Mercer

If true, would expect something to break either today or tomorrow. News of cash flow difficulties tends to start as a trickle of rumour and speculation and then suddenly the 'dam breaks'. Would not be a surprise.

Struggle next season - he's already feckin drowning!

Don't despair about your age lad, a few of us on here would give our right arm to be 50 again!

You are right. Sadly, getting rid is easier said than done. After 14 years, I think they are determined to put "their baby" to sleep for good! I honestly don't think, in the main, our fans have the nous to see what's happening or the stomach to do what's needed. Sad, sad times.

Totally agree. We are in Jim Iley category here - think Jim won ONLY 2 GAMES OUT OF 20 games or so. Ismael makes even Coyley, who won about 12 (33% win record), look like Pep. We are in mega trouble with this appointment - I think his position is already untenable. This could get very, very toxic in record time. The clowns and Ismael need to reach a mutual agreement for his immediate departure.

I would not doubt my friend - straight as a die. Didn't hear what was being said but all seemed animated.

A friend at the game has told me Gestede involved with a heated exchange with at least one fan. Anyone seen or heard this?

Ismael is worse than Iley and Coyley - at least they won a game or two!

Just where do we find all these injury prone duds? Will say it again, think there is something amiss with our sports' science / .medical department. Pay peanuts get monkeys.

Cardiff have lost their last 3 games by 2 goals to 1 - Luton (H), Sunderland (A) and Burnley (H). Prior to those games they had 2 draws and a win. Luton have the players but sadly something gone awry there and I think potentially much better than their league position indicates whilst defeats to Sunderland and Burnley can't be too much of a surprise. Interestingly, if you look at Cardiff's results, They have only failed to score once in their last 14 league games and that was away to Leeds. This suggests we are going to have to score at least 2 goals to win which recent performances indicate is going to be a big task. Posted yesterday that, sadly, I thought Cardiff would want it more and edge it and having looked at their results / stats this calendar year, I'm even more certain of that now. Cardiff to win at 3/1 is a cracking bet!

When Wharton moves to a 'fashionable' club eg City, Chelsea he will become an automatic slection. It's that simple.

Both observations valid and why it's a difficult one to call. Will be very interested in team selection as may well provide insight into who's really calling the shots. Feel, sadly, Cardiff will want it a bit more and will edge it.

Ismael is paid some £600k per annum to get results the buck stops with him. To me, this appointment is reminiscent of other disastrous appointments such as Jim Iley and Owen Coyle where things unraveled at an alarming speed just as they are doing now. Unless you were around in the 1960's / early 1970's I don't think you will understand the meaning of 'seriously toxic' - in those days, you had fans on the pitch, massed in front of the directors' box in the Nuttall Street enclosure and outside the main entrance after the match. Those protests were very vocal and very aggressive. If Waggott had been the subject of such protests he would have crapped himself and Caley would have been as useful as a penis at a feminist convention. You are right. Our players don't seem fit and are very injury prone with inordinately lengthy recoveries. As with all aspects of the club, I think our sports' science and medical departments have been seriously dumbed down and the consequences are self evident.

In reality, think our squad lacks any real quality and depth. Out of our starting 11 last night, IMO, Pears, Sanderson, Forshaw, Dolan and Cantwell are simply not fit to wear the shirt - that's half the team! Eustace did a terrific job in getting us into the top 6 with this motley bunch. He is an organiser, tactically astute and an excellent motivator/man manager as his last two wins with Derby have shown - he is turning the ship and will keep them up. IMO, Ismael and his side kick Whitehead haven't a feckin clue as evidenced by our performances and their lost at sea looks as they stand there dispassionately in the technical area. Folk like @chaddyroverscan keep picking their own starting 11's until the cows come home but if the head coach/manager is a dud then all is lost. Think we now look clueless and even worse, disinterested. Can only envisage a mass exodus of our better players at the season's end (who can blame them!?) and I think it's almost certain we will be relegated next season.

Our club is an utter shambles. Indefensible. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded.

Feckin shite - simple as.

Think we've picked a total wrong one - IMO, a devisive figure full of bullsh1t; can you imagine the outcry if Coyley or Keano had put the loss down to us 'wanting it too much'.

They are but think our season is done already. Lose at Stoke, and not many are giving us a chance, then goodness knows what will happen on Saturday - lose again and I suspect the fans will turn. Yet to meet anyone not underwhelmed by Ismael's appointment.

Think we all know what's coming from this mid week fixture. Play off hopes already gone and the spineless Derby performance suggests there is no new manager bounce, in fact quite the contrary. Stoke desperate for points after only 1 point from last 4 games. Robins is smart and Pears will be physically targeted and even Gallagher will be salivating at the thought and opportunity! Stoke by 3 or 4 goals to 1 with Gallagher and Moran being made to look like Isak and Messi and bagging 2 or 3 goals between them. Stoke win at 7/4 is very good value.

Think you are dong Fred a great disservice there! Didn't Fred amass over 400 appearances for PNE and Rovers in Division 1 (now the PL) - and PNE nearly won it one year? Think we signed Fred for a fee of circa £20/30k which at the beginning of the 1960's was 'biggish dosh'. Pears will never ever come close to matching Fred's record as a First Division / PL goalie. I seem to recall an Alf Thornton article where Fred was described as one of the best English goalkeepers never to be capped though if my memory is correct, he did play for England B? The same article mentioned a bad neck/shoulder injury Fred suffered with Rovers which kept him out for some time - don't think he was ever the same after that injury.

Not a snowball's chance in hell that Pears will end up at Manchester United. I've seen some utter dross in Rovers' goal, and I date back to the Fred Else era, and I think Pears is right up there with the very worse. I can only think Nixon has an ulterior motive for scribbling what I think is such garbage.

A certain MB member on his return from Derby will post words to the effect: 'A bad day at the office. Ismael needs time, let's see where we are at the end of the season. Let's be ready for Stoke and take the points there - COYB' Thankfully, I live in the real world. That performance was a total feckin embarrassment. IMO, the writing is already on the wall - the players are not on board with Ismael. I think this is all going to end in both tears and disaster as the club is about to plumb new depths. IMO, an utterly spineless performance and for starters Pears and Dolan should never wear the shirt again. I back Eustace to keep Derby up. He is not a snake. How many broken promises were made to him? He deserved to be backed but was treated disgracefully. Good luck John. Something needs to happen quickly at Rovers and if it means rising from the ashes of insolvency then so be it. Our club needs real passion and integrity like never before.

Rarely has the first goal been so important as it will be on Saturday. Think whoever scores first will win the match. Rovers lose and our season is over, Derby lose and they are gone. It's that simple - forget all the rhetoric. High stakes - let's see who has the cajones. Sadly, I don't see it being Rovers.

You can do both! Final Sat 24 May, holiday Sun 25 May to Sun 1 Jun.

Sadly, Rovers are one of the most unusual business 'models' you are likely to encounter. If you had an ounce of nous, you would realise Venky's were highly unlikely to continue funding losses of circa £20million per annum (and evidence over the last two years or so suggests they have now made that decision) and therefore the only way for the club to stay afloat was/is through the sale of players and given the 'big money' stars have all been sold the cupboard is almost bare so would you care to explain how the Rovers avoid insolvency!?!?