ben_the_beast

I'm sorry but that's not a red and a penalty. I could accept one or the other but applying the double jeopardy rule for something which is essentially a dive is ridiculous. Game ruined for such a minor infraction is insane.

He frustrates me. I think he's got all the ability to be a great striker at this level. We've seen him do it. When he goes off the boil though, it's dramatic and sustained.

I think the common denominator is how much heat Pasha is getting. Its no coincidence we reinvest money from sales at a time when there are rumours his position isn't as secure as it once was. Whilst Venkys own us, this club will always be about power struggles.

After Moroshita, Gudjohnsen is the first player we've been linked with who I'm a little excited about. Admittedly I've been very disillusioned with all things Rovers this summer. I think he could be exactly what we need though. Powerful, good in the air but with more craft than Gueye. Looks quite intelligent in his link up play too and for some reason the fact he is Eider's son makes me quite excited. He was an unbelievable player. Even if he's got half the technique and footballing intelligence his Dad did, he'll be a cracking player. I'm not sure where this leave Gueye though. A player with a similar physique and traits could mean very limited minutes for him.

I guarantee if we had an exact mirror situation as Sheffield Wednesday and we were unable to pay our players, some of our fans would still say its because of FFP restrictions.

It would beg the question for any sane club, what incentive is there to ever sell at all. Utterly ludicrous statement.

Agreed. The fact we have spent a bit on fees this summer is rather deceiving (even though I'm sure outgoings will still end up seeing us turn a profit). The deception is the guise of investment though. We've slashed our wage budget again massively. Surely De Neve can't be on more than 5k per week. Henrikson and Alebiousi the same. We're recouping the fees and more with the slashing of wages, let alone the incoming transfer fees.

Only watched the second half. Was all Birmingham after we went ahead, but Toth wasn't being made to make a save. I've seen a few replays of the pen and there is absolutely no contact. An absolutely terrible decision by the ref. Then the corner which led to their counter attack and goal should have been a penalty to us. The balls travelled 50 yards and blatantly strikes the arm of one of their players unchallenged. Whys the ref not giving that. All the players appealed. They all saw it. Yes players appeal for everything these days, but typically that's when there's a challenge. Not a random event like a player misjudging the flight of the ball and handballing. Stings even more when he's given a non existent one to them. Worried about our quality though. Could have sworn I was watching us under Big Sam. We put some pressure on at 1-1 but it was pure physicality and lumping it. We're going to run out of steam at some point this season with a small squad and that level of physicality. And we're not even picking up points whilst we're at full fitness.

I don't recognise the club anymore. It feels as though we're dead. The quality of our first two games has been woeful. I'm expecting relegation. I hate Venkys and all the scum they allow allow to leach along with them. The saddest thing of all is that in years gone by, I'd feel passionate about the state we're in, but Rovers are crossing my mind so rarely now in comparison. That's what they've done. Killed the club in me. I just wish they would fuck off. Fuck off out of my club.

I think that quote from Gestede is just the another bit of waffle / lying through his teeth. The way it was worded made it seem as though we had a £5million transfer budget last year. We're investing, generous owners blah, blah, blah. Like hell we'd have spent that money without the mammoth sales. Will be the same this year... Suits to say we have a similar budget again. Fans expecting £5million investment. There's zero chance that happens without sales. It just helps to try and shift more season tickets. To cut to the crux of it, it's a big fat lie that this seasons transfer budget isn't affected by selling players.

Kargbo was an absolute idiot when he came on. It was clear as day they were going down easily and the ref was awarding soft free kicks. He just made it easy for them giving away soft foul after soft foul. Probably ate up a good 5 minutes of play.

Dennis is absolutely shite. Him and Kargbo might as well have been playing for Sheffield United. Kargbo clearly doesn't have a brain.

The only other interesting point is if we do end up finishing in 6th we'll end up playing Sheffield United 3 times in a row.

Could we get relegated? Unlikely as it would need some monumental form from the clubs at the bottom, but I can genuinely see us going the rest of the season without picking up another point. On the final day I think we're going to be breathing a heavy sigh of relief David Lowe picked up those two wins. Before we remember that the future holds no hope that is.

Really think that game could have finished 4/5-0. It was so poor that I don't think Boro were taking us seriously. Especially their front players. Time and again they could have seen us off, but when they were around our penalty area players kept being selfish and going for goal, rather than playing the final ball. More effort second half, but there is no system I've no idea what Ismael is trying to achieve. Neither do the players. Only the fans came out of that with any respect.

I watched on telly and smiled. Venkys out chants were audible and clearly ringing around the ground from the first whistle. Express yourself was the right choice for this point in the fight to get our club back. It made an absolute mockery of Suhail trying to suggest it was just one fan group. Many fans would like to see more but you also get a decent proportion who don't like to feel as if they are being spoke for. The last thing we need is a divided fanbase. My feeling is that tonight was an extended hand for all fans to join the cause, which the majority did. We're aligned and that's a win in my eyes. Now it's onto the next phase. RTID

This actually isn't a bad idea. It's low cost and for some is the only Rovers related news they really read. It also happens to be the only place where there is an alarming number of pro-venky voices. I find myself questioning whether they're all real people. In terms of media campaign as well, anybody with a passing interest can easily land there after a quick Google. They'd read the comments and wonder what all the fuss was about. Even if we had 20-30 people sign up, it'd immediately the narrative in the only pro-venky online outlet.

Don't get to as many games as I'd like. Only 3 so far this year, but couldn't not go to this one given its in walking distance for me. So far I've witnessed 3 losses. But that was the most turgid performance I've seen in years. Players clearly didn't have a clue what they were trying to do. Pretty much the entire second half we just tapped it between the defence and Pears. No urgency, no plan, no desire. Utterly appalling. Pompey won't get an easier 3 points all season.

Fella behind me at the game today starting singing "we want Venkys out". Guy next to me turns around and says, "it's not the Venkys we want out it's this manager. Who would fund the club?" Utterly baffling. Fair play to the fella behind me. Agreed to disagree about the owners and said he was in agreement about the manager, rather than berating him. I just don't understand some people. Proper Stockholm Syndrome.

To be fair to him, United have looked to have poached a few decent youth prospects from other clubs in recent years. The academy market is probably one of the few we can be effective in. Every Premier League youth player seems over hyped these days. A scout who can separate the Becks from the Cosier-Duberry's would be valuable. His knowledge of international markets will always be beneficial. Unfortunately, if he is an effective operator, I'm sure he'll be alienated by the set up here and won't last.

My own experience is football in this country has changed. I always rated myself as a very competent player. I'm 36 now and recently got back into playing 5 a side. Most opposition teams are in their teens or thier 20's. I like to tell myself it's my knackered knees which means I can't keep up anymore. That doesn't help, but in reality the technical level of players in this country has changed dramatically. Everyone is so comfortable on the ball whereas I used to be one of the outliers to 'if in doubt, kick it out'.

Clubs would have bid more. But we sold him in January. You only have to look at the backwards way Arsenal signed Raya to understand balancing the books with PSR is a challenge. If we'd have held onto him until the summer, we could have created a bidding war. It was widely known how many clubs were scouting him. Palace simply took advantage of the financial mess our owners created. They knew we had to sell asap, and were one of a smaller number of clubs who could commit at that moment in time

I don't think anything coordinated will work. The fanbase is depleted and those who remain are likely to disagree on the best course of action. Of those who'd be more willing to protest, I fear the spirit has been broken. Overall it feels as though there is an acceptance that we are powerless. I've seen a lot of people saying boycott and hit Venkys in the pocket. The reality is that, that is likely to happen, but not through some coordinated effort, but as more people reach their own personal tipping point. I forsee attendances dropping off yet another mini cliff edge. It may get Waggott and Suhail sweating a bit, to the extent they may ask the overlords for a bit of funding, but it won't force them out. If they ever choose to sell the club, it'll be because that's what they've decided to do, be it on a whim or some other reason relating to their wider empire. No amount of telling them we want them out, protesting etc will ever influence their decision making process. That's my feeling. The only exception to that could be a word of honesty from Suhail if he is asked a few difficult questions regarding the drop in attendances.

Formation and players selected tell very little of what's being asked of the squad. On the ball I don't think we're a million miles from the style of play we had under Eustice. Although probably a little more direct. It's off the ball that there is a big difference. We used to sit and were hard to break down. 9 times out 10, we'd make the opposition work for a victory. Ismael seems to want the team to press the opposition and it leaves gaps everywhere. Especially when the squad aren't used to this being asked of them. I'm inclined to think Hyam looks more out of depth because we're not compact, rather than him missing Danny Baath (though I do think this rings somewhat true). We may see an upturn in form from what we've witnesses so far, but only once the players are used to the system, and that's likely to be the last few games of the season, or even next season. For me, it shows the incompetence once again at board room level. A very 2 dimensional view on manager styles of play. It doesn't show Ismael in the best light either, whilst I also have worries about how a small squad will cope next season in a system which is more explosive and physically demanding. All in all, it is looking a bit grim.