One of the issues with the three promoted teams going down two seasons in a row is that it gives the existing Prem clubs two additional seasons to continue strengthening at that level, which in theory makes it increasingly more difficult for the teams coming up. I don't think we're at a 'closed shop' point yet, as it's always possible for an existing PL team to implode with poor recruitment, but it's worrying to see two consecutive seasons of the promoted teams all going down - as seems likely to happen now.

Weimann is a decent option to come off the bench, particularly if we need a goal as he has that in his locker. Shouldn't be starting though.

Yeah, it's scary that he'd rather take that huge risk than stay here even for another few months. Makes you wonder what's lurking beneath the surface. I don't think it can just be incompetence and lack of budget. Can't rule out the ol' snake theory though, of course.

I agree, but then there are other similar sized clubs who have really struggled under incompetent ownership. Sheff Utd and Leeds spent a lot of time in League 1. Ipswich too. We've generally bumped around the Championship fairly comfortably in spite of Venky's, 2016-2018 aside. Those clubs all bounced back in a big way eventually, however, whereas we're stuck in eternal purgatory because we have owners who refuse to release their stranglehold on the club. You just wonder at this point when will it ever end?

Hedges being a first teamer perfectly encapsulates the downgrading of the team in recent years. He was brought in as a cheap sub and for a club with top six ambitions that's all he should be. The fact we keep getting in and around the top six (before inevitably falling away at the end) despite Venky's best efforts to sabotage us just calls into question WTF the other teams in the division are playing at. Is ownership/leadership at all clubs in this division just at a truly abysmal level?

Other than him being a former player, why? Wasn't his last managerial role in 2015?

Tbf zeros mess up averages and are often rounded up to 1 anyway if included.

Not looking good for the bottom three. Impressive win for Wolves away at Bournemouth, whilst the others all got hammered by mid-table sides at home. At least Ipswich can legitimately note they were in League 1 two seasons ago. Leicester and Southampton have only had one season out of the PL and already look well below the required standard.

At this point I would put Toth in because, well, why not? Pears' purple patch is over, confidence clearly gone and he's back to his usual self. Doing nothing will cost us points as he continues to sabotage us in goal, so we've got nothing to lose by trying something different, even if it seems unlikely to significantly change anything. We need a proper manager in place to actually make these bloody decisions though, not an interim repeatedly picking insipid lineups.

Realistically not very hopeful though, is it? We can't have ambition as fans whilst accepting the owners' refusal to build the team with proper backup options. It's why we always end up outside of the playoffs, time after time. Injuries and suspensions kill us, whilst underperforming players often get away with it simply because there's no viable alternative. You can't be successful with this kind of strategy, as we've seen since day one of these fools buying the club and darkening Ewood's doors. 13 years since we were relegated and not a single Championship top six finish. Absolutely pathetic, and this season will be no different.

Did you think he played well in those matches?

It took him a while to get us going, basically the last few games of last season, and that was largely Szmodics stepping up. He doesn't have that time at Derby and he doesn't have a Szmodics either. Getting out of League 1 no easy feat either these days. Big, big gamble he's taken. If he gets relegated with Derby and then can't get them up at first attempt it could damage his career trajectory immensely.

Problem is our backup is yet another cheap punt who looks to be just as dodgy.

Honeymoon period definitively over, as well as any idea these players can self-motivate themselves for the remaining matches. A new manager in asap is essential if there is any ambition for us to get top six (I have my doubts on this as ambition and Venky's don't go together without 'no' in the sentence somewhere).

At least this will hopefully put some pressure on Waggott and Suhail to get their arses in gear and appoint a manager. Embarrassing result today, 3 points thrown in the bin as we dawdle on hiring Eustace's replacement.