To be honest - as a strategy, it isn't the worst (i.e. sell on the high, buy cheaper foreign imports and promote from academy), at some point we have to address our income to wages ratio. The only issue is the people in charge of the strategy considerably lessens it's chances of success.

I am surprised that a lower Premier league team isn't sniffing around Brittain - and the very least one of the three relegated clubs. Boro, Derby or Wrexham - none are going to offer his true worth - or really offer much career advancement. I suppose it is a limited career, so if they are increasing his salary.

8 minutes ago, roverandout said:

I'd rather him walk and those bastards not get a penny 

How did you feel about Rothwell and Brereton leaving for nothing ? Reality is the Venkys don't get a penny - they just need to put less in to keep us afloat.

1 minute ago, roversfan99 said:

Ohashi, Gueye, Kargbo and Cantwell between them got was it 18 goals between them last season, thats chucking in 2 penalties.

I would be massively dissapointed if that group didnt get comfortably more than that between them, that is for sure.

I also dont anticipate our defensive record being as strong so they will need to get more and we will need some new additions to also get some.

I think all 4 under performed (for one reason or another). I would hope they can increase that return between them.

1 hour ago, TimmyJimmy said:

It grinds you down, it really does.  If the board has it's hands tied over funds why can't they at least better manage supporter expectations and just tell us what is or isn't going on. That doesn't cost anything!  WTF.

Now where did I put that season ticket money?!

 

Season ticket sales - when people realise it is most likely our saleable assets of Brittain and Travis are likely to be sold. 

However - people can't complain too much - as Venky tactics of holding onto players rather than cashing in before the end of contract got lots of criticism. Lets see if selling before players finish contracts gets similar ire.

Of course the easy thing would be to extend players contracts in good time. However, my own suspicion is that they haven't renewed the contracts of some of our bigger earners as there is no guarantee of revenue stream from our owners (despite what they say in the accounts) - so we can't commit beyond a certain level. 

1 hour ago, sharpysharps86 said:

Shame to lose Weimann and Batth, the latter especially...but it was always extremely likely that they'd jump at the chance to work with Eustace again.

Debatable how many minutes Weimann would get next season under Ismael, but losing Batth who seemed to really help Hyam is a blow.

I agree Batth made Hyam a better player - but there is also a chance it worked the other way around as well. Batth wasn't great at his previous club - so always a chance that whoever he is paired with at Derby won't work out.

(Much prefer him to stay though)

3 minutes ago, Emerald Isle Rover said:

I wish I shared your optimism but the writing is on the wall….whether it’s Dolans possible comp fee or the sale of Travis/tronstad I just don’t see a world when it comes august 9th where we still have all the untied players along with new recruits. Bare in mind we still need 2/3 more

I will be pleasantly surprised if Travis stays - for me it is all about the fee now. Personally I would want £3m for him plus add ons (huge promotion add on).

10 hours ago, JCRovers said:

There's a clear shift in terms of player profile that we're looking for now which I see as a positive. 

So far they seem to be buying players of a certain physical profile who have potential to improve. It is a high risk approach - coming from different leagues and countries where settling in is a bit of an unknown. Of course, there is no guarantee they will improve  - and we will have to wait to see them play t judge whether they are already good enough for the Championship or not.

6 hours ago, 47er said:

6 players from that side would walk into our team now. 😨

Think they are a bit old now 🤣

4 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

1980`s,when a visit from chelsea had you reaching for clean underpants and every local headcase in the area seemed to mobilise 🙂

I have a recollection (somebody else may remember year) , of Chelsea fans leaving the Darwen End and storming the Blackburn End. The good old days - at least they didn't throw slates on their own fans 😉

The Bury home match was my first visit to Ewood - we may have lost, but it was a party atmosphere.

Everyone ran on the pitch - with my memory being how sandy it was 🙂

Just now, arbitro said:

He was easily knocked off the ball a couple of times in the first half but you are spot on about his effort and endeavour. He played in a similar vein at Luton until he was sacrificed after Montgomery's red card.

Maybe he has realised, if he doesn't pick up his performances he will be stuck at Rovers another season.

Trying to put the game in perspective - it was a typical Championship match where taking chances made all the difference. They had chances, which if they had taken, would have meant an entirely different match.

I do like the fact the players look to be putting the effort in - with forward running off the ball good at times.

What I found more worrying was the number of times players (sometimes 3) challenged for the same ball, This can be a positive sign of a motivated team - but it can also show a lack of organisation - and there was a number of times where we could easily have come unstuck..

But looking on the positive - Millwall have been on a good run away from home recently - so it is a good result. Especially as I felt the referee let far too much go - on a different day that could easily have influenced the result (I suppose he didn't disallow our second - though I thought we had a shout for a penalty anyway.

They should be down to 10

Come Friday the fan base just can't win. I cannot hope for a defeat, especially when we still have an extremely unlikely outside chance of top 6 - but a defeat would put us out of our misery and put the spotlight firmly on the management and ownership.

TBH - I can see us turning the form book upside down and getting an unlikely win or a useless draw. 

I wonder what the perceived deficiencies in Whartons game are that prevented a big club bidding for him when at Rovers, and seem to be holding him back at International level ?

His lack of pace is for me his biggest weakness - I wonder what everyone else thinks ?

Another typical Championship match - decided by fine margins. What was horrifying is that Stoke are awful - and yet our disorganised tactics gave them so much space. Also, especially in the first half there was a lack of drive - under Eustace players would bust a gut to get back into shape - that edge has gone. Second half was marginally better - but we created very little.

4 minutes ago, neophox said:

If we lose this Ismsel can fock off!! Tronstad and Ohashi on the bench...

Both players coming back from injury ?

Don't like 5/3 at the back - but then again know little of how Stoke line up. Surprised Dennis not starting.

Need to make sure it is 3 at the back - with both full backs pushed into midfield.

As always fingers crossed.

I would drop Pears - and tell Toth he is no 1 until the end of the season. 

I admire the teams confidence - believing they can give their ex boss 3 points and still make the play offs 🤔

Should be a nailed on 3 points - but we have a habit of throwing matches like this.

Make no mistake - this will be a cup atmosphere - but if Rovers can't win this one (or as an absolute minimum get a point) - we have a very limited chance of finishing inside the top 6 - let alone winning the play offs.

Interesting to read the red card opinions. For me Dennis should have been red carded for his first yellow - his second yellow, you see them given as yellows and the Norwich players dramatics didn't help. So overall don't think we can complain. 

For me the stranger one, is the noise around the Hyam block on the keeper - Sky have made lots of noise about a deliberate elbow - but for me he had just attempted to hold up the keeper from releasing the ball which you see numerous times - no deliberate elbow IMO.

2 minutes ago, BigHoz said:

Great line up, just missing tronstad from the starting 11, nobody can grumble. But they will 🤣🤍💙

Buckley rather than Forshaw for me.

6 minutes ago, Tom said:

Is Gueye’s native language French? (I did check but Senegal has quite a lot of languages). May help Big Mak as well if so.

Like all Rovers fans I just really really hope it works out

Wouldn't have said it a couple of months ago - but keeping Gueye happy and fit will be central to us having any chance of top 6.

Lowe for manager ?

No excuse for having your best players on the bench.

Why not give a side like Swansea the opportunity to get a lead before bringing on your best players - especially now they can sit back and players like Dennis and Kargbo don't have room to operate,