USABlue,

If you’re going to criticise our manager could you at least spell his name correctly!

You have called him Mowbary in your last 4 posts.

Yes very impressed with Brentford today even though Barnsley look poor. Raya’s kicking was impressive just as I remember him at Rovers.

51 minutes ago, MCMC1875 said:

Isn't Tony's tombola a reference to his hard to predict team selection and the fact that nobody can remember how many times he has sent out an unchanged side.

I’ve listened to every interview that our manager has given over the last season and a bit on ifollow and he clearly states that he will change the formation and line up depending on the opposition. I think as manager of the club he is perfectly entitled to do that as long as he accepts the flak that comes his way with a defeat.

He also quite clearly rates Joe Rothwell calling him an amazing talent at the club. He doesn’t want to lose him. He says his priority to improve his work on the offensive side.

Perhaps our new European scouting team have unearthed a gem. Could be bearing fruit already! Welcome Lewis Holtby.

17 hours ago, DeeCee said:

I believe he also has land near Helston which he rents out.

Yes he does. He is also Lord of the Manor in a hamlet near Liskeard I believe.

As he’s retiring at the end of the season it will be interesting to see where he settles down.

Followed by the inevitable autobiography which might shed some light on this Rovers rumour?

4 hours ago, OJRovers said:

I vaguely remember Warnock wanting to be paid to fly in every week from Cornwall. Whereas Coyle lives in Langho.

You’re quite right that Warnock has property in Cornwall. He has 2 properties here in Looe one of which is directly across the road from me. It is rented out to a dear old lady in her 90’s.

It must have been in 2016 when a rumour was started linking him with the Rovers job. 

He and his wife paid a surprise visit to see the old lady and when they departed after half an hour I saw my chance to speak to her about whether Warnock had said anything about coming to Ewood.

She has an interest in his career and she told me that he had said the only job he wanted was the Cardiff job. His “dream job” he said. I pressed her as to any interest in Rovers from him but he was adamant it was Cardiff. I still kick myself for not using this insider knowledge at The bookies!

Warnock employs a handyman who lives in Looe who also does jobs for me but he is very difficult to get hold of as he’s often driving up to Cardiff to work on the Warnock home there.

I have my doubts that Warnock was interested in the Rovers job and he was more than happy to relocate to Cardiff.

2 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

Still loads of pubs around Ewood. 

My memory must be fading but I can’t think of loads of pubs apart from the Brown Cow and the one on the corner whose name I can never remember. But you’re right Matty in that there are match day alternatives in pubs.

My match day experience was the Manxman which was always packed on a Saturday so I never associated Livesey Branch Road as a goer!

I used to quite enjoy the Fans Zone when we’ve been up but those prices are ridiculous. So many pubs have closed such as the Manxman which was always our meeting up point and the Albion that a realistic pricing structure would guarantee the crowds before kickoff.

The live music was always very good too. Has that gone now?

The South East Cornwall Supporters Group will be coming up in October. Is the Waggott Tax still in operation for latecomers?

2 hours ago, Glosrover said:

just how it should be ....

a friend {Glos based PNE fan} pointed me to this post on the PNE forum, interesting perspective on Rover's business in the window 

 

quite why they consider Rovers as 'Plastics' is beyond me, but presumably some obscure reference to us competing at the very top of the top level through the 1990's along-with the so-called big boys, [it's also quite ironic as PNE were last in the first division in 1961 when plastic probably hadn't even been invented].

Maybe Rover's transfer business looks better from the outside than from our own perspective?

 

Preston were one of the first teams to play on a plastic pitch at Deepdale; a bit ironic calling us “plastics!”

Jeff Stelling very pointedly last Saturday mentioned that Mowbray’s face was one of anger at Mulgrew for missing a header against Charlton. Clearly harsh words have been exchanged this week. Most unusual that the club captain leaves after one match!

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

I disagreed with Parson when he said similar last night and I disagree now.

Surely if you don't care whether we win lose or draw, it's time to give up and get your enjoyment going down the Pub instead?

That stat you cite above should be enough on its own to have supporters hopping up and down and foaming at the mouth. It tends to confirm the view of many that our pre season schedules tend to be a bit of a joke and we go into every new season severely undercooked.

By way of contrast I heard a stat yesterday that Paul Cook has never lost an opening day game winning eight and losing one I think. Obviously he is doing something right in terms of preparation and we are not.

I know we're not Manchester City these days but there's no excuse for me for not being the best we can possibly  be in terms of preparation. That also extends to getting new players in early, allowing them time to gel so we can hit the ground running from day one.

No doubt if we do sign anyone this week then the complaint will be they need time to bed in by which time 15 points or more could have gone by the wayside.

I detest us losing, or even drawing a game at home. I'm never completely happy unless we're averaging two points a game. Even if that isn't feasible you can always do slightly better which is why it's so galling to see the manager fritter our chances away by playing players out of position, favouring certain players who are either past it or who were never any good in the first place or both, and fail to address areas that clearly need strengthening.

 

 

I think you misunderstand what I was saying and I’m pretty sure how Parson feels also. I do not like my team losing at whatever level but I have learned over a lifetime of supporting Rovers that you have to be rational about it and not get too downhearted.

I don`t know if anyone has mentioned this already but we`ve not won our opening game for the last 9 seasons which is some achievement! 4 of those were home defeats! That is why I agree with posters like Parsonblue that over the years you have to be fairly sanguine when following our team; you hope for something better next time.

My match day experience these days (except when I can get to Ewood)  is sitting in front of the TV watching Soccer Saturday with Jeff Stelling from 3 till 5pm praying that the goals go flying in for us. Yesterday when the focus was on the Championship I was able to get a bit more of a feel of the game as Bianca Westwood was summarising for Sky from the depths of the Riverside Stand. 

What was clear was the ebb and flow of 90 minutes and how Rovers were in the ascendancy for the most part, "dominating possession" or "throwing everything at the Charlton defence " in the second half. Even Jeff Stelling in the studio made a reference to Tony Mowbray showing anger at Mulgrew for missing a header in the first half. 

So I`m not in the Mowbray out camp  as there were positives from yesterday but if he could add a couple of players this week it might help to reboot the new season optimism amongst the fans.

Hopefully Rothwell off the bench at some point. No Tosin on the bench. Didn’t think he’d start but it’s a good vantage point to get the feel of the team. Perhaps Oldham?

1 hour ago, philipl said:

Keep going lads and ladies. About 50 posts to 600 pages.

Don’t worry Bigdogsteel will get us there on his own. His output is prodigious! 

As for Tosin, welcome to the club. I watched his two games against us last season on ifollow just now.

Looks very tidy and confident on the ball, physically very much like Bell.

I don’t think he’ll want to see the Reed goal at their place again and especially won’t want to view the Mulgrew goal direct from a corner at Ewood again!

I agree he’s not the dominant CB but he will be an asset to the squad.

4 hours ago, philipl said:

Just got in. 

First mention of Armstrong's 3rd minute goal on here seems to have been at half time.

This really is the miserable old guys home from home.

I agree with you Philip. I put it on amazed that no one else had bothered. I can’t quite believe that more than one poster wanted us to lose heavily today so that the management team would realise we had a problem in defence.

I’m sure they are aware of the situation as it’s their livelihood on the line every single week.

Pool 0-1Rovers HT

Armstrong 3 mins

27 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Why would you get less money for betting on promotion than top 6? Given you have to be in the top 6 to have a chance of promotion. Did you mean 14/1 or something?

Apologies Bluebruce

I was having a senior moment! The odds I quoted are the wrong way round! You are quite right! 

In fact Bet365 are basically saying there is no way we are going up. 

Just now, bluebruce said:

Why would you get less money for betting on promotion than top 6? Given you have to be in the top 6 to have a chance of promotion. Did you mean 14/1 or something?

You can finish in the top 6 and not get promoted. Promotion is more difficult as you need to be either top 2 or win playoffs.

10 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Don't think those odds are quite right.

Sky Bet have us 33/1 to be Champions, 10/1 to be promoted and 11/2 to go down.

If I was betting on it (which I'm not) I'd be taking the relegation option.

Rev I didn’t even consider the relegation option! I made a bit of money last season and the 10/1 top 6 option gets my vote.

50 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Fiver?

Bookies are giving us 33/1 on being Champions; 10/1 on being top 6 and 4/1 on promotion. Where’s your fiver going?!

Perhaps the keeper is Joe Hart. The Times today says he can leave on a free transfer.

Im sure he’ll have plenty of offers and his wages will be high but I would be really pleased if it was him.

Just now, bluebruce said:

Pretty sure he's not talking about future profit, but first team regulars now.

Perhaps I’m not making myself clear but the £12m investment in first team regulars might well ensure future profits.

1 hour ago, den said:

The academy is there for the future.  £12m spent in this league, by a club like ours must provide first team regulars.  There really can’t be any arguments with that. 

 

I totally agree Den. A £12m investment with the first team should hopefully produce a future profit. 

Just now, AAK said:

Hopefully police constable.

Yes sarge!

I regard his signing along with BB as investments for the future.

They are costly signings to be sure but in the light of deals being negotiated in the current climate they are a risk worth taking.

Our manager has made a decision which I’m sure the owners agree with and I’m happy with that.

I would be astonished if deals for a goalkeeper and defenders (probably on loan) were not in place by the end of the window.