v Stoke City (a) - 12/3/2025, k/o 20.00

[simongarnerisgod]

15 minutes ago, Rogerb said:

Similarities to Appleton in the style of play?

i won`t tar him with that brush just yet,it did have some disturbing similarites though,i.e there did`nt seem to be plan,shape or any sense of organisation,the team for saturday will be interesting😀

[Mattyblue]

Thought Broughton said we had a ‘clear style of football from the academy to the first team and we’ll make signings that reflect that’… was that actually BS?!

[levi]

25 minutes ago, Rogerb said:

Similarities to Appleton in the style of play?

I'm not sure what the style of play is tbh

[chaddyrovers]

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I missed last nights game as I had a very boring lecture to attend. Looks like I was the lucky one ! What I don’t understand is on Saturday we started out with a back four. Kargbo gets injured and we immediately go to a back five with wing backs. I thought that got us back into the game to a certain extent. However because the wing backs ( Ribeiro especially ) failed to get forward our attacking threat was minimal. We had no goal threat what so ever in the second half. 

Yes I posted exactly that the back 3 got us back into the game and we took control and we settled. First 10 minutes we got bullied. I also posted post game that our wing backs were too deep and lack of crosses. Should people dismissed that opinion somehow 

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I fully expected us to revert to a back four last night given we were playing Stoke and not a good side like Leeds or Sheff Utd. I don’t understand why we went to the back five again. . Reading the reports on here last night was just a repeat of the Derby second half.

 I wasn't surprised we went 5 at the back and trying to keep it tight. Without Hyam's stupid pass, I don't think they caused us too many problems. 

We are clearly lacking confidence and we need to find the right balance, Taking the lead would massive help aswell. 

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I hope we go to a back four again on Saturday against Cardiff. Unless there’s a big improvement I can’t see beyond another lack lustre performance leading to another defeat. Then the knives will really be out.

I am 4-2-3-1 formation man and I think its the best formation with this squad. We need the players to step up and get back to the best. 

[Groundhog]

Whatever the many, many reasons for last night, the body language was horrible - from the players on the pitch, to the subs, to the manager. A hard watch. 

[sharpysharps86]

2 hours ago, Mercer said:

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.

Toxicity is relative to the time period we are in.

Of course it would've been more hostile back then. Totally different generation. Meaningless comparison.

Edited March 13 by sharpysharps86

[K-Hod]

2 hours ago, Rogerb said:

Similarities to Appleton in the style of play?

Aye, there isn’t one.

[chaddyrovers]

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Certainly wouldnt have started Sanderson or Forshaw. Cantwell too. Forget the back 5. Its hard to come up with 11 players at the moment.

It was simple enough question yet can't give a straight answer to it, instead of coming list of excuses. 

[booth]

1 hour ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i won`t tar him with that brush just yet,it did have some disturbing similarites though,i.e there did`nt seem to be plan,shape or any sense of organisation,the team for saturday will be interesting😀

If he plays Forshaw and Cantwell again, I'm joining the haters.

[Ghost7]

2 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

Thought Broughton said we had a ‘clear style of football from the academy to the first team and we’ll make signings that reflect that’… was that actually BS?!

No but Waggott and Suhail got rid of him so it went out the window. Back to plodders having the full say, with no strategy designed to get results on the pitch. Only cost cutting, short term, line your own pockets planning.

[deanives]

Something was definitely wrong last night, the sheer amount of miss placed passes there was stupid. The swing and a miss from Cantwell, the numerous times that simple balls were cut out. 

[arbitro]

This flag was removed shortly before or just after kick off - about the time Waggott and Suhail would have taken their seats. I don't know for sure but an educated guess would be one of them requested its removal. 

[DaveyB]

6 hours ago, rog of the rovers said:

I agree that Ismael has hardly endeared himself to the fans with his first three games, the tactics and lack of clear plan has been alarming, he has to improve quickly and start building for next season, where survival will be our main priority once again.

However, I do think that the players have to take a huge chunk of responsibility for this recent run of games. Swansea, Norwich, Derby and Stoke. Three dismal performances (one which pre-dates Ismael) in that stretch and lets not forget QPR and Oxford away before that. The performances since Christmas have been particularly concerning.

Would anyone want to commit another 3 years with Hyam? The loanees bar Beck are replaceable. And last night for me was the peak of frustration with Tyrhys Dolan. I like the kid, his personality and as a role model. But I do really believe the best for him and us is for him to move on.

Exhibit A - Cantwell feeds Dolan running through the centre in the 6th minute (0-0)

Loses out to the defender

 

Below is another at 0-0 Rovers on the counter attack with 4 on three, what happens next?

 

You may feel this it nit picking but we know how crucial the first goal is at this level. This is twice before Stoke City scored!

Gave the ball away on several occasions before and after that. One leading to a Manhoef shot which was blocked.

I do give Dolan credit for the cut back for the Cantwell shot, but we need more and more often!

Not just Dolan (although I agree he is frustrating in the extreme), we just never seem to capitalise on these kind of situations. The goal they scored was gifted to them by Hyam misplaced a pass out of defence, but, be honest, if we had been gifted the ball in the exact same way what are the chances we would have scored from it?

[G Somerset Rover]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

This flag was removed shortly before or just after kick off - about the time Waggott and Suhail would have taken their seats. I don't know for sure but an educated guess would be one of them requested its removal. 

Suhail clearly doesn’t like it when the heat is turned on him. I’ve thought for some time that making his life uncomfortable would be the best place to start.

[...]

What they gonna do if there's banners all over Ewood on Saturday? Kick everyone out?

Fill the place with em

Edited March 13 by ...

[Herbie6590]

The BRFCS POTM in association with PSLSoccer.co.uk is Yuri Ribeiro

[J*B]

14 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

The BRFCS POTM in association with PSLSoccer.co.uk is Yuri Ribeiro

Not many things have made me smile today - but knowing we’re contractually obligated to run a MOTM poll after a disaster of a performance and announce it did raise a small smile. 

[47er]

3 hours ago, arbitro said:

This flag was removed shortly before or just after kick off - about the time Waggott and Suhail would have taken their seats. I don't know for sure but an educated guess would be one of them requested its removal. 

I can understand that banner would be insistently removed at Ewood but why would the Stoke authorities bother?

What's happened to freedom of speech?

[47er]

2 hours ago, ... said:

What they gonna do if there's banners all over Ewood on Saturday? Kick everyone out?

Fill the place with em

Wear a T-shirt with anti-Venkys slogans on it? Are they going to tear it off?

[USABlue]

8 hours ago, Mercer said:

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.

Jim Iley bloody hell, remember singing his support on the Bburn End for some reason we liked him.  IIRC of course.  This guy just looks wrong he does.  Fans of ither clubs have labeled him a hoof baller and from what I see that is the way it will go.  Brittain,  who VI knows has been god awful since Ismael got here, what does that say? mmmm.  Well I just dont like the fella and that is all that matters lol, get shut.

As an aside in two performances against us the Stoke keeper kept the 6 points safe, he was on fire at Ewiod and a couple of crackin saves last night.  Pears take note.

Edited March 13 by USABlue

[Upside Down]

On 13/03/2025 at 10:54, TommyRovers said:

We look a shadow of the side that played Norwich. And we looked pretty shit then.

We didn't look that good.

[Herbie6590]

19 hours ago, rog of the rovers said:

I agree that Ismael has hardly endeared himself to the fans with his first three games, the tactics and lack of clear plan has been alarming, he has to improve quickly and start building for next season, where survival will be our main priority once again.

However, I do think that the players have to take a huge chunk of responsibility for this recent run of games. Swansea, Norwich, Derby and Stoke. Three dismal performances (one which pre-dates Ismael) in that stretch and lets not forget QPR and Oxford away before that. The performances since Christmas have been particularly concerning.

Would anyone want to commit another 3 years with Hyam? The loanees bar Beck are replaceable. And last night for me was the peak of frustration with Tyrhys Dolan. I like the kid, his personality and as a role model. But I do really believe the best for him and us is for him to move on.

Exhibit A - Cantwell feeds Dolan running through the centre in the 6th minute (0-0)

Loses out to the defender

 

Below is another at 0-0 Rovers on the counter attack with 4 on three, what happens next?

 

You may feel this it nit picking but we know how crucial the first goal is at this level. This is twice before Stoke City scored!

Gave the ball away on several occasions before and after that. One leading to a Manhoef shot which was blocked.

I do give Dolan credit for the cut back for the Cantwell shot, but we need more and more often!

When BRFCS does Monday Night Football…nice work @rog of the rovers 👌

[arbitro]

11 hours ago, 47er said:

I can understand that banner would be insistently removed at Ewood but why would the Stoke authorities bother?

What's happened to freedom of speech?

I don't know for certain but the dots all join up regarding the time and its removal. If my assumption is correct then someone senior entered the directors box, saw it and asked one of his Stoke counterparts to have it removed.

[booth]

12 hours ago, 47er said:

I can understand that banner would be insistently removed at Ewood but why would the Stoke authorities bother?

What's happened to freedom of speech?

It ended in 2010.