It's only relevant if you click it. 

45 minutes into the new season and I'm as sure as I can be that - barring a miracle - we are going down.

Being relegated with Owen Coyle as manager (if he even survives until the end) and Jason Lowe as captain. Could it be any worse?

Yeah, wait until Duffy and Marsh leave.

Seems likely.

You do realise people are getting laid off right ?

Erm that goes with the territory ...people boycotting ..less people required ..?

Just shows how much they care about their staff. Like the fans, considered totally not important.

At a guess they've moved every single sponsor signage to the other three sides of the ground. This is definitely part of a PR stunt to make the ground look fuller and more modern and the club look attractive on TV. But why? There is hardly any UK coverage so it can only be for the Venkys (and guests') viewing pleasure via Roversplayer in the TV room.

Either they are, or intend to be, in talks with potential buyers at Rao Towers in Pune, or it's a vanity thing. I could well believe the latter whilst hoping to high hell for the former.

Makes you wonder why Cheston was so eager to get fans to move to the opposite stand free of charge doesn't it? Obviously wants everyone in the Jack Walker.

Think the blue stuff is blank advertising boards... Looks like some sort of optical illusion!

Can't see there being a problem there,hardly noticeable...should have been done years ago!

https://mobile.twitter.com/Rovers/status/761496493702451200/photo/3

Whats that blue stuff in front of the Riverside? Looks like they've done away with the walkway from that angle.

Trouble is Tom, if he does have another good season , the venkcountant will be rubbing his hands and he will be on his way to the highest bidder (no doubt after picking up one of these mystery injuries that have suddenly appeared since the project rolled into town)

Hmmm, hardly at an age where clubs will be wanting to spend big on him and although I think he'll score a decent amount of goals I don't think it will be enough to grab the attentions of 'bigger clubs'.

Danny Graham is good championship striker that improves the side, from what I saw last season he links the play up well and can score a goal, but he's never going to be the man to fire us to the Premiership like say a Gestede or Rhodes potentially could have with better players around them.

So I'm happy with the signing, I think it'll make watching us much better for the paying public, but he won't take us to another level and thats where we need to be.

Few flaws with your argument there Gav. A single man can't fire you to the premier league, Vardy only scored 13 league goals in their promotion season but they were promoted due to team ethic, same with Burnley... I'm sure you agree. Players who work hard like Graham set a standard for work rate for the rest of the team, which over the course of the season i think is more valuable if scores slightly less than players like Rhodes... Vardy proved that.

Not that a promotion push should enter anyone's heads of course but if thats what Coyle is going for he's some work to do yet. Some cash needs to be invested into one or two promising players from the lower leagues in my view, i'd sign Powell too... Without question.

This is good to see, from that page

https://mobile.twitter.com/Unit29fit/status/746092727054512128/video/1

Great to see someone keeping themself in shape in the summer

Akpan does more than most, works hard in his free time that lad. Posted an instagram vid of him doing drills at a private gym and does a lot of training mid season on his own to by looks of it. Good attitude.

Best winger we've ever had. A pleasure to watch and absolutely unplayable at his peak. Top lad, would like to see him end up at Rovers in some capacity.

Just thought i'd resurrect this.

He's done ever so well. Magnificent, in fact.

It's always "ever so well"... Sounds like a primary school teacher at a parents evening... "Oh Lowey has done ever so well" *pinches cheek

The last couple of seasons we were a top half side who, given a good run, might make the play-offs. This campaign we are a mid to lower table team who could, with a poor run, be involved in a relegation battle. Personally, I think there is still enough quality to finish in the lower half well above the relegation places.

Good to see some progress then, part of the 4 year master plan.

I just don't think he will take us down.

Not so sure that the players respect him or the club enough to actually fight for him if we get into a relegation battle.

Neal, I'm no fan of the manager... Did you not read what I wrote? He's not very good just not terrible... Does that sound like I think we will get promoted?

Maybe I didn't express myself clearly enough, I think the manager is poor but the squad is decent. Even more than that I think there's a lot of poor teams in this league.

I did yeah, I was just making the point that if you feel equally silly starting a promotion thread then that says it all about our manager is all. I'd reserve opinion on if you think he's terrible just yet mate...

It is but have a relegation thread is a bit silly isn't it?

Not really, take Rudy's goals away from last season and we'd have probably been down there. Take Rhodes goals away too and we'd have definitely been down there and theres a very realistic chance that he could leave.

Perhaps start a promotion thread? If you feel equally silly doing that then that should indicate to you exactly what sort of manager we're stuck with.

Definitely a relegation battle this season. Bowyer couldn't get a team to defend no matter how long he manages, he's useless. Guy plays 2 defensive mids who can't defend, a back four who can't defend and this has been going on for 2 over seasons.

Bowyer Out