I don’t want to watch this football served up by JDT. Some good players but tactics are pathetic

2 hours ago, rigger said:

If current form was to be taken into account, I would start, Hedges, Diaz and Hirst up front. Morton, Travis and Adam Wharton in midfield. Carter, Hyam and Scott Wharton at the back. Mola left wing-back, Britten right wing-back.  

But we can’t play with 13

There’s not really a recent precedent for something like this so the authorities will not want to go against the establishment who will decide if not holding sporting events in this country over the next few days is appropriate. 
 

Unfortunately whether we like it or not will be irrelevant. 
 

Hopefully the Watford game will be on

27 minutes ago, B16Rover said:

Genuinely might be something or nothing but I was fuelling up on Preston New Road whilst he was.  He was visibly struggling with the pay at pump and I so offered to help.  Very tall man and then with the accent, the tracksuit and the car I asked what he was doing round here and he said he was a footballer.  

 

Didn't ask why or in relation to what or which club but asked if I'd had heard of him which he laughed at hence the name. 

 

Can't say I've ever seen him kick a ball but Google tells me he's 190cm (6ft 2?) and has played centre back, left back and defensive midfield.  Not exactly a glowing pedigree in Austria and German second division but a couple of games for Canada of recent.  

 

Would be interesting if not here then at Deepdale or elsewhere 

Preston New Rd? Now that brings back memories. Fox and Grapes, good snooker team. Chippy across the road. Happy times. 
 

We absolutely need an experienced centre back. If this lad from Liverpool isn’t coming then we must look for a quality defender. 
 

Pickering will be OK but we need decent back up. 
 

If Brereton goes and we don’t get an adequate replacement then we are definitely snookered.

I have to say I wasn't expecting much from Sheffield but we were comprehensively outplayed, outfought, outmuscled and outscored by a team that will be playing Premier League football next season.

Having said that, we needed better than that from the players on the pitch several of whom are not good enough for this level of football. Only Kaminski and Ayala stood between us and a cricket score. The misfield was non exsitent in the first half with Buckley and Travis unable to compete.

Wharton is being missed big time but then how long have we had to sign another CB that we knew was needed. Taking nothing away from Philips who will be a good player at a higher level. 
 

What a difference a week makes? 

Dolan has at least shown that he can be a threat to defences albeit a blunt one.

To be fair JDT is giving the squad a chance to show that they can feature long term but the point has surely come where none of the current U23 lads are ready for Championship football. That includes Phillips. 

We really shouldn’t be worrying about transfer fees. Thats for the owners to bother about.

For me get as many quality players in as quickly as possible and worry about where they are going to play later. Can any of these centre backs play left full back? 

Best case scenario if Philips won’t sign a new contract. He sees out his contract this season. Signs for a Premier League club next summer. We get compensation then he is loaned back to us. 

We either pay Phillips the going rate or we lose him to a club that will. If I were Phillips I would make my decision based on where he is likely to play first team football over the next 2/3 seasons. He has a much better chance of that at Rovers so we need to make that happen. 
 

Saw some of the Bradford game last night and they looked well organised with Harry Chapman doing what we know he can do. 
 

Should be a challenge for some of our younger players

Watching West Brom tonight and we are going to need two left backs against them. Hope JDT reinforces that area on Sunday as Furlong and Wallace are causing Watford all sorts of problems

10 minutes ago, J*B said:

I reckon this goes one of two days.

1) Deadline day loan move to like Huddersfield 

2) JDT gets Dack so pissed off that he isn’t playing he becomes the pre-ACL Dack. 

The season is long and we will definitely need Dack (unless we sign a shedful of strikers). 
 

If I was Dack I’d be wanting to show the boss that he is wrong, but then maybe there’s more to it?

2 hours ago, rigger said:

I don't know what facetious means, but I have been known to be an awkward git.

Facetious = flippant. One of the few words in the dictionary with all the vowels in the right order.

COYB 

I don’t think he’s any less likely to get his car nicked in Lancashire or Yorkshire. Had ours nicked off the drive, broke into house for keys. Glad we were asleep

Surely JDT can find a way to get the best out of Dack if he is fit to play? We don’t have such a glut of quality players that we can afford to freeze him out. 
 

We know that Dack can score goals so lets ensure he gets adequate opportunities. OK he didn’t get on the pitch in the first game but then neither did most of the other subs. No big deal. They will get their chance to prove the manager wrong in due course given the lack of depth in the squad.

Linguist now Barry? 
 

See you on the half way line tomorrow

1 hour ago, bazza said:

I watched most of the 2nd half on you tube and I thought we gave a good account of ourselves against tough opposition. I think all our players were "ok"; no-one stood out as good or bad.

It's good to see players like Vale, A.Wharton, Leonard and Garrett given regular playing time.

We DO need a few incomings, permanent or loans, to bolster the squad.

Still, I'm pleased with today. It's not all doom and gloom as some would have it.

Apart from the early goal we weren’t at the races in the first half. Celtic were class, their wide players tore us apart with Carter and Pickering at full back struggling.

Midfield was light but most noticeably we couldn’t get out of our own half. We did that to them in the second but the pressing game clearly pays dividends when done well.

JDT is asking for intensity from the players and generally they responded.

A long season ahead if we don’t strengthen in defence and midfield

A link to the full match the last time we played Celtic. Was lucky enough to be there. 
 

2 minutes ago, neophox said:

We have a much sought after 18 year old right back in Jay Haddow signing a pro deal. Japan under 18 international. Have anyone seen this guy play? Forest and some other teams wanted to sign him this summer.

That’s great but another youngster who hopefully will make the first team in the near future. Unfortunately we lack quality experienced pro’s who can hit the ground running and maybe one or two who can hit the opposition too. Our squad is very lightweight

Will be very interesting to see what kind of influence JDT will have on players such as Gallagher, Markanday and Butterworth. Plus any new striker, assuming of course that Brereton will be sold. 

2 minutes ago, Mr. E said:

I have no earthly clue how people who dismiss our own former players as managers think it would be somehow much more acceptable or adequate if we get Duncan Ferguson, who has a grand total of 0 managerial experience. The idea that being an assistant to quality managers for a few years somehow means you will have managerial talent yourself may make some sense on paper, but that is absolutely not how it works in real life. It would be a complete blind flip of the coin if he will turn out to be a decent manager or not. 

So how do assistant managers get to be managers? They get there because they have the knowledge and skills required. They have usually picked up experience as a No 2 to a highly respected manager who can recommend them if required. For example Carlos Corberan at Huddersfield was previously No 2 to Bielsa at Leeds. Huddersfield clearly thought he was good enough and gave him a chance which nearly paid off. Apparently he kept in touch with Bielsa who no doubt gave him good advice.

Giles isn’t our player.

We definitely need to strengthen in all areas. Brereton would need replacing and the midfield is light. 

8 hours ago, speedies gonna get ya. said:

I don't claim to be ITK at all however I do know a few people within football and sports media. I have heard Jonathan Woodgates name mentioned by 2 people independently of each other. 

Hope it's just agent lead without real substance.

We need a replacement for Van Hecke! 

Rankin Costello will surely play

is Markanday still injured?