3 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

The ref is in black and they're in a dark (possibly black) kit too - who planned this?!

But refs got black boots. Rest haven't 

;)

Trav needs to calm down. We might need him next week.

Many years ago I was racing against Garner in an annual school's Dad's Race. Couldn't believe it when with a few+ yards (note not meters) to go I was winning. Race finished & I came second. 

Only one Simon Garner!

7 hours ago, Atko's Engine said:

I was there, watched it from behind the dugouts with some home fans. JDT seemed very engaged with what was going on, which I take as the main positive from the evening.

Overall it was an underwhelming performance. A Wharton set the tempo of the first half and everything attacking went through him, but we clearly had no one with a strikers instinct so every move broke down on the edge of their box, although there was some good one touch football in the build ups. Best chance we had 1st half was a Batty run and shot down the left, which was well made & well saved. Meanwhile at the back we were a bit 6s & 7s, S Wharton & Buckley (who didn't stand out at all) especially guilty of giving the ball away in dangerous places, with Pears to thanks for a couple of smart saves, though he did flap at a corner that caused a bit if chaos.

Second half was all stockport for first 20 mins or so. But for Pears & a miss-of-the-preseason for their top goalscorer we could've been a couple down. We then got the pen (which seemed right, although my view was obscured by a pillar), which gilsenan put away comfortably, after which we never really looked like conceding an equaliser, though there were a couple of moments of dilly dallying in our backline that might've been problematic on another day.

Upshots being, toothless up front  decent movement in midfield, lack of confidence at the back. Best players were A Wharton, Gilsenan, Batty (who's not afraid to get stuck in) and Pears. Brittain did ok, but I think would look better in a stronger team. Stockport had 2 trialists playing & they play Preston tomorrow, so they at least had a few first teamers out.

I would guess only AW (who JDT had a good chat with & an arm around his shoulder when brought off) is likely to start v W Brom next weekend, this was very much a 2nd 11 selection.

Excellent review Atko's Engine.

Batty involved again. 

5 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

No Ennis?

Be tomorrow at Ewood anyway I would think.

4 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/july/22/report--rovers-4-3-barnsley/

Thanks wilsden. Only just posted:

3 minutes ago, BRFC4EVA said:

Great to hear the DM played well against Barnsley. Won 2 pens, assist and set up other chances.

Such a shame he didn't get loan out to league 1 or 2 last season instead of Scotland. 6 months wasted there.

Nice to see an exciting friendly with lots of goals. Nil nil in a friendly is just the worst. Concerning news on the injury fitness front, looks like we'll be going into the new season weaker, not stronger

 

Why's there been complete silence on this game by Rovers?

12 hours ago, bazza said:

If you get the 152, don't make the mistake my mate did when hurrying to Ewood to watch a match. He got off in Feniscowles at The Feildens Arms to walk the "short" journey to Ewood. Only after did he realise what a hell of a long road Livesey Branch Road is. I think he missed the first 20 minutes. 😂

Get off the 152 opposite Cherry Lane then cross over, up the lane and onto canal. Come off canal towpath at Albion St and Ewood Park is there. Easy 20min walk.

1 minute ago, Miller11 said:

I’ll play it at the Girona game as long as there is a solemn promise of starting a singalong to the appropriate bit!

Thanks Miller11 I'll spread the word.

19 minutes ago, arbitro said:

I'm amazed that Rovers have never capitalised on the world's most famous band singing a song with our name in it. 

Even have 4000 Holes mag. Would be good to lift Rovers fans before KO.

We need to get this started!

2 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

The big issue is the 3 minutes of acid induced experimentation before that line kicks in. Not sure it’s be an instant hit with anyone not in the know.

Play it a few times at the ground and I bet we'd get a reaction.  Lyrics give us a unique identity and it catchy. We need a change that no one can copy.

Anyone else up for this please give us a like.

Had enough of wildrover.

" I read the news today oh boy
Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall
I'd love to turn you on"

Thinking that because we play them again in few hours Hartberg have fielded a weak side. But 6 goals when we struggled against Stanley is excellent. 

2,300 Accy Stanley tickets all sold. 

MCC have apologized to Aussie Cricket Team and will deal with any member who has not maintained the standard.

Before the game started I was looking forward to a good game of cricket but never imagined it would be this good!

By the laws of the game he is out. Brings a different meaning though to "it's just not cricket".

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

This may be more than a bit dry for some, but I found it quite interesting (and it helped me put off a job that I don't want to do, lol), even if it does just reinforce a lot of what we already know.

It's the reported wage bill taken from most recent accounts (figures are in Million £s) of all clubs who were in the Championship in 22/23 and/or 23/24

Due to accounting dates, these figures are essentially for the 21/22 season this will mean that the figures from some teams will be from whilst they were in either the Premier League or League 1

It does show that Rovers are essentially a middle of the road wage payer, aside from those who have spent time outside the Championship over this period, we are amongst a glut of teams with roughly the same wage bill.  There also seem to be a few basket case clubs (Stoke, WBA, Birmingham, Cardiff) who are seriously underachieving based upon wage bills.  Middlesbrough also spend more than most but seem to do much better than the others mentioned.  Special mentions to Coventry and Luton who show that a good league finish can be achieved without overspending, but as both teams recently spent numerous seasons below the Championship, it may be that their wage bills will catch up with others soon (Luton's probably this season in the Premier League)

Just for reference, in League 1, Rovers wage bill was £16.8M, which jumped to £22.4M for their first season back in the Championship.  So it would not be unreasonable to assume that the 'bigger' clubs who were in L1 at the time of these accounts (Sunderland, Ipswich, Sheff Wed) now have wage bills which are at the very least comparable to ours.  Also worth noting Hull seem to be changing their buying strategy since these numbers were publicised and have spent big money on wages on international players last season (Darlow, Pelkas, Seri, Tufan, Estupinan, Traore, Tettah and others)

                                    21/22 Season wage bill (in £M)                                                     Division at the time    
Leicester                                          180.4                                                                             PL
Southampton                                  113.4                                                                             PL
Leeds                                               103.5                                                                             PL
Burnley                                                 92                                                                             PL
Norwich                                               91                                                                              PL
Watford                                             78.6                                                                             PL
Sheff Utd                                           overdue    (previous accounts state 56.5)                 Champ (previous figure used was when in PL)

Stoke                                                 35.6                                                                           Champ 
WBA                                                  37.5                                                                           Champ 
Birmingham                                      31.1                                                                           Champ 
Cardiff                                               29.2                                                                           Champ 
Middlesbrough                                 28.4                                                                            Champ 

QPR                                                   24.8                                                                           Champ 
Swansea                                            24.5                                                                           Champ 
ROVERS                                            24.4                                                                          Champ 
Huddersfield                                      overdue    (previous accounts state 24.6)                 Champ 
PNE                                                    24                                                                             Champ 
Bristol C                                             23.8                                                                           Champ 
Reading                                             22.4                                                                           Champ 
Millwall                                              22.3                                                                            Champ 

Sheff Wed                                        due end of July (previous accounts state 21.1)           L1 (previous figure used was when in Champ)    
Sunderland                                        16.1                                                                           L1
Ipswich    .                                         16.4                                                                            L1
Coventry                                            15.7                                                                          Champ 
Luton                                                 15.6                                                                           Champ 
Wigan                                                13                                                                             L1
Hull                                                    12.7                                                                          Champ (promoted previous season)
Blackpool                                           10.3                                                                          Champ (promoted previous season)
Rotherham                                           5.8                                                                          L1                    
Plymouth                                             5.5                                                                          L1

Please note that I am NOT an accountant, all wage figures have been taken from a (very quick) glance over the accounts (so feel free to 'fact check' me) as reported here.  Wage bills quoted are totals for all staff at the clubs, not just playing staff
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00053482/filing-history

I have no idea why Sheffield Wednesday's accounts are not due until the end of this month

As expected Leicester, Southampton & Leeds top of the wages tree so pressure's on their stars to perform. Hopefully not, especially Leeds, but crowds will gather at Ewood to see if we can get one over on the "loads of money" clubs (use to be us!).

Looking up from the bottom you've got to ask what's gone on at Luton, Coventry & Sunderland? Then further up the chain Millwall, PNE & Rovers all doing better points-wise than Watford, Norwich, Stoke & WBA? I'm sure the answer is a combination reasons but overall encouraging for us after a good last season.

As you imply figures not up to date but probably not far from the mark.

14 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Huge rebuilding job at Leicester, Southampton and Leeds with all 3 squad facing massively overhauling and revamping. 

Leeds haven't even announce the new head coach yet

Spurs have just paid Leicester £40m for Maddison with Winks moving the other way for £10m. 

Was told about 500 of the 1,900 Accy Stanley tickets still available.

Steve Cotterill has left Shrewsbury Town.

Key dates for new season are:

• Fixture Release Date – Thursday 22 June 2023, 9am
• Start Date – Saturday 5 August 2023 (with a likely live game on Friday 4 August)
• Carabao Cup Round One – w/c 7 August 2023
• Carabao Cup Final – Sunday 25 February 2024
• EFL Trophy Round One – w/c 4 September 2023
• EFL Trophy Final – Sunday 7 April 2024
• League One Play-Off Final – Saturday 18 May 2024
• League Two Play-Off Final – Sunday 19 May 2024
• Championship Play-Off Final – Sunday 26 May 2024

22 hours ago, goozburger said:

Right now, not here. 😄

Seat map still not updated to show the true picture. Waiting for it to reveal the non-renewed seats. Although, for all I know, everyone could have renewed. 🙃

Correct. I changed seats and both were showing unavailable when I checked 30 mins after payment.

1 minute ago, A Northern Horde... said:

So it's the footballing giants of Luton and Coventry gracing Wembley eh..

Hits home hard just how much we bolloxed matters up in the last few games.What a chance we squandered.

Yeah. It's a season long but for me the hand of wilson beat us.