So you agree but you still snipe. There will be no youngsters on Monday, they have an important game on Tuesday.

It was for me in February and March. Now, having made this phase of the season worthless, it’s all about planning for next season. We will start next season with the same questions unanswered and no nearer. I’d have preferred Fisher having a run out today than Leutweiler who won’t be here next season anyway. We couldn’t as he’s out on loan. Will we be saying the same about some of our other youngsters? Anyway don’t be sorry. Enjoy the win. I’m glad Rovers won, it’s better than losing but it means nothing in real terms (e.g. financially) and it came at an opportunity cost.

These are dead rubber games, Paul. Winning them is nice but means nothing in the scheme of things. I’m surprised you needed telling. Oh wait, you were scoring points. Ok, crack on.

Not sure that you’ve been proven wrong yet, Tom. We are now in the territory of accepting that he has the Summer transfer window to improve the first team. Do you have any confidence - at all - that the starting line up in August will be any different (or better, I don’t count Smallwood coming in for Evans) than today’s?

I get the sentiment but we’ve gained nothing today. We already know that Dack, Rothwell and Travis on the pitch at the sane time is what is needed. We’ve learned nothing about Leutweiler. He already needed to be replaced and still does. Brereton got 5 minutes. Not enough time for him or Rovers to gain anything but I guess it counts as an appearance. We’ve learned nothing about whether any other youngsters - from a special group no less - can step up. Always nice to win but it’s too little too late. We didn’t run out of games, we ran out of ambition. On 1st Feb.

There’s something about Rodwell that I just don’t like. He seems so dispassionate. Like a robot, going through the motions of being a footballer.

If only there was someone at the club who agreed with you...

If ever a game summed up our season.

Leutweiler gets another minute added on and a booking.

Neither has Leutweiler.

Leutweiler is an absolutely shocking “goalkeeper”.

That is irrelevant to the question.

Ref bottled that. It was a definite red. Two footed on Bennett off the ball.

glad to hear it. Just Reading on there some classy individuals calling a disabled bloke a ‘THE WORD I HAVE TRIED TO USE DESERVES A BAN’ and a ‘bedstain’ for asking some thoughtless Rovers fans to sit down because he has the cheek to want to watch the game. Imagine standing in front of a disabled chap and telling him you don’t care if he can’t see. What kind of person does that?

Trav did well to win that. Cleverly tricked the defender. You won’t see a clearer penalty.

Get in! 1-0 Graham

You’d be right at home on The Rovers Facebook group.

Bell looks like he’s put a bit of weight on. Edit: not necessarily a bad thing

If this finishes 0-0 will Leutweiler get a new contract?

Question: In the PL era, are former attackers better managers than former defenders? Attacker: sharper, both reactive and proactive, more liable to take risks, more confident, their reward is a goal? Midfielder: greater vision, quicker of thought, more adaptable Defenders: slower, more risk averse, more worries about the opposition than their own strengths, their reward is no goals? Bowyer = full back Mowbray = centre back Berg = centre back Hughes = striker Dalglish = striker Souness = midfielder Wenger = midfielder Guardiola = midfielder Ferguson = striker Southgate = defender and midfielder

Lol! Mowbray giving Leutweiler a run out - presumably a reward for his loyalty and commitment sitting in the bench all season. Armstrong and Graham start. No U23s at all. I assume Conway is injured?

Which is why it needs to be quicker. Immediate even. Had VAR immediately called offside against Aguero before the ball was in the net there would have been none of this. The trouble is that football had already introduced a new rule to counter offside interruptions and that is the “phase of play” rule. For VAR to work it needs to be immediate and not wait for a ruling on the build up, after the event. Very soon, every goal will be ruled on to see if anything went on in the build up. A handball that hasn’t been spotted; a stray arm in an offside position based on a freeze-frame; a nudge that is later deemed too strong and is retrospectively called a foul. The real issue on Wednesday, which has been quietly overlooked is: why didn’t the linesman flag for offside? Was it that he didn’t dare and figured that VAR would make the call? If VAR is to be used for offsides then it needs to replace linesmen, not be their crutch. Ultimately the decision was correct but even as a neutral it went from “what a moment!” to “oh, what a let down”. Even Sky Sports updated their “live” commentary to erase what had just happened. It is the right idea but badly executed.

He only gives young players game time when he absolutely has to through injury. He stumbled on Travis - a full back who was converted to a centre mid. (Something Mowbray cannot take credit for either). Yet Mowbray still thinks S&E are better midfielders. Magloire came in when we were desperate, did well, and hasn’t been seen since. Captain for the U23s though now. If he is giving the youth a chance, he will do so in this last few games. And not with 5-10 minute cameos. Let’s see. (I hope you are right and he does).

Your post makes a bold assumption that Venkys have interest in Rovers and want certain things to happen - let’s add in the further assumption that it isn’t because of a love for the club but to protect their investment, and ultimately promotion and money. I imagine then that Venkys would be less than thrilled that, when within three points of the play-offs (and lots of cash) and with a cheque book being flashed at him, he decided as you suggest: ‘actually, all that Madame has asked is for survival so I won’t bother trying any harder or putting myself under any further pressure, I can go back to India in the Summer and tell them I’ve succeeded rather than raise expectations and fail’. For them to accept that then it assumes they don’t know what is going on and aren’t really involved in the running of the club, preferring to leave everything to Steve and Tony to get on with things. Which is contrary your point. I feel that the explanation is even simpler. We have owners who don’t care and a manager with very limited ambitions. Fortunately, last season the players were superior and their ambitions were higher, and Tony left the senior players to get on with it. Right up until the Charlton game when he stepped in to avoid raising expectations - as you say once he had reached ‘the target’ (promotion). So you maybe have a point but I’d be more inclined to believe that Mowbray was setting his own targets rather than being given them by Venkys - or even his old Coventry mate Waggott. Anyway, back to the minutiae...

Strange that, eh?