Finally got round to reading this last night. Went cover to cover in one sitting! Possibly my favourite 4000 Holes of all time. Well done Scott and all involved! @4000Holes Well worth a couple of quid and your time.

Eustace's job from now until May is to keep us in the league. The pragmatic approach, whilst hard to watch at times, is actually exactly what we needed. In JDT's last 12 Championship games we conceded 2.41 goals per game! Eustace has seen us concede 4 goals against in the last 4 games

EDIT https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/articles/jdt-the-highs-and-lows/495 Trying to think of JDT's legacy as Rovers manager. Top 5 Moments 1. Leicester City (a) FA Cup 5th Round 22/23 - 2-1 Victory Inspired performance from a side missing Brereton Diaz and Dack, the birth of the Sammie Szmodics era. Hung on bravely in the end, but for 70 minutes, the Rovers dominated a Premier League team on their own patch. 2. West Ham United (a) League Cup 3rd Round 22/23 - 2-2 (10-9 on pens) Victory The first of our two giant killings last season, Rovers' first visit to the London Stadium resulting in a morale boosting victory heading into the East Lancashire Derby (more on that later) with a memorable night in East London. Vale and Brereton Diaz the goalscorers before Rovers successfully converted all 10 penalties in the shootout! 3. Millwall (a) Championship Finale 22/23 - 4-3 Victory The last game of last season, as Rovers missed out on a playoff place on goal difference, but an inspired comeback (a rarity in the JDT era) culminating in a fitting finale for BBD as Rovers spoiled the party at The Den 4. Harrogate Town (a) League Cup 2nd Round 23/24 - 8-0 Victory A record breaking victory for Rovers who avoided the banana skin at The EnviroVent Stadium with seven different goalscorers, including academy products James Edmondson, Tom Bloxham and Zak Gilsenan. 5. Norwich City (a) Championship 23/24 - 3-1 Victory Rovers finest performance of this season as Dolan and Szmodics goals saw Rovers dominate the Canaries. Carrow Road a happy hunting ground for JDT as he emerged victorious on all three trips to Norfolk Bottom 5 Moments 1. Burnley (a) Championship 22/23 - 0-3 Defeat 1st v 3rd on the eve of the World Cup break, with just three points separating the two great rivals. Clinton Mola, Jake Garett, neither Whartons, 1 shot on target, well you know the rest.... This only just beats out number 2, but the fortunes of both swung massively on this game, with Rovers never getting near the Clarets again that season. 2. Sheffield United (a) FA Cup 6th Round 22/23 - 2-3 Defeat Rovers 2-1 up and 9 minutes away from their first ever appearance at 'New Wembley'. Brittain and Scott Wharton on for Joe Rankin-Costello and Ryan Hedges in the 80th minute to try and see out the game, a minute later Oli McBurnie fired the Blades level, before a 90+1 minute screamer from Tommy Doyle sent Paul Heckingbottom's men to the famous arch to face Manchester City. 3. Preston North End (h) Championship 22/23 - 1-4 Defeat The match after the Burnley debacle, albeit four weeks later due to the Qatar World Cup. Rovers toiled in the snow and were dispatched convincingly by local rivals for the second game running. Ched Evans' double before Ben Whiteman made it four after just 65 minutes. England would go on to lose 2-1 to France in the evening to compound a miserable sporting Saturday. 4. Gagged in the Presser, QPR (h) Championship 23/24 - 1-2 Defeat, Post Match Press Conference Bringing things right up to date. Last weekend's chain of events which led into the weeks departure (although still not confirmed). JDT denied the chance to speak to the press before the QPR match an obvious sign that the point of no return had been reached. The performance that followed was equally alarming. QPR deserved winners on the day, before an explosive post game interview sealed Tomasson's fate. 5. Coventry City (h) 1-1 Draw/Preston (a) 1-1 Draw Rovers playoff bid last season derailed by two late goals, in two games, just four days apart. A questionable hand ball from Coventry keeper Ben Wilson was followed by the most bizarre series of events a Deepdale. Ryan Hedges' chip will live long in the memory, for the wrong reasons. Just moments later a punt from the North End keeper was missed by Scott Wharton and the ensuing cross was inexplicably turned into his own net by Dom Hyam, he probably couldn't do it again if he tried! 4 points dropped, and with it, Rovers playoff hopes for another year.

I thought Birmingham were terrific at Ewood when we played them in the league last season. Kaminski had his best game in a Rovers shirt as we won 2-1, but they were fantastic.

Rather ironic that Saturdays defeat by QPR (if that is JDTs last game as Rovers manager) leaves him with exactly the same points per game total as Tony Mowbray. Mowbray managed Rovers 199 times in the Championship [W72 D55 L72] 36.2% Win Percentage 1.36 Points per game Tomasson managed Rovers 75 times in the Championship [W30 D12 L33] 40% Win Percentage 1.36 Points per game

I have massive respect for anyone who gives up their time to try and help the football club. These people are volunteers and having met and worked with @Mike Graham @Miller11 and co. with the 'Fans Takeover Day' I know they are good people who have decent access to those in charge at Ewood. Whether the people at Ewood actually have a clear mandate from Pune is an entirely different question, but I know the Trust has the right contacts and cache to start knocking on the right doors at Ewood, and I'm sure they're doing so. This is a huge opportunity for the trust to double/triple memberships and thus power. Can they take it?

16/1 on Bet365, after yesterday it feels generous? Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday are cut adrift so you’d think it’s one more from Plymouth/Millwall/Swansea/Rovers/Birmingham/Stoke/Huddersfield/QPR

I’ve always been a huge JDT and remain a fan of him as a person, what he achieved last season and this season until December has been more than commendable. I also buy all the issues off the pitch, the loss of talented players and the general circus of Venkys ownership of which were all very much looking forward to ending. However, the naivety of tactics, the insistence on playing his brand of football and the general malaise of performances have been alarming for a couple of months now. I always feel in football that if you give players an inch they’ll take a mile. The manager has obviously fallen out with some of the stronger personalities (see Travis) and I’m beginning to wonder whether he’s the right man for the battle? Give me a scrappy 1-0 at this stage or even a 0-0. The defence has been awful all season and shows absolutely no sign of improvement 30+ games in. A fine manager, a decent person. But right man for the job? I’m starting to think not?!

Songs for a Deadline Day under Venkys playlist? Just came on the radio, feels appropriate on a morning like this 🤣 perhaps a tad dramatic, but prophetic.

If we didn’t want to spend the money then fine, but don’t put the poor lad on a trans Atlantic flight just to pull the rug out from under him mid air! Shocking form from Rovers. Ashamed to be an associated with the Rovers if this is true!

I was kinda hoping that for probably the last time in my life Rovers had signed someone older than me. Checks Wikipedia and I'm three days older than McFadzean 😪 Officially older than all the players now!

I'm very much of the opinion that everyone is for sale at the right price. It would however take a 'ridculous' bid for Dolan for me to sell right now. I'm talking beyond expectation bid. What did Morgan Rogers go for yesterday? £7/8m? I'd want at least £5m for Dolan at this point. If he doesn't want to sign in summer then you'd probably be forced to take less, but as of now. No deal.

McFadzean also used to playing in a 3. I'd imagine we're switching to a 3-5-2 Pears Hyam - McFadzean - Scott/O'Riordan Rankin-Costello - Tronstad Dolan - Szmodics - Sigurdsson Gallagher A team thats hopefully good enough to get the 18+ points needed to not be relegated.

Of course it is! I have zero problem with the transfer and not sure why people would. He's exactly what we've been crying out for all season in regards to leadership and experience. McFadzean played all 120 minutes of the playoff final last season, has over 600 senior games under his belt and this is effectively a loan signing til May. Of course he's not the long term answer, but our defence looks better with him in it than not. I prefer him to Phillips and Cooper.

Rovers fans ''We want experience and leadership, we're crying out for it.'' Rovers sign 37 year old Coventry City captain on a short term deal til May Rovers fans ''37?! Are you having a laugh?! He's too old and slow and exactly the player we shouldn't be signing!''

I agree with the overall sentiment Duncan, but is Adam ''levels above'' what David Dunn ever was? Probably for another thread 👀😂 but Dunny did make his debut in the Premier League at 19, was England u21 captain at 20 and almost exclusively spent a career in the top flight. Adam has huge potential and may go further than Dunny did, but he's still got to go and do it. At this stage they're decent comparisons, though its probably easy to forget how good Dunn was in the Championship and Premier League throughout his career.

As I mentioned earlier in thread we became masters at ''selling at the right time'' this is also what Brighton do (which we all look upon enviously) as do Brentford. When is that magical time? You always know when its too late, see Dack, Brereton, Rothwell etc. Really like Adam and he's shown flashes of huge potential, but Case Study - Player X 13 goals in 18 for the under 18s, when just 15 years old. Reserve Team debut at 15 Premier League debut at 16 Player of the match in the final of the FA Youth Cup at 16 Premier League loan at 17 Regular Premier League (top 4 club) starter at 18 England debut at 18, hailed ''the future'' Ankle fracture at 20 Club captain at 21 FA Cup winner at 23 Broken Leg at 24 Loaned out to get fitness at 25 44 games later, retired at 30 The career that was for Jack Wilshere. There's absolutely no guarantees for Adam. I wish him all the best for his career, but he's assured of nothing, injuries, distractions off the field, loss of confidence. Its hard to be a footballer, its harder still to be one of the best in the Premier League. If the money is right, and the money goes back into ensuring the model works, I'd sell. That pathway also keeps the best young talent coming through the door at 8-12 years old. We show that when its time for you to move on, we wont stand in your way.

As said by a few on here, the money if reinvested would be crucial, however you do feel as though recent monies from sales has gone to the greater overall debt/FFP stuff. £20m plus add ons will do for me. Lets not forget that potential is so often unmet with younger players, injuries, off field distractions etc are all very real. The club survived and thrived in the late 00s by selling at the right time, Santa Cruz, Bentley, Warnock etc

Am I being thick or can you not buy tickets on the Rovers website? It says wrong card details, I've tried three different ones and it wont let me get beyond that screen with an error! Please check that your card type is one that we accept and that you have entered the number correctly.

Morsy and Travis must be one of the most ''Shithousery'' midfield combinations of all time. Will be plenty get wound up playing against Ipswich in the second half of the season. Good move for Trav, obviously not a JDT man, maybe he comes back next season when Tomasson has left for pastures new (as we all assume).

Fan Takeover Eve Eve Getting that mixture of excitement and anticipation now, looking forward to a fuller Ewood and hopefully some renewed credit with the powers that be at the club. Lots of hard work going on behind the scenes in several areas......keeping everything crossed it all goes to plan on Saturday. Any guesses on crowd levels? 18k would be fabulous as Mike Graham said. Dare we dream for 20k?

Amazing effort after just one day! To put into context: That is tickets for 120 Adults (or) 240 Concessions (or) 600 Juniors!

Talk less, smile more. Hamilton, what a show, seeing it in February, saw it on Broadway earlier this year with a rather enthusiastic (drunk) Chicagoan woman next to me, too many Hamiltini's! As for the match, I can't wait to see more people on the ground and meet some more forum members. Plenty still going on behind the scenes also, so plenty to be excited about.

Have come across some fans who run him close, but Birdy’s dedication was unique. Spoke with him on several occasions, most recently at the Girona pre season friendly, though he (and his wife Annette) did make me feel guilty every time I’d decided to watch a mid week away match from home, rather than taking a day off work to go to Ipswich or Sunderland or latterly Millwall! Characters like him are what small town, provincial clubs like Rovers are built on. I can only imagine how proud he must have been to see the club scale the highest of heights and win the Premier League along with European adventures and domestic cup glory! Rest in peace Birdy

You can put together a decent championship Rovers team from our squad that didn’t play this evening! Pears, JRC, Hyam, Szmodics, Tronstad, Hedges, Gallagher, Gilsenan etc All of whom have contributed this season in league or cup. Let’s not get overly carried away with a bonus match. Back to the bread and butter on Sunday, far more important issues at hand.