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100%. Thinking that Rovers are "Venky's baby" ( their phrase not mine) I am reminded that one definition of child neglect is the persistent failure to meet the child's needs. There's another phrase about the need to prepare children, so that they are ready to start school. Was this club ready for the season? Is this the first season we had concerns in that direction? And yet, there are moments, when I still feel the passion .....like Deepdale on Friday!

Yea we were terrible in the air.

The thread is titled "Rovers January transfer needs" and is completed by "will not be met."

PEC Zwolle Dutch Eredivisie Club.All a bit daft in this day and age but young lads being young lads.. https://www.instagram.com/p/DEicBhasgST/?img_index=1

Yeah, great free kick. He was fantastic for us before the injuries.

If he doesn’t get in the squad they must have some pretty good right backs that’s all I can say.

I see Derby have allowed Owen Beck to return to Liverpool. It looks like he’s had one injury after another there.

c9k ST holders, 300 away fans, so yeah you ain’t getting much over 11k.

I'll echo ...Tim Sherwood ...Get behind the lads FFS. Rovers 1 QPR 1 About 11k 😞

Generally agree, although it depends if this is the hand that he was dealt or the hand he got to look at in advance before he took the job and willing signed up to when he accepted the position But given the downsizing, and with the players he has at his disposal. He is doing better than expected

And again yesterday against Barnet.

I dont listen to manager interviews since Mowbrays claptrap. However what ive heard i find grating and i havent warmed to the man. As a manager, I give him the same view. They are doing a job with their hands tied behind their back, even if he chose to be complicit in that. He's gone 5-3-2, hes won 6 out of 7. Hes doing better than I expected him to do, i still think we might have an implosion with someone of his personality.

And he scored a cracker yesterday.

I cant say I particularly like Val either. I can give him credit for changing the formation though. Before that, I felt like he was the type of manager to be stubborn and expect players to adapt to his system For that I give him credit. Get us in the play offs and I’ll warm to him 😎

I'll go as far as to say he is probably the only one down there who knows what he is doing. We sometimes forget they can only work with what they have and the remits at this club now state move out high earners, get mins and value into the whole squad and promote youth. Watched the highlights of Friday this morning and the look on his face when their equaliser went in was priceless. He was having trouble not combusting there which is good to see imo.

A real problem if Alebiosu goes to African Nations or gets injured.

I think we need to bring in a central midfielder to come and cover Tronstad. The problem is, it’s unlikely you’ll sign his replacement in January. Not unless you’re willing to spend a bit over the odds. We won’t It’s likely we will go for a centre back and then look to supplement the squad with what is available. A centre back and centre mid for me is the priority.

I don't think I'll ever warm to him, but as RF99 says in his post that doesn't really matter at all. Ultimately wins are all that count and I just hope that he and the players can continue to pick them up at a reasonable rate. 4 wins from the last 5 is very good given injuries, suspensions and a general lack of experience within the team...and in each of the wins this season I have been impressed by the character shown by the players. They are clearly playing for him and each other at this moment in time. However, the bad start and some awful defeats earlier in the season means we will likely be looking over our shoulders until January at least. The games before Christmas are hugely important as to whether we continue to look down rather than up for the duration of the season. At the start of the season and with the mass turnover of players I had no expectations, just hoped that Rovers could stay in the league, as awfully unambitious as that sounds, but that's where my head was and continues to be at. I suppose by that gauge he is doing the required job, as unambitious and depressing as that sounds. I'm far more worried about how the club will probably have a huge squad 'transition' every summer for the foreseeable future than whoever the head coach is.

2-1 Rovers,we have to start winning at Home 12,100

Agree on Henriksson and Tavares. Any players coming from overseas need to be given time to adjust. I do worry about Tavares attitude and application though...I think that may be a big factor in why we have barely seen the guy in recent weeks. I think the technical ability is there, but the player himself has to want to do the hard work. Henriksson has the potential of a solid championship player IMO, but he needs to get up to speed with the pace of the game at this level. Remember vividly how Tronstad took a while to get going when he first arrived, so I'm hoping its a similar case with Axel.

Yeah, I saw an illustration of the balls that got Root, Brook and Pope out. They are all shoulder high about 2 ft outside the off stump. Absolutely no need to play at any of them. Significantly only one player was out bowled, all the rest were caught. Just let the bowlers tire themselves out.

You used to bang on about 'communication', but now media comments are a 'non-issue'.

2-1 Rovers. Ohashi and Gudjohnsen. Same team if possible.

Their away form is actually pretty good, only losing 1 of the last 5 in a narrow defeat to Derby. Hopefully we'll be a bit fresher with the extra days rest, they earnt it after running their socks off Friday night. Plenty of time to work on set pieces again in training too, it would be nice to make it a regular thing being so effective on them. Very tough one to call and 2-1 either way I reckon, let's just hope it's in our favour 😀

But he definitely doesnt prove that we tend to get exactly what we need and/or upgrade our team in January. That was my initial point, there might be the odd serviceable squad player in that time admittedly.