If anyone wants to test their memory..... Blackburn Rovers Premier League Players (jetpunk.com) How many Rovers PL players can you name?

Comparing to the Kean issue was me over exaggerating the point, but 'he's not playing so he isn't better' just shuts down any debate. JDT clearly doesn't see him as better (rightly or wrongly). Ultimately, I have no arguments - we won, played well and Szmodics worked his socks off. I'd personally like to keep Dack as he offers something different, but he also deserves to be playing regularly and happy. I don't agree with those decrying Dack's lack of selection as ultimately in the last 2 games we've scored 4 goals and got 6 points - JDT lives and dies by such decisions and our league position would indicate he's getting them right more often than not.

I have no qualms with him not playing last night as we won, but the quoted part is just a nonsense way to close any sort of debate. By that logic you cannot critique any team selection for any team as the manager always picks the best 11. Imagine having that sort of attitude when Kean was playing Bradley Orr whilst Nelsen and other stalwarts rotted and were forced out - 'well they're clearly not better otherwise they'd be playing'. As I said, I'm not disagreeing with the selection, but it's just a nonsensical way of arguing it. Thought Szmodics played well last night - worked his socks off and justified his selection. Well played!

By all accounts, West Brom have statistically (yawn I know!) played quite well and been on top in lots of games. Seems they've been hampered by a combination of poor finishing and a keeper who can't keep them out at the other end. Although apparently performances dipped considerably towards the end of Bruce's reign as well. It's a funny league, but I'd be surprised if you're not in the top 6 by the break. That break will have a lot of newish managers trying to implement their styles after the latest spate in sackings, so a lot of teams could be playing more in their manager's desired way come late December (which might be to their benefit or detriment). Given Burnley's decent form and huge style shift, it's hard not to put them down as a beneficiary of such a break (and we should be the same!). Will be a horrible break for whoever gets beat 🙃

Very pessimistic..... also a good chance you are entrenched within the top 6 and in the top 2 (although I prefer your scenario 🤭)

I can see the gap benefitting them as much as anyone. They're also a team who are adapting to a new style of play, and who might benefit from more time on the training pitch. Then again, it might weirdly derail their momentum at this rate! 11 games unbeaten - the last thing they need is a break (although still a good amount of games between now and then for that to change).

Reading v Rovers, 2015. Dead rubber, 0-0 draw. Half the away end watching the Grand National 2nd half. Awful game.

Buckley has been getting pelters lately, and he has been poor. But he hasn't been helped by playing in a midfield 2. Every pass into the midfield was easily telegraphed as we only ever had 2 options, and the system meant there were a lack of decent options if the CM's managed to beat their press to pick a pass. That midfield 2 (with our 4 strikers feeling miles away) just hung them out to dry and left them overrun.

The Oxford game attendance showed people can be brought back into the fold, albeit that was a one-off game. However, they won't pay north of £400 for a season ticket, especially given we haven't ever made the play offs - those waverers just won't bother.

Burnley look very strong this season; even when they're off their game they seem to get a point or 3. It's a bit frustrating really, with the question marks over their finances this appointment and summer transfer window was absolutely crucial for them, and thus far appears they got it right. A poor appointment could have been a disaster for them. Would fully expect them to be top 2. Just hope that come derby day we turn up; we have to be bang at it and can't repeat some of the other away day disappearances.

Delighted with the win. In the first half we finally did what so many called for - get another body in midfield (much easier to keep possession when there are more than 2 options in there, previously we had 2 options who were both marked and it was all very easily telegraphed). We also finally played with a proper striker, and the results were fantastic. Hopefully puts to bed the Gallagher on the wing/false 9 nonsense, at least for a while. 2nd half was all hands on deck but probably just inexperience. We created more in the first half than we did in the last 3 aways combined.

This. There's never enough options when the team have it at the back, as the 4 'strikers' are miles away and any passes into our 2 man midfield are easily crowded out and telegraphed.

I obviously want to win, but what I really want to see is some attacking intent. I could take a loss if we show some sort of signs moving forwards that we could be an effective team on the road, rather than the dull, passive, unimposing team we've seen for most of the season. I know it's a results based business, but I think it's imperative we start seeing positive signs for the season. Us limping to a 0-0 draw with 0 shots on target will just tell me that our problems remain.

I don't think anyone wants him sacked. Any criticisms have been valid and have been very much playing the ball, not the man. Not seen any Coyle comparisons but appears you have? As for who will be brilliant, probably nobody. I do think we'd get more out of some players though if we played with a bit more attacking intent. Gallagher and Hirst on the wings, a false 9 lost up top and Hedges at RWB are all questionable in their own way. I especially felt sorry for Hedges, playing out of position in front of his national team coach before being hauled off at half time. That's probably that for his Wales World Cup hopes. As for the WLWLWL run, yes it would likely have us 8th-10th. For me it's unsustainable as we look much more likely to drop a win to a loss/draw than turn the losses into positive results. Off the top of my head the Wigan, Luton, Reading, Sheffield United and Cardiff performances all rank amongst some of the worst we've produced in recent years on the road, with barely a chance created over the 450 minutes of football. All 5 we've been rank rotten, which is a worrying sign really. I don't think it's a lost cause. It might click eventually and some of the misery on the road might give way to some sort of functional team. It doesn't look likely at the moment. People decry xG and whilst it's inevitably very flawed, ours being shockingly low over the last few away games is probably a fair reflection of how toothless the performances have been. Across all 5 away games above, I can think of a couple of chances - the missed penalty at Cardiff, Diaz's chance at Luton.... and I'm genuinely out of ideas! 2 decent chances in those 5 away games is criminal. Thankfully we were better against Blackpool and Swansea, with Swansea playing in a style weirdly akin to how we're playing now! I've tried to avoid my own confirmation bias where possible, but speaking to total neutrals who watched the Cardiff/Wigan games on Sky and they've all commented on how crap we looked. Hard to argue really. I know it's just another game, but we really need to step it up in time for the Burnley game. A similarly timid and lethargic display will not be tolerated there, and the last thing I want is the players to face the ire of the fans. But something has to give soon - people pay a hell of a lot of money to travel up and down the country, and whilst we can't win everywhere, we should at least expect a team showing some aspect of 'arte et labore' - our total lack of urgency is the most frustrating thing imaginable when you've spent north of £100 and are miles away from home. Roll on Boro, which hopefully is a chance to start righting some wrongs.

I'm not even sure on this. Our system was promised as a high press, high intensity system, which Dack perhaps wouldn't suit. But we've completely departed from that in favour of a more pedestrian style of pressing. He maybe doesn't suit the fluid front 3/4 we go for, but it doesn't look like any of the others do either. I'd argue he suits it more than some of the others simply because he's a better footballer. Ultimately, it's all a bit of a moot point given we barely play in the opposition half. No doubt Dack will have been criticised previously by JDT for coming deep for the ball, but I can't blame him as we show no urgency to get the ball forward - and I'm not advocating long ball, but a few forward passes (rather than side to side) wouldn't go amiss.

I like them as people but if Szmodics and Hirst were chased all summer, then this lauded and refined summer transfer strategy might need a second look…..

Because the system is negative. It’s the same very away game - he showed the same attitude at Reading, Cardiff and Luton. It’s approaching disrespectful how he approaches away games.

If this was Mowbray I’d be calling for his head. The most pathetic , toothless, cowardly away performance since the last one last week. Does he give a shit? Will he laugh away all interview?

Negative, uninspiring shite again. He had no respect for the fans! Utterly garbage.

Golden. Think this I what I was looking for! Thankfully a lot of the stories wouldn't go on nowadays mind!

Not forgetting a Marcus Bent hat-trick. He scored 7 league goals for Wigan - 3 vs Rovers on one crazy afternoon.

Good point. He will have a lot of goodwill there simply by not being Steve Bruce, and like you said it isn't a bad squad. Just not sure what would constitute success there!

I'd give West Brom a wide berth. From what I've heard, they are skint and appear a bit of a basket case behind the scenes. But on the flip side, despite their lowly league position they haven't been as awful as the table suggests, suggesting there's a lot of scope for improvement. As for Parker, be interesting to see how he gets on. So far he's been a bit of a flat track bully; got two sides promoted who spent a fortune and were favourites, before struggling with the step up. Also can't see Leeds sacking Marsch anytime soon.

*Insert childish but nevertheless obligatory joke that JCC couldn't pull in Burnley because something inbred something* Don't you miss the derby day build up 🙄 😁

Correct in that Crewe was a 1-0 loss. There's a video somewhere on Youtube of their keeper's heroics. Some may argue it was Ashley Ward and co making him look good mind 😅 Wigan away was 3-0 but was a total disaster. Ince had to go after that! Forgot our 4-0 thumping at Bolton in all of this too under Bowyer - awful. A 1-0 late defeat there in 2013 wasn't great either. Come to think of it, had a few shockers there - 2-1 last minute defeat in Sam's last game, the 2-0 defeat under Kean. I still would have to say that Kean's era was my least enjoyable watching Rovers. Because of everything going on behind the scenes and in his interviews, I drew no pleasure from our games and even the wins were somewhat tainted by both disgust at what our club had become, the way fans would be derided by Kean/his media cronies and the fact it always kept him in the job. Every game was played under a cloud - through no fault of the fans who went. Wigan and Bolton at home were both particular low points, but it was a truly horrible time.