'Blackburn Rovers send strong message with Academy announcements' Pathetic fluff piece headline from the LT. The article goes on to mention how Finneran has rejected us from the scholar intake, and so has Nsangou from the professional intake. Tyjon signing a scholarship is good news (though I suspect he will be off next summer on the cheap, but hopefully not), but it's definitely a mixed bag. Of all the scholars they mention signing pro terms, the only two I've heard of are Adam Khan and Litherland. Surprised Nsangou rejected us tbh, there's no major hype around him, but he's more established than the rest of the scholars turning pro batch. I fail to see how offering what will be very cheap contracts in the scheme of things to youth players is a strong statement, and two of the better players have rejected them anyway. Really shows the LT have no intention of rocking the boat and will be presenting things in a positive light even though it's gonna be a shit show.

He hasn't signed it yet. If there had been mention of all the lads who have signed scholar deals 5 days ago, it wouldn't have mentioned Tyjon either. It does seem he will be off but it's not set in stone yet.

I thought the same of Tyjon until a couple of days ago. I don't see why a rovers.co.uk article on Tyjon would make any mention of Finneran. That's more worrying, as although I've mentioned Newcastle's interest before, and that article is just saying the same stuff really, it's from just 6 hours ago so there may have been movement. Strange it's taken so long for Newcastle to tie it up tbh, but I also think Finneran is being very badly advised to go to Newcastle's academy at this stage. It would only be a scholarship he'd have to sign with us, so he could still have moved for very little at the end of next season after very likely getting some senior football experience and being able to ask for a better wage. Some might mention the money but aren't scholarship deals a bit limited in that regard? And at that age you're better thinking about your career path than money.

Problem is Finneran (if we keep him) and Tyjon are likely to be no more than squad players at best for a couple of seasons. We should have been looking forward to Wharton and Phillips being our breakthrough regulars last and this season to keep the production line going. Unfortunately, both were a bit too good/promising and we were under financial distress thanks to our cunt owners, so we couldn't keep them and the money received does nothing more than keep the lights on for this horrow show. Personally I have a bit of hope for Garrett too. Admittedly I've had to miss a lot of games this last season due to work commitments, but when I see him, I don't see the shit player that many on here seem to see. I think he's still rough but could become a good player for us potentially. Equally he might end up the next Davenport. What's promising in his case is he has scored a few good goals, and is a tenacious player. I'm certain Whitehall would be in our first team by now...if he weren't made of glass. He looked to have all the attributes a few years ago but I've lost confidence he'll ever stay fit long enough to establish himself here. On the flipside of that, I once said the same thing about JRC, and although he still does break down quite a lot, he's become an important player in our squad. Looking at the U21 squad, the only players I have any belief might be of use to us this season that haven't really been used... Gilsenan, who I think should have been a feature at the close end of the season. I always think it's criminal when a player is in red hot form for the U21s to not be given a proper chance in the first team. Confidence and form are key in football. Play them at the right time and they do well, it can be the making of a player. Fail to put them in, especially whilst the first team are performing poorly, and it can knock their confidence and form back. Gent has had a very good loan and may come back as a useful backup LB. Erm, yeh that's probably it really. Maybe the aforementioned Whitehall if he can stay fit and impress until around January. Of course, it's sounding like our transfer budget will be pathetic, and some U21 players may need to step up whether they're ready or not.

That's a relief, although it also probably means kicking the can down the road to next summer and getting a bit more compensation than we would have if he does leave instead of signing his first professional contract. Still, better than it not happening. Just hate this system. Still no news on Finneran.

Probably players we refused to put our hands in our wallets for, or were beaten to by clubs that aren't a mess.

And how many of those did we give the support in buying? Ffs

Actually one of the three times it happened was the puny fee for Ethan Brierley.

I'm certain it's less than Waggott earns. Bin him off, fund the ladies team with his salary, two birds one stone.

Some of those are important players too. Imagine the women's team will struggle this year.

I'm sure he can 'point' out where they can improve.

That or a proper injury crisis in midfield.

Did you mean potential rather than ability? Because if Tyjon has the same ability as an England international but has only cameod for our almost relegated Championship side, everyone involved in him not playing more for us needs firing.

Tyjon seems like a very promising young striker and I'll be very happy if we keep him, especially since it looked like we were going to lose him. But at this stage, saying he is similar to Wharton in terms of ability is a stretch.

On these points though, OP was posting a stat about all England managers in that period combined, not just any England manager. So it doesn't really matter how long any of them stayed in situ. Slight exception for the argument that continuity breeds success.

They'd be spraying balls everywhere.

Spain would bum us with no lube at the moment.

Opponents have been poor too though. Still not faced a good side. There is no glory in what we have achieved, it is the bare minimum given the fixtures we have had, and gives zero faith that we will be able to beat a quality team.

Having faltered time after time, whether playing good football or not, and having won nothing since 1966, I don't care how we win anymore. We're not a Brazil who have won so much they can afford to get particular about how they win. We just need a trophy because we're possibly the biggest under achievers in international football. Win like this against a quality side in the final and I'll be over the moon. Much rather that than play brilliantly but lose. But the way we have floundered against meh sides tells me we won't be reaching the final despite a very generous draw.

Whilst this is absolutely true, the way we have performed against bang average teams every single time provides little confidence we will be able to overcome good sides, let alone the best sides.

Thank fuck for that, and what a rush from those goals, but if we don't step up, the Swiss (who are a good, steady, organised team but nothing special) will turn us into swiss cheese

Metaphorically, yes, but literally...you'd have a very pissy smell about ya if you didn't pull your own pants down 🤣

Even before all this natural position stuff, I'd say 90% upwards of handball decisions given were bollocks. A professional footballer is extremely unlikely to intentionally handle the ball, especially in the area. Especially if it's for something as mundane as stopping a cross coming in. I see very, very few cases where I think the player has intentionally put their hand on the ball (although as a side note I do think it should be a penalty regardless of intent if it directly stops a goal crossing the line). The vast majority of penalties given for handball have been the ball being smashed at someone from a couple of yards away, or a player moving their arms as part of adjusting their balance and position. Ie, natural movement. This new version of the laws is clearly intended to deal with the latter problem, but what these fuckwit officials deem an 'unnatural' movement and what I deem an unnatural movement are entirely different animals. You have to wonder if these guys have played the game even at grass roots level sometimes.

What gets me about that one is I thought VAR was to be used in the case of 'obvious mistakes'? Was that changed? Because I don't see what's an 'obvious' mistake about someone's toe being 2mm offside. Even Collina isn't catching that with any certainty. Like you say, even the computer system can't really be sure about it. Bollocks decision and totally turned the momentum of the game before we even get into a soft penalty moments later.

Talking about his actual value (at the time) to anyone who can spot a player, rather than his market value. I feel we got short changed on the latter by a good 5 million or more though. But we're weak assed negotiators.