v Middlesborough (h) - 4/4/2025, 8pm k/o

[arbitro]

Where do you start with that performance particularly the first half. In every one of Ismael's games in charge so far we have started ridiculously slowly and conceded. Our pre match talk was about keeping it tight and not allowing Middlesbrough any space.. Cue absolute ineptitude and in less than ten minutes it really was game over.

One incident in the first half told me so much about where we are as a club. A Middlesbrough player went down injured and Carrick took the opportunity to have an impromptu team talk. Five of our players went to the technical area whilst the other five outfield players stood in the centre circle arguing amongst themselves. The five in the technical area were being briefed by Whitehead and (I think) Johnson and it took a good few seconds for Ismael to join them. There was ironic applause from the JW Stand when he did.

I thought the second half was actually the best we have played under Ismael (an exceedingly low bar I admit) but starting slowly is becoming a trait.

For the second match running I felt that one of the substitutes was our best player. Ohashi last night and Gueye at Portsmouth. That alone should be enough for the other players to hang their heads in shame (probably with the exception of Dolan who at least looked like he was hurting).

I honestly don't have a clue where we go from here. This manager looks clueless and his interviews are becoming more bizarre after each game. 

[roverblue]

That was dreadful, I almost left after the 2nd goal but stuck it out to the end. 

I genuinely have no idea what Ismael is trying to get the players to do. We have no clue how to attack as a team and defensively it’s getting as poor as JDT set them up. 

Let’s be honest it could easily have been 6-7 if boro hadn’t missed simple chances, they were so wasteful.

The squad is crap but all the hard work and solidity that Eustace brought to the team has gone.

Ismael is a terrible appointment not only tactically but he has nothing about him personally to endear us fans to him.
 

5 losses in a row and I honestly think we could lose all our remaining fixtures. 

[MarkBRFC]

Although zero quality i can say at least Travis, Dolan and Ohashi left it all out there.

The rest of them are beyond pathetic.

The game went exactly as I expected it to, easiest 3 points Middlesbrough will ever get.

Sheffield Wednesday's turn on Tuesday.

Edited 12 hours ago by MarkBRFC

[G Somerset Rover]

15 minutes ago, arbitro said:

I thought the second half was actually the best we have played under Ismael (an exceedingly low bar I admit) but starting slowly is becoming a trait.

Thing is, despite a small improvement, Boro could have scored 4 or 5 alone in that second half (at least). We still should have got pummelled in the second 45 despite putting up a little more fight. 

Edited 12 hours ago by G Somerset Rover

[Trinidad Rover]

Worse record than Owen Coyle.

Case closed. Time up. Bon voyage and see you later.

Tone is set from the top of an organisation and we all know the Raos are toxic, as are their stooges. Ismael is a symptom.

[arbitro]

12 minutes ago, G Somerset Rover said:

Thing is, despite a small improvement, Boro could have scored 4 or 5 alone in that second half (at least). We still should have got pummelled in the second 45 despite putting up a little more fight. 

They could have done. That's why I put in the caveat of a low bar.

In the second half we at least did press from the front with Ohashi and forced a few errors. Prior to that in every game our play has been so passive with very little intensity.

After six games there doesn't appear to be any defined style of play, no way of playing apart from making us easy to play against. In the first half we were wide open and their midfield runners weren't being tracked, their full backs were attacking and their forwards movement was too much for us. 

Most Championship teams would have beaten us last night the way we set about the game.

[Forever Blue]

9 hours ago, 47er said:

They are at the bottom and that's why the challenge appealed to the new owners.At least they have hope, we'll have to see how it ends.

What exactly are you saying? Getting a new owner might not pay so Venkys should stay?

Bizarre if so.

Mark Hughes is their manager. I’d still take him back over Dismal.

[Herbie6590]

8 hours ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

Anyone else think Pears was to blame for the second? A pointless performative dive for a shot heading for the corner flag.

Eh?

[Norbert Rassragr]

Watched the 3 minute highlights on YT, and the first half looked pathetic. Boro just cruised through the middle for their goals, with no pressure from the defence and midfield. 

I hope there was a sufficient amount of protest and anger from the fans.

[davulsukur]

9 hours ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

Anyone else think Pears was to blame for the second? A pointless performative dive for a shot heading for the corner flag.

Pears had a poor game but he wasn't at fault for either goal.

Not sure what you were expecting him to do, he had to dive to cover the shot, if he'd stood still and it went in the bottom corner, you'd be fuming at him for not diving.

He can't help the deflection, nor can he change direction mid-dive to stop it going in.

He nearly cost us a goal later though and he's a dogshit keeper.

[RoversTilliDie]

Absolute shite, non existent attack, and useless Pears between the sticks. I don't think Guye or Ohashi are good enough for the Championship. How many times has Pears been beaten at the near post this Season. Last night was league 1 standard.

[davulsukur]

That first half had all the hallmarks of a team getting relegated:

✅️ No recognisable shape

✅️ No patterns of play

✅️ No attacking threat

✅️ Defensively poor

✅️ Conceding sloppy goals

✅️ Players losing their heads (needless fouls/bookings through frustration)

✅️ Players devoid of confidence 

It showed us, for exactly what we are right now. A club in complete disarray from Fans ➡️ players ➡️ manager ➡️ boardroom ➡️ owners 

Edited 11 hours ago by davulsukur

[CambridgeRover]

Travis has been awful since Eustace left, every game. He clearly doesn't fancy it any more

[TimmyJimmy]

Agree with everybody else. Detaching myself from the madness I've been awake all night trying to think it through.

I put myself in the shoes of everyone at the club, could I do anything better:

Waggott/Suhail/Gestede - hapless yet well meaning incompetents. Besides their lack of skills they have no levers to pull. Their hands are tied by the instructions from Pune. They could improve by being honest and communicative but that won't actually change anything just make us more informed.

The players - sorry they are just not at the required level. Nice guys, good pals in the changing room  everyone gets along and is having a good happy clappy time. Bottom line is we need new players.

VI - A silk purse / pigs ear problem. He took on a well placed but going backwards team, the rot had well and truly set in before he took over.  Is he competent, is he the right guy, I've no clue but he is an experienced manager and a good ex player so at worst should be meh. Unarguably there's a ton of constant injuries to key players, how do you stop the rot when the club won't buy players but wants to promote kids. He's not doing well and is looking really bad but no one coaches to go goals down in the first few minutes of a game, that's on the players (or lack thereof).

Venkys - I can stop right here can't I. Unfathomable ownership. They couldn't do more wrong if they were actually trying. Every decision they take is wrong. We don't even understand why they want to be in charge. Footballs worst owners bar none. Their exit is the only chance the club has. They're just hopeless.

The fans - How do we feel about ourselves. Are we better fans by staying away  bankrupting the club, admin, start again or by staying away do we still qualify as fans and have a right to an opinion. I love Rovers  always have always will yet even I don't know who I am any more and which camp I sit in. Such is the Pune effect reaching into all our lives. What happened to the fun of the weekend, a few pints with your mates, banter before the game, the game, the working mens club after, few more bevvies, a good argument about the match, fish and chips, home, get ready for work on Monday. Seems so long ago.

[G Somerset Rover]

3 minutes ago, CambridgeRover said:

Travis has been awful since Eustace left, every game. He clearly doesn't fancy it any more

I think he fancies it (well, about as much as you could as a current Rovers player), but he just constinuously, season after season, gasses out after Christmas. 

Edited 11 hours ago by G Somerset Rover

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

A Club now Toxic from top to bottom,a recipe for complete disaster next Season...the warning signs there for all to see.

Our proud 150 year too,could turn into a Funeral.

Sick to the ferkin back Teeth of it all.

[...]

9 hours ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

Anyone else think Pears was to blame for the second? A pointless performative dive for a shot heading for the corner flag.

Eh? It took a huge deflection when was he supposed to dive?

[Blue Greyhound]

Never been to a worse game at ewood before...

Has steve keen vibes all over it, rovers sat comfortably in 5th, then a decent manager leaves and an incompetent stooge is installed on a ridiculous long contract and rovers tumble down the league table.

I'm willing to see our team sit in league 2 if it means ridding these tax fiddling gangsters out of our club.

 

Edited 10 hours ago by Blue Greyhound

[Blue Greyhound]

6 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

‘We are not a sacking club’ like it’s a badge of honour, a sign of a ‘proper football club’ when in reality they are merely doing the bidding of owners who won’t pay compo.

The constant stream of BS falls on deaf ears now, fellas.

BIG SAM HAS ENTERED THE CHAT.

 

NEVER FORGET.

[RTM08]

On 02/04/2025 at 21:43, RTM08 said:

Head says we'll get another pasting and do nothing, but history tells us that once the pressure is off and we write the table off the players learn how to play. That said, I don't see it under Ismael because he's absolutely clueless.

Rovers 0-2 Boro, Rovers to have 2 shots all game.

Glad I went out last night and didn't bother with the game, because we are oh so predictable. 

At any other club Ismael and Gestede especially would be sacked this weekend. Neither of them are capable of their roles and I cannot imagine what on earth they saw from Ismael's demeanour and attitude that made him think "yes, this is the perfect manager for a team of lower league misfits who are performing on the vibes of team spirit". He is literally the exact opposite of the criteria I'd have been looking for to finish the season.

[aletheia]

Pasha’s salary+ SWAGS salary/pension +NDAs over the years > recent annual transfer fees?

[dallydally]

29 minutes ago, Blue Greyhound said:

Never been to a worse game at ewood before...

Has steve keen vibes all over it, rovers sat comfortably in 5th, then a decent manager leaves and an incompetent stooge is installed on a ridiculous long contract and rovers tumble down the league table.

I'm willing to see our team sit in league 2 if it means ridding these tax fiddling gangsters out of our club.

 

Or even lower than League 2!!

[alcd]

3 hours ago, arbitro said:

Where do you start with that performance particularly the first half. In every one of Ismael's games in charge so far we have started ridiculously slowly and conceded. Our pre match talk was about keeping it tight and not allowing Middlesbrough any space.. Cue absolute ineptitude and in less than ten minutes it really was game over.

One incident in the first half told me so much about where we are as a club. A Middlesbrough player went down injured and Carrick took the opportunity to have an impromptu team talk. Five of our players went to the technical area whilst the other five outfield players stood in the centre circle arguing amongst themselves. The five in the technical area were being briefed by Whitehead and (I think) Johnson and it took a good few seconds for Ismael to join them. There was ironic applause from the JW Stand when he did.

I thought the second half was actually the best we have played under Ismael (an exceedingly low bar I admit) but starting slowly is becoming a trait.

For the second match running I felt that one of the substitutes was our best player. Ohashi last night and Gueye at Portsmouth. That alone should be enough for the other players to hang their heads in shame (probably with the exception of Dolan who at least looked like he was hurting).

I honestly don't have a clue where we go from here. This manager looks clueless and his interviews are becoming more bizarre after each game. 

I don't even understand what Ismael is saying in his interviews. His thoughts are often random and unconnected. Entire sentences make no sense. Even allowing for the language difference he is anything but a clear thinker. God only knows what impressed the clowns who interviewed him. 

[Mattyblue]

‘He’s cheap compared to O’Neill and the rest of them, so he’ll do.’

[DaveyB]

3 hours ago, arbitro said:

I thought the second half was actually the best we have played under Ismael (an exceedingly low bar I admit) but starting slowly is becoming a trait.

This is the issue with losing the game in the first 10 minutes, it allows perceptions of the overall performance to be skewed. 

I said to my lad as we were driving home that I knew exactly what the managers post match interview was going to be - “first half wasn’t good enough, but second half we played well, stats show we had more possession, more territory etc, this is how I want to the team to play going forward etc” - but all of that ignores the fact that we were 2-0 down and Boro’s second half gameplan was clearly to defend deep and hit us on the break (and, as someone else has already pointed out, even then they created the better chances and should have scored more). As we saw against Cardiff, if the game was in the balance in the second half, our performance would have been equally poor throughout the whole 90 minutes. 

There’s no discernible patterns or plan to how we play. At one point in the first half Hedges seemed to come in off the wing and be playing almost as an extra CM and Travis was having a go at him and telling him to go back out to the left - had he been told to go inside by the manager? If so, why did our captain not know about it, and if not, then why has he decided to take it upon himself to change his position? All the while VI just stands there looking bored with his hands in his pockets.
And then in the second half the same happened, this time with JRC moving into midfield and Hyam having a go and telling him to get back to RB. 

The players either don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing, or they do know and they’ve decided that they don’t want to - but either way it boils down to the clown in charge and it doesn’t end well 
At a normal club he’d be out of the door today and Lowe back in temporary charge until the end of the season, but instead we all know that he’ll be here for the full 3 years, probably with us at the bottom of league 2 when he finally leaves!!