Groundhog

He sets us up to compete for 50-60mins, but his inability to react to anything tactically is becoming more apparent. He his often out thought in every game by often proper old-school managers. We don't do "normal" footballing things, don't seem to get the basics right. We're a poor side full of inexperience, but he's not helping by making some mystifying decisions. How many positions has Hedges played this season? He came on as a 10 with Kargbo up front, against Cov he was left back? It felt like last night we also played without strikers for a short whilst it was 1-1.

It'll never happen, just pure apathy. Also, it really is at this point entirely the fact that Ismael and the players are a symptom not a disease. The transfer policy is literally decided by making sure a balance sheet appeases an owner a thousand miles away. The manager was signed as he was the cheapest option and a yes man. That's it in a nutshell. Changing Ismael won't do a thing - we might get someone tactically more astute but we've got 2 CBs and a player signed as a right back suddenly needing to play every game in a back 3. I can't blame a hastily assembled squad of players who don't have any quality or experience, it's a League One side with 1 or 2 bright sparks. The slow decline means we deserve League 1, even 2 - it's the level they've created.

Even though SU's form was awful leading up the game, they still have a squad full of players that eclipse our lads, and Wilder love him or hate him, is a better tactician in his sleep than Ismael. He had us sussed second half, an easy team talk: "let them come onto you and do the work, let them look to make it 2-0, they can only attack with their fullbacks down the wings, any crosses and infield passes will come to nothing, so be patient and let them make an error, and we'll be on the half-way line 3 v 3." Easy. Do we look capable of shutting up shop ever? If we go 1-0 down its game over, and now if we go 1-0 up I feel it's game over too. I'm starting to think the Ipswich game being called off has saved us from a 1-2 loss in the vein of the Brum game. There was one moment last night that summed it up for me, we had a spell of 10 or so passes at around 50mins that actually made us look like we were controlling the game, biding our time and making Sheff Utd work at 1-0 up, we then got too tight to the touchline and De Neve (who I thought was one of our better players) got pressurised and misplaced a pass inside, they then broke forward at speed and created a chance - our heads just dropped after that. The confidence is paper thin, but it stems from the ridiculous situation they've been put in. There was an odious teenager and his equally odious mates behind me mouthing off and swearing at every other bad touch any of our lads had (so it was a lot) - he didn't give anyone ever credit, didn't even applaud them off at half time. I get it - but if that's the future of the fanbase then we're knackered - they're never going to direct their ire at the owners and management, too easy to slag off what they see on the pitch and leave.

Yeah there was a few going on about it last night around me, to think at the time he wasn't the best we could have had, what I'd give for him now. He seems like prime Big Al compared to this lot. Just imagine having someone to hold the f***** ball up, trap it and lay it off, imagine that! Edit: If I had a time machine, I'd go back to myself in the stands moaning about players like Derek Williams etc: you think this is bad, wait until 2025...

Rudy was doing work experience two years ago, Ismael has barely completed a full season as a manager, Suhail is just a middle management bean counter from a faceless overseas company, most of the players are having their first time in English football - just a club full of amateurs from top to bottom. Was there ever any other outcome? We don't have a talisman on or off the pitch. Bit of a cliche but the apathy is the most alarming I've felt at the club, especially 10 minutes both before and after kick off, nothing, just a sad, sad feeling of resignation. I think last night was truly one of the worst nights at Ewood in the last two decades - it didn't even have a cartoon pantomime villain of a Kean or Coyle, or a 7-0 thrashing by Fulham, it was just an inevitable, powder puff and bland capitulation into nothingness. When we were asking Harford to be sacked after losing 0-1 at home to Stockport in the 90s you knew the board had both the club and fans best interests at heart, so there was at least some hope that things would be done.

The team that went down in 2017 on the final day against Brentford. You'd give your right arm wouldn't you? David Raya Elliott Ward (sub Lucas Joao) Charlie Mulgrew Darragh Lenihan Danny Guthrie (sub Craig Conway) Jason Lowe Derrick Williams Ryan Nyambe Danny Graham (sub Marvin Emnes) Elliott Bennett Sam Gallagher Out of the current squad I'd say only Gardner-Hickman and Wharton are the kind of players you'd want in a relegation dogfight. Tronstad's head is elsewhere, Miller has heart but seems naive, Henrikksen seems passionate but looks to be better at kicking opponents than the actual ball. I sometimes worry that Wharton's passion as a local lad and fan might almost count against him in the dressing room - is he even that vocal? Is he the type to knock heads together? Cantwell is an unknown with his track record, but has impressed me so far. What will he be like as a captain when the chips are down? Who knows - could go either way. After last night against Sheff Utd I just imagine the feeling in the dressing room was one of apathy, as it was in the stands. A lot of meekness and shrugging of shoulders I imagine.

Before he leaves, someone may want to tell him that they have the offside rule out there too...

Playing Brum at home, second game in, is a real banana skin - they'll be raring to go and have a big following. Edit: blimey that run-in is the thing of nightmares.

Ty is an absolute credit to the club - has given his all, always fit and available, has played week in week out for the last few years, a rarity in our squad. Fans expect him to tear it up every game, but the defensive side and covering side of his game has really come on, and to perform at that level and keep fit is something we shouldn't take for granted. When he's on it, he really is on it, and at times he's lit up Ewood all on his own. After certain games myself and fans around me have found themselves walking away saying you wouldn't miss him, maybe we can cope with him leaving, he can go etc. His inconsistency is what frustrates fans, as it comes from a place of genuine love for the lad - I think we all know his potential. He's got to capitalise on it now while he's young and I wouldn't begrudge him a move in the end, he deserves it for being a dedicated performer. If he did perform week in week out at the level we all know he can play at, then he would have left Rovers already, plain and simple. I'm more worried about the club's ability to replace a player with those attributes, even just the very basics of someone you can rely on to play 60-70mins every week tearing up and down the pitch, involved in chances and coming back to cover, without periods on the treatment table, for an entire season. It says more about the state of Rovers, that we couldn't afford a player like Ty Dolan if he was at another club. That's the bit that depresses me the most about the whole situation.

Absolutely delighted for Coventry. Lovely to see Wilson rooted to his line at the end, one arm hopelessly flapping toward the ball.

He doesn't give a fuck about the fans - never credits the fanbase at once, not even as a throwaway remark to placate listeners. When the presenter pressed him on the fact the Venky's have took a Premier League team down he interrupted with "what is down" and proceeds to state that being in and around the playoffs is a positive. He's incredibly obtuse and fronts up too quickly. Very, very uncomfortable watch.

Wasn't expecting this - really going for it on the propaganda front Love that straight in at around 6.50mins - she points out Rovers don't give food to the press, just hot drinks - Preston, Burnley and even League Two Doncaster all treat people better with hot food etc. It's the stuff like that raises awareness. 20mins in and this is toxic as hell. So many slight digs at everyone, JE, the press. Unprofessional. Did I hear this right around 25mins: "I think the fans should try and understand not with emotion but with pragmatism, the reason why we can have a match on a Saturday is because they are there in the background putting the money in."

Ismael much more animated on the touchline today strangely. Players and manager looked like they actually gave a toss. Why suddenly now and not for the last 5?

Couldn't make it last night, did Ismael stay on the pitch at the final whistle, or did he storm down the tunnel as per usual? Any acknowledgement toward the fans at all?

I think we've managed to make them look comfortable - we're totally toothless up front, there's no support whenever we break as we're so deep, there's always a huge gap in the middle of the park, it's too easy. Every attempt at an incisive pass has gone astray too.