Gallagher will be on about £1m per year. We can't afford to keep him given the limited return. If the finances were different I'd be happy for him to stay since he does offer some value on the pitch, even if he can be frustrating. 

It's a big if, but if we can reinvest the freed up wages elsewhere then it's a no brainer. 

On 01/12/2023 at 21:39, Upside Down said:

"Modern" tactics are responsible not only for a downgrade in goalkeeper quality but a downgrade of every position and the whole game really. 

That's the Pep influence right there.

You used to have proper strikers. Their main job was to score.

Proper defenders.  Thier jobs were to stop the attacks.

Proper goalkeepers. Stop the ball going in the net.

Now you just have 11 average midfielders whose only real qualities are fast passing with good control and some decent positioning. 

Jack of all trades master of none the lot of them.

The one thing all these pound shop peps seem to forget is that Pep has always had near unlimited amounts of money to build his squad. Guardiola has himself said that he couldn't do what he does without huge budgets. 

Look at Haaland as an example. Yes, he's world class, but I think a lot of his success comes from modern defenders not knowing how to deal with a traditional centre forward. They've never been taught how to deal with that. Put him in a side in the 90's, he'd still be great, he's a top class player, but he'd not be the phenomenon he is now.

Short corners - Only effective when you hit them long 95% of the time.

Passing out from the back - Unless you're a world class side, just don't. 

Keepers punching the ball instead of catching - Was, is and always will be complete and utter dog shit. Should never be done unless in an emergency. 

All you have to do is look at Leicester's title winning side. Each player knew their role and they did it well with no fuss. 

Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Cristian Fuchs. Their job was to defend with their lives. Morgan and Huth did it superbly. 

Kante and Drinkwater in midfield just had to bring energy and be competitive. Albrighton, being one the only truly traditional wingers I can remember from the last decade. Vardy a quick, proper striker who could put the ball in the net. And Mahrez adding creativity and magic.

If teams attacked Leicester, they could defend and hit on the counter. If teams sat back, they had Mahrez to unlock them.

Dead simple, nothing fancy and not playing by the 'Pep rulebook'. Yes the stars aligned for that title win, but it amazes me more teams and managers aren't trying to do similar.

Another example being West Ham winning the conference league last year. They knew what they were and they played to their strengths, rather than the perception of what a modern football team should be. With all the data involved in football their are so many 'diamonds in the rough' if you're one of the few clubs looking for specific skill sets, rather than all rounders.

I've high hopes for Harry Leonard. He's got a great first touch so links the play up well and he's also getting better and better at using his body to shield the ball.

He's snatched at a few chances this season but he does seem an intelligent player which helps with both his link up play and being in the right place at the right time, so the chances keep coming. 

I can see him gradually getting better throughout the season and competing to be first choice next year. Very refreshing to see an attacking player coming from our academy after scores of defenders and central midfielders.

A few have said it already, but it's crazy that Gallagher could learn a thing or two from him given their respective ages.

100%

Decision making when it comes to shot stopping seems to have gone out the window in the modern game. Every keeper is trained to parry and punch. You rarely see a goalkeeper holding onto the ball and this applies for crosses too.  

One of my strongest memories of Friedel is when we were under pressure and he'd hold onto a save or a cross. He'd then stand there with the ball and motion to the team / crowd to calm down. It surprises me that with all the data in football these days, that getting the ball into your keepers hands isn't seen as a key tactic. It's as though the data only goes as far as it being statistically safer for keepers to punch the ball away from danger, without any consideration of the next phase of play. It's no wonder teams struggle to break a stranglehold of pressure. I'm sure the likes of City would hate the opposition doing this. It'd limit their efforts to suffocate the opposition. 

Outside of that, I can only assume there is so much pressure on keepers footwork these days, that they spend less time training their shotstopping and crosses. 

Good move by the club. I'd imagine it's more to keep him settled by placing his salary in line with the top earners at the club. A happy, performing Szmodics is key to everything we do. Without him this season, we'd be scuppered.

At the end of the season he'd only have 2 years remaining on his deal so we'd be needing to negotiate at that point anyway, so getting it done now is wise and well deserved.

26 minutes ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Ennis out for "two weeks or so".

Absolute waste of time and effort. 

The lad is made of glass. Given he showed up unfit and also looks slightly on the heavier side I'm beginning to question how much commitment he has to maximising his potential. Putting in the extra yards, diet, playing through the pain on occasions.

Of course it could be that he's just been horrendously unlucky with injuries thus far, but for a player I had high hopes for he's been very underwhelming. 

I've a feeling this might be an 'Ayala two weeks' and we'll be lucky to see him this side of Christmas. 

On 19/09/2023 at 08:44, Wheelton Blue said:

Out of interest, Girona have made an excellent start to the La Liga season.

They're up to 3rd, level on 13 points with Barca, winning 4 out of 5.

They're still going. Sitting top of La Liga after 11 games. They've played a game more, but even if Real Madrid win El Classico, it will only knock Girona off top spot on goal difference. 

For me it's very simple. He's not a wide player. He doesn't have the pace to beat a man.

When played centrally, even given his stature the ball actually sticks to him very well. He's got a low centre of gravity so can twist and turn which helps him hold it up. His ability to press well has never been in doubt. 

As an analogy look at Illias Chair. Has consistently been one of the Championships better players for a few years now. This season his form has dropped off a cliff because Ainsworth is incompetent and has switched him from playing centrally to playing wide left. Dolan isn't in Chairs league but they do have similar qualities. 

Qpr have no right backs. Young lad making his debut today. Sigurðsson could have a good day. Colback was meant to be injured too. Think Ainsworth is under pressure and playing him when he's not fully fit. 

Hoping Dolan can do a job as a false 9. I still have faith in him as a player but think he's an abysmal left winger. Big day for him.

I fancy our chances today. Ainsworth is a bit tactically inept and relies on motivation. He'll have identified this as a huge game for them, so a lot will depend on whether the players are still behind him.

Don't we need money first? Considering we couldn't scrape the pennies together for a cheap loan on deadline day even whilst loaning out Buckley, I'd say this thread is pretty redundant. 

3 minutes ago, 1874 said:

This just shows how poor the championship was last season

Honestly it's no surprise and shows why there needs to be a much fairer distribution of money throughout the pyramid. Most Championship clubs are just like us.  Completely skint. Even the clubs we cast jealous looks at have miniscule budgets in comparison.

The problem is the Premier League will never vote to distribute the cash evenly. It means less for them. The only time it does happen is after long hard negotiations when external pressures attempt to force the hands of Prem Clubs. And even then its a paltry amount. 

2 hours ago, rigger said:

I still think our major problem is not playing three in central mid-field

It's a combo of not playing 3 in midfield and also that Trav seems to be under instruction to be a box to box midfielder. 

I think he's actually far better at that than as a defensive midfielder, but we're being both outnumbered in the middle whilst also having no player with the discipline and intelligence go sit. Trav and Wharton were run ragged today. 

On a positive note, I thought Leonard was good today and is developing every game. He looks a real poacher and the ball sticks to him when played into feet. Sigurðsson also showed touches of class.

Thought that was pathetic today. Sure we could have won the game but that was suicide football. Wharton and Travis totally overwhelmed and ineffective. They were so overwhelmed the miles they put in today meant as the game wore on they were running on gas. I can't believe JDT didn't switch it up.

Hopefully that's a wake up call for him as that was as poor game management as some of the games we gifted early last season. 

The easiest decision of the lot though. AINSLEY PEARS CANNOT START THE NEXT GAME! He's got no consistency. For every game he puts in an ok performance, he's completely culpable the next. He's cost us that game just as much as the woeful tactics have. 

That was appalling. 

The lung capacity of those Ipswich players. They have pressed us like crazy all over the pitch. Then they've gone long most the time when they've had it so we can't do the same in return. Carter, Hyam and Pears look like they don't know each other. No organisation and so much space in behind. 

Feels like Mckenna has totally outwitted Jdt here. High energy, direct and decent players picking up the second ball in our final third.

1 hour ago, not exactly Scarface said:

I'd feel more confident if this were played at Ewood as our away record is marginally better than our home going back enough games.     Don't think we've been beaten on the road since Oxford back last winter and that was in a different league.

Let's not mess around, neutrals and many of our own will be expecting three points for us and you'll go back with little if nothing but the game is more fickle than that.    Anything can happen on the day and I take nothing for granted.   We have so many attacking options and were highest scorers in League One (around 100 goals) last season.    We've brought in one or two attacking names since then in the last window but I think we have too many forwards now competing for places.     Walton (goal keeper)  is recovering from an injury but Hladky remains a suitable and competent backup.    Our defence can be get at though..

You need to do what Leeds did a few weeks back.     They weren't given much of a chance but took away a   4 -3   win from Portman Road.    It surprised a lot of us but the Yorkshire team did deserve it, they played with pace and determination and took a win back with it.      Blackburn need to apply the same approach tomorrow if you stand a chance of winning.     It should be a good contest.      Any assistance with parking / alehouses / directions to and around Portman Road just need to ask.      We had some minor trouble with Sheffield Wednesday fans last week but wasn't there and appears just kids out to make a name for themselves.     We pride ourselves on being a family oriented friendly club, a few idiots and tools aren't going to tarnish that image.  

 

 

 

I'd agree the neutrals will be expecting an Ipswich win. In my eyes though you've had some easy fixtures of late. Sheffield Wednesday and then Southampton, whom given the way they're playing under Martin are very beatable. 

Rovers have been the better team both on the eye and statistically in the majority of our games this season. We're not clinical enough though and have leaked some sloppy goals. I've not watched all your games but I have noticed many of them have been tight affairs. 

What I'm saying is the form guide certainly doesn't tell the full story. I'd say you are overarching, whereas we are underachieving, so I wouldn't be quite so confident if I were you. 

If I were a betting man this is the last fixture in the league I'd be picking a winner from. We seem capable of blowing many sides away, but have shown a soft underbelly.

Who will win I don't know, but there will be goals. I'm betting one of us will win it 3-2

It's potentially encouraging and discouraging that our performances this season have been almost exclusively without any new signings. Only Ennis has made any contribution with his assist against Rotherham. 

We've seen the development of both individuals and in overall play when players are given time to understand JDTs ideas. I'd say there's a good chance some of our new signings will begin to have an impact as the season goes on. If they can do that we could have a promising season. On the other hand, it could be that shopping in the bargain bucket means they're not up to scratch. 

A couple of posters have assessed our squad in this thread. Rather than being very weak in some areas, I'd say we have a lot of question marks. 

8 hours ago, philipl said:

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/23772915.blackburn-rovers-issue-statement-financial-situation/

So Venky's set up VOL ostensibly to invest in their core businesses but instead bought Gary Neville's pad and nothing else.

The Indian authorities seized property to the same value in India over the mislabelling of the purpose of the cash sent to VOL.

The club statement says 

- Rovers remain in business because Venky's make up the difference for all the losses

- Rovers also remain in business because Venky's have made commitments to cover all losses in future sufficient to cover all Rovers future commitments

- so if you are a supplier to Rovers (including employees), the situation is unchanged.

- from the public's point of view, the only support for this statement is Venky's having written a detailed and unequivocal letter to the club's auditors committing to meet all Rovers' legal and commercial obligations for Rovers to remain in business as a football club for the foreseeable future. The auditors state this unequivocally in every audit report issued since Venky's Hatcheries in India became the ultimate owner of Rovers.

 

This is why the club statement is written the way it is. It is mirroring the words used in a letter of support to the auditors

 

Of couse, nothing is being said in the club statement whether budgets are cut or not, or if players have to be sold BUT the club statement would NOT be lying if the underlying reality is Venky's are telling Rovers to do this. They could have cut the support and told Rovers to reduce losses on a planned basis because they will only plug a smaller hole.

That is the nightmare scenario and when JDT says the project has changed, this might be what he is alluding to. It is also possibly the reason for the smokescreen about taxes thrown up to deflect.

 

Being optimistic for a moment, the smokescreen actually did its job in covering a very embarrassing turn of events for Venky's which has now come into the public domain anyway after the window has closed. And it is smokescreen- the assumption is we have all forgotten the time we were googling Indian tax rule changes or talking to our mates in Delhi...

 

Glen speculates the Indian Authorities are now going to look at Venky's London Limited. 

MY best guess is they already have. Nobody launches an expensive overseas investigation without looking at the biggest numbers first. Seriously, if you are told to look at something odd, are you going to crawl over 6m and ignore the 270m washed through the sister company set up at the same time with the same owners and same directors? Of course not.

 

So there is reason for thinking this is contained now unless Venky's London was also described as a chicken company and the Indian Foreign Exchange folks are still in the process of gathering 270m of Venky's Indian assets for seizure- I think such a scenario is highly improbable. And nothing in the club statement would be inconsistent with the whole thing being a bit of Indian Government posturing for geopolitical reasons. Many Indian businesses with overseas operations are having an unusually rough time with Foreign Exchange compliance currently.

 

 

 

I think this is as good a summary/guess around the current situation that anyone can make given the info we have. Cheers @philipl.

The optimist in me is hoping this will be cleared up ASAP and we'll have a bit of Ffp flex in the next couple of windows. Though we're desperate for that clarity, mainly so we can keep hold of JDT by clearly showing the 'project' is back as it was. 

Praying the pessimistic view doesn't happen  and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Venkys actions and words clearly suggest they're going nowhere, so damage to them, damages the club.

Few days ago I very nearly posted that I thought Gallagher might actually have a good season, then I gave my head a wobble.

Today shows why. I've never seen a striker with such poor decision making. Absolutely shocking.

You could make a cracking YouTube reel of Ryan Hedges worst misses. 

This ref is an absolute jokes. Three or four times I've counted Plymouth players swinging elbows when there's no chance of winning the ball. Countless times they've gone through the back of our players. 

Not seen a reply of the Szmodics penalty claim but in real time I thought it was. Then a couple or minutes later their player stops the ball on the ground with his arm.

Just a frustrating half and our performance declined the more the frustration set in. Plymouth have done nothing and very lucky to be ahead.

4 hours ago, arbitro said:

That was such an enjoyable evening as, for a rare occurrence I could relax and really enjoy a Rovers performance. What a credit to the club these youngsters are. Great attitude and desire to do well and from Tomasson's comments it seems they are great to work with too. I counted seven academy graduates in the team that finished alongside two youngsters in Bloxham and Markanday. Quite often games that see teams three or four up at the break and up with no second half goals but tonight our desire for more goals was clear to see and we could have had twelve. I loved Tomasson's post match comment that he wanted ten. Keeping Tomasson here should be the highest priority and the powers that be should be sitting down with him now with the offer of an extension to his deal. No penny pinching, no prevaricating just get the deal done. We won't make a better signing.

Couldn't agree more. He's obviously deeply unhappy with the way this summer has panned out. We've got an international break soon after the window closes.

Regardless of any talks of contracts there need to be some talks just to clear the air. Outline what caused the change in budgets and if there are ways of ensuring more consistency moving forwards, give him those reassurances.

Then, money on the table. We're delighted with your performance, we want to keep you long term Jon. If he wants some kind of release clause then so be it. At least we'd be making sure we are fairly compensated when he does leave and at the end of the day, we want a happy manager. 

He's the best thing that's happened to our club in such a long time. My favourite manager since Souness.

Rovers twitter page say Wahlstedt has pulled off a couple of great saves. One of which was flagged offside anyway, but he wasn't to know that.

Thus far this season he's looked outstanding at times. Whenever he has the ball you feel as though he might be about to play a defence splitting pass that nobody else on the pitch has seen. 

He is losing the ball too much at the moment but that's to be expected, given both his age and the fact he is constantly trying to be brave on the ball. Experience and fitness which comes with regular first team football and its scary how much potential he has. 

I pray we surround him with a few good players. I do think it's going to be am enjoy him while we can situation, unless by some miracle we are promoted this season.