Delighted hehas gone. Someone who has done untold damage to the club imo both deliberately and through incompetence. Glad he's had enough of the pressure of been scapegoated or whatever. Still feel he has escaped far too lightly for his abuse of Rovers as have many before. 

Problem is the bigger issue still own us. Until they go malice and negligence will reign at Ewood. 

Well it was better than I thought but once again the spotlight was on the off field activities as the owners and upper management screwed us once again.  

Going into the season I really didn't rate Eustace and thought his vastly underfunded team shorn of Sammi would struggle. Shows what I know!

Eustace impressed me getting this lot to perform and our position in January given the team.and investment was the most impressive during Venkys reign of terror. 

Of course the owners and upper management screwed it up all over again. Losing a manager to a near relegation certs is one of the most damning illustrations of the crapfest and unprofessional sickness that grips Rovers these days. The transfer window was laughable. The interviews cringe worthy and the selection process of a new manager - heaven forfend we actually plan in advance for this stuff - agonising. 

As an aside two managers having the hump in successive Januarys? When will peoples critical faculties kick in and think "you know there might be some issues with this club..."

How good is the new chap? Hard to tell from this season. I liked his previous work and felt he'd had a rough deal but I've am awful feeling things only got better when the pressure was off. He might not be that good. Which means on top of the usual circus of embarrassment mean it was another missed opportunity. 

I genuinely can't see there being many more opportunities too. How many good manages will our lot get in? Is there any family silver left to sell? Not every year will the youth team bail us out  (everyone in football knows not all kids make the grade - apart from Gestede who is determined to give 3,000,000,000 minutes to our youngsters next season.) 

All in all it makes it a pretty awful season again. As it will always be until this cancer - and I use this word in a considered manner but it feels the most apt in the situation - is removed from our club.  

4 hours ago, paullarrygher said:

Bonkers appointment. 10 months ago Karthik Hariharan was doing an internship at QPR (assisting a recruitment analyst) and studying for a Masters. A few months later he's Head of Data Science and Football Insights at Rovers.

In fairness there's not been a footballing insight in 15 years so I imagine little experience was needed. 

He'll fit right in with the rest of the incompetent no-marks running the joint. 

32 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

You said the same last summer and we spent from what Pasha said around 4.5m mark this season on transfers and increase the wage bill for the January signings. 

See this is the issue of selectively of stats. Basically what is posted here is an admission of neglect and an utter downgrade on what we have. 

It's like me saying that people have a 95% of being safe with me not mugging them or I did 2 years without committing a crime (whilst in prison) - it's damning by what it doesn't say! Neither of the above are true they are illustrative only. 

So 4.5 on millions and increased wage budget. Let's say 3 on fees 1.5 in wages. Now given the last 2 years the wage budget has been cut by 20% that means this year alone the wage budget has decreased by about 5 mill. So what he's saying is we are paying 3 million plus less wages. Hardly a sign of generosity! 

These might not be the exact figures but the point still stands. 

Same with transfer fees. We've brought in what? 24 mill from Wharton and Sammi alone. So at best we've paid out 12.5% of fees. How generous! But then when. Raya money, Gally fee etc are taken into account that drops below 10%. Do you think that's acceptable levels of investment. It is what it is isn't an answer. 

32 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I expect something similar this summer, where I think we spend some money on player transfer fees(around 3-5 million), a couple of loans and couple of frees. 

So either you are saying you expect us to invest about 10% of what we make in transfer fees on players - implausible as we don't have that much talent waiting to be sold- or you think somewhere from something they are going to give us an extra 3 million? There is zero evidence they will do this. 

I would suggest that someone who dies on the hill of one manager being in charge for a victory against Stoke despite all the evidence otherwise but then changes his mind when said manager skedaddles is not to be taken that seriously... 

As for the team shocking but hardly surprising. Everything is stacked against us performing from their collective ability to the moral crushing losses of managers through to a threadbare squad. No surprise when the sticky tape holding it together is removed we fall apart. 

The responsibility of course lies with the owners. 

2 hours ago, islander200 said:

At West Brom they were 5th when he left and only 8 points off 2nd place in february.The change of manager did nothing  they ended the season in tenth.Maybe the squad of players wasn't as good as their supporters,  journalists and board thought. 

I'm coming across as an Ismael fan boy, I'm not he wouldn't have been on my radar if I owned the Club.And early signs here are not encouraging but why don't we just give him a bit of time before we rush to any conclusions. 

Yes I think that for me too the West Brom failure wasn't so worrying, as they did worse without him. That said if his stint there is not a negative it's not a plus either! 

Wasn't my first choice but I would have had a look at him based on his Barnsley achievement and other experiences in England. Seen if he was a dark horse or not, something I suspected he might have been. 

Problem is it's looking like he's a one legged donkey...

A couple of thoughts. 

Firstly we've lost two good managers because of behind the scenes issues and working environment. All of which makes it pretty meaningless as to who is appointed. They'll ultimately fail or get hacked off in the adverse conditions - it won't end well. 

Secondly I've thought Ismael a decent candidate for a while. Not great but decent. West Brom did worse without him and the 5 subs rule should help him do with us what he did with Barnsley. Would have taken a look at him, albeit not as preferred candidate if we were a normal club. In fact the fact Venkys/Swag has chosen him is probably one of my biggest gripes against him, since they get most things wrong! 

Regardless of ranging from could have been worse to a dark horse ultimately we know how it ends with us. The saga continues. 

42 minutes ago, sharpysharps86 said:

I'm all for bashing Coyle, but I don't think its fair to group Mowbray in with that clown. Mowbray ultimately got us back up to the Championship and steadies the ship. Absolutely no comparison between him and Coyle.

Obviously I wouldn't want Mowbray now, and he definitely had his flaws whilst at Rovers but lets not re-write history and suggest he was anything like a Coyle or dare I say a 'he who must not be named'.

A better manager admittedly but that's a tallest dwarf. Still poor imo and the only manager who has said fans still expect 95. Another I'm delighted we are rid of. 

1 hour ago, onlyonejackwalker said:

Come on 47er, we both know you enjoyed Derby getting bashed 4-0. 

Derby were shocking and there is clearly no footballing reason for going there.

 

 

I think there are football reasons for going there - mainly because we are not a normal club. I appreciate it's unprecedented and historically- even the last 15 years much less before - we seem a more successful club than them. And yet, in terms of structure and long term vision, it seems Derby seem a better bet to him. Blimey even if money is a factor (my take is it will be, but only one of a number) the fact that Derby can offer a better wage and assurances than we can is an appalling situation. 

What's happening at Manure? Losing to Spurs is a new low! The new guy seems to be getting off very lightly considering how they are doing. 

Just now, M_B said:

Got to be honest, it's hard for me to feel sorry for the bloke when it turns out he was hawking himself around to anyone that would listen.

He may or may not have had promises broken. My view is that he probably got the positions covered that he wanted, but with different players than he'd hoped for.

 

Even if that's the case it's a huge issue. In terms of quality and longevity I think Eustace could well and truly take umbridge.  Probably with the timing of the transfers too. 

To go to Derby is a big risk. He must have really wanted out to take it. The big and worrying question is why was he so desperate for out? And I'm certain the answer doesn't reflect well on the club. 

The way I see it is who wouldn't have done as Eustace did? We all, well most on here - outside of this forum the sun shines out of Venkys arse - complained about the lack of support in January, the lack of communication and zero planning for the future. Everyone thought he was over achieving this season. 

Add in he knew what he was getting into and yet still found it intolerable working with the shysters means it's most likely much worse than is thought. To know and be prepared for the owners being crap and yet still finding it intolerable speaks volumes for how bad it is. 

Yes it's disappointing as against all the odds he had us in the playoffs. Yes it's disappointing that he's turning out to be a better manager than we thought for us. But really the blame lies front and central with Venkys. 

If there was any doubt the fact we had the exact same issue with another promising manager a year ago shows where the issues lie. Our club forces anything good out of it. 

1 hour ago, sabino said:

Yes, I know, your children will be next.

I don't think that 25% clause was in his contract. Do you?

I'm fairly confident it's in no ones contract - for any industry- to have the appropriate tools/equipment/materials required to do the job. Doesn't mean its not a reasonable expectation though. 

36 minutes ago, Southside Rover said:

Trying to look from a different perspective here and it's difficult but...

Maybe what Eustace asked for is not realistic in the current climate. All back on Venkys as it always is but if the club can't commit to his requests then there really was no choice if his head had been turned.

Another aspect for me...no club can invest now so why not see it out. If we inevitably drop away he's still over achieved and stock is still high. Next season there will be opportunities to return to the midlands. If he did achieve the impossible of which so far he's managed, then his stock would be even higher, maybe even with a promotion to his CV.

I get he's pissed, as we all are but I still think the timing is a little odd.

Of course on the inside of it all, if he has been misled, lied to etc. then no one wants to work for people like that.

Club isn't interested in promotion. The desire for investment despite the opportunity before us will be knocked back because we are overachieving. It was never in the script. Why is Rudy and Swag not coming out all season praising the work of a manager and players defying the odds? 

In summary, Eustace wanted backing, Swag couldn't/wouldn't and he'll be gone before the day is out.

Don't want it but as my Google feed has picked up a story on Wayne Rooney at the top of the page, I'm fearing it is more than a coincidence...

Watch this space...

If it isn't realistic to want 25% of fees generated reinvested in recruitment and to think about having your core players for 2 years then you have no business running a football club and no clue about football whatsoever. (Venkys that is although if you agree with this...) 

15 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Laughable statement yet some supporters swallow that hook like and sinker

Surprisingly so. I heard he got a couple of strikers what more could he want? 

The club is screwed because so many of the fan base accept anything. 

A guy leaving for relegation favourites should get people asking why? Daft they don't when the same thing happened 12 months prior too. 

Put it this way - the last 3 strikers who have scored the goals have all cost over a million - Bereton, Armstrong and Sammi. If you don't invest anything of note you are very very unlikely to get replacements. 

2 hours ago, rovers11 said:

 

Overall I'd give our window a 1 out of 10 at the moment. Not good enough at all.

Agree

2 hours ago, rovers11 said:

Look at Plymouth, Boro, and Millwall. All sold their best player but have heavily re-invested that money back into the squad. Where is the Sammie and Wharton money? 

Even Wrexham and Huddersfield in league one are outspending us. 

Worryingly we are getting outspeed by the weakest teams in the division. Plymouth are one of relegation favourites and yet are spending more than us. Interesting to see how much Derby spend from their big name sale. Granted how wisely you spend is as important as how much, but there's only so much that can be wisely done when you spend the change down the back of your sofa only. 

Getting outspeed by the likes of Hiddersfoeld and Plymouth is a sign we are going to be overtaken again and sink even further. 

The good news for this season is we won't go down. We've too many points and we'll grind out or get the rub of the green (like Boro FA Cup and Portsmouth respectively) to make sure we limp over the finish line. 

Mind you had the injuries come a bit earlier in the season we'd have been well and truly skunked. 

I'm beginning to think that Eustace might be another Souness for Rovers. Not a great manager, but a decent one who is an excellent fit for Rovers. Like Souness I was underwhelmed by the appointment and very sceptical at the start. (And neither had good starts for Rovers.) 

The difference is that Souness was adequately backed and we were a normal club then. Sure he had some crown jewels so had an easier job, it's not an exact comparison! But my main point is that it was a great fit. Rather than either being a top manager they were the right fit for us at the time. This time though I think we'll sabotage the connection though. 

1 minute ago, RevidgeBlue said:

He (and his agent) must be weighing up in their own minds whether or not he can afford to give Waghail the benefit of the doubt and leave it until the end of the window.

If he does and it's the usual predictable damp squib or disaster the WBA will probably have been filled by then and it may be a while before a job of similar stature arises again. 

If he's able to repeat what he's done with Rovers at WBA then he'd get them promoted. A much better base from which to build from. 

Just now, K-Hod said:

Oh I know that as well as anyone, believe me. 

I'm sure you do. Feel it always needs mentioning though as it's surprisingly overlooked by a significant amount of our fan base. 

Forgetting hyperbole and football fan speak for example, I genuinely think I could do better in the role than Waggot, especially with engaging the fanbase. 

2 hours ago, Cherry Blue said:

Southampton having a shite time with two ex rovers stars on the bench. 

6 points but will be a championship force next season. 

Yeah. Although Martin's philosophy was pure football suicide for a promoted team. And I dare say it will take a while to get out of that mindset. 

8 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Their owners care, so they try.

And they employ competence and the best quality that they can. 

8 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Ours and those they employ, don’t.

And are all as far from competent as is humanly possible. 

Whilst I appreciate the championship is very competitive with any team able to beat any other, looking at the championship table it's pretty much exactly what you would expect. 

Sheff Utd, Leeds, Burnley at the top. The likes of Weat Brom and Boro in playoffs. The teams neear the bottom of the league to be the ones you'd expect to be there. 

As I see it there's only a couple or surprises. Luton to be as low as they are and struggling and us to be near the playoffs. Perhaps Sunderland are surprisingly high too but it's few and far between where teams aren't where expected. 

What makes it even more frustrating is I don't think the top 3 teams are all that good. All three I feel have been unconvincing and marginally less poor than the rest.  Makes it  all the more frustrating that we aren't investing that bit more needed to enable us to take the next step.