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

Diversionary thread. Bit like religion, the lottery, bread and circuses. 😉

May as well have some fun and entertainment. We’re going nowhere under the V’s and SWAG whoever the manager is.

After today’s game, for a fleeting second I thought perhaps Mowbray wasn’t so bad (never liked him) in comparison to JDT. But let’s be clear, he had far longer and far much more cash to do better. You can talk about formations, players, managers but ultimately, as we all know it comes down to Vs, SWAG, Pasha. You pare down to the bone and you get this today. Any of you more knowledgeable on here know if it may happen that the Venkys might turn on the taps again (similar to Mowbray getting his splurge of cash)? Never? If we go down?

Absolutley. Along with timekeeping taken out of refs hands so no aggro there, clock only ticks when ball in play. Sin bins. Refs miked up so we all see and hear the decisions. Fans intermingled, no aggro. Adult game, adult fans (in attitude.) Before anyone says it, I like football and am a season ticket holder. 🙂

Waterlogged pitch? Called off? Hmm. Vinnie Jones aquaplaning towards the Jack Walker? ;-)

2/10 overall 7/10 given lack of cash, SWAG, Venky’s etc etc Necessity is the mother of invention. Thus, good to see the net being cast beyond the usual suspects from certain agents. Lots of ifs in the squad now. Here’s hoping.

Not my intention matty. The Pears stuff has clearly been implied and stated.

Has Jim started the relegation thread yet? 😉

Attaching blame/scapegoats for the loss to: .Pears is nonsense (that’s not saying his performance was without fault; what about the dopey centre halves for the third? I have no remit for Pears either way, but it will be fascinating to see if W. steps in to make wonderful saves that prevent similar losses as today. Seems as though many on here think that we will walk in broad sunlit uplands once he is dropped.) .The ref (that’s for the weak) .Plymouth players for being a bit rough? (what else would you expect them to do?) .Hedges? (hero last week for a worldie? That’s what you get –inconsistency- for a player of his calibre. For the record, I like him-he’s gives a 100% and that’s all you can ask for) .The Venky’s (getting much warmer) The whole team looked leggy (over training?) We battered them? LOL. we lost 3-0. We didn’t take chances, looked tired and jaded as the game progressed and allowed an inferior team to bully us and finally, through abject defending, beat us. A smart team who might not be at their best goes away with a draw. On another note, I am big fan of A.Wharton but the recent talk on these boards of a Prem player going for upward of £25 mill seem somewhat premature. Obviously, I hope it happens but will the funds be reinvested anyway?