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For this 90s kid, yes, it is. Appreciate for the older members of this parish one from one is a bit much 😁

Central midfield obviously weaken & centre back not enough depth. Overall weaken, but if Tavares can eventually comes good, and Hickman / Henriksson yet to show what they can do, i'll be willing to change my opinion.

Obviously easiest to remember the most painful examples... Sheffield United in the FA Cup we went to 5 at the back about a minute before they equalised, Preston away it was about 5 mins before Hedges missed his dinked sitter and Hyam buried the Preston equaliser.

I'm not convinced he had much influence on who was bought or sold. It was probably a case of Yes Rudy, thanks Rudy.

I only watched the 2nd half, but the main thing I took from our attacking prospects (ie Tyjon, Dunn, etc) is how lightweight they are. Technically good, of course, but if you can't handle the physical side, you'll never play at a high level. The 2 x CBs impressed me though, both comfortable on the ball, good distribution and some nice anticipation - especially from the lighter-haired lad.

3 from 5, good old days ?

I’m wracking my brain for an example and I just can’t think of one. I remember his game management being shocking though, or at least his response to unforced errors caused by over playing.

We need Tronstad, hes important to the team.

They could avoid such absurdities by only allowing three subs from five like the good old days.

withdrawn as a precaution according to Ismael via Jackson, which hopefully translates as "he is ok" Ismael noted his ability to make more changes from the bench with his squad now settled. Yuki Ohashi and Sondre Tronstad were withdrawn after taking whacks but those were precautions.

I would substitute Part with Most

He has scored 4 goals since 2022 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chicharito/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/50935/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id= & Rhodes got 4 last season in over 40 games (and is now retired) https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jordan-rhodes/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/48950

Rovers would probably claim different, although part of that is due to the continual downgrading of the first team

It doesn't seem to be working.

He did this regularly, it never worked and we would usually concede pretty much straight away but he often went to 3 at the back during a game.

@philipl some good points, the one thing we’d disagree on is the potential of JDT. I appreciate that this is impossible to actually “fact check” and is a subjective response, but I don’t think his tactics would’ve ever created consistent enough performances with us. Whilst it’s a throwaway statistic - Pears and our two centre halves at the time, had the most touches and possession. He refused to change tact at any point of a game, a system change (like the 3 CBs on Saturday) would’ve never happened. For all the issues he faced, despite the fact that his honesty was refreshing, and that some of our play at the time was excellent, overall - unless you’ve the best sweeper keeper in the league, and the most confident and technical defenders - his approach would’ve never worked IMO. His stubbornness by the end really irked me too. I fully appreciate that the goal posts moved for him and JE, but at least Eustace didn’t throw the club further under a bus by persevering with a system that simply wasn’t working.

A coach at U21/U18/U16 etc level is there first and foremost to progress players until they are capable of playing at the next level up

First team signings are often done a day o so before they are announced, to give them time to sort photos, social media nonsense etc, but it seems like a couple of weeks in this case, which seems odd, also still waiting on official confirmation of Finlay Wilkinson joining from Accrington, which apparently happened in July and he has appeared a few times for the U18s since

Consistently underwhelmed by the lack of game savvy from Sherron- perhaps a Coach at his level isn't there to win games? It was late 30s against boys and the boys didn't remotely try to run the legs off Rochdale. At the end the veterans looked fresher than our kids did.

Weird they're only just announcing it. When I posted it already had a photo of him that I thought was of him signing. Waiting for a slow club news day perhaps.

Propaganda/informative piece (depending upon your perspective) from the head of Rovers academy https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/september/17/bringing-players-through-is-just-what-we-do--says-paul/

Have we been given an update on Tronstad's injury? He's so important in the middle this season.

I have not read the article, but what does "all in" mean . All in behind him or all in against him ?

I don't know about "all in" but VI has a certain charisma which is more brooding presence than the brilliance and sparkle of JDT. Eustace had the charisma of a flat tire but I will own up to finding that sort of Midlands accent uninspiring. At a guess and being a long way removed from the scene, I would imagine Ismael is more straightforward to work for than either of his predecessors. I loved listening to JDT, admired how JE got Rovers to gel, applauded both for telling the club to F off, but Valerian is growing on me. No certainty in football, of all industries, but there are grounds for optimism in the Franco-Hungarian-Australian-Irish-Portuguese-Norwegian-Belgian-Japaneese-Icelander-Congolese-Sierra Leonean-Polish qualifying-Swedish-Welsh-English melange in blue and white, green and gold.... Valerian's football is pragmatic, willing to be flexible and easier on the eye than much of Eustace's output. JDT definitely would have had us in the Premier League by now, Eustace was in with a possibility, Ismael- the jury (as Jimmy Armfield described Ewood crowds) is in session.

I still don't rate Dolan and I don't think I ever will.