I'd love it if someone had the balls to say this: that one of the main factors for Sammie having the season he had, is the fact that Rovers are a basket case off the field and wouldn't back the manager (JDT) with a striker, so HAD to turn Sammie into our main attacking threat. Not taking anything away from him, he's totally risen to the challenge, but if he'd been kept as a 10 behind two strikers he may have gone under the radar.  He's been playing with Gallagher who's currently at £100,000 per goal...

JDT never had a plan B, that was the biggest issue - see Reading, Dingles, Sheff Utd last season away - I never felt like we prepared for the opposition. 

The No Tippy Tappy Podcast with Warnock is interesting in this regard, they talk about their dislike of this now common modern theme of managers having a footballing philosophy and wanting to impart a style of play onto a team regardless of the talent at their disposal, they both comment that you have to work with what you've got - possibly a reason why they've had long careers in lots of different clubs.

Many fans, including myself, defended JDT for not being backed and not getting the attacking options he wanted, yet we still tried to go all out attack leaving massive gaps in midfield. JE comes in, has the same attacking options, the same lack of striker, and get's criticised for being too defensive and playing a supposed "boring" brand of football, I personally don't get the double standards myself and although some of the football under JDT was amazing, I'd take JE's brand of pragmatism any day. He's literally had the same team to work with yet some fans don't give him the same slack that they gave JDT, especially when it comes to attacking options.

Fans bemoan the games at home we drew - take Coventry, if Sammie puts that sitter away we've won, JE can't control that, neither can he control Hyam's disaster at Bristol and Aynsley's against SW. If I had one main issue with JE is that he's made us too relaxed, perhaps a result of trying to take the pressure off too much, but he's dealing with a squad devoid of any confidence. I think Sheff Wed at home was the perfect example of that BUT at 1-1 before the errors, SW were looking rattled (everyone seems to forget about that) and our more relaxed approach was looking to pay off. Any of JE's decisions/approaches to me can explained with pragmatism and logic, whilst many of JDT's seem stubborn and rash to me.

I saw a comment somewhere saying Eustace is "soft" and comparing him to Big Sam - if you listen to the Under the Cosh podcast, any time Big Sam is mentioned, almost every player says how great he was, his famous Dubai trips, giving them days off and time with family etc. If Allardyce does it, it's great management, if JE does it it's lack of backbone. Can't have it both ways.

13 hours ago, Ewood Ace said:

The problem is with all this talk of mentality change and of players liking Eustace is that results didn't get much better and we ended up closer to relegation than we were when he took over. If Eustace had an impact like Rohl, Harris or Cifuentes then I'd believe it but it just seems to me they like a softer less demanding manager.

It's only natural Eustace will have lower less demanding standards, his career peaked playing for Watford in the 2nd tier whereas JDT played at the very highest level including playing for one of the greatest managers of all time.

Also Eustace has no Plan B you only need to look at the likes of Millwall, Plymouth and Coventry at home to see that.

I think this is really harsh.

I really believe that if Rohl, Harris or Cifuentes came to Ewood they would struggle too - just due to how disjointed our squad is and the lack of attacking options. We don't have the aggression, nor the bodies in midfield to play like those teams ended the season.

I also don't think Eustace has less demanding standards due to where he played, look at someone like Mourinho - I think he walked into the dressing room saw a completely destroyed team with no clear direction, I think he got a sense of something not being right just by the "vibes" in the room, and quickly got something together to try and get some points.

People can compare records on paper all day but the slide under JDT before he left was horrendous, no stats can accurately convey exactly what was going on in real life at that point.

People say we were lucky and "stole" wins by parking the bus against Leeds and Leicester, but for me that was the only way with the options we had to get some points: soak up the pressure and use Sammie on the break. 

The jury is still out but I've got confidence him, forget what he says in the press- he's not being media managed and his post-match stuff for Brum wasn't any different, some are good at it some aren't, who cares.

Robbie Savage said on 606 that he's a fan of JE: "a great guy and that we'll do well next season" according to the blonde one.  

2 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

I don’t think a single Rovers fan thinks he’ll be staying.

My worst fear is the owners get involved with the transfer, slap an unrealistic figure on him and refuse offers a la Diaz, thus scuppering a dream move for the lad who's give his all for the club and it all turns sour. We end up with a pissed off Sammie on our hands until January and another disrupted squad. 

Really good post that @JHRover

Now that we've seen Ipswich and Luton go up, the argument that you need the parachute money to compete is looking somewhat shaky. What a surprise that both clubs have owners and managers who are completely aligned, on and off the field.

Can you imagine us signing a player like Kiefer Moore in January last year under JDT, or even the Mowbray season before the decline? Just wouldn't happen. That's a normal footballing decision that normal well run clubs do. 

4 hours ago, cesus said:

I do like the under the cosh stuff, but sometimes find Chris Brown gets a bit anti Rovers fans due to him being absolutely shite when he played here. In the Tim Sherwood interview, he mentions that Rovers fans still have expectations of being Premier League Champions. I always find that a huge insult.

Yeah there's been a few comments from him regarding our obsession with all things 1995...

2 hours ago, Ricky said:

On the Sherwood one he also follows it uk with ‘and then shit like me turns up’. 

...but that was funny to be fair to him...

Interesting in the Sherwood episode he mentions Ipswich have removed all of their history and achievements from the walls of the ground, go figure...

Maybe it is a thing, who knows? As a player maybe you do walk into Ewood and see the images of Jack lifting the Premier League, Shearer etc and think "how do I even compare to this". Sometimes you need to let people make their own history, I suppose it depends on the person - doesn't help when our owners seem to be actively halting any chance of achieving anything.

I really liked Warnock at Rovers, great player. That was a good listen, but odd that he seemed to be so very badly treated at every club, almost as if there's a common denominator...hmmm

1 hour ago, bazza said:

I have to say that I cannot remember watching Rovers highlights so many times before. Sammie's two goals are absolutely glorious to watch over and over again. 

yeah it's great innit?

For the first, I still can't believe he carried the ball at pace for that long, my heart is still in my mouth over that last touch that just drags a tad, and looks like it's going to go under his foot - it still gets me. But the calmness of the finish is something else, to take it that early. Pure instinct.

Some great footage here of the 2nd on Rovers insta, look at that away end...credit to you all, especially to whoever that is caning it down the steps at full speed 🤣 I believe the kids call it "limbs".

I know it's been a shit storm of a season, and the club hierachy and owners are what they are - but they can't take away moments like that. 

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

It’s £6-00 a pint where I drink.

yeah it's pricey stuff

I was referring to this interview by the way

Just now, Rochdale Blues said:

At home to Watford on Saturday 23 December, with 10 minutes to go, we were 2 points outside the play off places. The rest is history! 

I was just thinking of the Norwich game as they're in the playoffs. 

Yeah that's the point it turned - those two fumbles by Leo, set the tone, our collective arse went.

That positive feeling we had when Adam scored after 5 mins feels an age ago. 

I do remember thinking after the home win against Birmingham that something wasn't right, that performance was an odd one, got away with it. The whole thing of not feeling comfortable, even at 3-0 up.

18 minutes ago, Polky said:

Looks like we’ve dodged a bullet with this signing.

Dam, I'd forgotten about him, hardly pulled up trees has he?

Hanging around with Obafemi hasn't done him any favours it seems.

I still can't get my head around the table after we beat Norwich 3-1 away. Madness. Another managed decline in the second half of a season. 

13 hours ago, 47er said:

Pears is an odd case, he's good enough one game, then not the next.

I suppose that means he's not good enough! 

This is our level now with the way our recruitment and finances are. 

Money buys you players who are consistent, 7 or 8 / 10 performances every game. It's the problem across the board, the lack of depth doesn't help either, as we're asking players to overperform every week, stretching their ability. Need to look at Ipswich, Luton and see how they do it...

Now the dust has settled and you can finally relax after what has been a horror show of a season, it sounds daft to say, but it's only really fully sinking in what this man has done for the club.

For about 15 minutes on Saturday the club felt like it was knife edge, the trap door was open.

Like a few have said, if we'd have gone down, we'd have stayed down for a long time - a financial disaster and a disaster for the fan base that we may have never recovered from.

That run for the first goal, I keep re-watching it, he's literally single handedly kept the club alive (for now at least), it's bloody massive...

The fact that he's a "very nice guy" too, a proper personality, makes it even better - he'll be sorely missed.

Get the statue built, or surely there's a new cul-de-sac that needs a name? Or perhaps name the Blues Bar after him and make sure it sells Moretti on draft. 

5 hours ago, ABBEY said:

90/1 haha that's a eusticism . 

No chance it's 90s

On 02/05/2024 at 13:51, Miller11 said:

You’ve got a very generous bookie offering 90/1 on that! Who is the bet with? 

Unfortunately the above scenario is a lot more likely than those odds would suggest.

It was a typo, it's 19/1

I sincerely apologiese for any grievance caused

as you where

Just now, roversfan99 said:

Why would Eustace suddenly become a different character and become really positive and attacking?

Itll be a back 5, sit in job trying to grind out a nil nil. Leicester will win but other results will almost certainly get us over the line.

You're right it would be odd, like I said it's just a waking fever dream I keep having. He's damned whatever we do, if we sit back we won't get as lucky as we did with Leeds, if we attack they'll just pick us off. We've just got to harry and press and work our arses off and let them know they're in a real game, bust a gut for one last time.

3 minutes ago, benhben said:

I think half the squad know they wont be here next season and haven't got any fight in them. I honestly don't think some of them care that much, Hyam, Ayari, Morton, Chrisiene, Gallagher all spring to mind. Id also include the manager in that. He's been dour. 

I can see us staying up by a point or so as Brum or Plymouth get a draw. Cant see any chance at all of a performance of our own! 

Lost all interest in Rovers at the moment unfortunately.  Tough time to be a fan.

I feel Ayari cares in that he seems to have a point to prove, either for his own career or like in the last game, against his ex-teammates at Coventry. He seems to come on with the bit between his teeth. He's at an odd place in his career that lad, where does he go next?

On 01/05/2024 at 09:33, RV Blue said:

I’ve seen him a few times for Palace and don’t even think he’s playing his absolute best football. He’s playing as 1 of 2 which isn’t hid position and some of his teammates wouldn’t look out of place in the Championship. I’m still surprised that a bigger club than Palace didn’t come in for him, though I’m sure it won’t be long until they do now, he’ll shine even more playing with better players in a system that suits him.

I've watched him a few times too, to be honest it says everything about our season that often I've been more excited to see how he's got on. At first I couldn't bear it, like seeing your ex with someone else, but I just love watching the lad play.

He's been played really deep compared to the role he was allowed to have at Rovers. It's almost like they've told him not to pass the half way line at times. 

I think he's been playing better and better each week, he seems to be running games from in front of his own back 4, and doing all the dirty work, he's also not afraid of a tackle and really works hard to win the ball back if he ever loses it. He may not have had many assists or action in and around the box, but it's usually his pass that sets the move going. The games against Newcastle and Fulham he started having more shots and was around the box more. The only issue I see is he seems to fade late on, and has been caught out being slow to track back a few times, but to be honest who hasn't.

Travis was literally brought in as cover for Morsey, same reason they wanted Gally to cover for Hirst, as mad as that last bit sounds.

I like Travis, but am on the fence, I can't decided whether he would have helped or hindered us - he is more of a leader than anyone else in the team, he gets it (him and Sammie would have hauled a few games over the line I feel) but his temperament lets him down at times.

Free from the shackles of JDT and the pressure of having to become technical box-box midfielder overnight, he maybe would have bossed the 2nd half of the season for us. He's a proper Eustace player for me. 

How many Champ teams do you think he walks into though?

My worst fear with this game is that he might buck the trend and actually try and go and win this one, compared to when he should have against Millwall, SW at home. I've got this worry that he'll think they won't be up for a fight, and it'll cost us as they'll raise their game. 

I've stuck a tenner on us to lose, Plymouth and Brum to win, and SW double chance at 90/1, as to me that seems a totally normal day in the madness that is this season's Championship. My bets never come off.

It should be an easy game to get them up for, it's one game, one cup final to give it their all, in our hands, just give fucking everything for one game! What is playing on my mind is that after 15-20 mins there's a chance that Brum and Plymouth could be 1-0 up, and the players will hear about it and then start to wilt under the pressure, as we know they're well capable of doing. 

4 minutes ago, J*B said:

Just on this - I thought the lap of honour was really poorly organised. The stadium announcer said stay in your seats, the players essentially did their own lap of honour, where taken off the pitch then returned to a 80% empty stadium.

Like everything it needed much better organisation. Messaging on the big screen, repeat announcements. 

Whilst I’m here, when Eustace was sent off he came and sat probably 15 seats away from me. There was no plan for how he would communicate to the bench - it was utter chaos, probably a 10-15 minute period of it followed by Eustace using his personal phone to call down to someone on the bench. 

Yeah it was embarrassing, all of it was just cringeworthy. The players have complained about the lack of fans and for them to come out to Ewood almost a 10th full was a hard one. I was going to go but felt at least while we are in a battle I wanted to show my support, but I can totally see why everyone left. Total apathy. Hyam and Fadz stayed longer with the Cov fans, don't blame them, much more positive, and I can't stand that fanbase. 

Some bloke was given Brittain stick from the Riverside at the final whistle, no matter what you think of Callum, whatever was going on didn't look pleasant and Brittain was clearly pissed off. Am I right that I didn't notice him coming out after? 

Eustace seemed to take an age to find somewhere to sit on the front row and then he disappeared? It definitely seemed odd. Noticed Waggott and Pash were in attendance, and they appeared to be sat next to GB? Might be wrong, my eyes are fooked...

39 minutes ago, rog of the rovers said:

Some subplots to file under ''Well I didn't see that coming.''

Bradley Dack winner for Sunderland against Sheffield Wednesday

Tyler Morton/Ryan Giles winner for Hull against Plymouth

Inspired performance from Grant Hanley and/or Danny Batth keeps Blues at bay

and dare I even think it....

Ashley Barnes or Shane Duffy winner for Norwich against Birmingham.

Birmingham needing a win to send us down, I wouldn't put it past Barnes smashing into his own net. 

I found it really hard seeing Sammie potentially playing his last home game on Saturday. I stayed for the lap of honour just to give him some respect.

However, it's really hard to know what other teams and their scouts make of Sammie. Would love to read a scouting report from one of his games. 

He's been playing in such a poor, fractured side - he hasn't had any assistance up front, he's scored the same breakaway goal, latching onto a through ball, over and over again. Seemingly the only type of goal we can score, and I stand by the fact that he's only scored those goals as we haven't had a striker as he's had to play further upfield.

You can't deny his workrate, his footballing brain, his nous and his passion, but I almost feel like we haven't seen any of his hold-up/linking play, as his teammates haven't been up to standard.  

If he goes to another team, it won't be as a forward, so his new fans need to get accustomed to the fact he won't score 20+goals again, and cut him some slack. 

I just can't hack it anymore that we're potentially watching another talent leave before we get chance to see them bed into a side.

On 23/04/2024 at 14:32, DaveyB said:

Yes the players aren't great, and the mistake from Pears is almost laughable - there's keepers in Sunday pub leagues who would be embarrassed by that - but I disagree that a different manager wouldn't make a difference.

Wednesday's players aren't particularly good either, but the difference between them and us on Sunday was they were well drilled - they had a set way of playing and they each knew their jobs and did them to the best of their ability. In comparison, our lads look like they've been sent out on to the pitch with no instructions whatsoever - players are coming short and looking for the ball to feet and seeing the ball kicked over their heads and then, when they do make runs in behind, the defenders are looking to play into the midfield - we look disjointed, the players aren't in the right positions to help their teammates, because no one seems to know what they are supposed to be doing or where they are supposed to be. It's abject and dire, and it's on the manager who either hasn't given them a game-plan, or hasn't been able to get it over to them

I do agree with you - it's not all on the players, for a start we didn't seem to have a plan B again, we had 30mins as a group to get back into the game. It's all well and good keeping it tight, but when you go behind you need to be able to change it or see what is in front of you. To be fair we don't have a bench at all to change it, and JE clearly doesn't trust any of our other attacking options apart from Markanday. That's on the owners, the board, and lack of investment again - the failed project rearing it's ugly head. 

I think Eustace has tried to calm a very disparate group lacking in confidence and it's backfired. Sheff Wednesday were right up for that, it was a must win for them and they went for it, I get that he's tried an approach to not lose and eventually when they tire to possibly draw them out and pick them off - but we don't have enough on the pitch to change it when the going gets tough, where's the leadership?

I think our lads are the victim of the last three failed regimes, each trying to do different styles, and the modern player is more robotic than we think. We've seen a few approaches and "game plans" and they've struggled each time, the same shit happens and it's due to it being a squad devoid of a clear goal in mind - we are not a team greater than the sum of it's parts, we occasionally surprise but it feels in spite of the manager's plans or tactics.

It's no surprise to anyone watching us, the club is in turmoil and it's reflected on the pitch. Some of the group aren't expected to be here (Gallagher, Dolan), rumours of Hyam being shopped around in January, it's not a happy squad. Look what happened after January window under Mowbray when we completely folded, it's no coincidence. We're shopping in the bargain bin too, Barnsley fans told us Callum wasn't up for a fight, maybe that's why he ended up here...

9 minutes ago, 47er said:

Best we had since Brad. He is heaps better than you suggest.

Exactly, TK was an international keeper.

The goalkeeping issue alone at Rovers is like a condensed version of our plight over the last few years, a metaphor for the club's struggles overall.