Blue blood

Won't let me edit. Should add I think Oxford are certs for the drop

Another awful result but I still dont think we are nailed on to go down. Oxford can't buy a win and we are still above them. West Brom are sinking fast amd have played the new manager card badly. Portsmouth have a small squad, injuries and still in the mire. Likewise Charlton although they've got a bit more fight about them. Plus Norwich are on the up but not out of the woods either. Realistically think it is 30% us, 30% Portsmouth, 25% West Brom, 15% Charlton. Incidentally this is no endorsement of the owners, manager or team who are all varying levels of abysmal.

Yes as suspected Oxford are really struggling. A poor appointment wont have helped either. Good news is its likely only 1 space to play for/avoid. Feel theres a few teams it could be and a poor appointment from West Brom means its no certainty it'll be us whatsoever. Portsmouth and Charlton also in the mix with small squads and Norwich aren't out of the woods either.

Mixed bag today. Portsmouth hammering is great. Reduces their GD significantly too which may be crucial. Oxford lost again which is also good. Unexpected point for Charlton which isn't ideal but the real kicker is Norwich winning. Puts them back in the mix to escape. Mind you would we have taken w good results, 1 meh and 1 poor one from our rivals before the game? Of course its a terrible strategy relying on others but that is what we are reduced to.

Good post. Only thing I can say which is encouraging is that all 4 of the other teams really do have a good case for going down. You've covered it well and I'd say all 4 other teams should be very worried. Oxford I think are sunk. Rowatt is a good manager and if he was struggling then I doubt there's a better hire that Oxford will get to turn things around. Saw their game vs Preston randomly and I do think they play worse stuff than us. For me even with our dire ownership Id put Oxford well ahead of us to go down. Lots of the players are League 1 quality still and they overachieved getting up so I think they are bound to go. No idea what has happened at Charlton after such a promising start. And from what I recall of Portsmouth this season and last a lot hinged on fitness of key players. If they keep them fit I think they'll stay up just but if they don't I would say they are very likely to go down Norwich clearly have someone who is clueless in charge and we know ourselves how dangerous that can be. And whilst their form isn't as abject as before it certainly isn't good. Amd they've a few points to make up as well. They've played the change the manager card and it doesn't seem to be yielding great results. Given the cluelessness of those making transfers there I don't think they've too much cause for optimism either. Still reckon we'll be ok. Mainly because there's only 2 places to play for/avoid and im very confident Oxford will take one of them. Given how neglected and mismanaged we are those are good odds having to be better than just one of those 3 other teams. Keep our best players and im confident we will do that.

After how many years of being dumped upon by Venkys I don't buy Ismael's latest comments - other than the fact its embarrassing. Offering the January transfer money to pay for the pitch is like a parent saying we'll pay for the kids food with the money we were going to spend on their clothes. Both are needed and its a farcical situation to be in. Owners who never hesitate to sign a cheque? A couple of words too many in that sentence. Cue another hodge-podge sticking plaster on the ground and a convenient excuse to continue to underinvest in the squad. The downward spiral continues.

Yes but even before the season panned out as it has, it was clearly obvious it wasn't (I know you are being sarcastic and don't think it is mind!) Mind you it could be stronger than it is by playing our left backs, even as subs. And by playing anyone but Guye up front...

For me its a triple fault/blame game. 1) Ref - very erratic to the point that it had an impact on the game. Commentators said worst refereeing they'd seen in ages and whilst it's not the sole reason it contributed to our defeat. Not that this excuses the team because the next two issues solidly are on us. 2) Game management. You don't have to have played in the championship to clock how to see out a game. Its not rocket science from pub leagues to the premiership. Even if it is experience and mentality our manager is meant to y'know instill those things in the players. For so many late goals and this not to be addressed is negligent on the managers part. Oh and not subbing on a left back when we have 2 adequate ones is also criminally stupid. 3) A weak squad. Surprisingly our first 11 or 14 seemingly can go toe to toe with most teams in the division. We are seeing that on a weekly basis. The problem is a third of our squad really isn't of tje required standard. That most of the below standard players are recent additions is appalling and a huge inditement of Gestedes inability in the role. Not since Kean days have we had so many obviously below par players. A worrying sign.

thanks Rev. Maybe it is overconfidence on reflection but I think it is founded on us a) being in a lot of games. We've not looked vastly out of place in many games. Sure, thats sometimes being as bad as the opposition, but we don't look vastly inferior. And b) we are doing way better than I thoihjt we would. Given the exodus of talent and experience and the paper thin squad i figured we would do a lot worse than we have done. As it is, we're still picking up points and aren't struggling like Wednesday are (which outside of the penalty points, was form i thought we would replicate). Another game where we got a point, and could/should have got more, adds to the optimism. That said I can see that there is a strong case to argue the opposite too, especially when considering Venkys self sabotage as well. So yes, maybe overconfident, but its certainly not the certainty I feared with all the changes. And with only 2 spots to play for - which is huge - and some weak teams around us I think we'll still stay up.

Good review @DE. Think that echoes my thoughts of not being too concerned desspite todays loss. As younsay Oxford and Portsmouth haven't really kicked on and though I rate Rowett, having the lowest budget in the league is making it tough. Neither team look comfortable yet in this division. Sheff Utd have a lot of quality so you feel they'll get out of it sooner or later. But the rest I feel are well in the "race". Don't think Swansea or Norwich have done well in the manager stakes and feel that could really haunt them. West Brom seem to be sneaking the way down the table. Tonight's last minute draw will be a huge blow to them. Think they'll get out of trouble too especially if they appoint a seasoned hand. But its a nice mix of teams down there keeping us somehow looking comfortable of staying up.

After Rovers wearing me down to apathy this season, watching the Preston game revived my interest somewhat. My biggest question is how on earth are those two performances from the same team? We battered a team in the playoffs yet laboured against a struggling team. Against Preston we played some fantastic football and looked fairly threatening. Today... Looking back across the two games as well as being gloriously (horrifically) inconsistent. On reflection though there are probably a few consistencies within our inconsistency. 1) We aren't ruthless enough. Against Preston we should have won by more. When on top we should get more goals, when we are struggling we create little and don't have any "something out of nothing"/take the one chance we have. In wins and losses it feels like we lack a clinical edge. 2) As everyone knows and has said the squad quality is poor. Too many who aren't cut out for this level making us overly reliant on our best 11 to always be fit and performing at their best. We can't afford to have so many passengers in the squad and the substitutions significantly lower the quality of the team. 3) We don't seem to defend crosses too well. Preston in their sole 20 min spell had a free header their CB should have got on target. Today was a shambles. Definitely something to work on. Not sure #2 is redeemable with Venkys and mid-season. But 1 and 3 surely can be worked on.

Agree we need him or someone else experienced as a number 2. He's had a few good games but wouldn't call him a match savers. Walton was auspect, he was awful. And if you look at his career since after a short stint upwards its been massively downhill. Not good enough. Like most of Rovers decisions we are playing with fire not utilising an experienced number 2. At least the number 1 isn't pears which is a small mercy.

It was sarcasm. I'm delighted.

This is what gets me. Most of the players they have are talented and have shown they can do it at other clubs. Granted theres a few plodders but even excluding the new £200 million strike force, last season they had some good players. Everyone just seems to get worse there. Shows how rotten the club is. It's a shame...

We won't get beat 6-0 again. Inspiring stuff. An utter fraud as others have said. If his philosophy doesn't work with Rangers having a massive budget over all but one of the other teams, then you can't see him having success or his plan working anywhere.