roversfan99

I mean, at least you are considering that it might be financially restricted rather than just a case of exactly what Ismael wants. But you have just summed up that you just copy off what Ismael says/what happens. What we NEED and what we will GET are 2 different things. I am focusing on the former, you just willingly accept the latter. I said it probably was a penalty, why I would spend so much of my time following Rovers if I was anti Rovers and actively wanted penalties not to be given for us? I would accept any decisions going our way, but I am more concerned about our performance rather than pinning it all on the referee.

Can you please point out where I said that I dont rate him? You are literally making things up now. Our dallying makes it much more difficult to sign him. At a push, we could pay off Mafoumbi, a further delay, and then bring him in and use a last ESC slot totally unecessarily. You are at a peak of parroting everything the club does. For one, we dont know how much Ismael rates Baradji. But yes, he did have a medical here, which he failed! So just to clarify, you would be happy to replace Travis with Baradji even if he was out for months due to surgery, simply because Ismael must rate him? No concerns? And no concerns as to the quantity of proven players we are replacing with players playing in (and often relegated from) inferior foreign leagues? Do you still think we will be top half/top 6?

Someone who is massively invested in the club, with no interest to read them? Someone who is massively interested in transfers, not interested in the board and fans discussing budgets etc. Someone who is more interested than anyone in staff movements and even once demanded successfully that Waggott chased up putting staff profiles on the website. Not interested in staff changes being discussed. And other things. No thank you.

Yeah, some judge on the squad on quality and not just bodies you can write down on a squad list. Lacking any quality out wide, still short of pace, short of craft/technical ability, short of someone to take set pieces, and crucially short of goals.

Why?

So that means that the deal is no longer possible. Best case scenario is that we move on Mafoumbi, have to wait now and have wasted an unnecessary ESC slot. Most likely scenario, our pissing about has cost us this transfer and we move on to someone inferior.

I think it was probably a penalty, I suspect the main reason that he didnt give it was the unnatural way in which Ohashi threw him himself over. One that VAR most likely would have overturned. Either way, I come away more concerned about our team rather than aggrieved at the referee.

I am not saying to never use the throw in. But to specifically play tactics endlessly launching it to Gueye would not lead to any more goals.

But I am specifically saying that you said he was a terrible signing. How do you think he did yesterday? As you seem reluctant to comment.

I definitely think we need far more than just a right winger and to replace any outgoings. You now think that and have dropped previous requests because its what Ismael said will happen so you are parroting it. It may have been a penalty, although he definitely exaggerated his fall to try and con the ref. But I am more worried about our performance than pinning our issues on referees.

You keep avoiding this, what about McLoughlin? You said terrible when he signed, and dont seem keen to acknowledge his peformance either way. Even for Venkys owned Rovers with Gestede at the helm. To replace a key player and captain with a bloke relegated to the Swiss second division who potentially needs an operation that will keep him out for months would be absolutely ridiculous. Especially if he comes on, seems our pissing about has caused that ship to sail. That is one frightening prospect that I suspect would lead to even less goals I suspect. Did we look effective doing this yesterday? Didnt create a chance doing so.

To be fair, although some of the foundations may have been in place, Ismael certainly did an excellent job at Barnsley to finish 5th. He had a very direct style there and it was really effective. He also was a trendsetter in using the newly allowed 5 subs during covid really aggressively, he would burn out the starters for 60 and always make wholesale changes. He seems to have totally moved away from those successful traits though. Whether its the higher expectations at the clubs since, or the fact that it feels like results are almost becoming secondary in how managers are judged/how likely they are to be employed. It feels nowadays that youd be more attractive to a chairman and a club if you finished 14th but playing "pretty" high possession football over rough housing your way to 5th. Today we dominated the ball but didnt create a single decent chance. Boring to watch and ineffective.

He took him off at half time presumably due to the head injury he suffered.

What sort of thrill does he get out of pretending to have a mystery transfer source.

With the random obscure foreign signings, he has struggled to even pretend that he has any clue what is going on. This is one thing it is pretty easy to nail using his tactic of guessing based on what is in the public domain.

Not goals. Or many wins.

He wouldnt. So cant be.

Amidst talk about everything else, owners, board, signings, sales and contracts. The one variable that seems to have just been assumed as ok is Ismael himself. The way he speaks seems to have charmed many. His previous spells at this level were failure and although we ended last season well, his first 7 or 8 games were obviously a disaster. A lot of neutrals seem to cite him as the main reason why they think we will struggle. He has a hard job, and I am not sure either way yet. But I am certainly not convinced. Yet.

Was a half chance at best. Also was looking for the penalty and went down unnaturally. Do you stand by your suggestion that we was correct to keep Hedges? What does he offer that no one else sees? And do you stand by your justification of us only signing one more attacking player? Also, would sum us up to replace Travis with someone who would be out for months through injury.

Would have to create a reasonable chance at goal surely?

Ismael said it was a good away performance. Id hate to see a bad one.

What did you make of McLoughlin? Early days (day) but cant see what De Neve offers. Thought Alebiousu was ok.

Really frustrating performance and result. We wouldn't have scored had we played all night, even against 10. Created nothing of note. West Brom were far superior for half an hour then sat in seemingly comfortable with us passing it side to side. If Ismael's style is just really slow, laborious passing from side to side at testimonial pace not creating chances then I am not a fan. One of the first things to point out, I mentioned the other day that we need a new set piece taker. Our set pieces and deliveries in general across the team were absolutely diabolical. Ryan Hedges deserves a mention in particular too. On what planet was renewing his contract the correct decision? He offers absolutely nothing whatsoever. As a starter, as a squad player, zilch. New signing wise. I liked McLoughlin, calm on the ball and sound defensively. Alebiosu is really quick but looks raw, quite liked him though. Miller looked uncomfortable with the ball at his feet and quite sluggish, a non entity in attack bar the throw in. Hendriksson was totally anonymous bar a few stupid fouls. De Neve, I cant see what type of player he is or what he offers as of yet. Tavares didnt have enough time but made a couple of strange decisions. Seems like we are going to lose more key players. Replacing with players for small fees from inferior leagues seems like a recipe for a long old season for me. We need a lot more than just one attacking player as there arent many goals here as we know.

Glad hes not gone with Montgomery at right back. Also good to see Axel straight in. A shame not to start Kargbo, and obviously Hedges starting is depressing. I still find it strange that Pears isnt on the bench. Unnecessarily risky not to have a senior sub keeper. Surprised that Tyjon has not been included on the bench.

What do you think of the minutes?