I really don't rate Gallagher especially in the system JDT wants to play. He's go no anticipation in the box and his movement off the ball is rubbish, he's not a clinical finisher, he can't hold the ball up and he can't pass it. If we played two upfront and played more direct he'd be useful as a battering ram. At the moment he's best used as a sub late on to use his pace in behind. I think Leonards got a real chance here. He's only 20 (a young 20, if you think about the year lost in his development) and He's improved a lot from the end of last season when he made his debut. He's got a decent touch, can hold the ball up, bring others in to play and He's starting to adapt physically the level. You can see him becoming more and more comfortable with the pace of the game. He works hard and can press well. But it's his movement that stands out to me, he finds space well and makes clever runs in and out the box. His problem in his last few appearances has been taking chances but you'd like to think that'll improve given his age that'll come. Ultimately he's got it between the ears, and that can be a very hard thing to teach (Gallagher the perfect example of how both JDt and Mowbray failed to mould him into a proper no.9). I really think that if he continues his progression then he will become the ideal striker for this system.

No striker is a mark on GBs record for sure but not sure he's got enough credit for the Szmodics signing, he's signed the top scorer in the league (from no.10) for about £1.5 mil and got him to sign a new contract.

Agree with a lot of this but I think your assessment of brittain is very harsh. He's obviously more of an attacking full back in general I don't think he's a a bad 1v1 defender.

I would maintain that there is a higher ceiling to Wahlsted than Pears. I think he's a better shot stopper and has settled into playing out from the back pretty quickly. He's likely got another 5 or 6 games before pears is fully fit. He's got to keep putting in performances like yesterday to ensure he keeps his spot.

Great to win so comfortably. Especially against an inform side like Stoke. It's a strange one as we have played much better than this and lost this season. Very sloppy in possesion and no real outlet meant that we ceded a lot of possesion, fortunately stoke weren't particularly good and we defended very well. I felt the front 3 of brittain, dolan and moran didn't offer enough going forward (maybe being harsh on moran who got a goal and an assist), but worked hard off the ball. Wasn't a day for the dolan false 9, felt we needed a big man to get us up the pitch. Hill and Carter were very solid. Wahlsted had one proper save to make and saved it well, doesn't convince on crosses but played well. Szmodics missed a couple of good chances first half but his movement was good and he got his reward late on. Hopefully the head injury to Wharton isn't too bad. Couple of winnable games coming up now. Onwards and upwards

I wouldve gone with a striker (leonard) but you can't complain too much. Interesting to see Duru on the bench ahead of Batty on the bench.

Like others have said it depends how you define a hard man. Someone who is combative, someone who is hard in the challenge when in one and someone who withstand a kicking and be unaffected. A player who comes to mind for is Garry Flitcroft who could hold his own in the challenge and liked a tackle. If you look at that team from 04/06 period under Hughes for a modern side there are a lot of players in there who could fall into those categories: Todd, Nelson, Flitcroft, Reid, Dickov, Bellamy, Mokeona, Neill.

According to the rovers social media pages. He's scored for the under 21s and gone off injured after 38 mins.

Wahlsted Brittain. Hill. Wharton. Pickering Tronstad. Wharton Dolan. Szmodics. Moran Ennis or Leonard or Telalovic Time to give one of the strikers a proper run in the side.

I need some elaboration here because I don't know what you're referring to.

I agree more with your read on Wharton. I see it as similar to Harry Maguire. In that they are both good passers when they're coming onto to the ball, facing forwards and fairly static. When Wharton has to take it off the keeper or someone else in a deep position, turn and open his body up that seems to get him into trouble and he isn't as confident doing it. I don't think he's (incoming trendy football phrase) press resistant.

We always play 2 midfield ?

It all comes down to whether batty if they think Batty is ready or not for some involvement. If they do then he has to play as that's the model we are going for (think Phillips last season). And also because it keeps more players in their more comfortable positions. My guess is he isn't ready (or Atcheson is either) and they'll use Travis at right back. I'd also assume that Whartons red won't get overturned. I also don't really think he can argue if he has another long spell without a start. Its a big headache for JDT, I'd take a draw now if pressed on it. As a poster above said we are really going to have to double down on the passing/attacking side of out game.

I don't think it's a coincidence that since he has come into the 11 we have won 4 from 5. Like you say he smells danger really well and keeps the ball ticking over nicely, short and simple. One thing I absolutely love about him is the intensity he closes people down on the edge of the box. It's something that posters on here have bemoaned for years about other players but he really throws himself at the ball, and I love it.

I thought tonight was a good representation of what we are and how our season has been: Some nice football in places A bit too open at some times (I feel Pickering could've done with a bit more help) A lack of physicality Missed chances A lack of cutting edge when we got into good areas. A bit of bad luck with decisions A goalkeeping error Ultimately we didn't embarress ourselves so that's something. Chelsea have some real quality in James, Enzo, Palmer and sterling and it showed. It was interesting to see who coped and who didn't. Pickering got murdered, one big error from the keeper and a poor choice for the second, Travis and garrett a lot of effort but little quality. Ennis doesn't move much. But the 3 cbs did well especially Hill, Adam Wharton fits in technically amongst the higher calibre of player. Thought brittian did well 1st half but let himself down for the 2nd goal. I like Leonard, he's clever, works hard, has a decent touch and links play well. I think he's getting better but he just needs to learn to take a breath and compose himself when he gets these chances. He's not the proven goalscorer we need now but he's got a future here.

Hernia I'm calling it now. 4 weeks out unless they try to get him to play through it for a bit.

As poor as we were, we created enough chances today to score at least 1 goal. I like Leonard, he looked sharp when he came on and his movement is very good. Should've buried one of them but he's worth sticking with imo. Thought Szmodics should've come off in this off for ennis. He looks to be carrying an injury to ne that's possibly a hernia.

Walhsted Hill. Carter. Hyam/Wharton. Pickering JRC. Tronstad Brittain. Szmodics. Dolan Ennis Only 1 change giving us a more fixed presence up top. Dolan moves out to the left, thought he worked exceptionally hard last night and is starting to show signs of improvement. My worry is with a heavy fixture list and last night being very draining physically that we need to freshen things up a bit more. I'd start with the one change but look to the bench early to freshen things up, Adam Wharton being the main one and possibly Leonard for Ennis. I think this will be another tight one, I predict 2-1 rovers.

Yes it was equally as bad.

Do you recall Wigan away?

We've played much better this season and lost. We weren't at our most fluid today, a lot of that was down to how cardiff set up which was very much to frustrate having been mauled by us in the cup game. But also felt we added this to by being sloppy in possession, it led to a scrappy game without a lot of clear cut chances. We had 3 chances all for JRC which shows something. Positives are that we are looking more secure. Having a keeper that doesn't chuck one in every game helps, Hill makes a big difference at right back giving the side more physicality and tronstad is a proper dm who does a lot of grunt work very efficiently which Wharton hasn't mastered yet. Get a proper championship striker into this side and we should be okay, let's hope that's ennis. 2 more winnable games on the way... onwards and upwards

Training ground is being valued this week I believe. I've no idea the actual purpose of this.

Don't it's not working. They'll happily take your money though. As they have now done to me for the 3rd time this season.

I'd go Walhsted Hill. Carter. Hyam. Brittain Tronstad. JRC Dolan. Szmodics. Siggy Ennis Wharton on after an hour Leonard for ennis at the same time.

Had the look of a man who knew his time was up. He looked on the verge of crying at the end of the game.