JHRover

I think the club will give him a stay of execution. I don't think that will be anything to do with what is happening on the pitch, how the players are feeling, alignment, projects or injuries. It will simply be because they don't want to make a decision of such significance, don't want to cough up the cash to pay him and Whitehead off, don't want to recruit a new manager and his staff or give assurances on funding, plans or transfers. As we've seen under this lot with various managers - Kean, Coyle, Mowbray, Ismael - they won't take action and respond to results. Managers are appointed and removed based on their willingness to put up with the situation and the flak that comes with it. Those that aren't - Allardyce, JDT, Lambert, Eustace - quickly head out the exit door.

It's about giving off an impression. Gestede's first managerial appointment after he had seen off that annoying Eustace so it was all about showing everyone there was a plan and a project for the longer term. I'm convinced part of his ability to persuade the dogsbody that he was the next big thing was to show that Eustace was a 'short term' manager - pointing at his transfer dealings with older players like Batth and Weimann - whereas Gestede was able to provide something 'longer term'. Handing 'his man' 3.5 years was a message - I have a plan and this is it being delivered. All sounds and looks good until you have to put it into practice with minimal funding and idiots running it.

Ismael knows he's been left with a squad that isn't good enough, he knows there's no proper backing in January, he knows the 'project' is doomed and he knows he's at the end of his tenure here. Even if you ignore the other nonsense and results, he's a coach that tends to last a maximum of 12 months at a club (30-40 games) before he moves on. He's reached that point here now. This notion that he's suddenly going to be here long term and deliver success after 8 clubs in 8 years before coming here was fanciful to say the least but sums up the ineptitude of those running the club and handing out 3 year deals. He needs putting out of his misery for all our sakes but he won't, because the vile people owning and running the club don't care, they'd rather he suffered, we suffered and we get relegated than be proactive and do the right thing. Nice people though yeah.

I'm almost intrigued to see how many more games we can go without winning before they sack him. 1 win in 13 now, a couple of tough games coming up, we are already beyond the point of what most normal clubs would tolerate, irrespective of league position and excuses. He'd have been sacked last night if it was me running the club and I'd be on the phone now to Savage at Forest Green, maybe Rowett or Challinor at Stockport/Clough at Mansfield and trying to tempt one of these guys to come into the mad house.

The Hull one is proof that even with significant restrictions imposed it is still possible to recruit well and compete in this league. The difference of course is that the restrictions imposed on Hull were caused by their owners' ambition and spending and he is doing his best to overcome/get around those and still compete. Our owners have used FFP rules and restrictions as a perfect excuse to cover for their own cutbacks and have never had a shred of ambition. If they, or anyone else, had ambition here much much more could be done.

I'm a bit baffled by Alan Myers and his story with Rovers. I read his statement last night and that is the most 'extreme' he has been with his views on Venkys, going as far as to say that he thinks they need to sell the club and clear off (who doesn't?) but even still he's quite 'on the fence' with them, insisting that they mean well and want the club to succeed. I'm sorry but I simply cannot accept that. Granted I've never met the owners but actions speak louder than words and there is no evidence going back well over a decade that they genuinely do want success for the club. They might well give that impression in their private discussions and meetings, but anyone can say such things, it is what you actually do that matters. Again, I'm sure he would be a lot more vocal about things if it was Everton being run into the ground. I also find it odd how he was just 'invited' onto the board of directors back in 2014. Why? By Whom?

You think back to the spine and camaraderie we had through the team last year - Eustace-Travis-Batth-Brittain-Hyam-Dolan-Weimann - you could see it on the pitch - real togetherness and fighting spirit and mates off the pitch as well. This lot....good grief. It's enough to make you weep especially when you look at how Derby, Wrexham and Middlesbrough are getting on now and think about the willingness with which Rovers fans were willing to support and go along with that 'project' to dismantle what we had and replace with this lot. Still look on the bright side, the lowlife and their stooges have saved themselves a chunk of cash. Just a shame that will be wiped out with interest when we get relegated.

Wouldn't be surprised....he's good mates with Hyam and lives Cheshire way so probably an easy one to get to. Then again I've been saying for months that the regime has his card marked for a sale soon.

It's about now that Ismael learns truly what sort of club he is working for as he comes to realise that our results and league position are absolutely irrelevant to the ownership and 'board'. Unfortunately it seems a lot of supporters are still under the impression that things like results, position etc. have any relevance to the decision makers at the club. Up to this point, despite his return being woeful, we have kept our heads above water, making it easy for the regime to do nothing and leave it. Now we are sinking fast he will probably expect, and even want, the sack and a pay-off. But he's going to realise that unlike all his previous clubs, who fired him off after 30-40 games maximum, this regime have no intention of doing such things and they will leave him to keep on going inflicting even more damage. It's either because the 'board' don't have the authority to sack managers, requiring permission from head office in India which they can't get, or because the 'board' are unwilling to incur the cost and pressure of making a change due to the impact it will have on their figures and budgets, and they'd rather gamble away our league status instead. I'm convinced Ismael wants sacking now, he probably can't believe what the 'board' has left him to work with, another woeful lack of support 2/3 of the way through a transfer window and yet still no response to appalling results and points returns.

West Brom's home form has been decent, away atrocious. Suspect their managerial appointment could go either way. If he's ok they should be fine with that squad but if he's not up to the job - and it continues to baffle me why some clubs have this obsession with finding the next 'big thing' rather than going with tried and tested - it could spiral rapidly. We need them to because Swansea look like they have enough to get out of it and pretty much everyone else bar Portsmouth and Charlton are showing signs of having enough about them. Exciting times for the project.

9 clean sheets in 38 League games under Ismael so we aren't even a side that looks capable of grinding out 0-0s

Two trophies in the last 12 months as well. More than Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Real Madrid.

Remember it was predominantly garbage last season before the self-inflicted exodus of players and arrival of Rudy's mates. What was Ismael's excuse then, when the players were good enough?

Swansea's home record in all competitions this season: 8 wins, 6 draws, 6 defeats Swansea's last 10 games overall: 5 wins (home & away v Oxford, home v Portsmouth, West Brom & Wrexham) 2 draws (home v Birmingham, home v West Brom in the cup) 3 defeats (away at Stoke, Millwall and Coventry)