arbitro

This should evoke some pleasant memories for a few of us.

2026?

Trust me there were more Rovers fans at Charlton moaning about Ismael that there were moaning about the referee. He made a big thing about the referee allegedly 'winking and laughing' at Cantwell. I think this was simply a deflection tactic from Ismael after a wretched performance. If they have a complaint about what the referee had supposedly done then that should go through the official channels and not the media.

In an ideal world yes but football doesn't call into that category. The best managers can make the most of their resources but yesterday Ismael didn't and it contributed to the defeat. Whilst Carter is injured does that mean that Miller will start every game as our only right footed centre half? In my view it's cosmetic and illogical when it is to the detriment of the team.

Alebiosu was really struggling after he got hurt and Charlton sensed he was struggling and played a few balls in behind him. He seemed to recover a bit but then aggravated it making a challenge close to half time. At first it appeared to be a kick which can normally be run off but the sight of him with a protective boot on post match was worrying. On Tavares he looked like a little boy lost at times. He wanted too much time on the ball and was out muscled far too many times. Baradji simply has to get up to speed quickly. Having to rely on a player like Tavares will invariably end up in the same way.

I wonder if the Stasi will allow spectators at the Burnley game.

I know it's down to Ismael's thinking but in my view his rationale is flawed. Some of the best centre back pairings I have seen at Rovers haven't been a left/right foot combination. Faz and Keeley, Nelson and Samba and Hyam and Baath. Ismael will use inverted wingers but at centre half he wants something different. His logic is really flawed and contributed to our defeat yesterday in my view. It comes across as 'I know best' arrogance.

Tavares looked miles off it yesterday as did Pickering. What really grates with me is that last week there were two under 21 games and not one of the first team squad (who haven't had much game time) featured at all. If it was in Ismael's mind to start with Pickering then surely he should have at least got some competitive game time under his belt.

It wasn't out of necessity. We had McLoughlin on the bench who should have come on with Miller (who we signed primarily as a right back) moving to right back. Bringing on Tavares made us much weaker in midfield and Gardner-Hickman was given a real schooling by Campbell. Whilst that poor decision from Ismael didn't actually cost us the game It certainly made us so much weaker in the second half.

My anger and frustration from yesterday has just receded slightly after seeing Esteve score two own goals. Both were finishes that any striker would have been happy with 😂. Shades of Duffy.

There is a saying in football that goes 'they wanted it more than us'. It's a saying I have never really agreed with until today. We were second best in every position, hardly won any first or second balls, came second best in most challenges and very rarely got first contact on the ball from set pieces. I honestly hadn't a clue how we were set up tactically today. We were so narrow at times we left wide open spaces for Charlton to exploit. Miroshito went past Bell with ease early on. Great I thought, that is the route to a win today. How wrong I was because after that he spent more time in the middle offering no threat. The half time substitution baffled me. Putting Gardner-Hickman to full back when we had McLoughlin on the bench and Miller who is primarily a right back staying at centre half. I just don't but this two left footed centre halves tosh. Gardner-Hickman was like a fish out of water as he struggled pitifully. Car too often Toth and the centre halves played straight balls into midfield when players were facing their own goal and under pressure. It was rinse and repeat and Charlton couldn't believe their luck as we tried it as nauseam. I shake my head sometimes when watching Rovers. Twice in the first half we had opportunities to get Miller on long throws and get the ball in the box (it just wasn't happening from open play) and as he was running over and asking the bench Pickering took short throws and almost immediately we lost possession. I have no doubt in my mind that today was the kind of performance that if it happens often will get you relegated. We were physically and mentally weak and awful tactically. Today capped off an awful week to be a Rovers fan. The Ipswich fiasco followed by the LT nonsense and a horrible, wretched performance today from the team, the manager and his staff. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to support a normal club again.

They stand too.

This seems incredibly petty from the club and has Gestede and Pasha's grubby prints on it. It sounds like they wanted to 'buy' or control the Telegraph's reporting by inviting their reporter to travel with the team for the pre season training camp. The toys are well and truly out of the pram now. It's another new low from Rovers but in the bright side the uninformed idiots who lost on the LT website will be redundant. It's all very Trumpian.

I think Ismael speaks so well about the whole situation here.

This is a by product of the absurd way football is run in this country. The decision to replay the match was taken exclusively by the EFL. The Premier League also have autonomy when it comes to disciplinary action against clubs under their control. Any disciplinary sanctions such as red and yellow cards or manager misconduct are reported directly to the FA and they manage that side of the game for both the EFL and Premier League.

He will be popping up on a Sky Sports programme soon offering his opinion as an 'expert' and joining their long list of failed managers (and those who never had the bottle to go into management).

It's not the fault of the Ipswich fans of even the club. If some of the Ipswich fans are gloating it's exactly what some of our lower IQ fans would be doing to them. If you want to vent your anger then do it at the people who have steadfastly refused to invest money in a pitch and a drainage system fit for purpose.

I think this episode has shown that the EFL are woefully inadequate when it comes to their own rules and regulations. There should be a report soon that explains the thought process and rationale behind their decision.

Sky are reporting that the three Championship club representatives on the EFL board abstained from voting which was absolutely the right thing do. Parry and Birch will more than likely led on this one.

The mention of an appeal from Rovers tells me this isn't over yet.

Your mention of that game out me in mind of another game which finished early due to a pitch invasion. https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/september/19/throwback-thursday Fulham appealed but the FA (not the Football League) threw it out. Given it was the last match it certainly wasn't a dead rubber. There was plenty at stake as Fulham could have been promoted and Derby relegated. Slightly different circumstances here but the remaining 11 minutes of this match were played behind closed doors. https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/sport/20089516.efl-issue-statement-oldham-athletic-v-salford-city/

Martin O'Neill nails it here for me.

I can only think that Rovers might include Ismael's comments from yesterday in their final submission (had they not already done so). If Ismael wasn't asked for his opinion by anybody yet the Ipswich manager was Rovers might point to Ipswich putting some pressure on the referee. Clutching at straws perhaps but the more evidence and doubt we can put in the EFL's minds might just help. Disclaimer: I still think it will replayed wholly and 11 v 11.

It doesn't count for anything but I was so relaxed about them not scoring. In fact just before the pause I said I fancied us to score again.

I suggest rerouting Suhail and leaving the River alone.