I was there. Mate from Sheffield worked for a record company and that seemed to open doors for tickets at most grounds. Don’t to this day know how that worked. Anyway we had tickets in with the Liverpool fans on the side near the away end. Remember Shearer’s goal arrowing in from the edge of the area and Redknapp looking sheepish when he scored. His free kick was right in front of us. My heart sank and my head was in my hands. Then the away end went ballistic and I realised we were champions. Turns out there were several Rovers fans in the same section as we all went mental. Liverpool fans quite happy to let us celebrate. Seeing the team, Kenny, Tony and Jack on the pitch lifting the trophy was priceless. The finest unbelievable achievement of our extraordinary town team. A dream come true. Thank you Uncle Jack. Best club owner ever. ….How far we have fallen. Had a few beers and don’t remember much about the journey back to Sheffield. Shout out to Ian Leach who got the tickets, drove me there and helped me into my house when we got back. Happy days!

I heard Trav’s response too. A guy called him out and told him he was shit. His response was ‘you’re calling me shit? I’m the one who’s shit?. He was clearly fizzing but appeared to be struggling to hold it together even before this. He didnt say anything offensive to the fan. But the inference I take is that he thought there were people in his team more worthy of being called shit than he was. And I reckon he was probably right. Tronstad was right behind him and kept his eyes elsewhere. Hyam was ahead and did the ridiculous clapping walk without emotion or connection. Ohashi looked gutted. He bowed slightly with hands together when someone praised him for his goal but he looked genuinely disconsolate and apologetic. Maybe they’d all have been better disappearing down the tunnel at full time (like the manager). Maybe they needed to hear some of the fans anger. For my part it was pretty obvious they knew they had performed poorly..and they had. But taking our frustrations out directly on individual players is unlikely to improve their performance or their connection to the fan base and misses the real targets. The careless loss of Eustace..clearly an important influence..the appointment of someone who said he wouldn’t interfere much but has clearly confused them..the general running down of a proud, successful club that represented us and we could be proud of. Those making those decisions are really the ones to blame as others have said. It’s no surprise that the wheels are coming off. I despair.

Ty Dolan is a conundrum for me. He seems a genuinely nice guy and I want him to succeed and see a lot of quality in him. His work rate is exceptional and his skill with the ball at his feet is terrific but execution and decision making hasn’t really progressed a deal since Mowbray promoted him to the first team squad. Watching Roberts and Rigg at the weekend showed the difference: they almost always progressed play and their trickery with the ball resulted in something. We don’t see that often enough with Ty. Can that be coached? I’m not sure. He’s has three coaches that see something in him and obviously believe in him but haven’t been able to coach a ‘difference maker’ into him. He’s still young and there is hope that he will gain the composure and football brain that he seems to lack but I’m not sure he will. If he chooses to leave then so be it. I don’t think he’s irreplaceable but he’s the kind of guy fans…especially younger ones..can really warm to and be a role model for. As a long term supporter I’ve always prized decent human beings who represent our club because I want to feel proud of the club not just the club’s results. Ty is in that bracket. I just feel there is more his skill set could produce on the field and am frustrated that we don’t see it often enough.

Brilliant performance from Trav today. Excellent going forward and a wonderful defence splitting pass for the second goal but equally important in the defensive third. Worthy of his captains armband and epitomises what Rovers are about(and have characteristically always been about): work hard, don’t be flashy, be tough as nails and surprise a few with moments of quality. COYB!

Eustace likes to have one full back free to move forward and the other moving in to make a back 3 when we have the ball. Was Brittain initially and then Beck on the other side for the last two games. With Pickering back I suspect he’ll go for Brittain rather than Carter at right back. Which for me means Batth would miss out in the back four. Also means that the winger that drops in would be on the right side where JRC was playing in the first few games. I think Weimann could do that well but it might be Hedges whom he seems to like. In any event we need an improvement on the last match in terms of creativity. Maybe he’ll do something completely different. At least he’s shown he will change something that isn’t working…a concept that JDT struggled with and we haven’t had a mad Mowbrayesque detour like a central midfielder as a false nine either. I think the guy works stuff out pretty quickly and I’m interested to see what he chooses to do. I’m developing some faith in him. He seems to fit this team and our club right now and it’s hard to argue with results so far this season.

Great stuff ..as usual. Keep it going!

I’m prepared to give Rudy a chance. As they say over here ´l’ll take as I find’. Not going to write him off before he starts, especially not on innuendo. But he has to deliver on his promises.

My first game too. Can still remember the sound of the ball smacking his great big forehead and rocketing in. Bloody freezing night and packed in the biggest crowd I’ve ever experienced at Ewood. Exciting stuff for a young lad and looks like it started a life of following the Rovers for more than one of us. 👍

I see JDT is getting his ideas across to the players 😳

Evidence of JDTs one/two touch philosophy tonight. Time on training pitches working out. This team is a joy to watch. Not everything comes off but the intent is obvious.

Yes I do. And at the risk of opening a different debate I think that’s interchangeable with Rovers, t’Rovers and the Rovers. Never Blackburn. And I do think it’s presumptuous of you to question my Rovers supporting credentials.

Some of whom travel 180 miles each home game to watch the Rovers. Love the Peddlers Market. 👍

Not sure I agree. There is alternative commentary elsewhere on the Rovers. Much of it intelligent and researched. Take a look at Rovers Chat.

Indeed. Just your opinion. Not necessarily better than anyone else’s…as the volume of differing opinions shows (elsewhere) . We all love the Rovers.

So maybe some humility about the prospect that BRFCS doesn’t have a monopoly on attitude would be appropriate? No? I didn’t think so

Done. Good luck. No one can deny your passion for the long suffering supporters of this football club and the extent to which you put yourself ‘out there’ in the defence of our heritage . Your experience should be invaluable to the FSA. If all goes well and you are elected would love to get updates on here about the deliberations within the FSA and the actions you take.

Really like it. 9/10. Proper blue is the most important thing for me. Never been a fan of red on the shirt, so like it that there is not much and the collar is white. Also think it’s good to have a sponsor that’s not a betting company.

Thanks guys. Good job all round. A really good listen. Thanks for the insights into the life of a referee. Especially the Rovers connections. The Ronnie Moore story is class especially as I live in the area. A local hero and acknowledged nutter. Still looking for a job in football in the local paper recently. Hope you had a twitter response from him. For arbitro, climbing that far in a short space of time is impressive especially as the system is so competitive..and you tell a good story. Enjoyed the podcast a lot. Thanks.

Yes Alejandro. We support a fabulous football club with a long and illustrious history, an iconic and beautiful kit and a record of achievement unsurpassed by any town of similar size. Present difficulties should not be a reason to deter you or any other fans from celebrating and supporting the Rovers. We have a history of punching above our weight, overcoming obstacles and representing with honour a Northern town itself characterised by the honest endeavour of straightforward folk. Be proud.

Ok Guys. I’m clearly out of step with the prevailing attitudes and mores on here. I don’t apologise for my stance. I’ve read almost every post on here for years as I love anything to do with the Rovers but it’s time to take a break. The constant Mowbray bashing is doing my head in anyway.

I would say that’s a better effort though it’s still national stereotyping. I thought your first post was crap because you made a pejorative comment about how you think Indian people interact with others (which read to me as dishonestly). A generalisation that you applied to a whole nation/culture. ...and a view that seemed to be based on some people you don’t like (Venkys) and the opinions of family/friends.

Wow. Is this kind of crap acceptable?

Surprised the only comment on MGP has been a negative one. Maybe not a first rank inductee but certainly a valiant gifted servant of our club who gave us his best years. Produced some marvellous moments and great goals and endured some of the worst times. Would certainly want him in the hall of fame at some point.

I really liked Bowyer. Was a decent man with integrity and intelligence and had a real eye for a player (perhaps aided by his dad? ) but he wasn’t able to reconstruct the club like Mowbray has. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think TM is perfect. And I doubt he does either. I just think he’s doing better than he’s given credit for on here.

Just for the record in view of the criticism TM has received on this thread. I, amongst a small number of others, have his back completely. It feels a bit like planting a galatasary flag in a fenerbache centre circle (if you catch my drift) but this bloke is the best thing to happen to Rovers for years and by miles our best manager since Sam ( and is a much better bloke IMV). We’ve had a bad run no question. But played top teams in the last four. He always said at the outset that we would win some and lose some this season but always hope to compete. And ultimately consolidate. As far as I can remember very few thought that unreasonable ...until we started losing a few. But he has been proved so far correct. We are not the finished article but we have a team that competes, a club that is functional, a structure in place, a connection with fans and he is ..again IMV...completely responsible for that. And I’m not going to be mealy mouthed and subject that to qualifications like ‘needs to do better’. He’s doing bloody fine in my book.