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

[roversfan99]

9 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

FFS, back to this crap again. Ismael told you straight yesterday he wants one more signing and anyone who leave can be replace. Sound like we hit our limit on wage budget and after we sign the Right winger we hit our limit. Maybe actually look at what has been said by Ismael, instead of going on your little soap box again about I want x and y and Z. We can't just keep adding players to our squad without getting rid of players we don't want

The only person who doesn't think it was Penalty is you and you finding excuse after excuse not to agree with everyone who said it was a penalty. Moore got one yesterday for less contact Ohashi got. It was penalty all day long so I suggest you take those anti tinted Rovers glasses off

good for you, if we have got that penalty and scored it, it probably be a very different game after it. 

I mean, at least you are considering that it might be financially restricted rather than just a case of exactly what Ismael wants.

But you have just summed up that you just copy off what Ismael says/what happens. What we NEED and what we will GET are 2 different things. I am focusing on the former, you just willingly accept the latter.

I said it probably was a penalty, why I would spend so much of my time following Rovers if I was anti Rovers and actively wanted penalties not to be given for us? I would accept any decisions going our way, but I am more concerned about our performance rather than pinning it all on the referee.

[LDRover]

2 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

As you're well aware we've competed and finished far better than that in the pre Jack days albeit under better but much poorer owners and dare I say it, better managers.

And, especially in the late 80s, a better quality league.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

8 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

The first BRFCS POTM this season is Sean McLoughlin for yesterday’s game against WBA.
Congratulations Sean…👏👏👏⚪️🔵

He made the least mistakes so I’ll go along with that.

[RevidgeBlue]

13 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

so I suggest you take those anti tinted Rovers glasses off

🙄

Oh dear.

[den]

2 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

We've some big lads in the team, we need a decent crosser of the ball, finding them in the box.

Gueye is such a poor header of a ball. Being big or tall means nothing.

[Hasta]

Just now, den said:

Gueye is such a poor header of a ball. Being big or tall means nothing.

I said that yesterday. Being big doesn’t make a great header.

Samba was a big lad, could read the flight of the ball and had a decent leap.

Shearer wasn’t the tallest, but he could read the flight of the ball the moment it left the wingers foot.

Gueye is just tall. He naturally will get his head on things, but there’s not a lot of control on it. Then again, as we say about a lot of players, if he could leap and head it like Duncan Ferguson he wouldn’t be here.

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

21 minutes ago, Hasta said:

I said that yesterday. Being big doesn’t make a great header.

Samba was a big lad, could read the flight of the ball and had a decent leap.

Shearer wasn’t the tallest, but he could read the flight of the ball the moment it left the wingers foot.

Gueye is just tall. He naturally will get his head on things, but there’s not a lot of control on it. Then again, as we say about a lot of players, if he could leap and head it like Duncan Ferguson he wouldn’t be here.

 

Gestede could head a ball as good as anybody. He needs to take Gueye under his wing.

Edited 6 hours ago by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Bbrovers2288]

Just on recruitment after yesterday, our best “new” player was McLaughlin, who CB should come as no surprise as he has champ experience, I definitely think we should have been after a few more of this type. Josh windass for example, we have gambled with this new lads from inferior leagues taking the step up. None of them came out with any credit yesterday if we are honest. Worrying.

Does anyone know if gestede is signing on analytics or is it just a throw of a dart on who is landing on his desk 

[chaddyrovers]

3 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

The first BRFCS POTM this season is Sean McLoughlin for yesterday’s game against WBA.
Congratulations Sean…👏👏👏⚪️🔵

Well deserved but Alebiosu did ok on his first taste of Championship as did Miller.  

3 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

I mean, at least you are considering that it might be financially restricted rather than just a case of exactly what Ismael wants.

But you have just summed up that you just copy off what Ismael says/what happens. What we NEED and what we will GET are 2 different things. I am focusing on the former, you just willingly accept the latter.

I said it probably was a penalty, why I would spend so much of my time following Rovers if I was anti Rovers and actively wanted penalties not to be given for us? I would accept any decisions going our way, but I am more concerned about our performance rather than pinning it all on the referee.

Listen to Ismael and he hints that players will leave and be replace. He wants one more signing as RW but if Travis goes then we can sign replacement or Pears go we can sign a replacement. So its seem that the budget can afford another signing but after that we need one out to one in. Which is fine and we can not keep stock pilling players and players Ismael doesn't want

2 hours ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Just on recruitment after yesterday, our best “new” player was McLaughlin, who CB should come as no surprise as he has champ experience, I definitely think we should have been after a few more of this type. Josh windass for example, we have gambled with this new lads from inferior leagues taking the step up. None of them came out with any credit yesterday if we are honest. Worrying.

Does anyone know if gestede is signing on analytics or is it just a throw of a dart on who is landing on his desk 

Problem signing British is wage demands but also inflated transfer fees. 

Ismael has spoken alot of profile of player and what he wants for each role. So that's be the aim to sign players which match that type of player skill and role wanted. Ismael wanted a left foot centre for better balance in the centre back area for example. 

[LDRover]

Groundbreaking stuff. Identifying an area of weakness and looking at signing players that will resolve that weakness within the set budget.

Hope we're ahead of the curve on this, don't want other managers catching on.

[Hasta]

Modern football myths exposed.

 

✅ Partnerships with a Right-Footed + Left-Footed Duo

1. Rio Ferdinand (Right) & Nemanja Vidić (Left)

• ⚖️ Classic balanced pairing. Ferdinand on the right, Vidić on the left.

2. Sergio Ramos (Right) & Raphaël Varane (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

3. Franco Baresi (Right) & Alessandro Costacurta (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

4. Carles Puyol (Right) & Gerard Piqué (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

5. Ronald Koeman (Right) & Frank Rijkaard (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed (Rijkaard sometimes played in midfield though).

6. Lucio (Right) & Walter Samuel (Left)

• ✅ Balanced pairing. Lucio right-footed, Samuel left-footed.

7. Tony Adams (Right) & Steve Bould (Right) / Martin Keown (Right)

• ❌ All right-footed.

8. Fabio Cannavaro (Right) & Alessandro Nesta (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

9. Laurent Blanc (Right) & Marcel Desailly (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

10. Mats Hummels (Right) & Jérôme Boateng (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

Edited 3 hours ago by Hasta

[wilsdenrover]

10 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Modern football myths exposed.

 

✅ Partnerships with a Right-Footed + Left-Footed Duo

1. Rio Ferdinand (Right) & Nemanja Vidić (Left)

• ⚖️ Classic balanced pairing. Ferdinand on the right, Vidić on the left.

2. Sergio Ramos (Right) & Raphaël Varane (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

3. Franco Baresi (Right) & Alessandro Costacurta (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

4. Carles Puyol (Right) & Gerard Piqué (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

5. Ronald Koeman (Right) & Frank Rijkaard (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed (Rijkaard sometimes played in midfield though).

6. Lucio (Right) & Walter Samuel (Left)

• ✅ Balanced pairing. Lucio right-footed, Samuel left-footed.

7. Tony Adams (Right) & Steve Bould (Right) / Martin Keown (Right)

• ❌ All right-footed.

8. Fabio Cannavaro (Right) & Alessandro Nesta (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

9. Laurent Blanc (Right) & Marcel Desailly (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

10. Mats Hummels (Right) & Jérôme Boateng (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

Did we have any left footed CBs in 94 - 95?

I don’t think we did.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

32 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Modern football myths exposed.

 

✅ Partnerships with a Right-Footed + Left-Footed Duo

1. Rio Ferdinand (Right) & Nemanja Vidić (Left)

• ⚖️ Classic balanced pairing. Ferdinand on the right, Vidić on the left.

2. Sergio Ramos (Right) & Raphaël Varane (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

3. Franco Baresi (Right) & Alessandro Costacurta (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

4. Carles Puyol (Right) & Gerard Piqué (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

5. Ronald Koeman (Right) & Frank Rijkaard (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed (Rijkaard sometimes played in midfield though).

6. Lucio (Right) & Walter Samuel (Left)

• ✅ Balanced pairing. Lucio right-footed, Samuel left-footed.

7. Tony Adams (Right) & Steve Bould (Right) / Martin Keown (Right)

• ❌ All right-footed.

8. Fabio Cannavaro (Right) & Alessandro Nesta (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

9. Laurent Blanc (Right) & Marcel Desailly (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

10. Mats Hummels (Right) & Jérôme Boateng (Right)

• ❌ Both right-footed.

You’re quoting players of absolute top level international class. They’re probably extremely comfortable playing off either side. Unfortunately we aren’t shopping in that market anymore. In our current impoverished state having a left footer and right footer makes sense. You only had to watch McCloughlin passing it out yesterday to realise that.

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

Well deserved but Alebiosu did ok on his first taste of Championship as did Miller.  

Listen to Ismael and he hints that players will leave and be replace. He wants one more signing as RW but if Travis goes then we can sign replacement or Pears go we can sign a replacement. So its seem that the budget can afford another signing but after that we need one out to one in. Which is fine and we can not keep stock pilling players and players Ismael doesn't want

Problem signing British is wage demands but also inflated transfer fees. 

Ismael has spoken alot of profile of player and what he wants for each role. So that's be the aim to sign players which match that type of player skill and role wanted. Ismael wanted a left foot centre for better balance in the centre back area for example. 

My objective is not just to parrot what Ismael says he wants.

I can have my own opinions outside of this. It is allowed.

I don't see how resigning Forshaw and Hedges fits into any of these profiles for example. Just wastes resources on inadequate players.

[Hasta]

15 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

You’re quoting players of absolute top level international class. They’re probably extremely comfortable playing off either side. Unfortunately we aren’t shopping in that market anymore. In our current impoverished state having a left footer and right footer makes sense. You only had to watch McCloughlin passing it out yesterday to realise that.

That will be reflective at all levels of football. 

Craig Short and and Henning Berg were both right footed last time we got out of this league. 

If you have a choice of centre backs you think are even then get the left footer, but ultimately you should be getting the best defenders we can you can with our budget, not limiting our options by eliminating approximately 80% of the potential centre backs we could be looking at.

Edited 2 hours ago by Hasta

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, Hasta said:

That will be reflective at all levels of football. 

Craig Short and and Henning Berg were both right footed last time we got out of this league. 

If you have a choice of centre backs you think are even then get the left footer, but ultimately you should be getting the best defenders we can you can with our budget, not limiting our options by eliminating approximately 80% of the potential footballers we could be looking at.

But it won’t be true at all levels of football. The further you go down the heap the less two footed players can be. How many times have you seen a right footed defender cock up a clearance because a) they miss kicked because they’re weaker on their left side b) they tried to make what should be a left footed clearance into a right footed one. 
Also it’s not just about passing the ball out efficiently, it’s also about tackling off your dominant side and being comfortable jockeying opponents down that side. Not every right footer is effective at perfoming these tasks on the left flank.

Edited 1 hour ago by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Exiled in Toronto Mk2]

7 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

As you're well aware we've competed and finished far better than that in the pre Jack days albeit under better but much poorer owners and dare I say it, better managers.

Bit of revisionism methinks. Under Saxton, before Jack started paying for stuff, we finished 10th, 11th, 6th, 5th 19th and 12th, not much different to our last few years.

[RevidgeBlue]

2 minutes ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

Bit of revisionism methinks. Under Saxton, before Jack started paying for stuff, we finished 10th, 11th, 6th, 5th 19th and 12th, not much different to our last few years.

I didn't really rate Saxton tbh but 6th and 5th is still better than we've managed in the last 15 years.

I was thinking more specifically of the Don Mackay era.

[Hasta]

25 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

But it won’t be true at all levels of football. The further you go down the heap the less two footed players can be. How many times have you seen a right footed defender cock up a clearance because a) they miss kicked because they’re weaker on their left side b) they tried to make what should be a left footed clearance into a right footed one. 
Also it’s not just about passing the ball out efficiently, it’s also about tackling off your dominant side and being comfortable jockeying opponents down that side. Not ever right footer is effective at perfoming these tasks on the left flank.

And if they are of equal ability then fine, but when you’re in the pound shop market I’d rather prioritise mobility, defensive situational awareness, timing of when to make a tackle and the ability to head the ball away. 
 

It might be because we rarely have had that left/right combo throughout the 90s and 2000s, when we generally were defensively good, that I feel it’s over-appreciated.
 

Edited 2 hours ago by Hasta

[JCRovers]

Alright, watched the game on RoversTV now, here's my ratings:

Toth (6) - good shot stopping but poor distribution. Doesn't command his area well as he often went for punching the ball away from several crosses. Needs to stop chipping the ball in own half.

Ribeiro (6) - is supposed to be part of a back three when in possession but got caught out of position a few times during first half when roamed into central midfield for some reason.

McLoughlin (6,5) - looked solid, didn't make any clear errors from what I could see.

Hyam (5,5) - doesn't look comfortable on the ball. A liability whenever we decide to play out from the back.

Alebiosu (7) - good going forward when using his pace. Fouled in the lead-up to their goal as he was being held. Needs to work on his crosses.

Tronstad (4) - surprisingly bad performance. Several misplaced passes in which one of them nearly led to a goal. 

Travis (5) - was at fault for not stopping Price going on the inside for their goal; looked like he didn't even try. Has great work rate but zero drive going forward. Has his mind elsewhere?

Hedges (1) - Completely anonymous throughout ninety minutes. Zero attacking intent, zero quality going foward. The man is stealing a living at this point.

De Neve (4) - struggled badly with the physical part of the game. Poor deliveries from set pieces as well. 

Henriksson (3) - thrown in straight away and looked way off it. Were more interested in fouling opponents.

Ohashi (6) - Tried to work out chances on his own with limited service. Probably should've gotten a penalty in the first half.

Subs:

Kargbo (8) - possesses great pace, managed to get several WBA players booked whenever he made an attacking run. Poor crosses however and will have to work on it. Think he would be way more effective and dangerous playing on the right hand side instead to attack the half-space and drive into the penalty box as his decision-making isn't always that good when cutting inside from the left.

Miller (6) - has a great long throw but doesn't look very athletic or technical. Is not suited playing as a fullback unless he forms a back three when in possession.

Gueye (6) - won a few aerial challenges but didn't get enough service from his teammates when entering the box. Needs to be closer to opposition defenders to push down their defensive line.

Tavares (N/A) - played last ten minutes but was rarely involved in the game.

Tactical approach (3) - poor from Ismael tactically, thought the team were second-best in the first thirty minutes. WBA were more aggressive in winning the challenges, had more intensity and more attacking intent during that period. Tempo went down quite a lot during second half, we controlled possession but weren't particularly close in creating any chances of note.

Felt there was a lack of ideas and creativity when entering final third and just went for long balls in the last ten minutes when chasing the game. Hopefully it gets better when Cantwell is back. Also find it laughable that we lost so many challenges and duels having recruited players for that specific purpose all summer.

Edited 1 hour ago by JCRovers

[aletheia]

Thought the performances/body language of Travis and Tronstad tells us more about the state of the club than of the players themselves.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

39 minutes ago, JCRovers said:

Alright, watched the game on RoversTV now, here's my ratings:

Toth (6) - good shot stopping but poor distribution. Doesn't command his area well as he often went for punching the ball away from several crosses. Needs to stop chipping the ball in own half.

Ribeiro (6) - is supposed to be part of a back three when in possession but got caught out of position a few times during first half when roamed into central midfield for some reason.

McLoughlin (6,5) - looked solid, didn't make any clear errors from what I could see.

Hyam (5,5) - doesn't look comfortable on the ball. A liability whenever we decide to play out from the back.

Alebiosu (7) - good going forward when using his pace. Fouled in the lead-up to their goal as he was being held. Needs to work on his crosses.

Tronstad (4) - surprisingly bad performance. Several misplaced passes in which one of them nearly led to a goal. 

Travis (5) - was at fault for not stopping Price going on the inside for their goal; looked like he didn't even try. Has great work rate but zero drive going forward. Has his mind elsewhere?

Hedges (1) - Completely anonymous throughout ninety minutes. Zero attacking intent, zero quality going foward. The man is stealing a living at this point.

De Neve (4) - struggled badly with the physical part of the game. Poor deliveries from set pieces as well. 

Henriksson (3) - thrown in straight away and looked way off it. Were more interested in fouling opponents.

Ohashi (6) - Tried to work out chances on his own with limited service. Probably should've gotten a penalty in the first half.

Subs:

Kargbo (8) - possesses great pace, managed to get several WBA players booked whenever he made an attacking run. Poor crosses however and will have to work on it. Think he would be way more effective and dangerous playing on the right hand side instead to attack the half-space and drive into the penalty box as his decision-making isn't always that good when cutting inside from the left.

Miller (6) - has a great long throw but doesn't look very athletic or technical. Is not suited playing as a fullback unless he forms a back three when in possession.

Gueye (6) - won a few aerial challenges but didn't get enough service from his teammates when entering the box. Needs to be closer to opposition defenders to push down their defensive line.

Tavares (N/A) - played last ten minutes but was rarely involved in the game.

Tactical approach (3) - poor from Ismael tactically, thought the team were second-best in the first thirty minutes. WBA were more aggressive in winning the challenges, had more intensity and more attacking intent during that period. Tempo went down quite a lot during second half, we controlled possession but weren't particularly close in creating any chances of note.

Felt there was a lack of ideas and creativity when entering final third and just went for long balls in the last ten minutes when chasing the game. Hopefully it gets better when Cantwell is back. Also find it laughable that we lost so many challenges and duels having recruited players for that specific purpose all summer.

10/10

[Exiled in Toronto Mk2]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I didn't really rate Saxton tbh but 6th and 5th is still better than we've managed in the last 15 years.

I was thinking more specifically of the Don Mackay era.

Don had a couple of years maybe before Jack started making a difference. He funded Archibald and Ardilles didn’t he? Propped up the Riverside, put a big ad on the Blackburn End roof. Don did a good job, but he definitely had a helping hand. The Mackay years were exciting, the Saxton years steady-ish, which got him the push in the end. As I recall the years between Kendall and Mackay, the predominant feeling was a bit like now: going nowhere, no dosh, anyone any good gets sold before their prime.

[Tomphil2]

26 minutes ago, aletheia said:

Thought the performances/body language of Travis and Tronstad tells us more about the state of the club than of the players themselves.

I thought the body language was poor from a lot of them in that first half it's not what you'd expect in the first game of a new season with everything to play for.

[Leonard Venkhater]

1 hour ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

Bit of revisionism methinks. Under Saxton, before Jack started paying for stuff, we finished 10th, 11th, 6th, 5th 19th and 12th, not much different to our last few years.

After we got promoted with Howard Kendall we finished 4th once (goal difference), 5th  thrice and 6th once.

I think it was a lot different to the last fifteen years .

God, until Mowbray, we were only in the play off positions for about three minutes under Bowyer...