56 minutes ago, Oldgregg86 said:

The first half was horrific .  There is no fluidity between transitions, nobody seems to know there role and I don’t know who is more confused the team or Tony. The Dolan experiment worked against a suicidal Swansea. It will fail far more than it will work going forward. 

pickering looks every inch a league one player upto know, far from convincing, a slight upgrade on bell is no compliment. Hopefully he learns and grows with time. Certainly not a write off, but disappointing thus far. 
 

I enjoy shouting “ DIAZ DIAZ” and the circus he brings but looking solely at his game he is still far from convincing. He did a lot of gesticulating today and it was usually his fault. Poor runs, failed to beat anybody, created nothing, falling over and then out of nowhere excellent finish. 
 

In the second half Travis and Rothwell (who I’m suprised hasn’t been mentioned more) where our stand out players. Trav my MOM and Rothwell was excellent, great Crontrol of the ball, picking passes and getting us on the front foot , superb vision and awareness, and ability wise the best player in our squad by a mile. 

I’m so torn on Rothwell.

I’ve thought the same both league games so far. First half I’m thinking he’s not involved and maybe he wants to leave and doesn’t care.

But he does care, his reactions to fans during second half today shows he does. Also in second half he did things that made me think he stands out a mile as best player on the pitch.

Its almost like he should play a different role and we should base our team around him, or would that be a disaster.

Cant work it out, he’s so good when he’s good, and yet why isn’t he like that all game.

I dunno, but with current squad we can’t afford him to be injured.

23 minutes ago, 47er said:

Mowbray's tenure in a nutshell.

I wouldn’t say it was a strange roll for him at the time he came on. He was effectively playing on the wing as that’s how the game was at time he was on. And he was poor in forward positions.

Cant blame the roll, when he’s in their final third and doing nothing with the ball.

Also, I always knew Nyambe can’t cross, but his throw ins are even worse. Great defensively though.

2 minutes ago, West Yorks Rover said:

How many Rovers there ?

Top section seemed full. Don’t think we had anyone in lower tier

On train home, dreadful first half and when they scored I thought it was over.

Could tell the players were fired up off the back of the supporters today cheering them on. Great header by Diaz.

Butterworth has impressed both games so far.

Please keep Ayala fit!

5 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

I think today was a perfect assignment for Dolan down the middle in that Swansea not only lacked quality but under Russell Martin were always going to try and play it out from the back and they were simply not good enough to do it. 

I would say going forward this season that Dolan should play more from the sides (quite often as a sub perhaps v tired legs) as over the course of a run of games, he lacks the quality and end product especially with his shooting to score enough goals to justify that central role. He is still very raw but there is definitely something to work with there and he is a nuisance.

Armstrong is a natural goalscorer so he would have invariably been in the right places against a poor defence and there was also plenty of space in behind especially on the counter attack in which we repeatedly lacked the quality in front of goal, either the decision making or the shot itself was a little off. I do think that our young team that perhaps isnt the best technically should be geared around its energy and pressing, we do need at least one wide man and a central goalscorer to add to the 3 today though.

Agreed. What struck me today was how many counter attacks we wasted. Last season so many times when shoe was on other foot we got punished by clinical counter attacks. That’s my biggest concern from today (besides I still feel we can’t defend) is that we will get chances but don’t have some one at moment who will put them away.

I would love some kind of cup run, but we don’t have a squad for it. Gallagher and Ayala should definitely sit this one out.

Not sure we got enough players to rest anyone else.

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Would you see Dolan primarily as a central player or a wide player? I think he lacks the goalscoring instinct to be playing down the middle in general, at least at this moment in time. Out wide, his pace and trickery (it needs refining as he does too many unnecessary stepovers but that is common with young, raw attacking players) coupled with his enthusiasm will hopefully be a pain in the arse of full backs especially off the bench.

In today’s game alone, central was perfect for him. Caused them so many issues, and with a bit more experience and composure could of had a couple of goals.

He had a chance to lay in Brereton but delayed it and lost the ball. Then moments after had exact same scenario and played it too quick. 
 

As he plays more and gains confidence sure he will turn those into goals and Assists.

I don’t agree with anyone saying Armstrong would of got a hatrick today, because I feel Dolans pressing is what created those chances in first place.

Also, big up for Butterworth. During game Buckley, Dolan, Rothwell all had chances to play that killer ball that didn’t come off. Butterworth played a beauty through to Rothwell at the end when Joe should of squared it. 

Just got home from the game, was great to be back watching live again!

With better decisions and finishing we could have scored a lot more. Equally I felt like we would concede every time they came forwards.

Didnt recognise half the subs, we definitely need these loans because one or two injuries and we are in trouble.

Would love Ayala to stay fit all season. Buckley was superb in first half. Dolans energy was great hope as he gets more starts his decisions get better on ball. Kaminski with some great saves.

Swansea caused their own problems really, but new manager I guess.

Looking forward to Millwall away!

I know the club recommends masks tomorrow, what was the Leeds game like? Is it frowned upon not too? Because I’d rather not.

1 hour ago, DE. said:

Absolute nonsense. Championship clubs don't need to take £7m risks on youth players and it was a gross misuse of our funds to do so - regardless of whether those funds were 'earmarked' for such a thing or not. 

Have any of the many, many clubs that have been promoted whilst we've been in the Championship spent that kind of money on a kid, at the expense of their first team? I'd wager not, although I would love to be proven wrong to investigate that as a case study. 

It’s not your money. Or mine. And it wasn’t out of our budget for that season. It was the owners, taking a gamble with their money on an investment. Why fans like you get so up tight about billionaire Indians spending their cash I will never know.

There wasnt 7 million available to buy 2/3 players. We had a separate budget for that. They saw a chance to invest and took it. It’s really not rocket science.

On 16/06/2021 at 22:50, davulsukur said:

Come on, even you know that money would not be reinvested into the squad.

Such a ridiculous statement. Based on what? We have spent more then we have received over the last few years.

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Welll they would hardly say anything else, would they? The fact there still isn't an appointment to that role tells you all you need to know about how the club is being run , unfortunately

I find it hard to believe scouts presented Ayala or Pears to Mowbray. Kaminski was good I suppose and that probably came from that channel 

Why out of everyone we signed you picking Ayala and Pears? Ayala although injury prone is a good player, and pears was signed as back up.

What about Dack? What about Armstrong who he knew from Coventry?

On 03/06/2021 at 13:33, JHRover said:

Meanwhile League One side Sunderland had sold 21,000 season tickets by 1st June.

Good job there's no pandemic on Wearside.

Great effort by them.

If only our supporters could be like that. Instead of not getting one cos they don’t like the manager or owners or price of hot dogs.

7 hours ago, Tugayisgod said:

Funny how that £7m Mowbray “wasted” on Brereton seems to have been conveniently forgotten. Now it’s tie him to a long term deal , he’s worth more than AA. 
Just maybe he was bought as a 20 year old kid with potential, and that potential is starting to be realised. 

Spot on. It’s very hard for some people to understand he was brought as an investment. It was a gamble. We need to take these gambles. The point fans slammed Venkys and Mowbray for doing it really is mind boggling. He’s still very young, and maybe we will make money on him one day. If we don’t, we don’t. You gotta take these risks.

5 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Just looking back at their goal. What a typical Mowbray shambles.
 

We don’t do enough to prevent the first cross coming in. The ball sails across to the far wing. Nyambe is too narrow. The centre half jogs over like he’s going getting a half time pie. Elliot is also too slow reacting to help out. Their guy eventually puts the ball back into a huge space on the near post for Lawrence to head home. Some of our players seem to be marking each other. I would have also expected my keeper to have got out and clattered Lawrence back in the day but that doesn’t seem to be the fashion these days.

Lost count of how many games we have conceded a goal out of nothing to go 1-0 down this season. 

I rate our keeper, but defensively we are a shambles.

I am going into the summer with an open mind on who we keep around. Start of season I would be desperate to keep hold of some of them, but now I couldn't give a shit. And maybe I am doing them a dis-service and a new manager would get more out of them.

5 minutes ago, Stuart said:

My eldest said to me after the game tonight that he is falling out of love with football. He doesn’t even enjoy seeing us win any more.

It’s been some journey that Venkys have taken us on and, unless something changes in the Summer to capture the imagination, it’s looking like he will no longer be part of it.

It makes me weep when I think of the club we were when I started taking him and where we are now. It’s just relentlessly bleak with no prospects of success. There is no upside.

This is a lad who even went on Kean Out protests with me, who loves the club, and has spent almost all of his life going to Ewood.

Breaks my heart.

Meanwhile, we have owners that don’t seem to care. Who would rather listen to the likes of Waggott and Mowbray than fans who care deeply about the club that they are putting their money into - fans who also put their money in (and emotion) and yet they only listen to people who take.

The last 4 games are going to be be rough to watch as a fan, nothing left to play for, not in the stadiums. Sure the buy rate on Iplayer will plummet. 

What will be interesting is the team he picks. Douglas and Bell both probably off so that doesn't matter. JRC injured and no CBs so expect THB, Branthwaite and Nyambe still. 

But if the likes of Buckley/Dolan/Brereton aren't starting then it really would make no sense.

Glad we got the win to secure safety, cant believe we would be in this position start of season.

Taylor HB was superb today. Really good performance, shame about the players who we own.

I been pro Mowbray all season, even when it went south I was on here defending him, give him until end of season hoping he could turn it around. I now accept that he cant, and although I stand by my defence that he deserved time, those who I argued with I apologise to as you are proven right, there is not enough time, we have been awful with the squad we have, and players I considered to be "key" are only going backwards.

Happy with the result, but hoping for changes in summer.

On 04/03/2021 at 21:12, Darrenbot said:

Get them to improve the Roverstore products,just been on the site and there is only 1 or 2 things i might think about buying sometime in the future.There should be pages of products jumping of the pages saying buy me!!!

100% this. I get constant emails from them to buy stuff, yet they have nothing in stock. £10 voucher for having a season ticket, and again, nothing in stock or worth buying.

Im envious of mates who support other clubs that have branded clothes you can wear. The casual clothes from Rovers store are god awful.

They did a Umbro buy one get one half price on training gear and had nothing in stock to buy.

Then after 8 games with no win, email me saying get home shirt for £30! How appealing

Should Mowbray leave end of season, like he probably should if we are a mile off play offs, he should be remembered for turning this club around. If he goes, he leaves the next manager a great squad of young players.

Kaminski, JRC, Pickering, Travis, Buckley, Dack, Armstrong, Brereton, Dolan.

IF he goes, he’s been a success, and taken us as far as he can and left us in a good position to progress.

1 minute ago, Sparks Rover said:

I like to play a 352, not sure we have proper wing backs, although Douglas if proper fit could play left and Bell without defensive responsibility is a whole different player....  I'd need to buy a right sided wing back. Nyambe Carter and Wharton as a 3 at the back.

Johnson(although I would have bought Whiteman) sitting, Elliot and Rothwell attacking from midfield.

Brereton and Armstrong up top.

See how we get on from there.

Interesting no Lenihan or Dack.

I have no idea who our best team is to be honest. We was winning with JRC, then he got injured, back today with a win. I know Nyambe is popular but jury really out on him for me.

At one point it was a case of who is worst between Douglas and Bell, but now I think Douglas is coming good.

Big fan of Johnson, and warming to Trybull, no interest in Evans.

Holtby and Rothwell can be so good and so non existent.

I feel when ever Gallagher doesn’t play we are in trouble, he’s only player with height (I don’t include brereton he can’t head it) so feel Gally needs to play.

2 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

It's a strange season....we have scored 20 more goals and conceded less goals than Luton who are above us in the table.

Mowbray has let us down this season and  needs to sod off.

With everyone fit what do you see as our best starting 11 out of interest 

3 minutes ago, tomphil said:

Only an element of modern day Rovers lurking on social media can turn one win after losing 6 out of 7 into a pissing contest in favour of a manager.

He's got better PR on the go than Kean i'll give him that.

No what is weird is when your team wins and fellow “fans” rush on social media to tell you that opposition was poor, goals were a fluke, we are still rubbish, our top scorer should never start again.

6 minutes ago, Stuart said:

Some positives from today:

- We actually looked like a team

- The players had a point to prove and did so (that there is life after Arma - and goals)

- Dolan is full of confidence and suits a free role

- The win and 3 very timely points

- JRC being back

- Dack looking far happier (penalty incident aside)

- Gally looking far happier and getting the clichéd one off the backside (well, chest)

- Today proves we have the players but not the manager

Let’s try to settle a side now and get some points on the board to get some clear daylight away from relegation

 

I was loving your post until the “proves we got players not the manager”.

He played 2 strikers on the wing and a winger down middle, and it worked wonders! 

As I said earlier, Gallagher played out his skin. He doesn’t always do that, yet his position was the same. Our players need to up it, they can do it when they are on their game as today showed.

2 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

The 3 of them wouldn't have had to make up for his 19 goal tally. We could have won more games by scoring less goals. A lot of tight games where Armstrong was extremely greedy. At the start,he scored a good few in games we hammered the opposition. Ultimately a 1-0 would do the same job. 

Over a full season the 3 of them probably could have gotten 19 though. Dack got 18 by himself last season. Gallagher scored 12 in a poor team playing centre forward. 

As for suiters, well let's just see. As you say yourself when it suits, we don't know if there have been any offers, it doesn't sound like there has. His link up play is very poor. When you talk about him not being greedy recently and showing "sides of his game that you didn't think we're there", I do wonder if you are seeing things you want to see. 

As a lone front man, he doesn't do enough for a team like us with his all round play. If he's not scoring,he is a problem. Then you break down the goals he scored, which were penos, how many in games early on when we steam rolled teams? 5 in 2 games against Wycombe and Coventry. 

He needs a partner, or to be moved to the left. I'm not against keeping him. I would be amazed if we get £25 million for him. I would bite their hand off. 

Such a harsh judgment of Armstrong. Yes he scored goals when we was steam rolling teams, how is that a negative? Maybe we steam rolled those teams because he was playing?

Stats don’t lie, he shoots a lot! I think 50 more then anyone else in league, and yes he’s not best finisher, but he’s a very good player for us.

Most recent I can think of is QPR he laid it on a plate for Elliott who skied it from 6 yards.

Dolan was superb today, he’s not better then Armstrong.

2 minutes ago, Torgeir said:

Jury is still out on Dolan for me. Apart from his bright start he's had little impact and struggles with his end product. But happy to be proven wrong, and the from little I saw of him today he looked very sharp.

Know what you mean, but what I love about Dolan is how well he does a simple pass and keeps the ball. I think his final killer ball/finish will only get better as he gets older and more confident. Great work rate too