Oxford United (h) - 09/12/25

[Exiled_Rover]

2 hours ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

I could see this being a disappointing night. Everything pointed that way

We have the basics of a competitive squad but it is too imbalanced. Not enough competition in the right places, combined with injuries, has meant that we lack options from the bench to change our style and the game. I think we did well to get back into it and get a point where in times gone by we may have collapsed.

Ribeiro had a poor game but has not played much. Tended to move backwards instead of forwards. We miss Hedges down that left-hand side for sure.

I'm guessing that Gardner-Hickman got injured but he was a big miss in the 2nd half. Tavares just hasn't got it has he? I quite like it when a player looks relaxed but as I said last night, it isn't relaxation with him it is being lackadaisical. He gives the ball away too often and there were times he played these short passes with absolutely no purpose other than to move the ball on. I don't think he has it cut out to be a player in the Championship

We were unfortunate not to finish the Gardner Hickman chance. He couldn't do much more and the keeper made a fine save. It was a lovely knock down by Gudjohnson.

The Yuki chance was another which should have gone in. Except this time it was poor finishing instead of good goalkeeping. I think if Gudjohnson was there, it becomes 1-1.

I am not overly enamoured by our defensive options either. McLoughlin is a bit slow off the mark and a couple of occasions him being turned back to his goal nearly brought problems.

There's still glimpses of hope. We aren't as bad of a squad as I thought going into the season. We need to defend our box better and we need to be better and more ambitious when in possession. For sure in January we need a centre half but we also need a central midfielder who is prepared to take this game by the scruff of the neck. Take Tronstad out of the team and we don't half look like a pushover in midfield

There was a moment in the second half where the ball was played to Tavares near the edge of our box (by I assume Ribeiro, but it was by someone occupying that spot). Instead of turning on the ball into absolutely acres of space he played a simple pass the direction he was facing.

Even Rovers commentary team, who see everything through rose tinted glasses, groaned. 

[wilsdenrover]

4 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

 

One man’s legacy

Destroyed by four Indians

Jack will be spinning

[Exiled_Rover]

2 hours ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Same around me in the JWL, a lot of ST holders taking the comfortable option of watching from home.

Not sure it was a 'comfortable' option, more a frustrated one where we've traipsed down to Ewood Park twice this season in the rain only to see the match abandoned. 

It's quite a time commitment.

With no apology for Saturday and no resolution in sight, how could we trust this club to fulfil the fixture if it rains?

[philipl]

Including the cup game, average attendance was about 15,700 last season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances/2024-2025

Including the cup game and last night, average attendance is 13,500 this season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances

The Burnley and Sunderland games made a big difference last season.

[oldjamfan1]

3 minutes ago, philipl said:

Including the cup game, average attendance was about 15,700 last season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances/2024-2025

Including the cup game and last night, average attendance is 13,500 this season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances

The Burnley and Sunderland games made a big difference last season.

And Leeds surely?

[den]

15 years and never finished in the playoffs. Nobody at Ewood park with authority to make decisions to change things. Not had a CEO for a long time. Nobody seems to have anything idea of what’s the short term or long term aims are.

We’re the equivalent of tumbleweed blowing across the desert. F… knows where we’re going.

[rigger]

4 minutes ago, philipl said:

Including the cup game, average attendance was about 15,700 last season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances/2024-2025

Including the cup game and last night, average attendance is 13,500 this season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances

The Burnley and Sunderland games made a big difference last season.

Again those are published attendances, not actual attendances. 

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

16 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

One man’s legacy

Destroyed by four Indians

Jack will be spinning

 

"We will respect the Jack Walker legacy"

 

Never forget,never forgive.

[Hasta]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

I dont class Forshaw as a signing

Of course he was a signing. We had the option of giving him a new contract and paying him a salary. Or bringing in someone else and paying them a salary. 

"Forshaw becomes Rovers’ second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Belgian winger Dion De Neve earlier this month."

 

 

[Wheelton Blue]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

I dont class Forshaw as a signing. Forshaw and Montgomery are Tronstad's back ups for me. 

A player who signed but isn't a 'signing'.

Make that make sense!

[wilsdenrover]

10 minutes ago, Wheelton Blue said:

A player who signed but isn't a 'signing'.

Make that make sense!

One word needed - contrarian 

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

No Rev, different midfielders have different roles in midfielder. You don't rated Tronstad. He is defensive midfielder where has Henriksson isn't centre midfielder but number 10. Baradji is a number 8 box to box midfielder. Is Tavares a natural number 6 defensive midfielder player? 

 

If Baradji, Tavares and Gardner Hickman are all considered "box to box midfielders." Then why arent you asking why we signed 3 of them when we play only 1, whereas we have just made do with Montgomery who came into the season having never started a game there (he seems more of a box to box midfielder too to me) and Forshaw who clearly doesnt have the body to play regular Championship football.

I dont think Tavares is a box to box midfielder either to be honest.

You are really tripping yourself up trying to deflect any blame away from the club in favour of just blaming injuries.

[chaddyrovers]

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

If Baradji, Tavares and Gardner Hickman are all considered "box to box midfielders." Then why arent you asking why we signed 3 of them when we play only 1, whereas we have just made do with Montgomery who came into the season having never started a game there (he seems more of a box to box midfielder too to me) and Forshaw who clearly doesnt have the body to play regular Championship football.

I dont think Tavares is a box to box midfielder either to be honest.

You are really tripping yourself up trying to deflect any blame away from the club in favour of just blaming injuries.

Deflect? Coming from you refuse to answer a simple and straightforward question is utter and totally baffling 

[roversfan99]

16 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Deflect? Coming from you refuse to answer a simple and straightforward question is utter and totally baffling 

The irony.

Its realistic to try and rectify all of our transfer and squad issues if the owners are willing to do so. 

[Exiled_Rover]

48 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

If Baradji, Tavares and Gardner Hickman are all considered "box to box midfielders." Then why arent you asking why we signed 3 of them when we play only 1, whereas we have just made do with Montgomery who came into the season having never started a game there (he seems more of a box to box midfielder too to me) and Forshaw who clearly doesnt have the body to play regular Championship football.

I dont think Tavares is a box to box midfielder either to be honest.

You are really tripping yourself up trying to deflect any blame away from the club in favour of just blaming injuries.

Where did he say Baradji, Tavares and Gardner-Hickman are considered box-to-box midfielders?

If you're going to relentlessly argue with him, at least be honest. 

[roversfan99]

40 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Where did he say Baradji, Tavares and Gardner-Hickman are considered box-to-box midfielders?

If you're going to relentlessly argue with him, at least be honest. 

Its pretty blatantly implied.

They are all centre midfielders, and we seem to be in the habit of boxing off midfielders into holding midfielders and box to box midfielders.

He said that Tronstad (our holding midfielder) has back up of Forshaw and Montgomery. He also said Baradji is box to box and suggested that Tavares isnt either.

In which case, why sign 3 players for the same one position?

[KidderStreetNoise]

2 hours ago, philipl said:

Including the cup game, average attendance was about 15,700 last season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances/2024-2025

Including the cup game and last night, average attendance is 13,500 this season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances

The Burnley and Sunderland games made a big difference last season.

Yeah but the club could come out & say the attendance was 31,000 every game, then our average attendance would be 31,000.

[Tomphil2]

2 hours ago, philipl said:

Including the cup game, average attendance was about 15,700 last season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances/2024-2025

Including the cup game and last night, average attendance is 13,500 this season - https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/attendances

The Burnley and Sunderland games made a big difference last season.

Due to the horrendous pricing policy to fleece 7k Brum fans we started this season with barely 11k home fans in attendance instead of 13-15k.

First home game of the season is usually one of the bigger 'walk up' match by match buying ones aside from derbies etc so that pathetic effort set the tone for this season.

No surprise at all there are regular 8/9k turnouts now with virtually nobody actually buying tickets and a small ST base anyway.

The seeds were sown for this in the summer and it all rests on the club but no doubt their answer with be more hikes next season to cover even more shortfall on their budget. The ticket deals they've been trowing around recently are a desperate attempt to boost the averages after no doubt they've budgeted for 15k ave's for this season.

There'd be no restrictions on Buley this season if they were around and Leeds would probably get a block in the riverside as well.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

28 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Its pretty blatantly implied.

They are all centre midfielders, and we seem to be in the habit of boxing off midfielders into holding midfielders and box to box midfielders.

He said that Tronstad (our holding midfielder) has back up of Forshaw and Montgomery. He also said Baradji is box to box and suggested that Tavares isnt either.

In which case, why sign 3 players for the same one position?

There’s playmakers and then there’s spear carriers for me.  Tronstad, Taylor-Hickman, Forshaw, Montgomery, spear carriers. Cantwell, Morishita, Baradji, playmakers. Tavares, Henrikson,- wanna be playmakers.

[...]

2 hours ago, SIMON GARNERS 194 said:

 

"We will respect the Jack Walker legacy"

 

Never forget,never forgive.

That makes me utterly detest them every single time I hear it

Edited 1 hour ago by ...

[Ghost7]

5 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Did they have a shot on goal, besides the blatant foul the ref ignored?

The issue is you only need one shot with defensive headers like that - it was routine. As I say he's cost us plenty of goals and the entire Norwich game at home but he's our go to number 1 starter at centre back.

Got his feet muddled on the line for the calamitous equaliser at Deepdale too, he isn't that good but he's the best we've been left with and is a guaranteed starter.

I'm certain we'd have seen some of these recent games out too at 1-0 had the club spent some money on a proper centre back that can attack a cross and command the air.

[chaddyrovers]

59 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Its pretty blatantly implied.

They are all centre midfielders, and we seem to be in the habit of boxing off midfielders into holding midfielders and box to box midfielders.

He said that Tronstad (our holding midfielder) has back up of Forshaw and Montgomery. He also said Baradji is box to box and suggested that Tavares isnt either.

In which case, why sign 3 players for the same one position?

I did implied nothing of the sort so please stopping lying cos you losing the argument here. 

But different players play different roles within team structure whether its a centre back or wide players or centre midfielders or strikers. That's going years and years. Shearer was number 9 whilst Sheringham was number 10, you wouldn't play them the other way round would you or David Batty has midfielder playmaker would you?

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

I did implied nothing of the sort so please stopping lying cos you losing the argument here. 

But different players play different roles within team structure whether its a centre back or wide players or centre midfielders or strikers. That's going years and years. Shearer was number 9 whilst Sheringham was number 10, you wouldn't play them the other way round would you or David Batty has midfielder playmaker would you?

But what I am saying is either scenario falls back to poor recruitment.

Tavares is crap and Baradji is unfit. Forshaw played 3 games in a week. So if neither is seen as a potential alternative to Tronstad, why sign them both aswell as TGH who also plays a more box to box role? That suggests imbalanced recruitment signing 3 players to do the same thing.

If Tavares in particular wasnt chosen to start in any game because he is shit, in favour of repeatedly flogging Forshaw until he got injured, then again poor recruitment.

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

David Batty has midfielder playmaker would you?

Other than not being able to score (which was a standing joke) Batty was a fairly accomplished all round player.

None of this modern " all I do is sit in front of the back 4 and shield the defence and make the occasional interception".

A far superior version of Travis if you like.

[wilsdenrover]

What I want to know is how many number 8s and number 6s (etc etc) actually wear that shirt.