v Hull City (a) - 23/8/25

[WacoRover]

Predictions:

- Hull scores first, & last; 

- wins will be few & far between this season;

- Rovers lose at least 2 more players who transfer out;

- the players who replace them, aren’t as good;

- this is all before we get our typical 7 or 8 debilitating injuries to 1st teamers. 

[philipl]

Apparently there is a story about Hull having to play the club cat against us because of an injury crisis behind a paywall somewhere...

[Ossydave]

4 hours ago, philipl said:

Apparently there is a story about Hull having to play the club cat against us because of an injury crisis behind a paywall somewhere...

Not much of a crisis they've got like 3 players out, the latest being Crooks, unless the mystery virus turns out to be particularly rampant.

[roversfan99]

Massive game already. Lose again and the concerns really grow.

I have always thought that people have overestimated our likeliness of relegation in past seasons but this one feels different. Birmingham and Wrexham already have miles better squads so they wont be close to a dogfight. Potential rivals like Hull, Charlton and Preston have all started well so a loss would just leave further ground to catch already.

We also know that no matter what results are, Ismael is safe as they wont be paying between 2 and 3 years of his contract up.

I presume we again will be choosing not to include our captain despite him still being a Rovers player for the time being?

[chaddyrovers]

 

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

I presume we again will be choosing not to include our captain despite him still being a Rovers player for the time being?

do you think we should pick up if the rumours are true about last week game why he wasn't involve? 

[Tomphil2]

The only reason we've had good seasons recently bar one and the only reason we actually stayed up then was down to the good starts and getting as many points on the table as early as possible.

So yes this one feels different and what concerns me is the conceding of goals early in games, an issue that never seems to go away no matter who is coaching them.

[roversfan99]

28 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

do you think we should pick up if the rumours are true about last week game why he wasn't involve? 

That he wasnt happy with the interviews and felt like he was throwing under the bus?

Then its an issue of our own making because he played the first game.

And yes, I know, you appreciate Ismael being "open and honest" I dont need to hear it again. Its just a shame that it leaves the team much weaker ahead of an important game.

[Tomphil2]

Head coaches being open and honest is good but we have to remember it's only up to a point.

In no way are they ever going to throw themselves under the bus nor their bosses, unless they feel it's time to get sacked and get paid up !

Literally hanging onto every word they say as gospel is for the fairies a pinch of salt is always needed.