It does seem that way, unless Rovers somehow manage to squeeze into the play offs

No clue about their relationship But Dennis was initially played off the bench for Watford that season, before getting starts once he was fit and able to play longer. Pretty sure that I have heard Watford fans say he couldn't last longer than 20-30 minutes to start with and needed his fitness to be built up over 5-10 games Imagine that it will be a similar pattern at Rovers

What's his dad ever done to you? 😉

For whatever reason, Ismael only meets the squad today, according to the Rovers site Ismael’s work begins now, with the Frenchman set to meet his new squad - which includes familiar faces in the form of Callum Brittain, Cauley Woodrow and Emmanuel Dennis - on Thursday. I presume the squad must have Wednesdays off?

Its not happening Benson, Lowe & Johnson have jobs for life at Rovers, as has been evidenced by them surviving a procession of managers/head coaches

Wahlstedt was worse than both of them Joe Hilton was behind all 3 of those

I think you are right, and the below quote seems to indicate that Sheron and Butler will also be promoted to first team duties, so can we maybe expect Lowe as assistant manager? “We must also say a big thank you to David Lowe, Damien Johnson, Ben Benson, Mike Sheron and Paul Butler for all their support during the interim period and they will form part of Valérien’s backroom staff at the Senior Training Centre going forward.” Edit - apparently Sheron & Butler are back with the U21s 2nd Edit - Dean Whitehead is now in place as Ismaels assistant, which makes the rest of this post superfluous

In which case we need to support him fully

😞 If the above gets us into the playoffs, and allows us to beat the dingles at Wembley for a spot in the Prem, which means that the Venkys finally sell us to get their money back, then he will rightly be hailed a hero. But that's a long shot, and It wont be pretty (unless he has had another tactical renaissance) On the face of it, it looks like a disaster, and the story in the LT about him being a tactically inflexible disciplinarian with no plan B does nothing to brighten my mood. But what am I thinking, Get behind the lads ffs!

Just to play devils advocate (and I am not at all comparing the abilities of these 2 players), Messi is on the shorter side too, and it hasn't hampered him too much

I read that as it being a height thing, rather than him not being able to mix it up physically, so Markanday is less likely to play against clubs who go more direct, set pieces etc

He had already been mentioned, so I omitted him

2 who have been on our books but not played for Rovers Enzo Boyomo Jalil Saadi (Moroccan but born in France) The below I have to credit to Transfermarkt https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/blackburn-rovers/gastarbeiterDetails/verein/164/land_id/50 Marc Keller Florent-Sinama Pongolle Anthony Modeste Billy Koumetio

Patrick Valery Herold Goulon Bengali-Fode Koita was born in France, depsite being a Guinea International Sacha Petshi

I am fairly certain that its rare the lower age groups name unchanged teams, its about the development of the whole age group squad rather than results, so some rotation is always likely. Higgins and Silver Eze are also still at school, so lessons may have got in the way 😉

U18s won 6-2 vs Leeds this afternoon

If so, will take us to the summer of 2027, at which point only 2 players will still be under contract (*). So probably correct * O'Riordan & Atcheson being the 2, albeit Pickering, Ohashi, Gueye & Mafoumbi do have options which would take them to 2028

His partner was Ayala for over half of that season https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daniel-ayala/leistungsdaten/spieler/78966/plus/0?saison=2022

And Ayala in his first season When Ayala did his usual winter vanishing act, leaving Hyam as the senior man, it coincided with an 8 match run without a win https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/daniel-ayala/leistungsdaten/spieler/78966/plus/0?saison=2022

Midweek starts for Markanday - lost 2-0 - withdrawn after 15 minutes (looks like a tactical change due to a sending off) Garrett - lost 1-0 - withdrawn less than 10 minutes into the 2nd half, just after Tranmere went 1-0 down. The fans did not seem at all happy with the decision demonstrated by boos at the manager and shown on this thread. Adkins was sacked after the game Saadi - lost 1-0 - Saadi was withdrawn after an hour with the score at 1-0 On the bench Wood - lost 3-1 - came on with 15 minutes to go - loan due to end tomorrow Not involved in matchday squad Batty - won 1-0 - currently injured Olson - drew 3-3 - won on penalties - currently injured - Rory Finneran played the 2nd half for Newcastle U21s Montgomery - won 4-0 - currently injured Vale - won 2-1 - not involved, currently injured Duru - lost 1-0 - not involved, currently injured, although former Rover Sam Barnes is finally fit and was named on the bench for Barrow - recent posts on their forum suggest that they are missing Duru

He is about to become manager of the Kenya national team https://ntvkenya.co.ke/sports-2/south-african-legend-benni-mccarthy-to-take-over-as-harambee-stars-coach/

Boggan with a late winner in a 3-2 win Match Report

Looks like Alex Baker is injured again. He has just come back after being injured for the best part of 3 years

Apparently not, no Carter either, which is a worry after they said he would start score/update if Rovers do not update twitter

Rovers have confirmed Ohashi and Carter will both feature tonight https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/february/24/preview--rovers-under-21s-v-nottingham-forest-under-21s/