StHelensRover

Thought this thread had disappeared after our plucky three wins. But today was back to form, bizarre formation and line-up, permanently clueless manager. Back to 13/2 to go down now. We will probably need another ten wins this season to stay up, so roughly one in every three matches remaining with a few draws thrown in. Doesn't sound too bad, but our home form is really worrying and most teams rely on it to keep them up, we're evidently better away from home. Walking wounded currently with a threadbare weak squad. We have to play so many matches in November and December before the window opens, we need to somehow keep treading water til then. Though we usually botch January windows anyway. I think we're going to be right in this scrap all season. At least one of Norwich and Sheff Utd will improve at some point and skip past us, games against Pompey, Oxford and QPR are going to be six pointers for sure. Strap in. Thanks Rudy, Suhail and Venkys, happy 150th

Exact same thing happened in BBE to me. I asked if I could nip back out through the turnstile to grab one outside but because I had already scanned in I couldn't. So I had to wait and queue for ten minutes after FT for them to open the club shop so I could grab one. I had just assumed they would have them on the concourse. I'm sure they used to?

I remember this account before I stopped using Twitter earlier this year. If he isn't a club plant he is truly brainless. He spends all day every day defending Venkys against other fans and he popped up constantly on my feed til I eventually muted him. Would love to have been a fly on the wall between him and Rudy.

I stand in NO1 and most of the people in there were only interested in singing about Eustace, and booing BBD. There are some proper thickos in there and some of the stuff I hear shouted I wouldn't repeat online as it makes me ashamed to be a Rovers fan sometimes.

The only thing that looked impressive and like any thought had gone in was that some blue and white smoke/fireworks went off as the players walked out onto the pitch. Other than that, nothing memorable. I didn't bother watching the 'legends' game as I think everything about it was a farce. Rubbish opponents, rubbish time to play the game, almost an hour to wait after full time for it to even start. Eustace and Derby team dancing round at the Darwen End celebrating with travelling fans. Felt miserable so walked straight out. It should have been done on a different day, probably in Pre season or during an international break, but that costs money and we don't spend money on anything, it's not in the owner's strategy.

Pears isn't great but I don't really blame him for that defeat today. Even the best keepers are to an extent only as effective as the defence in front of them. Any keeper is going to have their work cut out when their centre halves are wingers.

They won't even know we were playing. I genuinely think that none of them know anything about the football club, in all seriousness. Bet they couldn't point out Blackburn on a map, bet they couldn't name the stadium or a first team player from the current squad. We're a line on a balance sheet that they get from an accountant every so often. They're billionaires living a billionaire lifestyle and we were a play toy for 5 minutes. I loathe them

Not sure about that myself. We conceded from two headers in the box. Not saying Hedges was completely to blame for that, but you'd like to think that would be less likely with proper centre halves playing in those areas rather than makeshift ones.

It's been depleted on his watch and so presumably with his blessing. The last two managers walked out when this was done to them, this donkey has clapped along and acted like everything is fine, even spat his dummy out when asked about it by the press. He's happy to allow them to implement their bargain basement strategy to the football club, so he's a loser.

Beat me to it. The idea that 'Big Val' is even close to being as good a manager as John Eustace is bonkers. And that's not me saying Eustace is incredible either.

Gallops round like a newborn foal, plays football like a newborn foal. He's so awful it's unbearable. He's Chris Brown level

Another huge thanks to the owners from me today. A special moment watching Eustace saluting 3000 Derby fans doing the Poznan in the Darwen End as I trudged out of the ground. That first half was diabolical, that second half was borderline passable, but too late as usual. Overall, nowhere near good enough. Daft line up, daft formation and poor performance. Mugged off on our birthday by a good manager who has a plan. Southampton were a basket case and we were lucky to sneak past them, ditto at Leicester. Hard fought win in a poor game on Tuesday. Today, we played against a well organised team on a roll and got what we deserved. Still anxious to see us get to 50 points.

Derby were 3/1 on Paddy Power before the line-ups and now they're 5/2. I still think that's a very long price and I would have thought it would be too close to call. Ed - for context we're 21/20

Feeling in a good mood about today now. Got a photo and a brief moment to chat with Tony Mowbray and Jordan Rhodes outside the ground today. The only two people I'll likely be able to remember fondly from this last 15 years at our 200th anniversary. COYB

Still can't get my head round how wrong they got the shirts this season. Last season I think they did a good job. I personally like and bought the green away shirt. But they still missed a big trick with that one (imo) in not putting the town crest on, it would have looked great and would have made the choice of colours more obvious, and wouldn't have needed a white rose. The gold shirt I just can't warm to. The railway station, a bridge over the railway and Darwen tower. Not sure what any of that has to do with 150 years of football in the town. Boring and doesn't look brilliant (imo). The home shirt is the biggest clanger for me. The 150 years logo on the neck is something they've slapped on as many things as they can in the shop and looks naff. They couldn't even get the layout of the halves (quarters right) We've been outdone by *checks notes* Port Vale, who also celebrated 150 years and they came out with the best shirt of the year across the divisions (imo). I'd be really interested to know how they and Macron drummed up and finessed the ideas for this season, coz it's clear they engaged with fans then ignored pretty much everything fans said.