joey_big_nose

Were you at the game? If so what would you say was different about how he played?

Would have loved to make this one but moving house, so will content myself with the online services while packing and unpacking the boxes. Stoke always a good measure of where we are... previous Prem club fallen on middling times, some quality in their squad. Always like to mix it up and be physical. Game you want to win at home but happy if you get a point away. Probably could say that about quite a few teams in the Championship, but Stoke always sticks out to me as a bit of a bell weather... They're right near the bottom at the moment, but it's hard to form much judgement at this early stage. After the first five league games, and two cup ties, you would have to say we should be pleased. I'm sure the Potters are looking on enviously. One point off top, played some decent football, a great set of academy players coming through, new manager who is only just getting to grips with things but has galvanised the team, through to the third round of League cup. Buuuut..... not to sound too pessimistic, there is a suspicion that Reading and Sheff Utd have figured us out (as always happens very quickly in the Championship...) - that physical sides who are direct and press us are going to be able to hurt our young and defensively ragged team. This could turn into a pattern. So... what to expect from Rovers? I would say after not just being beaten by Reading and Sheff Utd - we were soundly thrashed by both - we have to change things. It's clear from both those games expecting Travis and Buckley to hold the midfield on their own is not fair. Nor did trying to play three at the back without the right players work. So probably we need to help Trav and Bucko in the middle by sticking Morton in there, play four at the back, and I would say give Dack a start. My view is Dack - although nominally an "attacking midfielder" is actually far more of a striker. Finds space in the box, holds up the ball and links up excellently, maybe not the fastest but very strong and clever, can poach, head, score from distance. Time to make him the the true focal point of our attack. If he is unshackled to be in and around the box you will always get goals. Maybe it's a bit experimental, but probably no worse than Vale, Dolan or Sammie buzzing around but offering little goal threat. If it doesn't work that's why we have subs. Team for me (obviously if S Wharton is fit to start Phillips drops to the bench to accommodate him). Kaminski Britain Phillips Ayala Pickering Travis Morton Gallagher Buckley Brereton Dack Subs : Pears, S Wharton, A Wharton, Edun, Markanday, Hedges, Szmodics

TBH considering he was at Bodo/Glimt for years and must know Gregg personally very well it would not be hard to keep this one quiet.... We are obviously doing some business - we know for certain we are in negotiations for Lode, Sepp and Van Hecke at least. So wheels are turning. Question is can we sign two defenders and a left back, and have someone clearly identified and ready to come if BBD goes.

Well he's got rave reviews from the LT and the Bradford fans, and we are current playing Pickering there when either Phillips or Ayala need to go off. So all he needs to be is better than Pickering....

Well you can say that but in recent history we've often enough looked nothing special and lost to lower league opposition. Win tonight was an achievement given it was all kids except Dack.

Anyone who went to the game think Morton could play CB in the Championship?

Good win. Interested to hear thoughts of those at the game!

Bradford just started slinging it into the box... Probably should have done it all game!

It was linked. We took out a defender to put another body in midfield. We started retaining the ball a lot better. Buckley is the guy we have who can play 10 but can also drop in and be effective winning the ball back. Hedges, Dack, Smodics, Dolan all want to push up higher and leave the central two isolated. Anyway, I'm probably wrong, but reckon we might line up like this against Stoke. Kaminski Britain. Philips. Ayala. Pickering Travis. Morton Gallagher. Buckley. Brereton Dack

We can't just have Travis and Buckley getting overrun each week. Need another body in there. And Buckley excels in dropping back and nicking the ball. When we moved to 4231 against Sheff Utd at half time and put Buckley at 10 we improved a lot.

Could be starting Saturday.... think he could play number 9

Reckon probably we go 4231 with Buckley in the 10 and with Travis alongside one of Wharton / Garrett / Morton. Then ask Buckley to drop in and help out so we don't get outnumbered like Reading and Sheff Utd.

I really didn't expect it. Thought it would be an aerial physical game and we'd lose pretty comfortably. Dack is literally the only established played out there. Really pleased we are doing so well, though it does seem that weirdly Bradford haven't been bombing it at our makeshift centrebacks.

I'm thinking it's pretty certain one of Morton, Garrett or Wharton are going to get a start alongside Buckley and Travis on Saturday I also wonder if JDT will also have a think about starting Morton at the back alongside Ayala if Phillips isn't totally fit.

Are you at the game?

I'm a bit worried about the Mercer family Christmas

TBH sounds like we are doing a bit better than I expected. Good going forward, terrible defending. But we seem to be making more of the chances. Sounds like a fun game.

Sounds like we're totally in charge

I was "abroad"

Is this on iFollow? Match Centre suggests it is (can see the "watch live" button) but I'm not sure?

Yeah, have to agree. Not sure we would have ever had a shorter and lighter front four? Or actually entire side? Things I will be looking out for.... 1) Is Annesley bad as everyone says, 2) can Dack show he can press his way into the first team, 3) how do Morton and Wharton do - probably we need to get one of them into the first team to shore up midfield, so that's an interesting battle. 4) Szmodics, Vale and Dolan have struggled in the first team - can Markanday show he's the guy who can do the "short, tenacious, quick" role with much needed added quality and goal threat. Can't believe we have no centrebacks, and no back up for Travis, yet we have Sammie, Dack, Dolan, Markanday and Vale all vying for the number 10 shirt (and none of them being that convincing in it). Totally mad.

Yes - just to support JDT as much as anything else. It's not fair leaving him hanging out to dry. To be fair to Gregg I wouldn't be suprised if he's finding players and then they don't get signed off by Venkys... But he needs to give an update.

Really agree with this... we have so many number 10s. Why did we sign someone who may be a decent prospect, or someone we can develop, but we have already at least three other players in the same bracket (Buckley, Dolan, Markanday) as well as an experienced proven player (Dack).

Ah forgot he played! Shame on me

Yeah as soon as he started playing first team games we were really in the driving seat on keeping him. No one with a brain (as he obviously has) leaves first team football to play reserve football, especially when the level of reserve football Spurs play is the same as Rovers (PL2 Div1). Even if we sign 2 CBs he is going to get a fair amount of game time over the season.