Jon Dahl Tomasson - Sweden coach

[den]

Getting a different manager is going to do what exactly?

How can anyone get excited about this situation?

 

Edited February 8 by den

[JHRover]

McCall is Paul Heckingbottom's right hand man.

I suspect if we did go external he'd be high on that list. Head coach, academy background, localish, available.

What a sorry state of affairs.

[tomphil]

52 minutes ago, Polky said:

I reckon they’ll appoint someone with links to the club and try to get the fans on side.

Someone like David Dunn or Callum Davidson.

We need someone who knows how to react to the situation we are in and the fans will be offside again pretty quick if it's another dud.

What they'll demand in head office now regardless of ability is another puppet, a cheap one.

Edited February 8 by tomphil

[Displaced Rover]

5 minutes ago, CambridgeRover said:

 

Think some people are delusional about who is willing to come.

We will be scraping the barrel of desperate managers or no names

Fancy a wager?

[Ricky]

16 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Like I said let's get a new head coach in by PNE game 

You also had us to spend £10m plus in the transfer window mate. Doesn’t mean it will happen. 

[RoversClitheroe]

3 minutes ago, Displaced Rover said:

Fancy a wager?

As in you think it'll be someone good?

Paul Hackingbottom doesn't count he's shite.

Honestly why would anyone want to manage us 😂, we've dismantled a squad and not reinvested, failed 2 deadline days in Jan.

Edited February 8 by RoversClitheroe

[ABBEY]

22 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

JDT wants out. Simple as..

Why is Damien Johnson a venky puppet? 

It is my opinion

[Armchair supporter supremo]

Benni Mc🤷‍♂️

 

Though tbh I think all this talk of head coach replacements is just going to distract all the attention away from the real problems at the club

[TugaysMarlboro]

Again, can we all remember, this is rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic.

Deckchairs that need to be arranged granted, if the pool boy is indeed leaving.

But let's remember the captain and the white star line are the ones we should be aiming our anger at.

Everything else is us shouting at the iceberg for getting in the way.

Edited February 8 by TugaysMarlboro

[Oldgregg86]

9 hours ago, Ewood Ace said:

Williams (player of the season that year if I remember correctly) was as good a full back as Pickering. Mulgrew was a better centre half than Hyam. Lenihan was a better centre half than Carter. I'd take Craig Conway on the wing over Dolan, much more end product.

It didn't have a player like Szmodics but it did have more goal scorers in it with Graham, a better version of Gallagher, Emnes and Joao. 

The midfield if you include Wharton (but we don't have him anymore) was stronger.

And raya was miles better than these two clowns we have now

[FE123]

I think Benni McCarthy is a possibility. Ticks the boxes of cheap and appeases the fans to distract from the real problems at hand.

[PeteJD13]

1 minute ago, FE123 said:

I think Benni McCarthy is a possibility. Ticks the boxes of cheap and appeases the fans to distract from the real problems at hand.

He won’t be that cheap as he’s a first team coach at United 

[Damien]

9 hours ago, glen9mullan said:

Sorry all, I've not posted and I feel all the frustration, breathe it with you and I'm sorry.

The last 72 hours have been crazy,

From being added to protests groups on whatsapp/Facebook and request via PM to get involved (My phone number everywhere and getting crack pot texts)

I engaged with Steve Waggott, and India the day after the transfer window, It did not smell too nice, and I wanted answers, just like you want answers, just like everyone wants answers. 

India ignored me, and Waggott came back to me and agreed to have a meeting.

In the meantime protests threads popping up all over the internet, and I'm still somewhat unsure who is leading the protest, because unless its organic someone needs to take responsibility and the legal implications that come with it. Seen lots of idea's and awaiting the systematic plan of attack. (Given my experience in this field, and knowing what it could cost you, be that your job or indeed your freedom, then I have to take a holistic view of all options which in fairness are either in their infancy, or there is 10 groups doing different things.)

Monday I attended a family funeral , but was willing to meet Waggott after the funeral as this was important, I wanted to get my points across swiftly and in no certain terms.

Eventually we agreed on Tuesday as a "Safe space" conversation. WHY You all ask? Well to draw the lines in the sand for rules of engagement.

Prior to this meeting i had a message from Josh asking if I'd been invited to meeting a Brockhall by Duncan, I said no, and was informed he be in touch.

I then had a discussion with Waggott, and made it perfectly clear the balloon has popped. I told him he had heard the crowd at the weekend and that was not even 5% at how far supporters can take it.  I explained the PR Was shocking , every day its another balls up, and each day the club remains silent, that a snow ball becomes a snowman. He was told Suhail hiding in the shadows is no longer acceptable and unless he comes out, then he will be hounded out, like the many the supporters have successfully sent on their merry way.  We discussed the Maguire Fiasco, and there is some legal implications here, which include employment law, and contract law. You need to appreciate that due to this, I have to park this. What I can say, its been reported in the press we did not press the send. This is 100% factual, and there is a number of broken people. Please understand, I just don't have unlimited funds for a personal lawsuit!!!!

1 Win in 11 was discussed, and regardless of likeability, a team is judged on results, and we aint getting them. If there was not background noise regarding funds and messed up transfers, the fans would be looking at results as the immediate threat to this club. I stated we have division of where the fault lies in the supporter base, which includes Him, Venkys, Broughton and the Manager. However the anger right now is heading up his garden path, and again the Raos.

I stated Protest are coming, these can't be stopped, be that organic, or organised, the balance has tipped. I stated the clubs actions in the coming days will very much set the mood for the foreseeable.  I said a divided club internally wont last two minutes once the fans dig their teeth in.

I was later asked if I would attend a meeting with the senior players council today. I asked what the purpose was? what's the agenda? what's the end game? I will be honest, i never really got answers and thought this is short notice. I weighed up the pro's and cons. If we don't attend, will this be used as an opportunity to state we offered an olive branch to have open dialogue and the fans dismissed it? I know how the media works, how things can be twisted, and how they can become your enemy if your not seen to be playing the right way. We saw during the Kean era, it was massively portrayed it was the supporters fault. Even our own supporters turned on the protest and it was a toxic environment for everyone, and certainly an environment which at times were scary. Typical examples:

1. My wife Laura was holding my daughter at Ipswich away whilst also 4 months pregnant. Our own supporters, came across knocked the my daughter out her arms and punched my wife to the ground.

2. I was woke up by a phone call, and told to look out the window, i had 2 guys outside with Petrol cans, 48 hours earlier I'd received threats that my house would be burnt down with my children in it.

3. I was assaulted at Wigan away.

4. I was informed by the club they had found payments to hoodlums who were known to me as people who had issued threats.

5. I received phone calls, telling me to walk away or I would disappear.

I never wavered, I piled all my money into finding the truth, come rain or shine despite some awful things being said about me, I stood by those I promised to represent with everything I had to give.

 

Anyway moving on - Josh and I had a chat regarding the meeting and neither of us were keen, especially with no agenda, but we knew, we'd not sit in silence and would give it a whirl. Some supporter groups, supporters declined to attend.

This morning I was awaken by my wife in the early hours, I was having an awful attack, and knowing I was in hospital this morning, we knew taking my medication would mean they could not do the test, which I've been waiting for. She tried all sorts as my Oxegen levels dropped to 83 and rather than speed up, my heart rate went to 27. I dunno how she managed it, but I'm here typing., 

I got off for my appointment this morning, did my two hour test, and was informed the meeting time had changed, it had been brought forwards. At this point I knew just Josh , Duncan and I were going and not a lot more to be honest.

We arrived, went to the back room, Mike G Was there , and then more filtered in. Sorry I can't remember everyone's name.

The players came in, and I did state that i'm surprised they got 5 players who we actually own, as an ice breaker which the players took in good humour

The meeting started, and around 60 seconds in (Quite good for me, they usually only get 30 seconds) I interrupted the meeting and stated categorically, and said we ain't here on some PR Exercise, don't want a balloon and picture and its a safe space as a group for everyone to talk openly. 

They went around the room and each player and supporters had questions and answers. Everyone from the supporters section, stated that anger was at the owners and the shit show in the background. The players all said they results were not good enough, they understood the frustrations when they lose, and they feel it like we feel it. However it was then reiterated about 13 years of crap from india, Maguire fiasco, Financial fiasco. Josh was fantastic, he made it clear that a coffee with the players is not going to have a jot of difference or solve the wider issues which are once again bringing the clubs competence into question (Appreciate he did not use these exact words, it was much stronger).

Waggott is certainly feeling the pressure from all angles, be that internal, external or India. He is not blind to what may occur but continues to engage.

In terms of Suhail, Josh made it clear, without him in the room, its pointless, he cant hide away and as the owners mouthpiece he needs to engage.

I can assure everyone that anything else discussed is out there in the public domain, and for legal reasons I personally cannot deny or confirm certain things, My wife needs every penny we have right now, and I cannot leave her destitute by being caught up in a legal battle for something I cannot substantiate. My health is well documented, and even tonight the grief on twitter for reporting the news, which is not an endorsement of the news is just shocking really. At times I don't know who the enemy is.

The meeting ended, and the supporters stopped behind for a debrief really amongst themselves. A little shell shocked, perhaps confused and if anything its fair to say we was unprepared. We had not met up previously, each group there bar the independents which I consider myself, have a mandate or a function to provide free speech. For example, I could see first hand how the trust are in a damned if you do, damned if you don't position. 

The positive around the meeting is that different groups with somewhat differing views could work as a team to get the points across and everyone did this well to a person. No-one had birds spinning around their heads,. and to be honest I'm proud of them all and they are credit to the supporter base for having a go, and saying exactly as it is.

I know to some the above is excuses and we are all on the naughty step, however you won't conquer the mountain if you fail to engage and put the graft in to build the blocks. Some of us are tired, we've been at this years, at times the grief becomes more than the cause and whatever happens it does affect us all. 

Some tweets I was receiving tonight of 17/18 yr old lads, were 4 or 5 years old when we was in the trenches last time, or marching to the FA and Parliament. There 100% needs to be a know your history piece, because right now, Venkys out, Waggott our JDT Out, whoever out, won't work without clear facts. The media need the story they need the reasoning, as do a big % of match going supporters.

 

Thank you for reading, I know BRFCS Will do an article and Rovers Chat a podcast, Id rather them do that now, and any question be posed after that, as I'm just exhausted 

I’m sorry if I have misunderstood something but did Glen say payments were found from the club to pay someone to threaten him? 

Cheers for clearing this up in advance.

[sparky12]

38 minutes ago, ABBEY said:

Why ? Back to having a venky puppet ..

Its a much better on-field option than having someone that wants to be anywhere else.

[MB Rover]

1 minute ago, FE123 said:

I think Benni McCarthy is a possibility. Ticks the boxes of cheap and appeases the fans to distract from the real problems at hand.

Does he appease the fans? We’re in a relegation scrap and they decide to hire someone with no managerial experience of any sort of note?

[Leonard Venkhater]

17 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

As in you think it'll be someone good?

Paul Hackingbottom doesn't count he's shite.

Honestly why would anyone want to manage us 😂, we've dismantled a squad and not reinvested, failed 2 deadline days in Jan.

Well, Heckinbottom has won promotion to the top flight. Ony Dalglish and Souness have achieved that for Rovers in my lifetime...just saying lol

[RoversClitheroe]

4 minutes ago, MB Rover said:

Does he appease the fans? We’re in a relegation scrap and they decide to hire someone with no managerial experience of any sort of note?

He does, managed in SA.

[RoversClitheroe]

3 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

Well, Heckinbottom has won promotion to the top flight. Ony Dalglish and Souness have achieved that for Rovers in my lifetime...just saying lol

With a mad good team yes.

[tomphil]

9 minutes ago, FE123 said:

I think Benni McCarthy is a possibility. Ticks the boxes of cheap and appeases the fans to distract from the real problems at hand.

What does Benni Mc know about fighting relegation from the championship ?

[AspRover]

Sparky is unemployed, I guess. Cheap, fans favourite, might actually be interested with a bit of a point to prove. History of injecting a bit of fight into a team. Ticks a lot of boxes. 

Get yer scrapers out, let's go barrel hunting.

 

[rossyste]

1 hour ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Is he shite? 

Genuinely never heard of Stuart McCall.

Be better off appointing Davina McCall.....

[MB Rover]

4 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

He does, managed in SA.

See my any sort of note comment, think I could get a job over there

[J*B]

 

[Roverthechimp]

1 hour ago, BigUts said:

Sounds like the senior players think differently and want a scrap and they will likely have a big say in approach if and when a new man is appointed

Our senior players want a scrap ? About the funniest thing I’ve ever heard …  (JRC excepted and Dolan to a point)

[j166429]

2 minutes ago, J*B said:

 

I think Eustace left Birmingham due to misalignment with the board...