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

[Tomphil2]

9 hours ago, bazza said:

If Ismael is fired, who in their right mind would come to Ewood?

I look at Damien Johnson and wonder what is this lad doing with his life? Why is he still here in this toxic atmosphere? I had high hopes for him when he was in charge of the youngsters. He's going backwards.

He probably has the comfiest job in football basically recording individual players stats then sitting down with them during the week saying 'you're doing a lot of this, that's good but not enough of that, so do a bit more, ok'.

 

[Kjell]

2 hours ago, Torgeir said:

I actually don't think that's our biggest issue, but it's certainly starting to become a factor now as well.

I agree. 

I'd say our most significant issue is the owner, followed closely by the bastard symbiosis called Pasha Gestede.

However, as Eustace demonstrated, fostering a sense of unity and involving good people in daily training sessions (with some sent on scouting missions🫢) can enable a fairly average team to overperform.

When I did due diligence on Ismael on his arrival, the most worrying parts for me were his player management, reports about arrogance and poor/inflexible game management, etc. For me, playing style is irrelevant (though I understand it matters to others), what matters is Rovers winning.

I guess it would - unfortunately - only be speculation as to whether Ismael will be a success if Gestede and Pasha are removed. Bring in a proper CEO and 5-6 proven championship-experienced players in January, and we might have a chance.

For me: pay up and bring Big Sam back. First, survival, and then two years of backing, with below-average championship spending, and we would be back in the PL. And yes, I know it's never going to happen.

 

 

 

[Mike Graham]

14 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Team spirit is important but will only get you so far. 

If those two are using this as any justification for decimating our club then I find that insulting.

Let's see how the team spirit is now after the manager has publicly called out Carter and Gueye.

 

Shifting the blame onto others is a low punch.

If anyone did that on my shift they would have been called out (privately of course) and read the riot act.

[Tomphil2]

Big Sams time as a manager is up now but he'd surely make a handy Sporting Director.

[AVE1875]

We are dreadful and we will finish this season relegated if performances like that continue, which they've been pretty consistent so far.

All well and good saying we played well for 20 minutes but that doesn't win you games, at a new low with Rovers now and haven't felt this bad about us since the SK days. 

Dying club, dying fanbase.

[Herbie6590]

27 minutes ago, cesus said:

I still found it bizarre when he said Tronstad wouldn't sign a new deal as he had some issues and wanted to go back to Scandinavia. It just didn't need saying publicly. Watching Tronstad lately, he really wants to go back to Scandinavia.

He’d go to Stanley at the moment you sense…

[MarkBRFC]

11 hours ago, yankfan said:

That doesn’t account for our point deduction when Venkys stop paying the bill 

This will never happen, as that's when questions start to be asked.

Worrying thing is, this season is probably going to be as good as it gets for a long time.

After this season when we're languishing around 18th in the third tier in front of 5k fans it's game over.

[superniko]

55 minutes ago, DuffsLeftPeg said:

This final Venkys solution has been coming for 3 years, not just since the summer…and it doesn’t end here. 

It started when Venky’s pulled the plug on JDT’s budget. It started ironically against Sheff Utd in the FA Cup. It started when Kaminski, a fit again & proven top class Championship goalkeeper was left out of the team to accommodate Pears. He remained there for the rest of the season to build his minutes up. Pears is now getting the same treatment until he can be sold too and weaken the squad even further.

It cost us a Wembley trip and what should have been a nailed on play off place that season and it’s been downhill ever since.

If you think this can’t get any worse…..

 

The last time I went to a match with a proper buzz - felt great driving over snake pass to Szmodics scoring. Horrible final 5 mins but a big Rovers following with a bit of hope for the first time in forever......that feels so so far away now.

[TimmyJimmy]

What's clear to me is that the strategy has been to:

a) clear the decks of 'trouble makers' and those who wouldn't sign new deals

b) replace with younger unknown 'prospects' whose value could increase

c) become a perpetual mid table club so as to sell on the bloodied and newly seasoned championship quality players for a profit

d) sausage machine/rinse repeat

e) get lucky once in a while to keep the natives happy and interested

This gets reliance on the owners money down and we generate our own funds.

They miss the whole idea of being a football club, my question is WHAT'S THE F'ING POINT!!

Who wants to watch that and support a club like that.  You're in the entertainment business - ENTERTAIN FFS!!!

We've bought young, fit kids, some with real pace, but ZERO football skills, and I mean ZERO, nothing in their footballing senses, nothing in their footballing brains, nothing in their first touches, no idea how to use their bodies. When was the last time we saw a clean strike of the ball from a forward player? You know, just the basic skill of the game.

Gestede and Pasha did this because they could, they like being in charge and everybody else can go hang.  There's no other reason, ego tripping maniacs who get off on domination.

The club has rotted from the inside outwards. I really think we're finished. 

[KentExile]

6 minutes ago, TimmyJimmy said:

What's clear to me is that the strategy has been to:

a) clear the decks of 'trouble makers' and those who wouldn't sign new deals

 

For "trouble makers", read "people who know what they are talking about and are not afraid of voicing their opinions"

Edited 9 hours ago by KentExile

[superniko]

51 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Team spirit is important but will only get you so far. 

If those two are using this as any justification for decimating our club then I find that insulting.

Let's see how the team spirit is now after the manager has publicly called out Carter and Gueye.

 

Can anyone link to what he said about Carter? I saw the Gueye comments in another thread and I'm absolutely astonished that a manager would say that publicly, whatever his opinion.

[Tomphil2]

4 minutes ago, TimmyJimmy said:

What's clear to me is that the strategy has been to:

a) clear the decks of 'trouble makers' and those who wouldn't sign new deals

b) replace with younger unknown 'prospects' whose value could increase

c) become a perpetual mid table club so as to sell on the bloodied and newly seasoned championship quality players for a profit

d) sausage machine/rinse repeat

e) get lucky once in a while to keep the natives happy and interested

This gets reliance on the owners money down and we generate our own funds.

They miss the whole idea of being a football club, my question is WHAT'S THE F'ING POINT!!

Who wants to watch that and support a club like that.  You're in the entertainment business - ENTERTAIN FFS!!!

We've bought young, fit kids, some with real pace, but ZERO football skills, and I mean ZERO, nothing in their footballing senses, nothing in their footballing brains, nothing in their first touches, no idea how to use their bodies. When was the last time we saw a clean strike of the ball from a forward player? You know, just the basic skill of the game.

Gestede and Pasha did this because they could, they like being in charge and everybody else can go hang.  There's no other reason, ego tripping maniacs who get off on domination.

The club has rotted from the inside outwards. I really think we're finished. 

This is 100% bang on the money they just want the club to exist whilst an assortment of pals and employees fill their own pockets playing footy manager.

It's ALWAYS been on the cards but certain things and other influences have prevented it but now the decks are clear and they think they can do it cut price compared to the TM/Venus/Waggot model.

Relegation should see every one of them sacked and cast into the football wilderness for good.

[superniko]

FYI as this thread is popular right now - there is a WATR survey that landed in inboxes this morning. I'd imagine responses will be pretty damning and hopefully as a fanbase we can push on to protest against the slow spiralling of the club.

[RoversTilliDie]

Once again we played for 45 minutes, then collapsed in the 2nd half. It makes you wonder if some of these players are fit enough for the Championship. Get them fell running with backpacks on.

[...]

56 minutes ago, cesus said:

I still found it bizarre when he said Tronstad wouldn't sign a new deal as he had some issues and wanted to go back to Scandinavia. It just didn't need saying publicly. Watching Tronstad lately, he really wants to go back to Scandinavia.

Yep doesnt look happy at all

[lraC]

2 hours ago, Mike Graham said:

FF members apparently invited to Brockhall to see how good the team spirit is.

I hope the visit is this morning.

What a load of bollocks and cements my comments made about a cosy little meeting

The team spirit is getting us plenty of points (Not) and this is the problem. They constantly hide behind shite like this and statements like, how exciting the summer will be.

We haven't seen the minutes yet, but unless they are as scathing as the accurate version from last time, I call for a vote of no confidence in the Fans Forum.

Edited 9 hours ago by lraC

[RoversTilliDie]

30 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

He’d go to Stanley at the moment you sense…

We might be playing them in future, if things don't change.

[RoversTilliDie]

24 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

That doesn’t account for our point deduction when Venkys stop paying the bill 

What points deduction, were are they coming from the points at the moment.

[MarkBRFC]

1 minute ago, RoversTilliDie said:

What points deduction, were are they coming from the points at the moment.

I didn't say that, I quoted it.

[Herbie6590]

5 minutes ago, lraC said:

What a load of bollocks and cements my comments made about a cosy little meeting

The team spirit is getting us plenty of points (Not) and this is the problem. They constantly hide behind shite like this and statements like, how exciting the summer will be.

We haven't seen the minutes yet, but unless they are as scathing as the accurate version from last time, I call for a vote of no confidence in the Fans Forum.

In what world would Rovers sign off scathing minutes? They banned the LT for skirting round the edges of what was going on...

[lraC]

2 hours ago, Gaz85 said:

He just signed a contract extension…🤷🏼‍♂️

I know he has and I will bet my bottom dollar that is to ensure they get a better price for him, when they force him out.

Read Timmy Jimmy's post and and consider Scott to not only be a fan, but one who stuck up for the people who have been bullied out of the club, not to mention how shabbily his brother was treated, as some on here will testify.

Edited 9 hours ago by lraC

[Lancaster Rover]

32 minutes ago, superniko said:

FYI as this thread is popular right now - there is a WATR survey that landed in inboxes this morning. I'd imagine responses will be pretty damning and hopefully as a fanbase we can push on to protest against the slow spiralling of the club.

Hopefully the majority of members push for protest and fan action

[StHelensRover]

I've responded to the survey, happy to confirm I've identified our benevolent owners as the main issue, as opposed to ticket prices etc.

[RoversTilliDie]

7 minutes ago, Lancaster Rover said:

Hopefully the majority of members push for protest and fan action

We definitely need protest, nobody turning up for the Southampton game, would turn a few heads.

[Tomphil2]

2 minutes ago, RoversTilliDie said:

We definitely need protest, nobody turning up for the Southampton game, would turn a few heads.

This !

Hardly anybody is turning up anyway, the get behind the lads ffs crew are sat at home themselves because they can't be arsed.

Those who turn up sit there in silence looking like they'd rather be anywhere but there.

It really cannot be that difficult to make just 1 statement and purposely stay away from one game.