Personally given how close it is at the top I think goal difference does matter already. We have sadly given Fulham a 14 goal swing Vs us with our loss to them (although have done well to rectify some of the damage since.) Will agree the number one focus should be ourselves. Consistency in this inconsistent league is key so if we keep our consistency and bounce back quickly from disappointments we have a huge shout.

I'd like to point out I always thought the lad had incredible talent and potential. In the spirit of balance I also should add I thought Bereton would never come good. To me the big thing for Buckley is a regular run of games in a position that he can make his own. That rather than being in and out of the team and in a ton of positions is a massive help. Also helps that the rest of the team is pretty regular too and that familiarity is only going to help him improve too.

In defence of TM the Gally impact substitute thing has worked in the past. His stats are far better than when he comes on as a sub than when he starts (I think.) That said plan A was clearly working so a more like for like substitution would have made more sense. Fresh legs as oppose to a new plan seemed to be needed.

Huge game psychologically for us. Expected to win. Dominated. Sucker punch equaliser. That's tough mentally to come back from. And yet we did. I've thought many of our issues have been psychological/mental over the last few years - bottling it when we were near playoffs, not holding onto leads, so to overcome a mental challenge like this is especially pleasing.

I have several issues with this. Firstly there is the rampant hypocrisy of dismissing the European scouting network as unnecessary despite hugely championing it before hand. Fine to change your mind on this - goodness I've been wrong or changed my mind on so many things whilst supporting Rovers, it's part of the joy of football. But maybe a bit of an awareness one has done so rather than a dismissive tone? Seems a bit off to be speaking in such certainties when your last set of certainties were dismissing the previous assertions. Then there's the technicality of contract not renewed rather than fired. Surely the point (got by all and sundry) is that the chap no longer works for us and this is the issue? All data needs interpreting and by experts so surely having someone with nous of the European market and leagues would be able to interpret the data more effectively? They'd see the nuance and subtleties, and most importantly context, that perhaps wouldn't be seen by Joe Blogs - or perhaps more pertinently generic scouts might not pick up on. It was pretty obvious the point was we may not have an expert doing it which could be concerning. Perish the thought that this could have been picked up on.

A very winnable set of games. Personally 10 points is the bare minimum I'd expect from these given our current form and with most fit. Ideally think 12 would be my minimum - 3 wins, 3 draws. That said it's such a topsy turvy league and anyone can have a shocker of a blinder so maybe that's over optimistic from myself. But I think if we are going to go up I'd be aiming high in this run of games.

Think this is a bit unfair on @roversfan99 really. In the same post his arguments are being countered by we need Hedges in case of injury whilst at the same time saying we shouldn't assume JRC - a proven injury prone player - will be out injured. It seems a bit incongruous to say the least!

My priorities: 1) Keep everyone. If it isn't broken don't fix it. And if possible we need to hold on to players, even if they are going to go elsewhere this summer. The risks of replacements not being as good or even taking time to settle in is too much to take, so let's keep everyone if possible. 2) A right back. There is no cover and if Nayambe is out there's inferior players there, Buckley may be moved meaning the midfield is weakened as well, it's not a good situation. Plus as someone else said, we need a fair number of centre backs for this system and since Nayambe, can play there we have double the cover needs for RB. (Not my point but my word I agree.) 3) Another striker who can get goals. Let's be honest we are doing well but there's a lot of pressure on Ben. And unless sending Gally to South America is equally going to pay dividends I can't see him stepping up if Ben is injured or in a loss of form. Wasn't our death spiral partly tied in last year with Armstrong's injury and loss of form. A bit less dependence would be nice. 4) Finally a cb if Carter isn't deemed good enough. We are playing 3 CB per game, so that means there's more chances of injury and suspension. Never thought I would say it but 3 CB is working so let's make sure we can keep the system. We have 4 quality CB which means that it doesn't take much for us to struggle in this area. Granted Johnson can cover here a bit but he is arguably needed in midfield.

I think that's the point. That occasionally players do run down their contracts but most of the time this doesn't - or didn't - happen at Rovers. Make no mistake about it under Hughes most of the team was highly desirable and yet there's only one example of it. So for us to now have 4 first team 11 members doing this is very unusual.

And whilst we are on the topic of automatic promotion - Bournemouth have a huge weakness in Parker. More worried about WBA as Ishmael I think is a good manager and when he gets in a couple more players suited to his site they will be favourites for me to grab 2nd.

Goodness. It's the exact opposite of the last few years. A strong defensive foundation. A settled team. Settled formations with a couple of go to plans. Mental fortitude when near (and in!) top 6. I don't think even our most positive of supporters would have suspected this. And I'm totally shocked and delighted to be way out on my expectations. This may be a tad heretical but there seems to be something of the Burnley team that got promoted first time round in this team. By that I mean limited resources and squad depth but a good team with a strong spine that has a game plan that works well. Less fingers and better kits as well obviously but there's something of that steely ilk to this team. Shocked as I think TM is a duffer but the job this season with what he has (regardless of how we got to this situation and his part in it) is, so far, looking very impressive indeed. Dare we begin to dream?

It will be on his CV and touted as an achievement guaranteed. Goodness even his time in football backwaters is made to sound like an accomplishment.

No surprise it's a week before a cup final too. Now the odious one can add taking Hibs to a cup final on his CV in his usual unmerited fashion...

You missed him trying to flog Brockhall ok the sly as well. Something he has previous at with Coventry. And if we are being really pedantic he has also overseen a manager on 2 of the worst runs I can remember in living memory and missed his own stated target last year. Not sure how anyone can think he is either honest or competent really based on his own actions and words.

@JHRover I don't think you get the game. The lack of concrete proof from yourself shows your position is wrong and that the contracts have been offered. The lack of concrete proof from Chaddy proves that he is right because you can't disprove his position. That all the circumstantial evidence suggests Waggot is an incompetent snake who couldn't run a bath and lies like a rug does not at all count in your favour and must be ignored. Welcome the the double standards debate.

I'll be honest. What irks me most is people saying that TM is a good manager. Now I think there's an interesting case for saying he is a decent manager, and likewise for a poor one but a good one - I can't think of one single argument to say he is a good manager. Consider his transfers, his league positions, the runs we have been on under him, the objectives he has had, his repeated managerial actions in team selection and formation. Even his past history prior to Rovers. I don't see how you can look at any of that and say he's a good manager we are lucky to have. At best it's he's alright, he's ok. One other things to consider on this. the context of TM as Rovers manager. No other manager I can recall had so many years where results didn't matter and sales weren't forced. On our two death spirals - I struggle to see any manager at any other club surviving them. No other manager I can recall had no sales forced for 3 years. That's exceptionally favourable circumstances which need to be considered when evaluating our finishes. It also needs to be recognised that anywhere else he would have gotten the boot. That is hardly the making of a good manager, much less a legend. Then of course there is the man himself. A born liar it seems. A man who told us the team were acclimatising to the championship - despite most of the squad having championship experience! A man who said fans expected 95, which not even the odious one said, and not a single manager has been compared to since that time. What a man. Not only is the criteria not looking great in terms of prowess, I've real reservations about the man himself. Of course this doesn't stop him being a good manager, but since he clearly isn't, it makes it all the more baffling as to why he is held in such high esteem.

Sheffield United fans aren't happy. Rightly so imo. the sacking of the manager is arguably harsh - and I think there's a decent case for saying that. But the appointment of Heckingbottom is a joke. A yes man for the owners never ends well.

Yes I noticed this too. Hardly s good sign at all. The vultures are well and truly circling.

Think this is a little bit harsh. I mean it took three years minimum before we saw any return on Bereton. I mean that's a long time for £7 million not to pull their weight. That's hardly impatience is it, waiting three years to see a return? How many other players do you know who were given that long to come good, especially those who took up a huge chunk of the budget. As for the Downing and Ayala mentions, it feels like there is some selectivism going on here. We had to play a centre mid and loan in two rookies because Ayala was constantly injured last season, and Downing was anonymous in season 2. That's hardly either being an overwhelming success! If you had said none have turned out a disaster and all have had good spells, then you would have been bang on. As it is by totally airbrushing the situation and ignoring key elements of all three players time here it seems a little shortsighted to be saying other people look stupid. If anything it seems a tad daft to be so selective in the narratives you put forward.

Tin hat on but I am not sure where Dack fits in either of our formations. Last night would he have been one of the 2 up front. And in the 4-3-3 would he be a false 9 and would that work? Bit of a concern as to where he fits, talented though he is. Bit like the Ronaldo United situation on a lesser scale imo.

Great win. Not much to add to what has already been said. Appreciate there are positives and negatives in most games but I'm struggling to see any negatives in that one. Well done TM and the team. I think the reduced options and the fact we look like a team really have helped us this season. We don't look like a collection of individuals, there's only a couple of formations we can use and you can name the team along with likely replacements when they are out. That increased consistency can only help us. The downside is that we are relying on a few players staying fit. Nayambe, BBD, Kaminski and Ayala to name the obvious ones but a couple of injuries anywhere on the pitch would be problematic. That said I think the benefits of consistency and not having 6000 midfielders outweighs this. What I am most pleased about is the response since Fulham. That could of broken us and furthered the divide between fans and club. As it is we have responded well results wise and clawed back a bit of GD to boot. I still have doubts over TMs ability. I still think we will fade away from the playoffs. But we are in a much better position than I thought we would be which is a huge relief and positive.

Not at all. By lottery I take this to mean pure chance, you have no idea of what you are getting. That is very different from having known about players beforehand through how they have performed. The uncertainty you mention with Douglas - as in the difference between his performance with us and elsewhere - would be no different than if we had signed him permanently and he had performed like that. It isn't a lottery as in no idea what they are like, it's the uncertainty that applies to every transfer. If we are using that uncertainty as whether they will continue to perform then all transfers are a lottery which is not what was being discussed or implied. I will admit Elliott bucks the trend a bit - perhaps I should have used most - although he's perhaps a special case since he played for Fulham at a rediculously young age and Liverpool snapped him up. That alone suggests he had a bit more about him then most at his age. As for Bereton as I said before- 2 years of nothing for £7 million is hard to quantify in terms of opportunity costs. And a third season not being a £7 million player either isn't great. Does this season wipe out all of that? Possibly, but I think it's hard to say with such a hypothetical situation. Losing that from the budget for 3 years without much return cannot be good for a team. Add in he only came good in the last year and we have limited time on his contract - that's not ideal either. That said he has come good when most needed, and we will get a profit so perhaps that does negate all the negative aspects. It's certainly a better outcome than I expected! I guess the short answer to your question is because I remember the last 3 seasons. Indeed. I think the sentence shows more of my British awkwardness in disagreeing rather than trying to disallow you to have an opinion. Yes the loan market has changed over the years, and I think the transfer window system also encouraged teams to hoard players and makes less players available (the big teams could always buy them as and when needed instead back in the day.) All of that said whilst it's harder it is harder for all clubs fishing in that market, not just us. Lots of teams I think are similarly reliant on loans so I don't think it's just a Rovers disadvantage and other clubs have used the loans more successfully than us. That said the only other candidates off the top of my head who used it really well we're West Brom when they got promoted last time. (And maybe Villa? Unsure on thst.) So I am not sure how much it's a get out of jail for TM. I think the big thing for me is I wouldn't class Gally as a success and I don't think you can exclusively look at his transfers fees paid only category when judging his transfer record. There's been some key loans and costly free transfers as well which for better or worse is the market we are in and he should be judged accordingly on.

Sorry Gav I strongly disagree on a number of points. Whether measured by goals or any other metric Gally isn't very good and hasn't been for us. I don't think anyone thinks that the right wing expertiment for Gally has worked, and putting in a shift isn't really enough for a forward. He doesn't score loads, doesn't create much, doesn't hold the ball up well. For a significantly large fee (for us) that's a very poor return. He's been a bit better this season, but again, nowhere near £5 millions worth. Nor do I think it's fair to say loans are a lottery. That's not true, it's not a lucky dip! Perhaps if the player hasn't played professional/competitive football there is an element of uncertainty - beyond that of a normal transfer - but even that in itself hints at what is going to happen; their inexperience will cost us. Most loans however don't have that degree of uncertainty Tosin had just done a full session at West Brom, Douglas had played Championship before and so on. In most cases there was evidence of how they would shape up, and for the others we didn't really get anything other than expected from a novice. So it's not pot luck, and I feel that exonerates TM of his responsibility in these transfers. Bereton is an exceptionally interesting case. Does one good season and a profit negate two terrible years and one ok one at a huge cost for us? I can't think of another player like it. Perhaps McCarthy was the only one, with the difference being he didn't cost the earth and his good season came at the start. It's very hard to quantify the opportunity costs of that 7 mill and two dreadful seasons, but then they came when we had others scoring. I'll be honest I don't know how to quantify him as a success or failure, but will caveat it with I am enjoying his form. Would agree it's not all rubbish with TM but I do think his transfer record is very sketchy.

Think this is an unfair criteria as just because a transfer fee may or may not be involved doesn't necessarily influence their importance to the team. Walton is a case in point. "Just" a loan but played most games and cost us countless goals and points. Not sure well we didn't pay a fee for him is a valid excuse for how damaging he was to the team. Whittingham would be another - no transfer fee involved but one of our higher earners making it a costly mistake. Gallagher would be the first name to meet your criteria btw. I'll be honest Gav. Whilst I agree Venkys are the bigger problem TM is far from a good manager and I find it a tad strange that he's absolved of blame even as a symptom not the cause.

Gutted Ole has gone, he's been brilliant for United. Well, from my perspective. For anyone who wishes manure well then he's probably been pretty poor and this has been a surprisingly long time coming. To be honest he failed in most areas really. He never solved the Pogba conundrum of getting him performing consistently or shipping him out. He didn't win a trophy. The much maligned Jose and Van Gaal both managed this, so that's very poor in comparison. He spent a huge amount either badly or not getting the best from the players. Sancho was an excellent player pre United. Maguire is a fair weather centre back who struggles under pressure and is not worth £80 million. Despite spending vast sums he didn't address the key need of a defensive midfielder. All good teams need one, not sure how he missed this for three years. Mind you it was pretty clear from the Watford result the players had downed tools so it was inevitable the fun had to end.