Andy

41 minutes ago, Paul Mellelieu said:

I  thought selling players wouldn't help our transfer fund.  What changed?

I'm sure the club advised of a c£5m budget this summer - and we've spent just under that, so far.

Maybe Travis leaving has finally freed up a bit of additional funds.

I think most of the frustration from Rovers fans were down to us believing that there was a player in there - he just never seemed to grow out of the unnecessary stepovers and pivots.

Had he stuck to the basics and worked harder on things like crossing and finishing, he'd be much higher rated.

However, hopefully a fresh start for him will help him kick on.

18 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

JDT is the best manager we've had in the Venky era.

He just wasn't a yes man and got sold a dream that turned into a nightmare 

Hard to disagree with this.

He clearly had high standards and, if you didn't either buy into that and work hard, or didn't have the talent, you were out.

Players like Szmodics and Wharton thrived - both of whom have spoken publicly in positive terms about JDT's influence on their development.

If we'd have backed him and Broughton properly, we wouldn't be pissing around in the Championship still now.

If we get a similar performance to Hull, we'll beat them quite comfortably.

But, as ever with Rovers, we're never quite sure what we're going to get.

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Players obviously like playing for Eustace because hes a very good Championship manager and a 

But he doesnt have this gravitational pull to the extent that people make out. Money and challenging for promotion will out rank that.

Ipswich wont let him go anyway.

My concern with any player signing for Derby to link up with Eustace, is that he can't hold a job down for longer than 18-24 months, so they'll not have long with him before he jumps ship to his next job.

1 minute ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Yeah because there's been absolutely no difference between Tugay and Cantwell in his time here, the last couple of games excepted.

ROFL.

Way to miss the point.

Both have/had long hair and wore hair bands.
One has been criticised for it, the other hasn't.

ROFL.

22 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

One thing i have always said on here is that I dont think you can question Cantwells work rate. I think he leaves it all out there, sometimes everything he tries doesnt come off and he might drift in and out of games from a creative point of view.

Often think its a lazy criticism to point out his work rate because he's classed as a "luxury" player.

He has lead from the front and by example the last two games. Whether he is the sort of character to do that when we're in December/January and we have Saturday/Tuesday away games I'm not sure, but his work rate isnt  and never has been in question for me.

Completely agree - even when the output wasn't coming off for him, he's always worked really hard whilst he's been here.

I suspect some have preconceived ideas/opinions of TC, based on what they've read from Rangers fans / etc.
I even read a derogatory comment on here the other day about him wearing a hairband.
Like it ever mattered when Tugay wore one.

4 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Has Todd Cantwell got a twin?

Looks a completely different player today, absolutely unplayable.

Not sure where he's been for the last 12 months!

We've seen flashes, but he's absolutely been inconsistent.

He's been excellent in the last 2 (today particularly so). It would seem that the armband suits him.

If he can perform like that on a consistent basis this season, we finish in the top half as a minimum.

On 19/08/2025 at 11:28, Mercer said:

Rovers' fans had a notorious reputation in the 1960's and to a lesser degree early 1970's.

That's not something to shout about, to be fair.

And I agree with the points already made on this - it's a different world now.
Whilst we all care dearly about the football club, we all have careers and/or much to lose at the risk of arrest / etc.

A different approach is needed - and in traction - in the modern day.

Derby look atrocious - they've regressed badly since last season.

Bristol look pretty handy also, some clever play.

I read the Bloxham message as 'glad you made it out to the US', rather than out of the club.

But with how the club is run now, could easily be either.

7 hours ago, Upside Down said:

Personally, after that Sheffield Wednesday game I was completely done with him. He nearly got the club relegated single handedly with his sheer incompetence. 

This.

And the most worrying thing is that this wasn't just a one-off mistake, he makes them regularly.

When you throw his positional deficiencies into the mix, it just baffles me how he's played so many games for us.
Being a decent shot shopper just isn't enough for a GK at this level, you need to have a rounded level of general competence - and Pears just doesn't have it.

As a backup to Toth, I don't mind too much. But I would much prefer Michalski to get the opportunity to play our cup and occasional league matches (unless a decent loan can be found for him).

10 hours ago, roverblue said:

I find it bizarre he has been frozen out for Michaleski, can only be a financial thing as he is clearly a better and more experienced keeper at this time.

In fairness, his regular howlers and general incompetence at goalkeeping probably played a part.

Just his error in the Sheffield Weds home game alone; you wouldn't expect a non-league GK to do that.

I like to believe that VI came in, assessed what he saw and quickly came to the realisation that he had to get the waste of space out of the building as quickly as possible.
An England Youth GK is not a bad number 2, on balance.

2 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

 

I'm a few rows above the sign on that - when the picture was taken, I was literally pointing out where the rat will be sat (to my lad, sat next to me), as well as the importance of why we need him out.

He'll have seen it, no doubt about it.

2 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Got a picture?

I didn't get one, but a few other fans definitely did - bottom right of the Blackburn End, around row 3.
Massive 'Pasha Out'.

Just got home, thought it was 2 poor sides today - but we should have won that.

Couple of good chances after Cantwell's very well taken goal.
Thought we defended well enough to restrict them to long shots, until we made the changes.

Couldn't say we missed Travis at all today, Tavares offers at least what LT did in terms of ability.
Toth is levels above Pears and I thought Hyam had a good game. It was even one of Hedges' better games for us also.

But we absolutely need reinforcements at the top end, it goes without saying.
If not, it's going to be a long season.

Edit: just to add on B'ham. For the numbers they brought, their fans were pretty shit.
And I'm sure the irony of Birmingham City chanting 'who the fucking hell are you' to Blackburn Rovers was lost on them.

I agree, I liked the look of him - hadn't seen as much from him defensively, but I'm positive he'd be a better option than KM at right back.

At the kit launch thing recently, VI made a point of saying that Montgomery had impressed in training with his attitude and abiity to take on board his tactical instructions.

By that same token, you'd assume that Duru has done neither of those things?

Which is a shame, as he's looked promising in the glimpses we've seen him.

15 minutes ago, London blue said:

The party line for any manager in that situation is "things happen quickly in football, he's out player right now" or something to that effect.

There was no need to state Trav wants to leave or Derby are offering to double his money... unless you've been asked to.

I agree it's standard manager speak - JE was a master of this.
Say a lot without saying anything.

I genuinely prefer honesty, or at least more than just waffle.
Why I liked JDT's interviews also.

2 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Just my opinion but I think Gestede wants the older heads out so he can play championship manager with our squad hoping to hit the jackpot with foreign signings and that 1 or 2 of them can be sold for a decent profit.

Sometimes you can just tell and I do not believe this guy has rovers best interests as top of his priority list.

The podcasts he came across as an absolute tool 

But again he is a mere  symptom the owners need outing and then the rest of them will be shown the door 

Yeah, we are literally his work experience.

Nothing more and the consequences of his inexperience and incompetence is something he'll walk away from, at some point.

We didn't play poorly at WBA and with Cantwell to come back in - maybe Tavares replacing Travis - I don't see any reason why we shouldn't beat a newly promoted team from League 1.

2-0 Rovers.

1 hour ago, alexanders said:

I wonder if I should switch to Derby myself. They seem a lovely club. 

I was having the same thought - they have more Rovers players than Rovers do at this stage.

Just back now, initial thoughts:

* Felt for Michalski in the first 5 minutes, but he did recover and did ok for the rest of the game.
* Montgomery was honestly the worst single player performance I've seen in person for...well, as long as I can remember.
* Tavares grew into the game
* Really like Miller, I think he'll actually be a good signing for us
* Pickering was solid, as was Wharton
* Tyjon has talent, but too lightweight / Gueye has the physique, but little talent
* Cantwell is levels above the rest of the squad, even in a brief cameo

Good finish from De Neve, but we just didn't do enough tonight.