Feels like a very 2025 rovers signing. He won't be expensive, isn't likely to be waiting for a PL job and won't come in with a huge weight of expectation. The sticking point is presumably the cost of buying him out of his contract. I wouldn't mind him overall looking at his record and experience, he appears a calm head with some legitimacy about him. There's a decent argument that's what we need rather than an unknown quantity who could be amazing or could be a disaster

Eustace is (possibly has?) Taking training today and is then travelling to meet with Derby. Could still be part of a powerplay but it suggests to me noone in India has made contact or expressed a desire to have the meeting.

Elliot Jackson retweeted a selection of questions asked of JE and I think they're very telling. I assumed with the quotes of speaking to the owners he actually mean Waggot and Sugail but actually he repeatedly says owners to several questions. His body language is interesting when he hints about what the content of those conversations might be. I think this is a powerplay. My genuine belief is he knows going to Derby is not a positive step but he's fed up of being told what's going to happen. He knows he's in a position of strength and if he doesn't get an audience with an actual decision maker then he's prepared to go. The question is, does that message actually get to the venkys or will it be intercepted. He's used the platforms available to him to circumvent the communication process currently in place, knowing full well that those present in the UK will not want him to have an honest conversation. I don't see an outcome outside of JE leaving tomorrow or Waggot and Suhail effectively being sidelined. Interesting times.

He won't sadly, no-one wants to step out of line for fear of angering agents

If he's genuinely in talks then surely he doesn't take the match today. Although as I'm typing this the thought occurred - who at rovers cares enough to tell him to stay away.

I don't think betting odds on a next manager market are much to assess the chances by, they've always massively fluctuated based on a couple of low level bets. I don't think JE would realistically leave for Derby but I absolutely believe he will leave in the summer because, let's be honest, what does he have to gain by staying at Rovers. His reputation is in a good place after Birmingham regardless of how the next 15 games play out and given most clubs have a significantly better level of board competence and support he would be crazy to stay.

I see Rovers insider has popped up after 6 months of silence, feels odd timing wise

Sorry, this is getting off topic. It just frustrates me that so many will go to any means to get a product for free then complain at its quality. Back to Rovers not signing anyone.

I don't think that's fair really. He has to cope with, let's be honest, a basket case of a club - dealing with senior personnel who have minimal decision making ability and a desire not to communicate. If no-one pays for the LT then they will move towards sensationalism to drive advertising, probably removing any semblance of local journalism in order to cut costs and rely on independents who care only for clicks. Elliot isn't perfect and his continual grammatical errors and spelling mistakes wind me up as much as anyone else but I genuinely believe he wants to produce a quality product without resorting to making up rumours.

Or you could subscribe instead of contributing to the death of journalism.

Trying to convince the kids to brush their teeth so we can set off and make sure we're 2 hours early... I think I'd play Leonard to start with Gueye coming on for 2nd half chaos, we just look one dimensional with him starting. Cantwell - great if he plays but certainly not the end of the world if he's on the bench and it would be interesting to see how he can change a game from sub Overall - a result today feels like it could be season defining

I wonder if there would be value in Ohashi playing midfield instead of Hedges and giving Leonard a chance starting up front

Dolan starts, I like him and he's a trier but I thought we looked better without him as the focal point given he just doesn't have the end product. I assume Brittain is still looking for full fitness to not be starting. Leonard will almost certainly get some minutes and who knows, if he scores today or even puts up a decent performance i think he's got a shot at becoming first choice

First live game for us this season and we walked away happy with the performance but not getting carried away yet! Dylan gives it his all but as ever his end product just isn't quite there, I can see why he keeps getting a start but also why we clearly aren't willing to pay him as much as he wants. Cantwell is another level, he repeatedly was either playing passes or making moves that rhe rest of the team just didn't see. I had to educate my 9yo about a certain David Bentley on our way back to the car. I thought Carter stepping into midfield in possession didn't quite work but with Baath and Hyam looking so good I'm not sure how we solve this. Gueye clearly loves playing football and is absolutely delighted to be a part of the team but we seemed to play to feet when he came on having played to head when Ohashi led the line. I'm sure there's a plan with that but this layman couldn't see it. Overall, a better start than I dared hope for and who knows what the season holds

The ST issue is frustrating. I get that the prices are better than they have been but the fact remains they're still higher than I (middle aged male, decent enough job, young family) can justify. Cut them to £200 and I get one, if I get one then my 2 sons do as will my 70yo Aunt despite the fact we won't make it to more than realistically 8/9 games. Instead we'll now buy tickets on a game by game basis and maybe go to half that. I can just feel they're itching to bang prices up again using this season as an example that "cutting prices doesn't work"

I'd buy either home or away without question if there was a different sponsor!

Where are we sponsor wise? There was a suggestion on the forum somewhere we were moving from totally wicked

This is bang on, the sad part is I don't think anyone at the club cares because the only people still around when that plan comes to fruition are the fans themselves. The current regime are fine with killing the club off because it doesn't impact their wages for the next 2-3 years.

You're right of course but that's deliberately an attempt to scrape together the necessary points

I know how this will be received but I feel like someone needs to defend Eustace to an extent. The tactics yesterday were straightforward - don't lose. He wants to stay up and that's it, there's no extra points for style, just stay in the division. Those tactics didn't work yesterday but I completely understand why he lined up that way and to be fair - not many would have suggested pre-game that the same team would give such a different performance to last week. Its tempting to suggest he should have changed things but if we're honest this squad doesn't have the depth or quality to allow that. There are no game changers on the bench. He's trying to enhance what he sees as our strengths to scrape enough points to stay in the division, nothing more or less. His interview post game looks awful with his grin but he's trying to keep some positivity around a team that are no doubt hating this season. If he adds to the negativity they don't have a hope in hell in the next 2 games. He is their leader and he needs to show them he believes they can beat Coventry. He doesn't do that by throwing Pears under the bus live on sky sports. He talks so much about togetherness which winds some up but actually thats the only way a club like Rovers can compete when the lifeblood is being sucked away. He cannot allow frustration and negativity to be the prevailing feeling amongst the players. If he can get us over the line this season I genuinely believe we will see a different approach next.

He picked up an injury during a game that needs surgery, that can happen to anyone. I think it's a bit dramatic to be overly critical of the recruitment team here.

Naive I know but I thought we'd be looking at a decent crowd for this one, doesn't seem it on the seat map at the moment.

Come on JB, is this something worth us checking in for every 10 mins as I'm currently doing?!

You're right that this happened at points but that's even more of a reason to bring him on, it gave extra flexibility to a struggling formation. Gally added physically to a midfield being overrun by the extra man

When we've been down to 10 men for an hour, the right back playing left back needs a physical presence in front of him and the other option is Markanday...yes