Confident we can hold them at 0-0 right until kick off.

More seriously, we have to, somehow, someway get something from this as next up Sheffield Wednesday are red hot.

Team selection / formation absolutely no idea.

I worry.

Fell short at Kidderminster Harriers with a decent budget for that level. Mixed record at Birmingham and QPR.

1 in 12 with a ‘fantastic squad’ might be his (low) bar?

Absolute miserable performance - all well covered in all the post match posts.

For me, Sunderland aside our dreadful form makes this not a massive surprise - with Sammie’s goals masking just how poor we have been / are.

Grim.

He replaced Coyle, so *anything* was a bonus.

Really hard to find any positives - this is going to be a tough run in.

12 hours ago, 4,000 Holes said:

Special edition looking back on 1990 to 2000 in 99 tales. Unmissable review of the decade – loads of niche stories! Order ONLINE HERE or on EBAY HERE.

Read about Chicken & Beans, the Collybobble, Simply The Best, Rubber Dinghy Men and the misadventures of Tim Flowers. Find out who the surprise keeper was who made the save of the decade, which rare condition sidelined a Rovers star for months and what David Batty’s bizarre secret was. Relive Witschge, Ward and Wegerle! And that memorable Jack Walker era...

Excellent as ever. Thank you to the team for producing this 👏🏻

Yes welcome to see Snr players starting to return.

Pears is a must.

8 hours ago, JPTSwindon said:

Strong team, clearly wants a cup run and boost to morale.

That said surprised Hilton not given a start, presume JDT has already decided he has no future.

Should be a good match for those there.

For once I was right. 7 goals, not bad for the reduced admission!

Strong team, clearly wants a cup run and boost to morale.

That said surprised Hilton not given a start, presume JDT has already decided he has no future.

Should be a good match for those there.

5 hours ago, Crimpshrine said:

And what makes you think there would be no one willing to take on the honour of owning a world famous football club ?

Broughton has been here 2 years Venky's have been here 13 years. It's easy to blame them because they, and nobody else,,are to blame

As there has been zero interest from anyone in the entire time. 

The *immediate* issue is recent recruitment has been poor, hence 17th in the league.

1 minute ago, Ewood Ace said:

Broughton has signed three centre forwards during his time here (Hirst, Telaovic & Ennis) in a combined 30 appearances they have not been able to muster a single league goal between them. The man is clueless.

Fair assessment.  It’s easy to blame Venkys, but they pump in £millions (no one else is willing to step in and replace that money), but if it is spent on dross what can we expect?

Very frustrating and disappointing.

Yes it will help when we have Pears back, but we need a striker who can shoot and probably a change of formation urgently.

Feels like a Mowbry death slump at the moment.

Is the match on the red button?

David Speedie was a handy keeper, shame a few years too late for an emergency position change!

When is Pears back?

Hull have a great record against us so we are going to need something outstanding - no idea what as it seems we’ve tried everything in terms of players and positions!

Scott Wharton deserves his chance.

Otherwise a settled side where possible.

I disagree with some of the comments about this being a weak team / squad. It’s been entertaining and as it clicks we are moving in the right direction.

4th win, 2-1 Rovers.

Cracking goal!

Well… A great night for the lucky 400!

8-0, valuable game time / experience, confidence booster and further proof the limited transfers were all a cunning foil for our unexpectedly strong squad.

Great night!

Presuming it’s just RoversTV radio for this one?

Expecting wholesale changes like the last round, will be interesting who grabs their chance.

Battling, brilliant bounce back from the Hull match.

Watford controlled possession but Rovers chased and harried, mostly restricting Watford to long-range efforts.

Good game for: Pears (clean sheet), Hyam & Carter (organised), Travis (harried), Hedges (his running broke up their attacks), Scott Wharton (strong off the bench when it mattered).

Poor game for: Dolan (I fear not Championship standard).

In addition: Moran (once up to speed could be a gem), Adam Wharton (Dunn enthusiasm, game time will help iron out the slips) and Leonard (needs game time, but tricky when just one up top).

Great result!

Not often you ‘enjoy’ a defeat, but it was a cracking, entertaining match that could have gone either way. 

Noteable shouts:

Leonard chased and chased.

Travis harried and when he picked up the ball deep was composed helping ease pressure.

Hedges took his chance and worked hard.

Ennis held the ball well.

Wharton increasingly class.

Play like that again and we will win more than we lose.

As an aside I hope we don’t panic and read too much into this result and feel we have to make signings. We don’t need more ‘Morton’s’ for the sake of it.

Entertaining win, with everyone who would benefit from match experience getting a chance.  Roll on the 2nd round.

I enjoy a good cup run, did wonders last season: morale, cash and an opportunity for game time for the wider squad.

Doesn’t look it’s on TV, so Rovers TV for the radio coverage for me.

On 31/07/2023 at 22:12, JPTSwindon said:

That is a poor pre-season.

Rare sunny day, Leonard takes his chance, Rovers 1-0 and we are off!

It’s a decent squad… We just missed the play-offs, yes Diaz has left but he had tailed off. We have a young, hungry squad, the new signings will get fit and add some depth. Roll on Saturday.

Nice to see my faith wasn’t misplaced.

With injuries and a slower transfer window it’s an opportunity for certain players to take their chance and today they have with both hands. Great start to the season!

1 hour ago, Ossydave said:

WBA have had a pretty direct pre season, losing to Cheltenham, Forest Green and Bolton, with a few draws thrown in too. Obviously can't read too much into pre season but coupled with their inactivity in the transfer window I doubt they're raring to go.

2-0 home win, Szmodics and Leonard with the goals.

Me to sup many pints of Cruz Campo 🥳

That is a poor pre-season.

Rare sunny day, Leonard takes his chance, Rovers 1-0 and we are off!

It’s a decent squad… We just missed the play-offs, yes Diaz has left but he had tailed off. We have a young, hungry squad, the new signings will get fit and add some depth. Roll on Saturday.

Deserves a chance, though needs to be given a proper run of games to get into the rhythm of senior football.