v Sheffield United (h) - 21/10/25

[RevidgeBlue]

I expect a heavy defeat tomorrow night and a point at best against Southampton.

Following which at any normal Club Ismail would be receiving his P45.

[StHelensRover]

On paper and in my brain I don't see us getting anything against Sheffield United or Southampton. 

As it's football and 'anything can happen', we'll probably end up drawing both games, which will prolong our misery and Ismael's reign as they'll be able to say "two great performances against two tough opponents, we're turning a corner" when really it'll be another two games without a win. 

[Blue Greyhound]

45 minutes ago, dallydally said:

The white van is outside waiting!

Haha heard similar things, year on year, albeit not quite as bleak as this season 

[WacoRover]

It’s hard to accept we’re in the relegation zone. Perhaps to stay.

If we cannot beat the blades tomorrow, or whenever we play Shef Wed, I do not see a fixture remaining that we have a good chance to win.

[RTM08]

This a 100% must win. Even a draw won't be good enough but I'll be honest I just don't see it.

Even if for arguments sake we say we play well, we a)don't have the quality up front to get clear and b)show time and again that we completely lose all composure at key moments game after game. 

Rovers 0-1 Sheff Utd

[roversfan99]

3 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Maybe but if it want to stick with 3 at the back what were options tbh? Limited. Maybe Atcheson should have been on bench. 

Why did he want to stick to 3 at the back? 

We were losing, under no circumstances and no matter how much you try to defend him (even suggesting repeating the tactic tomorrow when Miller seemed unlikely to play) did it make any sense to bring on a midfielder who isnt good enough in his own position into a position where he has never played before.

[chaddyrovers]

58 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Why did he want to stick to 3 at the back? 

We were losing, under no circumstances and no matter how much you try to defend him (even suggesting repeating the tactic tomorrow when Miller seemed unlikely to play) did it make any sense to bring on a midfielder who isnt good enough in his own position into a position where he has never played before.

You have to ask Ismael that question!!! 

[roversfan99]

1 minute ago, chaddyrovers said:

You have to ask Ismael that question!!! 

I dont. I can just point out that it was an utterly bizarre decision rather than trying to justify it and even advocating repeating it had Miller not been fit.

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

I dont. I can just point out that it was an utterly bizarre decision rather than trying to justify it and even advocating repeating it had Miller not been fit.

Well there is no point asking me your question when only Ismael can answer it  

[Ossydave]

13 hours ago, dallydally said:

It's only a question of time before the powers that be realise what a cock up has been made in choosing him as Manager!

Do you think? Do you really think VI was appointed because he was the best man for the job?

They needed someone willing to work under a crackpot regime and not ask many questions, the requirement really was someone who's career had either stagnated or was on a downward trajectory. Essentially VI needed us probably more than we needed him!

Even if he got sacked now his excuse would just be "yeah they got rid of any decent players, it's not really my fault ☹️" so he may save a bit of face.

I'm quite staggered that there's still people out there that think 'the powers that be' actually want the best for this football club!

As for the game, pffft, probably start really well and on the front foot, without scoring. Concede just before half time and the game fizzles out to another loss. Difficult to see any other outcome. The only way we get anything, even a draw, is clearly to score first.

[philipl]

This is crunch time for VI.

He has sent Rovers teams out which played that first half against Norwich and whole games against Charlton and Swansea.

Do that and we lose and he completely loses the Rovers fanbase.

But he also sent the Rovers team out for that first half at Coventry.

Do that and the Sheffield United board has kindly crippled their defense this summer...

We are also a bit lucky with the Sheffield United injuries this week.

So an absolutely pivotal match. For once my head says a Rovers win but gut is we will cock it up, possibly with a really stupid red card thrown in. Probably the direst of dire 0-0s. 

[Waggy76]

I'm quite staggered that there's still people out there that think 'the powers that be' actually want the best for this football club!

Very True! 

[BRFC.]

2-0 sheff United, you’d think that will be Ismael’s tenure over but he’s not sackable because “the performances are improving” 

[cesus]

We simply have to win, I cannot forget we collapse annually after Christmas and fall back on points gained up to this point. We have not gained the early season points that we usually do, it's extremely worrying.

[TheKitGuy]

0-2 I think we have a questionable penalty decision turned down or they get a favourable decision which will actually deflect from the utter dross that was served up.

[jim mk2]

16 hours ago, dallydally said:

 It's only a question of time before the powers that be realise what a cock up has been made in choosing him as Manager!

 

Do you believe that?

Sacking him would be an admission of their own failure - and this lot don't think they do anything wrong.

[davulsukur]

They probably won't sack him until the close of the January window at the earliest.

[neophox]

John Eustace days

[neophox]

Axel and Morishita needs to have a really good game tonight.

Toth

Miller, Wharton, McLaughlin

Alebiosu, Trondstad, Garner-Hickman, Hedges

Morishita, Henriksson

Ohashi, 

 

 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by neophox

[Silas]

Can't get on board with the doom and gloom for this fixture, although understand where it comes from. 

We're crap, but they're crapper....on paper. 

We've scored more than them, conceded less than them, and lost less games than them.

Yes, we haven't won at home yet, but they've scored one goal in 5 away matches.

They're on a massive low after the playoffs loss and dropping like a stone since.

It's particularly the loss to nil predictions that seem rough. Can't see it. Braced to get egg on face, but surely we'll score against this lot.

A 2-1 late loss, as is our speciality, certainly likely. No doubt via a dodgy decision or a fluke of luck.

But I can see us getting something from the match, problem being for me, a point doesn't feel enough. We need more.

[StHelensRover]

39 minutes ago, Silas said:

Can't get on board with the doom and gloom for this fixture, although understand where it comes from. 

We're crap, but they're crapper....on paper. 

We've scored more than them, conceded less than them, and lost less games than them.

Yes, we haven't won at home yet, but they've scored one goal in 5 away matches.

 

Yes they're below us in the table but in the last six games they've picked up more points than we have and they've (re)appointed someone during that time who is regarded as a very good manager in this league. I don't think you could ask any neutral to look at the two teams and say right this moment, that they're a worse team than we are. I imagine their aim this season is to try and get into the playoffs, not to 'avoid the drop', which is our unfortunate remit. We will have to play very well to get anything from tonight's game.

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, Silas said:

Can't get on board with the doom and gloom for this fixture, although understand where it comes from. 

We're crap, but they're crapper....on paper. 

We've scored more than them, conceded less than them, and lost less games than them.

Yes, we haven't won at home yet, but they've scored one goal in 5 away matches.

They're on a massive low after the playoffs loss and dropping like a stone since.

It's particularly the loss to nil predictions that seem rough. Can't see it. Braced to get egg on face, but surely we'll score against this lot.

A 2-1 late loss, as is our speciality, certainly likely. No doubt via a dodgy decision or a fluke of luck.

But I can see us getting something from the match, problem being for me, a point doesn't feel enough. We need more.

They've got a better squad, better manager (having reappointed Wilder) and will be buoyed by their win at weekend surely? 

[davulsukur]

12 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

They've got a better squad, better manager (having reappointed Wilder) and will be buoyed by their win at weekend surely? 

100%.

They'll beat us comfortably tonight, they are much better than us, in pretty much every aspect. They left a £10m striker in Tom Cannon, on the bench against Watford and still won.

[superniko]

Rovers favourites (6/4 vs 9/4 Sheffield United and 12/5 Draw)....what could possibly go wrong 🙃

[superniko]

2 hours ago, Silas said:

Can't get on board with the doom and gloom for this fixture, although understand where it comes from. 

We're crap, but they're crapper....on paper. 

We've scored more than them, conceded less than them, and lost less games than them.

Yes, we haven't won at home yet, but they've scored one goal in 5 away matches.

They're on a massive low after the playoffs loss and dropping like a stone since.

It's particularly the loss to nil predictions that seem rough. Can't see it. Braced to get egg on face, but surely we'll score against this lot.

A 2-1 late loss, as is our speciality, certainly likely. No doubt via a dodgy decision or a fluke of luck.

But I can see us getting something from the match, problem being for me, a point doesn't feel enough. We need more.

So many times we see these things and then in walks Blackburn Rovers....