Jon Dahl Tomasson - Officially No Longer Our Head Coach

[oneandycrawford]

10 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

There were two Pughs but no Hugh.

(Barney McGrew was the driver)

I think we’re being sidetracked here! 😁

Just to sidetrack even further 😁 - I used to work with a salesman whose real name was Barney McGrew. We asked him if he got bored of people taking the piss.

His answer was - 'nobody ever forgets me - which is a brilliant thing for a salesman!'

[martonrover]

56 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

He didn't leave alone, GB and JDT are a team.

 

This is actually Eustace and his agent making their escape.

[Ruaney]

7 minutes ago, Fraserkirky said:

Alex Neil and Paul Heckingbottom will be the two Nixons refering too.

Aye ✔️

[miqaayil]

14 hours ago, glen9mullan said:

Sorry all, I've not posted and I feel all the frustration, breathe it with you and I'm sorry.

The last 72 hours have been crazy,

From being added to protests groups on whatsapp/Facebook and request via PM to get involved (My phone number everywhere and getting crack pot texts)

I engaged with Steve Waggott, and India the day after the transfer window, It did not smell too nice, and I wanted answers, just like you want answers, just like everyone wants answers. 

India ignored me, and Waggott came back to me and agreed to have a meeting.

In the meantime protests threads popping up all over the internet, and I'm still somewhat unsure who is leading the protest, because unless its organic someone needs to take responsibility and the legal implications that come with it. Seen lots of idea's and awaiting the systematic plan of attack. (Given my experience in this field, and knowing what it could cost you, be that your job or indeed your freedom, then I have to take a holistic view of all options which in fairness are either in their infancy, or there is 10 groups doing different things.)

Monday I attended a family funeral , but was willing to meet Waggott after the funeral as this was important, I wanted to get my points across swiftly and in no certain terms.

Eventually we agreed on Tuesday as a "Safe space" conversation. WHY You all ask? Well to draw the lines in the sand for rules of engagement.

Prior to this meeting i had a message from Josh asking if I'd been invited to meeting a Brockhall by Duncan, I said no, and was informed he be in touch.

I then had a discussion with Waggott, and made it perfectly clear the balloon has popped. I told him he had heard the crowd at the weekend and that was not even 5% at how far supporters can take it.  I explained the PR Was shocking , every day its another balls up, and each day the club remains silent, that a snow ball becomes a snowman. He was told Suhail hiding in the shadows is no longer acceptable and unless he comes out, then he will be hounded out, like the many the supporters have successfully sent on their merry way.  We discussed the Maguire Fiasco, and there is some legal implications here, which include employment law, and contract law. You need to appreciate that due to this, I have to park this. What I can say, its been reported in the press we did not press the send. This is 100% factual, and there is a number of broken people. Please understand, I just don't have unlimited funds for a personal lawsuit!!!!

1 Win in 11 was discussed, and regardless of likeability, a team is judged on results, and we aint getting them. If there was not background noise regarding funds and messed up transfers, the fans would be looking at results as the immediate threat to this club. I stated we have division of where the fault lies in the supporter base, which includes Him, Venkys, Broughton and the Manager. However the anger right now is heading up his garden path, and again the Raos.

I stated Protest are coming, these can't be stopped, be that organic, or organised, the balance has tipped. I stated the clubs actions in the coming days will very much set the mood for the foreseeable.  I said a divided club internally wont last two minutes once the fans dig their teeth in.

I was later asked if I would attend a meeting with the senior players council today. I asked what the purpose was? what's the agenda? what's the end game? I will be honest, i never really got answers and thought this is short notice. I weighed up the pro's and cons. If we don't attend, will this be used as an opportunity to state we offered an olive branch to have open dialogue and the fans dismissed it? I know how the media works, how things can be twisted, and how they can become your enemy if your not seen to be playing the right way. We saw during the Kean era, it was massively portrayed it was the supporters fault. Even our own supporters turned on the protest and it was a toxic environment for everyone, and certainly an environment which at times were scary. Typical examples:

1. My wife Laura was holding my daughter at Ipswich away whilst also 4 months pregnant. Our own supporters, came across knocked the my daughter out her arms and punched my wife to the ground.

2. I was woke up by a phone call, and told to look out the window, i had 2 guys outside with Petrol cans, 48 hours earlier I'd received threats that my house would be burnt down with my children in it.

3. I was assaulted at Wigan away.

4. I was informed by the club they had found payments to hoodlums who were known to me as people who had issued threats.

5. I received phone calls, telling me to walk away or I would disappear.

I never wavered, I piled all my money into finding the truth, come rain or shine despite some awful things being said about me, I stood by those I promised to represent with everything I had to give.

 

Anyway moving on - Josh and I had a chat regarding the meeting and neither of us were keen, especially with no agenda, but we knew, we'd not sit in silence and would give it a whirl. Some supporter groups, supporters declined to attend.

This morning I was awaken by my wife in the early hours, I was having an awful attack, and knowing I was in hospital this morning, we knew taking my medication would mean they could not do the test, which I've been waiting for. She tried all sorts as my Oxegen levels dropped to 83 and rather than speed up, my heart rate went to 27. I dunno how she managed it, but I'm here typing., 

I got off for my appointment this morning, did my two hour test, and was informed the meeting time had changed, it had been brought forwards. At this point I knew just Josh , Duncan and I were going and not a lot more to be honest.

We arrived, went to the back room, Mike G Was there , and then more filtered in. Sorry I can't remember everyone's name.

The players came in, and I did state that i'm surprised they got 5 players who we actually own, as an ice breaker which the players took in good humour

The meeting started, and around 60 seconds in (Quite good for me, they usually only get 30 seconds) I interrupted the meeting and stated categorically, and said we ain't here on some PR Exercise, don't want a balloon and picture and its a safe space as a group for everyone to talk openly. 

They went around the room and each player and supporters had questions and answers. Everyone from the supporters section, stated that anger was at the owners and the shit show in the background. The players all said they results were not good enough, they understood the frustrations when they lose, and they feel it like we feel it. However it was then reiterated about 13 years of crap from india, Maguire fiasco, Financial fiasco. Josh was fantastic, he made it clear that a coffee with the players is not going to have a jot of difference or solve the wider issues which are once again bringing the clubs competence into question (Appreciate he did not use these exact words, it was much stronger).

Waggott is certainly feeling the pressure from all angles, be that internal, external or India. He is not blind to what may occur but continues to engage.

In terms of Suhail, Josh made it clear, without him in the room, its pointless, he cant hide away and as the owners mouthpiece he needs to engage.

I can assure everyone that anything else discussed is out there in the public domain, and for legal reasons I personally cannot deny or confirm certain things, My wife needs every penny we have right now, and I cannot leave her destitute by being caught up in a legal battle for something I cannot substantiate. My health is well documented, and even tonight the grief on twitter for reporting the news, which is not an endorsement of the news is just shocking really. At times I don't know who the enemy is.

The meeting ended, and the supporters stopped behind for a debrief really amongst themselves. A little shell shocked, perhaps confused and if anything its fair to say we was unprepared. We had not met up previously, each group there bar the independents which I consider myself, have a mandate or a function to provide free speech. For example, I could see first hand how the trust are in a damned if you do, damned if you don't position. 

The positive around the meeting is that different groups with somewhat differing views could work as a team to get the points across and everyone did this well to a person. No-one had birds spinning around their heads,. and to be honest I'm proud of them all and they are credit to the supporter base for having a go, and saying exactly as it is.

I know to some the above is excuses and we are all on the naughty step, however you won't conquer the mountain if you fail to engage and put the graft in to build the blocks. Some of us are tired, we've been at this years, at times the grief becomes more than the cause and whatever happens it does affect us all. 

Some tweets I was receiving tonight of 17/18 yr old lads, were 4 or 5 years old when we was in the trenches last time, or marching to the FA and Parliament. There 100% needs to be a know your history piece, because right now, Venkys out, Waggott our JDT Out, whoever out, won't work without clear facts. The media need the story they need the reasoning, as do a big % of match going supporters.

 

Thank you for reading, I know BRFCS Will do an article and Rovers Chat a podcast, Id rather them do that now, and any question be posed after that, as I'm just exhausted 

God bless you bro... been following your fight from far away ... Take care of your health and family. Whoever the turds who tried these shit with you , God is there watching. 

From a brother in Singapore 

[Waggy76]

Wasn't Alex Neil linked to us during the Covid season ?

[wilsdenrover]

Can those who attended confirm whether they feel this is a fair report of yesterday’s meeting?
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24106025.blackburn-players-hold-meeting-fans-poor-form/

[MB Rover]

3 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

 

Don't get this, sorry. As it stands, Tomasson is taking us down to League One and shows no sign of knowing how to stop the slide. He's had a rough deal at Ewood but he has to go. We'll soon find out if his successor is worse but if Eustace or whoever saves us from relegation he isn't a downgrade

33% win ratio as a manager I believe. 

[broadsword]

1 hour ago, Ghost7 said:

I know 6 more who want it  👀

 

Enough of his online dating exploits

[Neal]

1 hour ago, booth said:

When he was backed (and not even that well, January was a shit-show) we finished just outside of the play offs.

When he hasn't been, we're heading towards L1.

A garbage record will happen under most managers in that situation. I'd be surprised if it doesn't happen under Eustace. Too much has been taken out of the club and not put back.

I don't disagree with you either but I'd say it's not the lack of transfers that hurt but rather the injuries we picked up. I loved some of the football we played but that goals against column tells a story. 

[K-Hod]

1 hour ago, Displaced Rover said:

Yep - subscribe to its Patreon for hard hitting ITK journalism - £5.99 a month...

I’d rather shit in my hands and clap.

[Fraserkirky]

Think I would prefer Alex Neil over Eustace actually.

[JHRover]

1 minute ago, Fraserkirky said:

Think I would prefer Alex Neil over Eustace actually.

Me too, got a decent to reasonable record at 3-4 Championship clubs, not that I'll be happy with either.

[KentExile]

2 minutes ago, Fraserkirky said:

Think I would prefer Alex Neil over Eustace actually.

Can we have a dislike button?

Not to say Eustace is a brilliant appointment, but Neil would be awful

😉

Edited February 8 by KentExile

[RTM08]

11 minutes ago, MB Rover said:

33% win ratio as a manager I believe. 

I've said it a few times though, his win rate was never the issue, it's always been the loss rate.

For a lot of last year he was at 50-50... if we had the ability to draw more reliably we'd have made play-offs last season and been in less danger this.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Is it just me or is every manager we're linked to a bit uninspiring? 

[Norbert Rassragr]

With the way things are going I expect Wayne Rooney with Steve Kean as assistant. I'm honestly too fed up with the shit show to really care. The club is dying and a large enough section of the fans are too blind to see.

[JHRover]

Amazing how perceptions are in the game isn't it.

Neil:

Championship promotion with Norwich, a season managing in the PL

3 top half / play-off pushes with PNE

Promotion from League One with Sunderland

Mid-table/mediocre with Stoke (where everyone struggles)

 

Eustace:

1 season, 17th with Birmingham, much fanfare

 

I'm struggling to see why some would be happy / content with Eustace but not Neil.

[Oldgregg86]

It really doesn’t matter who we appoint . Yeah we might get a new manager bounce and we might stay up for another season but the club as a whole is set up to fail . This is just kicking the can down the road. Eustace, rowett, hughes, neill, Mowbray Ben benson. It really doesn’t matter until we get things right at boardroom level.

I honestly don’t care who they appoint the outcome is the same

Edited February 8 by Oldgregg86

[Armchair supporter supremo]

Benni McCarthy as an outside bet?? 

 

Well regarded as a coach 

[alex l]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

It was said in an earlier post on here that Tomasson, Silvester and Broughton have gone along with the coach who nobody knows his name.

Perhaps they meant the deluxe upgraded coach we leased. Going to a mini van to cut costs. 

[MB Rover]

5 minutes ago, RTM08 said:

I've said it a few times though, his win rate was never the issue, it's always been the loss rate.

For a lot of last year he was at 50-50... if we had the ability to draw more reliably we'd have made play-offs last season and been in less danger this.

I meant Eustace’s was 33%.

[JHRover]

1 minute ago, Oldgregg86 said:

It really doesn’t matter who we appoint . Yeah we might get a new manager bounce and we might stay up for another season but the club as a whole is set up to fail . This is just kicking the can down the road. Eustace, rowett, hughes, Mowbray Ben benson. It really doesn’t matter until we get thinks right at boardroom level

Agreed. Its all pointless but its the oldest trick in the book to divert attention away from upstairs failings and distract the masses with a new manager

Then let me guess come the summer it will be about 'new structure' and 'learning lessons' from past mistakes and a change of strategy.

All a load of shite, designed purely to keep people quiet and distracted.

[KentExile]

13 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Amazing how perceptions are in the game isn't it.

Neil:

Championship promotion with Norwich, a season managing in the PL

3 top half / play-off pushes with PNE

Promotion from League One with Sunderland

Mid-table/mediocre with Stoke (where everyone struggles)

 

Eustace:

1 season, 17th with Birmingham, much fanfare

 

I'm struggling to see why some would be happy / content with Eustace but not Neil.

One of the main criticisms of Neil by fans of clubs he has managed, has been an aversion to using or developing younger players, and Rovers have a squad full of them.

Eustace was in 2nd place in the Championship when sacked

Edit - Birmingham were  6th when Eustace was sacked

Edited February 8 by KentExile

[jim mk2]

7 minutes ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

Benni McCarthy as an outside bet?? 

 

Well regarded as a coach 

 

The local McDonalds will be delighted

[rigger]

3 minutes ago, KentExile said:

One of the main criticisms of Neil by fans of clubs he has managed, has been an aversion to using or developing younger players, and Rovers have a squad full of them.

Eustace was in 2nd place in the Championship when sacked

Wasn't Kean top ?

Edited February 8 by rigger