1 hour ago, rigger said:

I thought Phillips refused to sign a contract with the Rovers, because he knew if he was a free agent he would personally make more money. Which is the opposit of what Adam Wharton did. That is why Phillips will get stick and Wharton won't. Nobody would doubt the merits of leaving the Rovers, it is just the way it was done. If I am talking utter bollocks I apologise for my lack of the true facts.

Phillips was given the opportunity to join one of the bigger clubs in the Premier League.

We are a shambles.

It's not really a difficult choice.

An evening with Steve Waggott, with special guests Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong un, (both of whom are likely to be more honest).

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

Have you ever worked for a manager?

😂 I know what you mean. I probably chose the wrong way to describe him.

I just meant he isn’t a cave dweller, is well dressed and well spoken.

It’s probably for the best that I can’t go on Saturday, because it’s becoming an ongoing thing with him, as if what’s on the pitch isn’t bad enough.

2 hours ago, broadsword said:

I guess people will believe what makes them comfortable. This is why I've seen otherwise intelligent people believe all sorts of conspiracy nonsense. It's an emotional thing, that bypasses critical reasoning.

 

I mean the very idea that for the last thirteen years vultures have been picking the meat off our bones and we're on the verge of a third relegation, but it's nothing to do with venkys , is obviously nonsense

I think that guy’s attitude is typical of many who still attend (ever dwindling).

He’s probably not interested in the politics, hence his take on it.

Im afraid some of our supporters deserve all they get.

34 minutes ago, broadsword said:

Despair is the right word. Despair is anger with nowhere to go. Until there's a groundswell of support for taking action, then nothing will change. The n supporters have to be united. Unfortunately, and incredibly, there's are so fans who think venkys are a good thing.

It's either relegation or admin or the Indian court or fans disrupting games that's going to change it. Why they want to keep us is a mystery. A mate recently described them as useless fuckwits. 

But yeah, I'm in despair with it all. The lowest I've ever been with rovers. The thought that they'll never go absolutely haunts me. It's like something out of Saw

Bloke behind me on Tuesday when the "Venkys out!" chants started when Millwall scored -  "This has got nothing to do with Venkys".

This is a guy who looks like he's a business man or manager, so presumably has a modicum of intelligence.

Soon, the only people left in the ground (other than away fans) will be the Stockholm Syndrome mob.

48 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

Yeah, so do I. However, when I read it in the Athletic article, it came across as dismissing a section of the fanbase, as a mere lunatic fringe.

Bertha Mason's Blue and White Army!

Yes, I must admit I was also surprised by the choice of words.

3 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

and JRC still 3 or 4 weeks away.

…….from sustaining his next injury.

Just now, Leonard Venkhater said:

Apparently, "there are wild anti-Venky groups"... Christ on a bike!!!!!!

I like the idea of “wild anti-Venky groups” and would like to join.

Do they organise trips to Pune to hunt them down?

46 minutes ago, philipl said:

Sticking to my guns- must not lose.

Not losing to the club most likely to slip into the bottom 3 if we don't is absolutely paramount.

The other fixtures see fellow travellers in distress either playing each other -

Millwall v Birmingham

QPR v Boro

OR facing opponents at the top end desperate for 3 points -

Wednesday v Leeds

PNE v Stoke

Huddersfield v West Brom

So a point is unlikely to lose us ground to 22nd place.

Incidentally, Brum v Boro which is those two sides' game in hand on everybody else is played on Tuesday night so we face Boro a week on Saturday after they have played two tough away games without having a midweek fixture ourselves.

Theoretically correct, but if we can't muster more than two points against Millwall and Plymouth at home, and the run stretches to two wins from nineteen games, I think the writing is firmly on the wall.

5 minutes ago, Devon Rover said:

It will only look less bleak until the run of fixtures coming up after it. For that reason, as you suggest, it is a must-win against Plymouth. Not a game for a 5-man defence at home....

Looking at the fixtures, I think there's a fair chance that a win would make the table look better for the first time in weeks.

Have to say I'm not confident though, on the evidence of Tuesday.

30 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

That tells you all you need to know. We were relying on the teams down at the bottom staying there. That was never going to happen.

IF (and it’s a big IF) we win on Saturday, it won’t look as bleak.

There would be grounds for hope and the table should look better.

Fail to win and I just don’t see where one is coming from.

1 minute ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

How many teams look worse than us at the moment ?

Only Rotherham, (who we were unable to beat home or away). 

1 hour ago, Hasta said:

JDT got cut a bit of slack because he was the first person we've had who was prepared to highlight the incompetence above. Previously most managers just tow the line and thank the owners, and I fear that is where we back are.

 

I think that by talking about “ignoring outside noise” and “things we can’t control”, Eustace is basically saying “I’m not getting involved in the politics”.

25 minutes ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Lucky in that there was little quality in the league that year,

lucky in that we had a squad of some quality that wanted to right the wrongs that next season- Graham, mulgrew ….

lucky that we could afford to bag the best player in the league- dack

 

need to look at the bigger picture I’m afraid 

Exactly.

League One is much stronger now.

We might even have fellow development club, Crewe, in the same division.

They will probably be about our level.

1 hour ago, aletheia said:

JE
6 league games
4 points out of a possible 18

Players available to JE that were not available for the majority of the time to JDT on his bad run:
Gallagher, Dolan, Ayari, McFadz, Pickering, Hyam, Pears (for 5 of 6), Chrisene, Hedges (3 out of 6)

Edit

JDT was juggling:

Wahlstedt, Leonard, Siggy, Telalovic, Moran, Ennis, Markandy, Garrett,

 

 

For balance - Not available at all to JE : Travis and Wharton A.

Of the others, let's be kind and call them a mixed bag.

It's certainly very disappointing that Eustace is yet to register a win when he has been fully in charge, and that needs to change on Saturday.

As others have alluded to, the head coach (be it JDT or JE) can only work with the cards they have been dealt, which in my opinion have been pretty shitty.

The real fault lies one step up the food chain and upwards from there.

4 minutes ago, Old Codger said:

Lack of urgency. Lack of a coherent plan. Lack of leadership. Lack of quality in front of goal. Lack of concentration. Lack of energy. Lack of guile. Lack of a plan. Lack of pride in the shirt. Lack of options. Lack of concern. Lack of connection to the fans. Lack of action to put things right.

At this rate, we are going to need to be renamed as 'Lackburn Rovers' 😞

 

Too many players who know they can walk away from the wreckage at the end of the season.

1 hour ago, philipl said:

The game completely validated the point I made in the relegation thread.

Our fate depends on Szmodics keeping fit and getting the injured players back and keeping fit. JRC and Carter in particular will bring qualities we were sadly lacking last night.

Thankfully Pears being out didn't cost us last night although Pears would probably have stood up when facing that Millwall goal shot.

That Millwall side were certainly no better than us and in the dog eat dog world of 2 going down out of 11 in danger (I am calling being within 6 points of a relegation place as in danger given the way both the previous 22nd and 23rd teams have put back to back wins together as had Millwall) there are definitely at least 2 of those 11 with clearly worse squads than Rovers. 

Well Rotherham clearly have a worse squad, but they are out of the equation.

Beyond that, I'm not sure any of the clubs involved have a worse squad, and certainly doubt it.

Yes, Millwall were a bit negative last night, but they are on a decent little run of form, so an away point can be seen as a point gained.

I'd much rather be going to Ewood Park than the Den as an away team right now.

Our problems were there for all to see last night.

We look like an under 21 team with a few star guests. A total hotch potch.

You are definitely right about Szmodics, and I feared he may not have reappeared for the second half.

If it was any other player I don't think they would. 

He is being flogged to within an inch of his life, such is our dependency on him.

I think Pears is saving that shot for the goal.

Win on Saturday, (not confident), or I think we can forget it.

12 minutes ago, Bronzed A Donis said:

So is foresight and plenty of people were saying it's a huge risk and he might break down straight away , once his injury record had been pointed out. 

He wasn’t even fit to play when we signed him.

Then, surprise surprise, he breaks down within a few minutes of his first appearance.

That is not bad luck.

1 hour ago, tomphil said:

If Greg was your gardener you'd have to check the labels on whatever he brought back from the garden centre, dandelions being passed off as roses.

Yes, he reminds me of Mark Williams hopeless husband character on the Fast Show, returning with random useless items when sent out to the shops by his wife - “Even better than that……”.

21 hours ago, philipl said:

If we have a fair run in with recoveries and no/few new injuries we will be fine unless Eustace is totally useless.

If Szmodics and Pears get injured or suffer catastrophic loss of form and confidence, Eustace will have to be a miracle worker to keep us up.

Two wins from the last seventeen league games doesn't really support your argument, I'm afraid.

I agree that if Szmodics gets injured it will be game over.

9 hours ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

I just think we need to mix it up and get fresh legs in the starting 11 (something we should have done at the weekend) cant just keep playing pretty much the same 11 in thecsame formation and expecting/hoping things will improve

I think a major reason that hasn't happened is the squad is dire.

The only thing any supporter should be saying to Waggott is “resign “, before walking out.

We shouldn’t appease these people at all.

They have nothing but contempt for us.

1 hour ago, simongarnerisgod said:

could someone ask "who authorised signing a player who`s broken his leg twice,has a metal plate in it and has`nt played for 12 months"

It’s beyond farcical, and to read posts saying it’s “unlucky” that he got injured in his first game for us beggars belief.

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

It won't kick off on a Tuesday night. I would say if anything the fans will right behind the players and unite together till the end of the game

To a point, eg if we are losing but still in the game. If things go badly wrong (hopefully they won’t) it will kick off, no matter how small the crowd.

1 hour ago, Penwortham Blue said:

I would be absolutely staggered if even Swag and Greg the egg had agreed to Travis being eligible to play against Rovers. However……………….

Player value > than points at Rovers.