Great night for Rovers tonight. I'll take credit for having a panic and thinking we could quickly be overtaken... Very surprising results mind.

He did indeed. I don't know why I got the two confused. I will blame it on lack of sleep...

Didn't someone tell me they had brought Marshall from Derby? He would full in solidly for them.

Agree with rest of the post but to answer this question the aggression difference is huge. It means he actually disrupts play and the opposition, he gets stuck in and does the gritty stuff. Limited? Arguably but it's an important thing he does. I also think his limitations would be less of an issue with Buckley a bit deeper not false 9 and if others were adding more creatively. Not every player is creative, and that would be fine if the creative players were creating/finishing better.

Me neither but we may recover some form. We are boom and bust with TM and the playoffs are a lottery. My worry is whether we arrest our form in time to get into the playoffs. A BBD lengthy injury and it gets rather worrying.

Disappointing result given how out of form WBA are. They are seriously struggling of late and more goal shy than us, so the opportunity to get back on track was well and truly there for the taking. For all the issues with absent defenders having the in form Van Hecke and Warton and Nayambe's ability meant we were always likely to remain solid. It does show we needed another CB/versatile defender in January as the situation of Ayala injured and another CB out was always likely to happen. Anyhow I digress. What makes it more alarming is the number of teams straining for top 6. Forest are in good form and Sheff Utd seem to be resurgent too. IF all the teams below us in the hunting pack win their games in hand I think the margin of safety for playoffs is a mere 4 points with a lot of football still to play. Scary stuff. I don't think all the teams in contention below us will win all their games but enough will pick up points to make in an uncomfortable ride till the end of the season. And to be honest I'm not sure with the run we have coming up there was an easier game to reverse it. Millwall will be a scrap and then it's more competitive teams. As others have said though- at least we are still solid at the back which means we will pick up enough points not to be in plummeting down the table with reckless abandon.

Yes this could all be a repeat of our first season back in the championship. The overall position was fine but given the manner it came about, with a horrendous second half of the season, it really was a wasted opportunity.

Horrible run. Need points our next two games as they get progressively harder. The adage of getting straight back on the horse is key in the championship. Boro did that after their loss to us, and other have done it too. Problem is when we fall off the horse we go into town have a coffee and a walk before even contemplating getting back on the horse. Our bounceback- ability is woefully poor.

This is beginning to remind me of a (couple?) of years ago when after a run of indifferent form we had a settled team and formation for about 5-6 games and ended up with something like 13+ points. Sticks in the mind a bit as Downing was left back for some of it. It was heartening to see a plan and settled team but once the run was over we didn't get near to getting it back. Once off track we seem to be well and truly derailed. Sad times.

To be honest I think this is one of the toughest championships in a while. Not because the quality is stunning but because there's a lot of in form teams out there. Boro and Forests new managers have got them firing on all cylinders and seem great fits for the club. QPR seem relentless. Bournemouth have a ton of money and talent if not a manager of quality. Huddersfield seem to be going under the radar. WBA have a good team and now a manager with proven record in this division. That's a lot of teams fighting for second and the playoffs and not even counting surges from the likes of Luton and anyone else. It's tough at the top and there's no room for error at the moment, which is really hurting us.

Indeed. Unfortunately he is showing he has the tactical acumen of a glass of water. Mind you at least said media darling is being shown for what he is.

More likely at WBA than Bournemouth I think. Didn't realise how much fan unrest there was until reading Ishmael's interview last week. He's fallen out with the keeper, his main striker is out injured, the fans are restive. It doesn't look great for them.

Three: small squad syndrome. None of our players can afford to have an off day as the downgrade in their replacement is significant. For example if the three miss have an off day it's Johnson or Davenport, BBD has an off day we downgrade to Gally. Sure there's a few positions with quality cover - having Dolan and Ayala on the bench is great for example - but overall there's not much margin for off days.

He's a good manager Warburton. Especially given time to implement things his way.

Thanks for the heads up. There goes my chance at being insightful... Good move for QOR.

Why is it every man and his dog can see cm is an issue but manure managers can't? Not that I am complaining mind. Would he go to Everton right now? I mean they are an utter shambles. Tough gig to walk in to. And Derby is a win win for him. Keep them up he is a genius - and it would be a hell of a feat - go down and no harm to his rep given its a good showing in the circumstances.

Agree with this. Only thing I can add is that a good second choice is hard to find. Leuitweiler was meant to be one of his previous team's best performers and he was rubbish. Walton won league 1 and is dreadful. Good keepers in league 1 aren't so easy to find. My shout would be Marshall from Derby. Dropped from first to third choice and a former international keeper. Strong backup and available (I think).

It's Rotherham's situation all over again I think.

Woods hasn't had that great a season has he? (This is a question, I don't think he has from my understanding.) Nor is he a particularly ambitious signing, can't see any top 10 premiership team wanting him. Yes I know the barcodes aren't that but with their money they should be aiming at higher quality, like they did with Trippier. To me it's a case of trying to guarantee Burnley go down by taking one of their key players. He's a bigger loss to the dingles than he is acquisition to the barcodes. I'll be amazed if Wood is still playing for Newcastle 18 months from now, unless they go down. Put it this way, he won't last long in the prem with them.

I've never seen a keeper take it over the line like that. Not Steele, Fettis, Walton all of whom were terrible keepers. A mistake of that level is inexcusable. Like driving with your eyes closed level of stupid.

This is a very accurate summary of the process. This canary is finding a lot of gas. I would recommend setting your alarm to go off every three hours constantly and then spend the next hour after each alarm feeding and cleaning something that wriggles and fights you all the way (perhaps use a cat to practice?) At least twice in a 24 hour period you need to do some laundry, and it generally helps if you can make sure your clothes have something smelly (perhaps use the remnants of dinner?) smeared on them. I'm fairly confident that if you follow this training regime you will be ready or have the passport and fake accident prepared in time.

Buckley has at least played there before as has Travis. Johnson then slots into midfield and therefore the team doesn't have someone who is a total novice in that position. Can't Van Heck play at rb. You could switch to a back 4 and play him there. Lots of options for CB if you do. Actually could keep it a back 5 and slot Carter in if need additional CBs. Could also perhaps play Pike there. All options which would see the RB/rwb more suited than Dolan.

Here's why we cannot let anyone go: we are utterly appalling at getting in replacements. A few examples: - Defenders are coming - took seasons to come. - Armstrong still hasnt been replaced. - Kaminski came a year after we sold Raya. Incidentally the last one is likely to be history repeating itself if Nayambe goes. A former youth player TM has issues with is sold and a last minute substandard loan rushed in as we have no one in that position. So yeah, continuity, the quality of what they have, ain't broke don't fix it, they may sign new deals - all good reasons to stick with what we have. But imo the biggest reason is we are very unlikely to get replacements because of our poor recruitment process and speed. Whether that's the higher powers or TMs and his staff's fault is another debate. The big issue is we run a huge risk of massively weakening the team.

I mean why? Just why? No need for them to do this whatsoever. I get it on an away kit the halves - it's a cracking design, heraldic even, but for their home when not massively associated with halves or white. Odd choice.

Yes IF today acts as the brutal reminder not to experiment and over think things and prevents it happening in league games, then much as I love a good cup run, it probably is worth going out. But it is a stark reminder of what TM is capable of. Players out of position, suspect players being used. As for Pears there's poor and then there's not of professional standard. Having that in his locker makes you very wary of having him in your team. Like other poor keepers it's not that they can't have good games - it's a case that they are capable and will throw in utterly unprofessional performances that are negatively game changing from out of nowhere.