v Southampton (h) - 25/10/25

[Rover down South]

Got a feeling we sneak a narrow win today and Gudjohnsen gets his first goal giving him and VI a little respite.

I’m usually wrong so expect an absolute drubbing 🤣

[NeilInBristol]

2 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Not another match day. I can’t stand the agony and the hopelessness 

It shouldn’t be like this

Something so existential about being a rovers fan right now

love football

love the club and its history 

not wanting to see what awaits us this afternoon 

[simongarnerisgod]

soton have some canny players,they should`nt be struggling,though i thoroughly expect them to get their season back on track today😫

[...]

1 hour ago, Jimmy612 said:

I still maintain we won’t get battered today. It usually goes like this… lose a few games, pressure mounts on the manager, fanbase expect us to get pasted, we come away with at least a draw so that they can shove it right down our ungrateful throats. 
 

2-1 Rovers or 1-1.

During the Kean era I went through phases of almost willing a defeat, in the vague hope it could be for the betterment of the team if it meant it pushed him over the precipice. As I’ve seen all this before, and knowing the manager won’t be removed, we have to hope this group can string enough points together to keep our heads above water. If we go in to L1, it could be years before we see Championship football again. 

That is the fear and its very Very real. 

[Tomphil2]

1 hour ago, RoversTilliDie said:

It would, you need to win your home games for survival.

When you keep losing them you must first set out to not lose them.

Ask Mr Eustace or Mr Warnock or Allardyce.

A draw in late October at home to Southampton doesn't rubber stamp relegation it gains one point in the fight against it.

Edited 2 hours ago by Tomphil2

[Old Codger]

Eleven 18-30 year old men on two sides for a game in the Championship. All are professional footballers, all are fit and healthy, all are (relatively) well paid (compared to the local average wage) and all dream of playing at the highest level possible. Sounds pretty even when put like that.

Then we wake up to:

Experience vs out of their depth

Confidence vs demoralised flapping

Competent coaching vs incoherent vs incomprehensible game planning

Strength in depth vs weakness wherever you look

Leadership on the field vs disarray and misunderstanding

A team playing for a respected and successful manager vs a bunch of raggedy muffin misfits clearly not engaged with their coach..

And that was just Tuesday night against an easily blunted Blades..

Coming to this afternoon's mismatch, what can we realistically expect?

Rovers repeating regression vs Southampton gleeful long haul home? 0-2 

Rovers Revival vs Southampton Slide? 1-0

Rovers on Routed vs Southampton sadly on song? 0-6

Remember, the 'Exciting Plan' is to pitch inexperienced & demoralised journeymen and make weights against battle-hardened professionals, then kick and hope.

Football ISNT a funny old game when played like Russian Roulette with the safety catch off and a full magazine.

BASTARDS!

VENKYS PASHA AND THE BOY OUT!!

 

[BankEnd Rover]

Last chance for Val for me.

Win would be nice but a loss and the manager should instantly be sacked...Let's see if RG has any bottle shall we.

[BankEnd Rover]

Wouldn't have dropped Hendriksson, thought he's looked quite good the past 2 games. 

[DutchRover]

Think it's about the strongest team we can play at the moment, sad to say. Maybe Henrikson for Gudjohnson but that's close.

[Roverthechimp]

Kargbo not on bench??

[joey_big_nose]

29 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Last chance for Val for me.

Win would be nice but a loss and the manager should instantly be sacked...Let's see if RG has any bottle shall we.

I dont think Rudy would be able to sack him. Would be Pashas / Venkys call.

[B16Rover]

It's been run through a few times but that bench is shocking.  If you looked at careers Morashita looks the better pick to Henriksson, but Henriksson feels like he's starting to get up to speed so feels a shame 

[joey_big_nose]

26 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Wouldn't have dropped Hendriksson, thought he's looked quite good the past 2 games. 

Yeah not technically brilliant but seems up to it physically. Morishita brings more quality but I think he gets a bit bullied.

That said first time Morishita gets a proper number 10 role with 2 strikers ahead of him, so if there is any setup that will give him space this is it.

[DE.]

If De Neve is considered part of our best eleven then I despair. He's fast and got good positioning, but his technique is non-league level.

Hedges appears to have lost favour as a first-teamer, for now at least. Kargbo has vanished - is he injured? Morashita starting for this one. Tavares back on the bench. 

Ismael really does have no clue what his best team is. Truth is there's probably very little difference in any combination of players he puts out there. The only one who could make a significant difference is Cantwell, and he's obviously not available. 

[waynerovers]