Hasta

England Major tournament squads Number 6 a who’s who of English centre halves. Not a midfielder in sight.

This again. Historically in the uk 5and 6 have always been centre halves. Even now, in the Premier League looking at squad numbers, there are 10 centre backs at number 6 with another 3 sides not utilising that number. Gabriel, Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi, James Tarkowski, Luke Woolfenden, Ake, Martinez, Lascalles, Harwood-Bellis, Dragusin, Bobby Moore wore 6 in the World Cup final. Wikipedia states 6 as a centre back. However on the continent 6 was more often a defensive midfielder and thus is now creeping into the UK. But thankfully most Premier League sides still follow the traditional UK method of 6 being a defender.

Hmm. We got better in the second half with each sub, and then from 75 mins onwards looked the more likely to score. But they still had far more chances than we had in that half. Stats don’t always tell the full picture, but in that second half Plymouth still had double the number of shots off target and on target that we had. If we’d got a point it would have been a steal, something which even the commentators on Rovers TV were saying.

Problem is Chaddy you are on the opposite extreme from those saying we should soon be looking for a new manager. No we shouldn’t be looking for a new manager yet. JE needs time. Most managers don’t have a large turnover of players and know their best formation and 11 straight away, and that’s what JE is figuring out. Likewise talk of a new contract after 5 games was just laughable.

It’s hard to judge. After a promising August he then looked awful at Coventry and Plymouth. But so did every player who started those games and those who came on at Coventry (which the exception of ACD). It’s a bit unfair to dig him out from two games where the majority who played were awful. I saw enough in those first few games to hope he should be more useful than Gally was for the last couple of years

Nonsense

I get that, but you said “some of the stick Eustace is getting is way over the top”. I can see a lot of surely valid criticism of him trusting the same players who threw a stinker of a performance in at Coventry. But getting “stick” which is “way over the top” hasn’t happened on here since full time, unless you’ve got some examples I’m missing.

Examples? Since FT I can see one post that’s harsh on him. Plenty of fair criticism over these two performances in isolation.

Frustrating that he looks better as an impact sub than a starter.

I have no idea if Baker is better, but after Coventry I’d have given him a chance.

Having said that we got what we deserved. After Coventry how Dolan started infront of Cantwell and ACD didn’t start god only knows. The Carter RB experiment is now surely consigned to the bin.

That reminded me of games under Mowbray when we were unable to deal with generic high balls in the box at the end of games with the likes of Lenihan at the back. The collapse at Leeds in injury time being the ultimate example. Pickering needs to be tighter to the crosser and then someone should be at least close to winning that ball in in the 97th minute.

So put JRC or Duru at RB.

Err, I know. That’s why I said WTF are we playing a centre back at RB.

Why the fuck are we playing a centre half at right back again. Carter backs off 15 yards then gets nowhere near cutting out the cross.

So there is more chance of us not winning than winning.

I’m sure when they bought their season tickets for Fortress Turd, two scabby draws in their two derbies wasn’t what they were expecting.

Preston win 1-0 with a last minute clearly offside goal. Parker goes ballistic and bites Heckingbottom’s nose off.

Well he hasn't played since May and won't have had a pre-season, so using the logic most of our fans have with Todd Cantwell he won't be fit until well into November. However let's see.....

I thought Travis was leggy midweek. I'd go as follows although if Dolan / ACD was a tough call. Toth Brittain. Carter Batth Pickering Baker Tronstad ACD Cantwell Hedges Gueye

I always found with Gallagher you knew within about 10 minutes if he was going to get the better of the centre halves. Usually it was a resounding no, but there were games (Usually Preston away) where he caused them trouble immediately and was a pain all game. It was just they were few and far between. Honest player on the pitch. Met him a couple of times. Nice lad. Good with the fans, especially the youngsters. Genuinely hope he does well. Glad he’s gone.

Exactly. A new contract after 6 months is crazy talk. Eustace reign so far has had good points and bad points. I was hoping that shocking away capitulations like last night were resigned to the Mowbray and JDT era's but it seems not. However it's still been a good start points-wise. Let's hope he can change personnel and shape to solve the away form. JDT would have just gone out and said "Stick to the plan, same again lads". I think JE is a bit more flexible.

Agree. I thought at the start of the week 3 points from these 2 games would be a good return. That's still on. It's just the performance was diabolical. Think "Bristol City away" from last year bad.

Looking like being the BRFCS man of the match.