Dack to start today in my opinion.

I've seen him play three 1st team matches and I've seen him in around ten youth matches. On every occasion he appears calm, unhurried and fairly effortless. He is a difficult one to assess. I genuinely can't decide if he is a sensation, or if he has never truly been tested by a good striker. I am looking forward to see him compete against a streetwise, Danny Graham type centre forward.

Would it be a little premature of me to respectfully suggest that you might want to think about changing your username? Enviousclaret perhaps? 😁

That's tremendous. I love our bench for this!

I can see Pickering making way for Edun before too long. If he picks Edun at left back in the cup match and Edun performs, it might give him an interesting decision to make in the near future.

I love the idea of a tactical genius pulling the strings behind the front of house man. Think Taylor to Clough, Paisley to Shankley and Harford to Kenny. When did we last have genuine know how and quality in that role?

Thank you for posting that. Very interesting to listen to a manager so wedded to his principles that he can't see the wood for the trees. It reminded me of Mowbray who frequently doubled down trenchantly on his preferred style of play and stubbornly refused to change direction, adamantly persisting with his intransigent approach in the midst of an almost unprecedented run of disastrous results. Martin talks about watching us against Qpr and expecting us to play a certain way. He is then surprised when we adopt a totally different approach and he finds himself unable, or unwilling (remind you of anyone) to do anything about it. Clearly, what we now have in JDT, is a manager cut from a very different cloth to our previous incumbent. A manager who does his homework, sets out a plan and ruthlessly goes about his task. We have seen two very different tactical approaches in two matches. This unpredictability will cause uncertainty when future opponents assess us. We are no longer one dimensional or easy to pick off. Our manager looks to have a cold blooded steeliness about him. He is intense, tactically savvy and focused. Past reputations count for nothing. He has taken a player I have been unsure about (Travis) given him a sense of responsibility and unlocked a talent previously only hinted at. Look at his overlapping run leading to his goal in the latter stages of an energy sapping game in which he tore around the field largely out of possession. It just shows the difference between a true motivator of men and a man scarred by past failures, playing it safe and shackling his team's talent and thrust. Travis would run through brick walls for Tomasson. With additions to the squad (for me a left back, centre half and goal poacher) we could be an absolute force to be reckoned with. Next Saturday against a tougher opponent will give us a real insight into our potential for the season. I can't wait!

It looks like Fat Frank is now deserving of his nickname

Twas I who compared him to Andrews. I was being a little tongue in cheek due to him pointing a lot. It certainly wasn't meant as any kind of critical assessment of the lad. In truth I would describe him as being similar to a late era Dack. Quiet but good in flashes and popped up with a goal slotted in after a late run into the box More to come from him I think.

That was another tremendous strike by Travis. Reminded me very much of the way Shearer hit the ball for his second goal against Holland in Euro 96

One heck of a sweaty gussett

This tactical move by jdt is fairly damning for the future of Pickering at full back I would've thought. Effectively now playing with 2 players at left back to protect his fragility.

Very early days of course but we don't look leaky at the back so far this season. We must be channelling our inner Howard Kendal.

Hedges did well eventually but nearly messed it up with his desire to get the ball on his left foot

Szmodics looks very accomplished... at Keith Andrews type pointing

Yes, Dack has been making a difference in tight spaces for many years now.

Me too. I think on balance I would like my number 9 to have a shot on target occasionally, and take things from there. Based on my visual data, of course😁 Maybe I'm old fashioned in that regard.

Yes, came as a 16 year old. Ojf1 was being humorous, remembering that Garner was married, a homeowner and 1st team player at age 18, combined with a healthy love of beer and ciggies

From memory, Garner made his debut early in the '78/'79 season whilst still aged 18. He was lined up to play some 18 months or so earlier towards the end of the '76/'77 season whilst aged only 17 but that didn't come off for some reason. I think the current system slows down young players' development between age 18 and 21. Previously on completion of an apprenticeship at 18 they were in the reserves or first team squad or shipped out. Nowadays we think of, for example, defender Sam Barnes -aged 21, as a youth player but he has been here for 5 years now with a very cautious and slow development prior to being anywhere near 1st team ready.

I suspect Dack is proving why he isn't in the starting line-up in training every day, sadly.

Oh I think our Coyle era back 5 could give them a run for their money Steele Lowe Greer Ward Henley 😁

Totally agree. It will be interesting to see if attendances achieve sustainable growth or just a temporary spike over the coming season. As all of us know, physically attending football matches requires a real commitment, and whilst the interest of the nation has been piqued, its another thing entirely to turn these casual observers into actual boots on the ground attendees.

Whereas Pickering...

Personally speaking, if I was a woman playing for Rovers I might feel a little patronised at the thought that a section of the support from the men's game was offered the chance to watch free of charge. I'm not sure that equality is well served there. England have done brilliantly; if folk want to watch their local team on the back of that support then great but the game shouldn't be propped up. I am a supporter of Rovers ladies and enjoyed watching England. There has been so much support, financial and otherwise recently, the women's game should stand or fall on its own merits and, ultimately, it will.

Kaminski Brittain Ayala Wharton Edun Buckley Travis Morton Szmodics Gallagher Brereton My team, not JDT 's