2 hours ago, Blow-in said:

Edit: Jesus Bluebruce you are ruining my day. He made the point before me.

And got downvoted for my troubles, for some reason! 😂

25 minutes ago, SIMON GARNERS 194 said:

Give him the player of the Season Award now..no one else comes close.

I agree, he could get injured for the rest of the season tomorrow and he'd still be my pick by some distance.

7 hours ago, Blow-in said:

Sammie is a class act. Not even a hint of a story about him going to another club, obviously keeps his agent on a short leash.

And he is a much better finisher than Armstrong, not saying he would do well in the Premier League but Armstrong's pace was nullified in the PL because everyone is quick. SS has more nous and intelligence in my opinion.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41351755.html

Good news for Ireland, looks like the Hungry links are very much dead in the water.

Article also mentions 15m link to Brentford. Surprising amount of true.

Don't care how much he goes for we won't see any of it. Hope he stays another year or two and runs his contract down and then leaves for free. 

I'm a bit confused, you said no hint of a transfer story, then posted a link that mentions a transfer story?

1 hour ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

British people are generally shite at learning languages (learning well enough to have a fluent conversation anyway!) 

Just a fact and it was no different 2 years ago when they first started calling the lad up to the Chilean squad! Hypocritical of them to use that against him now, they should simply say he's not being picked because his form for club/s and country the past 6-12 months has been poor

British people aren't shite at learning languages, they're lazy at it because English is so widely spoken that there's less need. And Ben is indeed being very lazy, it's no excuse.

Also they haven't said he's not being picked because of this, the coach has been clear on it not being the cause. So clearly it's because of his poor form.

14 minutes ago, alcd said:

Transfer fees are accounted for based on the total fee payable - in this case c£18m - and the unpaid balance is in debtors on the balance sheet so a loss in this accounting period is inconceivable. The operating loss before transfer income should be no more than £15m. If it is questions need to be asked about some of the non-wage items in the accounts. Particularly what are Venkys taking out as management charges? 

Not sure what you mean, the common convention is that transfer fees are amortised in the accounts over the length of the contract.

I've also never heard of Venkys taking anything out of the club as 'management charges' in previous accounts, though I stand to be corrected. That said I do suspect some dodgy accounting has happened, we seem to make losses no matter what according to the accounts.

On 10/03/2024 at 20:35, NeilInBristol said:

It's two things. The free time and salary affords then the ability to which should be a given but to play for your country should be about pride.

Even if you don't have money or free time you should be proud of your heritage.

Spanish isn't that complicated it's not like Welsh.

I think the coach is making a good stance. The guy has had two years to get learning and even moved to Spain so no excuses

I'm highly confident that if I had a Chilean mother I'd already have been at least intermediate level with Spanish before the callup came through. Surely you'd be sufficiently interested in where you came from and maybe even speaking to your relatives out there to have picked up a foundation to build on. 2 years later and playing for the national team with 6 months spent living in Spain? It's pretty pathetic tbh.

Hell, a B in GCSE French 23 years ago and a casual bit of fannying around on Duolingo in the pandemic has gotten me close to intermediate in French and I have zero connections to the place nor real plans to use it. All the time he has and the ability to hire a personal Spanish tutor, with all the incentives he has to learn it...it's a really poor show if he's not at least semi-fluent now.

It should be pointed out the Chilean coach has stated that this is not why he hasn't picked him though. I expect it's a factor, mind.

On 10/03/2024 at 14:18, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

That’s his level. I hope Villareal fired the scout.

Given he was a freebie, I bet they make a profit on him. I'd imagine the Sheff U loan will have already written off all or most of their costs so far. If he more or less continues his form so far (2 goals in 4 games) they'll be able to sell him for the decent fee we should have got. Their scout will likely have paid off his own wages and those of most of his colleagues for the next decade.

On 09/03/2024 at 23:19, alcd said:

How in God's name can they not make a significant ie £10m+ profit this season having sold Wharton for £18m and summer sales of £5m?? Anything less than that makes me think there's some nefarious dealings going on. 

Given that we lose 20 million most seasons (apparently...though I do think this looks suspicious in itself given we constantly slash the wage bill and rarely spend whilst selling a fair few assets), that 23 million, minus about a million spent on acquisitions, would theoretically change the picture to about 2 million profit, not 10 mill plus. Ignoring any loan, signing on and agent fees. When you factor in that the money received from sales won't come all at once and will be drizzled over at least 3 seasons...if the slim possibility of Venkys being refused the right to send us money in this hearing transpires, we will probably end up declaring a loss! Which is sickening.

5 hours ago, windymiller7 said:

I was queueing for a burger with my daughter on Saturday at the burger van behind the club shop when a young woman with a pram and another little girl in tow needed to get through making her way from the car park towards Nuttall St. Naturally I shuffled back a bit & allowed her to pass through, she said thank you & went on her way.

It was at this point my daughter said "do you know who that was?". (I don't do all this SM stuff) "No idea love, why?". "That's Sammie's missus & *insert kids names*"

The point I'm making here is that this could've been any young mum, not glammed up like most footballer's wives would be & I think that's a fair reflection on Sammie & his principals. No airs & graces, what  you see is what you get, work hard & pick up the rewards you deserve.

Absolutely love Sammie. 100% all the time, nothing less will do. Unfortunately I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's not here next season, regardless of what division we're in.

In fairness, a factor in that may be that he hasn't earned the vast sums many have. Until he came here he was probably never on more than about 5k per week, and that would have been relatively recently too. It's great money to the man in the street, but if he's become a millionaire yet it will have been inside the last year I expect. Short career, and already coming into the last few years or so of it on a good wedge (relative to the footballer life), with a family to raise...yes other footballers might still feel the need to be silly and flash with it, but a bit of financial prudence is to be expected of someone with a brain. If they're still keeping it low-key after his inevitable big move then it'll be more of a testament to character.

That said, I do agree he seems the type to focus and work hard without getting distracted by all the other trappings of the footballer life. Big fan of the guy's ability and application. It's scary to think where we'd be without him this season, probably in Rotherham's position. Which is a real shame because we do have other talented players. We just lack proper depth and a cohesive unit (largely stemming from having a manager who was fed up followed by a manager who seems to be shit, but also just characteristics we lack as a squad such as height, bottle and enough pace).

8 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

szmodics is a better player than armstrong,he`s more aware,holds the ball up better and is a constant menace to defenders because he`s never still,you never see amstrong working the flanks or tracking back

I think Szmodics is probably the best all-round player we've had since we came down under Venkys tbh.

8 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Armstrong appears to have become a more rounded player as he has aged. He has 11 assists and often plays from a wide position.

I never fully was having the criticism of him being greedy in that last season, I dont think you can question someone too much who scores 28.

You could certainly question it by the end, where he was just taking stupid pot shots instead of playing people in. A lot easier to score 28 when you rarely pass. Szmodics has a decent chance of hitting the same figure in a worse team, often from a deeper position, but doesn't have that failing.

Armstrong was still very valuable to us, and we weren't better off without him as some suggested, but it was a definite weak point of his game. Good for him if he's moved past that. Probably been forced to, playing in a better side and spending time in the Prem where he couldn't just do what he wanted.

16 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

Has anyone seen much of Leo Duru?

Another 2 assists and a goal tonight, impressive return for a wing back.

I was about to talk about him too. I've only seen him in highlights I think, but his contributions recently seem to have improved, at least at the top end of the pitch. Hopefully one that's developing well.

8 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I like the lad a lot but he’s not a Prem player. Adam Armstrong was better equipped for the Prem than Sammi because he was quick and was an equally good finisher but he never reached the standard required either.

Needs a lot more than just pace and finishing to be a Prem player. Armstrong was selfish and not particularly smart in his decision making. Besides, any move can go wrong.

We'll just have to disagree, there's no way you're convincing me Sammie couldn't play for someone in the Prem and be at least useful, and I'd imagine there's no way I'll change your mind either so we'll leave it there.

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

But he’s not 23.

That really wasn't my point whatsoever. I believe he's good enough right now. The point about his age was merely to say why there's not a large queue for his services from the Prem. They rarely spend big on any 29 year old, which is what he'll be soon into the next season. But I could definitely see someone plumping for him at about 8-10 mill.

8 hours ago, 47er said:

Will leave for a low-placed Premier league Club or a Championship club looking for promotion.

Given the state of our finances and his age---£10M?

I keep thinking this myself, that due to his age etc, we would probably be looking at a fee in the region of £10 million for him to go to a Prem club, or about £8 million to go to a Championship club (would have to be one of the recently relegated ones, nobody else has that dosh really). Give or take 1 or 2 million in either case (probably take, if we get relegated).

7 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

He’s not Prem level but he’s a real asset for a top team in our division. Luton, Sheff Utd etc.

I firmly disagree with that assessment. I think he's definitely Prem level. Not absolutely smashing the goals in at Prem level like he does in the Championship of course, but I'm sure there are a few teams he could start for and several others he'd be a good squad player for. His game isn't missing much. Works his ass off, reads the game well, can pass, can score. He's short but that isn't the be all, and he's not lightning but he's not a slouch. He has also scored twice in two games against Premiership opposition in the last 12 months in the cup. If he were 23 we'd have Prem clubs all over us trying to get him.

On 09/03/2024 at 18:39, Andy said:

I genuinely couldn't get past the first sentence of that post-match interview:

'The effort the group put in to limit them to very few chances was amazing'

Does he think that the game was played behind closed doors?
We saw Plymouth have about 17 efforts on goal with our own eyes - and they should have been out of sight by HT.

Baffling.

Jesus Christ...

According to the stats on google, Plymouth had 21 shots, 7 of them on target. Premier League Newcastle had less! In fact in the league, the last time another team had more than 11 against us was the Preston game on 17th Feb (16 shots). In what universe is 21 shots and making your keeper perform 6 saves 'very few chances'?

Preston was also the last time we had such a horrific pass completion rate (59%). In all other games inbetween we've had over 70%.

6 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Haha. 

At least I know we will stay up. I have faith in Eustace and these players. Simple as. 

If you don't faith and don't think we will stay fine but that's your opinion. 

Oh you know the future now? Incredible. Can I have this week's winning lottery numbers please?

33 minutes ago, superniko said:

I’ve still no idea where this myth of our “shored up back line”, “tightened up” and “back to basics” has come from. 
We look just as horrendous defensively and that’s with an extra CB and to the detriment of any attacking/progressive play remaining. 

Not a clue what some of you have been watching this past month.

On the attacking front we’ve had an xG above 1 just once in his 6 league games and that was 1.01 against Norwich. Those matches include Millwall, Swansea, Cardiff, Norwich, Preston, Birmingham - all outside the playoffs and we’re not even coming close to troubling them OR looking good defensively. (If you hate xG I’ve just used it to show how dire we are at creating anything now too)
 

I think the idea has come from us conceding a lot less goals.

36 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Pears out with concussion,

Concussion? I thought they said he was ill?

2 hours ago, Upside Down said:

If he's learnt anything from his time here it's how to run down your contract and sign wherever you want on a free.

That will only work if Waggott is CEO at his current or future club...

1 hour ago, MB Rover said:

As I said when appointed, Eustace is a step down from JDT.

We were bad under JDT, but at least under him we drew with Rotherham, if we played them tomorrow at Ewood I've no doubt we'd get beat, we're the worst team in the division right now.

I'm not sure why you're so certain we'd lose to a team who have lost their last 8 games straight, after we just drew with a team who had just won their last two, and we've recently drawn with other teams who are also better than Rotherham.

'At least we drew with Rotherham' has to be one of the most backhanded compliments imaginable. They're the absolute whipping boys of the league. We're merely draw specialists right now, and playing turgid stuff. As depressing as it is, we're actually in better form than we were in the latter days of JDT's reign, a patch including the Rotherham game you mention. We could have done with more draws back then.

15 minutes ago, WacoRover said:

This is either a sitcom, or a horror pic. I’m not sure which, & I hope we don’t have to find out. 

I'm going with horror. Given the budget has been repeatedly slashed.

We all also Know What They Did Last Summer (and Last January...and this January, and...)

Although it could be both and be a horror-comedy. I certainly find myself wanting to Scream.

56 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Still hasnt won a game and is dishing up some Appleton esque football

Funnily enough, I thought within a day or so of appointing him 'this guy gives me Appleton vibes'. I didn't post it as I didn't want to jinx it, speak too soon, or be too negative about it so early, but as the matches keep coming the comparison seems more and more apt.

47 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

And we are on the brink of relegation, go figure.....

I'm sure that's because we bring Markanday off the bench on occasion, yeh.