joey_big_nose

Watching the West Ham game a few things struck me 1 - how ludicrous it was on the face of it for a rag tag squad of very young defenders (if you can even call Edun and JRC defenders) who had never played together as back a four to try and pass it out of the back against a very good, very physical, very athletic Premier League team. 2 - despite this madness how we kept on doing it all game, even when we gave it away cheaply a couple of times 3 - how it sort of.... worked. West Ham came onto us, and that meant we could find the balls into the channels and through the middle Maybe we got away with it because West Ham didn't take us seriously enough to properly press us? But on the whole really impressed how calm and confident we were passing out. As we have gone away to a team on paper so much better than us, I think it's safe to say we will continue in the same vein in the Championship, so we are going to have to get used to it. It does look like we are getting better at it.

I wouldn't read into the comments too much... if you could look at the threads when Souness, Mark Hughes or Sam Allardyce had us up in the top six of the Premier League the commentary is much the same... the negativity always outweighs the praise, but thats how it is on any fan board. Usually takes a while to get sufficient perspective on whoevers in charge. If we translate JDT's reign so far into simple factual bullets may be a bit more enlightening Pros We're second in the Championship We just beat a good Premier League team in the League cup in West Ham who played a strong team We've got the second youngest team in the division We've relatively little money on new players (compared to other teams at the top of the Championship) When we go ahead in a game we never lose We have the fourth lowest goals conceded in the league Cons When we go behind in the league we never come back Despite our lofty position we only have the eight highest goal tally... but that's not that bad? Um.... nothing else factual really. A lot of opinion about style of play... we've had some abject performances (Reading, Coventry), but also some spectacular ones (Blackpool, Watford) It's fair to say he has started fantastically well, and if he continues in this vein he's pretty much on course to be one of the greatest managerial appointments in Rovers' history. But we are only under half the season through, and spectacular drop offs after Christmas is something we have seen before, so I think it would be wise to wait till the end of the season until we can really make a balanced judgement! But we're enjoying the ride - welcome aboard! 🙂

I like Mola, reckon he will deputise for Scott Wharton next time hes out. Edun also lioks like he deserves a crack at left wing back if Pickering becomes unavailable. Its really an extraordinary set of young players we have.

And that we already have players who can pass the ball. Thought Buckley and Wharton did really well against West Ham. Dont think really we missed Travis. Garrett came on and was good. I think we have more than enough CMs personally and they have more than shown they have the quality. Im not keen to find the next experienced Bradley Johnson or Corey Evans to keep Wharton, Garrett and Buckley out of the team

Yeah I tend to agree, England have really lost their way in the last year or so. Not looked convincing in any game. Weve got some good players but you dont look at it and think we are competitve with the best. Kane and maybe Bellingham are the only two other top nations would really want. But.... Could have said that in 2018 or 2021, so we can't write us off at all.

Is this game being shown in any territories on iFollow?

Hedges will be expected to do the work of two men in that lineup... Joking aside part of me would love us to play like this. But realistically I don't think we can really do the 433 gegenpressing thing generally, let alone against one of the strongest teams in the division. If you do it well it's great. If you do it bad it's suicide.

It's going to be a reserve XI. And to be fair that's hardly new - we've played the second string every game of the competition so far, and they've performed really well. I think we will probably perform better than expected but still go out. Pears Phillips Carter Mola Brittain Buckley Garrett Edun Dack Markanday Vale

Pickering has had a really good run of games, and Brittain really struggled a LWB against Coventry. So assuming everyones fit I would assume Pickering will be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Yeah... obviously not a short term thing to introduce, but we need someone who can get the opposition turning around. When Vale, Dolan, Szmodics or HIrst are up there once Gallagher is off they end up neither holding the ball up or threatening in behind. Maybe Markanday could get them worried that he can break away, a bit like Armstrong used to. But I've got no real idea if he can do that?

Yeah, I don't like to think what will happen when Gallagher goes off. We've got no effective plan for that at all. If we're sitting deep and hitting it long Dolan, Vale, Szmodics are just not going to worry them. I do wonder if giving Markanday a run as a genuine pace outlet could be a smart thing to work into a our game plan.

Broadly agree. Back 5 should be pretty straightforward (though I do wonder if JDT will fancy putting Hedges at RWB?) Front 2 absolutely nailed down. Midfield 3.... hmmm. Lots of options, not really sure who it will be. Morton always plays. But the other two spots there is a real argument for. Two places up for grabs and could be any of Adam Wharton, Travis, Szmodics, Hedges. Wouldn't be that surprised given the curve balls is Garrett made an appearance. I think if I had to guess now what JDT will go for : Kaminski Hyam Ayala S.Wharton Hedges Pickering Travis Morton A Wharton Gallagher Brereton-Diaz Hedges one on one defending at RWB has been very good. He's a big physicals presence too. So I can see JDT going for it. Adam Wharton has been brilliant, will probably not play Wednesday, so will have had 10 days rest so think he will start.

Yeah, they basically didnt get a sniff at all until Gallagher came off, and wed fashioned 4 or 5 good chances and scored a goal. Not 1970 Brazil obviously but thats got to constitute a good day at the office? Last 30 mins was much more fraught as we sat very deep and had no outball. But to be fair Brereton still got clean through twice and should have scored. I do wonder what it takes to make give our team credit?

Didnt think we played well but defo deserved the win for me. Need to find someone who can step in for Gallagher though. Soon as he went off we lost control of the game.

Not loving Brittain up front on his own. Why not move Diaz central?

Cant complain too much as we are winning and totally dominant. But... Szmodics is.playing right of the last man alongside Gally and Diaz. The space is in the hole. Really feels an ideal game for Dack. Hope we see him for a fair bit.

Can't argue that Scotts had a couple of bad games, but then again the two Wharton's have really helped moving to ball forward with their left feet. Ayala and Travis in instead will move the ball a lot slower and are predisposed to play inside rather than along the left. Could be a bit of an issue.

Looks like 4231. Will be interesting where Szmodics and Hedges play. Probs Hedges right Szmodics at 10 but could be the other way round. Disappointing for Buckley he can't make the bench. If Travis struggles Id have preferred him to be available over Garrett. Main worry is if we revert to pushing all the forwards up and create the big gap between midfield and attack we suffered from a couple of months back. Want to see whoevers at 10 dropping in to make a three like we did so well against Hull. Walked in to pub to see Burnley tubbed 5-2. Lovely!

The only real priority is a striker. You could argue we could sign two central strikers really, as we only have Gallagher who is (sort of) a number 9. Everywhere else if we sign more players we are only blocking decent young prospects we already have. Even in the midfield enforcer role if we could sign someone who was real proven promotion quality great - but if we aren't going to sign someone like that (and surely it is very unlikely we will spend enough to get guaranteed quality) so instead get a Corry Evans, Bradley Johnson etc I would rather see more of the likes of Garrett, Buckley and Edun get games tbh. Left back we have already signed Mola who hasn't really had a sniff. Can't see us bringing another one in. Only other position I'd maybe go for is backup GK as we know Pears is absolutely awful. Finding a good backup GK very difficult though.

Id agree but Morton and Wharton looked physical enough against Hull who are a physical side. We know Buckley can put his foot in tok. Im not sure keeping Travis in really makes sense at the moment. Hes not performing that well, and all the other midfielders are better technically which helps a lot with the quicker movement of the ball JDT wants. Give him a rest and bring him on if needed is my view...

Going to this one... Team for me Kaminski Brittain. Haym. Wharton. Pickering Morton. A Wharton Szmodics. Dack. Brereton Gallagher If Gallagher doesn't make it give Markanday a go on the left and Diaz up top. If Adam Wharton's shattered give Buckley a go.

If thats the case give Dack a start. He deserves a crack ahead of Vale and Hirst

Interestingly Huddersfield over last 5 games have used 4231 twice and 352 three times with pretty mixed results. Don't think we can really go into with an expectation on how they will play. After the horror show last night I would say we should go into this one reverting back to the setup for the Hull game, just with Brittain at right back. Same formation, same personnel. If Adam Wharton's shattered then let's bring in Buckley for him. Let Travis have a rest, we can always bring him on. Key thing is having Gallagher back up front. And if things are not going well we shouldn't be shy to get Dack on early. Want to see a big reaction.

I can see why JDT chose the team - presumably Gallagher and Pickering were exhausted so he was bringing in other players. It didn't work, that happens... but surely once you know it's not working you have to act much much quicker to change things? That's what's really inexcusable to me. Why did we sit on our hands till 80 minutes?

Only caught the second half. Was really surprised we didnt change up much earlier. Could have made those changes at 60 mins rather than 80. When we did we looked dangerous until Garretts completely unfair red. Confused by the decision to leave Pickering out. And Hirst was absolutely atrocious.... Missed Gallagher hugely.