v Hull City (a) - FA Cup R3 - 11/01/26

[AspRover]

It feels like a statement selection from the manager - but I'm not sure what the statement is.

a). Sign me some damn players, look what I am reduced to

b). I'm throwing in the towel, but I need you to sack me so I can collect two and a half years of compensation

c). we are in genuine danger in the league and cannot afford the distraction of a cup run

d). I'm untouchable, I do what I want

e). I'm putting the academy prospects in the shop window in the hope that someone buys them rather than our first teamers

 

alternative answers on a postcard???

[RevidgeBlue]

1 minute ago, AspRover said:

It feels like a statement selection from the manager - but I'm not sure what the statement is.

a). Sign me some damn players, look what I am reduced to

b). I'm throwing in the towel, but I need you to sack me so I can collect two and a half years of compensation

c). we are in genuine danger in the league and cannot afford the distraction of a cup run

d). I'm untouchable, I do what I want

e). I'm putting the academy prospects in the shop window in the hope that someone buys them rather than our first teamers

 

alternative answers on a postcard???

d)

[KentExile]

On 09/01/2026 at 12:04, KentExile said:

                                      Toth

                Atcheson   O'Riordan    Cashin

Miller/TGH   Montgomery     Garrett/TGH    De Neve/Powell

                   Henriksson              Dlamini    

                                  Joseph

 

Subs

Pears/Michalski

Pratt

Miller/Garret/TGH

De Neve/Powell

Doherty

Tyjon (seeing as he was on the bench the other day)

Baradji (assume they will still want to give him a few minutes)

2 of McLoughlin, Tronstad, Cantwell, Ohashi, Pickering, Ribeiro

I was very close

Find it insane that Joseph isn't on the bench though (unless its an injury... he didn't play for U21s in midweek & I assumed he would be at least on the bench today)

Edited 6 hours ago by KentExile

[sharpysharps86]

Good luck to the young lads out there today. Hopefully they can make an impression.

[simongarnerisgod]

4 minutes ago, AspRover said:

It feels like a statement selection from the manager - but I'm not sure what the statement is.

a). Sign me some damn players, look what I am reduced to

b). I'm throwing in the towel, but I need you to sack me so I can collect two and a half years of compensation

c). we are in genuine danger in the league and cannot afford the distraction of a cup run

d). I'm untouchable, I do what I want

e). I'm putting the academy prospects in the shop window in the hope that someone buys them rather than our first teamers

 

alternative answers on a postcard???

a mix of abce,with some added despair in as well

[K-Hod]

16 minutes ago, Comfortably numb said:

Trying to work out the system.

 

So’s Val.

[B16Rover]

18 minutes ago, Comfortably numb said:

Trying to work out the system.

Maybe 3-4-3 with Powell and Diamini either side of Henriksson?

Not expecting anything today but some positive performances from the youngsters would be something to take from the game

 

You'd love The Castle by Kafka 

[RevidgeBlue]

I'll wait and see how the game goes but on the face of it Im not happy with that selection.

His job is to manage us in 3 competitions and try to do as well as possible in each. Not sort of slop around in one and try to do just enough to avoid relegation and sack off the other two.

[pick32]

Hull to win, have 4 or more corners and score 2 goals 3.5/1 

[RevidgeBlue]

Colby Bishop who some have speculated about on the transfer thread has scored in the 3rd minute for Portsmouth v Arsenal.

Smart finish.

[RevidgeBlue]

1 minute ago, pick32 said:

Hull to win, have 4 or more corners and score 2 goals 3.5/1 

They're still 19/20 to win outright on Bet 365 amazingly.

[Exiled_Rover]

19 minutes ago, AspRover said:

It feels like a statement selection from the manager - but I'm not sure what the statement is.

a). Sign me some damn players, look what I am reduced to

b). I'm throwing in the towel, but I need you to sack me so I can collect two and a half years of compensation

c). we are in genuine danger in the league and cannot afford the distraction of a cup run

d). I'm untouchable, I do what I want

e). I'm putting the academy prospects in the shop window in the hope that someone buys them rather than our first teamers

 

alternative answers on a postcard???

F) I know we can't win this competition and, evidently, the money it would generate disappears into a black hole, so I'm going to see what these Academy players have about them in a competitive game. 

[StHelensRover]

Pompey in the same position as us and have opted for a different selection approach against the best team in the country, and they've managed to score a goal. If it was us running out against Arsenal with our squad and gormless manager we'd need the scoreboard from the Etihad yesterday 

[davulsukur]

23 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Holy crap. I'll reserve judgement but..........

We'll be lucky to have a shot.

[Waggy76]

What is our record defeat in the FA Cup ?

Got done a few at Highbury under Souness .

A few 3-0 at Everton , years back .

[Mercer]

You can get marginally better than evens on the Hull win.

With that Rovers line-up, Hull should be odds on.

Fill your boots!!!

[harryhealless1928]

On the positive side, Derby Rovers were clouted 1-3 at home by Leeds. Diaz did score, but Travis looked like the game passed him by. 

A bit disrespectful to the Rovers fans who have travelled to Hull, and also to our glorious history in the FA Cup to put that team out. Toth done no favours with the team in front of him, lets hope one or two of the kids show what they can do!

[Dreams of 1995]

Disappointing line up for me. I wanted to see more of the academy

I don’t think we need to see any more of De Neve or Henrikson up front. The bench lacks any real ambition and the fact that, given a free hit, we have gone with two left backs and two centre backs on the bench tells me we have no ambition whatsoever of progressing in this cup

All of this talk about giving the academy a chance is nonsense. We may well win this match, but this line up is just crap. I hope I eat my words. I am hoping Hull put out an equally poor 11

 

[ben_the_beast]

I personally don't think Ismael has much of a choice with his selection today. We have no squad depth, a mounting injury crisis and relegation is a very real possibility. The focus needs to be on the league and the squad needs a rest.

I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing how some of the young lads do. Given how thin the squad is, anyone who puts in a performance today knows they've a real chance of breaking into the first team.

[KentExile]

Still waiting on TNT Sports 7, however, Rovers are streaming the match with commentary to those in Italy (not sure which other countries)

[Exiled_Rover]

41 minutes ago, DutchRover said:

Wait Powel, Henrikson and Dlamini is our front 3? God help us

I'd think DeNeve is playing upfront with Powell at LWB.

DeNeve can't defend.

[simongarnerisgod]

Just now, Exiled_Rover said:

I'd think DeNeve is playing upfront with Powell at LWB.

DeNeve can't defend.

he can`t dribble or cross either

[KentExile]

1 minute ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I'd think DeNeve is playing upfront with Powell at LWB.

DeNeve can't defend.

True

But

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/november/14/brandon-bags-player-of-the-month-award-/

“I started the season as a left-back and I’ve been converted into a player playing further forward on the pitch. I’m probably not used to scoring as many goals or getting around those areas as much, but I think I’ve adapted really well and made it my new position. Hopefully I can keep thriving there and hopefully keep scoring.

 

Which admittedly makes no sense given our change of system this season at first team level (the U21s & U18s still play 4-3-3 & 4-2-3-1)

Edited 6 hours ago by KentExile

[Exiled_Rover]

 

12 minutes ago, StHelensRover said:

Pompey in the same position as us and have opted for a different selection approach against the best team in the country, and they've managed to score a goal. If it was us running out against Arsenal with our squad and gormless manager we'd need the scoreboard from the Etihad yesterday 

We're not a normal club and haven't been for a long time.

[davulsukur]

3 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I'd think DeNeve is playing upfront with Powell at LWB.

DeNeve can't defend.

The admin puts the team out in order. It looks like De Neve at LWB, unfortunately