This argument about JDT and where he has left us seems odd to me. It cannot be disputed that we are in a perilous position. But how far is he responsible is the moot point? I get the ‘we should adapt’ line, be more pragmatic but not sure how far we could have done that with the players we have. We are not Everton –nowhere near the calibre of player. Lump it in the channels? Be more physical (who exactly?) (Incidentally, on Everton –I think they are much more than just a lump it forward team. They can play as well. And I like Dyche). I will accept perhaps a couple of things. Travis could have been used with Tronstad. We could have played less from the back (not entirely). We could try to have got the ball forward more quickly. We could have cut out short corners earlier. That may have garnered a few more points and perhaps kept the players onside more. But really, as other have said the writing was on the wall last summer when the Rao’s cut the budget. And since then, JDT has had to face a plethora of stupid decisions (not to mention being lied to), the loss of players, no quality incoming and injuries to what is already a weak and young squad with several players knowing they are only on loan. The squad is simply not good enough. JDT is a smart bloke and his demeanour has shown increasing bemusement at the nonsense that surrounded him. There is only so much shit you can take before you just start to laugh. And remember his brief was to play attractive football, develop youngsters to sell on. If you want big money to sell a player to a top club then they MUST be able to play out from the back and short stuff. It’s a coaching blueprint. You can see every team down to the lowest level doing it. If his record is so dire, why didn’t the Rao’s sack him? I don’t think they would have at least until the end of the season. Obviously, it would have cost them. So we have an organised shit show (presumably at the hand of SWAG) which forces the issue. Let us see how the new person does. He will have some advantages. New broom, players might become more upbeat. Players returning from injury. So if he goes on a winning streak, I think that it will be more down to those things –particularly just a change of voice in the dressing room. FWIW, I think we will have stayed up with JDT but obviously things have gone past the point of no return. Let’s see how the new person copes when budget is cut by 20-25% next year. One thing that will be highly irritating, as other have pointed out will be the Rao’s/SWAG’s new narrative. We acted swiftly in appointing a new manager to stop the rot, we have stayed up, the person responsible for the internal admin error has been dealt with, we are still working on the MacGuire deal, we look forward to continuing to support the team and the town…..yada yada…

Indeed. I didn't say I wanted him but just the kind of appointment we would make.

So, assuming new manager We all know the drill. A billion pages on a new thread. At least 30 names in the hat. Start with names of most desirable (but utterly unattainable) names, followed by several maybes and at the bottom the desperate and unlikely. Cut lots of rumours and dithering by the club (this might not be the case here given the crazy circumstances.) Finally, at the last minute some name out of the blue that has not really been mentioned. My money is on Johnson with Dunn, Lowe and Benson. On the latest shennanigans, words fail me. A disgrace. Keep SWAG and the Raos on the hook.

The Rao rift seems plausible. I remember chat on here perhaps a decade ago along the same lines. That is, the club was something of a pet project and plaything of Balaji (of which he has had other failed instances) but Mrs Desai had little or no interest and was not amused about how the project had gone. Seems reasonable that the rift has perhaps widened and grown more acrimonious.

Best post on this entire thread was the one yesterday (sorry, can’t remember who it was). Words to the effect: “My expectations of this transfer window were zero but Rovers have not lived up to that.”

I hope JDT doesn’t walk –why should he make life easy for the V’s? I’d like to see JDT hold a press conference to state exactly what happened in this window and while he’s been here, naming names, figures etc. What’s the worst that could happen? The clowns sack him –and he gets compo. Can we get T-shirts made with the infamous pic of Balaji on it with “V out” underneath? Or another one: “Wake up Rovers fans.”

JDT resign? I'd make these clowns (V + SW) pay me off. I'd also make sure every media outlet knows my narrative.

Jutkewicz, Gallagher or Ennis? 3 bald men fighting over a comb comes to mind. Sorry if that metaphor is nonsensical. Can't forsee any incoming.

I'm sure the thread has moved on but just caught up from several pages ago... On 17/01/2024 at 16:12, Leonard Venkhater said: Same here. One of my Rovers supporting mates, a fan for nearly 50 years told me he had to stop going because it was making him too angry and depressed. I guess we can all take the natural ebb and flow of football fortune, but this is an abuse. And Suprbrfc That's exactly it. None of this feels natural. It's a terrible situation in the context of a football fan, which nobody understands apart from people on here. That’s what I was getting at when I posted something similar quite a while ago now. Zombie club. We can delude ourselves on matchday and get excited from moment to moment but it’s not real -( I do understand it involves livelihoods etc) – but it’s limbo, existing but not existing. Or as Leonard says, fan abuse. You can be a poor club and still feel ok, IF you feel that there is purpose, a heart at the top. Anyway, I’ll be there tomorrow ;-)

New manager? Checklist:- Who is dirt cheap? Who is desperate? Who is willing to work with no budget? Who is willing to bring in none of his own staff and keep present coaches/off-field set up etc? Who hasn’t heard of the Venky reputation? Will the numpties pay compensation anyway? Venky easy option:- Make it simple and promote from inside JDT would be a good international coach.

JDT was sold a false dream. And it got worse as time went on. Agree, he could try to adapt given the dire circumstances but suspect things have gone beyond that. Hanging by a thread now –suspect he is in shrug mode and players too. I look forward to the list of no-hopers, Coyle-like chancers and those managers desperate enough to come here for a packet of pork scratchings. Guess we could sell Sammy, Gally or Adam and use the funds to pay off JDT and try to get someone in. Or maybe Benson or Lowe could step up?

Looks like agents, money men, journeymen admin people and club apparatchiks are circling to either make money or save their mediocrity. If JDT goes, we will almost certainly get some no-hoper or Waggot yes-man and the mediocrity circus would continue. Save your ire for lunes in Pune. Or look at it another way. So you get in someone who is more pragmatic –tougher (all Neandethals love that word). With these players? No chance. And if that type of manager goes into the transfer market for the ‘old pros’, ‘tougher’ types, given the budget on the bone, they would simply attract dolloper journeymen who have done the rounds and we would still end up as mid table/bottom half mediocrities. Or for those who want to play a more ‘pragmatic style.’ With these players? Really? All roads lead to management above JDT and India as SuperBrfc stated (Club is finished until there is a complete overhaul at the top) On the possible sacking of JDT. Surely not. It would cost V’s money 😉 On Travis, I strongly suspect that his lack of game time is due to the fact that he is needed to be sold before we can buy anybody else. Ie funds are nil without outgoings. A couple of other points:- 1. Given that we haven’t a pot to piss in , it is criminal that the club can’t even get its act together to profit from players outgoing 2. Given that we haven’t a pot to piss in, would you rather have owners who don’t care and are clueless about football or owners who care and have the club’s interests at heart?

Re my comment yesterday which was perhaps misleading:- As to the notion that JDT has run his course and it’s time to look elsewhere. I see it. Get in a seasoned pro who will buy experience and toughen up the team. I wasn't suggesting that we do that at all -the subsequent para goes on to state how I think that would go -badly. Ie. SWAG would bring in somebody desperate (unless lied to about possible funds). JDT is working miracles in a dysfuntional set up. I do think JDT could be a little more flexible at times. Eg. Trav, Garrett could have played; Hill to centre back.

We absolutely know where blame lies… …and I really like JDT… But I do see that he could be a little more flexible at times in selection. So, if we accept that today is a ‘cool off’, see ‘if we can nick a draw’ type of game then why not freshen up personnel? Utilise Trav (don’t say he is sh**e –he could do a job), utilise Garret, Ennis for a half, Hill at centre back. Of course, if you are going to concede dross like the first goal and get sent off for stupidity then really any game plan is moot. As to the notion that JDT has run his course and it’s time to look elsewhere. I see it. Get in a seasoned pro who will buy experience and toughen up the team. So the interview for the job goes:- SW: Right, you can have no cash for transfers other than what you sell and what we can get in for free or on loan, the owners in India might at any moment cut funding even more, I as CEO don’t care what you do so long as I keep my job, the present backroom staff have to keep their jobs, you can’t bring in any of your own team and any money you generate from player sales (eg good academy players) will go towards keeping the lights on and btw we might sell the training complex if I can sort it. Prospective managers of any quality: Bye Steve Prospective managers who are desperate or has-beens or useless: OK Steve

Make of it what you will. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcw1xmhsr#?date=2023-12-09

A combination of things really. Underinvestment, threadbare squad, injuries, the desire to play fairly, poor ref, a game too far. Always going to get a game like this. Given the circumstances, JDT is working miracles. Says a lot when such a benign character is sent off.

I think most of the Rovers ‘hard men’ have been mentioned. So hope it’s ok to broaden it out. Neil Ruddock’s list. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/revealed-razor-ruddocks-25-hardest-players-ever There’s something amusing about it but a little sad at the same time. Players getting some sort of thrill about ‘taking out’ or ‘smashing’ people. No wonder most of those hard men were cripples at 28. Another list https://bleacherreport.com/articles/135906-footballs-hard-men-the-whos-who-of-the-hardest-men-in-soccer

Loved the crisp passing stuff for the first 20 of the second half. Even the playing out from the back. There is no doubt that when we get those triangles and one touch stuff right we look wonderful. Think the players got a little overexcited once we got to 3 and, clearly enjoying themselves wanted more. Just needed some composure then and a bit more nous. It would be nice to have a big striker so that we could have a plan B –early crosses, balls into the channels and so on. Great win. Loved it. Light years beyond Mowbray’s comprehension. JDT working miracles with minimal resources and a dysfunctional set up.

But then Mowbray would have played him at right back. 😉

Pitch going to be ok?

Plenty of heat in the posts last night J I liked these 4 posts:- I'll just add, I love watching this side, I don't like seeing us get beat, but they're an exciting side to watch and this manager is special, can we keep him.... I thought we were really impressive tonight with so many players out injured. All we are missing is owners that will back the club. We will always be a nearly team under these owners Total frustration isn't it...just rinse and repeat Season after Season.No expectation,no pressure on anyone for promotion. Very disappointing for the lads –thought they played some outstanding slick stuff. Moran’s through ball for the goal was a delight. Pity we didn’t take the 2 chances just after our goal. Sammie had an easier one than the one he scored but his shot had no conviction (knackered?) and was it Moran who tried to hit it first time? A thin squad and injuries are the issue which lead back to recruitment and the lunes in Pune. The manager deserves better and is working in the face of severe headwinds. As to this stuff about banging it forward. Really, so that Sammie or Dolan can win an easy header against the Whiteman lump? The only way we can play in that style is if we buy and bring through the academy strength over skill. Obviously, the best teams have a combination of physicality and skill. I think I can remember one long ball and it came back straight away to put us under pressure. Agreed on corners. No problem with some short ones but you have to vary it. On crosses. It’s obvious they are under instructions not to cross but to work it. Again, I get the logic (no natural centre forward –thank V.s) but we could also vary it - I do think we should get it in early for near post runners where size might not matter as much. I’m surprised they and other teams don’t go longer against us- we are susceptible to an early direct ball through the middle and crosses, particularly with injuries. Dolan has taken some stick on here. Earlier in the season I suggested he had been trained well and was learning. Remember that “head down, I’ll take you all on but then lose it” style he had under Mowbray? Now keeps it simple –receives it, gives it, keeps the play moving. He would never have scored the goal against Norwich under Mowbray. Still has his limitations but think he is much improved. But ultimately, although it all hurts, are we really surprised given the agenda off the field?

Good journalist but not him. Nick Harris? Rob Harris? A primer here:- https://ewoodpark.jimdofree.com/the-venky-s-reign-of-error-the-protest-movement-video-s-key-players-media-articles-chronology-of-events-and-photo-s/

Investigative journalism? Sadly, didn't make any difference. Henry Winter and a guy from the Daily Mail whose name I can't remember now. Not to mention stuff from Glen, Salgado and knowldegeable posters on here etc.

Senior moment. 🙂

Just for info. Transfers championship teams Expenditure on incoming players this season. Figures in millions of pounds. 5 teams less than us. Leicester city 44.1 Leeds 35.9 Coventry 30.03m Southampton 21.55 Stoke 16.09 Middlesborough 9.05 Sunderland Expenditure 7.9m Hull 7.15 Millwall Expenditure 6.24 B/Ham 5.69 Bristol city 5.41 PNE 3.84 Ipswich town 3.5 Norwich city 3.12 Plymouth Argyll 2.48 Watford 2.06 Sheffield Wednesday 1.3 Rotherham 1.1 BRFC 1 WBA 0 Cardiff 0 QPR 0 Huddersfield 0 Bristol Rovers 350k