There is is lads. Proof that BB is going to be the next big thing. Joking aside though - the fee is being used as an excuse to be overly critical of a 19 year old who’s been here about 6 weeks. That’s an non disclosed fee by the way, and since none of us can predict what the Rao’s will do, it’s not as black and white as this “eggs in basket” debate that’s built on nothing but assumption. Plus 7m (highly doubt it’s that before clauses being met) is the equivalent of 50k in 1992, so I’m not sure what relevance that is? The lad needs time, not hyperbolic criticism! Could do with some guidance on how to tie his laces quicker mind...!

I think you can attribute Graham’s form to having competition personally. Another example of what he offers yesterday.

I agree. To digress a little, I think it’s obvious we tried for chapman and Freeman and I think we will add someone like the aforementioned soon enough. I personally think Harrison Reed is actually fair effective out wide. I like his energy. Especially away: like a ginger Bennett....

But your own opinion should surely take into account we’ve never set up to leave two wide attackers, or two unprotected full backs! I agree with you that my own priority would’ve been some wide pace and delivery, but when TM introduces a “poacher” out wide who then plays a couple of great passes, a few great runs, a fantastic cross/finish - you can surely accept that that TMs subjective choices are working to some extent!

At least I feel somewhat better about swearing my absolute head off. Cheating bastard (sorry those with children nearby..)

Another 2 points dropped, would like to see the replay but that second penalty was utter BS

Vividly remember the day after Bolton away - convinced we’ve just signed our own death warrant for relegation, regardless of replacement. At this time I was officially a “doom monger”. Fair enough it took an extra season but still. Also clear memory of the feelings between the Stoke and West Ham games, at home under Kean. Utter confusion, an organised team one week, turning out like a they’d just met each other on the pitch. Obvious break down of tactics, no consistency between plays/players and when Phil Jones got injured, I seem to recall that same gut dropping phenomenon that only comes after a heavy bitter centred evening, Owen Coyles name being mentioned or the morning after spending more than a tenner in Akash. Much else is an absolute blur. The immediate fallout that followed was “nearly” as bad, near back to back relegations, false dawn followed by false dawn. Bowyer was a bit of refuge/stability as it was called then. I liked Gary, but the club had been hamstrung by ridiculous contracts on a dwindling income. He did some good work to keep us going but the owners always needed actual experience and club having the autonomy to govern itself, not by telephone. I still remember being extremely sore to hear the term “keanesque” about his dealings, tactics, comments, or similar for years after. Nothing came criminally close. Ironically it took Coyle to actually move on from constantly feeling sick about what Steve Kean and his cronies did to this club. That farse broke the camels back. I’m quite sure if they’d followed him with another “Sheffield Wednesday” style appointment, I don’t think I could’ve carried on much longer. Thankfully Tony Mawbs has reminded us what actual management pedigree means, given time and support, the like Lambert wasn’t afforded. It is much different scenario though financiaIly, since by the time TM took over, nearly all the best players or big contracts had gone. Kean had us paying for his choices for years after, not just the ones that played! To echo what Neal has said on the other thread, the club could implode under these owners at any moment, but it seems like the way it’s running at the moment is actually working for the club, as opposed to against it. Long that may continue and long may Keans name be forgotten! (Until that debt disappears, it’s hard to imagine forgetting...!!)

We are a one Graham team.... To be honest though, Dack is definitely the most explosive player but he gets those opportunities usually at the utter effort, spirit and attitude of the rest of the team! I think Palmer has had some criticism because he stands out as not applying the same way. Even though it’s obvious he’s as technically proficient and clever as anyone in the team. I genuinely look forward to our games again though, and that’s ultimately down to all the factors at play, some special qualities like Danny and Dack, utter workrate from a lot of players and a team that responds to the games, not forgetting a manager who often gets it right and admits when he gets it wrong. Quite good days to be a Rover and I agree with you, that’s not down to any one man. Even if (in the scheme of our recent history) we are at pretty “lowly” heights of being mid table in the championship. The youngsters involved are the icing on the cake, because we are watching most of them get better! Can you tell it’s friday?

For me, the easiest long term solution has always been kids should go for free. The actual age limit is subjective, but many (like me) who watched football regularly between the ages of 6-16 will be hooked for life. Obviously - being 6 in 1991, 10 in 95 and 16/17 during Souness/Hughes era is a bit different to turning 6 in 2008 (when venkys took over) but I still think that our club lacks many offers like this. For instance, I don’t recall my workplace (school in east Lancashire) ever being offered free or subsidised tickets. I’m quite sure the primary schools still have this system, and it might be a lazy PE teacher not answering letters but from discussions I’ve had with many other secondary teachers in Blackburn, Accrington and similar - the offers have somewhat dried up in recent years. This is probably due to funding cuts in local area and maybe even more stringent safeguarding (CRB cost for volunteers etc), but every time I see an empty seat at Ewood, I always think the long term profits would outweigh the short term cost of giving ALL unsold tickets away, some snacks, and paying for youth workers to drive them to and from, whilst looking after them during the match. Maybe the club is doing their utmost in this area and the clamour from schools isn’t there, but I seriously doubt this is the case.

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No worries - swans

Can I have a Leeds please

Goal he scored was all his own work and a cracking finish from what I saw.

Maybe put a hand on him, but lad just fell over. Brereton also went down like he was shot but still a pen as that was A clumsy lunge. Great reaction. Could’ve been 5-2 if it wasn’t for Raya.

Dodgy penalty for me. I’ll keep my Lenihan pitchfork in the cupboard for now.

I personally don’t get the ignorance towards how he played his entire youth career as a Centreback and many times since, but that’s just me!

Agree on that Chaddy, I’d expect us to start with the same team in if Mulgrew is back. Also impressed with Williams, definitely earned his stripes as a Centreback for me.

You mean like suggesting they had a “very poor” game? Id call anything past “uneventful” as hyperbole personally.

Let’s not forget, people are free to post their opinions. It’s my opinion that the remarks; “BB looks a strange signing” and unsuitable to a position are absurd. As I previously stated, and a conversation I had on Saturday with either @K-Hod or @S8 & Blue or both, (was beer impaired mind) it was mentioned about BB’s reported fee possibly being heavily performance based and overblown for the forest fans. I think people should be excited that we’ve added a potentially talented England youth and championship preened talent. Not; questioning the motives of the deal, offering hindsight opinions on better alternatives after less than a month or suggesting the lad can be written off in a position or style of play. Doesn’t mean I’m intent on shutting down those opinions, I’m just pointing out how they’re daft from my direction. Quite exciting that we’ve added 4 players, including the 2 u23 lads from Walsall and Ireland, all upfront. Ambition to build depth in all positions. Much more exciting than Varney, Chris Brown, Delfonoeso and Stokes...

See the last paragraph.

Less than a month after signing someone you’re “starting to question”.. because we chose the older more established one in a couple of games? Signing a young lad is “strange” because we don’t have the time to wait for them to develop? That doesn’t even make sense. You’re speaking as if we didn’t sign anyone else in that respect. We’ve accrued several young potential players to add to our academy group. Nothing strange about that to me, it’s called forward planning. Out of position? What part of the “27 minutes” (maybe a bit more, but sheesh) has told you he has a definite role and position in our tactics/squad? Why didn’t we sign someone else? Again, maybe give the lad at least 1 start before we seek to pay off his contract and sign someone else. I also don’t buy that the fee was what people think. I reckon much of it is in instalments and his wage would’ve been considerably cheaper than signing someone like Bamford, Baldock or Bodvarsson!

From what I saw, in spells we sort of ended a mix of (in the latter parts of the second half) tonight; Raya Nyambe Lenihan Williams Reed Evans Smallwood Bennett Bell Dack Graham And; Raya Nyambe Lenihan Williams Bell Reed Evans Smallwood Bennett Dack Graham I think we might see a change upfront with a lack of width performing. I liked the posters suggestion of a 4312 with a higher line, Dack behind DG and AA or BB with 3 of Rothwell, Smallwood, Evans, Bennett or Reed in the centre. I think we’re more likely to see a variation of the 5 at the back though. We’ve used it in games quite a lot under Mowbray, maybe not from the start but in many games. Certainly made us look tighter tonight imo.

I think Evans is probably is tidier, better technique and passer, but for me Richie is pretty much the most robust tackler in the team. It might be a matter of taste because I always liked the gritty stuff. There’s no avoiding that Richie has shown at times, a lack of distribution and poor touch in positions further up the pitch. Sometimes a bit wooden in possession in tight areas. I think part of that is the key to why he’s had some stick, but also it’s always been one of those things - if a player doesn’t get into those positions, they’re likely not criticised as much - The game will pass Evans by at times but Richie never shirks a challenge, always helps the defence out and never fails to press aggressively. Even with that said, I think Corry is in his best spell for the club since arriving - Feb till now. Looks fitter than ever - not far away from Bennett and Richie for work rate but not in the correct positions enough for me. I think Harrison Reed, or Rothwell are the midfielder we need next to the more combative Smallwood - to put a foot on it. Reed looks to have a real tidy touch, and we know Rothwell has promise too. Maybe the safety first approach with two more “battling” centre midfielders is in Tony’s thoughts for the more tricky games? Perhaps we may come to see a more adventurous approach if we continue to pick up points, putting us in a position of safety? Either way, I’m quite happy with 11 points after 8 games, obviously never simple; but extrapolate and we are comfortable.