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

[roversfan99]

Dolan after numerous years has not really progressed and is so frustrating, hes indicative of a side that struggles to maintain anything like a promotion push.

But at least he does have something in there, he occasionally will score maybe a few a season, he will have the odd good game.

Ryan Hedges on the other hand, a total non entity. He will be here next season, make no mistake, but hes shocking. 

[riverholmes]

48 minutes ago, Parsonblue said:

Entertaining game between two clubs with nothing to play for as the season draws to a close - not fastest enough really.  Once again we gave away two soft goals, although the second one was well taken.  

Pleased that we showed plenty of spirit in the second-half and thoroughly deserved the draw.  I thought Dolan and Yuki were excellent and Cantwell had one of his better games.  Both Travis and Tronstad looked better in the second half than they have for a while.  Pleased for Montgomery, particularly as he was asked to play at full-back instead of his normal midfield role - solid enough performance from the young lad in difficult circumstances.

Good for Montgomery but makes you wonder why Litherland was sent away on loan when he actually plays right back sometimes.

[simongarnerisgod]

8 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Dolan after numerous years has not really progressed and is so frustrating, hes indicative of a side that struggles to maintain anything like a promotion push.

But at least he does have something in there, he occasionally will score maybe a few a season, he will have the odd good game.

Ryan Hedges on the other hand, a total non entity. He will be here next season, make no mistake, but hes shocking. 

hedges is out of contract in the summer

[roversfan99]

Just now, simongarnerisgod said:

hedges is out of contract in the summer

With an option and also as someone who will not be demanding high wages so will be an easy one to pad out the squad.

No interest in improvement here.

[DaveyB]

I ended up going this evening having thought I probably wouldn’t, only because my daughter said she wanted to go, and, as others have said, I don’t think I’ve been so disinterested in a Rovers game ever before - I cheered for the equaliser, but the first goal, like the two against us, just didn’t register any emotion within me at all. It really just doesn’t feel like our club any more. 

On the game, undoubtedly it was our best performance under this manager (albeit a very low bar). Even in the first half there appeared to be a plan - not a very good one, but at least a step up from no plan whatsoever. The gist seemed to be get the ball forward at every opportunity and get runners after it hassling and harrying the opposition in and around their box. The main problem, aside from the distinct lack of quality in the balls forward, was that our entire team looked out on their feet after about 25-30 minutes and I doubt that Wednesday have had an easier 15 minute spell all season than the end of the first half tonight. And of course gifting them a goal after 15 minutes didn’t help matters either. 

The second half was more of the same, with even more intensity and even more runners forward. It paid dividends so I shouldn’t be too critical, but the cynic in me says that it’s easy to play that way when you’re already 2-0 down as the opposition sit back a bit deeper and you can afford to be a bit more kamikaze in the way you play (and we were, with only 1 of the centre backs staying back on numerous occasions). I’m not sure you’d get away with playing like that from the start of a game as we’ll just get picked off on the counter attack. 

Individually, I thought that was probably one of Cantwell’s best performances for us, especially once he moved to the left, and Tronstad looked almost back to his early season form. 

The big worry however, as others have already pointed out, is that this result will be used to justify giving this fraud of a manager more time, which would be a travesty. He was a lot more animated tonight (still pretty statuesque, but some pointing and shouting instructions) so I think he was beginning to feel the heat and obviously knew he needed something from tonight. 

[47er]

53 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

The right owner would have this club soaring again.

True but is seems far away right now.

[RevidgeBlue]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Well well. A good point after that second half performance. 

That first half performance apart from Dolan and Ohashi shots were dire, lacking passion and not good enough on any scale. Pears should be tipping that header over the bar instead of palming into another Wednesday player path, 

Second half, must better, tempo up several gears and Dolan's goal get the fans going. He shown passion all game and I enjoyed the second goal getting the ball wide and Ohashi in there at the right time, right place. 

So why didn't we start like that and we have started playing at 2 nil down. 

If that's the style we want to play then the tempo needs to be that high. Best half we played under Ismael 

Ohashi and Dolan our best players 

Thought Montgomery had a solid debut. Dd the basics right. steady. Is that his natural position or not? 

Rovers need to win on Saturday 

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?

[RevidgeBlue]

2 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Christ that's abysmal...apart from his first game, that's a goal conceded inside the first 20 minutes every single game, and 5 goals conceded in the first 10 minutes in just 6 games. I can't think of a worse record for starting games for any Rovers manager, at any point in their tenure. Let alone in the fucking honeymoon period!

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"!

[Fraserkirky]

The easiest and most obvious thing to do next VI is get rid of that absolute clown in goals. Seriously. Just a walking disaster. JRC and Hedges too, they have been woeful.

Stumbled upon 4-4-2 tonight with Ohashi dropping off Gueye. It worked.

Edited Wednesday at 01:35 by Fraserkirky

[lraC]

2 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"!

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.

[Waggy76]

5 hours ago, riverholmes said:

Good for Montgomery but makes you wonder why Litherland was sent away on loan when he actually plays right back sometimes.

I thought the lad did well at right back, all things considered, can't have been easy for him. 

 We need to find a young Jim Montgomery urgently!! 

[bluebruce]

4 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"!

The commentators said something, and I didn't catch the specifics, but along the lines of if we lost it would be the worst run since 1992 I think it was, under a certain Kenny Dalglish. But the run of early conceding wasn't mentioned. I'd imagine it's longer since those sort of numbers we were talking about.

[K-Hod]

9 hours ago, BigBar said:

He's been shite since he arrived which is a shame. Tonight doesn't change that. 

Do his assists not count then?

[K-Hod]

Must admit, I did enjoy the Venky's Out signs (in general) right next to Venky's ones.

[martonrover]

9 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Probably precisely because of the big improvement. With that and a surge of confidence from not being beaten at 2 down, he will probably feel this could be a turning point for him.

Yes, it would be a smile of sheer relief, but it's still only a draw when all's said and done.

Let's see what happens on Saturday when we're away against a team with plenty to play for, and on a decent run of form.

[DuffsLeftPeg]

Good result in the end.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult for the players & manager to meet the level required with the chaos going on above them.

That and giving away 2 goal leads in the first half also doesn’t help! 

[...]

8 hours ago, 47er said:

What's left to strip?

Exactly we are at almost bare foundations we should be build build build....

[arbitro]

At last a performance (well the second half) to get me excited. In many ways I was reminded of the infamous Derby game in which an alleged revolt took place in the dressing room at half-time. I'm not suggesting anything like a mutiny but something certainly happened as the players were unrecognisable from those of recent weeks.

I have never felt it was a lack of effort from the players but rather a lack of confidence and a real lack of any intensity. The second half tone was set by Hedges tackle when he (fairly) smashed a Wednesday player and the rest of the team fed off this. It was almost visible how confidence returned to some players particularly Tronstad who took the game by the scruff of the neck and really dictated play. There were many others in this category and a high, intense press certainly favoured our players. In contrast to most players though Travis was the exception. He looks devoid of any confidence and I definitely think he would benefit from a spell on the sidelines.

I applauded the players off for the first time in many weeks and for at least an hour put all the travails of the club behind me and actually enjoyed watching Rovers playing. 

A couple of special mentions to Kristi Montgomery on his debut (I've never seen him play right back before but he did well) and the supporters who unveiled the 'Pasha Out' banner in the Blackburn End.

However from a playing point of view Summers and Swallows and all that so the challenge is to play for a full game at Luton like we did for the second half.

[RoversTilliDie]

What a joke! according to the LT there were over 15,000 at Ewood last night. Sitting in an half empty Blackburn End, I doubt if there were 10,000 there.

[Tomphil2]

9 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

What bullshit, even the Blackburn end was half full.

Consider Sheff Weds sold 4 thousand tickets and there was less in the Blackburn end than the DE.

Season tickets are always counted in the attendance whether there or not, always have been.

[Herbie6590]

6 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"!

VI is closing in on Jim Iley…

[Parsonblue]

6 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

VI is closing in on Jim Iley…

It's Jim Iley reincarnated.  I'll be full of admiration if he can turn his relationship with the crowd around.  The players were cheered off at the end for their efforts whilst he was booed off again.

[davulsukur]

A better second half papering over some gigantic cracks. What's going on with conceding goals within the first 10mins? Once again we looked absolutely horrific in that first 45mins. Conceding 1 goal within 10mins and then another before the 20min mark meant we were never winning that. 

We've scabbed a draw, admittedly, with a better second half display but if it takes us going 2 down to start playing, we're in big trouble.

JE was building on a solid defensive foundation. Ismael seems to have thrown that out of the window.

If we don't get shot of Pears in the summer, we'll struggle. The bloke is a disaster.

Edited Wednesday at 09:06 by davulsukur

[roverblue]

I don't think I have ever seen Ewood as empty for a league game as last night. There were gaps all over the stands and barely anyone in the Riverside where I sit.

As expected the atmosphere was awful and if it wasn't for the Sheffield fans in full voice you could hear a pin drop. Complete apathy across the place, at half time 0-2 down it was very tempting just to leave like quite a few others around me did.

But glad I stayed as the second half was a good performance, completely unexpected but welcome after the shite of the last couple of months. It just shows they have it in them to perform but something is missing at kick off to get it out of them.

I was told by an 'insider' at half time that the atmosphere at the training ground is awful and the players dislike Ismael which may be part of the reason. Could be a load of tosh but would make sense. I can imagine their agents are working overtime to find them a new club in the summer.

[arbitro]

6 minutes ago, Parsonblue said:

It's Jim Iley reincarnated.  I'll be full of admiration if he can turn his relationship with the crowd around.  The players were cheered off at the end for their efforts whilst he was booed off again.

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.