The Relegation Thread

[Stuart]

Let's be honest Gavlar, when you've watched the club when it was bottom of Division Three, you know that it could always be worse! There are many ways it could always be worse.

Surely you don't want us back there.

We are currently on the trajectory that we were on before Jack saved us. We need a similar saviour now. FFP has dictated that it can't be a new owner's money so our only option is to try to stop the malaise that has set in by bringing in fresh ideas.

If Bowyer is recruiting and picking the team then it must be him. If it isn't him then he should walk because it's his reputation that's at stake, and he is meant to be a dignified chap.

But I do have a beef with these people who say 'ah well, I've seen us in the third tier and I'm prepared to do it again'. This is defeatist and is taking to a place WORSE than last time. It's like jumping out of a plane without a parachute! If Jack had done what Venkys are doing we may not even have a club now, let alone 20,000 plus Rovers fans in their 30s (absent or otherwise).

[Parsonblue]

Surely you don't want us back there.

We are currently on the trajectory that we were on before Jack saved us. We need a similar saviour now. FFP has dictated that it can't be a new owner's money so our only option is to try to stop the malaise that has set in by bringing in fresh ideas.

If Bowyer is recruiting and picking the team then it must be him. If it isn't him then he should walk because it's his reputation that's at stake, and he is meant to be a dignified chap.

But I do have a beef with these people who say 'ah well, I've seen us in the third tier and I'm prepared to do it again'. This is defeatist and is taking to a place WORSE than last time. It's like jumping out of a plane without a parachute! If Jack had done what Venkys are doing we may not even have a club now, let alone 20,000 plus Rovers fans in their 30s (absent or otherwise).

Nobody wants to drop into League One (or three as it was) but sometimes clubs fall for a variety of reasons. Man City, Southampton, Norwich and Leicester are just four examples of clubs who slipped that far not that long ago but who have bounced back. These clubs, and so many more, have proved that you can come back if the infrastructure at the club is put right and sensible investment is made. At the moment the owners are backing the management they have put in place but only time will tell if that is the correct decision or not. Clearly if results don't improve quickly then someone, somewhere is going to need to have a re-think.

[broadsword]

No rush, the season's only six games old. Can't have the owners caving in to the modern generation of fickle fan who wants change at the drop of the hat when times get tough.

It takes time to create something worthwhile, Gary must be given time to put his plans in place.

Three years of chopping and changing is not enough time to realise the vision.

[1864roverite]

Rovers are heading downwards under this current manager changes are needed now

[Stuart]

Nobody wants to drop into League One (or three as it was) but sometimes clubs fall for a variety of reasons. Man City, Southampton, Norwich and Leicester are just four examples of clubs who slipped that far not that long ago but who have bounced back. These clubs, and so many more, have proved that you can come back if the infrastructure at the club is put right and sensible investment is made. At the moment the owners are backing the management they have put in place but only time will tell if that is the correct decision or not. Clearly if results don't improve quickly then someone, somewhere is going to need to have a re-think.

Timing is everything though. As a club, as a town, we dropped out of the PL at exactly the wrong time. With astute management and board decision making, given the foundations we already had in place, we could had secured our future for a generation.

We could we drop down into the third tier at exactly the wrong time too. Those clubs you mention did not have the fundamental issue of FFP - although in Man City's case they have always had a considerable fan base. They were able to rebuild and bring in money people. Rovers on the other hand could well be without a chair when the music stops.

But the other side to this is, at what point does this re-think take place? And will there be as many options as there are now? As there were at the end of last season? Or at the end of Bowyer's mission to stabilise? Ignorance has defected the owners' judgement (being kind) and sentiment and fear has clouded the fans' judgement (to this point). Worse still, what if Bowyer draws the next two games or draws one and wins one? The 're-think'-ometer will be reset and the game will start again.

[broadsword]

But poor Gary has barely had any time and he's not been able to bring in any players and morale has been rock bottom and he's stabilised us and and and .... I want my teddy!

[MCMC1875]

Timing is everything though. As a club, as a town, we dropped out of the PL at exactly the wrong time. With astute management and board decision making, given the foundations we already had in place, we could had secured our future for a generation.

We could we drop down into the third tier at exactly the wrong time too. Those clubs you mention did not have the fundamental issue of FFP - although in Man City's case they have always had a considerable fan base. They were able to rebuild and bring in money people. Rovers on the other hand could well be without a chair when the music stops.

But the other side to this is, at what point does this re-think take place? And will there be as many options as there are now? As there were at the end of last season? Or at the end of Bowyer's mission to stabilise? Ignorance has defected the owners' judgement (being kind) and sentiment and fear has clouded the fans' judgement (to this point). Worse still, what if Bowyer draws the next two games or draws one and wins one? The 're-think'-ometer will be reset and the game will start again.

It's very simple. The club is still on a downward spiral and nobody is willing or able to stop it.

[47er]

Unless you have the cash to make the Indians an offer they can't refuse I don't see how you change it.

Not true, we could change the manager couldn't we? That would be a start.

Inertia is not going to help.

[Stuart]

It's very simple. The club is still on a downward spiral and nobody is willing or able to stop it.

The fans are able. Not enough are willing, for a variety of different reasons.

[LDRover]

Nobody wants to drop into League One (or three as it was) but sometimes clubs fall for a variety of reasons. Man City, Southampton, Norwich and Leicester are just four examples of clubs who slipped that far not that long ago but who have bounced back. These clubs, and so many more, have proved that you can come back if the infrastructure at the club is put right and sensible investment is made. At the moment the owners are backing the management they have put in place but only time will tell if that is the correct decision or not. Clearly if results don't improve quickly then someone, somewhere is going to need to have a re-think.

The 4 clubs you mention dropped because of poor managerial appointments and got back because of good ones in Pearson, Royle, Lambert and Adkins. Edited September 16, 2015 by LDRover

[Leonard Venkhater]

The fans are able. Not enough are willing, for a variety of different reasons.

Not sure about this,Stuart.

Yes, the fans could organise a strategy, which might include different methods of protest etc, BUT we all know who the owners are.Kings of upside down perversity and arrogance.

A few years ago, we escaped the drop by the skin of our teeth. Venky's response?......not only did they leave Kean in post, but weakened the very squad that only just survived.

Even after the Bolton game, Kean remained. After relegation, yes, you've guessed it..and somewhere along the line, he even got a new contract, as if to show the fans they didn't count

In the end, when Kean disappeared,they hadn't sacked him. I think he even took them for constructive dismissal.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

The fans are able. Not enough are willing, for a variety of different reasons.

How are we able? Struggling with that one. It's arguable the start of fundraising on here for an advert in the telegraph to boycott the next home game after Middlesbrough might have contributed to Kean's sacking. That also may be a big overstatement of our collective importance.

But either way a mass boycott is the only thing that the fans can do to get rid of Bowyer. But then Venkys will inevitably hire Craig Short, David Dunn or some nomark Shaw met in a pub while at Preston and the slide will continue.

Personally don't think the fans can do anything.

[Tom]

Up to 18th where's that promotion thread?

[Stuart]

How are we able? Struggling with that one. It's arguable the start of fundraising on here for an advert in the telegraph to boycott the next home game after Middlesbrough might have contributed to Kean's sacking. That also may be a big overstatement of our collective importance.

But either way a mass boycott is the only thing that the fans can do to get rid of Bowyer. But then Venkys will inevitably hire Craig Short, David Dunn or some nomark Shaw met in a pub while at Preston and the slide will continue.

Personally don't think the fans can do anything.

Something triggered a sequence of events that ended with Kean leaving. I believe that was the fans.

Finding excuses is just further evidence of lack of willingness.

Anyway, we are winning drawing now do those fickle fans who work from game to game will now be calling for him to have more time. 1 win in 6 7 is all that is required.

[philipl]

Have to say that a club that is staying up wins games like tonight's when it gets in front... twice.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Something needs to change, but who, how?

[onlyonejackwalker]

Whether it's a good away point or not, that 4 points from the 21 available. Minus 3 goal difference. 23rd position in the table. 15 points off the top after 7 games! 10 points behind Burnley.

That's a pretty grim start indeed. Wonder what the squad expected and now make of it and who are they are blaming? Bet Jordan's chuffed. Wonder if Short is relaxed? Hanley as capitano happy how he's marshalling things? Anyone in management care? Worried for their jobs?

No-one will be happy internally and the bitching will have begun.

[Baz]

Nobody wants to drop into League One (or three as it was) but sometimes clubs fall for a variety of reasons. Man City, Southampton, Norwich and Leicester are just four examples of clubs who slipped that far not that long ago but who have bounced back. These clubs, and so many more, have proved that you can come back if the infrastructure at the club is put right and sensible investment is made. At the moment the owners are backing the management they have put in place but only time will tell if that is the correct decision or not. Clearly if results don't improve quickly then someone, somewhere is going to need to have a re-think.

I think it has been showing for quite a while that the current set up is wrong.

[Tom]

Take solace in that even when we are bad we don't look nearly as bad as Charlton did today; lethargic and just generally bad

[Husky]

Take solace in that even when we are bad we don't look nearly as bad as Charlton did today; lethargic and just generally bad

That's why we won't go down - no matter how bad we are there are 4-6 worse teams.

[DE.]

Depends on Rhodes really. Without him we're as bad as anybody else, as we don't have any other players contributing to the goals for column.

[philipl]

A welcome 3 points towards the 53 we need to stay up.

Saying there are X teams worse than us is bubble blowing. There probably aren't 3 managers worse than GB...

[Parsonblue]

A welcome 3 points towards the 53 we need to stay up.

Saying there are X teams worse than us is bubble blowing. There probably aren't 3 managers worse than GB...

I think come the end of the season you'll find there are far more than three managers in a lower position than the Rovers under Bowyer.

[chris_h]

I think come the end of the season you'll find there are far more than three managers in a lower position than the Rovers under Bowyer.

You do know that you are bothering to reply to the bloke who was convinced that Diego Maradona was on his way to the Ewood hot seat don't you?

[Baz]

I think come the end of the season you'll find there are far more than three managers in a lower position than the Rovers under Bowyer.

Doesnt mean they have done a worse job though if you factor in budgets etc.