arbitro

I honestly don't know mate. Whoever he is he's bloody good at his job.

They could have done. That's why I put in the caveat of a low bar. In the second half we at least did press from the front with Ohashi and forced a few errors. Prior to that in every game our play has been so passive with very little intensity. After six games there doesn't appear to be any defined style of play, no way of playing apart from making us easy to play against. In the first half we were wide open and their midfield runners weren't being tracked, their full backs were attacking and their forwards movement was too much for us. Most Championship teams would have beaten us last night the way we set about the game.

I would really like to know what in his interview impressed them so much he not only got the job but a three and a half year deal to boot. I don't think he is going anytime soon though given that he seems to be best mates with Gestede.

Where do you start with that performance particularly the first half. In every one of Ismael's games in charge so far we have started ridiculously slowly and conceded. Our pre match talk was about keeping it tight and not allowing Middlesbrough any space.. Cue absolute ineptitude and in less than ten minutes it really was game over. One incident in the first half told me so much about where we are as a club. A Middlesbrough player went down injured and Carrick took the opportunity to have an impromptu team talk. Five of our players went to the technical area whilst the other five outfield players stood in the centre circle arguing amongst themselves. The five in the technical area were being briefed by Whitehead and (I think) Johnson and it took a good few seconds for Ismael to join them. There was ironic applause from the JW Stand when he did. I thought the second half was actually the best we have played under Ismael (an exceedingly low bar I admit) but starting slowly is becoming a trait. For the second match running I felt that one of the substitutes was our best player. Ohashi last night and Gueye at Portsmouth. That alone should be enough for the other players to hang their heads in shame (probably with the exception of Dolan who at least looked like he was hurting). I honestly don't have a clue where we go from here. This manager looks clueless and his interviews are becoming more bizarre after each game.

Which leaves the first team squad a little short of centre halves if he is still out. Perhaps Rhys Doherty is stepping up with Matty Litherland out on loan.

No Michalski, Atcheson, Rhys Doherty or Edmondson in the team? I suspect some of these will be on first team duty tonight.

I was actually told he was never even offered a deal so perhaps we would.

Rovers 100 Club are sponsoring the match tonight and Rovers Community Trust are sponsoring the match ball. Suhail and his commercial team are really pushing the boat out tonight. https://twitter.com/Rovers/status/1908184032900440279?s=19

In the Conner Mahoney podcast he talks about his contract situation at Rovers, when the new offer was actually made, how badly he had been treated and why he ultimately left. He actually name checks Suhail as the Rovers executive him and his agent were negotiating with. The man is poison.

As per the post below Tony.

Sounds like an agent at work here. Boggan is clearly a prospect but hasn't convinced me yet having seen him a few times.

Well done this morning Glen. In fairness the Sky presenters let you have your say (although the bloke looked flummoxed at one point). Keep the pressure on them.

As ever Len superb stuff.

Of course there has been the occasional press but it's futile unless there is intensity. Have you noticed a drop in the intensity?

Just as they have put season ticket prices up for under 12's and under 18's by as much as 77%. I wish some of them would think before speaking.

I agree with this. In the two recent interviews Waggott has used WATR and the FF as examples of fan engagement. Anyone not familiar with the way our club is run would take that at face value.

Why try and change something that suited the players we had? Eustace understood the players and usually played to the strengths of them in terms of intensity including a pressing game. Ismael has shown none of that in in recent interviews where he (and Gestede) have repeatedly spoken about the summer and implementing his ideas. I believe that he pretty much wrote this season off not long after being appointed. The hard work of Eustace, his staff and the players all seems to no avail. With regard to not pushing players Brittain, Kargbo and Dennis have all got injured under Ismael.

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/