v Southampton (h) - 25/10/25

[MarkBRFC]

11 minutes ago, Jimmy612 said:

I have a feeling (usually wrong), that we might well pull something out of the fire here. The pressure is mounting big time, and in my experience, Rovers have a little habit of winning a game when managers are under such intense scrutiny.

Saints have been desperately poor by their expectations, and I think Still will be dispensed with way before Ismael is.  Not sure the Saints players have much respect for him, don't think the fans are having him, and i's a 5-hour journey for them after a midweek defeat. 

I'm torn between 1-1 and 2-1 Rovers. 

Back when we had some senior pro's who were decent at this level we sometimes did this.

This lot are hopeless though. We'll have some good passages of play, create one or two good chances, and then lose 2-0.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

My grandson and I will be going over. I’m desperate to keep Rovers in our family. He’s the only one of the assorted grand kids that has shown any interest. At least none of the other grand kids support other teams.

I used to walk up to the ground from the Boulevard with a spring in my step and with a bit of optimism in my mind. Not these days, it feels like going to the dentist.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

10 hours ago, davulsukur said:

We ain't winning and we don't do draws. Southampton will cruise to a 0-2 victory.

From our point on view, I'd scrap the back 3 and go back to 4-2-3-1.

----------------------Toth

Alebiosu---McLoughlin--Wharton--Riberio

------------Tronstad-----TGH

Hedges----------Mori-----------De-Neve

------------------Yuki

Dear or dear, Hedges and DeNeve on the wings ? Is that what we’ve finally come down to ? I’m not having a go at all but I grew up when we had the two Mikes on the wings. Now they were real wingers. We had better wingers when we were bumping around the old Div 3 at times. Mecky, Johnny Price, Noel B. All better than what we have now.

Edited 7 hours ago by Tyrone Shoelaces

[MarkBRFC]

33 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

My grandson and I will be going over. I’m desperate to keep Rovers in our family.

That's how I am.

I only have the one lad who is nearly 16, and he's every bit as invested in this shitshow as I was at his age. 

I think if he eventually gets fed up and doesn't want to go that might be me done too.

Sad times.

[StHelensRover]

On paper, looking at the value of the squads, Southampton should muller us. Having said that, they've only won 3 games in a year or something ridiculous. Their confidence will be low, they will be really nervous. If we get a dodgy decision go for us or get a lucky break, we might just get something even if we don't play well. Football's just weird like that. Neither set of fans will be looking forward to this.

I could see us somehow getting something like a draw from this game or a 1-0 and it will be like when Kean got that draw at Anfield or won at Old Trafford. It will release some pressure and the happy clappers will be back in force and the club will do the equivalent of an open top bus tour in the media and online.

Sounds odd but we need the game to be 0-0 for as long as possible then hopefully score at the end. If we score first, we panic and collapse. If the opposition scores first, we panic and collapse.

I really want us to win because I can't face what will happen to the club when we go down, but it's prolonging the inevitable if nothing changes in the dugout and upstairs. 

1-1 Ohashi 

[Tomphil2]

We'll compete well in the first half, miss a few chances then collapse 50 mins onwards.

Confusing subs will be made for subs sake and we'll finish with 10 men.

Rovers  0   Soton  3

 

[oldjamfan1]

1 hour ago, MarkBRFC said:

No messing about back then.

I'm pretty sure Hodgson had been sacked before I got back to the train station after that game.

Here we'll dither on until Ismael is of no use to Pasha/Rudy anymore.

I'm sure he's quoted as saying he has been sacked in the tunnel at Ewood Park twice. Once by us (that Southampton game) and again by Liverpool after we had just dicked them.

[Mercer]

First goal will be all important in this game.

Armstrong can score goals for fun at this level and, sadly for us, think he will on Saturday.  Southampton by at least 2 goals 

[RoversTilliDie]

Played 10 for 8 against 16 miserable reading for Rovers supporters. This team have had 10 games to gel together, yet they stroll around the pitch like there complete strangers to each other, and not on the same wavelength. It will be even more miserable when we lose to Southampton on Saturday, Rovers rock bottom.

[RoversTilliDie]

21 hours ago, Elrovers said:

I don’t see us winning this one again, unfortunately. Will get really toxic if we can’t get a result…

There won't be anybody there to get toxic.

[RoversTilliDie]

21 hours ago, Devon Rover said:

I can't see a win, either. Here or for the foreseeable future. But i also can't see any toxic reaction coming. The time for that is several years past, with little if any impact from those sporadic occasions during Venkys time here. I think most fans have given up fighting/wasting effort/money/hoping. I had planned to travel up for this one but I simply dont see the point in terms of the game, the 'product', or the ability of the fanbase to influence the future of the club. Negative, i know, but what at the Rovers is leading towards anything different? 3-1 to Saints and Rovers propping up the league. Ismael praises the performance.

I have to agree with you, Rovers are having the life sucked out of them, with the shite running the club.

[RoversTilliDie]

17 hours ago, MarkBRFC said:

Since Southampton won the play off final in May 2024, they have won just 4 league games.

They couldn't ask for a better game at the minute.

Rovers 0 Southampton 2.

We limp on.

 

I'm going with something similar to the sheff utd game, Southampton give us a goal start, and end up winning the game 1-5.

[JHRover]

Their manager dare not lose this one. Unlike micky mouse Rovers a club like Southampton will ring the changes and try to improve their standing in the game so expect Still to be fired if they lose to lowly Rovers.

This could be a curse or a blessing. If he still commands some respect in their dressing room and that solid squad is still playing for him then you would expect them to pull a win out of the bag to save his skin. On the other hand if he's on his last legs and the players aren't playing for him then we might have hit them at the perfect time to snatch a win before he's replaced with a better  manager. 

I reckon a draw here, which doesn't really suit anyone but can be hailed as progress for both.

[StHelensRover]

Just now, JHRover said:

Their manager dare not lose this one. Unlike micky mouse Rovers a club like Southampton will ring the changes and try to improve their standing in the game so expect Still to be fired if they lose to lowly Rovers.

This could be a curse or a blessing. If he still commands some respect in their dressing room and that solid squad is still playing for him then you would expect them to pull a win out of the bag to save his skin. On the other hand if he's on his last legs and the players aren't playing for him then we might have hit them at the perfect time to snatch a win before he's replaced with a better  manager. 

I reckon a draw here, which doesn't really suit anyone but can be hailed as progress for both.

I think we are so dreadful that Will Still might get potted even if they get a draw here on Saturday.

[sharpysharps86]

Can see this being a 1-1 draw like the Stoke game, and we get the "we've turned a corner" and "excellent performance" spiel trotted out.

On the other hand, a team and opposing manager desperately needing a win coming to Ewood...we've seen that script play out plenty of times.

The only outcome I can't see is a home win.....meanwhile Sheffield Wednesday beat Oxford at home and Rovers drop to the foot of the table.

[RoversTilliDie]

31 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

We'll compete well in the first half, miss a few chances then collapse 50 mins onwards.

Confusing subs will be made for subs sake and we'll finish with 10 men.

Rovers  0   Soton  3

 

It makes you wonder, are the shower we've signed, fit enough for the Championship. They play for 45 minutes, then switch off.

[metalrover]

We could be bottom by this weekend if Wednesday beats Oxford at hills

[StHelensRover]

We could really do with Sheffield Wednesday beating Oxford actually. Wednesday are going to get a huge points deduction soon, so their points total not too relevant, but if Oxford were to win and we didn't, they'd already have a 5 point gap on us.

[sharpysharps86]

1 minute ago, RoversTilliDie said:

It makes you wonder, are the shower we've signed, fit enough for the Championship. They play for 45 minutes, then switch off.

Some of them are clearly playing a level or two above where they belong. Of the new signings, only Alebiosu appears to be playing at Championship level to me. Haven't seen enough of Morishita to judge fairly, but the rest are League One, possibly League Two standard.

[K-Hod]

11 minutes ago, StHelensRover said:

I think we are so dreadful that Will Still might get potted even if they get a draw here on Saturday.

I wonder if Will Still will still be manager if we beat them on Saturday?

*I'll get me coat*.

[47er]

Anyone really believe that Venkys will sack the manager and pay out nearly 3 years dosh?

I don't, and if they did the new manager would know he had the same squad. No splurge in the winter transfer window, only if we sell first!!!!

So who of any use would take the job?

No--things will have to get a whole lot worse yet.

Falling crowds and bitter response from those who do go is all we have. And protests.

Meanwhile there are plenty of fans saying "it's a new squad, we have to give them time." In the LT everyday.

[arbitro]

59 minutes ago, Mercer said:

First goal will be all important in this game.

Armstrong can score goals for fun at this level and, sadly for us, think he will on Saturday.  Southampton by at least 2 goals 

I heard it said last night that 80% of games in the Championship are won and lost by one goal.

That is the competitive nature of the Championship and Ismael has to find a way of coming out of games with a win.

No more hard luck stories of excuses as they count for nothing.

[roversfan99]

Thats why I am not having this idea that its just bad luck and that "the data" suggests that things will start going our way at some point.

If you repeatedly find yourself on the wrong side of these margins. You consider our patched up defence, our total absence of goalscorers, our lack of experience and our poor manager. Theres a reason we keep losing.

[Tomphil2]

1 hour ago, RoversTilliDie said:

It makes you wonder, are the shower we've signed, fit enough for the Championship. They play for 45 minutes, then switch off.

It's the price you pay for scooping up a load of players from less intense leagues.

I'd also say the half time team talk and use of subs never seems to help.

[Tomphil2]

31 minutes ago, 47er said:

Anyone really believe that Venkys will sack the manager and pay out nearly 3 years dosh?

I don't, and if they did the new manager would know he had the same squad. No splurge in the winter transfer window, only if we sell first!!!!

So who of any use would take the job?

No--things will have to get a whole lot worse yet.

Falling crowds and bitter response from those who do go is all we have. And protests.

Meanwhile there are plenty of fans saying "it's a new squad, we have to give them time." In the LT everyday.

They aren't arsed about crowds or displeasure.

If you ask me this latest project is the brainchild - or brainfart - of the finance director/Suhail and Rudy.

Ismael is their man and all they want from him is a quick turnaround with a few of their cheapo signings so they can move them on and get commission.

Sell one quickly for 2/3 mill plus add ons, move out a couple more of the higher earners left in Jan and they've covered their dwindling crowds lost revenue for another year.

And i'm certain they are still stupid enough to think non of this will end in relegation the current results are just a blip.