DavidMailsTightPerm

The way reactions on here go from one extreme to the other - usually depending on result rather than performance has led me to one conclusion. TM needs to adopt a tag line of "Get Promotion Done" and the vast majority of fans on the forum will fall into line ?

If that was their plan - it would have rebounded on them big style if we had taken our chances. We could have been 1 up before they scored.

Amazing we ended up these stats after passing it around the defence all night. Personally I thought we played well - except when it really counted. Armstrong should have had a hat trick, Lenihan and Ayala should have both scored. Ultimately it was like the Bournemouth match - where we played well, but the extra quality in the final third (that only Premiership money can buy) undid us.

Not certain how Gallagher would make the 11 - surely Dolan or Elliott ?

Personally never seen him play - whats is he like as a player - quick, tricky, goal scorer, good decision making etc ?

This season (more than any) we can't blame the absence of players as an excuse. IMO Mowbrays excuses post match were poor - at the end of the day he should be prepared for various eventualities.

I would agree that the match had 0-0 written all over it. However, the general team performance was poor - with a number of players looking off the pace. Tactically - when we saw that Forest had bottled up the game - I would have played Gallagher centrally - with Armstrong just behind. Whichever way you look at it - we struggle against the better defensive teams. We have played three half decent teams in the league - and have one point to show for our efforts. I would agree we deserved more from those three matches - but we need to find a way of beating these teams or mid-table beckons again

Hitting in the break ? They consistently had 10 players behind the ball - don't get me wrong as an away performance was good - just didn't think they deserved to win.

Not a good performance - but unlucky to lose to an ultra defensive forest. We missed Rothwell drive from midfield and seemed to play far too many long balls. Doran - is he a flash in the pan? Poor today. I am probably alone but thought BB did ok with limited opportunities to shine. Johnson - think he was playing for Forest as he seemed to find their players more frequently than our own. Armstrong hasn't played well for a few matches now. Think we were undone tactically - timing is everything - pre Houghton we would have won.

What - you sat on your own ?

Amazing how peoples opinions change - not certain why so many think this is a drastically weakened team. Same front three, same back four - other than Williams replaced with Ayala (which many would consider an improvement). In midfield we are missing Holtby and Rothwell - replaced by an international and an up and coming midfield player. We may miss Rothwells pace - but Evans coming in should hopefully provide a bit more protection for Buckley. COYB

I agree about Dolan - but with so many mid week games, it would be difficult to keep fitness levels up. Though I don't normally like it - rotation will be important this season.

For those in the know - Douglas or Manning - which is the better deal ?

Think you are being a tad optimistic. Signs are good - but it is very early days. Covid brings in a huge complication for this season - where key players could be missing - and it will all be a question of timing. We already have a number of players with long term injuries - with Bennett a big one in terms of cover for a number of positions.

How many players with Covid do we need to call off a match ? At some point during the season there is going to be at least one club that can't play a significant number of players due to covid or isolating.

Wide forward rather than winger ?. It will be horses for courses - which I have no problem with. I would prefer our current forward 3 - but over the course of a season we have be able to mix it up. There will also be matches where someone like Dolan might be best against a tiring defence. Personally I can see Dack playing in the so called false 9 position - hopefully our amended style of play will mean it works this time.

Which United?

Though I think the price increase was more about equality - as ticket holders would be spread the ground to make best use of space given bubbles and social distancing rules - I think the club could have been more imaginative in their pricing approach (ie compensate those in the posh seats if they end up in a cheaper seat, rather than effectively penalise those in cheaper seats). However - if you think of it logically - there will be very few matches (if any) with spectators this season. Therefore your refund towards next seasons ticket (ie the difference between avg mat h ticket price and ifollow cost) is actually greater than it would have been - so you could actually end up (comparatively) better off ?

I think it is in a Rovers fans DNA to fear the worst. What gives me hope - we have won 3, lost 2 in all competitions - but in the two we lost we actually played well. Confidence is a huge thing in football - years ago under Kendall confidence and momentum nearly got us promoted in successive seasons. Let's hope we have the start of the same momentum.

Think that was more about Chapman - who I thought (cross for Armstrong apart,) looked poor

A game in which we were looking second best turned on its head by 4 minutes of incisive play - after which it was plain sailing and a question of how many we would score. Confidence is a huge thing in football - so let's hope this continues ?

Can somebody point me to the transfer thread ?

Unless we are keeping Williams - still need cover at Centre Back - also need decent back up keeper.

May not be the clubs decision - look at Shearer. Difficult to deny a player a shot at the Premiership - all we can do is get the biggest transfer possible.

Or preparing the fan base for the sale of one of our star players. Other alternative is that it is a message to other clubs, agents and players to be more realistic.