Realistic? Grim.

Pears at United? A partnership made in heaven.

Stoke move the ball crisply and accurately and of course have a fantastic keeper. They are much better now than the side we played off the park in our 2-0 loss at Ewood. And of course in Gally, Ennis and Moran have three players with big points to prove against us. Moran is a much better player now than he was for Rovers. The one hope we have is they tend to switch off in defence.

We need to see at Stoke.

This and Cardiff are absolute must win to stay in play-off contention.

The side I would have picked from.players available

Irrespective of our generosity at Derby and Luton, the bottom three look done at this stage. Top two could easily go to the last day of the season. 6th almost certainly will do with a chance whoever is in 5th will pull away.

My goodness, a Blackburn Rovers thread getting wound up about not being able to recruit Eastbourne's manager. Are we in the Blackburn Combination now?

You don't spend £400k a year to get a clapped out septuagenarian so so football agent.

Reading the local Derby rag, they have an insane amount of injuries going into this game.

Derby 7 points adrift now so two desperate sides facing off on Saturday with a side helping of angst. Recipe for a 0-0 bore draw or a stupid amount of drama and bathos. Probably more red cards than goals...

If the players have any professional pride, they will be totally up for this. Eustace is a good manager but doesn't have the players. I expect them to be highly motivated but if both sides play to their maximum, Rovers have this. Dennis being suspended and Buckley out till the break makes team selection a bit more straightforward for Ismael.

A goal difference of 9 behind the club we beat 2-0 on their ground just three games ago...

5th is success 6th is where he found us 7th is failure If we are to have Rory's 15 games, 5th is essential because Sunderland over two legs is a whole different ball game than whoever comes 3rd over two legs.

Donne une pause à cet homme, il vous a écrit une lettre et vous etes en train de piquer une crise de colère.

Got my wish of an appointment in time for Valerien to take at least two training sessions before Saturday. One huge difference is that neither we nor norwich have the first clue what our side or tactics will be whereas both us and Swansea knew the Rovers side 24 hours before the last match. If all fit, the Norwich front line can score against anyone but equally anyone can score against their back line. Key is going to be cutting off supply to their forwards so here's hoping Tronstad is good to start and picks up the form he had before his injury and we strangle midfield.

Congratulations and wishing you all the good fortune Valerien. Hugely relieved Lowe is not in charge against Norwich The countdown on Rovers welching on promises to Ismael has started. Hopefully he departs like Lambert, Thomason and Eustace.

New manager bounce please

Like the emphasis on shooting when the goal is in sight. JDTball and JEball had too much walking it into the net. Reducing side to side passing is all very well but it increases the risk of turnovers and with Pears in goal, we haven't got a keeper who can reliably bail us out.

Chaddy, I think you need to spend more time on this message board. I am ok with VI. Could have been an awful lot worst. Really important he is signed up this afternoon so we get new manager bounce against Norwich.

I will give Ismael a chance. If Rangers can appoint Barry Ferguson, we could have appointed Damien Duff..

David Lowe completely messed up at Swansea so probably gets the chance to mess up this 6 pointer too. Norwich are a shoot on sight outfit so keeper position is a nightmare choice. Close to a full squad to select from so Ribeiro apart, our January significant investment will disappear without trace.

I would take win 6 draw 4 in our next 10...

If no appointment in the next 48 hours, the process will be overrunning. Person needs to be in place to oversee training ahead of the Norwich game. Pretty neutral on Ishmael and Wagner. Neither good nor bad. Still suspect an unexpected name is in the frame.

600k is a tiny fraction of what Kean was paid.