Dreams of 1995

You seem to have taken this quite to heart I actually said the same thing myself. I’m glad our “money tree” came from a local man with genuine love for the Club. But you are telling me that, given our own circumstances, if the Saudi investment fund were to declare an interest in Rovers you’d say no? That’s just poor business I wouldn’t say it is whataboutery either, but just more of a prompt to think of the bigger picture. Qatar have been involved in English sport for years now and nobody has batted an eye lid. They have just as much blood on their hands as Saudi Arabia. What’s the difference? I also didn’t defend it. But that’s neither here nor there to be honest. If you think an investment fund originating in Saudi is the end of football I personally think you’ve had your eyes shut these past 10 years. Football has become all about wealth - and the likes of Abramovich at Chelsea have been about for a long time. Adding Newcastle to the mix of elite clubs won’t kill football because football has been that way for far too long now

Foden is a world beater. He's won the U17 World Cup golden boot, 2 Premier Leagues and voted player of the year last season. Pep and his team clearly have absolute faith in him. So do Southgate and co. It's a shame he picked an injury up last tournament. Foden will win win everything there is to win in Club football. It all depends on whether he has the back up / manager in international football. I suspect we will win at least 1 major tournament during his career.

Newcastle fans only want to see success and let’s not pretend we wouldn’t be celebrating if the financial clout of Saudi Arabia bought Rovers, promising years of competing in major honours Qatar are an equally disgusting ‘regime’ who have seen the bribery of international football laid bare, the hundreds of thousands of immigrant deaths in order to build their World Cup dream and let’s not forget being the nation who host the Taliban. Where is the outcry over their ownership of Man City and PSG?

Just brought a left back on to replace a right winger You can’t make it up

You could tell Nyambe wasn’t right in that play. He’d clear that usually I reckon. Unfortunate. Love that boy. Sign him up ffs

Because it isn’t happening It will never happen whilst they are here. Simple as that really. I’d bet my last quid on it. Why have they suddenly realised what it takes to run a club and, if they have, why is it taking so long to sort it?

We’ve had a bit of Bicep discussion before but on the weekend I had the pleasure of catching an Eli Brown closing set at an Elrow event in Brum Didnt get any live videos - but will keep an eye out - but he did play a pretty great mix of Biceps Glue and Nelly Furtados ‘Say it Right’ for all you electronic heads out there

But when you look at Venkys you have to look at their past behaviour as well as finances They have the ability to hire almost any name they can realistically attract to Rovers but so far we have been in the market of cast offs or dodgy pundits. There’s not many who have had a good CV come through the doors in their time. In that case it is hard to think of whatever positive could be happening behind the scenes. Especially when one of the biggest chancers we have seen in Waggott is still sat on his spinning chair. I seriously cannot understand any optimism in Venkys business but hope you are right. It would take some doing though - hiring good folk into and restructuring a club they’ve torn apart. A serious investment and not one I believe they are willing to make.

These “changes” had better be radical because being honest radical change is the only thing that can be viewed as positive We are a skeleton club with a massive chasm in leadership roles. We have 0 scrutiny of our operating procedure and have seen a decade long demise of everything from match day experience to operating staff (ie ticket office and club shop) Nothing at this club is better than it was 12 years ago. Absolutely nothing. So if we are to view any aspect of Venky ownership as positive, and if indeed “change is on its way”, then I have to be honest to share the optimism of 1864 it has to be a change in ownership. There cannot possibly be any other news to be positive about when you consider how everything is done with Venkys.

It would have to be some miraculous changes for them to be considered big leaps forward in my eyes. What do they have planned - a whole new board? New owners? A full review of the business? Will they put some money into the ground? You might have optimism but unfortunately that isn’t a shared optimism. Why would things change so rapidly after a decade of pure negligence?

Butterworth has looked a good player every time he’s played. He’s twice the player Dolan is but just doesn’t run around like a headless chicken. Dolans work rate is fantastic but unfortunately I don’t think he’s got the vision for a top player. I’d much prefer Butterworth against the likes of Luton and play Dolan for the championship teams who think they can play like City, example being Swansea

You cant serious lol Has he genuinely done that? The bloke is such a used car salesman. He’s a hawk, after every last penny he can grab, before he moves on to another place Seriously can’t wait until he buggers off. One in a long list of people having Venkys pants pulled down…. Or do they know?

Bloody hell had to google Van Hecke to know who he was I don’t know owt about him so won’t comment but it’s a bit odd we’ve been in for one Brighton lad, he’s unfit, and we’ve ended with another one. Suppose it’s a case of being in contact and getting in first it’s more legs in the defending department but I hope he doesn’t unseat Carter or Wharton when fit Id rather not develop Brighton’s players when we have decent ones on our books Welcome Van Hecke

Oh ‘Eck

Brexit

It’s very painful reading this thread this summer No slight on the posters, but there’s really been nothing to look forward to

Has to be my favourite song on my favourite album from the Stones

Had a fantastic day at Headingley yesterday. Great day of cricket. A sore head today but will cure it by stewing in front of the tele and watching us knock India about.

They are at fault by not employing the right people Mike Cheston has been a finance director, or similar, and oversaw 2 embargoes. He clearly isn’t much good at his job The Venkys have very deep pockets but for whatever reason they are the only rich club owner not flexing the rules. That might be down to extremely poor commercial advice from the two rather uninspiring blokes they allow to run the club

When you are a youth level footballer you play against other youth level players. You are dictated to by your age. You are playing lads of roughly the same physicality and experience as you. I am glad people at this club don’t have the mentality that judging “kids” football is useless. It really does make you wonder why Sporting bodies across all disciplines bother with youth academies if, at the end of it all, it is completely useless in judging their talents A lot of screen space is wasted with this disparaging of youth level football but really the only thing “not far from worthless” is the opinion which disregards any achievement made below senior level Whilst not all footballers who did well at youth level turn out to be great players at senior level it does distinguish between the good and bad players. And it certainly can be used to judge whether a player can finish, dribble, tackle, pass etc “Kids” football is a right of passage that allows players to improve, adapt and showcase their natural talent. If they are banging in goals regular at that level there’s every chance they have an eye for goal, a good strike and good movement. All of these are basic natural instincts a good striker needs. It’s getting tedious hearing the same argument day after day about “kids” football being totally worthless. It isn’t. And if it was clubs with staff far beyond our knowledge would not spend millions upon millions improving and extending their Academy infrastructure

Poveda has a good goal scoring record at England youth level so clearly can hit the back of the net Unless the goals are smaller at senior level I struggle to see how you can’t judge a players finishing ability based on his scoring at youth level. You can only play what is in in front of you and as a youngster it is usually other youngsters

It is going to be a busy week if we are to get the business we need doing. By my reckoning we need: striker, winger, central mid and a left back. That’s at a minimum. It makes you wonder what they have up their sleeves but recruiting a load of 20 year olds won’t fill those gaps. We have them in abundance. I’d much rather we played McBride up top than bring in a loanee from Liverpool, unless of course that loanee is of the calibre of Elliott etc. If we play our own we find a diamond in the rough and earn a few quid next summer.

Good performance I thought Dolan still isn’t good enough up front for me. I’d much prefer Butterworth. I like Dolans energy but his head is down too much and the end product is rarely any good. Travis had a good game again. Carter, Lenihan, Ayala and Pickering all played well. Gallagher is just a nuisance but there’s not much else to his game. He’s clumsy and has a bad touch. Feel for him right wing but he does put the effort in and wins a lot of headers. Just wish he’d get more goals. Onwards. Big test vs Baggies but we can sneak a Win. I hate the Tesco carrier bags.

That glancing header at the back post 🤩

It’s a pretty naff format. Even the layout of the scoreboard is strange. It just isn’t in the manner I am accustomed to. It might sound pedantic but I don’t watch cricket to be met with lime green and disgusting purple splashed all over the screen. It took me a few minutes to realise what it all meant. Cricket should be a more relaxing watch imo. I’m one of a few who prefers the test format to any other kind. It’s a game to be enjoyed throughout the day, and embrace all the difficulties that come with a five day game. One day cricket is exciting and watchable but this obsession with making the game shorter is a bit insulting if anything.