John Eustace - our head coach

[Paul Mani]

Here’s my take…

JDT had to go. He’s far too outspoken about his bosses to last, especially in a run of 1 win in 11. It’s a shame because I think he’s a top manager, who with the right budget and support would’ve taken us up. But you can’t throw your bosses under the bus weekly, and survive. Best of luck to him, a chance missed by Rovers!

Eustace is a sound appointment on the face of it. The Birmingham fans seem to love him, a good young manager who didn’t deserve to be sacked. I’ve heard nothing to suggest we’ve got a dud. Though, oddly for me, at this stage I just don’t feel much, either way..

The plot thickens when you start to look at the board and I for one, see a huge power shift that’s happened. GB, for me is a dead man walking and if he’s not already gone, will have soon.

*Reaches for tin hat…

Swagg is at the wheel! If you look at the end of the transfer window it’s more evident than ever. The club sold AW to fund its operational costs, brought in McFadz and Fleck (ex Cov old boys), pulled the £5m signing set up by the DoF and replace JDT with Eustace, an aspiring young manager who, you guessed it, is an ex Cov lad.

I deduce that GB is in fact a goner, hence why he’s posting on his personal LinkedIn and not our official website. Every action above has Waggott sticky paws on it. He’s going nowhere, he just brought in trusted lieutenants at every level and emancipated Gregg Broughton.

We can only hope that by some stroke of luck, Mcfadz, Fleck and Eustace are as honest and hardworking as their reputation suggests because this is another huge moment in our history. 

[Upside Down]

I think Eustace has made a good choice to come here.

All the carnage and chaos and ineptitude that is venkys basically makes this a free hit for him.

He was binned off by Birmingham totally undeserving of such a fate.

If he does well here he's done it with the odds against him, if he does shit then is it really his fault?

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Here’s my take…

JDT had to go. He’s far too outspoken about his bosses to last, especially in a run of 1 win in 11. It’s a shame because I think he’s a top manager, who with the right budget and support would’ve taken us up. But you can’t throw your bosses under the bus weekly, and survive. Best of luck to him, a chance missed by Rovers!

Eustace is a sound appointment on the face of it. The Birmingham fans seem to love him, a good young manager who didn’t deserve to be sacked. I’ve heard nothing to suggest we’ve got a dud. Though, oddly for me, at this stage I just don’t feel much, either way..

The plot thickens when you start to look at the board and I for one, see a huge power shift that’s happened. GB, for me is a dead man walking and if he’s not already gone, will have soon.

*Reaches for tin hat…

Swagg is at the wheel! If you look at the end of the transfer window it’s more evident than ever. The club sold AW to fund its operational costs, brought in McFadz and Fleck (ex Cov old boys), pulled the £5m signing set up by the DoF and replace JDT with Eustace, an aspiring young manager who, you guessed it, is an ex Cov lad.

I deduce that GB is in fact a goner, hence why he’s posting on his personal LinkedIn and not our official website. Every action above has Waggott sticky paws on it. He’s going nowhere, he just brought in trusted lieutenants at every level and emancipated Gregg Broughton.

We can only hope that by some stroke of luck, Mcfadz, Fleck and Eustace are as honest and hardworking as their reputation suggests because this is another huge moment in our history. 

You make it sound as though the club decided to get rid of Tomasson. 

The theory that Waggott has got more power might be the case, more likely because Broughton is fed up with Tomasson going or that his task is being made more and more difficult bordering on impossible rather than again a choice by the club as the owners dont sack/sideline due to incompetence as we know so it wont be based on more admin failings.

Eustace wasnt even at Coventry when Waggott was so that seems a lazy link. And lets face it, the choice to not reinvest the Wharton money will be solely down to Venkys, especially admist their court hearing being delayed.

Either way, the club is fucked and Eustace is walking into a shit show and wont appease the fan base even if he is a reasonable appointment.

[Ossydave]

1 hour ago, Upside Down said:

I think Eustace has made a good choice to come here.

All the carnage and chaos and ineptitude that is venkys basically makes this a free hit for him.

He was binned off by Birmingham totally undeserving of such a fate.

If he does well here he's done it with the odds against him, if he does shit then is it really his fault?

Agreed, his brief is obviously a simple one for now - avoid relegation. If he fails he blames what went on before him and the carnage in the background. It's almost the exact time Mowbray took over when he did in February  and ultimately we went down that season due to his predecessor. 

If he keeps us up, he's probably secured a nice long contract and job that's his as long as he wants it....

[bluebruce]

6 hours ago, davulsukur said:

Certainly wouldn't help, agreed.

I just don't think that style of play suits the players we have at Rovers. And now Wharton has gone it's even more apparent.

It got us closer to the playoffs than ever before. It wasn't the style, it was the constant undermining and budget slashing from above. In terms of the manager's failing, it was a lack of a plan B.

[Mercer]

Good luck John, think you'll feckin need it.

Solid job at Brum but jury out.  Hope he doesn't turn out to be a John 'Eusless'.

Edited February 10, 2024 by Mercer

[philipl]

Eustace is a Stoke City squad player after the Champions League winner.

Good luck John- we all need you to have the luck JDT didn't get.

Massive baptism of fire walking into a dressing room in an edge of relegation six pointer after no time with the players.

 

[martonrover]

16 minutes ago, philipl said:

Eustace is a Stoke City squad player after the Champions League winner.

That has absolutely nothing to do with either man's abilities as a head coach.

Good players don't necessarily make good managers, and vice versa.

I liked JDT and don't blame him for this season, but he does have a relegation on his coaching CV, which is conveniently never discussed.

[Mattyblue]

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

 

Either way, the club is fucked and Eustace is walking into a shit show and wont appease the fan base even if he is a reasonable appointment.

He will appease plenty of it, a load of fans will file back into line if he picks up a few wins.

You even saw it post deadline, even folk I know who aren’t remotely pro-Rao were telling me what a good window it was.

It doesn’t take much.

Edited February 10, 2024 by Mattyblue

[AllRoverAsia]

4 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Here’s my take…

JDT had to go. He’s far too outspoken about his bosses to last, especially in a run of 1 win in 11. It’s a shame because I think he’s a top manager, who with the right budget and support would’ve taken us up. But you can’t throw your bosses under the bus weekly, and survive. Best of luck to him, a chance missed by Rovers!

Eustace is a sound appointment on the face of it. The Birmingham fans seem to love him, a good young manager who didn’t deserve to be sacked. I’ve heard nothing to suggest we’ve got a dud. Though, oddly for me, at this stage I just don’t feel much, either way..

The plot thickens when you start to look at the board and I for one, see a huge power shift that’s happened. GB, for me is a dead man walking and if he’s not already gone, will have soon.

*Reaches for tin hat…

Swagg is at the wheel! If you look at the end of the transfer window it’s more evident than ever. The club sold AW to fund its operational costs, brought in McFadz and Fleck (ex Cov old boys), pulled the £5m signing set up by the DoF and replace JDT with Eustace, an aspiring young manager who, you guessed it, is an ex Cov lad.

I deduce that GB is in fact a goner, hence why he’s posting on his personal LinkedIn and not our official website. Every action above has Waggott sticky paws on it. He’s going nowhere, he just brought in trusted lieutenants at every level and emancipated Gregg Broughton.

We can only hope that by some stroke of luck, Mcfadz, Fleck and Eustace are as honest and hardworking as their reputation suggests because this is another huge moment in our history. 

Top post, you've nailed it 👍

[arbitro]

4 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Here’s my take…

JDT had to go. He’s far too outspoken about his bosses to last, especially in a run of 1 win in 11. It’s a shame because I think he’s a top manager, who with the right budget and support would’ve taken us up. But you can’t throw your bosses under the bus weekly, and survive. Best of luck to him, a chance missed by Rovers!

Eustace is a sound appointment on the face of it. The Birmingham fans seem to love him, a good young manager who didn’t deserve to be sacked. I’ve heard nothing to suggest we’ve got a dud. Though, oddly for me, at this stage I just don’t feel much, either way..

The plot thickens when you start to look at the board and I for one, see a huge power shift that’s happened. GB, for me is a dead man walking and if he’s not already gone, will have soon.

*Reaches for tin hat…

Swagg is at the wheel! If you look at the end of the transfer window it’s more evident than ever. The club sold AW to fund its operational costs, brought in McFadz and Fleck (ex Cov old boys), pulled the £5m signing set up by the DoF and replace JDT with Eustace, an aspiring young manager who, you guessed it, is an ex Cov lad.

I deduce that GB is in fact a goner, hence why he’s posting on his personal LinkedIn and not our official website. Every action above has Waggott sticky paws on it. He’s going nowhere, he just brought in trusted lieutenants at every level and emancipated Gregg Broughton.

We can only hope that by some stroke of luck, Mcfadz, Fleck and Eustace are as honest and hardworking as their reputation suggests because this is another huge moment in our history. 

An interesting theory about the power struggle and one I'd never thought of but it might have some legs. If so it puts me in mind of the Shagnew and Singh time which saw us ridiculed as they battled each other, much to the detriment of Rovers. Alongside Waggott I'm assuming will be Suhail whilst Tomasson and Broughton were in the other corner. Didn't Tomasson name check Waggott and Suhail in his very last public interview last Saturday? 

Of course I'm joining the dots here but this makes more sense than any theory I've heard for some time.

Heaven help us 😞

Edited February 10, 2024 by arbitro

[DuffsLeftPeg]

7 hours ago, davulsukur said:

It feels like this appointment would be a better fit for us than JDT was.

With JDT the club was trying to run before it could walk. I really couldn't get on board with the whole passing out from the back/trying to have all the possession stuff. A few worrying comments in Eustace's first interview about carrying that on but he does say to "put his stamp on it" 

Ultimately, if we stick with what JDT was doing, we will get relegated. 

Eustace needs to make us better organised, better defensively, better at set pieces and not to be concerned about how much possession we had.

We need points on the board asap and we've gotta hope that's his only remit right now.

You’re talking nonsense to suit your argument…JDT’s football was excellent and we finished higher than at any point under Mowbray and would have made the play offs comfortably but for the O’Brien transfer failing and the inexplicable decision to keep Kaminski on the bench - he was clearly due to be sold and Pears needed Championship minutes, that decision was clearly above JDT’s head and he eventually left for a pathetic £2m, given he’s now worth at least £20m and we replaced him with a Swedish Flapper.

We also had 2 brilliant cup runs, beating 2 Premier League sides along the way and almost getting to a semi-final at Wembley against Man City.

JDT was a young, progressive and ambitious coach and he’d played the game at the very highest level. With backing last summer and if GB had the ability and funds to get the players in we need, we would’ve continued to progress this season. Unfortunately we replaced Kaminski with Leo who is clearly an awful keeper and since he came into the team we began conceding 2 goals per game. How is any manager expected to get results with players who aren’t ready for Championship football? Also see Ennis & Telalovic - not ready for the Championship. James Hill aside, who’s now left too, the quality of our loans has also been worse than in previous seasons.

Good luck to Eustace, it’s a good appointment in the circumstances but under the same club ownership, financial issues and their stooge Steve MAGGOTT as CEO, this continues to go one way before the asset stripping really begins in the summer.

New era my arse! This won’t end until the parasites leave.

[AllRoverAsia]

He name checked Waggott, Suhail and the owners when asked what about Maguire, that they should be asked.

[RTM08]

Having had a bit of time to digest everything I have mixed feelings. Eustace seems to be living entirely off of the first 10 or so games of this season and has done nothing in his career to suggest he can do anything but keep his head above water, which is perfect for Swag but potentially a disaster for the club.

Of course, as Rovers manager, he deserves a chance to prove himself and I'll back him, but this appointment is a major risk.

 

[Gav]

Well one things for sure, Eustace ticks one of the key components coming into this job, he's worked with bonkers owners who don't understand the game. Imagine sacking a manager who has dragged the club from relegation candidates to playoff contenders in little more than a season, then having the foresight to replace him with Weetabix head!

Welcome to the funny farm John, I wish you all the luck in the world, you're going to need it.

VENKYS OUT - NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

 

[davulsukur]

1 hour ago, DuffsLeftPeg said:

You’re talking nonsense to suit your argument…JDT’s football was excellent and we finished higher than at any point under Mowbray and would have made the play offs comfortably but for the O’Brien transfer failing and the inexplicable decision to keep Kaminski on the bench - he was clearly due to be sold and Pears needed Championship minutes, that decision was clearly above JDT’s head and he eventually left for a pathetic £2m, given he’s now worth at least £20m and we replaced him with a Swedish Flapper.

We also had 2 brilliant cup runs, beating 2 Premier League sides along the way and almost getting to a semi-final at Wembley against Man City.

JDT was a young, progressive and ambitious coach and he’d played the game at the very highest level. With backing last summer and if GB had the ability and funds to get the players in we need, we would’ve continued to progress this season. Unfortunately we replaced Kaminski with Leo who is clearly an awful keeper and since he came into the team we began conceding 2 goals per game. How is any manager expected to get results with players who aren’t ready for Championship football? Also see Ennis & Telalovic - not ready for the Championship. James Hill aside, who’s now left too, the quality of our loans has also been worse than in previous seasons.

Good luck to Eustace, it’s a good appointment in the circumstances but under the same club ownership, financial issues and their stooge Steve MAGGOTT as CEO, this continues to go one way before the asset stripping really begins in the summer.

New era my arse! This won’t end until the parasites leave.

Not really talking nonsense tbf.

Last season, yep it was a good one, no doubts the cup runs were excellent.

I also agree that JDT is a good coach, who will likely be successful at another club.

Yep, had we backed him in the summer we could have very well built on last season and could have gone on one further and secured a play off place.

JDT's style of play doesn't suit what we have now though, it's undeniable. We've conceded the most goals in the league, most from set pieces, we've not won a league game for 2 months and put in some abysmal performances along the way. He's also failed to beat/lost to Sheff Wed, Huddersfield, Rotherham & QPR.

It's not his fault, the rug was pulled from under him but he failed to adapt and if he remained in charge for the rest of the season there is a good chance we'd be relegated.

Glass half full says we finished 7th last season, excellent season.

Glass half empty says we spent more time in the top 6 than anyone other than The Dingles or Sheff Utd and finished outside of it.

 

[oldjamfan1]

2 hours ago, bluebruce said:

It got us closer to the playoffs than ever before. It wasn't the style, it was the constant undermining and budget slashing from above. In terms of the manager's failing, it was a lack of a plan B.

Actually funnily enough it was the early season results that got us near to the playoffs last season. All those pragmatic 1-0 wins where we nicked a goal and Kaminski performed wonders to protect it. When the ‘JDT style’ crept in and we dominated possession and pissed er I mean passed it around at the back, that’s when we started to lose a shit load of games and slip down the table.

I agree with your other points though.

[Gav]

13 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

JDT's style of play doesn't suit what we have now though, it's undeniable. We've conceded the most goals in the league, most from set pieces, we've not won a league game for 2 months and put in some abysmal performances along the way. He's also failed to beat/lost to Sheff Wed, Huddersfield, Rotherham & QPR.

Why did his style of play suit us last season and not this?

Do you not think a crippling injury list and zero budget has played a major part in our failings this season? Or how about not replacing key players that have left over the past few years? 

Some of the football in the past 2yrs, at times, is the best I've seen in over 20yrs watching us. Could he have adapted his style to the usual mundane shite seen week in week out in Championship? Maybe, did I want him to, nope.

 

Edited February 10, 2024 by Gav

[eire3382]

We could appoint the greatest manager in history and he would still fail here with owners and a board like this. No support, GB clearly tried his best but was screwed

[booth]

20 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

Actually funnily enough it was the early season results that got us near to the playoffs last season. All those pragmatic 1-0 wins where we nicked a goal and Kaminski performed wonders to protect it. When the ‘JDT style’ crept in and we dominated possession and pissed er I mean passed it around at the back, that’s when we started to lose a shit load of games and slip down the table.

I agree with your other points though.

You mean after they fucked up the January transfer window.  

[M_B]

16 minutes ago, Gav said:

Why did his style of play suit us last season and not this?

Do you not think a crippling injury list and zero budget has played a major part in our failings this season? Or how about not replacing key players that have left over the past few years? 

Some of the football in the past 2yrs, at times, is the best I've seen in over 20yrs watching us. Could he have adapted his style to the usual mundane shite seen week in week out in Championship? Maybe, did I want him to, nope.

 

Exactly as I see it, some of the football and goals under Tomasson was brilliant. He really got a tune out of the players he inherited. 

But that's been the problem, as soon as Broughton and his extensive new recruitment team had to actually recruit, the wheels have fallen off. 

[M_B]

On Eustace, good luck to him, he just has to look at the second goal we conceded against QPR to know where to start. It was truly pathetic. 

[roverandout]

Hopefully we can get Jordan James from Birmingham in the summer. Perfect replacement for Wharton then again we're more likely to get Jordan the supermodel 

[alcd]

13 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Hopefully we can get Jordan James from Birmingham in the summer. Perfect replacement for Wharton then again we're more likely to get Jordan the supermodel 

That would require spending money (alot to acquire James) and that definitely isn't happening now. It'll be a case of selling anything with a value even more so if it's L1 next season. 

[davulsukur]

59 minutes ago, Gav said:

Why did his style of play suit us last season and not this?

Do you not think a crippling injury list and zero budget has played a major part in our failings this season? Or how about not replacing key players that have left over the past few years? 

Some of the football in the past 2yrs, at times, is the best I've seen in over 20yrs watching us. Could he have adapted his style to the usual mundane shite seen week in week out in Championship? Maybe, did I want him to, nope.

 

Yep, maybe this, so then it didn't suit what we have now. What he was left with after players were downgraded.

He didn't adapt the way we play to suit what we had (including injuries). He's trying to get a poor squad playing champagne football. Admirable but it wasn't working this season.

As I said before, he's a good coach, he'll do well elsewhere, just right coach at the wrong club.