4 hours ago, doctorryan said:

The sad thing is if JDT had been willing to apply this type of setup & game plan on occasion (depending on various circumstances) instead of always going "Banzai!" we might be worried about top 6 & not this crap we're dealing with.

Totally agree on this. Leeds smashed us at home earlier this season as we gave them so much room. Total opposite today 

Think off the back of this Eustace has already beaten JDTs record against top six sides? I dont think JDT won a game against the top six? Could be wrong though.

Thought we were tactically and performance wise very very good today, and showed some decent offensive quality in the second half.  I feared the worst when we went 343 to start, but it worked superbly.

6 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

What the fuck are these tactics supposed to be?

Fair enough putting men behind the ball but there is absolutely nobody up front to release possession to. So basic and we can't do it.

Time wasting from the kick off, absolutely ridiculous. Leeds are a pretty average side here and if we'd have done some absolute basic tactics and set up properly we could well have scored here.

Honestly the shittest Rovers team I have ever seen.

I think to be honest the tactics have been pretty good and worked well. The issue has been on the half dozen good break opportunities we have had we've missed simple passes in the final third.

Well we have gone 352 which I don't think is a good idea, and Hyam has kept his place. But at least McFadz is not starting. Hyam central rather than him RCB should be better.

How on earth we get hold of the ball centre of the park I have no idea. One or both of Dolan or Szmodics is going to have to really help Tronstad and JRC out.

Regarding the Wednesday game just been listening to Arte et Labore podcast and they mentioned that Wednesday despite their position have had top 10 form over the last 25 (!!!) games while we have relegation form in that period. Its got me absolutely cacking it.

2 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

More injuries ? Suspensions ?

Always a risk but I dont think ive ever heard of anyone rest players for 8 days away.

7 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

It’s a hard one to call. Do you go out with our best eleven ( whoever/whatever that is ) or do you save them for the Sheff Wed game ?  Whoever plays we can’t have a repeat of last nights score line.

I think Arbitro speculated on a 5 at the back line up and I think he may be right. I haven’t got into the frame of mind to watch last nights “ highlights “ no show yet but If what I read is correct Hyam better not be one of them. 

Wednesday is 8 days after so I cant see why we would rest anyone.

8 hours ago, arbitro said:

My fear after last night is that Eustace will go with a back five after last night. Doing that would play into their hands and allow them to overrun us. I would be quite happy to see Hyam and Brittain left out and replaced with Carter and JRC. Bring Garrett into midfield and at least we look more competitive rather than rolling over like last night. 

Agreed with this... While I'm not against three at the back generally I think it has not worked for us at all, mainly as we cant support the front three adequately so we just let the other side come at us over and over and the defence cant cope. We've limited other sides quite well with the back four Bristol City apart so lets just have confidence in that.

Id go

                         Pears

 Brittain.   Carter.   Wharton.   Chrisene

                  JRC.     Tronstad 

      Markanday        Szmodics.    Dolan

                         Gallagher

If we come away with anything it will be incredible.

This is the worst preparation for Leeds, all our defensive confidence up in smoke.

5 minutes ago, RutlandRover said:

Great that's the Sunderland goal difference down the toilet. Fucking hell. This one's on Eustace as much as Hyam - why on earth didn't he haul him off at half time?!

I tend to agree... First half we did okay I thought except two horrendous individual errors which is hard to blame the manager for.

But the half time changes were extremely stupid - both in terms of bringing our best defender off and leaving the one having a horror show on, and the change of shape to a back three which totally evaporated our ability to create chances.

Wow....

Ooof that js really really really bad from Hyam. Worst performance since Duffy I think.

So bizarre he stayed on.

Wharton coming off was weird. But same was Markanday coming off as he seemed like he was doing okay. Moran offering very little.

Well defensively we look more secure but look even worse going forward.

Going three at the back in these circumstances doesn't seem the right call.

We should go back to Four at the back...

4 minutes ago, G Somerset Rover said:

How in Gods name has Hyam stayed on over Wharton?

Thought Wharton was the one defender playing well.... Very bizarre 

Total self destruction. 

Feels like there will be opportunities to get back into the game though.

We're playing a high line so need Carter on for Hyam for a bit more pace. As well as Hyam being a total liability.

46 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

 

Agree that he currently gets in our best team. Sigurdsson has been very disappointing so far, although his best moments suggest he might have more ability than Hedges (Watford goal aside!). Quite different players, admittedly. 

 

He's solid at this level. If he starts 30+ games on the right of a front three he'd probably have a half decent goal return and he'd set up a few. But I don't think there's any particular aspect of his game that I'd say is outstanding, even at Championship level. In fact you'd probably say the best thing about him is that he's well rounded and adaptable enough to do a job in lots of positions. But I think that sums him up, he does a job. 

I think Hedges is one of our few players who I can see stepping up a level like Szmodics and Diaz have in the past. But his injury record is horrendous and he can't settle a run of a games. 

In terms of all round ability he's got a lot going for him - great workrate, strong, a goal threat, reasonable pace. He rarely does less than a 7/10 performance and the odd one better than that. How we get him to play more than half a dozen games in a row is the problem. Similar to JRC in that regard.

On 07/04/2024 at 12:46, Exiled_Rover said:

The performance used to drop off after 20 minutes under JDT.

Games followed a remarkably similar pattern under the Dane - we'd fly out of the blocks for the first 20 minutes, trying to get an early goal and on top in the game. We'd then fade after 70 minutes and hang on for dear life (or watch the game peter out if we weren't in the lead) with no impact subs to bring on. 

Those first 20 minutes for JDT were absolutely crucial - a bit like watching Emerton play for us, you knew within 20 minutes how our (and his) game was going to go. 

Yeah agree with this. I do wonder how successful he will be with Sweden as he does not have the best squad. Relying on scoring the first goal is not going to be something he can count on. Youd think they will need a more pragmatic approach than JDTs to stay in games against better teams.

I think Buckley will continue to play an important role for us. Hes good in a midfield three and can cover right back too. Just suffering at the moment as we effectively play 442 with Szmods up front with Gallagher. Garrett and Travis are both closer the exit door I would say.

Likely both Szmods and Gallagher will leave this summer so the balance of the team could change quite significantly. Could easily end up with JRC, Tronstad and Buckley in a midfield three and more of a proper number 9 leading the line.

2 hours ago, MarkBRFC said:

Game too far I think after the efforts since Good Friday.

No real options to freshen things up will see us lose this 2-0 I reckon.

Couple of things make me more optimistic 

1- Since Eustace has come in we have only conceded two goals twice (Swansea, PNE) limiting very good attacking Ipswich and Southampton sides recently to very few chances.

2- The way we are playing under Eustace is much less energy intensive than JDT. So I expect the performance drop off to be less for a midweek game.

Think we should be targeting another point.

Have to say quite fancy us to get a result at Bristol.

22 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

He's not being asked to do as much. It suits his limited game. 

Thats harsh imo. Won everything in the air, passed the ball well, did great work coming into midfield tracking his marker, had his man beat all game.

I would say hes got quite a rounded game for a Championship defender,  his issue is he makes mistakes (did one today) and lacks recovery pace so needs a solid defence to cover for him.

3 minutes ago, Andy said:

I thought we were really good today - the press was excellent and we looked more of a team than we have in a while.

Plenty of positives: clean sheet / Brittain / defensive positions and tracking back / Tronstad excellent / Dolan good and Markanday impressed.

The negative for me was Gallagher. Works hard and does lots of good work, but he’s the point of failure in attack time after time. He just looks out of place when we attack.

But happy tonight. 4 points from the last 2 is a very good return.

Gallagher won a lot of headers today which he rarely does. Couldnt direct them though.

Not exactly sure what Peter Jackson was smoking up in the directors box when he was dreaming up his MOTM. I wonder if a number 9 has ever won one without having a shot all game!

32 minutes ago, yankfan said:

Best Wharton has played in a while. 

Under Eustace he looks back to his best from a few years back.