5 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

No its not unfair or dismissive at all. We made all mistakes all season under JDT and Eustace. So not really evidence was it. 

We don't know what is said at Brockhall and in the dressing room do we? 

non story for me. 

Of course he cares about the result but he has remain upbeat and positive. That's his job. 

I think he will be good manager here and given him the summer transfer window to bring in his own players, reshaped the squad into what he wants and pre season and I think we can get top 10 next season. 

Top 10?

What on earth brings you to that conclusion?

A manager with just 2 wins in 15 games, a really poor squad with horrifically weak mentality, selling our only goalscorer and no investment in the summer and you think we will get better???

Definitely not convinced by Eustace.

Really don't think I'd want him trying to plot a return to the championship next season. 

As we've talked about 100's of times over the last 14 years, individual mistakes happen more often with poor management/coaching.

We're making too many, too often now. 

Imagine going to Exeter next season, parking the bus and playing for a draw. Christ it's going to be grim.

45 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Brum & Sheff Wed won't both get 4 points in there last two games.

Also don't think Plymouth will get another point.

Always said no chance we go down this season and still believe that.

Next season we're fucked.

People keep saying teams below us won't get points and yet, they continue to do so. 

I think we're toast this season. We won't beat either Coventry or Leicester so we're 100% reliant on other teams.

Absolute horror show.

Fucking bottle jobs the lot of them

Ansley Pears should never play for this club again. Dog shit.

A win for us confirms safety.

A win for them pulls them out of the bottom 3.

In theory, should be a good game. I'd say that form goes out of the window today. They will be up for this and we need to be as well.

Did Eustace have any control over transfers at Birmingham does anyone know? 

Be interesting to see what players he brought in if he did.

6 hours ago, J*B said:

Priority List - 

Keeper: Pears & Leo both shown they're incapable at different periods. Leo will likely stay and develop as No2, can't see Pears ego letting him stay as No2. Sell Pears, buy a No1.

RB: We only have one right back. Brittain needs competition. 

CB: Don't want either Koumetio or McFadz and we need five CBs in the squad. Carter, Hyam, NEW, Wharton, ORoirdon. 

LB: Pickering is our only left back. If possible I'd sign Christene, I think he's significantly better than Pickering.

CM: Existing viable options are Tronstad, JRC, Buckley. Will Travis come back? Based on what we've seen it'll either be Tronstad or Travis, will Travis accept that? Will Buckley ever come good? I don't want: Fleck, Garrett or Ayari. That means I need at least one creative CM with another needed if Travis doesn't want to stay.

Wide Players: Unlike others, I've been really impressed with Sigurdsson. He didn't have a pre-season and clearly signed for JDT who was subsequently forced out. I like Dolan, he can be frustrating but he's capable. Hedges is a very good player to keep within the squad. I make that three players and ideally want four. Hopefully Markanday is sold, he's shown glimpses but in the most part has been terrible. 

Strikers: Szmodics is obviously vital to our club. Gallagher should be sold in the summer - he has his positives but his contract is running out, he clearly wanted the Ipswich move and he's never achieved stats to back up what we paid for him initially nor his high contract. Telalovic and Vale need to be sold, frankly I'd be fine seeing both released on a free. 

I therefore think across signings, loans and promotions we need to fill the below, colour coded as 'green = must be experienced and permanent, yellow = could be a short term loan with a buy option, red = could be a young player either purchased or promoted'.

No1 Keeper

A CB that is fighting to be our third behind Carter and Hyam

A right back that can push Brittain

A left back that is better than Pickering

A creative CM that is tall, strong and can create chances. 

A tackling CM in the mould of Tronstad if Travis leaves

At least one wide forward who's at least as good as what we already have

A first choice no9 striker to replace Gallagher

A back up striker that is actually viable to replace Telalovic and Vale. 

That's 5 expensive, first choice purchases or free transfers.

3 top-flight loan players

1 cheap player - either a free transfer or internal promotion. 

Leaving the squad as:

New Keeper, Wahlsted, 3rd Choice Keeper

Brittain, New

Carter, Hyam, New, Wharton, ORoirdon

New, Pickering

JRC, Tronstad, Buckley, Travis, New

Sigurdsson, Dolan, Hedges, New

Szmodics, New, New

I make that 23 players, so we're allowed another two plus youth I believe? Youth can be: Leonard, Batty, Gent, Barnes, Gilsnan, Fyles, Eastham, Gamble, Finneran.

We need some wingers, we can't have Dolan and Sigurdsson in the wide positions again next year. 

In the highly likely event Venkys sell Szmodics in the summer, Sigurdsson & Dolan can fight it out for the central role behind the striker but we need wingers. Preferably with some pace.

50 minutes ago, only2garners said:

If we win we’re mathematically safe, as Huddersfield and Birmingham have still to play each other.

Should be all the incentive the players need tbh.

After winning arguably the hardest game of the season against Leeds, in true Rovers fashion I could see us losing this, especially when a win sees us safe and we are at home.

Time for Rovers to give the home fans something to cheer. Gotta win this.

2 hours ago, philipl said:

Michalski has played for the u-21s and been on the bench for the First team on one occasion.

Everyone is forgetting Barnes.

With the new coaching team at Ewood, we need to remember there are three new sets of eyes looking at not only the whole squad of players currently available but the 5 or 6 under 21s whose seasons were written off through long term injury.

I would imagine if we manage to retain Tyjon and Finnernan, it will be with a view to them getting into the first team squad next season plus a likely break through for Duru.

And let's see what we achieve with the loans in and out which frankly have been crippled by the late late non-shows in the last three windows.

I do expect considerable churn. 

Wouldn't be banking on Sam Barnes doing a great deal any time soon. No return date for his injury and he's been out since August + the 12 months before that with an ACL injury. 

He's already 23 and would surely need a loan if he ever gets back fit before coming into Rovers thinking.

51 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Yes Hyam had a very poor against Bristol City granted but more than prove his worth again yesterday

on Dolan, he would be one of the first names on the team sheet. Similar opinion to what ParsonBlue posted yesterday on him

McFadzean could be option depending on the budget and what Eustace and GB can do in the transfer market

Dolan will be useful squad player but not a regular starter. Not for a team with any mbition, which I suppose we aren't.

Hyam does make a few mistakes, not just against Bristol City. Like most of our squad, he's inconsistent (although usually better than most)

8 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Why is the question marks over Hyam and Dolan? 

McFadzean is only 37 and will be 38 in February.

I think the striker signing will be interesting to see what type of striker we need whether its striker who is target man or more of striker with pace who can press from the front.  

Question marks because Hyam is prone to some poor mistakes.

As good as his pass for the winner was yesterday, Dolan is a 1 good game in 5 player. He is improving, and if he'll sign a new deal, he'll be handy to have around. Feel like we've been the ones to develop him into a championship player, so we need to reap the rewards.

OK but 38 is still too old.

25 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

do we need alot of signings this summer? 

Current squad for next season

keepers - Pears, Wahlstedt, Michalski 

Defenders - Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Wharton, O'Riordan, Pickering, 

CM's - Tronstad, Garrett, Buckley, JRC, Travis

wide players - Dolan, Markanday, Sigurdsson, Hedges, 

no 10 - Szmodics, Gilsenan

Strikers - Gallagher, Vale, Telalovic, Leonard

I have included Dolan and Gallagher cos I expect them to sign next contract. 

I think we deffo need a pacey wide player, Striker, right back, maybe another Keeper if we loan out Wahlstedt for a season, I would use Gent at left back back up given the reviews he had there, could do with another centre back or maybe re sign McFadzean for another season. Then a replacement for Szmodics if he does leave. 

Nicholas Michalski? 

We need a lot, yes.

All those highlighted aren't good enough and there are some question marks over Hyam, Dolan and O'Riordan. 

JRC, Hedges, Brittain & Carter are all injury prone. The first 2 you'll only get 20 games per season out of them.

Garrett and Leonard probably need a loan.

I wouldn't be retaining Fadz or Fleck. Fadz has played his part and fair play to him for that but he'll be 40 next season, we can't be relying on him anymore.

I agree on Gent, he's been having a good loan spell, so needs to be given a chance in pre season.

We desperately need pace and some good strikers who know where the back of the net is.

x2 wingers (minimum), x2 strikers, x1 CM, x1 RB, x1 GK (an actual No.1), x1 LB if Gent isn't up to it.

This is all immaterial, as Venkys won't spend any money, so it's likely free transfer dross and young not ready loans. And they'll likely sell Szmodics at the first opportunity and reinvest nothing. 

It'll be stunning if we come out of the summer stronger than we are now, which means it's another relegation battle.

1 hour ago, cesus said:

I've just read an article from mid July 2023 saying we are well into negotiations with Dolan. These are some long old negotiations! Can't help but think, we are getting a year extension then he walks for free.

The new Junior Hoilett.

"He'll sign any day now"

27 minutes ago, WacoRover said:

Assuming it all goes well & we stay up, we have to get ready for a crazy summer...
- I'm sure Sammie will be sold off; 

- Loanees return to parent clubs;

- I cannot see Gally and/or Dolan both being re-signed;

- Travis coming back? 

We could retain Fleck (if healthy). I don't see McFadz getting a new deal.
Also, Siggy will need to step up, & give us more than he did this year. Tronstad as well. 

If the club retains either Fleck or Fadz ot just underlines the sheer lack of ambition, even though Fadz has come in and done a job for us.

But, we all know there is no ambition here, so just expect more cost cutting, sales with no reinvestment, cheap loans, promotion of youth, free transfers and a general downgrade of the playing squad.

Bristol equalise at the death!

Hudds now winning but Sheff Wed drawing against Stoke

Mental league.

Us getting stuffed 5-0 by Bristol is looking even more horrific is Hudds can win there.

Just now, West Yorks Rover said:

Weds winning now 1-0 Stoke are crap.

Hudds doing ok still 0-0 though.

With Brum 3-0 up. it's a bloody good job we won.

 

Yep, definitely needed it and with the way the results are going, we aren't out of the woods yet.

Obviously, Birmingham and Milwall both winning

Probably mentioned earlier but we are the first away team to win at Elland Road this season.

👊

Fucking get in!!

Absolutely stunning result.

@Mercer enjoy the Red 🫡

How did that not go in? 

Wharton off

Fadz on

😟