Gestede clearly said yesterday that Ismael wants to play a high pressing game. One of the biggest changes in the way we are playing from Eustace is that in the five games so far we simply haven't pressed at all.

1. What's the desired end game. To rid ourselves of the owners. 2. What's the compromise position. Personally I don't think there should be a compromise. 3. What's your general thoughts on our approach to date. It's been measured and done in the right manner ie no kneejerk reactions. From the posts on here it is structured too but the aim must be to keep the pressure on. 4. What's your thoughts on the Exec interviews yesterday? It is telling that we have hardly heard from them in a long time and suddenly the three of them appear with the in-house media team (in the case of the COO we have never heard from him). The fact this happened is a clear indicator to me that they are worried and if the pressure is increased they will struggle with it. As for giving me any confidence for the future they did the opposite. 5. Do you want to get more involved. Yes.

I found that strange too with Waggott saying 'they haven't asked us to look for buyers' or words to that effect.

The Rovers charm offensive has turned into a huge own goal. Even using their own in-house media (and possibly scripted too) they come across poor communicators and untrustworthy. Anyone who doesn't know our recent history might be hoodwinked into believing them. Edit: No mention in their crying poverty spiel about their significant pay rises. An impartial journalist would be all over that.

But wouldn't that be the Rovers way? 😂

My understanding is there is an increase built in should the club trigger an extension. I was told this by a friend who works as an agent. He represented an ex Rover who the exact same thing happened and his wage increased considerably.

It could well be the reason but it's a gamble that somebody will buy him or indeed that he himself wants to go. It will also increase his wage and right now I can't see his stock being high enough for his agent to get him a better deal anywhere.

There was no scheduled under 21 game on Saturday although I've just seen there was a BCD friendly but I don't know who it was against or where it was played. The under 18's were at home on Saturday so no transport would have been needed. Haven't the 100 Club supported the Academy by buying them a minibus? The LT recently reported that Rovers have invoked the clause in Hyam's contract triggering an extra year. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25023585.blackburn-rovers-make-decision-out-of-contract-player/

The last three Rovers managers had a degree of humility about them which went a long way to endearing them to the supporters. This bloke seems aloof and cold. He could probably get away with that if he was winning matches.

Eustace squeezed every ounce of this squad and realised how to get the very best out of them. Travis and Tronstad were the heartbeat of the team and both played their best football in their time at Rovers. Now both look confused and bereft of confidence - even the basics seem too much for them. It's almost like Ismael is trying to dismantle this and do it his own way to the detriment of results and ultimately the club.

In his five games so far there hasn't been any high press with Ismael. Opponents are allowed time to pick options and we just haven't tried to force any errors. It's almost like anything that was reasonably successful under Eustace has been discarded by Ismael.

They weren't a front two in any conventional sense. Their positioning and movement was random at best. Watching the match it was almost impossible to say any position where they actually playing. The structure of the team in forward areas was extremely poor. That's on Ismael.

I never really noticed a lack of effort from the players to be honest, that is probably the only aspect I could except from criticism. They look confused and drained of confidence. In truth Ismael inherited a squad whose confidence was waning but it has now plummeted to another level. And he doesn't appear to have the answers.

😂 Playing two false nines or two double pivots is the way to go. Don't get me started on low blocs neither

I have been watching football a long time and like to think I have some grasp on the game but yesterday confused me like never before. If anybody (I'm sure somebody will try) to explain what positions Woodrow and Ohashi were then you are a better man than me. The shape of the team in forward positions was so disjointed. At times players were making the same runs, going for the same balls and generally not where they should have been to cause Portsmouth problems. So much for two weeks on the training ground. Rovers right now was summed up by a farcical situation when Beck got injured. Although it was at the other end of the ground it looked serious and the doctor and physio were treating him. A stretcher was summoned and got half way on the pitch when Beck got up really gingerly and didn't look right. He was helped around the perimeter of the pitch clearly distressed and went down the tunnel. This incident lasted several minutes and the game restarts with us having only ten men as Hedges wasn't ready to come on. Even at the next stoppage he didn't come on as he was still doing his laces. It would be embarrassing if it happened this morning at Pleasington. The lack of confidence in the vast majority of players is apparent. A few months ago some of these players were playing arguably the best football of their Rovers careers and now they look awful. Eustace squeezed every drop out of this squad but Ismael seems to have done the opposite. Set pieces have become embarrassing offering not even the merest hint of a threat. The passing and movement has dissipated and we are so easy to play against. Yesterday we were so deep and disjointed at times we invited Portsmouth to exploit the gaps. As soon As we went one down the majority of Rovers fans feared the worst. I honestly don't know where we go from here now. The manager has a long contract but honestly does seem to be struggling with even the most basic aspects of football management.

The gloves are off. It's the usual nonsense including regularly meeting with fans. Aside from the groups who won't challenge them whenever have they done that? When was the last media interview any of them did? They did away with the fans consultation meetings because they couldn't stand the heat.

Darwen FC have come up with interesting marketing initiative.

Hopefully the lenses of local and national media will be trained on the Directors Box at Fratton Park tomorrow to see if any of the stooges are there. With a live Sky match next Friday at home hopefully they will be under even more scrutiny.

Great work and subtly turns the heat up on the three stooges.

It isn't cheap and no doubt there will be some not renewing simply because of the cost but doing comparisons with other clubs prices doesn't tell the whole story from a Rovers point of view.

Without doubt. The prices are thoughtless but Waggott just hasn't read the room with regard to the depth of feeling.

Reading many of the posts on here and speaking to people I don't think the prices are the issue for many. There is severe disenchantment amongst many fans and the latest farce in January will have been the tipping point for more of them.

The young lad, like many other Rovers fans won't know anything about the shambles we have become. The players are role models to him and his main enjoyment in life is watching Rovers. Of course nobody can stop him going and your picket line comment is extreme. I see your post has been liked by a couple who have openly said don't buy season tickets. One actually said anyone who does is part of the problem.

I don't know if it's linked to the price hike or I might be giving Swag too much credit but next season there is likely to be a huge hole in the income from away fans at Ewood. With the likes of Leeds, Burnley, Sheffield United and Sunderland potentially not being in the Championship that could represent several hundred thousand pounds in revenue that has to be clawed back somehow

We have to start the game well and not concede any early goals like we have done in the last three away matches. In each of these the home crowd and players were visibly lifted whilst we were almost shell shocked. Ideally a clean sheet for starters and try to nick one for us. A passionate, partisan crowd need to be silenced. It's a big test for Ismael and the players after the no shows at Derby, Stoke and at home to Cardiff when you could see confidence visibly disappearing from some players.I Hopefully the drive home will be better than it has on most of the long distance away matches this season.