v Preston North End (a) - 21/11/25, 8:00pm ko Sky TV

[...]

 

 

 

[RevidgeBlue]

32 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

Also doubt Ismael would be pleased about that but he's here to do as he's told.

Do you actually think Ismael is bothered?

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, Miller11 said:

Eustace and Waggott wanted Cantwell. Gestede didn’t. Waggott and Eustace met with him early in the window but it didn’t progress due to finances - probably Suhail putting a block on it.

It became apparent towards the end of the window that he was available on the cheap - 250-500k - so Waggott went rogue and had talks with Rangers - whoever he was dealing with up there said something along the lines of “Thank god, we’re desperate to get rid of him” so Waggott revised the offer to zero. After about 2 days of wrangling they agreed that it would be zero upfront with a big sell on clause and various appearance/promotion payments. Announced as undisclosed to appease both sets of fans. Getting him on a free allowed Waggott to make the case to Gandhi Babu (circumventing Suhail) to pay the required wages and get the deal signed off by Venky’s, as did claiming he would be worth 7 million if he could rediscover his form.

It’s certainly plausible that an appearance trigger is approaching. It’s also plausible that the man who never wanted him in the first place and thinks paying any player more than £10k per week is unnecessary might want rid of him.

 

I've always puzzled about how Cantwell came to be at the Club on so much more money than anyone else, especially when the general trend for wages is very much in the other direction.

Paul Mani opined in the past that Eustace threatened to walk out in the 2024-25 close season after having promises reneged upon and that they had to basically bribe him to stay by signing Cantwell and one or two others.

Taking that in conjunction with your post it starts to make sense.

- Eustace threatens to walk and Waggott has to pull a couple of rabbits out of hats on a limited budget.

- Waggott pulls his usual con trick on the Cantwell deal and changes the goalposts at the last minute. Unusually it works as Rangers are relatively desperate to get shut

- Waggott manages to get the deal past the Finance Director as in this instance despite the high wages, "the flex" comes from no up front fee.

- Gestede and Suhail aren't happy with the deal as his wages are totally out of sync with the new wage policy in general. Cantwell is now approaching 50 senior appearances and they both want his wages off the payroll in general and dont want to make any extra payment that will be triggered at that point.

Right that's it - re-secure tinfoil hat and back to the bunker.

 

Edited 4 hours ago by RevidgeBlue

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, ... said:

Bit harsh the lads injured mate. 

Why is it harsh?

Im not having a go at him personally (im not Ismael) and I appreciate that he wont be enjoying the situation, far from it.

But he is a waste of space in terms of as a resource for a football club. He cannot even get through a week of training without picking up a new injury.

Obviously, any anger at the situation should be aimed 100% at those who knowing the injury records of our 3 centre backs (which isnt enough anyway) allowed the summer window to unfold as it did.

[G Somerset Rover]

Ismael’s PR excuses for not bringing in another centre half are very insulting to the fans who have half a brain.

Edited 4 hours ago by G Somerset Rover

[BRFC.]

Oh wow. We’re being taken the absolute mic out of by Preston. Venkys you are a disgrace 👍🏻

[Ossydave]

Oh please no, not squeaky chickens ☹️

Christ if that upsets you I suggest you don't attend 🤣

[Crimpshrine]

6 minutes ago, BRFC. said:

Oh wow. We’re being taken the absolute mic out of by Preston. Venkys you are a disgrace 👍🏻

I might nip down to Spud Bros, I need a new squeaky chicken

[Tomphil2]

8 minutes ago, BRFC. said:

Oh wow. We’re being taken the absolute mic out of by Preston. Venkys you are a disgrace 👍🏻

Ha ha fair play to them it's a local derby and it's banter the way it should be, we know whose made the biggest club in Lancashire the laughing stock of our little neighbours.

They only ever turn up to see Rovers anyway and it'll sweet to stick the chickens up their arses by 10pm if by some miracle the depleted team wins.

[Gamst]

We have 12 championship fixtures before we can realistically expect a new CB to be signed in Jan. Surely we need to find a free agent like Craig Dawson ASAP. Our season trajectory will be determined by this congested period and responsible owners and management would be moving mountains to make this happen. 

[Elrovers]

3 minutes ago, Gamst said:

We have 12 championship fixtures before we can realistically expect a new CB to be signed in Jan. Surely we need to find a free agent like Craig Dawson ASAP. Our season trajectory will be determined by this congested period and responsible owners and management would be moving mountains to make this happen. 

Free agent ain’t happening. Ismael said that a few weeks back. Guess we just have to be miserable until we sign one 

[Tugayisgod]

If Ismael is being honest about creating pathways for some of the academy lads, the surely he has to hand a chance to Pratt tomorrow. After the Hedges disaster last week (not blaming him for that btw), it has to be back to round pegs in round holes . Pratt surely can't do any worse. 

It has to be a back 3 for me as I really don't see Miller and McLoughlin in a back 4.

This is something we all knew was going to happen and now it's being realised as injuries start to bite hard

[Tomphil2]

Throwing a kid in to a game like this when hes only had a brief loan at Chorley really isn't a smart thing to do.

There are still enough experienced pros in the squad to shuffle the pack and come up with something otherwise what's the point of having them.

[Tugayisgod]

11 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

Throwing a kid in to a game like this when hes only had a brief loan at Chorley really isn't a smart thing to do.

There are still enough experienced pros in the squad to shuffle the pack and come up with something otherwise what's the point of having them.

He's 22, not a kid anymore , 6'3" apparently. Just don't see any alternative if we stick with a back 3. You could also argue what's the point of having  academy players if you aren't going to play them, especially in dire need like this 

You saw what shuffling the pack did in the last game , it was a shambles tbh

 

[Tomphil2]

8 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

He's 22, not a kid anymore , 6'3" apparently. Just don't see any alternative if we stick with a back 3. You could also argue what's the point of having  academy players if you aren't going to play them, especially in dire need like this 

You saw what shuffling the pack did in the last game , it was a shambles tbh

 

To be honest i expect that lot to expose us in the same way Derby did whoever turns out for us.

Just don't think it's wise throwing him in a game like this you need lads of the quality of Van Hecke to do that. I'd prefer to ease him in against weaker opposition first and as you say he's 22 and was at Chorley, that doesn't bode very well in my humble opinion.

[Elrovers]

12 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

To be honest i expect that lot to expose us in the same way Derby did whoever turns out for us.

Just don't think it's wise throwing him in a game like this you need lads of the quality of Van Hecke to do that. I'd prefer to ease him in against weaker opposition first and as you say he's 22 and was at Chorley, that doesn't bode very well in my humble opinion.

I’ll jump in centre back. One thing for sure I’m bloody rapid. 

[JHRover]

1 hour ago, Gamst said:

We have 12 championship fixtures before we can realistically expect a new CB to be signed in Jan. Surely we need to find a free agent like Craig Dawson ASAP. Our season trajectory will be determined by this congested period and responsible owners and management would be moving mountains to make this happen. 

We can't afford to do that. 

But administration stricken still on negative points Sheffield Wednesday can.

Great being owned by billionaires innit?

[Tomphil2]

23 minutes ago, Elrovers said:

I’ll jump in centre back. One thing for sure I’m bloody rapid. 

I'll step in as well iv'e got an inch on Hedges with my boots on !

[rigger]

38 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

To be honest i expect that lot to expose us in the same way Derby did whoever turns out for us.

Just don't think it's wise throwing him in a game like this you need lads of the quality of Van Hecke to do that. I'd prefer to ease him in against weaker opposition first and as you say he's 22 and was at Chorley, that doesn't bode very well in my humble opinion.

Pratt is a reasonable center-half, he can, head, tackle, and put his foot through the ball. If he is picked, and asked to play out from the back, it could be a disaster. If he is asked to do basic defending, he might be OK.

[simongarnerisgod]

1 hour ago, Tomphil2 said:

To be honest i expect that lot to expose us in the same way Derby did whoever turns out for us.

Just don't think it's wise throwing him in a game like this you need lads of the quality of Van Hecke to do that. I'd prefer to ease him in against weaker opposition first and as you say he's 22 and was at Chorley, that doesn't bode very well in my humble opinion.

preston have changed their style from the thuggish ***** they were under ryan lowe,heckingbottom is smart operator and they`ve recruited very well,they`re a lot better footballing side than they were and are a far better side than derby,im`e not scared of getting bullied like the 1st half against derby,im`e more concerned about getting outplayed

we`ve sunk to such a low level under the chicken brigade,burnely are far superior and  even preston are far above us squad wise,ffs when is this going to end

[RevidgeBlue]

2 hours ago, Tugayisgod said:

If Ismael is being honest about creating pathways for some of the academy lads, the surely he has to hand a chance to Pratt tomorrow. After the Hedges disaster last week (not blaming him for that btw), it has to be back to round pegs in round holes . Pratt surely can't do any worse. 

Agree 100%. I've never known the world cave in because a youngster was handed a debut. The majority of the time they exceed expectations.

if you can't throw them in in cases of emergency, what's the point in them being at the Club?

[Tomphil2]

22 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

preston have changed their style from the thuggish ***** they were under ryan lowe,heckingbottom is smart operator and they`ve recruited very well,they`re a lot better footballing side than they were and are a far better side than derby,im`e not scared of getting bullied like the 1st half against derby,im`e more concerned about getting outplayed

we`ve sunk to such a low level under the chicken brigade,burnely are far superior and  even preston are far above us squad wise,ffs when is this going to end

We tend to cope better with the footballing sides, average ones not the divisions better ones, so if we can counter it might suit us.

We are so weak on set plays at both ends though so with a made up defence i'm expecting they'll target the things Derby did.

 

 

 

[Ghost7]

This will be an interesting test of transfer policy. 

Rudy's cheap obscure European buys and bad squad planning

vs

Preston's solid championship experience and smart Premier League loans.

I think I know who my money's on........ but would love to be proved wrong.