This is just about the perfect first 30 mins, goal excepted. We've been defensively superb and created a lot of chances. It's so different from previous years.

Buckley showing why he can do the Rothwell role.

Boro seem to be playing right into our hands. Surely just time till Khadra is through?

Looks like Buckley is pushed up when we press but then drops in. Gallagher on the left where he looks better than right imo. Would still prefer him central.

Agree - hopefully we will be defensively solid but going forward it's going to be all about Buckley and Khadra. Will be interesting whether we play 343 or 352. Sky reckon 343.

Genuinely lol'd

Would have had Davenport in there way ahead of Johnson

6ft 1 winger - just the way Tony likes em! Anyone got a view on whether a good signing or not?

Not so much hold up play but if Gallaghers central in a two at least when it bounces off him there should be some of our players near to him to benefit from it. Also he can just run at them and batter his way through Jason Roberts style. On the right wing the ball bounces off him out of play as often as not, or if he does control it as soon as he tries to pass it he loses it. Most mysterious player continuing player selection in all my time watching Rovers. If we play Buckley false 9 and Gallagher wide right tonight I will be sorely tempted just to turn the TV back off.

Surely we would just pull players out of the 23s to populate the bench? Probable squad - Kaminski; Lenihan, Ayala, Wharton; Nyambe, Travis, Buckly, Rothwell, Edun; Gallagher, Khadra Subs : Pears, Van Hecke, JRC, Johnson, Butterworth. So (assuming Zeefuik and Brown are not ready) probs need 2 from the 23s to make the 7 - maybe Garrett and McBride? Or could pull in Chapman?

Khadra and Rothwell have looked like scoring recently. More worried about the wing backs. That's where the game will be won or lost imo.

I don't dispute your point, but Nyambe just seems a very one sided player. I think he would just end up being very easy to turn and get on the outside by the opposition winger. I'm sure we will probably persist with Edun, unless either of the new right backs can cover left back. I would really prioritise signing a left back, we are absolutely desperate. Or failing that maybe just promote a kid to have a go (Cirino?). Emergency promotions like that have turned out pretty well for us in the past - Travis, Wharton, Raya etc. I agree Edun is doing the best he can but he's not a left wing back. To easily beat in the air, drifts out of position and gets caught out for pace and agression in the tackle. We're not getting enough from him offensively or defensively.

Yes - but Nyambe is incredibly right sided. It's hard to visualise him at left full back.

I really really rated him. Big, strong, technically proficient, can lead the line centrally. Everything we don't have . Also very solid goal scoring record (25 in 60 games for Reading). As long as we didn't need to break our financial structure it would make sense to me. But there's the rub - how do we get him for acceptable money? He's now a proven Championship scorer so sure Reading would want £££s. Transfermarkt has him down at around £5m currently, and his contract through to 2023, and there's no real reason to doubt that assessment. And if Reading wanted to keep him they would be after a lot more than £5m to let go. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-joao/profil/spieler/234787

Reckon it will be the team, the only real decision is whether Buckley is a false 9 or in midfield. Ayala coming back in after Van Hecke was owned by Hulls number 9 is pretty nailed on. Though not sure how much Ayala's less accomplished passing and lack of pace will be.

My hope is in a two up top he will be better.

I would say the sky pundits nailed it on Wednesday. We need to drop a forward into midfield and play 352 rather than 343. Wilder will copy Hull for sure. So team for me Kaminski Lenihan. Ayala. Wharton Nyambe. Buckley. Travis Rothwell. Edun Gallagher. Khadra We can transition to a 343 later if sensible.

It's a system that has served us brilliantly. Changing it would have been mad. Everyone on here would have the pitchforks out.

For what it's worth I thought we were on balance the better team up until the subs. We created more and limited Hull to a few chances. Eaves was doing well but we looked in control outside of him. Two ludicrous decisions against us. Post subs we were utterly utterly terrible. We were lucky they didn't score a couple more. For me we need to stick with the system, not mess around too much. I do really really struggle with what we do with Gallagher. He was atrocious on the right, better on the left, but surely should be playing through the middle if at all. Like others have mentioned as BBD is going to Chile I worry about what will happen.

Terrible subs. Ayala to handle Eaves makes sense. Otherwise Johnson has ruined our shape and Dilan anonymous.

Why did we bring Buckley off for Johnson? Madness.

That's the worst bit of foul play I've seen in a while. Can McCloughlin be retrospectively penalised?

Pickering is the biggest miss for me.

Poor half for us , but we still created far more chances and limited Hull. Very impressed with Eaves. If they had better around him they could hurt us more. Gallagher looked a bit better on the left when he was moved at the end of the half. For me I guess we just keep trucking and the chances will come. I would look to take Gallagher off for Markanday or bring on Davenport and push Buckley back into false 9.

Wonder if we will see Markanday today? Feels like he might get on.