v Sunderland (a) - 21/4/2025

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

9 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Hopefully Dolan stays. We see. I would keep Gueye, Ohashi(I would give him a new contract aswell), Kargbo for sure as pace and skill I want to see. His pass for Dolan to score against Plymouth was Special. Hedges I would keep. Dennis, Woodrow and ACD no. I would like to keep Weimann aswell. So I would like 2 attacking wide right players(if Dolan goes) and a striker. Then another centre midfielder maybe 2 if Buckley goes. Another keeper and get rid of Pears. Plus a centre back. I think Montgomery and Duru can play as back up to Brittain. 

 

[DutchRover]

A little unfair to criticize Gueye for not gelling with Ismael when 2 weeks ago we all wanted Ismael out, and in Jan/Feb Gueye was comfortably our best player and scoring.

 

 

[CaptainBeanfart]

I'd definitely keep Gueye as an impact substitute. He's too limited to be a regular starter but he can change games, he's very useful in our own box too if we're under the cosh. 

We probably won't have the money to bring in anyone significantly better than what we've got, so it'll likely be a case of rotating Ohashi, Gueye, plus a new signing depending on who's in form. Same for the attacking midfielders behind. Thankfully we have a solid defence and central midfield to give us a consistent foundation to work from. 

[MarkBRFC]

12 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Hopefully Dolan stays.

Absolutely no chance unfortunately.

 

[Exiled_Rover]

12 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

We need to be ruthless, but cant because of the continued lack of investment/reinvestment.

Hedges has 1 goal and 2 assists in 40 games as a player who plays in an attacking position. No matter how hard he works, he offers nothing going forward. His contract his also up. We reward underperformance here especially when it is cheaper to do so than source a decent player, but its the perfect chance to move him on.

Weimann has been a good short term pick up but he had started to show signs that time was catching up on him as the season went on before suffering a serious injury at a point in his career which makes it harder to make a full recovery. With his contract up I would thank him but not offer a new one.

The Gueye signing hasnt worked out. Not only do I not think he has the quality, but he is so different in terms of type of player that he requires the whole team to set up in a certain way. You cant just slot him in for Ohashi so it disrupts anything we want to try and build. In recent weeks he has also shown poor body language when he has come off the bench.

Considering absolutely nothing sticks upfront when Ohashi is on, there's a place for Gueye in the side. 

I'd start him each and every week. 

[chaddyrovers]

19 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Absolutely no chance unfortunately.

 

We see Mark. 

Dolan's agent was at Ewood Park on Friday

[Bohinen1983]

Gueye is never going to be a high pressing forward..  utilize the lads strength'sm.. he has Great feet, can pass and link Play, strong as an ox and a threat in the air... Why not play Ohashi at the Pinnacle, doing your pressing and Gueye in a slightly free role off him breaking into the box for headers etc ..

[USABlue]

1 hour ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Considering absolutely nothing sticks upfront when Ohashi is on, there's a place for Gueye in the side. 

I'd start him each and every week. 

I like bigmac he was on fire a while ago but seems to have gone off the boil.  He scares me cos I never know if he will stay on the pitch.  Refs seem to give him no protection and are quick to punish him gets his elbows involved a bit too much.  Hope the lad of the last few weeks comes back.  What I don't like is him constantly berating his team mates when thing do not go well for him.  Perhaps his volatile side is why Ismael has cooled his jets a bit. 

Edited 21 hours ago by USABlue

[USABlue]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

We see Mark. 

Dolan's agent was at Ewood Park on Friday

Asking for directions to Derby?

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, MarkBRFC said:

Absolutely no chance unfortunately.

 

Do we even know if he's been offered a new deal.

[USABlue]

15 hours ago, B16Rover said:

Toth is another who doesn't command his box.  Routinely pinned to the goal line.  He seems a decent reaction saved and so can maybe see the logic, especially when you have Batth to sweep up the first ball, but he's getting on a bit.  Cautious about banking on him next year.  

As have most of our keepers over the last few years   It's Benson I tell ya, he has to go and be replaced with someone that can at least say they can speak from experience.  It just seems too councidental keepers seems to get worse and then leave here with ooor reviews only tongonand be steady keepers in the Prem.  Has no one at the club ever ssked why that is?

[MarkBRFC]

5 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Do we even know if he's been offered a new deal.

He will have to be offered a new deal on at least the same terms as he's on now for us to get compensation for him in the summer.

[RevidgeBlue]

9 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

He will have to be offered a new deal on at least the same terms as he's on now for us to get compensation for him in the summer.

Ah OK.

So instead of being on say £2k p.w. we'll have offered him £2001 p.w. or similar.

[RevidgeBlue]

16 hours ago, arbitro said:

Another nice journey home after watching Rovers claim their third successive win with a solid if unspectacular performance. And once again Ismael gets some praise from me as his changes were exactly what was needed to see us over the line.

Sunderland looked like they were going for the record number of corners in the first ten minutes As we didn't see too much of the ball but we patiently played our way into the game with some good passing and movement. Scoring first is always important and Dolan with a smart finish out us ahead and gave us something to defend.

And once again we defended as if our lives depended on it as we blocked and tackled with great commitment.

Toth once again proved he is a better all round keeper that Pears and only conceding one goal in three games should ensure his place for the last two games and further opportunity to establish himself.

All the defence and midfield worked exceptionally hard as did Dolan and Ohashi.

I really don't believe that, despite it still being mathematically possible that we will make the playoffs but this winning feeling certainly beats the depression of losing and long may it last.

I've absolutely no idea how you can give manager and players alike so much credit for playing themselves out of play off contention then rallying slightly when it doesn't matter.

If a mathematical miracle does occur then I will doff my hat to you before eating it but if not my comment stands.

If everyone is happy with mediocrity and this annual charade of being In with a chance of doing something before imploding, absolutely nothing will ever change.

[arbitro]

26 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I've absolutely no idea how you can give manager and players alike so much credit for playing themselves out of play off contention then rallying slightly when it doesn't matter.

If a mathematical miracle does occur then I will doff my hat to you before eating it but if not my comment stands.

If everyone is happy with mediocrity and this annual charade of being In with a chance of doing something before imploding, absolutely nothing will ever change.

This is the Sunderland thread in case you hadn't noticed and Ismael deserves credit for his changes as he did against Luton. I didn't mention any other games so you, once again in you haste to be critical have jumped the gun.

I am happy to win a game anytime likewise unhappy to lose.

Your hyperbole of misery doesn't reflect well on you.

[RevidgeBlue]

15 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Your hyperbole of misery doesn't reflect well on you.

I'm considering the longer term future of the Club.

If you want to stick your head in the sand and are happy to merely go along to games and support the team and enjoy the day out whilst ignoring the wider context that's absolutely fine. A lot of supporters I'm sure feel the same.

I applaud your dedication in trailing up to Sunderand for a dead rubber, I couldn't do it. Mowbray finished me off the first time we imploded. Let alone the second (and now third) times.

[arbitro]

7 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I'm considering the longer term future of the Club.

If you want to stick your head in the sand and are happy to merely go along to games and support the team and enjoy the day out whilst ignoring the wider context that's absolutely fine. A lot of supporters I'm sure feel the same.

I applaud your dedication in trailing up to Sunderand for a dead rubber, I couldn't do it. Mowbray finished me off the first time we imploded. Let alone the second (and now third) times.

How on earth do you deduce that from me praising the players and manager for winning a game?

Haven't you until recently been a season ticket holder?

[speeeeeeedie]

23 minutes ago, arbitro said:

This is the Sunderland thread in case you hadn't noticed and Ismael deserves credit for his changes as he did against Luton. I didn't mention any other games so you, once again in you haste to be critical have jumped the gun.

I am happy to win a game anytime likewise unhappy to lose.

Your hyperbole of misery doesn't reflect well on you.

Rovers won 1-0 thanks to their only shot on target all game. It wasn't a great performance against a team who want the season to end today. It was a throwback to Eustace's early wins this season; grab a goal and keep it tight. Rovers have no pace and no forward threat, but I am happy that Ismael seems to have stopped the rot, albeit too late to make the playoffs though.

Sunderland knew their fate weeks ago. They weren't getting an automatic promotion spot nor were they in danger of falling out of the top 6. Neither the manager nor the players want injuries, so they've taken their foot off the gas to keep fit for the playoffs. It may not work but that's what they are doing.  

[Mattyblue]

‘Head in the sand’ and not thinking of the ‘long term future of the club’ from the Venky Number 1 apologist on here this past decade.

Don’t know how he has the brass neck.

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

‘Head in the sand’ and not thinking of the ‘long term future of the club’ from the Venky Number 1 apologist on here this past decade.

Don’t know how he has the brass neck.

The situation changed completely around the time of the Court case when they were no longer prepared to fund the Club as they had done previously. 

You're an intelligent poster and know that full well of course but you'd rather choose to ignore that obvious fact  in favour of scoring cheap points off me.

 

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

How on earth do you deduce that from me praising the players and manager for winning a game?

Haven't you until recently been a season ticket holder?

Yes, until the end of Mowbray's last season.

[Mattyblue]

You deserve all the brickbats thrown you way, if you think they are ‘cheap’ or not.

You have absolutely no right to call out the likes of arbito when he’s been right on these owners from day one and you are now posting with the holier than thou air of the born again Christian. Have some self reflection.

To quote Citizen Clem ‘A period of silence from you would be most welcome’
 

Edited 18 hours ago by Mattyblue

[arbitro]

33 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Yes, until the end of Mowbray's last season.

So for the majority of their tenure you have been a season ticket holder. Through Kean, Anderson, Singh, Agnew, Shaw, Coyle and many, many more. And now you are taking some kind of moral high ground?

I certainly won't take lectures from you about 'burying my head in the sand' and 'the long term future of the club'

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

The situation changed completely around the time of the Court case when they were no longer prepared to fund the Club as they had done previously. 

You're an intelligent poster and know that full well of course but you'd rather choose to ignore that obvious fact  in favour of scoring cheap points off me.

 

I dont know why you keep suggesting that they were prepared to hand over funds previously but arent now. The court case might have intensified their desperation to cut costs, but they havent willingly put forward funds for a long time. Its not the same being willing to invest as it is merely raising share capital to offset the losses, which is all theyve been doing. Which they have to do to avoid administration etc.

Its just a coincedence that we happened to have one season where the Wharton sale meant that we didnt have a loss to offset. In the 2025 accounts despite the Szmodics sale there will be a loss that they will need to offset, theres no way around it.

But either way, your arguments are all muddled. Mowbray was a big part of our current issues earlier. How can he be if the thing that has changed is the court case.

[Herbie6590]

The BRFCS POTM is Tyrhys Dolan...