Oh they know, it just costs money to have a proper squad.

It's the life under Venkys in the sense that they've changed tack again: under Mowbray it was 'slow down and let's build sustainably' (spunking £14m on Gallagher, Armstrong and Brereton-Diaz!) - until the taps were turned off and Tony left in a huff under JDT it was a 'project' around a style of play and building through the Academy - until we sold A. Wharton from under him, the taps were turned off again and JDT paid to get get out of his contract under Eustace it was 'cobble together a squad of freebies and loans' - until they refused to tie down the core of his squad, lumbered him with a crap, panicked January transfer window and Eustace jumped ship to a relegation threatened Derby That's three different directions in four years. That is the problem (on the playing side - obviously off the pitch we're a mess). We're changing tack again (one I actually quite like - similar to how I though the JDT project would work). Whether it works or not, at least there's a plan - young, athletic players that we own. Yes it's resulted in us slashing the wage budget, again, and it's seen the core of a squad that finished 7th walk out the door (or perhaps more excitingly, get sold), but at least you can see the method to the madness.

Here’s my take… Comparing Eustace and Ismael is irrelevant. Theres arguments both sides, but under our currebt regime, and the focus on scouting lower European leagues for diamonds in the rough. Then developing them on a fraction of the wage of their English counterparts and no doubts selling them for a profit where possible. - It’s Ismael over Eustace every single time. The player downgrade argument is also moot, because a) we don’t actually know if these players are better than what we had, because we haven’t seen enough of them. And b) either way, the manager wants a different type of player. Eg Baradji and Tavares are completely different to Trav and Bucko, so we’re not comparing apples with apples. All we can do is see who we finish up with, get down to the matches and make our own mind up. Right?

If you tried to pull out of a challenge and still raked down his legs like that then you are not in control of the challenge.

Nailing my own colours to the mast, I think Eustace's obvious man management and preparation skills would have had us in the play offs, had he only been backed. I think Rudy, Suhail et al wanted him out because he wasn't "aligned". Now doesn't that word do a lot of heavy lifting?!!!

Newcastle deserved a lot of credit for the way they never gave up last night..very good game.

He played a game for Yverdon, yes, then if I understand rightly he missed the rest before he left. Possibly a case of putting him in a game to prove he could play, then when that didn't get a sale over the line they either gave him the operation or rested him in case he worsened the injury before the sale. It's still all a bit of a mystery though and we do know for a fact there was an issue with his medical the first time. The club needs to explain things since they've gone on to sign him anyway.

The same as last year, the year before and so on then. Maybe one day they’ll learn, then again maybe they don’t want to.

30?! Absolutely past it. He should sign a new contract and settle down in Lancashire...

I’ve not seen the incident but I don’t think slow motion replays should ever be allowed.

We could easily be on 7 points with competent refereeing. The problem is the squad is paper thin and won't survive the brutal Championship winter.

U21s Central league Cup Fixtures https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/august/26/rovers-under-21s-learn-central-league-cup-fate/ • Rovers v Blackpool Tuesday September 23rd, kick-off 1pm Blackburn Rovers Academy • Preston North End v Rovers Tuesday October 14th, kick-off 1pm PNE Academy Training Ground • Blackpool v Rovers Tuesday December 2nd, kick-off 1pm Bamber Bridge • Rovers v Preston North End Tuesday January 27th, kick-off 1pm Blackburn Rovers Academy

I am sure someone told me years ago that Nixon had some kind of involvement in our agent feeding frenzy...

I do see what you mean but I still think it’s covered by ‘shall fill an ESC place of both the parent club and the loaning club’

I find it bizarre how it was a disaster last week with Trav leaving and a win and a signing and a smokescreen rumor (the £5M striker) and now it’s all “trust in Ismael and Rudy” if it didn’t work for broughton and JDT I don’t think Rudy or Ismael will succeed imo

If "they" are still involved / increasing their involvement here again, I guess Rovers won't be the only club? Is there a chain of several clubs? I guess it will be a bit like those diagrams of rock music family trees! Weirdly, it "appears" that some of the recent signings might be ok. ..unlike the January window, when I was a bit suspicious about how, why -and in whose interests-most of the recruits arrived....

Eustace is gone let’s revisit come May as to his credentials he’s had full pre season he’s been backed so no excuses exact same with val

Coincidentally “lucky wins” had a Birmingham side in a play offs that went down when he left had us in the play offs and an awful derby team staying in the championship

Yes you find things or situations that only come out after they left, like Eustace over the Derby's approach or the fact he lied to the Rovers fans. You might be comfortable with that but I ain't. I like Ismael cos he told the supporters about the Brittain and Travis the truth, you might see it as throwing Travis under the bus but I don't think he ever did, he told the truth and as supporters that all you asked for. For some unknown reason, he don't agree and think supporters shouldn't be told the truth Buckley, Leonard and Pears are all on the wage bill and we need to move on them otherwise we are going to either bring them in the fold or stick them in under 23's whilst still paying them. Also I think Rovers higher management/owners are allowing Gestede, Owen and Ismael to spend more than the original budget was. It was suggested the original budget was £5m but so far we spend around £7.5m with more set to spend. Yes they will be outgoing so more cash will be generate by the Travis sale, Buckley sale and possible others.

The loophole I see there is that the rule seems to be aimed at players who already are taking up an ESC slot, before being loaned out. I couldn't see one for players who were never allocated an ESC slot, if you get my meaning

I do think that the ref should have stuck with original decision with that Gordon's tackle. When you slow it down, the tackle looks worst and worst. I think Gordon does try to pull out but his momentum takes into van Dijk .

All I care about is what happens on the pitch for 90 minutes. That’s my focus, anything else is just candy floss.

In my opinion part of the reason for that was we were playing with two water carriers in central midfield. Neither of them are particularly good at getting up to and beyond the forwards. There were times when we were playing with a back 7 if you include the goalkeeper. With Cantwell also playing deeper that left the forward 3 players to do a hell of a lot ! I think Ismael realised early on that if we were going to score more goals at least one of the central midfield players needed to be able to get forward more and link up forward play and join in with attacks. If that is his thinking I agree with him.

I don’t believe this is possible as I think it would be ‘caught’ by the following (whilst he wouldn’t be an ESC player when we loaned him he’d become one immediately afterwards):

It's not abuse, it's just piss taking. The guy is absolutely delusional about numerous things, so people find it funny when he fails. Not all that complicated. really.