It was said last week that they were friends from some time back. Gestede was bigging him up in the interview they did last week. The story I heard was that Eustace had been marginalised by Pasha and Gestede but Waggott wanted to support him.

Further to the 100 Club being match sponsors I had a call from a 100 Club member this morning to tell me they definitely weren't match sponsors. From that I conclude that the marketing people have made this up to save face.

Absolutely but if they did invoke that clause it would mean that the three stooges would be admitting they got it wrong. And that is the main reason why I don't think it will happen.

It was something we commented on too. We also said that putting Montgomery on would have been a no lose situation for him. The game was gone, Travis and Buckley were awful and we desperately needed an attacking midfielder which is what he is. It made no sense but then very little has recently.

I honestly don't know mate. Whoever he is he's bloody good at his job.

They could have done. That's why I put in the caveat of a low bar. In the second half we at least did press from the front with Ohashi and forced a few errors. Prior to that in every game our play has been so passive with very little intensity. After six games there doesn't appear to be any defined style of play, no way of playing apart from making us easy to play against. In the first half we were wide open and their midfield runners weren't being tracked, their full backs were attacking and their forwards movement was too much for us. Most Championship teams would have beaten us last night the way we set about the game.

I would really like to know what in his interview impressed them so much he not only got the job but a three and a half year deal to boot. I don't think he is going anytime soon though given that he seems to be best mates with Gestede.

Where do you start with that performance particularly the first half. In every one of Ismael's games in charge so far we have started ridiculously slowly and conceded. Our pre match talk was about keeping it tight and not allowing Middlesbrough any space.. Cue absolute ineptitude and in less than ten minutes it really was game over. One incident in the first half told me so much about where we are as a club. A Middlesbrough player went down injured and Carrick took the opportunity to have an impromptu team talk. Five of our players went to the technical area whilst the other five outfield players stood in the centre circle arguing amongst themselves. The five in the technical area were being briefed by Whitehead and (I think) Johnson and it took a good few seconds for Ismael to join them. There was ironic applause from the JW Stand when he did. I thought the second half was actually the best we have played under Ismael (an exceedingly low bar I admit) but starting slowly is becoming a trait. For the second match running I felt that one of the substitutes was our best player. Ohashi last night and Gueye at Portsmouth. That alone should be enough for the other players to hang their heads in shame (probably with the exception of Dolan who at least looked like he was hurting). I honestly don't have a clue where we go from here. This manager looks clueless and his interviews are becoming more bizarre after each game.

Which leaves the first team squad a little short of centre halves if he is still out. Perhaps Rhys Doherty is stepping up with Matty Litherland out on loan.

No Michalski, Atcheson, Rhys Doherty or Edmondson in the team? I suspect some of these will be on first team duty tonight.

I was actually told he was never even offered a deal so perhaps we would.

Rovers 100 Club are sponsoring the match tonight and Rovers Community Trust are sponsoring the match ball. Suhail and his commercial team are really pushing the boat out tonight. https://twitter.com/Rovers/status/1908184032900440279?s=19

In the Conner Mahoney podcast he talks about his contract situation at Rovers, when the new offer was actually made, how badly he had been treated and why he ultimately left. He actually name checks Suhail as the Rovers executive him and his agent were negotiating with. The man is poison.

As per the post below Tony.

Sounds like an agent at work here. Boggan is clearly a prospect but hasn't convinced me yet having seen him a few times.