
arbitro
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Everything posted by arbitro
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For any Rugby League aficionados there is an excellent three part documentary currently on Sky Sports Action called We are Wigan Warriors. It covers last season when they win four trophies and gives a great insight into how a successful sports club runs efficiently. The psychology used to motivate the players is so innovative.
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Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach
arbitro replied to DE.'s topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
Seeing grown men with inflatable snakes around their necks was one of the most bizarre things I've seen as a Rovers fan of many years. And the real villains at our club got a free pass.- 1900 replies
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Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach
arbitro replied to DE.'s topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
You could well be right as none of us has a crystal ball to see into the future. I wasn't too excited by the appointment neither but I'm not really judging him from what he says in interviews but what I see on the pitch. I was happy enough with the Norwich game and the character we showed but yesterday was unacceptable on every level. In terms of the length of contract I was surprised by it but it says more about the erratic decision making at Rovers rather than anything about Ismael. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
Norwich were better which was generally acknowledged by many. I was commenting on your notion that the players weren't playing for Ismael when we equalised late on and showed a bit of character. Yesterday was undoubtedly poor and the error riddled slow start gave us a huge task but I wouldn't have questioned the players commitment at all. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
I honestly don't get those vibes from watching last week and yesterday. It might well prove the case over the coming months but right now I find the notion of players not playing for him laughable. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
Me too but on the second goal Hyam and Carter were far too weak. To give Eustace a bit of credit it appears he was looking to exploit our weaknesses by getting the ball in the penalty area as often as possible. He also had Adams chipping away at Travis and it worked as Travis became preoccupied with Adams and lost focus. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
As we did at Bristol, Swansea, QPR, Oxford and pretty much every game where we have gone behind. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
How do you explain coming back against Norwich last week to get a point. We conceded in the 90th minute and only had ten men. They clearly were playing for him then. Yesterday we started slowly and conceded two soft goals from basic errors. The change in the system made by Ismael made us much more solid. There was no lack of effort and nothing at all to suggest the players are not playing for him. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
In respect of the goalkeepers Wednesday's team selection will be interesting. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
Our set pieces were abysmal today primarily down to poor delivery but I can't remember one where one of our players got the first contact on the ball. Similarly we didn't win many second balls, something we were good at with the Tronstad/Travis pairing earlier in the season. -
Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach
arbitro replied to DE.'s topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
That's pretty much it. The name on the managers door may change but the real issue is still very much there and they are getting away pretty much Scott Free. If only the voluble chants today aimed at Eustace could have been directed at Waggott and Pasha. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
In the next few weeks when mid table obscurity has been sealed I would be tempted to give young Nick Michalski a run of games. He's confident lad and certainly couldn't do worse than Pears. By saying that I have grave doubts about Toth too. -
Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach
arbitro replied to DE.'s topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
I'm not sure tanked is the correct description for the two games without the context of us losing four out of Eustace's last five league games. We were poor today which Ismael acknowledged and drew last week came back after conceding a 90th minute goal to equalise and with ten men. I'm struggling with your 'players seemed to have downed tools' quote. I accept that many didn't want him and I wasn't particularly enamoured with the appointment but for anybody to suggest sacking him after two games is a ridiculous notion. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
That's what really annoyed me with the first goal. I can live with mistakes, they happen but Pears simply bottled that challenge not wanting to get hurt. And for a keeper that is unforgivable. -
Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach
arbitro replied to DE.'s topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
You might be right, who knows but judging him after two matches is crazy. -
Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach
arbitro replied to DE.'s topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
That might be the case but the suggestions to sack him after two games is one of the most ridiculous things I've read on here. -
Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach
arbitro replied to DE.'s topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
We got a deserved draw against a decent Norwich team last week. Today we were poor. We had a spell when on that winning run and didn't concede many but take those six games out and we have conceded. Today was the twelfth game this season when we have conceded two or more goals, many of which have been poor. -
Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach
arbitro replied to DE.'s topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
I'm staggered to read that some want the manager sacking. After two games!I And if a new manager comes in and draws and loses in his first two games what them?? Sack him too? He wasn't responsible for Pears gifting a goal to Derby today or for Hyam and Carter not being able to deal with a simple cross. I'm as frustrated As anyone but he simply has to be given a chance -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
Another agonising day on the road with Rovers with what I thought was a tepid performance. At any level conceding two sloppy goals in the first seven minutes gives you a mountain to climb and that's exactly how this played out. The first one was a simple ball into the box which I would have expected us to cope with comfortably but the centre halves went away and Pears did what Pears does - he flapped. It was a bread and butter ball for a keeper in my view and his lack of bravery saw us to one down. Pears is too error prone and needs replacing. The second goal we conceded wasn't dissimilar with a nothing ball causing panic and creating havoc. Wow, seven minutes in and two down. After the change of shape we rallied and created a couple of chances and scored just before half time. Significantly we were out for the second half well before Derby so hopefully Ismael told a few home truths. The second half just passed us by. Lots of possession but far too many nothing passes. The number of opportunities we had to cross the ball but didn't was alarming. Lots of huff and puff but nothing like an end product. How many shots on target did we have in the second half? I can't remember any. Hopefully Ismael found out a few things about some of our players today and too many were poor or at best average. I have never thought we would make the playoffs because of performances like today. We simply lack any consistency and today showed exactly that. Playing a team who were bottom and lost their last three and we start as poorly as we did.I I didn't think we deserved anything today. -
I know exactly who was responsible for the deal but it doesn't make it right.I If you do go to more away games I trust you'll have a greater understated of the issues with early starts, lack of public transport etc. Leeds are at Portsmouth for a noon kick off on Sunday. Aside from the huge inconvenience to them if also impacts on the midweek fixtures next week when Portsmouth's match against Plymouth has to be moved from Tuesday to Wednesday.
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But the fans didn't have a say in any of this. It was foisted on the fans by clubs who simply saw one thing. I wouldn't mind as much if the clubs were mandated to reduce ticket prices or any ventures that made the watching of live football cheaper and a better experience. Instead the money will go into the pockets of players, agents and in Rovers case directors. As I said though the travelling fans are the group who sufferer the most. I don't think you go to many away games so it won't impact on you as much as others but at least try and see it from their point of view.
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Whilst some home supporters are inconvenienced it's usually the travelling away fans who have difficulties. This season we have had two long distance away matches at Watford and Cardiff changed to 12.30 for Sky coverage. Leaving home at 6.30 just isn't right and will affect supporters decision whether to go or not and travelling by public transport makes it even more difficult. Norwich had what I believe to be one of their smallest away followings at Ewood last week for which the 12.30 kick off had to be the main reason. Although QPR aren't the best supported club away from home I'm sure there would have been more than the reported 400 had it not been 12.30. When the clubs voted for the extra games and greater revenue they knew how inconvenienced some fans would be. It would have been nice for the clubs to subsidise travel or tickets for such games. Instead we have a CEO who gets a huge pay rise.
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v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
I have had three meniscus operations and from experience he would really struggle to run if it was torn (which I'm assuming it is). A scan would have showed any damage. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
He kicked one of the spare balls of it's done but I don't know if he actually did it then but as soon As the game kicked off he was limping heavily. -
v Derby County (a) - 8/3/2025
arbitro replied to chaddyrovers's topic in Blackburn Rovers Fans Messageboard
It looked like he picked up an injury celebrating his equaliser on Saturday. He was certainly hobbling when the game restarted.