Big question for that Hull game...I assume Tosin will be fit again, so who starts in central defence?

I did say I hoped he made my comments look silly at the end of the match. His best performance since returning, undoubtedly. It remains to be seen whether he can fulfil that wide role on a consistent basis, and there are much bigger question marks about whether we should utilise strikers on the flanks all the time anyway. But he played very well and put a real shift in. Our inability to carve out clear chances in the area is still concerning me. There'd have been less post-match optimism if Dicksteel hadn't enhanced his application for the freedom of the Borough. But by God it feels good to win a league game again!

Just liked the climate. Good one. I'm not going to get into the tax thing in too much detail. I've had the argument enough times to know it leads absolutely nowhere. In truth I think the systems are more to blame than the people anyway. The loopholes should be closed, but they won't be because the people who can do so benefit from them too. It's human nature for probably about 80-90% of people to take advantage of beneficial loopholes when they find them, regardless of the effects on others of doing so. I can recognise that without personally agreeing it's the best way (for the super rich...I absolutely get it when people on far more modest incomes do it). So really it's a structural change needed. Jack certainly wasn't a criminal for avoiding it. Far as anyone knows, everything he did was perfectly legal, so we'll just agree that he is a legend for willingly pouring the money into his club and in turn helping the whole area. He was obviously a fine businessman in the steel industry too. Jack Walker, Blackburn Legend, plain and simple.

Thank you, Dicksteel, Undercover Rovers Fan. Could make that into a TV show.

I noticed that in another game. It seems like they've decided blocks by players don't count as shots on target, only if it was saved by a goalie. Weird.

Although true, none of that makes him plonk strikers on the wing or his various other positional musical chairs.

Nonsense booking against Bennett there. Thought he did well.

Dicksteel helping us again, what a Rovers legend. 1 goal, 1 assist for us so far. Edit - 2 assists sorry isn't it. He headed it against the goalie v Charlton so only an assist.

And who on the right??

Completely agree it's getting closer. Just wondering, what is your level of optimism the next Venkys roll of the dice will be better? Think I'd have already reached 'fire him' point if that grim spectre wasn't looming. I did for a while in that awful run after Jan. I don't know how much more of these lineups and results I can take before I shake that grim spectre's ethereal hand though.

It really is. Come on. Kean? After the Spurs and I think it was Everton games where we didn't have a shot (I think we had one right at the end of one of them)? I don't mean on target, I mean at all. Then he basically came out and said we played well. Not even then?

You thought Chapman was on the bench? That was optimistic mate...he's not in the squad.

Well, at least Cunningham has come in. It was always going to be Bennett at RB as captain today sadly. Wonder if he will cost us a goal today. Gally lining up at RW is disappointing. Edit - looking at BankEnd Rover's post above, I'm probably under-selling it with disappointing, in fairness! It's admittedly piss poor. In fact it might cause us more problems today than Benno at RB. Hopefully neither is the case and this post will look silly in a few hours. But damn is that right side looking worrying.

I agree, one day that tap is getting turned off. But I think the reason people see it that way is a simple one. They have form for keeping ploughing money in (the only exception being the firesale period, though I think the accounts still show money going in?) whereas their form for decent managerial appointments is shocking. I'm curious - I know like me you seem pretty fed up with TM, but do you want to roll the dice again? I'm near that point but it definitely fills me with trepidation.

If you want TM to tick along, you should probably take the need to win today more seriously. Thing is, it's very unlikely we will just tick along in this league indefinitely. Leaving aside the complete lack of hope that purgatory would fill us all with. When that becomes the plan, one season we're not gonna have enough, or get some bad luck, and go down again. Even if that doesn't happen, there's the rising debt mountain to Venkys. One day, however far in the future, you can expect that will get called in. The only way to reduce it is promotion.

No you're right, it's been a sustained process for quite some time now. You didn't think this antipathy has arisen overnight, surely? There have been big question marks since at least the close of the January window. Longer for some, but the way that window ended was the start of deep concern for me.

Must win for the manager. Not must win for the club. Not talking about his standing with the owners either, just the fans. Once the fans turn against you, you're on borrowed time, Venkys or no. Even Kean ended up resigning when they wouldn't pot him. Venkys have also gotten a bit more ruthless since then (though they seem to like TM so who knows). If this rut continues for long, it'll take a Herculean effort that I don't think he is capable of, to take that writing off the wall.

I think you're underestimating the turning tide on Mowbray. Today is must win in a lot of people's eyes because people are getting thoroughly fed up with Mowbray's decisions. Both in the market and on the pitch. We've lost our first two games and nearly got humbled by Oldham. Faith is being lost. We have tough games on the horizon and risk being cut adrift early after all that promotion talk. At home to another out of form side is the best chance we have to arrest this slide and restore some faith. A draw will merely be a stay of execution.

Nope, you've taken it entirely the wrong way. I simply wanted to know what caused you to form your opinion. Not sure why that has to be taken as trying to make a point or being petty. No 'comeback' will be needed, as, your sarcastic jabs in this post aside, nobody is insulting anybody. So thanks for sharing. Now that you have, I'll share my views on those points. I'm less concerned. I don't expect u-23 managers to have management experience. I know some do, but I don't see it as a prerequisite for that level. So that he has any at all is a bonus. Johnson has none whatsoever. I think the height a coach's playing career reached is overrated, for the same reason I don't think top players should walk into top jobs for their first gig. I certainly didn't want Shearer to be our manager before proving himself. It's not the same job. The experience helps of course, but plenty of top managers had uninspiring playing careers. Barr is also a good ten years older, which I assume he has spent in the game. That should help counter not playing at the top. We give Johnson all the credit it seems, for the u-23s doing well. But as the man pointed out himself, the lads are raised through numerous age levels by numerous coaches to get to where they are. One of those is Barr. Am I 'inspired' by it? No. But your tone has repeatedly suggested you don't just mean inspired in the literal sense. You have obviously taken the appointment negatively, as you said this will take our u-23s backwards. Personally I'm ambivalent about the appointment. We will see what happens of course. I can't honestly say Johnson gave me any particular thrills, with no real prior coaching experience, which is more important than prior playing experience because that's the actual job. I also wasn't sure Dunn had the right mentality to teach kids. Worked out fine.

Ok fine, so what do you know about him that has you so uninspired?

What do you know about the bloke that has you so set against him?

I'm aware. The potential consternation amuses me a tad though, I must admit.?

Give your head a wobble. He's dogshit on toast at RB.

I'm aware of what gets you on in life (sheer luck in the case of the other person in my example though). I don't want to go too much into my personal circumstances, but there are other issues at play in them. I'm over it, partly through knowing you need to just kick on, but I'm older. Nyambe is barely past being a kid. The manager simply hasn't given him a fair crack of the whip and looks unlikely to do so whatever Ryan does. Much like myself, it's time for the lad to move on somewhere his abilities will actually be appreciated. He's on a hiding to nothing here. He needs a move and to rebuild himself.

If he has gone backwards it's no surprise. I went backwards at my workplace for months not long ago after seeing somebody useless land a job in front of me too.