I really hope he doesnt play McFadzean and another back 5.

18 minutes ago, only2garners said:

I should point out that I missed some comments in the minutes that should probably have been recorded re season tickets. There were a number of comments by Forum members about the necessity to make ST prices as affordable as possible in the current economic climate. It’s a point we have made in most meetings and indeed We Are The Rovers have also made in recent times.

My error was spotted by one of the Forum members but unfortunately just after I passed them to the club for publication. Happy to set the record straight.

How did Waggott respond?

1 hour ago, rigger said:

Did you see many of his performances in Germany ?

No but it is a fact that he was playing at such a low level, not an opinion.

Budgets regularly arent decided at this club until after the season. Its been a common theme throughout Venkys terrible reign and has often left us behind in terms of doing our summer business.

Last summer initially was a rare exception to that, but only because it was very much a case of bring in money and only sign freebies, and then even that changed to a more aggressive summer where even frees and loans became very difficult.

Its certainly not this well thought out plan where the owners have said you have x in this league and y in that league, all targets are ready once we know we can start.

He played about 3 minutes for Moenchengladbach. He had been playing in the German 4th division in front of a man and his dog. And based on his appearances for us, it shows.

I doubt Carter will have a queue round the block of clubs after a season where in a struggling team his performances have dipped and he has also only just recovered from a serious injury. But we cant afford to even consider letting him go especially with Wharton out. Nor should we be considering giving a new deal to a defender who turns 38 next season and is clearly over the hill.

Plus, we shouldnt be in a financial position whereby we need to sell anyone considering the owners have been unaffected, weve just generated 22m for Wharton and another 5m will come in for Raya. Unless that is...a lie?

So potentally a price rise on top of Sky/EFL moving loads more kick offs to stupid times, that off the back of a season whereby the owners negligence has really been there for all to see and we have won 6 home games all season, amidst a horrendous campaign in which the new uninspiring manager has won 0 of those? Sounds like a recipe for some big crowds.

Lets hope we dont have to scout the German pub leagues this summer.

The latest minutes are on the website.

Seems like the club are finally doing some well overdue maintenace. Doesnt read though as if this is permitted on top of any budget. Waggott was very coy on that, currently being discussed apparently to the question as to whether there will be ANY budget. Do owners at other clubs give absolutely no clarity on summer budgets by late April, a week before the season ends? 

He mentioned off his own back about a focus in investing in youth like Tyjon so I suspect it will be about expecting kids to step up and he mentioned about expecting bids for Szmodics. Very non committal over McGuire and the investigation is still ongoing.

Fraser Read talked about 8.9% price rises for other clubs and seemingly wasnt contested about how totally different those situations are unless it was missed from the minutes. So expect the inevitable minor rise to be hailed as doing us a favour.

51 minutes ago, J*B said:

If it was all made up how do you think BRFCS ended up with the first message to Rovers fans from Adam after he left? Released before the club, in fact?

What message did he leave?

I doubt he reads the messageboard to be fair.

52 minutes ago, M_B said:

I just don't  see the point in carrying negativity over into next season, given the difficult circumstances in which he took over this season.

If the same failings resurface and results don't improve , then obviously keeping him on would be the wrong choice.

 

Its not about carrying negativity though. The point is I dont think its a realistic expectation to totally wipe clean and forget any opinion we hold about the manager. Doesnt mean it seaps into booing him and chanting him out or anything silly.

You could say the same about players, we have opinions on players. You dont go into a new season without an opinion on players good or bad because its a new season thus a clean slate. 

36 minutes ago, M_B said:

 

There are always doubts ,the lack of goals scored and chances created is obviously a major one. 

It isn't blind faith, if he went tomorrow it wouldn't bother me one bit, but I'd be prepared to see how he goes on from a level start next season. He's had a good look at the squad and should be in a good position to assess what he feels is needed. 

If it makes you feel better, you can keep quoting this season's record up to Christmas,I'm sure you would, but I'd be happy to park this season. 

If he does stay, what do you feel would be a good finish? 

 

My point is more that I dont really understand how you are able to totally withhold any judgement until next season, its not a point about his ability/inability.

You have just mentioned areas of doubt so you have already yourself started to make judgements about him as the games tick by, which is natural. So even if its subconscious, you will be carrying over an opinion so it wont be a clean slate.

It woudnt make me feel better at all.

There is no if he stays, they wont pay him up even if we went down. What would be a good finish next season? Impossible to say, assuming we stay up we have to see what happens in the summer. If Szmodics goes and the owners continue to slash budgets etc, then I think we will likely go down next season.

Either way, my personal opinion of Eustace so far even allowing for the obvious difficulties is certainly more negative than positive, naturally. I dont have confidence in him as it stands to get us moving in the right direction, however he is small fry compared to the main issue which is always Venkys. I will go into next season with an opinion on Eustace and major doubts but not ones that are impossible to turn around.

2 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

Let;s face it, if this guy had come through our academy, he'd have been binned off long before he was offered a pro contract.

He's awful and symptomatic of Broughton.

Symptomatic of the owners.

1 hour ago, M_B said:

That is exactly where I am, the job has always been staying up. If we do, this period should be of benefit to Eustace as to what is and isn't needed going forward. 

I don't really see the point in getting rid of him, only to take another off the conveyor when he has already assessed the situation. 

Out of interest, do you have any doubts or concerns about Eustace and his capability to be our manager?

You always mention about a clean slate. But if you have concerns they might resurface should we start next season poorly in a way say a new manager with an actual clean slate couldnt.

20 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

The EFL and clubs wanted more money from TV rights. If it wasn't Sky Sports it would be Dazn or Premier Sports. Clubs wanted more money cos they thought their TV rights was worth more the current TV deal. 

Any TV Company would more games to TV for more money. Fairly simple and understandable point of view. 

That's why Clubs are/should lower their ST and match day prices starting with this season. I have posted my thoughts what ST and match day prices. What do you think of those ideas? 

 

Even if clubs agree to subsidise season ticket prices, which is a nice idea but will not happen. The number of games that Sky will be showing and allowed to be showed by the EFL is a disgrace. And even with cheaper tickets, season tickets will become less and less appealing when such disregard is shown by Sky and the EFL to match going fans making it impossible for many to attend so many fixtures when in the past, most would be 3pm on Saturday and only a fraction would be moved at the inconvience of the supporter.

Football is nothing without fans? Dont make me laugh.

I think Tomasson became more popular as time went on. I actually thought he got most stick when we was up at the top prior to the World Cup.

It is indeed down to personal perception, I never got the narrative that Mowbray was loved and Tomasson was never taken to myself, but we all talk to different people, sit in different areas and read different things.

On Sky/EFL they are both complicit and responsible in planning to move an even more stupid number of games from 3pm Saturday. That will drive people away I suspect but I doubt those 2 parties care about fans.

Obviously he has no faith beyond the first 11. As with every position, the budget cuts have left us with absolutely no depth. 

Signed lots of quality at Birmingham as reflected by their league position.

Ollie Burke? Dreadful player.

Absolutely no chance of us geting Johansson. Id be amazed if we dont stick with the 2 clowns signed on deals for the forseeable. Even more amazed if we spent a million on a keeper that is actually good.

I dont get why anyone would be such a staunch advocat of Sky. Obviously in conjunction with the EFL, at the cost of the match going fan who is not seen as a priority by either party. Both are only interested in money and have stopped even pretending otherwise.

Living in a dream world if people think that extra revenue will subsidise tickets, and even if it did a bit, it will make it impossible to get to games when so many are being moved regardless of price. Football is nothing without fans? Well actually the EFL and Sky couldnt give a shit about us.

26 minutes ago, Andy said:

I'd struggle to say otherwise for the existing squad, to be fair.

Rotherham will be top half minimum, probably promotion contenders, and theyve got less than half the points we do.

Regardless of league, we need to gut the squad and sign a large number, not promote the youth team. Im no expert on the under 21s but i dont think a few of your names are regulars.

Your plan is cutting standards even below Venkys which is quite impressive!

42 minutes ago, Andy said:

I'd clear the decks and play mainly kids.

We're going to be shit either way, so we might as well give the promising kids a season to learn and develop.

Leo / Michalski

DF from:

O'Riordan
Batty
Barnes
Wharton
Duru
Davies
Acheson

MF:

Gilsenan
Whitehall
Finneran
Buckley
Edmondson
Farkas

ST:

Leonard
Tyjon
Telalovic
Nsangou

I am 100% sure that the above squad ends in League 2. 

I think ideas of him going on a run are beyond fanciful. He has always looked well out of his depth, another symptom of the owners cutting budgets beyond reasonable levels.

14 minutes ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

What evidence is there that the manager is unpopular ?

There is no evidence, just the feeling I have got. To be honest, only 2 wins and 0 at home are hardly going to breed popularity. You might have a totally different perception.

The TV deal is a sickener for all clubs. Sky will put absolutely no thought towards the fans, moving more games here there and everywhere. It will affect crowds up and down the country, showing furthermore that when Sky said during Covid that football is nothing without fans, it was a blatant lie from their side.

Throw in the disconnect currently between the fans and the club and the shoddy way its being run with owners as bad as youll find in the EFL, and budget cuts galore. With a poor team under an unpopular manager and a pitiful home record this season, season ticket sales will dive. The only way to keep them respectable is a significant drop in price. I expect at best a freeze.