v Preston North End (a) - 21/11/25, 8:00pm ko Sky TV

[Miller11]

This seems very reminiscent of when Mola and Garrett were seen as the answer at Turf Moor.

Carter spent about 20 minutes on an exercise bike in the tunnel against Derby. Obviously worked a treat. Wonder if Baradji will be subjected to the same.

[CambridgeRover]

Sorry haven’t been concentrating. Who is Pratt?

[GHD]

30 minutes ago, StHelensRover said:

I'm down at the ground by the turnstiles and is a lot of younger Rovers fans (can't be older than 18/19) singing absolutely disgusting songs about Tom Finney. Tried to call them out on it and basically got told to F/O. Hope others will call it out when they hear it as well. Cannot believe anyone would sing about anyone dying at football matches, let alone someone like Finney. Disgraceful. 

Absolutely disgusting about the finest English footballer of my nearly 90 years lifetime, and a perfect gentleman to boot

[simongarnerisgod]

looking at north ends line up.their weakness is their 3 at the back are extremely slow,i suppose we could try and hit them on the counter,i don`t see how else we can win tbh

[Exiled_Rover]

5 minutes ago, Roverthechimp said:

Strength in depth: 3 left backs on the bench 🤪

Clear as day that they built the squad for a 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 formation because Pickering and Ribeiro are absolute spare parts in this formation and we don't have a backup for Alebiousu. 

[Exiled_Rover]

3 minutes ago, CambridgeRover said:

Sorry haven’t been concentrating. Who is Pratt?

An Academy graduate. Recalled him from a loan at Chorley.

He's 22 - think he was highly rated at one point, but has had a couple of bad injuries that have stalled his career - people who watch the Academy can probably confirm / deny that. 

[G Somerset Rover]

Why on earth Pickering isn’t at LCB (again) can only be for one of two reasons: he’s pissed off Pasha & Rudy (Team Eustace) or he’s over the wage threshold. Either way it’s a ridiculous decision.

[bazza]

I think we'll lose 4 or 5-0

[neophox]

1 minute ago, G Somerset Rover said:

Why on earth Pickering isn’t at LCB (again) can only be for one of two reasons: he’s pissed off Pasha & Rudy (Team Eustace) or he’s over the wage threshold. Either way it’s a ridiculous decision.

Easy ... Pratt is better than Picks...

Connor should be recalled asap in January, doing very well at Donny. Will be like a new signing.

[Exiled_Rover]

3 minutes ago, G Somerset Rover said:

Why on earth Pickering isn’t at LCB (again) can only be for one of two reasons: he’s pissed off Pasha & Rudy (Team Eustace) or he’s over the wage threshold. Either way it’s a ridiculous decision.

Cos he's 5'8" and slow. 

[KentExile]

Just now, neophox said:

Easy ... Pratt is better than Picks...

Connor should be recalled asap in January, doing very well at Donny. Will be like a new signing.

Are you Rudy or Pasha?

[joey_big_nose]

2 minutes ago, G Somerset Rover said:

Why on earth Pickering isn’t at LCB (again) can only be for one of two reasons: he’s pissed off Pasha & Rudy (Team Eustace) or he’s over the wage threshold. Either way it’s a ridiculous decision.

I think Ismaels view is you need more height than Pickeing and Riberio which is sort of defensible. No idea how good Pratt is. Where is @KentExile??

But thay we have as many left backs as centre backs (4 of each) is absolutely hilarious/depressing.

[joey_big_nose]

2 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

I think Ismaels view is you need more height than Pickeing and Riberio which is sort of defensible. No idea how good Pratt is. Where is @KentExile??

But that we have as many left backs as centre backs (4 of each) is absolutely hilarious/depressing.

Sorry I realise @KentExilewas posting previous page. Do you or anyone else have a view on Pratts quality? I dont think hes got anywhere near the first team before so this seems a real stretch?

[KentExile]

4 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

I think Ismaels view is you need more height than Pickeing and Riberio which is sort of defensible. No idea how good Pratt is. Where is @KentExile??

But thay we have as many left backs as centre backs (4 of each) is absolutely hilarious/depressing.

Real sink or swim moment for Pratt tonight, big lad, good in the air, does have the odd lapse in concentration though, never seen him against anything like a Championship level forward lines so difficult to predict, especially with a makeshift back line/keeper alongside him

Edited 1 hour ago by KentExile

[davulsukur]

47 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Pratt & Montgomery start

Baradji is not an apparition

 

At least he's put a centre back at centre back. The reluctance to start Picks as a LCB is quite strange though. Seems a no brainer.

Montgomery starting is a big call as well. 

Still think we're getting a pasting, unfortunately. 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by davulsukur

[CaptainBeanfart]

22 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Clear as day that they built the squad for a 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 formation because Pickering and Ribeiro are absolute spare parts in this formation and we don't have a backup for Alebiousu. 

Ribeiro had played centre back before coming to us, I'm sure we've played Pickering left on a back three as well. VI just doesn't fancy them for some reason. There's no way Hedges is more suited to CB than they are. 

[Bbrovers2288]

It’s probably not fashionable to say I actually rate heckinbottom as a champ manager

[roverblue]

Can see us taking a thumping here the defence is no match for the pne side. Selling Hyam like we did was suicide 

[Dreams of 1995]

There’s something going on with Pickering. He’s been effectively frozen out. Not the best player we’ve had, but is a shoe in here surely?

[simongarnerisgod]

Just now, Bbrovers2288 said:

It’s probably not fashionable to say I actually rate heckinbottom as a champ manager

he`s a smart tactician and was probably unlucky at sheff utd,they were underfunded when he took charge 

[Herbie6590]

18 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Real sink or swim moment for Pratt tonight, big lad, good in the air, does have the odd lapse in concentration though, never seen him against anything like a Championship level forward lines so difficult to predict, especially with a makeshift back line/keeper alongside him

He might Phil Jones it…👀🤞

[DutchRover]

3 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

There’s something going on with Pickering. He’s been effectively frozen out. Not the best player we’ve had, but is a shoe in here surely?

He must be heading out the door in January, wouldn't be surprised if Ribeiro does too even though we only renewed him in the summer. Ismael doesn't seem to rate either of them, at least in the 3-4-1-2 and they will be on decent wages.

[Tugayslongwalkoff]

Cantwell clearly been put in dry storage to be flogged in January.

What a depressing club we really are. 

[doctorryan]

I hate these pissed-on toilet paper kits.

[Exiled_Rover]

11 minutes ago, CaptainBeanfart said:

Ribeiro had played centre back before coming to us, I'm sure we've played Pickering left on a back three as well. VI just doesn't fancy them for some reason. There's no way Hedges is more suited to CB than they are. 

They're both old school LBs - neither can really get up and down the wing (Ribeiro can do it more than Pickering, but he can't get back if he does) and I'd imagine they're both sub 5'10".

Ismael clearly values height at CB. You could probably get away with Pickering or Ribeiro at LCB for a couple of games in a 3, but evidently he doesn't think they're up to it - or yes there's some silly clause that's going to be activated if they play more games. 

I still don't think Hedges let us down at LCB last game.