the league record P W D L The second column is the cup record P W D L The third is the combined total with For and Against Added and League points. *Mowbray record above is Championship only Mowbray 1.36 points per league game Tomasson 1.36 points per league game Eustace 1.35 points per league game

I think it’s fair to see why he’s going and perhaps off field promises that have been ignored. I think it’s also fair to be disappointed with Eustace for jumping ship. A sad day for Rovers and his legacy.

Sigurdsson's goal against Oxford is his last in Rovers colours and only one to be scored during the reign of John Eustace. Eustace has been in charge for a year and had 52 games as Rovers boss. The thought of Siggy will be missed, the reality of Siggy is "we barely knew ye"

Doing some planning ahead of us recording our podcast this evening (should be out for the weekend) Looking completely objectively Teams need 72 points (on average) to make the playoffs. Lets say this remains the same, Rovers need 9 wins (or the equivalent) from their remaining 15 games to reach this target. 27 points from 15 games. 69 points was enough when Sunderland scraped in (and Rovers missed out under JDT on goal difference) so that is 8 wins, or a combination of 7 wins and three draws. Six wins and Six draws also would mean 69 points, but the overall point is that we would likely need 8 wins to be in with a real shot. Similarly it is important not to lose to those in and around us. West Bromwich Albion away, Norwich, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday at home (these two are back to back at the start of April). Away fixtures to target: Luton Town (18/24 at home) Derby County (20/24 at home) Swansea City (21/24 at home) Stoke City (23/24 at home) Two wins out of these four combined with continued home form looks the only likely route to the playoffs. On paper there is still a path to the playoffs. But as we know once the fixtures start to run out the margin for error is minimal.

@Herbie6590?

Opinions are opinions and you're entitled to your own. Personally from my point of view Telalovic looked out of his depth in almost every minute of his Rovers career. I was willing him to do well, like everyone else, but he didn't look up to it. Scoring four goals in the German second tier doesn't change that opinion. Like everyone else I'd love to see a slew of new players coming through the door, but they have to be the right ones and be starters or pushing for starting positions when everyone is back fit and available. Is Kargbo going to start in our best XI? Who knows, thats what I hope are the questions being asked. Unfortunately the January window is usually a case of who blinks first (hence why you see such chaos in the last few days) see the likes of Marcus Rashford or Evan Ferguson, both have been destined to leave their clubs since October/November yet both remain in situ. I'd love us to go back in for Poku (even if he's been out injured) and would have been delighted to bring in Louie Barry. But lets face it, its going to be a punt from the European leagues

£5m for Aynsley Pears would arguably go down as one of our best ever sales. Its almost £2.5m for Shefki Kuqi territory. No way it happens of course! Everyone has a price

The two best players of all time (arguably) Messi 5'6'' Maradona 5'5''

Great article Scott!

It was more the power than the accuracy. Some players just have that explosiveness in their shots, a lot don't. He's obviously still a little raw as he wouldn't be in League One otherwise.

Remember watching that Aasgaard doing shooting practice before the friendly game against us at the DW last year, he's one of those players who has that extra oomph in his shots. You could hear the net ripple or the goalies gloves make a sound whenever he shot. I think we were linked with him back then? So took extra notice! I think he could be a Szmodics type (number 10 who can play midfield or up front) and having a good season. That said I'd guess he'd be a couple of million? Do we have any budget to spend?

For those accusing me of recency bias 😄this is the record over the last 50 years (since 1974/75). I never knew we played Portsmouth so many times in the Cups in the 80s!

Interesting statistic that the 4th Round meeting between Rovers and Wolves will be the first time the two have met in the competition since the 1960 FA Cup Final. I was then wondering about the teams we always seem to be drawn against in cup competitions, can you guess who the top 10 are? (since 1992) There are a host of teams on 4 and beyond. Leeds United are on 4, with all 4 clashes coming in the League Cup. Derby County, Millwall and Queen's Park Rangers all have 3 FA Cup clashes to 0 League Cup

Mildly ironic that Darren Ferguson, who benefited massively from nepotism, refused to play ball and bring Ashley Young's son off the bench! Cue quotes from Alex Ferguson at some stage bemoaning the loss of the "cup romance"

One of the best abilities is availability Siggy probably leaves this window with 22 starts and 19 sub appearances (up for selection 41 out of a possible 80 games)

The Finale Day 30/30 Premier League Champions 94/95 https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/articles/fairytale-of-blackburn-rovers/645 Thank you all for the support and comments surrounding this series, I've loved writing up the reports and hope you've enjoyed reading them over the past 30 days. A very Merry Christmas to you all Lets hope 2025 is full of more memorable moments for Rovers!

The penultimate article. Day 29/30 https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/articles/joyeux-newell/644 Joyeux Newell - Rovers win in the Champions League!