This is a tricky one for Rovers to deal with.

On the one hand, players come and players go. Whatever. How many have left over the years? Simon Barker, Chris Price, Colin Hendry (twice), Shearer, Sutton, Le Saux, Bellamy, Jones, Bentley, Santa Cruz etc etc etc... As soon as they leave then, who cares? They're either at Rovers or they're nothing to us any more.

I think that the main thing is for us to get the best deal for Rovers and another player in. Can we trust a player on the way out to give it all and bust a gut in the run in? If we can get a new player in from this rather than losing him for nothing and have him moping around in the run-in potentially putting a dampener on squad morale, perhaps it's time to cash in our chips.

There've been so many cases of players who just aren't the same after having their heads turned. With a promotion battle on our hands, not sure I'd want players who aren't committed to the cause around the place.

To be fair, there's only 10 countries. So, 40% qualify automatically and, most tournaments, half of the countries are at the World Cup. 

I'm not sure exactly how that compares to Europe, but that's a massive percentage compared to the percentage of African and Asian countries who get a chance to reach the finals. Sure, South American teams are better but it's still two decades since any have actually won it.  

16 minutes ago, Tom said:

My view if the rumours are true is I would much prefer we keep him till summer and he can go on a free then if need be, failing that sell him for over the odds to a premier league team IF a ready made replacement is coming in 

Under no circumstances let him leave to Bournemouth 

If he goes and we bring in someone else then it's hardly the end of the world. Players come and go, it's hardly going to be like losing Bellamy or Shearer, or even the likes of Bentley. He's been in good form this season, but even then it's been hot and cold at times. Really hope IF it happens that we're working on a replacement in advance.

Letting him go and then bringing nobody in would be the kick in the teeth. Especially to a rival for promotion.

This game will be won or lost by our defence. Luton are one of the top scorers in the league. Only four teams have scored more than them and all those teams have played more games than them.

However, our defence has been a rock at times and we'll need them to be so again. If you take out the home Fulham game (just because it was such an aberration) then we have conceded just 23 goals in 27 games. This looks like it will be a tight game. A goalless draw or the single goal to win for either side seem to be the wisest betting options.

Watch it be a 5-4 thriller now!!!

1 minute ago, islander200 said:

It's 4 months.There is absolutely no guarantee whatever move he makes will work out.We are playing much better than Bournemouth at the minute.If we were to get promoted do you think our offers would stay the same ffs?

And if he continues to perform then he will have no shortage of offers in the summer .

Presumably he's considering all those hypotheticals and weighing them up relating to what he will be offered. It's all a gamble. You are right there is no guarantee that the move will work out. Then again, no guarantee that we will get promoted. No guarantee that he won't break a leg. No guarantee that he "continues to perform". But, perhaps there is a guaranteed four year contract that multiplies his earnings by five or six times. 

Does he take those gambles or does he make the move now? Deal or no deal? Sounds like he at least wants to talk to this team.

I obviously don't want us to lose any of the three to-be out of contract players right now. I want the best chance at promotion, but that's me as Rovers fan. I do understand the logic behind why a footballer would want to maximise his earnings for himself and his family. Would I turn down a big improvement in salary and setting myself up in a financially better way when my earning potential which I'd work towards for year after year was at its maximum? Taking the emotion out of it, absolutely I'd consider any such offer.  

6 minutes ago, islander200 said:

At the start of the season we were a mid table side going nowhere fast we are now second in the league?

What was all that stuff about enjoying his football from Rothwell the other week so?

 

When we were a mid-table side he didn't sign a new contract. Now we're second he's still not signing a new contract. Not sure how someone enjoying their football and looking for the best deal for next season are mutually exclusive events.

End of the day, we want Rothwell to stay then it's clear we need to go back in there right now with a deal that is improvement on what was rejected. Otherwise it's been pretty clear that there's a good chance that he's either off now or at the end of the season.

2 minutes ago, islander200 said:

So I guess he will fail his medical then?

Not sure what your point is here. Are you suggesting a medical is determine whether or not a player can play tomorrow?

A medical is to check for long-term issues which would scupper a move. Not some kind of temporary injury. 

3 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Well maybe make it clear to the club you want out at the beginning of the window rather than 3 days before the window shuts.

If this is true ,Rothwell desire to move on must have only been made clear to the manager in the last 24 hours as he sounded pretty bullish yesterday talking to media, practically guaranteeing Rothwell wouldn't be sold.

We've known all season that his contract was expiring at the end of the season and he hadn't any intention of signing what Rovers had offered.

How much clearer can he, Lenihan and Nyambe make it that they "want out"?

1 minute ago, Beanie01289 said:

No I'm sorry he signed a contract if we turn down a bid I'm sorry he just has to get on with it refusing to play is a snakes behavior if he fit injured in an accident tonight he would expect us to pay him for the remainder of his contract so why can't we expect him to do the job he's paid for.

Is he "refusing to play the club"? Do we have proof?

Joe Rothwell is 27 and this is his opportunity to be set for life. If he stays with us and gets the same kind of injury that Dack has had twice, that's all up in smoke. He'll be considering massively improving his wages on a long-term deal. Which of us wouldn't want to receive a huge salary increase in their job which would allow him to provide for themselves and their family?

Not a lot of point in Rovers taking it personally. We took him off Oxford's hands as we offered him a better deal and the opportunity to improve despite being in the same league at the time. We don't know if it's Bournemouth, but if it is...they must be offering him a deal sweet enough to make it worth him for himself and his family. If we really want to keep him, we need to offer him close enough to what he wants to get him to stay. Timing sucks, but it is what it is.

No point taking it personally; wouldn't we all choose to do what is best for us and our family?

When's Ben playing?

It's a shame, but these things happen. All the best of luck to Harry in the future, but his future will not be with Rovers, that much is clear. 

It'd be churlish not to praise Tony for this season so far, it's been by far the best season in the last decade of supporting Rovers. 

Best wishes to your dad. 

12 hours ago, Miller11 said:

Another awful display by the officials. Have they got so much worse, or is it just that it matters more now? Bit of both I reckon.

Bringing Gallagher in instead of Davenport was a predictably bad decision. I actually think Gallagher has some value to us, but not in that role.

Travis and Nyambe have come in for varying levels of stick on here lately. Some reassessments needed. Both were sorely missed.

Brereton was always going to hit a barren patch, hopefully a trip to Chile helps him get over it. Big questions over who can step up to the plate.

It’s blindingly obvious we need to keep as close to our first 11 as possible. Enforced changes we will have to live with, but altering players for no reason, or the system at all will lead to disaster. That said, I think the stick Edun seems to be getting tonight is odd, thought he did pretty well.

Great post. Agree with all of it. 

Plus, he's already gotten them out of the championship twice. Even if they do go down, he's their best bet of bouncing straight back up. 

4 minutes ago, had.e.nuff said:

Cant show sky games due to the EFL contract with sky nothing to do with the club

I'm not pinning it on the club or blaming them specifically, more all the iFollow/websites/whatever offering streaming EFL services. People outside the UK cannot stream Sky or subscribe to Sky, so why block overseas ifollow/RoversTV/whoever fans? They can't buy it from Sky anyway. 

Still doesn't address why the annual pass fans have not been contacted about Saturday's shit show at all, whereas one-time buyers were refunded. Not even a "Whoops, sorry chaps..."  No communication. Now, that is completely on the club.

On 16/01/2022 at 00:29, AllRoverAsia said:

Streamamg, not the club. They were overloaded on server.

A few days ago Cardiff TV were asking people to buy passes early as Streamamg (who Cardiff also use)  needed to know what load to expect ........

I saw nothing. I hope the replay works but maybe we should set up a schedule so we dont overload it again.😒

Fucking shambles caused by Waggott buying the cheapest Streamamg package. 

With the refunds it would appear that Waggotts scrooge tactics have lost the club all the income from probably the most subscribed for game so far this season on RoversTV. You could not make this up.

 

Has anyone with an annual pass been contacted by the club?

No communication or refund of any kind after Saturday for those who paid for the season ticket. Cheers, RoversTV/Sky...last time I ever buy an annual pass. Shame, they could have had me contributing to the coffers for years this way. 

Why can't they set up a deal so the overseas fans can watch these Sky games as part of their annual pass? Not as if we're going to be subscribing to Sky anyway are we?

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2022/january/16/roverstv-streaming-update/

Onwards and upwards, Rovers.

3 points lads..that's all that matters!

Just now, OsloRover said:

Ayala on you mean

Correct, I did. 

Need to see this out with ten men. Ayala on.

Ridiculous sending off...but this is where promotion teams show their mettle. A real test of our credentials, here.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Rovers joint top currently 

Bournemouth losing 2 nil to Luton

Few more goals in the two games and we'll be...TOP!!!!!!!

Vertigo territory!

2 minutes ago, J*B said:

That’s a real shame. I’ve sent you a DM explaining why we can’t show games. 

You've done a good job today, J*B. 

Can someone please PM me a stream?

Much appreciated. I have paid for this.