135 additional tickets on sale at 3.30

It was like Oasis tickets without the dynamic pricing!!

They have no ambition to have the team competitive and pushing at the upper edges of the division this season next season or in the immediate future. What's the point of investing my time money and emotional involvement etc if there's no equivalent aspiration on the part of the Club? Allardyce hit the nail on the head amidst his general "schooling" telling him that if there is ever a chance of playoffs and promotion by that route that it had to be taken. The lack of immediate ambition to make playoffs leads to the obvious conclusion that there was a deliberate sabotage of Eustace's competitive chance of playoffs in denying him the help he needed in the Jan window because of injuries. No surprise then that he should wish to jump ship.... I can't accept that for the next 3 seasons minimum they are content to break up the experienced backbone that has given us competitive thrills and spills in order to rely on half a dozen Academy players in the 25 going forward. I will attend on Saturday to judge the atmosphere, the reactions of the players and the crowd but will not commit beyond Saturday to support the broken regime unless evidence emerges that Gestede's outline of the short/medium term ambition is misapplied.

Sam Allardyce throughout had a rather dismissive tone when intervening or commenting. His reference to Gestede’s recent “work experience” in house and his advice that Gestede should get first hand advice from Brentford Brighton Bournemouth or Fulham was more than a hint to Gestede that he was out of his depth and the concept currently had no credibility.

Do the Stooges really want last year's season ticket holders to renew? Do they want to build the fan base? They need to sell the benefits to the target audience! They should immediately set about engendering an emotional journey that would persuade renewal before the Early Bird cut off and a new tranche of season ticket purchasers and supporters for the future. (For the purpose of this post only and not forgetting the ineptitude of management over the last few seasons) I think that the recent run of results and the potential (albeit doubtful) for an exciting end to the season would give any sensible business the impetus and opportunity to take things by the scruff of the neck and go all out to promote the final very winnable home game to the masses in a cavalcade of good vibe social media output and positive new contract or extensions to the vital players in the few days now before Saturday. This Saturday provides an opportunity similar to the spurned Oxford full house for them to show that they really appreciate and want us.

Mick was an outstandingly pleasant chap. First memories of him were when he was the visiting Rovers player with us at Mill Hill St Peters Junior School football practice sessions in 65/66. His forte even in those days was "The Crossbar Challenge"... an unerring left foot!! Met him on a few occasions subsequently and he was always a total gent.

I trust you’re not being humerus about Yuki 🙏

There were a few boos from some around us at the end but the fans are understandably devastated after the capitulation of late and the spite and venom was more aimed at Venkys than the players. I don’t think there was one player amongst our lot who was not trying which made our inability to dictate the pace all the more galling. In the match we suffered a bombardment of wind assisted up and unders and a weak referee who permitted every Bishop pull and tug that put us under so much pressure. It reminded me so much of our failure to manage the windy conditions at Plymouth this autumn. Season over and out I’m sorry to say.

If it doesn’t happen at Portsmouth it’s not going to happen and the Mowbray style negative spiral will continue through the tougher looking remaining fixtures. it’s time for our lot to show they have the cajones that unexpectedly came to the fore at WBA. I hope the only bumpy ride I experience on Saturday is the Isle of Wight hovercraft trip to and from Portsmouth.

I’m haunted by this image of Waggott after those dropped pints from the last 3 games just rolling back in his big office chair chewing on a massive Havana cigar with a huge tumbler of whisky at the ready musing to himself “Job done no chance of playoffs and promotion now. Phew!!” Nonetheless unlikely wins today and at Pompey could just have him sweating a little 🤞

I’m more bothered about the here and now, starting today and the following 14 games!!

If the possibility of getting into the playoffs and just a chance of winning them is off the spoken agenda and ambition of the Club hierarchy that has seemingly been adopted by the new coach I have to ask "What is the point?" of my giving any support any longer and what is the point of the players giving their all. Its just so negative.

We were outmanoeuvred at Swansea by an understandably inspired Lewis O’Brien and by 10 others who were set up with new 4 at the back tactics to positively attack our predictable pressure absorbing pedestrian lineup with pace in and between the lines and into the wide channels that neutralised Britain and Ribeiro attacking urges. We were simply outcoached on the day by a switched on temporary coach. It was painful to watch barring Weimann’s 2 early efforts.

Will the BBE rendition of "Allez les Bleus" match the Parc de Princes?

Norwich playing style is similar to but better than Swansea. Our lot, apart from the two Weimann efforts early doors never laid a glove on Swansea. I fear even with new coach good vibes that Norwich relentless attacking style will tear into us relatively unopposed. Norwich however do have one Shane Duffy at the heart of their defence and if he's not on it Gueye could have an impact. I foresee a ferocious battle between those two.

With respect JHR you may be being unnecessarily negative there. Bristol City asked for an additional allocation to the standard first award 9 days before their match at end of August and got a further 464 tickets. As with all BRFC issues atm time will tell!

It would appear that the typical standard away fan allocation at Pride Park is around 2700 (via the Away Fans Guide).

"Madame" was so moronically ignorant of the system that she actually used the expression "lease" rather than "borrow"!! Immediate warning bells were ringing from day one with the "Venky lot"!!

Clearly Sky don't rate our chances vs Wolves!

Really looking forward to the initial exchanges between Batth and Osjamic in light of the Beck incident at Dumpdale. Batth slowed down the quick strong and dangerous Sinclair Armstrong at Aston Gate last Saturday albeit the "quieter" tackle resulted in a yellow and Twine's free kick goal. Armstrong definitely wasn't the same threat after that and was subbed in 2nd half. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some pantomime moments for the skipper involving Osjamic too.

Pompey's feisty no 49 Callum Lang has a season stat count of 21 matches and 9 goals 1 assist and 7 yellows. He was a danger man clearly last night and in his intriguing duel with Beck came out second but impressed. At 26 years old.1.83 m tall, "second striker", "Scouser" having came through Liverpool youth ranks he might just tick a few boxes for the recruitment team. Joined Pompey in Jan 24 on 2.5yr contact with 1 year option.

Rovers full allocation for this was sold out 5 days ago!! I guess it must have been relatively small and unextendable but another excellent show of away day support.

Hedges (leaving aside his PNE aberration) that may be at the front of the minds of his detractors) has, when fit proved to be reliable and trusted by Mowbray JDT and Eustace. He’s versatile and adaptable and has been used at RB LB RWB LWB & LW over his time here. Honest reliable journeyman with decent touch, game management and acceptable goal involvement is how I’d describe him. A new deal is unlikely to break the bank so a view to extend & keep him should not be objectionable.

I’ll raise you a JohnO’Mara and or Frank Lord!!

Buckley could be the answer rather than Baker. Buckley played the forward pressing position very well on numerous occasions last season. His lack of pace is what holds him back from being the full box to box midfielder package but doesn’t limit him in the more advanced Cantwell role.