JBFC II

Perhaps, but the number is still higher and certainly doesn’t point to things being a lot worse under Holden. Ultimately, Holden was relieved of his duties at the right time, and unless Pearson can start winning a few games it’s going to get to the point where he will have to be as well

So you think calling Johnson a midget and blaming him for where we are 2 and a half years later is providing a positive input? Right..l

Are we? Holden was sacked with a 1.44 points per game record. Pearson is currently on 1.09, which is only 0.04 higher than O’Driscoll and 0.06 higher than Mcinnes. If anything, Holden was an improvement on what we’re seeing currently

Let’s resort to insults now why don’t we, cos that’s just what we need right now…

Can’t argue with that, I would argue that 2 and a half years on one would hope we’d be seeing some slightly improved performances on the pitch now. Johnson and Ashtons legacy isn’t strong enough now to be used as an excuse imo, it’s getting to the stage where the blame lies more on Pearsons shoulders than it does on his predecessors

Hasn’t Pearson just said there is money to spend this January?

Considering Pearsons tactical decisions today, I’m not sure how much Johnson is affecting what we’ve seen this afternoon really. We have a decent enough squad now, and certainly one that should be putting in better performances than what we’ve seen today

Two and a half years later I’d say Johnson isn’t a ‘big part’ of the performances we are seeing today. Those who have come since need to start taking responsibility and not blaming things on a manager who left 30 months ago

I think much of it is a question over who is out there who is better placed. Its getting to the point now though that the situation he was dealt with when he joined is becoming irrelevant

I agree, you would hope we would start to look better by now. Yet we really don’t. And it just gets worse…

I’d be prepared to give him till the end of February. If we’re still working at a 20% win rate by then then changed would have to be made. Still intrigued over what makes him a ‘proper manager’ though, outside of success he had 8+ years ago

Maybe a change of manager needed then? Pearson has had time, and has brought players in in order to change things. However it still doesn’t seem to be working. I hope we give him more time as I want it to work, but I can’t see how it is going to

If Johnson was in the dugout for this he would be getting heavily criticised, not being called a ‘proper manager’. I struggle to see what people have seen during his time here to make such a statement about him

No, I am intrigued. I have plenty of time for Pearson, and considering the sinking ship he inherited I’d certainly give him more time. However, in what way has he proved himself to be a ‘proper manager’ during his time with us?

Intrigued to hear what there is you’ve seen this season that makes you believe Pearson to be a ‘proper’ manager in modern day football?

Biggest cheer of the afternoon as Atkinson comes on. Not that that will make an ounce of difference to Pearsons stubbornness though…

We started to look like a threat at the end there. West Brom are a poor side though, and that started to show. Feels like the whistle came just at the wrong time but if we can continue in that ascendancy we may be able to grab ourselves an equaliser

Should be 2-0, totally one way traffic. Pearson may speak well and be refreshingly honest, but if this was a Lee Johnson team playing like this he would be getting crucified by certain sections. We can’t even blame injuries any more, this is really poor

Rovers score a penalty Who'd have thought it...

It’s like if we got promoted, we’d be taking thousands most weeks. For them a visit to hillsbrough or Pride Park is similar to what a visit to Newcastle was for us when they came down, or a visit to the Ethiad was in the Cup…

Its all about balance. We've made huge strides in numerous areas over Pearsons tenure and considering the financial limitations hes overall done OK I'd say. However, today again showed how many basic things we are still getting wrong, which is frustrating to see from such an experienced manager

I'm sure you were praising Pearson when things were going well, in the same vein he has to take some criticism when we are playing poorly and getting comfortably beaten by reading without a shot on target?

What's a penalty? And how do we get one?

Must be why so few rovers fans turned up. They all thought it was a trip westwards and so are currently somewhere in the Atlantic trying to make the game…

290 of them there tonight, fair play to all who went, one hell of a midweek trek. Can't imagine we'll hear many of then crowing about their away support tonight though...