I see Ohashi more as an industrius, hard-working forward who can play across the line. Rhodes was - in some quarters infamously - largely limited to being useful within and around the penalty area. I consider Yuki a more flexible player, but at the same time one who isn't likely to get as many goals. I really only feel I can compare them at surface level though, as the Rovers team Rhodes played in was very different to the current squad. Ohashi doesn't have any player on the level of Ben Marshall, Josh King, David Dunn or Tom Cairney to feed him. For better or worse, our team back then was set up specifically to account for having a fox-in-the-box type striker with an incredible scoring technique. I don't think the same focus will be applied to Ohashi, and nor should it. Ultimately last season was a difficult one in terms of making a judgement call on Ohashi. He came in midway through the Japanese domestic season, so he'd already played 20+ games before the Championship even kicked off. He was either partnered with or in competition with a striker with totally different attributes to him, also new to the club. The entire team had to deal with severe management turbulence which disrupted cohesion. He also missed January through February with an injury. One positive is that 4 of his 9 league goals came under Val's management. Before his injury he had scored just 1 goal in 19 league appearances (his other 4 goals all came in his first 5 appearances). It maybe provides some optimism that Ismael's system could work well for Ohashi. We'll see. As I said, I would be delighted to be proven wrong and to see Ohashi net a hatful this season - because the chances of us having anyone else to rely on is slim to none.

If people think we've got a better team now than last season. Wake up. We need 5-6 signings as a minimum, and all starters.

wrong, I have added Michalski has he will be our third choice keeper and part of our first team squad this season. We are well covered in every area if we make those 3 signings. Every squad has those problems and down to Ismael to managed it. The only way you are going to know whether Tyjon and Montgomery handled everything is by playing them, good enough old enough. Not by saying no, no and no. Yes they need to managed but also play them if the right decision for the team Well given some of your comments towards me aren't constructive at all like "I think you live in a world of delusion and self denial." for example. You seem to have a personal vendetta against me and my unquestionable support of my club through the good and bad times of being a supporter

LT saying Rovers are hoping to stream the match live on their YouTube channel. If not, NEC Nijmegen are, for free.

So it seems.

The reason for the security is following what happened in 2012 when Rovers had a pre season tour here. The NEC game was planned as their family day with bouncy castles and various attractions. However, the NEC ”Ultras” had other ideas, and the day before the game attacked Rovers fans at the station and anyone with a Rovers shirt or scarf in the town, even people sitting at the al fresco cafes and pubs. It was so bad that NEC cancelled the game along with their family day. In the end they rescheduled a behind closed doors game which was held at one of the Dutch national team’s training complexes in a wooded location near Honderloo. This got out and we made our way there together with a few other Rovers supporters. We were met by armed police. The playing area was completely obscured behind high fences, we could just about hear the eerie sounds of the players calling to each other, although one enterprising Rovers fan climbed a tree to see what was going on. In the end the police moved us all away as they had intelligence that the nutters from Nijmegen were on their way to cause trouble. So that’s the story of the second battle of Nijmegen, we could have done with the guard’s armoured and the 82nd airborne to help us out but it wasn’t to be.

Sorry if I've missed it, but why on earth are Rovers fans not allowed to attend? Do NEC have thug fans that can't be trusted to behave if we are there? Edit - Nevermind, I had only read the first page, now I see they do indeed have thuggish fans.

I wish them the best of luck in their careers.

U21s currently 2-0 down to Ashton updates

https://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/n.e.c.-tv.htm Counter to the live stream starting is now showing. Meanwhile on Rovers TV you can watch a replay of the Sheffield United game from last season...

Yes like, "Lamine Yamal was due to sign for Blackburn Rovers today however it didn't go ahead due to Doris Baker at number 82 opening her blinds this afternoon with a left clanger hanging out. The turn of unfortunate events drew the attention of the board and the player, as a gust of wind blew the contact off the table at the point of distraction, flying out the window and attaching itself to the number 48 bus to Bolton" Read in Ronnie Barkers news at ton voice 🤣

As of an hour ago they had 120 tickets left, they are not available from the ticket office only via the online link and still only for season ticket holders and registered members.

Nice one, cheers guys.

Live feed starts 30 minutes before the game apparently.

https://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/nieuws/nieuws/bezoekersinformatie-n.e.c.-blackburn-rovers.htm NEC will play their final friendly match this Saturday in preparation for the new season. They will face Blackburn Rovers at the Goffert Stadium. Kick-off is at 4:00 PM. Below you will find the attendance information for this match. For this match, NEC will be opening the Hazenkamp Stand. Supporters with a season ticket or club ticket can purchase four tickets. You can buy your ticket online for just €7.50. Tickets at the door on Saturday cost €10 each and will be sold at the ticket office on the forecourt, subject to availability. Due to expected crowds, NEC advises supporters to purchase a match ticket (online) in advance. The match will also be broadcast live on NEC TV.

The guy who posted the link stated no offers are made at this moment in time. Said they are meeting over this weekend to discuss. Maybe he’s on a list of targets they have to go through.

According to a guy on twitter it will be shown here https://t.co/nEvZP9FBxC

We're always told if the Venkys went we'd be like Derby, Coventry, Birmingham, Bolton etc. All those teams now rid of shite owners, had to suffer for a couple of years, now fan base completely galvanised, sold out stadiums every week and three of those four in the same division as us and will definitely finish above us this season (Bolton will be back imminently as well). Sheffield Wednesday will be the next one to go through the mess, get rid of the owner and eventually bounce back stronger. Reading as well probably soon. We're the only ones who have not been able to get rid of the ownership shackles, it feels like we're the butt of the joke.

You could surely have said the same about Rhodes though. We get far better results with Ohashi up top on his own. He can link play even if it isnt his main asset and techcnically he is average. I do think that there is scope to potentially improve on Ohashi, or at least have someone providing much stronger competition. But in terms of his best position, I think hes best suited to being an out and out striker. Nullifies his strengths to move him deeper. He likes to play on the last line, and he presses well so it gets us up the pitch. I think gone are the days where you 100% need physicality to lead the line.

So as called by a few on here the bid isn’t real then it seems

That’s just general information for local supporters about ticket availability and advising anyone attending the game to come on their bikes or by foot as parking is limited. NEC have a channel on YouTube but there’s nothing about live streaming the Rovers game. https://youtube.com/@nec-nijmegen-1900?feature=shared

I don't think he's physical enough or quick enough to lead the line. Personally think he's better playing off a lead striker or coming on as a substitute. I actually think if we were playing a traditional two-up-top system Gueye and Ohashi might work well together, but one assumes we will not play that kind of system - and even if we did I'm not convinced Gueye is consistent enough to be the first choice target man in that duo. I like Ohashi and think he's a capable backup striker, but as the main man? Not sure about that. I suppose it depends what your expectations are. If it's that we finish somewhere in the bottom half then yeah, he's probably good enough for that role. If it's playoffs, I wouldn't say so. I doubt we sign anyone better, though, so here's to him proving me wrong this season. I wouldn't have said Szmodics or Brereton had 20+ goal seasons in them either.

https://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/nieuws/nieuws/bezoekersinformatie-n.e.c.-blackburn-rovers.htm This says it will be shown live on NEC TV. But on inspection I cannot see any mention of it on there, nor details as to cost or whether you need a subscription