v Birmingham City (h) - 16/8/25

[DE.]

1 minute ago, alexanders said:

WBA beat Wrexham 2-3 today. They are not a bad side. 
 

we were decent today. Fought well, full of running, but we were very hard done by. 

I didn't say they were a bad side, but they were bang average when we played them. 

We didn't have a shot in the first 45 and two on target the entire game, at home. If that's decent then standards are frankly through the fucking floor. 

[AvRover]

3 minutes ago, DE. said:

The worrying thing is neither WBA nor Big Club were very good. I think our first 11 from last season takes at least 4 points from those matches. 

Beating the better clubs isn't necessarily needed realistically where the club is at atm. We just need to be better than three other teams and beat teams in the bottom half. That's the model we're running on until the ownership changes - stay in the division. Rovers is fundamentally a house of cards. We just have to hope we get a good new owner one day, rather than go down the "Morecambe route".

[rovers11]

Today wasn't unfortunate or unlucky. It was what happens when you get rid of your players with championship experience and replace them with players not used to playing in this league. You need championship know how to see games out and we simply don't have that anymore.

We are very strong relegation candidates. We can already see that after 3 games. All the ingredients are there.

[bluebruce]

13 minutes ago, roverandout said:

 We're not a special club.

Wash your mouth out with soap.

[wilsdenrover]

Three shots on target over two league games but only one more player needed…

[Andy]

Just got home, thought it was 2 poor sides today - but we should have won that.

Couple of good chances after Cantwell's very well taken goal.
Thought we defended well enough to restrict them to long shots, until we made the changes.

Couldn't say we missed Travis at all today, Tavares offers at least what LT did in terms of ability.
Toth is levels above Pears and I thought Hyam had a good game. It was even one of Hedges' better games for us also.

But we absolutely need reinforcements at the top end, it goes without saying.
If not, it's going to be a long season.

Edit: just to add on B'ham. For the numbers they brought, their fans were pretty shit.
And I'm sure the irony of Birmingham City chanting 'who the fucking hell are you' to Blackburn Rovers was lost on them.

Edited 2 hours ago by Andy

[sharpysharps86]

Just now, rovers11 said:

Today wasn't unfortunate or unlucky. It was what happens when you get rid of your players with championship experience and replace them with players not used to playing in this league. You need championship know how to see games out and we simply don't have that anymore.

We are very strong relegation candidates. We can already see that after 3 games. All the ingredients are there.

I think it can be both.

The team didn't deserve to lose, but you're completely right, this is exactly what happens when the core of solid championship team is removed and replaced with inexperience. Only McLoughlin has played at this level previously from all the new players, and it shows.

Agreed - relegation battle it is. Hull away is already a big game next weekend.

 

[riverholmes]

Buckley’s been a major disappointment but unless there’s an injury can see no justification having Montgomery on the bench over him.

[KentExile]

2 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

Three shots on target over two league games but only one more player needed…

but not a striker, because that wouldn't make any sense would it?

[AvRover]

4 minutes ago, rovers11 said:

Today wasn't unfortunate or unlucky. It was what happens when you get rid of your players with championship experience and replace them with players not used to playing in this league. You need championship know how to see games out and we simply don't have that anymore.

We are very strong relegation candidates. We can already see that after 3 games. All the ingredients are there.

There's a lot of dross in this division and crisis ridden clubs - that's our saving grace. Even at this stage of the season, Hull next week is a big "do not lose, should be winning" fixture.

Edited 2 hours ago by AvRover

[DE.]

1 minute ago, AvRover said:

Beating the better clubs isn't necessarily needed realistically where the club is at atm. We just need to be better than three other teams and beat teams in the bottom half. That's the model we're running on until the ownership changes - stay in the division. Rovers is fundamentally a house of cards. We just have to hope we get a good new owner one day, rather than go down the "Morecambe route".

Not sure I'd class WBA or Brum as the better teams in the division, neither looked like it playing against us, but even if we do put them at that level who are we expecting to be below us? Sheff Weds, probably - then...? 

Other than Cantwell, who's scoring the goals in this team? Who's creating the assists? It feels like blind optimism to think the likes of Yuki, Gueye or Kargbo are going to step up like that. Hedges certainly isn't. No evidence as of yet that the new signings are capable. 

I think to have any chance we need to scrape a win or two very quickly and hope momentum carries us for a while. It will be very difficult for such a technically barren team to reverse a downward spiral this early in this season. 

[Gamst]

It’s easy to criticise and I’m all for building up the pressure on the owners but I think everyone expected us to lose comfortably today (myself included) but we fought and were unlucky to lose. No points accrued but some hope restored and it gives us an outside chance of staying up this season if we play with that degree of fight. Despite the disappointment today I’m actually a lot less despondent than I was this morning. 

[Torgeir]

30 minutes ago, DackDackGoose said:

Tavares offered nothing in play also.. short side passes and can't defend. What does he do. Screwed if trav leaves

Makes you hate football being cheated though, would of held on

Yeah, expected him to impress like he did during midweek but he found it a lot harder against a standard Championship side. 

[yankfan]

7 minutes ago, alexanders said:

Think it was Tavares corner. Horrible decision. Sometimes we can play it short and keep the ball. 
 

This is a Rovers thing. 

Why is the guy who’s not fit to play 60 min still on the pitch AND then tasked with the corner?

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Three words...FUCK OFF VENKYS.

[davulsukur]

On holiday so not had a phone to keep up with the score. Came back and saw the most Rovers result you could possibly imagine.

The difference between investment and not right there. They take the points, whilst we bemoan our luck.

[Miller11]

That’s exactly what happens when you are a club in crisis. Things don’t go your way, often in the cruelest manner. 

The big concern for me is that I don’t think that group of players could’ve done much more today. They played to pretty much the best of their collective ability. Anyone denying we have significantly downgraded over the summer is deluded. The result of managed decline was on display today.

I think today will be a pretty good indicator of what is to come all season. Lots of huffing and puffing. Not much quality. Plenty of disappointment.

[Exiled_Rover]

11 minutes ago, DE. said:

I didn't say they were a bad side, but they were bang average when we played them. 

We didn't have a shot in the first 45 and two on target the entire game, at home. If that's decent then standards are frankly through the fucking floor. 

Of course standards are through the floor - I used to watch Tugay, Jansen, McCarthy warm up and marvel at their skill.

Now our players are barely able to trap a football. 

[Exiled_Rover]

11 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Wash your mouth out with soap.

We've been in and around the Playoffs the last 3 or 4 seasons with literally EVERYTHING working against us.

This is a mid table PL club with its head held underwater by wankers in India and the cunts they employ at Ewood. 

[Torgeir]

2 minutes ago, Gamst said:

It’s easy to criticise and I’m all for building up the pressure on the owners but I think everyone expected us to lose comfortably today (myself included) but we fought and were unlucky to lose. No points accrued but some hope restored and it gives us an outside chance of staying up this season if we play with that degree of fight. Despite the disappointment today I’m actually a lot less despondent than I was this morning. 

Yeah, it's not gonna look pretty, is it. Low tempo, boring stuff today, but of course a little excitement when Cantwell scored and then trying to see the game out.

Thought the pen looked correct on TV, and the second was just a total shambles when we were pushing for the win. We did not deserve to lose, but can't say it was convincing either with 41/59 possession in their favour. 

How many more of this can I endure?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Gonna be a tough,tough Season folks,we maybe played better but another loss...Hull away now feels like a must not lose even if just for team morale.

Sigh.

Edited 2 hours ago by SIMON GARNERS 194

[Exiled_Rover]

2 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

That’s exactly what happens when you are a club in crisis. Things don’t go your way, often in the cruelest manner. 

The big concern for me is that I don’t think that group of players could’ve done much more today. They played to pretty much the best of their collective ability. Anyone denying we have significantly downgraded over the summer is deluded. The result of managed decline was on display today.

I think today will be a pretty good indicator of what is to come all season. Lots of huffing and puffing. Not much quality. Plenty of disappointment.

The biggest downgrade is the manager.

Man for man I don't think there's much in it.

Alebiosu offers something different to Brittain (not as good on the ball, but far better defensively). McLoughlin seems solid. Miller is going to become a cult hero. Tavares looks like he has something about him. 

The problem with the first XI is that we lost a poor RW and simply haven't replaced him. 

[RevidgeBlue]

16 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

"Not seen today, but I'll post anyway".

Pretty much sums your contributions to this board up.

Lol. I know you're disappointed with the result but when you're in a hole stop digging.

It's exactly as roverandout said you're a really good poster most of the time but when it comes to referees you lose any and all perspective.

[RutlandRover]

Optimistic point of view: VI's first half dozen games were absolutely appalling then they seem to get their shit together. Maybe it's the same sort of situation with a lot of new players in the squad?

Yes - straws, clutching and all that.

[USABlue]

Heartbreaker in the end.  I expected us to get a spankin so result is not as bad but the manner of defeat is hard to take.  Soft penalty well acted by the brum player ref could not ooint fast enough.  Again our players are kicked, fouled shoved with no protection.  Ohashi once was waiting for a high ball and the brum defender had both arms around him holding and pushing, not given.  My take is the resulting free kick would have been in a dangerous position.  Moments later ref gives us one for a lesser offence but 20 yards further back, not dangerous at all.  It is shit.