1 minute ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Why? The only winger Carter has struggled with this season is the one for Girona. Nobody at this level is good enough to massively worry him. 

I don't understand this? Carter has played centre back most of the season.

1 minute ago, AllRoverAsia said:

This is getting tiresome.

It's really bleak, isn't it? Club dying and I tune in each game to watch the latest depressing instalment. 

It's January 13th. No meaningful replacements for those pushed out the door/recalled. A decent LB brought in on loan but unable to get a game when our (mediocre) LB is out. Still no striker. 

It's almost as if Venkys aren't going to make this a "Dream", or even the absolutely essential basics, transfer window needed. Who'd have thought?

3 minutes ago, ageoftherover said:

No Szmodics is a blow but I reckon this line up will surprise today. 2-1 Rovers. A Wharton and Leonard scoring and a good game from Leo.

That would be a serious surprise. I think it looks a terrible line up consisting mainly of a mix of out-of-position selections and league one quality with a good smattering of 'out of form' to set us up for a pasting.

Brittain at left back and Carter at right back is enough to suggest West Brom are going to have a field-day here. 

Just now, windymiller7 said:

First thing I noticed too! Do you think he really steals toilets? 🤣

🙂 Only his own. What a life.

7 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

What??

That surely has to be as credible as the source's surname suggests.

With Travis popped out for a bit/forever, Garrett is surely the main (only?) backup to the central two at the moment. We really are down to the bare bones. Before even contemplating a loan for Garrett, and an optimistic assumption of 'someone better lined up', I'd first be keen to see who the optimistic assumption of an upgrade on Travis is going to be. Spoiler: Each of the above will almost certainly be young, cheap loans from premier league teams that are not able to compete physically in the Championship. In which case, what is the bloody point of loaning out our own youngsters? (Except saving any and every penny).

Firstly, good result today. Another defensive horror show.

Secondly, have I missed something? Waggott is explicitly dissing his DoF "colleague" to members of the public, now?!?!

There you go, Chaddy. Replacement for Travis sorted, nice and quickly. Fucking brilliant.

2 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

 

Not sure I could be any more underwhelmed by a signing, nor utterly deflated by watching this car-crash of a club. Still can't find a way to break the ties I have to it. But more young loan signings in, as our experienced players leave, will definitely help.

1 minute ago, chaddyrovers said:

Or you bring in a player that suits our style and why would change style when it's suits Szmodics, Wharton and Tronstad how we play

I look forward to that, Chaddy. But I won't hold my breath. Let's just add replacing the Travis CM option to the list including improved full backs, goalkeeper, and an actual striker, shall we? This is quite clearly systematic downgrading and cheapening of our playing squad. It only ends badly. I kind of envy your relentless optimism, but not really.

14 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Why change the team style just for Travis? 

I think it is clear that isn't the suggestion. An option would be changing the team's formation and/or style to better suit the players you have available, rather than dogmatically sticking to a style that doesn't suit what you have at your disposal. Letting go of your experienced players reduces your ability to do that.

It is a perfectly reasonable challenge that should be made, with no manager/coach being above that challenge or constructive question. Sometimes all of us have to accept we are wrong and change our approach, in life. That is ok. And much better than stubbornly continuing with something that isn't working.

2 minutes ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

Travis being loaned out to Ipswich apparently. Not sold

Other than as a symptom of a need for desperate reduction in the wage bill, this doesn't make much sense to me, at all. This is the club captain, who it could be argued would add something to our currently overrun central midfield. 

If he isn't seen as an option for the first team, then why loan not sell? Why loan, at all? It can only be either 'cut costs at every opportunity', or Travis has asked to leave and this is the only viable option at the moment.

In the first scenario, I can't see a replacement brought in. In the second, it would surely only be a loan, and unlikely to be a better option than Travis, so we downgrade (again).

Odd. Very odd. 

1 hour ago, OldEwoodBlue said:

Best case scenario is the court says no.

The lights go out. The people get laid off. Administrators sell the club. We have 10 points taken away. We go down. The Rovers rebuild with a united fanbase and enjoy our glorious future.

Anything else is delaying the inevitable above.

I agree and, to support the point you are making, this scenario would obviously have a significant impact on many of those laid off, which would be very sad. However, as you say, I can only see this as being the eventual outcome, anyway, after some period of ongoing uncertainty about wages being paid, etc. 

A court decision to keep these 'survival payments' being made will essentially be a licence for Venkys to continue their stranglehold and the painfully slow killing of our club.

22 minutes ago, TheRevAshton said:

The article...

In November, the High Court of Dehli approved an application for £11.5million to be transferred for Roverso...

When this lad's work permit comes through, though, he's going to be better than Ronaldinho.

PS How hard is it to spell 'Delhi' correctly twice in one article, LT??

1 minute ago, BankEnd Rover said:

So reading this there’s a ‘chance’ we will get funds but not until 24th January? 

And those funds will be just to pay wages and bills. Dark days.

6 minutes ago, Blow-in said:

He is wasting his time, he could take shit on waggot's desk and the owners won't pay him off.

Surely worth a go? 

3 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

I realize this is probably pie in the sky stuff but just putting it out there. Would people be happy with this ?

Do you think there could ever be a situation similar to what's happening with Jim Ratcliffe at Utd, whereby Venkys would be willing to accept a substantial cash injection from a third party for a minority share in the club ?

They would maintain overall control ,but the new investors would have the say on any transfers in or out, thus removing the need for every decision to have to go through India before approval.

I would imagine a figure of around £20 m spent wisely could see us challenging again for promotion to the Premier League, and the new investors would recoup their money back with the fortune to be gained.

Like I say, probably get shot down for this, but it's just an idea to get us out of the meandering situation we're in at the moment.

Plus, is that person or persons out there ?

I think the people would be out there for that, but I'm not sure it would ever be welcomed by Venkys, or be a sufficient solution. Firstly, because we need a much bigger overhaul in the club (income generation, marketing, community engagement, ticketing strategy, mentality etc etc) than just a chunk of cash that possibly wouldn't even compete with the spending power (or established talent) of ten of the clubs in the division. And we might not be able to spend their investment due to FFP and Venkys' accounts. Secondly, and linked to the last bit, Venkys are nothing but a cancer within our club. They will ruin anything positive that comes in 'alongside them' and will drag investors, and us, down with them as their financial situation deteriorates. The only possible answer is for them to go, and it will be painful itself. I just don't see it happening unless and until their ability to pay the bills is stopped.

8 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

The Premier Suite was good and the staff excellent but like the rest of the ground it's looking a bit tired and in need of a revamp. The toilets need ripping out next week

 

Oh, Jim. What did you do?? (Second thoughts, don't answer that).

😉

Even greater stupidity than Buckley last year. Don't want to see him back in the team for a long time. Fuming

Nearly an hour "chasing" a game and one attempt on target? Nowhere near good enough from manager or players. We concede first in any match and my hopes for anything out of the game are virtually zero. That's really, really not right and gone on for far too long.

1 minute ago, moerpho said:

Game over

I really didn't think it was anything other than game over from when the first goal went in. No real fight or belief in this team. Knock it around nicely sometimes but so what?

Its the same shite refs that take charge of all the games. The best teams in the division take control of games and are tough enough that the standard of refereeing doesn't matter. We aren't one of those top teams in terms of strength in depth, quality in key positions (GK, ST), or mentality. Frustrating - yet another missed opportunity.

Nice start to the football weekend!

11 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Think we need Garrett on for Moran.

This would have helped. Moran one of several who have gone missing here