4 hours ago, K-Hod said:

Makes a bit of a mockery of it being called the best league in the world, when the gulf in class between the top 3 and everyone else is so huge. 
How many massive away wins have there been this season? They’ve been talking up a three horse race being the most exciting in years, but I’d say, if anything, the gap between the have and have nots is bigger than ever.

As Paddy Power humorously posted last night: ‘just how bad must that Derby 07-08 team have been, to be worse than Sheffield United?’.

I said the other week that there is something wrong at Sheffield Utd. Last night was another example. 5 down before halftime is disgraceful. Neither the manager or players are performing. 

Selling their 2 best players and losing a couple of good loan players hasn't helped, but from the outside it looks like the whole lot of them have given up. Is their owner trying to sell up?

Both Sheff Utd and Burnley utilised the loan market in the Championship and deployed completely different strategies once promoted. Luton had no loans and only brought in a couple of new players and are in trouble but faring better than the other two. 

Someone posted a topic like this around the same time last season when there was genuine hope of a playoff spot. Fast forward 12 months and Rovers have 11 games left to pick up enough points to stay up. 

Here are my predictions;

Millwall (H) - draw

Plymouth (H) - win

Boro (A) - loss

Ipswich (H) - draw

Sunderland (A) - loss

Southampton (H) - loss

Bristol City (A) - loss

Leeds (A) - loss

Sheff Wed (H) - draw

Coventry (H) - win

Leicester (A) - loss

I have 9 more points. Will that be enough? 

7 hours ago, RoverDom said:

Rushford, apart from the goal, was absolutely gash. 

 

 

The whole team was. 

Ten Hag set them up to play on the counter and they couldn't even muster that bar a few early forays.

I know City are streets ahead but Man U weren't trying to play. They'd get the ball to the halfway line then concede possession.  

Their subs were pitiful. Amrabat, Antony, and two youngsters. Amrabat cost them a goal. Antony did nothing but pass it backwards twice. He has to be up there as one of the worst Premier League signings. £80m+ for no output.

Ratcliffe's PR team keep pumping out grandiose statements about getting back to the top. It will cost an inordinate amount of time and money to do that. His first action should be to bin Ten Hag, but that would be cruel to those like me who enjoy watching Man U's ineptitude.

47 minutes ago, matt83 said:

I am not an elite athlete nor ever have been.

But at uni e played Wednesday and Saturday every week. We won, lost and drew. Played well in games and played badly. There was never a point where on a Saturday where we said yeah played baldly today must be tired legs from Wednesday. Probably more the 40 pints between Wednesday and Saturday.

Off to watch Clitheroe today. They played midweek and most of the squad will have been up and down ladders for 40 hours week this week, plus training. I’ll guarantee you if they lose they won’t trot out the tired legs excuse. But when it comes to professionals the little darlings have tired legs.

It’s a convenient excuse perpetuated in the game, whether they believe it or not, because it’s convenient to keep in the locker for rainy day whether your citeh or rovers. IF we lose and it’s because we genuinely feel “ leggy” the first act Monday should be sack the fitness coach. If we even have one. 

You cannot compare the physical demands on professional footballers to any uni or Clitheroe level players. 

There is a reason why football clubs now have teams of performance analysts. Clubs need to eek out as much from players as possible. 

Anyway, all signs point to a loss today. I hope not though.

3 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

We're all accustomed to a less than half full Ewood, with next to zero atmosphere, and accompanying 'library' chants from the Darwen End.

Last night showed the other side of Ewood. A big crowd for once, a vociferous backing, and plenty to get behind both in the dugout and on the pitch.

When it's like that, Ewood remains a wonderful place in which to watch our team.

Great stuff.

Watching from afar it reminded me of the Villa and Liverpool cup ties from the late 80's early 90's. Underdogs v. big boys. It was good as a one off but Rovers should not be in that position - thank you Venkys.

It was a shame Rovers lost, but as soon as Hyam stepped up I knew he'd miss. 

40 minutes ago, WacoRover said:

Bah, you ever been to a Texas/OU game? The Cotton Bowl is half Longhorns, half Sooners, with fans of each sprinkled in everywhere. Or Dallas Cowboys/Washington Redskins?! 

y’all don’t have a lock on “atmosphere”. As much as I love my adopted sport of English footie, it’s not the ultimate in passionate crowds. Every NFL stadium here, is bigger than every English ground, with the exception of maybe Wembley.

In fact, we have a good dozen or so college stadiums larger than EVERY ground in the UK- Texas, Michigan, A&M, Tennessee, Ohio St., Alabama, the Coliseum in Los Angeles., etc. College stadiums are much louder than NFL stadiums, too. 

Read the book Dirty Northern Bastards by Tim Marshall. It's been around for a few years so some of it is outdated now, but it is available in the USA.

It gives a decent insight into some of the songs/rivalries/atmosphere at football stadiums in the UK. The USA has none of what is written about.

Rovers do get a mention as well. 

This game will be the first I can watch since the JDT to Eustace change. 

I'd have rather had a league game as I would be able to compare apples to apples but the potential of a cup upset is always appealing. 

On paper they are too good. Anthony Gordon could run Rovers ragged. 

6 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Two Sheff Utd players were involved in an on field skirmish yesterday.  Shades of Batty versus LeSaux. One of them, the Brazilian Vinicius Souza, had calmed down enough to swap shirts at half time with a fellow Brazilian, Joan Gomes, who was playing for Wolves ! 
What goes on in these players heads ? He’d never kick another ball for me if I was the manager.

Sheffield Utd are in a bad spot. 

In the last few weeks Wilder has been charged by the FA for spitting his dummy out after a defeat and slagging a ref for apparently eating a sandwich in front of him. Holgate got sent off after 10 minutes last week for a knee-high scissor kick, and now this. 

Something isn't right at the club. There does not seem to be discipline within the camp to mount a fight to give themselves a chance.

On 12/02/2024 at 06:31, oldjamfan1 said:

Like me you’re old enough to remember Kidd at Wembley - my kids didn’t get him but got Lambert, who was perhaps a less obvious one. Berg didn’t actually play in the final but still got a winners medal and it’s quite surprising really that Hughes and Ince aren’t on the list - my younger lad thought they might have been. Plenty of league titles between them but not the big cup.

Full house mate, well done.

I'm sure that Kean told someone along the way that if it wasn't for injuries he'd have won one too. 

It's looking like a 3 horse race for the title. 

Fresh off easily beating Liverpool Arsenal hammered the Hammers yesterday 6-0. 

Liverpool were unconvincing but still put 3 past Burnley.

City were labouring against Everton but De Bruyne came on and the tide turned. 2 goals from Haaland won it. 

Arsenal puzzle me. They don't strike me as having many good players but are up there.

4 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

As for JDT, sad to see him go, I'll remember him not for the recent bad League results but as someone who tried to instill pride, standards and ambition into the Club. Ultimately to no avail sadly.

Oh and some fantastic Cup results. Wish him all the best for the future.

JDT is the best manger Rovers have had in a long time. He had Rovers a whisker away from a playoff spot last year, cruelly denied by any number of cock ups late in the season (PNE own goal etc.). Instead of him getting reinforcements over the summer Venkys cut him off at the knees. It was only going to end one way after that.

However, 1 win in 11 isn't good. His style of play isn't suited to grinding out points. On current form Rovers need 3 goals to win each game. A bit of pragmatic football over the next 2 months should hopefully keep Rovers safe, then onto the next melodrama over the summer.

I wish him well. He was a known name who surprised me when he arrived and then tried to put his imprint on BRFC. 

Am I right in saying that JDT has gone but no official statement from the club has been issued confirming it.

Am I also right in saying that John Eustace is coming in but no official statement from the club has been issued confirming it.

On 08/02/2024 at 02:08, Herbie6590 said:

 

Loads of snow. A pitch looking like the surface of Mars. David Mail's attempted headed clearance (start at 0.20). 

Brilliant.

6 minutes ago, RoverDom said:

You mean email? 

I was going to post then saw yours. Surely the EFL have pdf pro or docusign capabilities. 

Edit: I saw KentExile's link. It is digital.

On 12/01/2024 at 10:25, speeeeeeedie said:

They won't win it this year. 

I could well be proven wrong. 

It's Kansas City v. San Francisco in the Superbowl. 

Both teams benefitted from opposition errors to win their games, rather than their own good play. 

The Superbowl is always a good day out, I'm looking forward to it as usual.

6 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Pears, Dolan, Gallagher and JRC back is huge for us. We'll be a lot better I am sure. Just need no more injuries.

I too am happy to have them back. Jon Champion and Stuart Robson were commentating for ESPN. They were both raving about Gallagher. Dolan looked bright - but he could spend the next game running down blind alleys such is his inconsistency.

It turned into a very easy win. You can only beat what's in front of you and Rovers did exactly that. 

I'd have taken Szmodics off as soon as the 4th went in. 

2 hours ago, MarkBRFC said:

Those two goals against Newcastle were nice though!

Plus he wasn't a big money signing in the vain of a Ward or a Blake.

That was the biggest highlight of his career. He wasn't expensive, only £1.5m, but still an odd signing. 

His Wikipedia shows an unremarkable career; Graham Fenton - Wikipedia

I had forgotten that David Batty scored for them that day.

3 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

His teams follow a cycle (which is why there are strong accusations of PEDs) - they're peaking again this year.

PED's? I've not heard that one. 

Any sources? 

On 27/01/2024 at 16:50, Mattyblue said:

Over £20 million pissed up the wall on Dailly, Blake, Davies and Ward.

We really did throwaway our position at the top table post ‘95 remarkably quick.

Graham Fenton was another who came in and didn't do anything. 

2 hours ago, roverandout said:

If he was managing Brighton or Bournemouth there wouldn't be nearly as much coverage.  Its all over the news. The big club bias Is sickening 

Sickening? I think that you need to lighten up a bit. One of the world's biggest football club's manager decides to leave without any notice. It's a big story. If JDT leaves we'll get nary a shrug in the national media, but it's not bias, it's reality. Rovers aren't international news.

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Sickening is a bit of an overreaction. Klopp as dislikeable as he is has had a massive impact on the Premier League. I know (and I am not alone) as a neutral, I think this is huge news.

I think Klopp is great. The Premier League will miss him.

There are lots of unhappy Scousers around today, and lots of Man U fans hoping for a Moyes style descent into mediocrity. 

I'll echo others that Alonso ticks the replacement boxes; ex player (helps apparently), seemingly very impressive. Would he go to Liverpool then Real? 

17 minutes ago, Oldgregg86 said:

kenny dalgLEASH

You can go further with that one; Kenny Dogleash. 

Paul Sheepstone. 

Peter Thorne-bird

Lark Hughes

Ally-gator Dawson

Simon Barker

Owl Brotherston

Mark Batkins or Catkins

Jon Steed

Hake Garrett

I'll stop now.

Guardiola is a superb manager. is he good because he's only had the best jobs, or did he get the best jobs because he's that good? Mancini and Pelligrini won titles at City but didn't have the sustained success. I used to say it about Mourinho; if he was that good he should take the Stanely job and get them into the Prem. Could Guardiola do it? I think Mourinho's style would have been better suited to it. Anyway, it's hypothetical and Mourinho has certainly fallen off his early 2000's perch.

He started at Barcelona after an internal promotion and hit the jackpot. His home grown players dwarfed the "class of 92". Valdes, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Pedro, I'll include Pique and Messi too. This allowed him to play his way from the off as they all knew what to do. It also allowed him to buy good players to complement them. As mentioned he also benefitted from some under  the table antics from the club.

His stint at Bayern was successful but the playing field was at least level. 

He's been great for City but they are knee deep in shiftiness. UEFA let them off the hook when they were caught bang to rights. I think their owner told UEFA something along the lines of - do it, and we'll sue because we have enough money to pay for the best lawyers forever. Will the FA buckle too? 

48 hours later and I am still smarting over watching the worst half of football I've seen in a long time. It was awful.

I said it in September and I'll say it again now; this Rovers team is too small, has no pace, and no old heads to teach the young lads the ropes. It's a recipe for disaster.

It's sad to say but the 10 or so points needed to stay up need to come quickly.

7 hours ago, ABBEY said:

ABC...

ANYONE 

BUT CHIEFS

They won't win it this year. The temperature for their game tomorrow is going to be absolutely freezing. -15oC at kickoff.

28 minutes ago, CA1Rover said:

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/january/11/rovers-vs--wrexham-update/
 

kicking off at midnight for the US market?! 

17 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Monday evening?

ESPN+ streams all FA Cup games so I'll be watching no matter what time it's on.