Todd Cantwell - is he off?

[because of boxing day]

That's harsh on Hedges.

In fairness Hedges was not in the mix for the 2 goal header challenges in the Derby match.

Miller and McLoughlin were outmanouvered by Morris for the first and Alebiosu was wrong side and not strong enough for the second.

[arbitro]

4 minutes ago, because of boxing day said:

That's harsh on Hedges.

In fairness Hedges was not in the mix for the 2 goal header challenges in the Derby match.

Miller and McLoughlin were outmanouvered by Morris for the first and Alebiosu was wrong side and not strong enough for the second.

For me I think it was more a criticism of Mr Aloof's logic. Hedges isn't very good in the air and is our best left sided wing back. It was a double whammy for me and whilst it didn't cost us the game it contributed to it in my opinion.

[RevidgeBlue]

10 minutes ago, because of boxing day said:

That's harsh on Hedges.

In fairness Hedges was not in the mix for the 2 goal header challenges in the Derby match.

Miller and McLoughlin were outmanouvered by Morris for the first and Alebiosu was wrong side and not strong enough for the second.

Hedges gave the ball away high up the pitch and then was completely out of position leading to one of the goals though.

[NeilInBristol]

Vi admitted we have no defence 

he’s playing pratt

He also said we have no room in the squad 

 

Todd will be sold in Jan

likely destination? Derby?!

[...]

On 21/11/2025 at 15:56, davulsukur said:

Yeah, he said something about Hedges height allowing us to win more aerial duels.

And we conceded 2 headers.

Yea we were terrible in the air. 

[KentExile]

Cantwell currently on 44 league appearances for Rovers, with 9 league games to play before the January window opens.

My guess is that he will feature in 5 of those 9 games, so that any potential wage rise/fee to Rangers is not triggered, and he will then be sold in early January.

If this is the case, it will be interesting to see if they cherry pick certain games where they think he can make the difference, citing they are "managing his fitness" as reasons for sporadic absences, or if they just say he isn't fit yet for a couple more weeks and bring him back for the last 5 games in that 9 game run starting with Oxford on Dec 9th

Before someone brings this up, I will note that it is also possible that I am entirely wide of the mark and he returns at the weekend and plays regularly until January (or even the end of the season), I suppose we shall see

Edited Wednesday at 11:39 by KentExile

[KentExile]

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

If this is the case, it will be interesting to see if they cherry pick certain games where they think he can make the difference, citing they are "managing his fitness" as reasons for sporadic absences, or if they just say he isn't fit yet for a couple more weeks and bring him back for the last 5 games in that 9 game run starting with Oxford on Dec 9th

It sounds like they will take the option above in bold

 

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25651075.blackburn-rovers-need-right-balance-cantwell-injury/

Valerien Ismael says Todd Cantwell is “improving well” but insists that Rovers must manage his return from injury carefully.

The skipper has not featured since early October after picking up a knee problem and will not be involved against QPR tonight.

However, Cantwell could potentially be back in contention for Saturday’s trip to Wrexham if all goes to plan in the next few days.

“At the minute it looks good but (QPR) won’t be possible,” Ismael told RoversTV. “We need to give him time. It is important when he comes back, he has to stay 100 per cent and this is a fine line to find.

“We have a lot of games and don’t have a normal week to train, so we need to find the right balance to see him back.

“But he is improving well. He has a couple of sessions behind him and the response was good.”

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 12:55 by KentExile

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, KentExile said:

It sounds like they will take the option above in bold

 

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25651075.blackburn-rovers-need-right-balance-cantwell-injury/

Valerien Ismael says Todd Cantwell is “improving well” but insists that Rovers must manage his return from injury carefully.

The skipper has not featured since early October after picking up a knee problem and will not be involved against QPR tonight.

However, Cantwell could potentially be back in contention for Saturday’s trip to Wrexham if all goes to plan in the next few days.

“At the minute it looks good but (QPR) won’t be possible,” Ismael told RoversTV. “We need to give him time. It is important when he comes back, he has to stay 100 per cent and this is a fine line to find.

“We have a lot of games and don’t have a normal week to train, so we need to find the right balance to see him back.

“But he is improving well. He has a couple of sessions behind him and the response was good.”

 

 

Then cue mystery interest him in January which the Club claim they weren't expecting but "the player received an offer and he wanted to take it".

They really do take everyone for mugs and by rights Ismael should have a nose as long as Pinocchio.

[Andy]

Surely they wouldn't have given him the armband if they knew that he was only going to play a dozen games this season?

Even by Venky's / Pasha / Gestede standards, that would be a new level of stupidity.

[oneandycrawford]

9 minutes ago, Andy said:

Surely they wouldn't have given him the armband if they knew that he was only going to play a dozen games this season?

Even by Venky's / Pasha / Gestede standards, that would be a new level of stupidity.

They probably didn't realise until.....now what date was his last game?

[KentExile]

32 minutes ago, Andy said:

Surely they wouldn't have given him the armband if they knew that he was only going to play a dozen games this season?

Even by Venky's / Pasha / Gestede standards, that would be a new level of stupidity.

 

22 minutes ago, oneandycrawford said:

They probably didn't realise until.....now what date was his last game?

 

Also, there could be an argument made that a leader/captain would fetch an extra few £100K or so

Edited Wednesday at 16:48 by KentExile

[Tomphil2]

44 minutes ago, Andy said:

Surely they wouldn't have given him the armband if they knew that he was only going to play a dozen games this season?

Even by Venky's / Pasha / Gestede standards, that would be a new level of stupidity.

I think that was Ismael's call so they'd back it anyway and it could also be argued in the long run it makes him look better, worth more and a more attractive proposition for any interested party.

They forced out the previous captain without batting an eyelid.

[booth]

16 hours ago, Andy said:

Surely they wouldn't have given him the armband if they knew that he was only going to play a dozen games this season?

Even by Venky's / Pasha / Gestede standards, that would be a new level of stupidity.

Season after season, Venkys & Pasha never fail to find a new level of stupidity.

[MarkBRFC]

Venkys, Pasha, Gestede, Ismael etc aren't stupid.

They know exactly what they are doing.

Edited Thursday at 09:16 by MarkBRFC

[JHRover]

And just remember, the money they make/save by sidelining Cantwell and selling him in January is more important to the stooges than having the best side possible at a critical time of the season with us embroiled in a relegation battle.

It's never been about the football. All about individuals and targets/bonuses.

[StHelensRover]

From his social media account just now

[wilsdenrover]

Just now, StHelensRover said:

From his social media account just now

Interesting timing…

[Salgados Hair]

Injury's 

😏

[simongarnerisgod]

at a normal club id`e just write these rumours off as bull****,rovers are a different case,our owners and their bumboy pasha are quite capable of doing to cantwell what they did to salgado years ago,don`t play him because we`ll have to pay his appearance quota fee/wage rise

[JHRover]

I don't really care what people on the Rovers' payroll say. Seen this play out far too many times before. 

All that matters is what actually happens. If Cantwell recovers and goes on to play plenty more games in a Rovers shirt then maybe I'll believe it has been a genuine injury. If he plays 5-6 more games for Rovers max and then gets sold and passes a medical elsewhere in January/the summer then no amount of claims will convince me that this isn't a big stitch up from the powers-that-be.

[chaddyrovers]

Puts these rumours to bed now finally

[London blue]

Nope. Him being at Rovers in Feb will, though.

[islander200]

Nobody else wanted him when he left Rangers 

But there will be clubs looking to pay a transfer fee for him in January after missing months of the season.Cmon lads like he is injured 

[JHRover]

20 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Puts these rumours to bed now finally

Afraid not Chadz

Talk is free. Playing him costs. The only thing that will put rumours to be are if he plays through 50 games and is still here in February. 

[Tomphil2]

I suspected a while ago it might be something more serious than a strain and he is trying to avoid going under the knife but the rehab is taking a long time.

Then again it could all be bullshit.

If hes tweaked a ligament or cartilage when extending his knee why not just say so ?

Edited 49 minutes ago by Tomphil2