Eddie

1 minute ago, ... said:

I'm sat in the shower mate. My toast is floppy.

There are drugs for that. 

55 minutes ago, den said:

Ismael isnt the problem here. The problem is the owners simply have no aims for the club, no ambition.

He's part of one of our problems.

Our biggest problem is the owners and the incompetence of our senior leadership. Until that problem is solved, we have no chance of being a properly run football club.

However, we now have a second problem, which is a lack of quality in our manager and our playing squad. Both of those have been caused by problem number one, but we saw under Eustace and JDT that a good manager can reduce the impact of the bad ownership and senior management. 

Any good manager will eventually leave, but we don't have to be totally resigned to the fact that we will have awful managers until our owners change. 

Ismael is an awful manager. The tactics he sets us up with never work. Our players don't seem to be on the same page. He also never makes substitutions or changes during a match that positively impact the outcome. In fact, most matches he just stands on the touchline and watches matches drift by. 

He shouldn't get a pass just because our owners and various 'heads of' are sinking the ship. He is watching the ship go down, and, instead of throwing lifevests into the water, he is standing at the helm steering us directly towards an iceberg. 

If Ismael isn't sacked after this, then we will have to accept the fact that he is unfireable. 

3 hours ago, bluebruce said:

It doesn't even have to be as deep as all this. Our biggest problem has been refusing to sign up senior players to reasonable contracts. Exacerbated by an overreliance on loans to pad the squad out (often very poor ones) and a refusal to adequately reinvest received transfer funds, even though that can yield even bigger profits down the line. Instead we buy a load of cheap dross which very rarely works out, and you know what they say - buy cheap, buy twice.

Because of all this, every window is playing catch up. If we hadn't been ballsing those three things up, we'd have been promoted by now.

A lot of our players sign reasonable contracts. 2-3 year deals with an option are pretty standard these days, but we just can't get them to renew. We seem to be operating with a mindset that players will routinely renew within the final 6 months of their deal on similar terms (if not worse terms). That just doesn't happen these days. 

1 hour ago, MarkBRFC said:

Two strikers and a left wing back will see us through this season I think, if they are loans then so be it.

You can't be worrying about long term prospects in Jan when you are in our position, get the best players possible to see you through the season.

Then major surgery AGAIN in the summer. Amazing that every summer always needs an incredible amount of work.

Except you should be.

That's just kicking the can down the road and completely goes against the approach that our leadership claims to have.

We should be using every window to sign young players, especially in a period with an ever-closing P&S window. 

Based on everything Gestede says, we have the same budget for every window. That means that we can never expect a future window where we will realistically be able to sign 6 or 7 players. In order to build a good squad, we have to sign 2 or 3 players every window. Each time we don't we set ourselves back 12 to 18 months. 

Not only that, but if the focus is on signing young players then we have to accept 2 things. The first? It takes time for them to develop. The second? Some of them will be misses (as is the case with any signing, but the risk is exponentially greater with younger players). 

So, what you're endorsing is a pragmatic approach for a club that is sensibly run. But we aren't sensibly run and we can't be pragmatic. We will lose more players this summer on free transfers. We will be faced with having to sign 5 or 6 players JUST to get our squad back to the numbers that we started this season with. 

If the club had any sense about them, they would know that every window requires 4/5 signings and they would plan that out weeks and months ahead of time. 

But we can't be giving them an out by saying 'the sensible thing to do is to bring in a couple of players to get us out of a relegation scrap'. 

To be perfectly honest, if the commitment is to implement some kind of quasi-Bournemouth/Brentford/Brighton model, then we shouldn't even be that concerned about relegation. The focus should be on squad building, amassing young talent, and knowing that, in the long run, that will deliver results on and off the pitch. 

I would actually find that messaging somewhat refreshing. The problem is, we don't have a strong enough commitment to anything. Our strategy is determined by whichever way the wind blows based on a bit of public pressure, the right agents making calls, and whichever side of the bed a couple of key people wake up on.

But signing a couple of quick-fixes to a relegation scrap this season guarantees problems next year. 

1 hour ago, Tugayslongwalkoff said:

Anyone know if the rumours of Rovers contacting clubs to see if they’re interested in Alebiosu, Gudjonson and Toth are true? 

Gudjonson can't play for another club until the start of next season. He made appearances for Gent in August before his move. 

On 01/01/2026 at 16:13, StHelensRover said:

He won't be doing any interviews any time soon, he's too busy phoning every struggling 2nd and 3rd division club on the continent desperate to see what dross he can bring in for £200k this week to appease the fans 

⏲️

On 17/10/2025 at 23:46, Upside Down said:

But Britain arms, supports and enables all of these regimes. Especially Saudi Arabia. In fact the only reason it is Saudi Arabia and not just Arabia is because of Britain and the US. 

I'm hoping this discussion doesn't get nuked because it's a crucial element of this overall discussion here. 

Personally I wouldn't take Saudi blood money but I wouldn't take the US blood money either. My main gripe with players in the Saudi pro league is the same as it is with other leagues of a similar format and that is they are tinpot and Mickey Mouse.

If you don't have proper relegation and promotion then it's not a proper league system in my opinion. 

I am glad to see Buckley doing well though, hopefully he can use this as a platform to get a gig at a proper club and play in a proper league. 

I don't want to derail the discussion, but it's very different.

By going and playing in Saudi Arabia, or joining LIV, participating in a comedy festival there, or doing a host of any other jobs in KSA you are being paid directly by the authoritarian regime, benefiting from their restrictive policies, and existing within infrastructure that is built using slave labour.

There are lots of reasons to be critical of the US Government and many American companies, but playing for Inter Miami doesn't mean that your salary is literally coming from Donald Trump, nor are you playing in the Raytheon Arena, and you aren't living in a society that has been built (recently) by slave labour.

It's very hard to have a clean life where you don't tacitly endorse certain activities, but you can put in some degree of effort to distance yourself from them. Banking with HSBC means I use the same financial institution as many organizations and individuals I disagree with (many of whom HSBC is even investing in), but that isn't the same as taking money directly from those groups. 

It's disingenuous to imply otherwise. 

6 hours ago, Upside Down said:

Nobody is claiming Tugay to be one of the best Premier League players of all time though. 

As I've said previously, Scholes was top class and there's no denying that but in more recent years he's been elevated to this legendary status that is a level beyond where he actually was. 

Time will tell which level Adam Wharton will be at. We all know he's pure quality but we'll have to wait and see if he cracks that very top layer.

No, but a better argument would be that we could point to several Rovers' legends who never won our POTY. Ryan Nelsen never won POTY, but Andy Todd did. So Andy Todd was the better defender? 

I know this isn't your argument, but using POTY as some kind of indicator of how good a player was is so dumb. 

Scholes is light-years ahead of where Wharton is now. Wharton will probably close that gap and maybe (there's a very slim chance) could become a better player (he certainly won't have a 'better' career). 

The one thing Wharton could realistically achieve is being a better and more important player for England. Scholes was criminally misused and underused by England. 

5 hours ago, KidderStreetNoise said:

But for 20 years Man United fans watched him week in & week out & never once voted him their player of the season

This is one of the dumber arguments that has been used on here. 

I've always been fairly positive about midtable finishes in the past, but it is hard to see how this season is heading towards anything other than relegation.

The worst part? I'm not sure that I even care anymore. 

I've tried. I tried to get in to all of the signings in the summer. I saw it as exciting, I hoped things would improve. 

But they're mostly crap. The side is awful. The manager is useless. 

All this talk about 'defending together, attacking together'. We lose together. That's all they do.

I feel sorry for some of the players. It isn't their fault that they are here and a few of them are better than this, but these owners have sucked the soul out of the club.

For those wishing for relegation, I think that's a mistake. It won't force the owners out. It won't force change. It will just make us that bit less relevant. 

We're heading towards League One football with crowds of sub-5000. It won't be pretty.

3 hours ago, joey_big_nose said:

Hmmm... Think thats a stretch. But Italy won euro 2020 without  standout attacking players, though they did have a brilliant keeper and defence. And obviously Greece in 2004.

Chiesa was pretty special throughout that tournament. Injuries have set him back a lot, but in 2020/21 he was one of the best attacking midfield options in Europe. 

12 hours ago, Gav said:

Best fans in the World Tuchel. It will do you good to remember that.

 

 

Not sure on the best fans in the world stuff, but his criticism isn't of England fans in general or how well they travel. It's specific to the atmosphere at England's home stadium. It isn't great there; there are lots of reasons for that, but I understand his observations. 

2 hours ago, JHRover said:

I'm getting fed up with this now. 

The EFL have made the correct decision. You and others at Rovers might not like it given the circumstances, but that's how it is. It would be utterly ridiculous for them to let the result stand with probably 15 minutes+ left to play and even more ridiculous for them to have just played the last 10 minutes or so starting with Rovers being 1-0 up against 10 men. 

There is no precedent for it in English football history and for good reason - it wouldn't work and would open the floodgates to all sorts of shenanigans in future when there are issues with the weather, floodlights etc.

If you are angry about it I suggest you spend less time worrying about the EFLs difficult but ultimately correct decision and more of your time working out whether Rovers have invested sufficiently in their facilities to ensure the pitch is in the best possible condition to ensure this sort of thing doesn't happen. 

I can safely say that Rovers could have done more, it isn't just the weather or the River Darwen, just as we had no issues with drainage getting games abandoned from 1992 - 2012.

Cool it. 

You can disagree and have an opinion one way or the other, but you can't be so confident in your own position.

They do it in other leagues, and it's a rare enough occurrence that relying on 'precedent' is really solid ground. 

Just let other people be frustrated by what was an undeniably frustrating sequence of events. Not only that, but regardless of how confident you are in the EFL's correct decision, there's also no denying the fact that Rovers got the short end of the stick in every aspect. 

6 hours ago, Tomphil2 said:

They will at the very least be ordered to cover costs and try and make a few extra pennies so there'll be some sort of charge.

Meanwhile Ipswich will probably subsidise those who want to travel again.

Ordered? By our owners? 

Now, if the club had any sense, this is a chance to turn a potential replay into a positive. 

Just have it be free tickets for everyone. Try to get as many in as possible. See it as a bonus fixture that can create new supporters and generate revenue from concessions. 

They won't do this, but it would be a silver lining if the full replay is required. 

I think the only realistic and 'fair' outcome is a full replay, but that Ipswich allow us to score immediately. If we can't win from 1-0 up with 90 minutes to go, then it's at least a somewhat balanced outcome.

That would also allow Cantwell (assuming that he is available) to get a goal that may be significant for him in terms of bonuses and incentives. 

7 minutes ago, West Yorks Rover said:

 

Ah the BBC, someone should ask them why Final Score didn't have a reporter at the Rovers game for

the 2nd week running, they are supposed to cover every match in the Championship.

Scrap the licence fee I say.

They are totally useless organisation these days.

Save that for a different forum. 

8 hours ago, Hasta said:

You missed the bit about him wanting a new contract in December / January under Eustace but the club refusing to discuss one.

Kind of unrelated to that actual story, though. 

On 18/09/2025 at 18:27, aletheia said:

Well in terms of Rovers yes -ie standard MO of messing a player about and being economical with the truth. 

The story is basically:

I wanted to leave. I thought I could leave earlier in the window when the first club came in. Turns out the club wanted more money. I thought they'd accept less. They didn't. They indicated that they would sell me, but they didn't make it as easy as I wanted it to be. 

It's totally nothing.

I'm a huge critic of the club, but pretty much any transfer could have this same story. It's also a slightly misleading headline that makes it sound like it might be referring to contract negotiations. 

On 15/09/2025 at 23:22, Ghost7 said:

The penalty give away is Sunday league stuff. He wasn't even on the ball.... I had no idea La Liga was this poor. 9 mins in for those that want to see.

 

To be honest, the cross isn't much better. Awful keeping, and he completely flaps at something that should be pretty straightforward. 

15 minutes ago, Madon said:

Slim chance of a WC place too potentially? 

Couple of injuries to England's wingers and Dolan flying in La Liga you just never know! (I know, only 4 games in!) 

It's such a strong position. He'd need about 20 players to get injured to even make the conversation. 

(he's also not good enough)

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Glad you enjoyed the day out.

1n he wider scheme of things if you "enjoy" bobbing along between 15th and 21st - that's your (and Parson's) prerogative.

As such knowledgeable and seasoned observers I can't understand why you both seem to be so content for us to be poor.

We played really well yesterday and, on the face of it, we deserve to be on more than 6 points so far. 

This is the Championship, there are plenty of sides around us at the moment who will finish in the top half. There's no reason that we can't go from our slow(ish) start to once again challenging for the playoffs. 

It's possible to dislike the regime, acknowledge that there is plenty wrong with the club, but still enjoy a performance like yesterday's and be excited about a couple of the new signings.