Respectfully, this is bollocks. He’s clearly still in development, but he’s beginning to shape his role. Key pass in the buildup to the goal today and 4 goals with 5 assists this season. I suppose what you’re saying is we don’t want goals or assists from players?

Hard disagree.

Yes, I’d actually forgotten.

“Portuguese Connection” period aside, I think you’re right. I think it compares interestingly with our opponents today, as well.

The entire of our starting lineup is English today (not having the Chilean association as a defining nationality). Must be a rare one generally.

Great passage of play, starting with a great ball from JRC cross-field and really opened up with his run, cut inside and shot. He’s absolutely transformed, it’s really great to see.

Morton is visibly lost out there. Obviously has some good qualities but he’s most comfortable when the team is in possession and not everything is riding on him creating. Really don’t want to initiate a pile-on, but he’s not much use to us right now.

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Ewood…” Although maybe we could get both and finally solve the problem of Gerrard and Lampard in the same position?

If it’s ever Judan Ali, you’ll catch me outside the JW Stand executive entrance/club reception with a guillotine for use on the board.

JDT’s Sky interview and he’s discussing the transfer debacle. Pointedly mentions Wigan signing 6 players and Watford 8, then seems to criticise the two that went out and even that O’Brien’s the wrong position. He’ll be gone and fair enough. He’s been sold a lie.

Jesus, that’s a poor watch. Deadline Day Debacle filtering through the squad? Maybe, I don’t know how these dynamics work. £15-20m + a BBD replacement and we might have a look-in at top 6 next year. First time I’ve said it this season, but this team is only headed in one direction, at present. positives: Thomas, JRC, Trav, Pears. Carter and Dack steady, Wharton shaky but better. The rest: insipid.

Christ alive that was poor

Sorba Thomas has absolutely added something we didn’t have.

JDT looks livid. Maybe we’re reading too much into it, but that’s not the face of a happy bunny.

Luckily, my opinion is worth very little.

Credit where it’s due, that was very good play from Jack Vale, the control on that ball and then the awareness were really excellent.

That’s two corners from the set piece specialist that are not exactly what we’re looking for, either. Give him a pass because of it being a debut, but it’s beginning to feel like it won’t be our night.

I’d love to, but I’m 34.

You can see Wigan are more energised but they still look a poor side. We look alarmingly poor, really. Brereton puts that away and we’d be building into it but it looks very disjointed still. I hate to give a young lad grief but Vale is miler away from convincing me he’s cut out for this level. Postionally poor, visibly lazy and just no strength/power about him. Not smart enough to be a small, poacher-type either. Must be pulling up forests in training as he’s not shown me much on the pitch ever. This’ll be a draw, but both teams look vulnerable to conceding.

Mark Harris as the striker target is pretty uninspiring. Who am I to assess a striker from Cardiff? Nobody, that much is true. It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand the exact reasoning and mechanisms behind decisions and actions on the recruitment front. I get the Welsh association but it’s not a cutting-edge approach. Brittain, Hyam and now Thomas aside (assuming he makes a contribution and I feel he will) it doesn’t seem laser-focused, as yet. I hope we can be more creative in the coming months to uncover genuinely exciting prospects or proven players. I hope hard work is being done in the background to ready the youngsters to make big contributions next year. Hope is essentially all I’ve got to work with. With a few days’ time to process the end of the window, the early excitement of the season has waned and I’m increasingly thinking of next season. A lot has to happen to shift that (not least in terms of quality performances on the pitch). With that in mind, though, the summer window is going to have to be genuinely solid - borderline undeniable, even - to get me fully on board with Project Rovers. I’m a fan of the model and I believe JDT can deliver with time and assets at disposal, but my dissent towards it is forthcoming and I think that’s my deadline for it. Missed opportunity this season is very clearly true, but it’s a very big ask, when you look at the state of the club.

We moan about our pitch, but the Stamford Bridge pitch is a real state for a premiership outfit

It’s only Waggott and Pasha that were at the match, from what I’ve read.

Morecambe about to be bought by a 20-year-old from Birmingham. For those of a certain inclination, the companies house searches make for odd reading. Honestly feel for Morecambe, I think it’s gonna end up as a weird YouTube/crypto grift.

I think they actually have more of a case asking that than what they asked.

This is a total rollercoaster and I’m giving up trying to figure out what happens next. Who in their right mind asks “what happens if they get relegated?” without catching themselves and saying, “ah yes, the exact same thing that happens if they don’t get relegated and don’t get promoted.“ Talk about beyond your sodding remit.