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

Whoa hang on, they do provide kits for the first team (no intel on who washes them though - perhaps the captain’s mum and dad?)

Did we determine if this could be watched legally, anywhere?

He doesn't have the pace to run in behind against Championship CBs. He's a Solskjaer - good finisher, good movement and composed. Ferguson didn't start him much either.

Is Ohashi not a lead the line striker? I think thats his best position. His strength is his finishing, pressing and running in behind, all would be harder playing deeper. We win far more often when he plays up front. Doesnt have to be an old fashioned physical brute to play there.

Gueye brings something different to the table and can have a big impact on matches. However, his consistency and general finishing ability is poor. He'll never be somebody we can rely on to lead the line as our main striker, but I do like that he offers something very different along the front line, and on his day he has shown he can change the course of a match in our favour. Considering how weak we are in terms of forward options, I wouldn't be in favour of selling him unless we had a decent replacement lined up to immediately replace him and the offer was somewhat above his rough market value. His character and charisma is a plus, but not so much so that I would personally factor it into whether he should stay or go. We didn't really replace Szmodics last summer, and it looks like we aren't going to this summer either. Ohashi is good but he's not a lead-the-line striker either. Selling Gueye would just mean we need to fill both the lead and supporting striker roles. Keeping him means we have two supporting strikers but still lack a lead striker.

Bali mumba is a decent player but plays more off the left

Even here in the Netherlands, tickets are only being made available to NEC season ticket holders and registered club members. They are only opening one stand for the game. 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. Here I am a lifelong Rovers fan who grew up watching Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton, having lived in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region for the last 38 years and I can’t even watch my favourite team in a pre season friendly. don’t suppose anyone knows someone with a spare ticket ?

Ridiculous question. As if the club would provide that.

Remember WBA away last season almost a hattrick 🔥

Mumbai would jump at the chance going from League one to Rovers.

Agreed. That would require the capacity to plan.

Think this time round they have a better chance (unfortunately!). As well as Leeds and Sunderland I suspect Bournemouth and Brentford could struggle. Palace possibly as well if they lose Eze or Mateta - although with how Parrish plays hardball they would undoubtedly have decent funds to reinvest. Not sure West Ham are in a great place either. Bugger! I seem to have talked myself into giving the Dingles a fair chance of staying up 🙁

Will the club provide the jumpers they’ll need for goalposts or does he have to bring his own?

With a cheap signing like him, let's say he cost us 250k... You should expect absolutely nothing, anything more is a bonus.

Seems to be fairly quick, a willing runner. Got himself on the edge of the 6 yard box for the goal v Everton, not something Hedges does. He seems to prefer being on the edge of the area.

Im not so sure they do. The state that the system in this country is in, it is so difficult to stay up if you go up such is the gap between the divisions. The flip side of this is that Southampton disgraced themselves in the Premier League, yet are very strongly placed to come back up even assuming they lose their best players. Regarding the promoted teams, Burnley have lost Trafford, Egan Riley and Brownhill. Their signings seem to be a bit underwhelming from their perspective. Sunderland were weaker to begin with but have really gone for it in the market, Xhaka is the eye catching one. Leeds had the strongest squad of the 3 and have only strengthened it.

It's because despite all the claims, boasts and lies from the club about the importance of communication with fans in practice unless you know someone behind the scenes the only chance the general fanbase have to discover what is going on is by waiting for occasional forum meetings and then waiting for the minutes released weeks later. They've done their best to remove all other forms of communication including consultation and shareholder meetings and I'm sure they'd get rid of forum meetings too if they could. Because what they claim and what they actually do are the opposite. It sounds good to say you value communication. In practice they do the absolute minimum and have the media wrapped around their fingers too.

England doing their best to lose this Test. Another dropped catch and poor bowling