I don't doubt they could afford us one way or another. But I'd be surprised if buying Rovers was seen as an attractive option for the Issa brothers. The Asda buy does signal a different sort of punt for them, but even with that, taking on Rovers doesn't really make sense against their business to date.

But at the minute they are the only semi-realistic option of a future Rovers takeover I can think of. I can't see anybody without ties to the club/area getting involved, particularly with our status in the current financial climate. Without meaning to do Rovers an injustice, there are probably more attractive clubs in more attractive areas within the pond we swim in. So I guess it would take a brave hand from somebody with said ties to (presumably) give Venkys back their investment, take on some form of debt and hope to make a fist of things with the modern Rovers.

1 hour ago, neophox said:

Would you take Assombalonga?

 

 

Not sure he would fancy Tony's 36 month 'see how you are on the wing' induction 

4 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Gareth Ainsworth for me has to be taken at his job at Wycombe alone, which has been an outstanding one. He’s basically gotten Accy Stanley into the Championship with barely any cash at all.

Being Rovers is a bonus only.

Agree. I've heard a few dismiss him straight away, thinking it's just a lazy Rovers link.

But he has many qualities, ticks a lot of our boxes.

Beyond pathetic. It’s hard to watch.

Same old shit. No attempt to change things. It’s negligent.

Mowbray Out.

I'm not interested in whether we win 3-0 or lose 3-0.

As long as we play well.................................

This is utterly appalling, we don’t look anywhere near a side set up to get a result.

Mowbray Out.

Very happy to read this. Well done and thanks to those who fought for our clubs true best interests.

Out with the Coventry 3.

51 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

We are actually due a stonking, aren't we? 

Would 4-5 nil surprise anyone? 

They have a few players like Moore and Flint who are a good few inches taller than Lenihan and Harwood Bellis. 4 or 5 conceded from set piece headers probably wouldn't be a shock given the types of goals we love to concede.

Mowbray's solution will be to play Gallagher and hope for the best.

Cardiff got battered in their last game, but unlike our manager, McCarthy will not let his players get away with it. He will have them fired up, using their arses and elbows and everything they can to get the points, whilst Father Tony sends our lads out with a reminder of how well they are playing. Fortunately for Cardiff I would fancy an 11 of arses and elbows alone to beat our dross.

3 points to lessen the chances of a criminal relegation are welcome but there wouldn't be much to celebrate.

Waggott - “Spend just an extra £54.99 on top of your regular Season Ticket price, and get a shirt for FREE!”

Genius.

I think we all felt he is safe, with no threat of his job being reviewed until the season is over.

The very real (albeit slim) threat of relegation is the one factor that could change that and force an immediate decision. A lot of people quickly realised that threat exists yesterday. I don't expect the decision makers at the club to both realise that and act upon it, but I'm hoping for a minor miracle.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

What a shit night.

I think he is nailed on to be our right back next season, with Nyambe moving on, and Pike as #2. 

I saw Rich Sharpe post a stat around him starting something like 16 out of the 17 games he's been available this season. Given he has been predominantly used at right back, that tells a story.

Still disappointed about the whole Nyambe situation, he's an ever improving academy player of starting calibre in this league, but that's a different debate. I do recognise that with the JRC/Pike emergence, cashing in on Nyambe (whilst we can) would arguably be the sale that impacts the squad the least.

Agree with OP; although Bernt Haas will always be the greatest name for me.

I always saw JRC as an attacking player, as you immeditately see his technical footballing qualities. But he's surprised me this season and has grown in to that right back role well. He likes a tackle, seems to be in the right place at the right time, and wins a lot of his headers. Hopefully he can keep improving on that, and along with Pickering on the other side, we should have two good young dynamic fullbacks to watch.

5 minutes ago, Oldgregg86 said:

I’d like to see Buckley, Dolan and jrc play as many games as possible. There all dead rubbers so let’s give them some proper game time and let them make there mistakes and build confidence now and plan for next season. Would of been nice to see magloire or Carter do the same instead of letting the prem kids do it instead . At least we would know what we had at our disposal next season and god forbid one of them might be good enough to keep a place so when inevitably defenders don’t come it won’t be as bad. Sorry I know to much sense and joined up thinking . 

Yes - Apart from THB and Douglas (no viable current alternative) we should be looking to field an 11 of players who we think will be here next season.

E.g Trybull had a good game Saturday but likely won't be here next season - maybe we should go Buckley/Travis/Dack rather than Buckley/Trybull/Dack to see if it works at all.

One watch out for that tomorrow is JRC. Just back from a hamstring and went off with cramp after an hour on Saturday. Another start tomorrow could be a risk not worth taking so soon, especially with Nyambe able to step directly in (that said don't be surprised if Mowbray starts Bennett!!).

Must keep Buckley and Dolan in the starting line up. Give them a fair run to see how they do with next season in mind. 

Needed those 3 points.

Lenihan and THB did their jobs very well at centre half. THB is miles better than Branthwaite.

Best individual performance for Rovers for a while from Dolan. Terrorized their back line, he was everywhere. He’s taking fewer touches and is being more effective with the ball which he needed to do to develop. Skill, pace and end product. Must keep him in the starting 11, let him develop in to being a big player for us next season.

Miles better so far.

Simply a much better side to watch with Dolan in.

Need to keep pressing them second half, they will try to sort themselves out at half time.

2 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

I am intrigued about how exactly Venkys are going to find and negotiate with a new manager. The whole setup the club is so mental. 

As someone on here pointed out we got Mowbray through Paul Senior. Then Mowbray effectively appointed Waggot (lol) . So they don't know if they can really trust him to find a new manager. 

So they've got to go via an agency (but presumably will be wary of that after being rinsed by Kentaro). Or go for something mad like the Shebby Singh thing where thye get someone they trust to do it, even if they know nothing about football. 

We could be in a bit of weird situation where 

• Mowbray wants to go (his interview sounded like he does...)
• The owners want him out
• But the owners actually don't know how to do it.

How mad is that?

In that context I reckon maybe the rumours about Hughes could be true as he is well known enough for them to just pick up the phone to him directly. But I imagine Hughes won't be particularly impressed with the level of dysfunction at the club.

I think a lot of the clues point towards Pulis. On the books of the agency supplying our previous 4 managers. And I’m sure he himself would chuck his cap straight in for the job. Convenient for both Venkys and Pulis.

1 point from a possible 21.

Yet Mowbray is still playing the same system as the start of that run (and way before, when it looked poor).

The same weak, wasteful, ineffective football. The same shape, the same ‘patterns’.

No visible attempt to improve or change anything.

Unacceptable.

Piss poor.

Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock...

Mentioned he doesn’t want to be a burden on the club in his post match presser.

Well Tony, I take no pleasure in saying it, but have I got news for you.