v Millwall (h) - Good Friday 18/4/2025, 3pm

[arbitro]

2 minutes ago, Hasta said:

You’ve failed Val. From where you took us over to where we finish you have failed.

The facts don't lie but I think there needs to be a bit of context.

Confidence was absolutely waning when Ismael took over as proved by the poor results and performances. I'm not privy to what went on but I know that confidence is so important in professional sport and we were shorn of that before Ismael arrived. The run he presided over was awful but I honestly think it wouldn't have been too dissimilar had Eustace stayed.

I'm not saying it's the second coming or anything like that but as I said context is important.

[Hasta]

22 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Confidence was absolutely waning when Ismael took over as proved by the poor results and performances.

3 wins from 5 before he came in.

West Brom was one of the best performances of the season.

 

Edited Friday at 19:05 by Hasta

[lraC]

33 minutes ago, Forever Blue said:

Which was my point above. Tronstad played a certain way under JDT, played a slightly different way under Eustace and appears to be playing a completely different way under VI. Like you say, he’s actually being allowed to get forward. I can’t remember many times he’s picked the ball up 20 yards from the opposition’s goal, but he was there quite a few times today. 
 

He was lucky to leave the centre circle under the previous 2 managers. 
 

To claim the reason he scored 2 today was cos he ‘could be bothered’ is peak lunacy!
 

 

I honestly believe we have a gem and hope like hell, we can tie him down on a longer contract. 

[lraC]

31 minutes ago, arbitro said:

But he was also his usual diligent self defensively too. He broke up several Millwall attacks with tackles and interceptions. His sensible choice of passes today helped us keep possession when it was needed.

The criticism of him is farcical and in my opinion shows a complete lack of football knowledge.

He is certainly watching a different player than me. A slightly better version of Corry Evan’s, is a crazy statement to make. 
Granted he isn’t a Tugay, but I see him, as the complete midfielder and don’t know of a better player in his position in the league. 

[M_B]

5 minutes ago, Hasta said:

3 wins from 5 before he came in.

Aye, but 2 in 11 under Eustace, and that was with top scorer Weimann.

It has been poor up to the last 3 games, but there are without doubt, mitigating circumstances.

[Hasta]

2 minutes ago, M_B said:

Aye, but 2 in 11 under Eustace, and that was with top scorer Weimann.

It has been poor up to the last 3 games, but there are without doubt, mitigating circumstances.

Who mentioned Eustace? He said poor results and performances before Ismael arrived.  Not true. 3 wins from 5.

 

 

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

He won't score 5-10 next season, that's one of my criticisms of him.

Why though do you think it's unreasonable to expect a return like that off him when he scored two today?. He's obviously capable of doing it when he can be bothered to make the effort.

Might be irrelevant as we might lose a number of higher earners like Brittain, Hyam, Travis and Tronstad in the summer anyway.

Do you genuinely believe that he doesn't give 100%? 

He is a holding midfielder whose primary job is to protect the defence, win the ball back and move it on. The Tugay comparison is not a direct comparison of players, its pointing out that judging a player in that position based on goals is ridiculous.

I still think along with Hyam, your dislike of him stems from the fact that Broughton signed him.

[Hasta]

Tronstadt is excellent for this division. I’ve never seen anyone other than Rev say otherwise. 

[Neal]

48 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Great performance although I  now feel more pissed off that the incompetence of the board room and the owners cost us a play off spot. 

And it will happen season after fucking season. They scored 4 today and I felt absolutely nothing, it may aswell been a pre season friendly. It's the same old same old under these bastard owners who simply just need to FUCK OFF. 

Edited Friday at 19:20 by Neal

[aletheia]

1 hour ago, RoversTilliDie said:

Something to build on in the Summer,

You can't build anything on a house of cards or sand.

[roversfan99]

35 minutes ago, arbitro said:

The facts don't lie but I think there needs to be a bit of context.

Confidence was absolutely waning when Ismael took over as proved by the poor results and performances. I'm not privy to what went on but I know that confidence is so important in professional sport and we were shorn of that before Ismael arrived. The run he presided over was awful but I honestly think it wouldn't have been too dissimilar had Eustace stayed.

I'm not saying it's the second coming or anything like that but as I said context is important.

That may have been a more valid argument had we maybe picked up 4/5/6/7 points from his first 6 games rather than 1. There is nothing to suggest that Eustace would have got quite so low a points tally and had we even had a disappointing run rather than a pathetic one when he came in, then we would still be in contention.

As others had said, we had won 3 in 5 prior to Ismael coming in.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

A couple of wins and its all Jelly, Ice Cream and Lollipops for some.

We've blown our best chance in years and the Pune two Hats still have their Hands around the Clubs Neck.

Bump.

[M_B]

12 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Who mentioned Eustace? He said poor results and performances before Ismael arrived.  Not true. 3 wins from 5.

 

 

I mentioned Eustace, why stop at 5?

[Mercer]

Very good win today, totally unexpected in my eyes.

Been away all day and only seen highlights but spoke to a couple who went and both said we were very impressive with all contributing.

So, so feckin frustrating when you think of recent losses in games we should be winning - we should have been right there in the play off mix, yet another great opportunity spurned this season.

Seen it too often - far too little and far too late.

Ismael is going to have to do a lot, lot more to give me even a degree of confidence.

[roversfan99]

I think there is obviously a bit of confirmation bias in the analysis of Toth, with us having such little confidence in Pears.

Because defensively we have been far stronger in the last 2 games, we are microanalysing the very little that Toth has had to do, I don't think that Pears would have conceded more than 1 either.

Toth had a few shaky moments last week, and also one today where he ended up getting stick from Forshaw in the second half when their attacker started to run through and he went to come out and strangely decided to move back. Thankfully the shot led to a comfortable save.

He has made a couple of routine saves, has had a couple of jitters and hasn't cost us any goals, but ultimately there is very little to judge either way. We have looked solid like we did earlier in the season when Pears also wasn't exposed. I wouldn't have faith in either if they were tested.

[Hasta]

13 minutes ago, M_B said:

I mentioned Eustace, why stop at 5?

@arbitro said that confidence was absolutely waning proved by poor performances and results when Ismael took over. 
 

I mentioned 3 from 5 which was the immediate games when Ismael took over. Surely that shows an upsurge in confidence.

Then for some reason you mentioned 2 from 11. You’ve not gone further than 5. You’ve just ignored the Lowe games.

And even within the Eustace spell, where we were short on wins, he played Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland. None of which were poor performances.

Edited Friday at 19:37 by Hasta

[onlyonejackwalker]

I can't remember ever scoring four goals from defence / defensive midfield before! Can anyone else? I don't remember Rathbone and Branagan bagging many!

Well done to all involved. Frustrating that's its come so late when the pressure is off, but losing every week wasn't healthy.

Along with Batth, Brittain and Travis, Tronstad must be a contender for player of the season. He was superb before his injury and I am pleased for him today.

To feel non-plussed about the Rovers is a weird emotion after a lifetimes investment.

[aletheia]

Don’t see this performance has got much to do with Ismael.
Players self-respect, good pitch, contracts, shop window, dislike of Millwall, Brittain return, Ohashi fitter, Tronstad back to best, keeper.
Still, highly enjoyable. Well done lads. Passing stuff worked a treat on a good pitch. Hyam and Baath just the job against rough and tumble Millwall.
But you all know the drill. Summer transfer thread longer than Waggot’s Pinocchio statements, LET/Niko comments drivel, contracts not our fault but greedy players, £20 million a year don’t you know, rebuild, new mission, youth a priority (aka we ain’t putting in a penny), court case postponements, press and football authorities with worse vision/memory than Arsene Wenge ….. yada yada.

 

Edited Friday at 19:43 by aletheia

[arbitro]

49 minutes ago, Hasta said:

3 wins from 5 before he came in.

West Brom was one of the best performances of the season.

 

I was referring to the form under Eustace which was mediocre. West Brom was definitely one of the best performances of the season but in the eleven games preceding that we won two.

It's pure conjecture on my part but I don't believe that had Eustace stayed our league position wouldn't be too different from where we are now.

[bazza]

Such negativity on this topic. I was delighted we won 4-1. After reading the last 7 or so pages I feel positively suicidal. The phrase "too little, too late" has been typed far too many times. I think most of you wanted Rovers to lose today.

And who was it that wants us to lose to Sheff Utd if it means stopping Burnley going up? Disgraceful. I couldn't give a flying fuck about Burnley or anyone else. I'm just delighted when Rovers win.

 

[arbitro]

43 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Who mentioned Eustace? He said poor results and performances before Ismael arrived.  Not true. 3 wins from 5.

 

 

I was referring specifically to the results under Eustace.

[arbitro]

22 minutes ago, Hasta said:

@arbitro said that confidence was absolutely waning proved by poor performances and results when Ismael took over. 
 

I mentioned 3 from 5 which was the immediate games when Ismael took over. Surely that shows an upsurge in confidence.

Then for some reason you mentioned 2 from 11. You’ve not gone further than 5. You’ve just ignored the Lowe games.

And even within the Eustace spell, where we were short on wins, he played Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland. None of which were poor performances.

But Swansea away, the last match under Lowe we looked particularly poor.

[roversfan99]

3 minutes ago, bazza said:

Such negativity on this topic. I was delighted we won 4-1. After reading the last 7 or so pages I feel positively suicidal. The phrase "too little, too late" has been typed far too many times. I think most of you wanted Rovers to lose today.

And who was it that wants us to lose to Sheff Utd if it means stopping Burnley going up? Disgraceful. I couldn't give a flying fuck about Burnley or anyone else. I'm just delighted when Rovers win.

 

Why does frustration over only turning up once the season is over in terms of the play offs equate to wanting to lose?

[Hasta]

Just now, arbitro said:

I was referring to the form under Eustace which was mediocre. West Brom was definitely one of the best performances of the season but in the eleven games preceding that we won two.

It's pure conjecture on my part but I don't believe that had Eustace stayed our league position wouldn't be too different from where we are now.

I’m not sure. The Leeds, Burnleynand Sunderland performances during that spell were better than most of the stuff since VI came in.

Also the Travis / Tronstadt axis, which was so key to us early season, was completely lost during that spell for injuries. That was a huge blow. Ismael has had that back although strangely has benches ST for a couple of games. 

[roversfan99]

4 minutes ago, arbitro said:

I was referring to the form under Eustace which was mediocre. West Brom was definitely one of the best performances of the season but in the eleven games preceding that we won two.

It's pure conjecture on my part but I don't believe that had Eustace stayed our league position wouldn't be too different from where we are now.

Do you not think that he would have picked up more than 1 point from those 6 games? The bad run wasn't that level of bad.