Blackburn continue to skirt around the play-off spots in a season many expected to be one of struggle for John Eustace's turn, but will a challenging January lead to yet another slump through the spring? We asked Ian Herbert from the BRFCS Podcast...

How's the season been for Blackburn?

Unexpectedly uplifting. Like finding out that dusty old painting in the loft that your grandma left you is actually a masterpiece and worth a few bob.

All the pre-season talk was of how on earth Eustace could reasonably be expected to make anything meaningful from the rag, tag & bobtail squad he was presented with at the end of the summer window but to his eternal credit he has seemingly mastered alchemy.

That said, never underestimate the ability of the great and the good around Ewood to burn down our aspirations like some Los Angeles real estate.

Rovers in the league so far…
Blackburn 4-2 Derby Dolan 19, Weimann 72, Szmodics 76, Ohashi 84 – Nelson 67, Wilson 88
Norwich 2-2 Blackburn Sargent 65, Sainz 73 – Hodges 20, Ohashi 87
Blackburn 2-1 Oxford Rankin-Costello 45, Sigurdsson 83 – Harris 44
Burnley 1-1 Blackburn Foster 10 – Weimann 23
Blackburn 3-0 Bristol City Travis 17, Ohashi 55, 70
Preston 0-0 Blackburn
Blackburn 2-0 QPR Travis 53, Batth 63
Coventry 3-0 Blackburn Bidwell 11, Wright 48, Thomas-Asante 84
Plymouth 2-1 Blackburn Obafemi 15, Whittaker 90 – Rankin-Costello 86
Blackburn 1-0 Swansea Dolan 13
Blackburn 0-0 West Brom
Watford 1-0 Blackburn Kayembe pen 71
Blackburn 0-2 Sheff Utd Burrows 16, Campbell 64
Blackburn 0-2 Stoke Manhoef 57, Cannon pen 85
Cardiff 1-3 Blackburn Turnbull 73 – Weimann 15, 54, Baker 86
Boro 0-1 Blackburn Hyam 77
Blackburn 1-0 Leeds Cantwell pen 22
Hull 0-1 Blackburn McLoughlin og 20
Sheff Wed 0-1 Blackburn Gueye 68
Blackburn 2-0 Luton Cozier-Duberry 32, Beck 40
Millwall 1-0 Blackburn Ivanovic 90
Blackburn 2-2 Sunderland Ohashi 13, Leonard 90 – Rigg 51, Isidor 55
Blackburn 0-1 Hull Longman 77
Leeds 1-1 Blackburn Struijk pen 88 – Batth 90
Blackburn 0-1 Burnley Flemming 60
Blackburn 3-0 Portsmouth Gueye 61, Brittain 71, Weimann 76
Oxford 1-0 Blackburn Brannagan 67
Blackburn 0-2 Coventry Ellis 41, Thomas-Asante 48
Bristol City 2-1 Blackburn Twine 12, Wells 77 – Weimann 40
Blackburn 2-1 Preston Gueye 39, Cantwell pen 78 – Potts 90

Results have obviously dropped off of late, as they often seem to do with Rovers after Christmas, is that an inevitable regression to the mean or something more serious?

Rovers ‘Groundhog Day’, second half of the season tail-offs are becoming so reliable that we half expect them to feature in diaries/calendars…you know, “New Year’s Day”, “Burns Night”, “Blackburn Rovers Annual Fight Against Promotion Begins”…that kind of thing.

If you start the season with a decent starting XI, but a real lack of depth in the squad, the temptation is to overplay your talent. Fatigue builds, injuries inevitably accrue, suspensions kick in and before you know it, you’re playing a team including three kids from the nearby crèche, a couple of centre backs who retired in 1988 and a bloke who, whilst still in a plaster cast “can probably do a job” according to the manager on a local radio interview.

The January window is usually treated at Rovers as an opportunity to demonstrate that frugality and prudence are eminently desirable traits and the traditional drift to mid-table is initiated. Except for last season of course where we decided to try flirting with relegation to see if that better engaged the fans. We do seem to be trying to strengthen as the deadline looms, but “too little, too late” is the feeling at time of writing.

How's the mood? Because per our discussions in the summer I'd be delighted with where Blackburn are, but I wonder if that has heightened expectations and people are now aggy with one win in nine?

There is a growing discontent with the inactivity of the owners. We have PSR headroom, we’ve brought in chunky fees for Wharton, Szmodics, Kaminski; a sell on for Raya and somehow extorted money out of Stoke City for Gallagher & Ennis but little of it has been reinvested.

Eustace has performed minor miracles, but what are Venky’s wanting out of this relationship? Why are they still here? What is their objective? Do they even remember that they own us? It was a mystery when they arrived…it remains so today.

General consensus on John Eustace?

The fans are majorly sympathetic to the plight of John Eustace and recognise what he’s up against. He seems to have won the respect and admiration of the squad and as such has galvanised the club, not unlike when Tony Mowbray brought sound common sense to the madhouse around him. The vast majority absolve him from any blame for the fall off in form.

If you employ an electrician to re-wire your house but only let him use a saw, a chisel and a bread knife, don’t be surprised if results aren’t what you need/expect. Somehow, Eustace has got the floorboards up, gaffer taped some of the rotting insulation and suggested that buying a new fuse box might help.

We’ll see if the footballing equivalent of Wickes is visited over the next 72 hours…

January transfer window. How's it gone? More Indian tax law fun?

The owners seem to be running Rovers as a self-funding entity. No problem with that per-se, it’s their prerogative - but why don’t they just sell up if that’s the case? It’s akin to buying a restaurant, not wanting ever to redecorate or buy new furniture, employ a decent chef or agree on a menu. The bills get paid but it doesn’t make any sort of sense. Consequently, Rovers are middle-aisle in Aldi shopping when we really need a bit of Waitrose quality…even Sainsbury’s…Asda…Spar…anything…just give Eustace the tools to do the job…

The court case? Deferred once again…the Indian legal system possibly the only process more ponderous than agreeing a purchase order at Ewood.

Summer Ins >>> Makhtar Gueye, 26, CF, RWDM (Belgium), £1.5m >>> Yuki Ohashi, 28, CF, Hiroshima (Japan), £1m >>> Balázs Tóth, 26, GK, Fehervar, £1m >>> Todd Cantwell, 26, AM, Rangers, £500k >>> Aodhan Doherty, 18, LW, Linfield, £100k >>> Andreas Weimann, 32, AM, Bristol City, Free >>> Danny Batth, 33, CB, Norwich, Free >>> Jack Barrett, 22, GK, Everton, Free >>> Amario Cozier-Duberry, 19, RW, Brighton, Loan >>> Lewis Baker, 29, AM, Stoke, Loan >>> Owen Beck, 22, LB, Liverpool, Loan

Winter Outs >>> Kyle McFadzean, 37, CB, Chesterfield, Free >>> Jake Garrett, 21, DM, Tranmere, Loan >>> Connor O’Riordan, 21, CB, Crewe, Loan >>> Dilan Markanday, 23, RW, Orient, Loan

Where is the team weak? Where does it need strengthening?

Injuries in all departments have made life difficult. We’ve lost a goalkeeper, centre backs, full backs, midfielders and forwards at various points. After the home fixture against Coventry we had a very serviceable entire first XI unavailable to Eustace.
Things have eased with the recent return of Travis and Batth but we could do with options in all areas frankly. Creating and scoring is our biggest challenge. The additions of loan signing defender Sanderson & (contract cancellation) midfielder Forshaw smacked of desperation. The permanent signing of Kargbo from Serie B Cesena this weekend smacks of a decent gamble - one of those you probably have to take when you have no money.

Where is it strong? Player of the year candidates?
Two summers ago we sent Danny Batth away from the training ground after negotiations broke down because he wanted a two year deal & we would only offer him one. Last summer we offered him a one year deal & we will almost certainly try to keep him given his consistency of performance - go figure…

Alongside Batth’s calm assurance, Hyam seems to have regained his sure touch that he demonstrated when he first joined and they have proved to be a resolute duo. In front of them is the defensive midfield axis of Tronstad & Travis who have provided much-needed midfield steel this season. In the BRFCS POTM polls; it’s tight at the top between Travis, Tronstad, Batth and on loan full back Owen Beck.

Revised expectations for the season?

Still being in the conversation for the play-offs with two or three games to go would be amazing after last season’s tribulations. I still fear a southerly drift and us finishing eighth or ninth because that’s just what we do. That said, no finger nails are expected to be chewed on the final day because of relegation fears…is it too much to hope for a daring win at already promoted Sheffield United to usher in a play-off appearance for the first time since dropping down from the PL?

Links >>> Rovers official website >>> Official website >>> Lancashire Telegraph — Local Paper >>> BRFCS message board and podcast >>> Rovers Chat — Blog

Pictures - Reuters Connect

TacticalR added 17:49 - Feb 4 Thanks to Ian. I am always curious to see how Eustace is doing because of his time as assistant manager at QPR. Things seem to have stabilised at Blackburn compared to when the Venkys first took over, but from what you describe Eustace is still having to paper over some cracks.
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