Matthew Gregory

Also quite curious as to how the NI fans feel about this...

Things fell off pretty sharply over his last year or so, but at least he's got experience of turning a ship around on broadly similar circumstances. Just not while also managing another team at the same damned time.

Think it's fair to add that while his final record with Stoke was middling, he did claw them out of the relegation zone in his first, partial, season, and could easily have made the play-offs the next season were it not for bad luck with injuries.

Given that he's been Northern Ireland manager for years already, I guess there's a case to be made that his systems are already in place - but it's hard not to worry about his time being divided between World Cup qualifying and a relegation battle. The stakes are high on both sides.

I have no issue with hiring Michael O'Neill in principle - better than most of the names being floated, surely - but taking him on in a joint role is a hell of a gamble given how precarious Blackburn's position is. There's a reason coaches rarely try splitting their time like that.

"We can't allow politics in sport," says the IOC as they make another political decision.

Seems pretty thinkable to me.

Can't help but feel that Gary Neville was being a bit over the top in describing Manchester City coming back from 1-0 down against Liverpool as "the unthinkable."

He's definitely not had much luck, but looked like he had no idea to get the attack going whatsoever. A tough gig for him, but probably not handled very well.

I don't entirely hate the Slaven Bilic rumour I've seen floating about... But I'd certainly trust Mowbray over just about anyone we could realistically get our hands on. Surely he fancies another salvage job...

A relief, sadly, to see Ismaël go. A gamble which didn't pay off, and new ideas were sorely needed. Someone must still have Tony Mowbray's number, right?

Persisting with Ismaël is starting to feel a little bit like persisting with Steve Kean, and that's a feeling I would prefer to leave firmly in the past.

We're going to build a squad and Preston will pay for it etc etc...

If Donald Trump is looking for somewhere else to invade now, might I suggest Ewood Park?

It's one of the few places currently run by people even less competent than him, after all. There's some chance he'd be a slight improvement.

Appears to be an old photo of Meopham in Kent.

A minor Panthers legend. Miss those hot routes already. And I'll always have that deep corner TD from a perfect Young pass against Tampa last season, which I'm glad I got to witness in person. The rest of the match, less so.

I'll miss Makhtar Gueye. He wasn't particularly good, admittedly, but the vibes were always immaculate and if you're going to support a bad team, then it's good to have some players that make you smile regardless. Best of luck in China, Pape.

I've never been so happy to be a fan of a losing sports team. Divisional champions at 8-9? NFC South football baby.

We're just over 13 hours into 2026 and Blackburn are already depressing me.

I can handle Blackburn being quite bad (god knows I'm used to it) and I can tolerate Blackburn being quite boring. Both at the same time is beginning to wear a little thin, however.

Thank you, Santa. I must be on the nice list.

And yes, the typo/cock-up in the original post is irritating me.

All of the above and more on this playlist, curated by a man who refuses to let go of the age of the mixtape.

open.spotify.com/playlist/4ra...

1. The Tubs - Cotton Crown

Like a scrappy pub band doing Fleetwood Mac, but a million times better than that sounds. The songwriting talent is astonishing, and the humour and heart with which it confronts the death of the singer's mother is breathtaking. The defintion of a five-star album.

2. CMAT - Euro-Country

I'm not generally a pop fan. But then pop isn't generally this good. The tunes are beyond impeccable and the lyrics first rate. Also a rare pop record by someone I imagine would be great to have a pint with.

3. Big Special - National Average

Angry, funny, imaginative and like very little else I've heard. Springs from sarcastic rage to soulful with grace and spittle, and some of the sharpest lyrics in the game.

4. Sprints - All That Is Over

The second Sprints album, and the second year in a row they're in my top five. Righteous, sometimes riotous punk which mixes the political, the deeply personal and big riffs. And they finally played a Newcastle show, and it was fabulous.

5. Baths - Gut

Sonically, a step back towards Obsidian in some ways, but there's a fresh layer of warmth and depth between the glitchy electronic indie and - most importantly - some gorgeous tunes at Gut's heart. And it has a ton of heart.

Every year, I 'take to social media' - as us journos say - to bore people with my five favourite albums of the year. Followed by my all-killer Best of 2025 playlist.

You may well not care. That's valid. But if you want some new tunes in, take them from a man with a Spotify listening age of 17.

All I want for Christmas is for Blackburn to hang on to a 1-0 lead.