Negativity around Michael O’Neill? Look at the data. 📉📈
His record at Stoke suggests this could be exactly the right move. He took over in 2019 with Stoke in a worse position than we are now—and didn’t just keep them up, he completely transformed them.
Here’s the breakdown of his immediate impact:
1. Survival to Playoff Form 🚀
Stoke were bottom with just 0.53 PPG when O’Neill joined (worse than our current 1.03). He tripled that to 1.58 PPG for the rest of the season. That isn’t just “new manager bounce”—that is promotion-winning form.
2. Attack First, Defence Second ⚽
Worried about parking the bus? Don’t be. He fixed the team at both ends. Stoke’s goals per game doubled (0.87 → 1.71) after he took charge. He unlocks attackers rather than stifling them.
3. Flipping the Mentality
Win rate jumped from 13% to 45%. ✅ Loss rate dropped from 73% to 32%.
4. The Ohashi Question 🔓
We’ve had a serious problem scoring goals this year. Can he turn Ohashi around? Look at Tyrese Campbell: he went from 1 goal in 15 games to 8 goals in 31 under O’Neill. He knows how to get misfiring strikers back on form.
A perfect fit for this squad? The numbers say yes.
#Rovers
Who's been the worst referee this season at Ewood?
I think I'd be putting Matt Donohue shocking performance in there as the top two or three this season
Inconsistent fouls
Mistakes on decisions
Falling for fake injuries
Allowing time wasting
5 minutes added on? 🫣😟
#Rovers
@SMMiller14 Baradji is close to being a very good championship player, bit rough around the edges. Positioning sometimes poor and can be a little sloppy.
I've yet to see even a glimpse of anything positive from De Neve.
I don't think he'd shine in league 2 never mind championship
Afolyan has had a long time out of first team football.
You're right he doesn't look great right now but he did well both at Bolton and first few years at St Pauli.
Early signs aren't great I agree but let's get him upto match fitness and judge then!
De Neve on the other hand... No words.
Tell you what
Cashin absolutely immense yet again.
I think we'd have been 3 or 4 down first half if it wasn't for him.
Never fall in love with a lo......too late
#Rovers
We want to win every game don't we, and we were poor first half.
But BUT we come away from that game feeling we should at least have got a point. Dominated the second half
Oh and the ref was shite too
#Rovers
What a win that was.
That feeling of that last minute winner is why we all do this week in week out.
So nice to walk out the stadium with a happy atmosphere.
Staying up aren't we?
#Rovers