The Europa league was ultimately contested for by two of the worst teams in the PL. Winning a trophy is obviously an achievement,  but the Spurs board likely saw it for what it was. Their league campaign, injuries or not, was diabolical. If they'd finished 10th - 12th I think Ange would be staying, but 17th is horrific. They would have legitimately been in a relegation scrap if any of the bottom three were PL quality. 

Plymouth's manager is off to Schalke. Initially was a bit shocked, but then saw Schalke are not what they used to be - to say the least. Finished 14th in the German second division this season. 

The Argyle board's statement is... somewhat emotional. Reminds me a little bit of ours when Eustace left. 

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

he did shown flexible in cup games like against Liverpool or in the Europa knockout games. 

Let's see how he gets on next season, if he's given the chance. Flexibility over the long term is much more than just "defend and counter attack" for the odd cup game. 

I very much hope Spurs keep Ange and United keep Amorim. Two very tactically inflexible managers who will continue to keep both teams mired in mediocrity at best. 

Newcastle failing into 5th sums up the PL this year. Ref obviously had a mare in the United/Villa game, but Villa should still have been beating that awful United team comfortably. I think they may regret throwing away such a golden opportunity this season - Forest too, although their good season was much more unexpected. 

Meanwhile one of next season's PL "Champions" League representatives loses their final game 4-1 at home to Brighton, completing a season of domestic humiliation. Took a look at the Spurs forum and they all seem to want Ange gone. Give 'em hell Chadster. 

12 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Think you're being too kind there. I don't think he did know how to do that, especially the arrogance part.

On here you'll find many who see through the veil, but generally? I think he's been able to convince the majority at Ewood that all is in hand. Let's face it, for most little more is needed than a handful of victories on the pitch for all to be forgiven, get behind the lads ffs, etc. I did like that JDT needled him about his stupid leased coach comment repeatedly, but I also saw a lot of our fans right after that interview posting about how much sense Waggott was making (on Twitter/X, granted, but that's sadly probably more representative of the average fan than the people who post on here and other more detailed football forums). 

I don't think Suhail and Rudy can even present a facade of respectability, though. Certain fans with the blinkers on will parrot the upper management's nonsense regardless of how vapid it is, but I think even a lot of casuals found Rudy's interviews in particular to be absolute nonsense. 

23 hours ago, Hasta said:

https://www.roverstrust.com/news/statement-blackburn-rovers-women

"We had been in dialogue with club executives about the future of our Women’s team as per our memorandum of understanding, but were only given 10 minutes notice prior to the announcement."

We call upon the Board and Owners of Blackburn Rovers to think again and have serious discussions with ourselves as to how the Club (Men’s and Women’s teams) have a viable and competitive future.’

Honestly lads, I'm a WATR member but they clearly don't want to have the relationship with you that you want from them.

You can call on them to have serious discussions time after time, but they won't. They see their minimal discussion with you as a box-ticking and appeasement exercise, to be shown as an example of engagement.

This quote from the Rovers website statement on women's football reflects the whole approach of this regime to the club over the last few years. There surely comes a day when you have to draw a line. Join the coalition. 

"Financially viable" ffs. Our owners are billionaires. If you don't want to support all areas of the club properly then SELL THE CLUB. Don't cry poverty whilst sitting in your mansions, jets and limos. 

I'd be curious to know how Spurs fans are feeling about this season. Very weird situation they've found themselves in. 

An abominable PL campaign which may well see them finish as the 4th worst team in the division over 38 games - although theoretically they could still finish as "high" as 14th, owing to actually having remarkably solid GD for a club in 17th position. When you factor in that the three relegated clubs are just Championship level sides LARPing as PL teams for a season, though, it's still an embarrassing position to be in. They've also lost the most games in the division as it stands outside of the bottom three (Spurs 21 lost, Ipswich 23, Leicester 24, Soton 29). 

Yet, the league campaign effectively means nothing and was arguably pointless, as they've qualified for the "Champions" League regardless, thanks to the Europa League 'Get Out of Jail Free Card'. 

So, if you're a Spurs fan who basically wasted a ton of money to mostly watch your team lose week in and week out, does winning the Europa League and therefore qualifying for the CL make up for it? Or is there still some resentment there? Particularly as far from all Spurs fans who attended the league games will have been able to attend many or any of the Europa League games. 

As for Man Utd fans, well... they get to look forward to moving into a gigantic circus tent in the not-too-distant future. 

3 hours ago, wilsdenrover said:

Even if they hear they won’t listen.

Didn't someone from WATR say that Venky's quite literally told them they don't need or want to hear what the fans think?

Probably adequate for a 2nd/3rd choice midfield backup, and we are assumedly not breaking the bank on him wage-wise. Just a case of whether he's happy to be that far down the pecking order. I don't think Buckley's a bad player - he's just developed into a very average player, with the exception of his passing which can be excellent at times.

As an aside, reading the posts on this page I was baffled by the positive comments about JRC until I realised they were from April 2024. Some fall that lad has had.

Assuming Sunderland progress they've been solid this season, despite putting their feet up at the proverbial beach about a month before the season ended. Won't matter if they can flick the switch and start playing well again though - aside from the fans who wasted their time and money going to watch those pre-playoff matches, obviously. Still, I'd expect them to give Sheff Utd a game in the final. 

Bristol City and Coventry were always going to be rank outsiders simply based on how low their points totals were. Sheff Utd and Sunderland can, at the very least, both legitimately claim they were better than the majority of the division over the course of a season. The other two were very marginally the best of the rest. If either somehow snuck up through the playoffs they would, much like in a hypothetical scenario where we go up under Venky ownership, be absolutely annihilated in the PL. If clubs weren't so desperately in need of the coin that the PL provides, staying in the Championship wouldn't be so bad. From a fan perspective at least, it's no fun getting completely wrecked every week. The Ipswich fans around me have been utterly miserable this season, arguing amongst each other as they see the team get battered repeatedly and paying a lot for the privilege. 

And yet one of them will be playing in the Champions League next season. I would say it's a farce but they got there fair and square, so you can only conclude that there is a ridiculous disparity between the PL and other European leagues, when the top two in those leagues are removed from the equation. 

1 hour ago, SIMON GARNERS 194 said:

Awful Bristol side...how the feck??

Lowest points total in many years to get 6th, so not surprising. Everyone below 4th is very average at best, and even Sunderland had an atrocious end to the season. Unless Sheff Utd lose their nerve in the final (which can certainly happen) the playoffs are theirs for the taking. 

It'll be interesting to see if Sunderland can start playing properly again now that they have a reason to. Coventry only finished the season one point ahead of Bristol City, but if they beat Sunderland over two legs then they'll go into the final with the wind in their sails and anything can happen in a one off game. 

A very good signing for what we paid, and I think if not for injury he would have gotten into double figures.

If they hire an experienced manager with some level of past success then you can understand the decision. It's ruthless but if they're doing it out of an ambition to give themselves a better chance of getting in the playoffs next season then fair enough. How many other Championship managerial posts would Cleverley get? 

Same as usual, top half or mid table. There will be teams worse run and worse assembled than us, as there has been the vast majority of our seasons at this level, and we still have enough in the first eleven to get enough points to be comfortable.

With that said, if we sell a lot of the players whose contracts are due to run out in 2027 and our replacement strategy is frees, cheapos, loans and youth players then we could be in for a rough time.

Just now, Exiled_Rover said:

I'd shift him on if I thought the money would be reinvested into the squad.

We know it won't be, so you're just serving to weaken the team.

That's why we need new owners, rather than talking about players who should stay or leave. We're in purgatory until Venky's are gone.

People say Hyam needs an experienced player beside him like that's acceptable for a 29 year old. If he needs someone to hold his hand at this point then he's not that good.

Interesting to see a lot of people tipping Luton to win the division. I don't remember having a strong opinion about them either way at the start of the season, but as a parachute club I would never have expected them to go down. I'd have assumed they'd be around the playoffs at the very least.

I don't think anyone would have anticipated City's struggles either. You'd have thought they'd have the squad depth to cope with a couple of key players being injured, but seemingly not. With that said, I expect they'll be back in business next season.

18 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Everyone seems to assume Derby but for a minimal compensation fee, surely he can do better than Derby.

As ever, the dreadful running of the club under Venkys continues.

I imagine he'll have plenty of interest from many Championship teams. Derby may appeal if he had a strong bond with Eustace and enjoyed working under him. If Eustace gets backing in the summer then there's no reason he can't do with Derby what he did here and at Birmingham.

I suspect it'll come down to a combination of club reputation/prospects and money. I don't expect a parachute club will necessarily come in for him (not guaranteeing first team football, anyway) so the offers aren't likely to be too far apart.