Seems a wasted opportunity/very low risk gamble from Rovers perspective, but if Rodwell sees himself as a centre back that’s that!

How is he finished as a centre mid though? He’s a 28 year old professional athlete who trains every day for gods sake. The manager has painted him to be an aged crock and a lot of our fans have bought it. He’s only said that to justify the centre back experiment imo.

Sure there’ll be a split consensus on this, but I’d keep Rodwell providing it was a sensible wage & the intention was for him to play central midfield, although I can’t see that happening from what we’ve heard previously from Mowbray. Shame for me as he could be a tidy centre mid at this level when kept fit, he undoubtedly has quality and experience that would be useful next to Travis. Reed likely won’t be here next season too so would make him a handier signing.

I’d like to shake his hand, thank him for what he’s done over the last 2 years and replace him with somebody who can keep us going in an upward trajectory. The key reason for me wanting to replace is the fact that I don’t trust Mowbray to oversee the recruitment required this summer. For me, he’s failed in the last two windows. He’s spent good money in the wrong areas, totally ignoring the fact that we needed to upgrade in certain positions, and the fact we needed to bring in leaders. Secondly, the last couple of months have been really worrying. Without a doubt we’re in relegation form. We simply can’t afford to get relegated next season. Without a change I fear we’re sleepwalking in to a relegation battle next year. Third, we don’t have an identity. Look at Leeds, Norwich, Sheff U, Preston, Weds and so on. You know exactly what you’re going to get and it works. We’re inconsistent. Too many formation changes, too many different starting line ups. It doesn’t work. That’s something we urgently need to address. I’d like a manager with balls, able to bring in the right players, and able organise a team whether it be gritty grind it out football, or more of an expansive game - not bothered as long as it’s consistent and it works. All of this said - I’d only get rid if that sort of manager was lined up. Off the top of my head there’s a few out of a job right now that could fit. Hughes, Moyes, Allardyce, Karanka would likely take the solid organised job approach, my preference. Wagner, Jokanovic if we went down the more expansive route or whatever it needs to be called. They’re not conclusive lists by any means. And I’m not saying we’d necessarily be able to attract all of them, before people point out Allardyce wouldn’t work for Venky’s etc. Just throwing the type out there. IF we could bring one of those or similar in, i’d definitely go for it. If we couldn’t find that type, I’d (slightly reluctantly) rather back Mowbray in the summer for a chance to get it right, rather than switching for somebody of less credibility than the type of names mentioned. Forget sentiment. Football is incredibly cut throat and we need to do best by the club.

Injuries to the defence. The same defence he could’ve spent 7m on, and glaringly had to, rather than blowing it on a 19 yo striker that hasn’t played. All whilst thinking an actual centre back and two converted midfielders at the back would suffice whilst loaning out two other centre backs. True story.

Honourable mention to Rothwell and Buckley however the 4 goals conceded were so horrifically, depressingly bad I can’t be arsed to comment on anything else. A change(s) required. Atleast our next away game, with us having conceded the most away goals out of all the 92, is only away at Villa. They’ve only won their last 4 on the bounce. Christ.

BRING BACK SPARKY.

Inept defending. Disgraceful, rolled over like the little boys they are.

Bang on, a little geographical and competitive know-how needs to be taken on board. To the north and east of the town there's no relevant clubs for miles. To the south and west of the town there are clubs of a similar size competing for supporters. All of the areas here contain thousands of non die hard football fans, what an opportunity. This is simple, easy stuff. A little creativity in some areas, a little bit of simple work done by other clubs in others. If we can't tap in to that, and can't tap in to the community within and immediately surrounding Blackburn, it's no wonder we get smaller crowds than Bolton.

Recent and not quite as recent changes such as contactless payment, print at home tickets, the sensory room along with the other family stand improvements, fosters fanzone etc show that there is some sort of effort to improve attendances, however they are relatively minor and superficial and don't do much other than slightly improve the matchday experience for the modern football fan (theoretically could boost attendances.. slightly). So I think we are trying on a very low scale, going back to my point on how we are trying but we really don't know how to actually do it - we certainly aren't doing anything 'proper' to bring future fans in/fans back. The club needs to learn that minor change will not really change anything, and will only produce minor change at best. Things only change noticeably when a piece of work is done that actually shifts and changes the status quo. I genuinely don't think Waggot understands that - there are no quick wins to be had when it comes to Ewood Park attendances. Hadn't seen that statement, if he did say that that's astounding and is just another example of how out of touch he is with the club and the community.

Too right. I feel we miss a trick with this and quite a few other things. Is the club trying to attract more people to Ewood? Yes. Does the club understand how best to attract more people to Ewood? No.

Tough game this one, I don't think we'll get anything in all honesty. Wednesday have conceded something like 2 in their last 6 or 7 at home, winning most of them. Add the facts of them having an outside play off chance and we're poor away, it doesn't look great. Bruce breeds low scoring, clean sheet wins at home so we may as well go out and try and score a few. Wouldn't rest Graham unless he actually is injured, without him on Tuesday I think the game would've finished 0-0. Definitely wouldn't go back to the back 4 - 2 centre backs made out of any of those lot, flanked by two full backs made out of any of those lot, would be a horribly exposed back line. Taking in to account the present injury situation I'd go: Raya Nyambe Magloire Williams Travis Reed Evans Bennett Rothwell Dack Graham I think its worth us looking whether Dack and Rothwell can form a creative partnership behind a number 9 like Graham before the season is out, with next seasons approach in mind. Wing backs aren't ideal by any stretch of the imagination, and it's a shame to take Travis out of the middle, but it's needs be at the moment and arguably the most sensible option with attack and defence in mind. YELLOWS.

Does Mulgrew have the legs/physical presence to play in a midfield role at this level? Yes he could arguably do the sitting role but none of the systems we've played under Mowbray have a sitting midfielder. Even if we did I'd argue Rodwell would be much better there as he's stronger and more mobile. I can see the logic, as he's got a lovely left foot, but he isn't well rounded these days and I think he'd be exposed especially as we don't have other players that would do the leg work to protect and allow a luxury role, as such. Not writing it off, just very doubtful.

Made every goal last night that bit sweeter, he spent the last few months of last season acting like a kid calling Rovers out & trying to goad us around something that nobody really cared about. Comes across as very unlikeable in general too. Who's laughing now Cooky? Seems fitting that he was part of the shambles of a Dingles side that got violated 5-0 at Ewood on April Fools Day!

3 goals, clean sheet, 3 points, job done. Good debut for Magloire really pleased for the lad. Couple of stellar DG moments. But Nyambe was motm, quality performance.

Yeah Lyons was decent. Probably had the best touch of any player on that pitch but his decision making wasn't the best in the final third. Two moments summed his performance up - two very clever pieces of skill/strength beyond his experience to beat one or two men, then when he lifted his head up to play the killer ball he once underhit and once overhit it due to trying to be a bit too cute. That's me being critical though. He got stuck in, never shirked a challenge, looked to drive forward when he had the ball and always looked to get the ball when he didn't have it. He looks tall, well built and strong which seems rare for a young attacking mid these days, something that would probably be a bonus in the Championship. He's very raw but good early signs. A natural talent, physically capable with a seemingly good attitude that could 'make it' with hard work and a good coaching team.

Brad Lyons is starting for St Mirren live on Sky tonight.

He puts his right mid in, takes his right back out, in out in out shakes em all about He'll play two crappy left backs that's without a doubt Tony's defensive knockabout Tooooony's defensive coach is pony Tooony's defensive coach the phoney Toooony's defensive coach is pony January window cop out out out

Hadn't thought about the captain bit! Nails Bennett down even more but in the unlikely event he doesn't play, I'm sure he'd put Conway in at the unfortunate expense of Rochina Rothwell.

I believe most of his u23/kids appearances came there. He came on in defence away at West Brom earlier this season and was excellent, with 10 men for large parts of it. Seem to remember him playing at right back in one of his first games for us and looking good, no idea who that was against and when. If it's between him and Bennett for right back, I can't think of a single reason to choose Bennett when it comes to technical and physical ability.

Bingo. I think that will be the exact team. I'd personally put Travis at right back, with Reed/Evans in the middle behind Arma/Dack/Rothwell for this one.

Yeah the coasting/loyalty element has been a huge factor, which is a shame as you'd expect a man of Mowbray's footballing experience and supposed wisdom to be able to recognise and address early on. Here's hoping that he learns from this moving forward, he needs to show a ruthless/decisive streak from now on if he's going to take us further, and more so maintain his opportunity to take us further. Speaking of that home form - just read that Wigan have only won once on the road this season and that was August. Knowing Rovers as I do..........

Well this one has now turned out to be a huge game. For Wigan, the big red light is flashing. 3 points above the drop, they simply need the points to avoid the danger zone. Rovers, the amber light is on - falling down the league whilst clinging on to the loot from the first 6 months, we need the 3 points to keep our necks straight. I don't claim to be an expert on Wigan's issues but they seem very similar to Rovers at present. Includes but not limited to inconsistent team selections, players that don't know or can't perform the roles they are shifted in to, a soft underbelly and a lack of leaders to get through the tough days. This got me thinking - out of the three promoted sides, Rovers are highest, Wigan second, Rotherham third. But Rotherham fans are very happy with their manager and us two aren't, in general. Why? Despite having arguably the weakest squad in the division, Rotherham are set up to perform as well as they can with the tools they have; they play to their strengths, and most importantly they have an identity. In a way they remind me of a tinpot version of Sparky's bully boys of 2005. We saw that the other week - we knew what they were going to do, we knew their game plan but it was too overpowering for our soft lads. Their players went out on to the pitch knowing exactly what they needed to do to beat us, and they did it. Wigan and Rovers don't really seem capable of doing that. Both have a few decent players but seem to set out every week with often strange team selections, without a solid game plan. If Wigan, but more so Rovers had the mind set, organisation and consistency of Rotherham we'd surely both be further up the league. Now Rotherham might still go down but at least they'll be able to look back knowing they made a proper fist of it, not being able to do much more. We certainly couldn't. So, I've no idea what team we'll set out with. 3 at the back? 4 at the back? Which ball will the Elliott Bennett bingo machine spit out this week? Will we see an actual defender on the pitch? Who knows. Either way Rovers, grab it by the goolies. Get the 3 points, move on to the next and get to summer with your necks well above water.

Sure we’re much more competitive than Charlton when it comes to wages, if you’ve got that pull there’s not much else counts nowadays really

I caught the Charlton v Pompey game on Sky yesterday evening. Patrick Bauer, Charltons captain at centre back who we were heavily linked with in summer was excellent. Won EVERYTHING in the air, blocked everything, dragged the rest of the Charlton side in to position at set pieces and looked very confident in possession. They don’t call him Big Effin German for nothing - the bloke is exactly the type we need. I’d also want to bring in another centre back with lots of experience at this level or above as well as him, but Bauer alone would surely be a huge upgrade on each of Rodwell and Mulgrew.