I think we get at least a point out of Coventry, This is based on: - They must be knackered. A cup semi defeat in such a manner, after extra time, and a midweek game? They'll be done physically and mentally. - Rovers pull out surprising wins when you least expect it, like the Leeds game. We have it in us, and our form has been... okay the last few weeks. (As in not as crummy as it was previously.) Wins against Sunderland and Leeds, a good point vs Southampton, it's not beyond us to put in an ok performance. Personally I think it's a draw and we limp over the finish line. One extra point should be more than enough, and it'll be hailed as an achievement by all involved. All the while the visitors show us what can happen when you get rid of the vermin infesting your club...

I think most people are in agreement with what's needed by and large. Here's my take: In Goal: Ideal Neither keeper is really fit to be a Championship keeper. Pears is poor and might be a league 1 keeper. Wally makes Pears look like Buffon and Kahn rolled into one which is spectacularly impressive in a perverse way given how poor Pears is. Both need shipping out. The Reality Our motto is if it’s broke, don't fix it. Fully expect both keepers to continue on the books costing us with howlers. Defence: Ideal Full backs are weak imo. I really don't rate Britain - very weak defensively and doesn't offer enough going forwards. Pickering I think is an ok, a steady-Eddie, but we could do better. Alarmingly there's little to no cover for either position, especially at LB. A new RB is imperative to me, as is cover for Pickering. I'd ideally like an upgrade, but realistically eve under a fully functioning club that would probably have to wait till summer. Centre back is similar. A better class physical defender I think would really boost our defence. Wharton and Hyam are both fair weather players, who if paired with someone stronger I think would perform better. Again in a summer with a lot to do though, with Carter also on the books, this would not be a priority area but a long term aim. The Reality: We don't believe in filling all positions much less having cover so expect nothing there. Saint Hyam is guaranteed his place even if he throws Pears and the ball into our net (not that Pears needs help on this) whilst mugging a granny. We have a lot of young players whose value could perhaps increase so no one will be brought in to disrupt this. Midfield: Ideal I rather like a JRC, Travis, Trondstadt combo but feel a 4th is needed for when the inevitable injuries and suspensions hit. Someone reliable and steady who could fill out the squad, without necessarily having to be better than the other 3 or eating up too much budget. This would allow Garrett and other midfield prospects to get some much more beneficial time out on loan playing regularly and learning from their mistakes elsewhere. The Reality: The club won’t care whether Travis is any good or not – the fact he’s on a relatively big wage means he’ll be shipped out. We’ll make sure the midfield is swamped with ineffective cover from our youth. And if we don’t have enough youth of our own to do this, we’ll loan in some ineffectual ones from elsewhere, again. Forwards: Ideal In the ideal world we capitalise on Sami’s fantastic form and sell him for a good fee and reinvest the proceeds. He won’t have another season like this one, and we desperately need funds for a massive squad overhaul so he probably needs to be sacrificed. Dolan needs to be sold IF he doesn’t sign a new contract. I think he’s a useful player to have in the squad, but we can’t lose more assets for nothing. Gally needs to be sold regardless of whether he’s inclined to sign a new contract, the wages can be better spend. Telovic (sp?) needs shipping out too. ] I think we were already a forward light so we need to bring in one more than we ship out. Ideally this would be two more, but time and funds are limited. In there would be a winger with some pace, and someone who’s physical and can unsettle defenders up front. Assuming Dolan re-signs that would mean 3 to 4 new attacking players. The reality: Sami will be sold. 1% (I’m being optimistic) will be reinvested into the team and hailed as great reinvestment. Dolan and Gally will run down their contracts and join the alumni of Rovers players we should have got a fee for under Venkys. Any other forwards brought in – there might be one because Ennis went off the books – will be either a wildly overpromoted player from our academy or a substandard youth loaned from elsewhere.

Indeed. That's quite a talent. Mind you under Venkys keepers have generally been an afterthought - Walton, Steele, the other lad who played instead of Raya. And even our better managers TM and JDT (though that's not a hugh bar) made blunders in the keeper area. TM doubted Raya had premier league potential and JDT kept Pears in when Kaminski returned from injury

Yes this is the issue. he's top class 1 in 10, average in 4 of 10 and horrific in 5. You can't have a keeper who is going to cost you goals and games in 50% of your games.

See now you have started to address the points, and give some counter arguments. That isn't unfair or dismissive and they both have some merit. Just saying "nothing then" is. I'd say the errors is evidence as good managers cut it out. And as for the comments, they annoy me more as I want a Rovers manager who tells it as it is, but I can see why it's cause concern regarding his capabilities. Incidentally, we've been doing stupid mistakes all season is hardly a resounding endorsement of Eustace but there we go.

That's really unfair and dismissive. You may look at a wider picture, you can debate and argue why said evidence doesn't matter so much or other stuff outweighs it, but you can't really say nothing when you ask for evidence and are given some. Especially when said evidence is clearly there- ie the errors are happening. What's the point in being on a MB if you completely disregard what others say? Fwiw I'd say the individual errors is a big sign of a poor manager as they seem to be cut out or limited under better managers

Missed this during to childcare. Reading reviews it sounds awful. Pears sums up this team. It's not that he/they can't play well or have a great game. It's just he is far more likely to have an absolute mare. And when you have four times as many mares as good games, the team is going to struggle.

Agreed. Not taking 3 points off them is huge for Brum. In context had Plymouth not done so recently they'd be in the mire. Given how poor Rotherham are and how off the pace its a huge missed opportunity. Hudds v Brum is a 6 pointer and then some. And a draw would probably see both relegated.

Tell you what I give you a load of stick when I think you are wrong but think you are spot on on this one. Incidentally my first football game on the computer (Amiga which shows my age) had a European super league mode. Interestingly no more than 2 teams per league and there were a lot of good European teams who wouldn't get near the CL quarters now - Malmo, Bordeux and Benfica to name three.

If this was back in TMs day then would be all over it. But think he was mooted as a replacement for Mulgrew early on in the "defenders are coming" saga. So it's at least 3 or 4 seasons ago. Since then he has declined somewhat after a couple of nasty injuries.

Let's be honest we are safe. No way are all the clubs below us picking up enough points to overtake us. And thats assuming we get no more points too.

Disagree. Greed made the Premier League a glass ceiling environment. They reap what they sow. Delighted the more predictable 1 team race it becomes.

See that's the issue right there, separate to what you mean (which i agree with btw.) SS has had to replace BB, AA and Rothwell. He's a great player but he isn't three players.

You may be deligjted/indifferent/disappointed to know I made it out of the pub alive. Game of 2 halves for me. First half I thought was very poor. Gave the ball away far too cheaply and offered nothing going forwards. Second half Leeds up their game and their attacks but we defended better and actually offered stuff going forwards. This relieved the pressure on our defence significantly and caused some threat. In fact we had a few good chances and only some excellent defending stopped us taking the lead earlier. Great goal, well taken and cracking assist. Also on their pens given they were throwing themselves to the floor and falling theatrically at every point - including one penalty appeal - that must have worked against them. Brought the lack of pens, especially on the debatable one, on themselves. Bamford is a self entitled pillock. Bit more application and he might be a third of the player he thinks he is. Overall stuck one to Leeds and staying up.

No one else in the pub seems happy...

They are getting desperate. They really seem to be buckling mentally from a frustrating first half. Not sure they have a plan B.

A bit better from Rovers and Leeds seem to be running out of ideas.

Indeed. But unless we offer a bit more we are likely to concern and struggle to get back into it.

Fortunate to get to half time at 0-0. Leeds struggling with final ball. Problem is they only need 1 goal and we are sunk

It's getting more dangerous. If Leeds find their final pass we are in trouble. Too much giving the ball away cheaply. Too many silly fouls

I'm no Martin possession fanatic but we give it away far, far too cheaply.

He's not very good. Looks like they are targeting him a bit.

🤣 tbf aside from the football and traffic I've enjoyed my time here. Wrong side of the country mind.

That's killed any optimism i may have

Good thing about living in Leeds is I found a place in no time to watch it. Bad news, surrounded by Leeds fans.