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Maybe Forshaw in midfield again ? I’m not sure we can play both of Cantwell and Baradji at the same time.

I don’t envy Johnno picking the team. We’ve got loads of middling players and not many who all of us would pick. Ten people could post their team for tonight and we could easily have ten different teams.

Dave Alvin And The Guilty Ones - Johnny Ace Is Dead

Steady on boys. No need to lose our heads. Unless, of course, the reality is that the team selections and choices of substitute were indeed out of VI's hands, and foisted on him like some unwitting voyeur in a cuckolding contest by the jockeys behind the curtain... Not saying that was the case, mind. As for tonight, it is hard to see past the on-field ineptitude of the past few weeks for any clue as to the likely outcome. We know, unfortunately, that not all of the recruitment in recent months has been for bona-fide players at the standard and quality required to compete in the Championship. We know, from weeks (nay, months!) of painful observation that there doesn't appear to be a collective desire to win games amongst the rabble currently wearing the blue and white. We know that confidence is shot to pieces amongst the first XI squad, other than their willingness to pass sidways and backwards. We know that our strikeforce couldn't get any more ineffective even by going on strike. We also know that the Sheffield Wednesday contingent are playing only for pride and to pick up wages, so they don't actually give a fook (which probably helps them raise their game individually and collectively. But then again, what DO we know? All we can say is that in theory, the departure of VI presents a decent opportunity for someone else to come in and try to put their stamp on the resources at their disposal (as meagre and beleaguered as they are). It is no coincidence that the potting of VI was timed to save a few bob in filling in the holes that needed filling. It is no surprise that there isn't (apparently) anyone lined up to take up the reins - forward planning and strategy aren't facets of the imbecilic morons behind the scenes, after all. We can but dream that there is a plan. Perhaps this evening will give us a glimpse under the duvet? Aim low, then you won't be disappointed. But darts in the dark? That's never been a happy outcome for anyone. Evening's fare: Rovers 1 Owls 1 Evening's farce: Rovers 4 Owls 0 Evening's fear: Rovers 0 Owls 2 COYB!!

I agree about the fouls. I’ll bet not one of them was for “ quietening “ an opponent.

I'm almost more interested in the formation/line-up/bench we put out than the result. Yeah we need to win this one (badly), but if we just put out Ismaels formation and tactics again then what hope do we have? I want to see back to basics - a back four with a left back at left back, maybe a strike partnership god forbid a 442. Maybe a diamond - Toth Alebiosu Pick 2 Centre backs Ribeiro Tronstad Baradji IDK Monty maybe Cantwell Ohashi Gudjohnsen Just something, some green shoots, some sign that a new person is picking the team.

That's Cantwell definitely getting booked tonight then, so he can miss the travel for Norwich and QPR away.

I think what the club needs and what Rudy wants are wide apart. What worked well for JDT & in particular for Eustace is they bonded with the players well and the players in turn gave their all. The ‘togetherness’. Didn't see any of that with Ismael and felt a lot of the players just looked like they’d lost interest under him. I would love someone with that Robbie Savage type personality. Serious enough, but can be one of the lads at the same time. Pointed out before by another poster that he wouldn’t last five minutes with Gestede, and it’s RG’s arrogance and control that will be the decider between us getting someone half decent and a someone just desperate to get into management.

Cantwell on 9 cards is just ridiculous. So many petty fouls in there as well He hasn't been the man we needed when in the trenches it has to be said. I hope he steps up now the pressure is off him. I'd alleviate that pressure today by handing Sonny the armband.

hes well versed with that already, hopefully he'll be injured which is just as likely

Yes they are. It's a 2 game ban when they get to 10 cards before the 37th game of the season, so a way off yet.

This thread should be closed now so we can at least close the door on this reign of mediocrity Another sad part in an overwhelmingly long and sad chapter of BRFC. As far as managers under Venkys go, Ismael suffers the ignominy of being of the worst coaches we have had, second only to Steve bloody Kean. Never got on board with Val. Struggled to like him through his conferences, struggled to like his football and I honestly believe his mentality of 'hard running' has meant that our young and inexperienced squad have been ran in to the ground repeatedly, thus leading to a season struck by injury after injury.

Should obv start tonight, but Cantwell (on 9) and Tronstad (on 8 ) cards so far, are they nearing a ban or did things get reset recently, anyone know?

Every game is a struggle- even to get just a point. We need three badly; I say, 2-1, and I heartily expect a tussle right to the end of added time, to hold onto all 3. Arte et Labore.

I think that there are managers who can come in, shout at folks, throw the proverbial water bottle around, put some standards in place and hammer the current group of players into the best formation/ setup that they possibly can be right now. A lot of those managers you wouldn't want to be building a team/running things long term, as the wheels tend to fall off, they haven't got the stamina to maintain it or they end up falling into the old trap of having players out of position so as not to disrupt their formation/picking their favourites etc. I think that the criteria for a firefighting manager on a six month deal and a manager you'd want to sign on a 3+ year deal are very different, and I don't actually hate the idea of going for one now and the other in the summer. A lot of the managers whose names have come up would probably work fine on a six month deal - the old, grizzled veterans, the Big Sams and the Sparkys and even Mowbray to an extent. Hell, I'd have Souness in for six months not even as the manager, just to stomp around Ewood shouting at people. Motivational consultant or something. I don't want any of those names long term, but there's a lot of them you'd back to keep us up this season.

I went to an evening with Sam Allardyce at the Mill Hill Club last year. Listening to him and his stories I'd say he felt like he'd lost that sharpness, not in terms of memory per se, but in terms of his 'eye of the tiger', toughness/bravado you need at the sharp end of football management in 2026. His podcast style is mostly languid too. A fine career in management, but if you're happy to send yourself up in Uber Eats adverts I think you know your time has come and gone.

If you ask Sam that question, he will tell you that there is no one more versed than him 😉

Absolutely we were half arsed in our attempts to keep them. But it wasn't because we don't view them as Championship standard, it's because we are cheap. I rated Nyambe too.

Indeed so - he’s 71, hasn’t managed since 2021 (I’m ignoring 4 games at Leeds). How well versed is he about the Championship in 2026?

Aye, Big Sam liked Northcote standard as was. Just don't see him returning -why on earth return to a place still run by the chancers that got rid of you? It would take a wheelbarrow full of cash to do it -a shedload? PS can earn more from ads?

I think Allardyce is done now. I wouldn't say no that's for sure, but when i listen to him, plus the fact he's 71 and not really had a proper job in management for over 4 years (apart from 4 games with Leeds) I'm not sure he'd have what it takes any more. I'd have definitely had Warnock here last season after Eustace - think his personality - us against the world, lets have a battle - would have perfectly fit the atmosphere after Eustace went and he'd have hit it off well with people like Batth, Travis, Weimann. Not so sure this group would fit his way of thinking but having said that he's probably still at 77 one of the safest pairs of hands for a side in desperate need of know-how and survival expertise. Trouble is he'd have loved a crack at the run in and play-offs last season - the chance of another promotion, very much doubt he'd love another dogfight working for the buffoons here.

I'm convinced that that's the plan, I mean, to attract circus monkeys.

Rudy finding out when you pay in circus peanuts you can only attract circus monkeys

Not the Bolton that we could end up like if the Rao's disappeared? (Currently third). The same Bolton that has a forward thinking policy on season tickets. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/where-we-belong-wanderers-launch-202627-season-ticket-campaign

Would he cost money? Yes. Would he come back until the end of the season? I believe so. The Podcast was all about Rovers at one point. Apart from the money, it could come down to whether Rudy felt that he was treated with 'respect' when he was on. I remember Natalie Pike slating the food offering at Ewood; that probably hurt Mr Gestede's ego a bit too much to call Sam again.