Given Matt Clarke had won three player of the year awards in succession, was obviously out of favour at Brighton and a good age at 25 years old I can't help thinking we've messed up an opportunity to bring in someone who undoubtedly would have improved the side. Especially at that fee. Should've been in for him weeks ago.

To compare: August 2021 https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19527935.blackburn-rovers-boss-tony-mowbray-west-bromwich-albion-clash/ “It’s a very difficult team to play against, as Sheffield United - another team who came down from the Premier League - found in midweek. We’re looking forward to the challenge of it, but we understand it’s a big challenge.” February 2022 https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/tony-mowbray-sends-warning-to-his-blackburn-team-ahead-of-west-brom-clash/ “I’ve felt that in the Forest game recently, the two strikers, you could feel their potency. I thought we were on top in the game, and yet every time the ball got transitioned to their strikers you could feel their threat. I think West Brom have players like that.”

Sorry to disappoint but Alan Nixon's "exclusive" went out on the 23rd July - https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19297029/blackburn-loan-liverpool-tyler-morton-exclusive/ His signing was being talked about on here 2 days earlier. I'm pretty sure there was a tweet in the morning of the 21st/22nd with a story to say it was happening too by another journalist - possibly The Mail?

I thought Markanday looked well off the pace and missed a couple of sitters. Of the players that started I'd say Dolan, Dack, Morton, Edun looked like they'd step into the current XI without any issues. Question marks over the rest for me but a lot of that is because of age/experience. Think JRC could do with loaning out - I don't think he's anywhere near first team standard but that would leave no cover.

He'll get on next week at Swansea (I can't see us holding on to a lead with 20 min to go and will be chasing the game) and will start a few days later against Hartlepool where he'll get MOM. Put him in that front 4 and his class will come through, there's 9 other players that can run around.

For all those jumping on posters saying GB shouldn't be / doesn't need to be doing interviews, I'd suggest the manager shouldn't be coming out with quotes such as "I think that’s a question for Gregg." when asked what's happening on transfers.

Not sure how true but a North End supporting mate of mine told me yesterday that he still lives locally and his wife hasn't been well over the last year (might explain head not being in it at Sheffield). A move to Rovers would probably suit him and whilst we might not pay as much as the other teams linked, not having to uproot may give us an edge.

Pretty sure Raya went on loan to Southport early in his career who couldn't have been too many levels if any above Bamber Bridge at the time. Seemed to go OK for him. I've no idea about the lad but I expect 5 months out of his comfort zone there would do more for his development than sharing U18 duties for the first half of the season.

There are 3 Bundesliga clubs looking for a new manager - Borussia Mönchengladbach, Augsburg and Schalke. If we're waiting for Farke, I can see him waiting for those openings to close first by which time it will be time to return to pre-season training... 😕

Clutching at straws and looking for positives... Had a look at Ferguson's record: 3-1 v Chelsea (H) 1-1 v Man Utd (A) 2-2 v Leicester (H) - Lost on Pens in league cup 0 0 v Arsenal (A) 0-1 v Aston Villa (H) The first set of results aren't bad and is it worth considering he'll have taken over sides short of confidence on the back of crap runs? 100% there are better options out there but if it happens it's nowhere near the level of Owen Coyle disappointment.

Only if they're selling them at £2,800! There's an extra 0 in there - £476,000. But still...

Another one from Fulham.. Read that Alfie Mawson has been released - defender, 28 years old and signed for up to £20m 4 years ago. Admittedly don't know much about him but given options at the back - worth a look?

I suspect "sporting director" is likely to involve merging multiple roles into one and cutting a wage - will we bring in a new head of recruitment or is that on the new role I wonder...

Officials in this league... No excuse tho, performances have been shite for weeks. Would still be nil if they were playing now.

Is the match centre missing on the Rovers site? Paid for today's match pass but cant see where to watch 😕 If anybody can see it (the match centre) would they mind posting a link...? Edit. Live now

Ayala just gone out. Lenehan to RWB?

All the subs are sat down ffs

Gallagher, Kadra & JRC off for Markandy, Davenport & Brown please and back to 3-5-2. The one grace here is they look shit when we've stepped it up.

We needed 3 in midfield at the weekend. Don't understand why after losing our most defensive midfielder we'd then change it to 2 bodies in there. Can't see a way back in to this game with this system.

Not my team but predicted line up. No chance of seeing my preferred starting XI with Davenport & Chapman in there... ,

Back to Arma up front please. He was the main man after Dack's injury but since he's been moved around to accommodate others he seems to have gone off the boil. Walton Nyambe Lenihan Tosin Bell Travis Johnson Gallagher Downing Rothwell Armstrong

First time at an U23s game but have been to the cup games (checkatrade?) when the young lads were involved. Seeing the line up there were 8 players I was aware of/seen before - Hilton, Barnes, JRC, Mols, Davenport, Chapman, Butterworth & Samuel. Keen eye on those but for me it was the right back who impressed most. He was talked through the first half a lot by the manager but I thought he did very well. Opposite sides but reminded me of Jay McEveley when he came into the first team at 17. No idea of his age (or name - Isaac something?) but looked full of promise. I thought Hilton looked decent - should have been given a chance in the league cup. Seemed to have good kicking ability. Harry Chapman. Sink or swim time. He clearly can't motivate himself at that level. He's got talent - give him a chance in the first team, if that fails I think it's best for all that he moves on. Shame because with the right management he'd be a multimillion pound player. Davenport - kept it simple, similar type of player to Evans - can we bin Evans and stick him on the bench please. Poor performance but saw enough ability in fits and bursts that some of them would do no worse than the regulars in the first XI. Shame they won't get a chance given the size of the bloated squad.

Can't say I buy into this 'Chapman has an attitude'. I only follow the U23s via what's online but it seems as though he had a run of games where he was scoring / assisting yet has remained where he is. Samuel does similar but is straight onto the bench at the first opportunity and subsequently getting on the pitch. If I was Harry Chapman I'd be a little bit pissed off too. It's got to be demoralising thinking it doesn't matter how he plays for the U23s, he won't be near the first team on a Saturday.

Some stats: Since the turn of the year we've played 35 league games and gained 43 points = 56 points if averaged out over a season. Remove January when we won 4 in a row and it's 31 points in 31 games. Not quite relegation but still 19th/20th position and a million miles away from where this squad should be finishing. Since the start of 2018/2019 - 60 games - 75 points - 1.25 a game = 15th/16th place. Total Championship games (inc 2016/2017) 75 games - 97 points = 1.29 points = approx 59 points over a season. Thank you for promotion from League 1 but I think he's had long enough now to show that the current league position is as best as can be expected in the Championship. I notice there are mentions of Gary Bowyer throughout the thread - for comparison, in 2.5 seasons under GB and then Lambert we finished 8th, 19th and then matched last seasons finish of 15h. I'm hoping for Middlesborough to give up on Woodgate and come calling - I think that would be the ideal situation for all parties. I just can't see him being pushed - it's far too comfortable for him at Rovers.

Given it sounds like Williams & Tosin won't be risked I'd like to see... Give Brereton a go in his proper position...