It's just not part of our DNA though. We just don't like to play direct at all. Generally despite it's intricacy there is a real predictability in the way we play and my main concern is this consistency in approach is seen as a virtue, not an issue. We will always play short, play out of the back, play through the middle, play into feet. We can when on form go from front to back quite quickly, but always in a very narrow technical sort of way. Recently we often take 25-30 touches to get in the box with lots of smarts one-twos and stepovers, but then end up not even shooting, while the opposition punt it straight back up take 2 touches and get a shot away or score. You are right Szmodics goal yesterday was a rare piece of direct football from us. The one plus out of yesterday was that Telalovic did look more of a handful than I expected. Hope he starts again on Monday to see more of what he offers.

Well.... I have been a big fan of JDT. For four reasons really - 1) he seems like a genuinely nice bloke well respected by everyone, 2) he sets up to play very very attacking attractive technical football which when it works is a total joy, 3) he gets a lot out of players, particularly young ones, who have performed until recently better than we would expect 4) there was a sense that he was in control of our performances and slowly improving the team, and had a bit of nous about him. While 1) and 2) are still true 3) I think has gone into reverse where players we know are good are performing well below their level, and 4) any sense of control seems to have gone out the window completely. Defensively we have been absolutely shambolic. Unless you have parachute money you are not getting out of the Championship through passing possession football. You will get out through being organised and hard to beat, and having a cutting edge. If you can do that while playing an attractive style - great. But if you can't defend then you are going nowhere. The priority always has to be defensive solidarity. What frustrates me is everyone knows the fixture list before the season starts. Everyone can see that the number of games in December is incredibly intense. Everyone also knows how small the squad is. And that's before we had the ever growing injury list since October, and the experience of huge losses on the road since Sheffield Wednesday. That we don't have a clear idea how to batten down the hatches and grind out results and stem the flow of goals is totally unacceptable. I accept we have an issue up front with no proven strikers. But our midfield and defence are both decent by championship standards. We are performing well below expectation in my view. Should we sack him? No, not unless we look genuinely relegation threatened. But that could only be a month or two away if our results continue. And I think we should be thinking about who our next manager will be as unless we have a major upturn I doubt JDT will be here next season.

We've had good defenders available, or at least defenders who were previously good . The primary issue for me is not the defenders, it's the tactics that leave them exposed.

Id say we have the ability, we have shown it in other games, but you need to pick your moments. We've got a huge amount of injuries and shipping goals left right and centre. We should probably prioritise defensive solidarity over offensive style, be a bit more direct etc. JDTs lack of practicality is what scares me. To still be playing this way after the run weve been on is just mad.

Referees been poor, but the way we play we leave the defence so exposed. When your playing well then great. But if you are shipping 2, 3, 4 goals game after game but you play the same open style then the cards and chances conceded are down to the manager.

If you can't defend you are not going anywhere as a club or a manager. Think we have to figure out how to be solid. If JDT is not interested in that then we need a change unfortunately. This is ridiculous.

I agree but dont think he will do it though, never seen a manager at Rovers so invested in one particular style for better or worse. We need a win in the next two games, or I think panic really may start to set in

What's going to be fascinating is that we have two more games in short order. Most managers, including Mowbray, in this sort of death spiral would drop the posession, passing etc, and just get compact and make it difficult for the opposition. I reckon JDT might just stick to his guns, and then what do we do if we get two more losses?

Yeah agreed, while all our players have weaknesses so does every Championship team. Its a reasonable squad in every position except striker and gk. These huge defeats full of soft gaols we are going down to are utterly unacceptable.

If he does I dont think he will be looking at many offers. Hes absolutely shredding his own reputation at the moment. Our goal conceded record is mad, who would take that on?

Its interesting watching us commit so many players forward when the games gone and we concede a gilt edge chance on the break every time. Sort of suicidal

To be honest squad wise I dont think we are particularly stronger or weaker than last few years. Weve had a ridiculous number of injuries but I wonder how much that comes from the style we play. For me I think ultimately we are pursuing a style we can't sustain week after week. Mowbray had the same thing. Its high risk high reward, and when its going against us the wheels come off.

When you boil it down we take so many touches of the ball to craft a chance, for the opposition just a long punt down field can open us up. I admire JDTs philosophy but equally you have to live in the real world. In terms of second half get Garrett and Travis on, go back go the diamond thing, see what happens. Dont think we have many other cards to play.

Back to 4231. I quite liked the diamond thing. Wonder if we'll see Travis and Garrett come on later in the game and we'll revert to it? Anyway good team selection today. Looking forward to see how Ennis and Szmodics work together.

Feel like we will get a result. I think Id play the same team and setup, just swapping Moran for Szmodics. Thought it looked very good for most of the game. What we need is a plan for around 65 mins when we run out of steam. I think Id try and keep Hyam on and bring Hill on as a second DM to sweep up in front of defence and avoid the running clean through we saw. If we had Gallagher to come on for Ennis and keep the press for the last quarter that would really help too.

To me looks very similar to Brereton - when hes off it hes a total passenger. When hes on it he scores goals and looks a class above. My working assumption is every now and again he'll go on a run where he'll look a premier league player then go off the boil again. One to coax into some real form and sell at his peak.

Yeah agreed. Quite looking forward to seeing how he links up with Szmodics. Reckon they could compliment each other quite well.

I thought last night was a pretty good tactical evolution imo with the diamond, very different to how we have played recently, and you could see Watford couldn't get to grips with it at all. We were very compact and solid. So feels like a step in the right direction. What we shouldn't have done imo is once Ennis and Hyam went off kept committing so many players forward. Watfords goals and series of chances in the final quarter from the ganecame from them breaking on us and our midfield being out on its legs so couldnt track back. JDT and coaching teams homework is to figure out how to tighten up and see out games . I guess the key issue is without pace up front sitting back means we cant get out. But equally we cant be as open as we were in the last quarter of games when we are dead on our feet.

I actually thought we did have two up top today - we played a diamond 442 I think with Sigurdsson alongside Ennis as forwards, with Moran the tip of the diamond in behind. In terms of getting into goal scoring positions it worked very well... But often we would have multiple touches close to or inside the opposition box but not actually get a shot away and then lose the ball.... We need someone who will just take the shot on.

He won the ball several times off two centre halves and laid the ball off. When he went off Leonard just couldnt do anything like that. We need a proven striker desperately, but my guess is Ennis will start the games when fit until Gallagher gets back.

I thought Ennis did well personally? I thought our control on the game started to slip once he went off as we couldn't hold onto the ball up front.

All those things I agree with but no club a step up from us is going to take him based on his stats over the last 12 months. While he does a lot of things well theres a lot of room for improvement. Closing out games is obviously one of them.

I dont think given his record im 2023 he will... I like JDT but his career is sinking with his ship at the moment. Thought we were tactically very well setup today, new diamond formation and we controlled the game till we tired towards the end. But once you get to 80 mins ahead you have to see it out. Why didnt we batten down the hatches?

Ended up were playing a diamond with Travis left back, and Ennis and Sigurdsson up fronti. Its looked pretty good tbh. Dont think Ive seen us play a diamond since Souness?

Prerty mad selection, I think it must be 343 with Travis and Garrett playing wing backs? Leo Carter. Hyam. S Wharton Travis. Tronstad. Wharton. Garrett Moran. Ennis. Sigurdsson