ben_the_beast

Not really excited about this game. The line up doesn't look bad, but we are a better team when sitting in rather than pressing like Ismael has us doing. The players have looked uncomfortable with what they're being asked to do. Hopefully there will be a change today or it magically begins to click. It's mad that a win today and we're still there knocking on the door of the playoffs. I really can't see the team getting anywhere near though.

The more I've thought about this, the more I'm disgusted by it. It absolutely has to be a central message at the next fans forum and needs spreading far and wide. A very simple question / statement is required. Given that the top director's salary has significantly increased (by approximately X%) according to the latest accounts, it seems logical to assume this rise is tied to financial performance rather than sporting success, particularly given the club's final league position relative to reported profits. Does this create a conflict of interest, as the club's primary decision-maker appears incentivized more by financial outcomes than by performance on the pitch?

Happy to be corrected but haven't most always stated that Waggott is on circa 300k per year. If that figure is true and not just pulled out of thin air, his salary has almost doubled? The only logical reason I can think for that is the club moving from large annual losses to operating at a profit, and his salary is incentive driven? If true it's disgusting. He's motivated to hold the club back. I'll bet that feeds his reluctance around season ticket prices etc too. It'd be the first hard evidence of those in the hierarchy lining their own pockets at the clubs expense.

We could very easily net ourselves anywhere between £10-20million this summer if Adam Wharton moves on from Palace. Another boost to keep the lights on for an additional year, but we all know it won't make the slightest bit of difference when it comes to either squad investment or retention.

Real Madrid keeping tabs on Wharton

As much as the Eustice factor adds a bit of spice to this game, I can see it being a drab 0-0. A result which helps neither team.

I thought the commentator was being ridiculous when he said the first yellow for Dennis should have been red. He's not high in the slightest. Painful one but contact was made on the top of the Norwich players foot. Second yellow was beyond a joke. How can he be expected to not go for that ball?

Like most, I'm on the fence. One thing worth mentioning is his success at Barnsley was hugely dependent on Daryl Dike. West Brom then spent a small fortune so Valerian had his key man and he ended up never ever being fit. Step forward Big Mak. He will be absolutely key to Ismaels style of play, and if it clicks, we could see some success.

My initial feeling is that Ismael is one of the better candidates based on where we are as a club (the shitter). Keep things tight and a fairly direct style of play. Personally I loved JDT and thought he was the best manager we've had under Venkys. Even so, Eustice was a better fit for us with the style of play he implemented considering all the budget cuts. Ismael feels like a continuation. For the life of me though, I can't see how it's taking so long. Football isn't like other businesses. For starters your work is on public display and a few quick phonecalls and you can find out 50% of what you need to know behind the scenes. We're lucky we pulled a couple of wins out the bag to keep us in the playoff race. Even then, it's Tuesday now. After the surrender at Swansea he should have been announced on Sunday to give a full week with the players. If reports are right Ismael genuinely is our top pick, the only delay I can think of is us haggling over minor details. Doesn't set a great impression of what's to come for the new manager and every day delayed is sabotaging an opportunity for 3 points at the weekend. It's gross incompetence that it's taken this long and is still ongoing.

If the twist is that they still haven't appointed somebody by the weekend, I wouldn't rule it out either.

If an entire team is one paced it hurts everyone. Dolan, like the rest has struggled with us not having players who can stretch games which is also compounded by the fact people tend to look to him to provide it due to the position he often plays. I think his true position could be as a number 10. He can turn on a sixpence and has a good touch. He's very difficult to get the ball off, it's just he struggles in one v one situations. If I cast my eye over to Qpr, there have been managers who have played Ilias Chair out wide and his productivity has dropped off a cliff. Get him central and he's one of the best attacking midfielders in the division. Dolan isn't at his level, but I don't think it's a stretch to say he could get there or even surpass.

Think I'm in the minority in being excited by Duff. I know his experience is only in the Irish league, but I just have this gut feeling, if he were appointed our momentum would go into overdrive. Stars aligning with a club legend firing us back to promotion, beating Burnley at Wembley then Venkys finally fuck off once we've reached the promised land again.

I doubt any managers have been put off by us not guaranteeing Cat A academy status or the like. It's more likely to be far less defined. Something along the lines of, what's the long term vision, plans for next season if promotion doesn't happen etc. To which I'm sure the answer would be, we'll review in the summer or a load of hot air. It'll be the complete lack of any coherent strategy rather than saying certain things won't happen. We've seen this time and again over the years. We miss out on targets earlier in the summer who would have been within our price range because there is zero knowledge of budgets and targets for the upcoming season. Failing the unlikely event of us winning promotion, I can see this summer being one of the worst under Venkys reign. The club is having to wash its own face right now and we're right on the limit financially. Hence no contract extensions, Ribeiro only being a 6 month deal, Kargbo only signing for 2.5 years. It's unbelievably short-term and once again we'll see assets walk for free rather than following a clear 'trading club' strategy.

The clock is ticking. We look incompetent. As said above we should have had a shortlist of 3-5 managers, already sounded out when it appeared Eustice was off and had then in the building over the next 1-3 days. Our rep in the football world is fragile. A bit of conviction would have at least given the appearance of some level of competence. Here we are dragging our feet though. I'm unsure an appointment will be made in February. It amazes me how thick Waggott can be. Truly playing with fire here. He's been lucky we've won two on the bounce, but one or two losses and the fans will turn and begin asking what the fuck is going on. Every day that passes I'm more convinced it will either be Lowe or somebody very underwhelming.

I'm sure Waggott would love nothing better than to leave Lowe in charge. 500k banked plus the savings on Eustice's wages. I feel there is an element of dragging their heels to see if he can pull another win or two out the bag, and allow the calls for him to grow. We need a manager asap: 1. Lowe has done a faultless job thus far, but he has been very open that we've been playing to the tactical setup installed by Eustice. As time goes on, without reinforcement the muscle memory of the system begins to fade. 2. Lowe has done the right thing with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it approach", but the time we will really need a leader is when things go wrong. He's not faced that test as a manager. Ever. Given his lack of experience the liklihood is we'd regret the decision if he were left in charge. 3. The situation has been covered that we're an attractive short-term job. Long-term, not so much. If we leave Lowe in charge and don't win promotion, we've missed an opportunity. The job will not be attractive in the summer. It also leads to another summer of uncertainty, no forward planning and being once again stuck in reaction mode. This is especially critical if anybody at the club ever decides to lift a finger and try to negotiate contract renewals. Of course, all this could just be me theorising and the reality is, Waggott and co don't know what they're doing/are lazy with zero sense of urgency. It's utterly ridiculous that the main interview process is yet to begin!

With the amount of games Dolan has played for us, I think people forget just how young he is. If he was playing like he currently is having only made the first team within the past year, people would be more optimistic about his potential. He does have a ceiling. His lack of pace dictates much of that. But the consistency he is criticised for not having is rare for a player of his age. Given time, I think it'll come. Unfortunately it probably won't be with us.

I voted for O'Neil, simply because I think Duffer would quickly turn into JDT mk2 in his interviews. I was torn in doing so though, because of all the managers linked, Duff is the one I'd be most excited for. And, even though it was clear JDT was heading for a parting of ways with the club for some time, I actually loved the way he conducted himself. Single handedly trying to change the mindset of the club. Now I'm typing this, I almost want to change my vote. Duffer would galvanise, has half an eye on the longer term, I have faith he'd be his own man, is a club legend. It all gives me very few concerns around his lack of top level experience. The only thing is, I'm sure he was quoted as being very happy in Ireland for the time being.

Looking back at the petty statement we released, expressing the disappointment Eustice was leaving at such a crucial point in the season, Waggott and co aren't exactly walking the walk. If their actions matched their words, there would 100% be a new manager installed by now. They would have been at the game at the weekend, ready to hit the ground running this week. Even if they are appointed by the Swansea game, all we're doing is making the new incumbents job more difficult. There is a rush to appoint a new manager. Waggott is bloody useless.

Huge game today. The off pitch shenanigans galvanised us midweek, but without a manager that togetherness will be fragile. The longer we can keep it going the more attractive the job begins to look.

It's all very, very quiet! Considering they've known Eustice wanted out for a while and that the approach was made last Friday you'd expect a bit more in the way of concrete rumours. Either the hierarchy are moving at a glacial pace, or they are doing an outstanding job, keeping things under wraps. I know which one my money is on!

Of the names mentioned I wouldn't be opposed to either Gary O'Neil or Gerrard. O'Neil had always impressed me, any time I heard him speak, and I felt he'd done a good job wherever he'd been until the wheels fell off this year when there were huge mitigating circumstances. As for Gerrard, I don't think he's got the tactical ability to manage a Premier League club where there is a requirement to play an attractive brand of football. However, I do think he can galvanise us, keep us solid and continue on the good foundations Eustice built. Someone mentioned Travis, and the fact he is a scouser, could see us aligning leadership in the dugout and on the pitch. The intangible perk is we've seen national media shining a bit more of a light on the chaos of the club since Eustice left. A big name like Gerrard could keep the spotlight somewhat on us, which wouldn't be a bad thing.

Still buzzing after this fellas performance last night!

Always thought he had something about him. His performances at the start of the season were decent and couldn't have been a complete fluke. Last night however, was one of the best individual performances I've seen of a player in a Rovers shirt for years. Absolutely unplayable, not only up top, but in our own box as well. In addition he was a complete leader on the pitch. Second half it was like we had prime Drogba on the pitch. Such a likeable bloke too.

I don't think Duffer would end up tainted by Venkys as I don't think he'd last more than a few months.

It feels as though there will be a complete lack of leadership in the dugout tonight, regardless of who's standing there with their hands in their pockets. In my opinion any chance of a result rests with Lewis Travis. As the captain and leader, he can either help galvanise the team or be distracted by what's going on off the pitch. I hope he gets the lads playing for personal pride, and for the fans. We need him right now. Tactically, the squad are fairly well drilled. Get their heads in the right place and we stand a chance. As Eustice once said, no excuses 😉