TM for me. I'm not a particularly good footballer but (think!) I am a nice bloke and hard worker. The latter two qualities would see me get game time and the first doesn't seem to always be a criteria for selection at the moment. Would be my only chance to play for Rovers! Any other manager would turf me out to Barrow asap - well apart from Kean but I morally would be against playing for him. If we are assuming we are a good enough player to be a mainstay in the Rovers team of that era then it would be Hughes no doubt about it. Strikes me as a great balance of excellence and man.management.

I'm not sure whether he has lost or not, and which is worse. If this is this lot trying and playing for the manager heaven help us if they down tools. As a level of performance when motivated it's pretty shocking and he needs to go. On the other hand if he has lost the dressing room then there's no way back from it. It's an irredeemable situation and he needs to go. Fwiw I think the only team I have seen not playing for a Rovers manager is under Ince v Wigan away. Horrible to see. I've unfortunately seen a number of what I think is like the manager but can't be arsed as it doesn't matter situations - Kidd and Bowyer - which is what I think we have now.

Another example of TM not being a good guy. This rewrites reality. It's not as though Ayala hasn't had fitness issues prior to Rovers. It's hardly as if a new system has suddenly caused these problems. Everyone on this board, all Boro fans acknowledged he had injury issues so the idea that this is an unfortunate and unexpected result of a new system simply isn't true. Furthermore IF the new system has made the injury problems worse (which given his past record I don't think is the case) then that just shows negligence on TMs part. Ayala's fitness worries were hardly a surprise. So if there is any truth in it, then it highlights incompetence. Then there's the with all due respect which is a sly dig at 2 other managers. Different systems and positions require different amounts of running. Neutral statement. Until you add in the with due respect which starts to hint at the idea that the way we play is a better way of playing. Results would suggest otherwise but TM trying to slip in how great our style is even though it is as effective as a chocolate teapot. No it's another load of bull from a great guy. Disappointing to see. It's like Bowyer mark 2 in all respects including the increasingly stupid comments.

Yes it's a terrible excuse which reflects very badly on him. After 4 years I have only managed to acquire 1 player with the desired attitude. Tiny that's not an excuse - that's another admission of gross negligence on your part.

Other than TM is anyone surprised we have so many injured defenders? Also why can we have 215 midfielders but no squad cover in defence. Either TM is blind for having this issue 4 seasons running or Venkys are even bigger idiots with their restrictions on spending. Build from the back. One of football's most basic principles, one of the first I learned when getting into football as a lad, and yet our club ignored such a fundamental and basic part of the game.

Well he didn't play for Boro and his fitness record isn't terrible. Excluded on both grounds. Shame as he looks like he would have been a better signing for us.

Whoever it is they cannot be worse. Just consider that the current set up, with no accountability and no chance of promotion is the best they have come up with so far. The bars so low it needs digging up from the ground.

Don't worry lads a few more losses like this and the players will realise the spotlight might fall on the shocking job TM is doing. They'll then pull their fingers out for a few games and get a few results to ensure easy street remains. We can't beat top, bottom or middle at the moment. We don't have any centre halves. We don't have plan B and plan A has been found out. Still for those wanting progress remember it's a journey. We are only 5 points behind those footballing giants Barnsley and a solitary point behind the mighty Luton. How is TM supposed to compete with them and their budgets having only had 3 full years in the gig? And remember too that attacking football means we are much, much more likely to win games as we've proved v Wednesday, Stoke and Huddersfield.

Worrying for Brum as Derby aren't a good side and have a manager with the nous of mashed potatoe.

Now this clearly isn't true. In fact the evidence refutes this quite considerably. I could write an essay on this but just three quick pieces of evidence. 1) Top teams are always built from the back. Manure under Fergie, Chelski under the annoying one, Rovers under King Kenny. Sure the SAS got the headlines and were a huge factor but it was built on a solid foundation of defense - Berg, Hendry, Le Saux, Flowers etc. Boring boring Arsenal under George Graham. Liverpool's success under Klopp finally came when they shelled out for a top class centre back and goalkeeper. Coincidence? No. Since forever good teams have always been built on a solid defence. 2) The defence issue also works the other way too. What does Big Sam do to keep teams up - tighten the defence. Warnock likewise kept a fair few teams up with a similar strategy. Heck Hughes when he first came in started by stabilising the defence. Teams stay up and are successful built on a good defense. 3) The evidence at Rovers clearly doesn't back up your point. We are no better off with this new style so there is no proof that it has improved us or our chances to get promotion. In fact we are worse off then last year so if anything it has hindered. Then take the previous example under Coyle - we scored a fair few but leaked more (as I recall). The evidence at our own club shows that this attacking style doesn't lead to more success. I may still be on ignore (a tad unjustly as there's been no personal attacks but there we go) but regardless I think it's worth highlighting the myth that this attacking football has improved our chances of success.

Have a horrible feeling under TM that these games are already approaching dead rubber as under his guidance we won't make playoffs or get relegated this season. We have had a few bad results, what passes for pressure at Rovers is mounting, so we will probably get a win. With the win cue "we're only X points from playoffs," "now we will kick on," and "we've turned a corner" only for us to realise in a few games time we haven't pressed on at all. The world war 1 trench warfare advanced more quickly than out journey under TM. Still after a few poor results a win would be a welcome change and give momentary cheer. Also for good or bad, attended/watched or checked result I do enjoy looking at all the results and the match reports and the reaction on here after a game. If football is shut down again, it'll certainly take away a key aspect of my weekend. I appreciate though that's not the prime factor in the powers that be decision making process.

My key issues with TM are as follows. Firstly his we are on a journey. Whilst technically true, in reality it's far from the case. Firstly what blips has he had? Dack's injury admittedly. Outside of that - none. Souness in a similar time frame lost pretty much permenantly as they came back lesser players Gresko, Thompson and Jansen. He's had to make no sales whatsoever. Hughes journey started with having to buy a new star striker every year and many other managers have to replace key players. TM has had none of that, yet said journey goes at a snails pace. On that there is also the inference the journey must take a long time. That's news for Boro and Stoke who were both a shambles last year but are now comfortably above us. Or clubs which have bounced up the divisions - remember Norwich and Southampton doing that. Am I expecting us to do similar - no but it kiboshes the idea that it takes 3+ years to do so. A vaguely realistic attempt at playoffs would have been more than feasible by this point. Also on said journey where is the progress? It's the same level of points, same mistakes, same problems - we aren't on a journey, we have made camp. Which leads me onto my second issue. Basic mistakes are repeatedly made. When you make the same mistakes over and over it shows there is no learning, no awareness, no chance of progress. And the same mistakes are made year after year. We have been short on defenders since the promotion year. Still no change there. We have constantly played players out of position - no change there. Poor performers take an age to be dropped, if at all. Nayambe has been crapped on season after season (although this season it helps him all his replacements are injured). We spunk the majority of our budget on a poor striker - twice. Need a player - let's go to Boro. Heck even the Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday games, in a not too far apart span of days follow the exact same procedure. Then there's letting player chose whether they are fit to play, extending contracts of players who never play. These mistakes are amature hour. Add in comments like it's boys trying to score against men comments (ok have gone past the two key reasons now) which is at Comical Ali levels of credibility we see he's not the golden boy some think he is. He's the best manager we have had under Venkys BUT he's still mediocre at best. Nowhere else would he be looked on favourably with such glaring errors. Only in a Venkys induced nightmare.

Yes. There's been a lot of failures too. Even a rejuvenated Ben (who I like) isn't worth £7 million and certainly not a 2 year wait, Gally is a waste of £5 million. Walton must be one of the most costly signings ever in terms of mistakes. And that's not considering what he hasn't brought. Namely defenders. Armstrong and Dack are the huge hits. After that Kaminski and some astute loan signings who have never pushed us over the line.

Yes it was a good show. The first TLC match was good - .a big fan of MacIntyre who sells well and looks a beast at the same time. Lots of innovative spots, a good story and a bit of a curveball.with the Miz in there. Sasha v Carmella was very good. Lots of great counters and near falls. Would have been excellent if Carmella could sell. Still very good mind and Banks is just brilliant. Tag title match was good lots of tag team offence, 4 strong competitors and I like the Hurt Business look. Maybe a longer storyline tease too with Alexander at the end. Again it was good but lacking something to make it great like some of NXTs tag matches. Women's tag title match was solid. Reigns Owens match was good, with a strong storyline if a little long. Personally think they overdid it with 3 sets of interference from Uso. After being taken out - storyline a stomp to the ankle with a chair has historically taken competitors out for longer - 2 more run ins was too much. One final one would have made a much better storyline, surprise and been better for plausibility. The fire match - meh. So yeah a pretty good event. A way off being great and even ignoring the main event disaster the second TLC match could have done with a bit of fine tuning. Solid watch though.

Agree with BDS. In some ways an infirno match isn't totally stupid. I don't think it's easy to do well or leads to great matches but at least it ties into the history of the two competitors. That said a month's build (at best) after years of neither revisiting said beer between them lessens any need for such a match up. Hardly a blowoff to months of ongoing tension. Then there's the result itself. The Fiend comes across as unstoppable until he loses match after match. Totally loses the mystique and power. "Scary" characters are only scary if you think they are unstoppable. The Fiend clearly isn't. As for the ending itself that utterly killed off the Fiend character as he looked totally beaten. Orton didn't survive but crush him. Then there is Orton himself. What are they doing with him? A credible challenger for the title, wins it, and then loses it straight away taking away some dominance. Guess he gets it back after killing the Fiend but that seems a big trade off. Also enjoyable as Orton MacImtyre was am not sure round 4 isn't overkill. The lack of credible challengers on Raw (and Smackdown) is terrible. Poor booking all round. There's no thought beyond 1 month slots for the most part and it's no wonder they are struggling. Shame as there's a lot of talent there.

They do make some odd choices. Personally i think they should have stuck with Pearson. Had them above the relegation zone, and even if they went down he definitely had changed the mood. Would have got them bouncing straight back up. Good managers are key in this league and this seems like a heck of a gamble.

So it's about this time of year that I evaluate our new signings and the manager's nous in the transfer window. Half a season seems a fair crack of the whip for players to bed in and show their ability or lack thereof. The last few years TM has come out very much 50:50 with great signings vs clangers. Perhaps this year may avoid some of the latter. Here goes. Kaminski - 9 Great singing. I mean in comparison to Walton most players would look good but even so he looks very comfortable and fits the style of play well. He's the right age and the fee was reasonable too. Slight reservations he may revisit kicking his team mates genitalia which probably wouldn't do much for team spirit but so far he's done well. Pears - 3 The Middlesbrough welfare fund continues, with this keeper. The plusses, he's not Walton or Leuts, and he's young so will develop. That said paying a fee for a second keeper seems a bit of a waste to me, he is blocking the Greek lad's progress (who on paper looked promising). There's also the minor detail that he didn't look that convincing when he played. Waste of a transfer imo. The Greek ad whose name escapes me - N/A Hasn't played. Shame as on paper looked to have potential. Either he or the Pears signing seems very pointless. Ayala - 6 If it was solely on ability he'd be probably a 7 or 8 as in most games he has looked pretty solid. However, when you have a couple of other injury prone defenders on the books, signing another is not the smartest of news and has led to difficulties. Still it wouldn't be Christmas if Rovers weren't struggling for defenders. Douglas - 2 I think TM makes a lot of clangers in the transfer market but I do feel he has been unlucky with left backs. On paper both Bell and Douglas were astute signings. 2 promotions in 2 years suggests Douglas has something about him. The reality is that he has looked way out of his depth and just as bad as Bell, which is an achievement in a perverse kind of way. Doesn't help that having little cover from his front man at times and the system doesn't suit him, but that makes the transfer ever more of a mistake from TM. Trybull - 5 Really not sure where to call this one and am open to suggestions. Compared to Travis a massive downgrade. Compared to Evans he's streets ahead and not just because he's mostly fit. A tidy player but not one that imposes on games. The most positive thing I can say is that we needed another DM/CM with Travis injured, and he's filled that slot. Downing - 6 Brought in a bit late, and really would have liked to see another defender instead. He has looked decent when he has played though, and so perhaps more of a success than not since re-signing. May well have to revisit his left back role given the other options. Elliott - 9 Only problem is it's a loan. That said we'd never be able to buy him. Been very impressed with ability and attidue - goals, assists and width. Great signing. Dolan - 8 Scoring a bit higher than his impact (which is probably a 6 or 7) as he was got on a free and also is pretty young so will only get better. Very astute signing, regardless of whether it was by error or design. So this year TM to me comes out average, 8 signings with an average score of 6. Again, like most years under TM it seems to be boom or bust, although the notable clangers are fewer than previous years. Again there is the common theme of not enough cover for the defence, and one astute signing per year (Kaminski, Tosin) is not going to be enough in terms of quality or quantity. In fact it seems pretty familiar to last year - some good, some clangers, and not enough work on the defence. Think that may well remain till TM goes. Would be interested in other's thoughts.

Blimey Rev you are being a bit confident with setting the upper limit to 10 goals! (Agree with your valuation of him mind.) He only really scores when central which he gets to do when either he plays centre forward (when on the bench) or when he can massively drift inside when we are battering someone and keeping a position doesn't matter. Neither happens that often and there are £5 million reasons why he will be stuck on the wing and lucky to get over 5 goals a season for us. Incidentally Ben is showing what it looks like to not get too many goals but still contribute more than goals (never thought I would write this!) Carries the ball forward, creates space, gets the odd assist and draws fouls - the guy is enriching the team. (I really never thought I would say that.) Gallagher does none of those things.

It's disgraceful on so many levels. Firstly our attack had got a ton of goals this season (second highest scorers?) so it is utter bull. On that, doesn't said line up include the league's top scorer so it's totally rewriting reality that we struggle to score because we are a young team is horse manure. Secondly its deceptive as he doesn't mention the £5 million pound carthorse he plays on the wing. Gally is neither young nor able yet is conveniently ommited from the analysis. Thirdly theres the issue that aside from the reality of our situation the general principle of young players struggling to score is not true as evidenced throughout the league's and history. Fourthly even if such a link were true, and the strikers were too young to score (must be news to Elliott and Armstrong but there we go) then whose fault is it for fielding a young line up? If they aren't up to the job it's his fault for assembling the squad and selecting the team like that. No culpability, no shame and no truth. Not the actions of an honest guy whatsoever.

Don't mean to pick on you specifically but your excuse about centre backs is all of TMs making. Having three injury prone CBs on the books was asking for such a situation to occur. Also even if it's just an off day for our attack and an unfortunate loss, as your post seems to imply, what about every other game against one of the stronger teams? It's the whole move on with no accountability that is helping to cause this malaise.

Let's be perfectly clear. Venkys pre Mowbray and no accountability are not the only two options. No one, including me is asking for a 5 manager a year circus with political infighting. People just want a bit of accountability and higher standards than currently displayed within the club.

I expect progress within 3 years. I expect not to see players hopelessly out of position. I expect us not to stock up a defence with crocks. I expect us to be able to beat teams above us from time to time. I expect basic idiotic mistakes like letting players chose if they are fit not to be made. I expect good players contract situations to be sorted. I expect us to have a bit of bottle and launch a serious promotion bid. I expect us to not hide behind the excuse of they spent more than us. Boo bloody hoo. Didn't stop Hughes or Souness's teams. (And by that inference TM should get little credit for promotion.) I expect that if Brentford can turn a profit to increase their budget than so can we. On that I expect us to be able to at least match the achievements of Millwall and Preston who both finished above us with inferior budgets. I expect a good balanced squad after free reign and no forced outgoings in 3 years. I expect some sodding accountability for the management. You know targets, performance reviews and other radical measures. I expect us not to arse away money on extensions for dross in an extended season. And I expect some pride in the shirt.

Crazy how little the owners expect from him. Wins, promotions, expensive signings working - don't seem bothered about any of it. Is there another job in football like Rovers?

Have to say if people are thinking TM is a good manager they must be in awe of Warnock and O Neil. Turning round clubs without 3 seasons - unthinkable. The reading manager must also be pretty handy too. Time to get rid because once Nayambe and a few others go we will only be looking downwards...

On what basis insane? Because he is going to get us promoted. There's very little evidence of that. Not sure how it is insane - as in no evidence or logic. If after 3 years you are no nearer to promotion then I don't know when you will be. Hardly insane on any level.