v Sheffield Wednesday (h) - 8/4/2025

[Jimmy612]

I said to my mates after 75 mins that something must have happened at half time. I couldn't believe the turnaround in the second half, just miles more energy, fight, aggression and even quality in the play. I honestly don't believe VI managed to galvanise them, he hasn't been able to since he walked through the door, so why the complete transformation within 15-minutes when the players looked shot to pieces? 

Of course we'll likely never know what was really said at HT, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was a team talk led by senior players.  

Perhaps I'm doing VI a huge disservice.... 

[...]

9 hours ago, Ghost7 said:

 

Joe Rankin-Costello should be playing at Chorley next week.

Yea but the Sky broadcaster (Conor Mcgregor i think it was) said "and there's Rankin-Costello incredibly versatile player" and some othe bumf that made my ears prick up n say yea that's not him.

He needs some coloured boots. He looks like the generic player you get before you customise him

[yeti-dog]

5 minutes ago, Jimmy612 said:

I said to my mates after 75 mins that something must have happened at half time. I couldn't believe the turnaround in the second half, just miles more energy, fight, aggression and even quality in the play. I honestly don't believe VI managed to galvanise them, he hasn't been able to since he walked through the door, so why the complete transformation within 15-minutes when the players looked shot to pieces? 

Of course we'll likely never know what was really said at HT, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was a team talk led by senior players.  

Perhaps I'm doing VI a huge disservice.... 

Lots of supposition there.

VI has made a shit start but it's not unreasonable to believe he made some impact in the halftime team ralk. It can become easy to say he's shit therefore someone else must have done it when something better happens, fits the natmrrative.

Having said all that and to echo what's been said by others. IF he is capable of stoking them up then he needs to get them starting games like that from now on.

 

 

[...]

I see Roverseas with another bonkers reaction 

[yeti-dog]

30 minutes ago, arbitro said:

He seems a cold individual and just doesn't endear himself to people. Tomasson and Eustace were extremely good in that respect but this bloke appears to lack any humility.

Eh??

I'm no apologist for VI, he's made a shit start.

Howver,  I'm not sure humility is very high on the job description for a football manager...

[RoversTilliDie]

18 minutes ago, Jimmy612 said:

I said to my mates after 75 mins that something must have happened at half time. I couldn't believe the turnaround in the second half, just miles more energy, fight, aggression and even quality in the play. I honestly don't believe VI managed to galvanise them, he hasn't been able to since he walked through the door, so why the complete transformation within 15-minutes when the players looked shot to pieces? 

Of course we'll likely never know what was really said at HT, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was a team talk led by senior players.  

Perhaps I'm doing VI a huge disservice.... 

It's the best I've seen Blackburn Rovers play in the 2nd half since Ismael arrived. Same story 1st half, Pears was supposed to tip the ball over the bar, instead it landed at the feet of one of there strikers. Maybe there's hope, more of the 2nd half please for 90 minutes. I thought Montgomery had a decent debut, one for the future.

[Riversider28]

What a night of mixed emotions for me. The main reason I went was to meet up with my daughter and some friends. At 2-0 down there was a big part of me that wanted Wednesday to carry on and smash us 5 or 6 nil, so that it would ramp up the pressure on VI and the loons. The half time conversation was very subdued, as it was with the few fans sat around us. When we scored the first goal I slowly stood up and politely clapped what, in fairness, was a good goal. However, I thought that the next goal would come from the opposition. The equaliser had me back on my feet and feeling quite elated and now wanting us to go all out for the winner. At full time our conversation was completely different and as we clapped the players off (which we always do, win or lose) I just wished we could have shown the same passion and determination over the past weeks. Just look what we could have won!

[...]

7 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I agree. I was mulling over the same question myself today.

I'd have to defer to eminent historians of the Club like Parson but I can't remember any manager in my 54 years of supporting us having such a dire period.

Especially as you say, a manager in the so called " honeymoon period" when you would normally expect a bit of a (positive) reaction, even if not a full fledged "bounce"!

Bucking all the trends us lot 🤣

No more new manager bounce with Valerian Ishmael get yours

NOW!!! 3 year guarantee

(spare stooges sold separately)

[Tricky]

9 minutes ago, Riversider28 said:

What a night of mixed emotions for me. The main reason I went was to meet up with my daughter and some friends. At 2-0 down there was a big part of me that wanted Wednesday to carry on and smash us 5 or 6 nil, so that it would ramp up the pressure on VI and the loons. The half time conversation was very subdued, as it was with the few fans sat around us. When we scored the first goal I slowly stood up and politely clapped what, in fairness, was a good goal. However, I thought that the next goal would come from the opposition. The equaliser had me back on my feet and feeling quite elated and now wanting us to go all out for the winner. At full time our conversation was completely different and as we clapped the players off (which we always do, win or lose) I just wished we could have shown the same passion and determination over the past weeks. Just look what we could have won!

did VI do any clapping towards the fans?

[gazzaa2]

5 hours ago, lraC said:

My son, who has been going for 30 years said it’s the lowest point we have had in his time and I agree. It’s 53 years for me and the lowest ebb too.

Bearing in mind we were on the brink of relegation last season.

[arbitro]

1 hour ago, yeti-dog said:

Eh??

I'm no apologist for VI, he's made a shit start.

Howver,  I'm not sure humility is very high on the job description for a football manager...

Humility is a really good trait in any person as it gives off the right impression.

He seems arrogant, cold and aloof. Throw in the most important ingredient for any manager, results and there is little to admire about him.

I would respect him more if he at least tried to connect with the fans.

[sharpysharps86]

Good comeback, but still a poor result. 2 points from his first 7 games, its absolutely piss poor.

Always pleasing to see Ohashi score, and nice that Cantwell got a couple of assists. There is a player in there somewhere if he wants it enough.

It does nothing to change the bigger picture. No results between now and the end of the season will change that.

[lraC]

52 minutes ago, gazzaa2 said:

Bearing in mind we were on the brink of relegation last season.

Exactly 

[M_B]

Another rumour to throw into the melting pot which my mate heard on the Riverside last night  , but one which I've been thinking since the Plymouth game.

Someone said he'd heard(I know🙄) that Ismael was given a watching brief for the rest of the season,with everything aimed at the start of next season. I've thought that since that Plymouth game.

All I'd say is, we'd better start well.

 

 

[chaddyrovers]

11 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Still Ismael out?

A point at home to Sheffield Wednesday isnt a good one overall. Suppose its fairly inconsequential.

Have I said otherwise? Why would I changed my mind based on the second half and forget the 1st half. 

Bizarre question to be frank given I didn't mention Ismael in my post

9 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Going into reverse gear already after an 85th minute equaliser Chadster.

You've already said you "hope he proves me wrong" after previously saying he had to go following the Boro game.

If memory serves me correctly, prior to that, a few days before the Boro game, you were attacking martonrover for, in your view, judging Ismael too quickly.

Just for the sake of clarity, so we know where we stand, what is your position now?

In or out?

see above for your question on Clarity. But the question is utter bizarre from both of you 2. 

I enjoyed the second half performance and we actually scored 2 goals and better performance then previous games under games but that doesn't over shadowed the first half lack of performance. 

I hope Ismael proves me wrong and we start winning games 

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

Humility is a really good trait in any person as it gives off the right impression.

He seems arrogant, cold and aloof. Throw in the most important ingredient for any manager, results and there is little to admire about him.

I would respect him more if he at least tried to connect with the fans.

I would respect him more if he at least tried to connect with the players!

[Exiled_Rover]

49 minutes ago, M_B said:

Another rumour to throw into the melting pot which my mate heard on the Riverside last night  , but one which I've been thinking since the Plymouth game.

Someone said he'd heard(I know🙄) that Ismael was given a watching brief for the rest of the season,with everything aimed at the start of next season. I've thought that since that Plymouth game.

All I'd say is, we'd better start well.

 

 

We were in the Playoffs when he took over!

[Riversider28]

2 hours ago, Tricky said:

did VI do any clapping towards the fans?

To be honest I have no idea,  I wasn’t even thinking about or looking for him. 

Edited Wednesday at 11:13 by Riversider28
Typo

[martonrover]

1 hour ago, M_B said:

Another rumour to throw into the melting pot which my mate heard on the Riverside last night  , but one which I've been thinking since the Plymouth game.

Someone said he'd heard(I know🙄) that Ismael was given a watching brief for the rest of the season,with everything aimed at the start of next season. I've thought that since that Plymouth game.

All I'd say is, we'd better start well.

 

 

My interpretation of that was that he would lean heavily on the existing coaching staff.

He’s sat on the bench (albeit with a severe case of rogermooretis), so the results are still his responsibility.

[M_B]

36 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

We were in the Playoffs when he took over!

 I know

[RoversTilliDie]

39 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

We were in the Playoffs when he took over!

Let's hope we get a decent finish to the season, and rebuild in the Summer.

[47er]

3 hours ago, ... said:

Yea but the Sky broadcaster (Conor Mcgregor i think it was) said "and there's Rankin-Costello incredibly versatile player" and some othe bumf that made my ears prick up n say yea that's not him.

He needs some coloured boots. He looks like the generic player you get before you customise him

Let's not be hard on JRC. He looked the real deal at one point but injuries have just about ruined his career.

He's been unlucky (or the treatment centre at Ewood isn't up to it).

[dingles staying down 4ever]

1 hour ago, M_B said:

Another rumour to throw into the melting pot which my mate heard on the Riverside last night  , but one which I've been thinking since the Plymouth game.

Someone said he'd heard(I know🙄) that Ismael was given a watching brief for the rest of the season,with everything aimed at the start of next season. I've thought that since that Plymouth game.

All I'd say is, we'd better start well.

 

 

Souness had that brief when he first came in. He experimented with different formations etc but this was constructive and he tried to coach. This fellow just does none of this.

[Mike E]

9 minutes ago, RoversTilliDie said:

Let's hope we get a decent finish to the season, and rebuild in the Summer.

I’m sick of fucking ‘rebuilding’, we’ve been doing that since League One. Let’s ACTUALLY FUCKING BUILD instead of redoing the foundations and adding more cracks every time.

[MarkBRFC]

The term "rebuilding" is such a cop out at this level.