Non of them will have the bottle or interest to get involved.

Think this another rare one where their style might suit ours a bit better.

Rovers   2   Bournemouth 0

Mowbray to be commissioned a new even bigger flag - The Dead Rubber King

To a large number of young fans who haven't really had many heroes Mowbray became one.  Now judging by a lot of recent comments the tide has turned but it's all part of their football education.

Being let down and realizing you were backing the wrong horse is a steep learning curve. And of course in todays silly SM lead world any staunch criticism is met by a hail of faux offence.

They need to wake up and decide do they just want the best for uncle Tony and his bank balance - or do they want a team of winners and a club with serious intentions ?

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Good job for Evans he slipped through the net before the data came in then.

Also what use is data when 50% of your business entails going round with the begging bowl at the end of the transfer window seeing what remaining crumbs you can hoover up on the cheap off the Premier League Loan table?

Thing is with Evans his stats have probably always been good that's why he's remained where he is.  He should have been out of Ewood years ago imo but for what he does he's actually quite good at it.

Going nowhere football taking no responsibility with the ball is Evans forte in blue & white. The number of times he touches the ball will be high, the tidy little sideways short passes and receiving will be high, interceptions ( picking loose balls ) or roll out from the keeper, high.  3 tackles per game, wins 1.5, average.

He is a prime example of how stats can mislead but lame arse managers can justify these players inclusion and contracts.

10 hours ago, JoeH said:

Always agreed with that. It helps whittle down and is to be used in tandem with the thoughts and feelings of people who should know a footballer when they see one.

Yes the number of deadweights we've signed in the last 10 years, i'd like to think a stats based approach would have kept a good few of them from a contract.

If it spells the end of ageing mercenaries eeking out last contracts due to old pals acts it can't be a bad thing.  They'll just have to drop down the leagues and take big pay cuts like lads who haven't made the grade if they want to carry on.

Just now, SuperBrfc said:

I bet they can't believe their luck. They will never have it this 'good' ever again at any other club and they know it. No pressure, no questions, throw a bit of flannel Balaji's way about needing to build the club up, the need to invest in drones and databases, come across like football experts, job's a good 'un. 

Balaji and co have been had for 10 years and counting and still can't see it. I fully expect a HSH crap fest to hit the club in the summer as we will be desperate for new signings to come in. I cannot wait for the day the club is free of all of these chancers, it feels like a long way away though, unfortunately.

All this talk of building football clubs and journeys is all about their own project. And that project isn't promotion it's about moulding this club the way they want it.  And what is within their capabilities.

Yes, they won the lottery when they landed this gig and deliver the bounce back promotion.  Venkys like the club to be run like one of their franchises that's what the Kean/Anderson & co regime was all about.

Well we have another little cartel in situ now!

I think all they need to really cement their position is one big player sale or this land sale money. One big influx of cash to restore the faith and cover for the 12 million they've blown down the pan.

Signing players from data stats might be a safety net against landing yourself with lazy gits. Or players who can't pass 3 yards with either foot, it doesn't though tell you if they'll gel with your others to make a fluid effective team.

That's where the scouts eyes and the managers nous comes in and that'll never change. 

Dumb the club down into their own little operation carrying their mates and mates players.  All whilst bills are paid by the wealthy foreign conglomerate. 

The further they move away from promotion talk and big spending the easier it is. Nice little set up in the middle of the championship plodding along and keeping people in jobs.

Seems the void is being exploited yet again.

3 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Must be something in him that wants to show he's a purist, even though he was a bread and butter centre half. Which there is absolutely nothing wrong with being

Very good documentary. Sad at times, but beautiful. That was the golden age of Irish football really. The long ball game, put em under pressure. They could play other ways too, but that was effective at the time.

Most players were at the top English clubs then. Paul McGrath, David O'Leary, Mick McCarthy and Kevin Moran were the centre halves at the time. McGrath and O'Leary could play, but the other 2 were the no nonsense guys. Jack's a legend. I read something in a book, I think Inverting the pyramid, about how he brought his style from Boro. The long ball percentage game. You get it long, try and win the first ball, but absolutely must win the second breaking ball. It really suited the players Ireland had at the time. He kept it simple. 

 

McGrath and O'Leary were hard as nails but both could play a bit as well. Perfect defenders for that era.

McGrath would've been a worldie had he not had such bad knees and bad habits.

Mad really how a small island turned out so many top international center halves for a period.

3 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I think they saw what happened with Dack on the eve of his alleged money spinning move and they don’t want the same thing happening with Armstrong.

Think they are trying to strike a balance between keeping him fit and in the shop window versus not risking him too much. 

Sickening really when he's getting 15 grand a week to play for us but that's how football works. Shithouse industry.

44 minutes ago, Ulrich said:

When we're allowed back in and the cameras are on the flag, someone should spark a match.

They wave this huge flag of his boat race like he's some sort of Shankly style great leader or figurehead. Then he comes out and hides slumped way up in the seats as far from the touchline he can get without going into the stands.

You really couldn't make it up.

If he's saying he's a director but he isn't surely that's a bit naughty.

32 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

I think and I'm not making excuses, cos it isn't one, but did/does he find defending so straight forward that he can't teach it or identify issues tactically? I mean ultimately it is simple, but the way he sets us up, makes it difficult for even good defenders.

I mean look at his career in management. Let's call a spade a spade here. He has had ongoing issues. Take that WBA promotion out and it's pretty shit. Yet he talks about how he likes his team's to play, as if it's a proven method of gaining success. It isn't. 

I blame the media for being very inept when it comes to questioning him. At other clubs, managers would feel the pressure via questioning from journalists. Now, granted we aren't on TV often, but when we are it's like they have watched the first 10 games of the season and just discarded what has come since.

As for the LT, well I don't understand why they let him off with it. Would it really matter he refused to talk to them? I'm sure many would be impressed my them for putting that pressure on. Grow some balls. 

I think it all comes down to him over complicating again and like you say trying to play up to this 'footballing' stereotype.  He doesn't like bread and butter center defenders like himself he wants ball players instead.

Difficult to get at this level but Tosin, Harwood- Bells and even Ayala fall into this category.  The best defender he has is a more rugged one in Lenihen and he was inherited, that's the types we need though.

Probably why he's struggled defensively everywhere he's been managing. I think teams can still play decent enough football without having to have cultured center backs.

Was watching that Jack Charlton documentary the other night and he was more to the point. Defenders defend, two touches at most then away and it doesn't always have to be long ball.  You shouldn't need to be Frank Rijkaard to pass the ball to a team mate at championship level.

17 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Absolutely, where is the consistency? Our budget year in year out (when our seasons tend to end competitively very early due to our constant mediocrity) is not sorted until well after the season ends, so communication between manager and owners is non existent, the manager going to India with a begging bowl weeks into the summer is hardly proactive, and always his interviews prior show he hasnt the foggiest what the budget is, so how can we plan.

There is no rhyme or reason. First signing this summer was Kaminski, one from Europe that was well scouted. The second one was a Boro old boy on a long deal with seemingly no due diligence done in the medical. We sign another European goalkeeper who is nowhere to be seen. Then we do most of the business on the last day, 5 or 6 games in. An aging left back on loan to plug the gap, another Boro old boy on a long deal to sit on the bench, a talented player on loan who seemingly was very much a last minute bonus, and then yet another central midfielder unwanted by his club. And then another few weeks down the line, a player who did very well in his first season here, a Boro old boy, but who is very old yet we for some unknown reason waited so long to sign him back up, even when we already have so many midfielders and who was chronically unfit due to the delay and has rarely featured. 

The lists are clearly hardly watertight either. When we came up, Bauer was clearly our main target at CB. A big, tall, aerielly strong centre back. We didnt get him, so we then signed Rodwell, an injury prone midfielder who Mowbray planned to move there. Hardly similar! You also look up front, he signed Gallagher and publically admitted an interest in Joao, so he is just going for familiar faces. Dack, Gladwin and Brereton all signed based on "playing well" against his teams in the past.

Considering how tough he looked as a defender is odd but Mowbray the manager has balls the size of raisins.

He really isn't very good at backing himself with an aggressive attacking team or signings outside of his black book.

All about the comfort zone for our Tony.

Wonder if the leak and the departures recently are in any way linked ?  Or just another of those Venky era coincidences.

Because there's no real intention to knock it down and rebuild it. They just want to flog the land and get the money then worry about what to do next.

I urge any Venky related people who might see this to investigate just exactly what that CEO and his cronies are really up to. 

Mowbray manages and spins his tombola to the law of averages.  

'I'll keep doing this and it'll come off sooner or later'

'Surely we'll win a game or two soon we're only losing one nil'

Never ever have a night at the casino with this mon but if he invites you for a game of cards grab it with both hands, you'll fleece him.

3 hours ago, MCMC1875 said:

Correct. The bottom line for me is that our fans haven't had the unity and/or the clout that, for example, Liverpool's  fans had when they succeeded in ousting Hicks and Gillette.

Difference there is when Liverpool fans said they were going to boycott Barclays that potentially could have a massive effect on their business.  We might have slowed trade in one branch for a day or two.

With Venkys and their businesses being so far away we've never had any specific targets.  Apart from Kean obviously who was quite willing to have it painted on his back whilst he held out for his millions. 

Plus now just as back then half our remaining fanbase NEVER wake up to what is right under their noses until it's too late.  Very easy to unite our lot when the club is going places though !

14 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

OR 'my job is to see the sale of the STC land finalised and football is a distant second'

What the charlatans failed at at Coventry is well under way here.

There's been suspicion something like this would kick off from the min these lot rocked up.

Mowbray at the time was another very odd choice of manager it makes you wonder if he came as part of a package deal with other stuff in mind. The owners and their advisors had the wheels of relegation firmly in motion with their previous shenanigans.  

Lets face it had we stayed down they'd have sold at least half the training ground now anyway i'd wager.  Makes you wonder what the HSH boys and Pasha sold to Balaji and co to get Mowbray in the door.

13 minutes ago, 47er said:

We seem to draw up lists for every summer but other clubs get there first. There's a long list of them.

 

Yeah they are really good at these A/B/C lists it's almost like they are trying to find people something to do.

They only really need the C list and a list of potential loanees.

11 minutes ago, Dolly blue said:

I read a “ post “ on Facebook earlier....as usual , littered with expletives at someone suggesting Mowbray should go.......and he finished it with.........”.support him and support the club or.....we could end up like Bolton “.....  now, there is a thought..

.. How they have been to hell and back during the past 3 or 4 seasons ...duped by ownership whose only interests were self, lead by management out of its depth, paying players with no heart or guts to fight for the shirt....does that sound familiar?

...and where are they now? A united fan base  great in number, owned by people who have a genuine interest in the club and its community, lead by a manager who is progressive in his approach playing players in their correct positions .... and where do they sit currently?......in the automatic play off spots ..

..maybe, just maybe that is our only way out . Their fans have that something we crave......pride in our club...

It is true that whilst these owners are here they are sustaining the mess they created and we are still at a better level than some.

However it won't last forever and whilst this continues we just seem to live in suspended animation. Just loitering in a void of nothingness waiting for a miracle or the inevitable next implosion.

At least once its happened it has happened and is done and dusted. Then the only way should be up.

Can't stand Bolton and some of their stinking Manchester overspill OAP/Kindergarten stone island wannabe hoolie's.  Can't help but admire the way they are bouncing back though and the hardcore are sticking with them.

1 hour ago, DE. said:

The only minor positive from this disaster is that it proves to those who insist otherwise that the owners are indeed as clueless and apathetic as the day they darkened our doors. Nothing learnt, nothing gained and nothing to be optimistic about with them at the helm. If Mowbray goes the best we can hope for is that they luck into a cheap appointment who does well for a couple of seasons. That's our limit under the present regime and always will be, as they are simply unsuited in every way to own a successful football club. 

It's definitely a wake up call to fans who are softening to their continued debt undertaking ( debt they've created ).

Seems they took an interest again because we got promoted, briefly got excited and got the cheque book out only to be told 'slow build' and please give me 15 million annually for stability.

Now in typical rich Indian business nature they lost interest when it was clear there'd be no double bounce. A few years down the line it's going tits up so they inevitably bury their heads in the sand. Ignoring it other than leaving instructions to keep the lights on.

Yep, it's still 'us' and 'them'.

Drugs don't work and neither does our version of possession football.