v WBA (a) - 9/8/2025 - The Big Kick-Off!

[roversfan99]

Amidst talk about everything else, owners, board, signings, sales and contracts. The one variable that seems to have just been assumed as ok is Ismael himself.

The way he speaks seems to have charmed many. His previous spells at this level were failure and although we ended last season well, his first 7 or 8 games were obviously a disaster.

A lot of neutrals seem to cite him as the main reason why they think we will struggle.

He has a hard job, and I am not sure either way yet. But I am certainly not convinced. Yet.

[sharpysharps86]

14 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Miyoshi and Baradji it is then

If Baradji signs, what about this supposed need for him to go under the knife according to Alan Nixon...? Then Travis' replacement is immediately unavailable. Comical scenario really if that all happens.

Miyoshi would be a good signing...but then a paper bag blowing in the wind would be more effective than Hedges.

[bluebruce]

24 minutes ago, Hasta said:

The interviewer said we should possibly have come away with at least a point. 

If the referee had made the right decisions, we would have come away with at least a point.

[Hasta]

6 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

If the referee had made the right decisions, we would have come away with at least a point.

So if he’d sent Henriksson off in the first 15 minutes you have been happy and we would have got a point. He would have got booked for 2 of those 3 fouls in the second half. 
And Travis is all over Price for their goal.

He was generally shit and it was a penalty on Yuki but come on, it wasn’t his fault we could muster a meaningful chance.

Edited 4 hours ago by Hasta

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

6 minutes ago, philipl said:

The Baggies defender catches Ohashi in a reverse scissors 

What about him pulling Ohashi back by the shoulder before the “ tackle “ ? Even the WBA comms team said it was a clear pen.

[Ricky]

Just got home, it was shite. Not much more to say. Toth improved but looked very dodgy early doors. Kargbo drew three yellow cards with fouls against him, can’t cross for toffee but a real threat. 

Best part of the day was probably the Vine pre match for their chicken tikka.

[sharpysharps86]

1 minute ago, roversfan99 said:

Amidst talk about everything else, owners, board, signings, sales and contracts. The one variable that seems to have just been assumed as ok is Ismael himself.

The way he speaks seems to have charmed many. His previous spells at this level were failure and although we ended last season well, his first 7 or 8 games were obviously a disaster.

A lot of neutrals seem to cite him as the main reason why they think we will struggle.

He has a hard job, and I am not sure either way yet. But I am certainly not convinced. Yet.

Agree with all of that. He's honest, i'll give him that, but he's a downgrade on what we had IMO.

 

[Jimmy612]

6 minutes ago, Ricky said:

Best part of the day was probably the Vine pre match for their chicken tikka.

Hope you had a tub full of that delicious tamarind sauce. Always a pleasure to go to WBA away, just for that place 

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

10 minutes ago, Hasta said:

So if he’d sent Henriksson off in the first 15 minutes you have been happy and we would have got a point. He would have got booked for 2 of those 3 fouls in the second half. 
And Travis is all over Price for their goal.

He was generally shit and it was a penalty on Yuki but come on, it wasn’t his fault we could muster a meaningful chance.

I am sorry - if he had picked up a yellow for his first challenge, I would hope he would have reined it in a little. So to say he would have been sent off with a better referee does ignore cause and effect.

[RoversTilliDie]

2 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Cantwell has his faults and detractors but he’s one of the few if not the only player we’ve got who has a bit of skill and eye for a pass to unlock defences. Who else has any creativity? He has to play if he’s fit

He's a bit more skill and a few goals hiding away at times.

[bluebruce]

19 minutes ago, Hasta said:

So if he’d sent Henriksson off in the first 15 minutes you have been happy and we would have got a point. He would have got booked for 2 of those 3 fouls in the second half. 
And Travis is all over Price for their goal.

He was generally shit and it was a penalty on Yuki but come on, it wasn’t his fault we could muster a meaningful chance.

As I said earlier, I didn't see the first 30 minutes so I can't comment on that. As I also said before, it's irrelevant what Travis did to the goalscorer because Alebiosu was fouled first, and the goal went in anyway.

No, it's just his fault he gave a goal that shouldn't have stood and failed to give us a clear penalty.

[Hasta]

11 minutes ago, DavidMailsTightPerm said:

I am sorry - if he had picked up a yellow for his first challenge, I would hope he would have reined it in a little. So to say he would have been sent off with a better referee does ignore cause and effect.

As surely does saying if we had got the penalty we would have got at least a point.

We might have missed it or they might have started attacking again.

Edited 4 hours ago by Hasta

[RoversTilliDie]

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

“ we were surprised with the long throw “. Really !

Can't remember a long throw in player at Ewood before, we've played against a few, that set alarm bells ringing.

[RoversTilliDie]

Just now, RoversTilliDie said:

Can't remember a long throw in player at Ewood before, we've played against a few, that set alarm bells ringing.

Miller could be a secret weapon with his long throw.

[Moptop1]

Just back. I know it’s the first game of the season, but that was terrible. Didn’t offer anything upfront today. It’s going to be a long season. We need a forward. 

[RoversTilliDie]

1 hour ago, AAK said:

Make it 2.5 and you have a deal.

I would give the strike force 2.5, non existent.

[cesus]

I am hoping for my sanity that Toth doesn't line down in the centre of his goal for any more 45 yard free kicks, to let the ball hit him in the hope it goes over the bar. 

Nothing in attack as expected, their keeper barely made a save. Early days but quite alarming to see where goals come from.

[RoversTilliDie]

1 hour ago, Hasta said:

Last season we would create some chances but could miss them, but today we just looked like we had no ideas.  Dolan, Cantwell or Brittain haven’t always been lorded by many as being great creative options on, but they were clearly missed. 
 

Watching Ismael’s interview he talks about the new players having athleticism, physicality, flexibility etc..,  but ultimately they need to be decent footballers with a decent footballing brain. Otherwise they will just look like Usain Bolt does at Soccer Aid. Don’t get me wrong, it is  too early to make judgement on the new guys, but take Kargbo. All I see at the moment is pace, yet on its own it is ineffective.

Back to the new guys only McLaughlin impressed me today. Miller should be ok, Alebiosu should have been stronger for the goal and had Amari Bell vibes going forward, De Neve and Henriksson were poor.

If you can’t create anything in open play, then you need to maximise at set pieces. However delivery has been awful for years now. I’m not expecting a MGP or a Charlie Mulgrew, but a decent height and accuracy on a whipped delivery once in a while should be something one of our footballers can do. 
 

Tronstadt was also uncharacteristically poor today also which didn’t help.

Let's not give Tronstadt to much stick, gave it 100% for Rovers last season.

[joey_big_nose]

My main concern was we would come out and all the signings would be well off it and we would get steam rollered... Turned out that we were pretty physically competitive at least. McCloughlin, Alebiouso and Miller all looked up to it.

That said going forward we looked totally toothless except for Alebiouso on the overlap and Kargbo when he came on. Also all of Henricksson, De Neve and Tavares looked very poor.

The rest of games in August will give us more of a sense on where we are.

[Exiled_Rover]

40 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Amidst talk about everything else, owners, board, signings, sales and contracts. The one variable that seems to have just been assumed as ok is Ismael himself.

The way he speaks seems to have charmed many. His previous spells at this level were failure and although we ended last season well, his first 7 or 8 games were obviously a disaster.

A lot of neutrals seem to cite him as the main reason why they think we will struggle.

He has a hard job, and I am not sure either way yet. But I am certainly not convinced. Yet.

We'll struggle because we haven't invested in the squad in 3 years.

Sir Alex Ferguson would have a job on his hands here.

[NeilInBristol]

47 minutes ago, philipl said:

The Baggies defender catches Ohashi in a reverse scissors 

100%
it’s a joke

 

everyone shouted Pen

we all know it’s a Pen

so frustrating 

[NeilInBristol]

8 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

My main concern was we would come out and all the signings would be well off it and we would get steam rollered... Turned out that we were pretty physically competitive at least. McCloughlin, Alebiouso and Miller all looked up to it.

That said going forward we looked totally toothless except for Alebiouso on the overlap and Kargbo when he came on. Also all of Henricksson, De Neve and Tavares looked very poor.

The rest of games in August will give us more of a sense on where we are.

Sure a couple of decent challenges and attempts but it was definitely below quality from last year and the year before

we have had some serious downgrades 

Agree though- let’s see how it unfolds in the next couple of weeks

 

and September when the window closes and we will see who is left too

Edited 3 hours ago by NeilInBristol
Typo

[NeilInBristol]

17 minutes ago, RoversTilliDie said:

Miller could be a secret weapon with his long throw.

Agreed- let’s see how it fairs with Gueye on the end of them!! Could be something we haven’t seen in a while

 

[DE.]

Gueye doesn't have history of being prolific in front of goal, so if we want to make use of Miller's long throw capability we're probably going to need to spend money on a proper striker. Love Big Mak but for me he's a rotational option, not someone we can pin our hopes on as the main man. 

[Waggy76]

I have just finished watching the first half .

2 things spring to mind .

I think it was penalty but playing away , you don't get it !

This squad of players have the least amount of footballing talent , that I have seen in a blue n white shirts for many years.

I doubt , we will get more than 30 points this season (a record for a 3 point win ?) , dreadful signings !

Listening to the manager after game , he won't see February 1st 2026 !

It is time to turn the heat up on Pasha ,Gestede and the Venkys !!!

Venkys Out is all that matters !

Another noticeable absence is the lack of We Want Venkys Out from the fans ..