G Somerset Rover

Have we been on the piss for the past 9 days?

Very nervous start. I don’t think I’ve counted a pass we’ve successfully made yet. Aerial bombardment.

Jesus Christ that stat on Sky was frightening. Shot conversion rate: Aug-Dec 1st / Jan-Feb 24th Goals (same period): 2nd / 24th Expected goals (same period): 5th / 23rd

Don't be silly. Ayala's in the midst of another mid-season break. We won't see him before mid-March.

Sure I read he’s in line to play another U23s game before he’s considered. I agree though - he’s quite literally the only player in our squad bar BBD who can anticipate a ball coming into the box and stick it away.

Oh I agree. Just saying if we can't be winning those games then we won't deserve to finish in the play-offs (or better).

I posted it in the Millwall thread but we have three extremely kind home games in a row before the international break thanks to that rearranged fixture. If we're out of the running by the international break then we'll bloody well deserve it as there is 9 points begging to be taken there alone.

Mellor's beat me to it, but 4 points is an absolute must from the next two games IMO. I'd take a draw tonight but only if we follow that up with a win against QPR on Saturday. I'm with you though, we simply have to hit form now. Our confidence will be shot to bits if we lose this, draw or lose with QPR and lose to Fulham. We simply can't allow it to happen.

This now means we have three very winnable home games in a row: Millwall (8th) / Bristol City (12th) / Derby County (15th). Have to be targeting 9 points there to really get us going again.

The table just makes for uneasy viewing compared to where we were at just a few weeks ago. We’ll have just a two point gap on 7th if we lose tomorrow, and it was at 8+ very recently. We can’t keep thinking we’ll pick up after Fulham as that’s still 3 matches away and our morale would be sunk in the mud. Point is the minimum we need tomorrow and we simply then have to beat QPR on Saturday.

WBA: played six / lost five / drew 1 The draw? Blackburn Rovers.

Cov 1-1 now. Boro from 1-0 down against WBA to be being 2-1 up. Only two points behind us as things stand.

Cov come from absolutely nowhere again to being just 4 points behind us if they hold on at Bristol City tonight. We really need a win very soon…the word congested doesn’t do it justice to what’s just behind us!

I had often wondered if BBD was going to be a one season wonder. Due to mainly injuries and a lack of form, that one season may need to be revised as a half season wonder! It'll take a brave club to bid big bucks in the summer unless he lights up the end of the season.

It's a good shout. Ever since Pickering got injured and Nyambe has been in/out or at CB, we've been terrible. Like you, I'm hoping those two will be in from the off tomorrow and that it'll make a big difference.

Nobody is saying spend £10m on a striker. But bringing in someone on loan who is a natural striker, giving us a plan B, was surely sensible. Hedges is a winger, up until a few months ago Markanday hadn't played up front either. And he got injured with 11 days to spare of the window left, so we had ample time.

TM on Brereton Diaz: "He's strained some ankle ligaments. It's not a short injury, it's not going to be a week or two. We shouldn't put a timescale on it. He'll be back when he's back." There we have it. Kudos again, @Mellor Rover.

Yep. Hudds had missed their last 5 up until Saturday at Fulham. Holmes took it and just leathered it down the middle. GK got a touch, but not enough! Always find it interesting how very good GK's can make awful penalty stoppers. De Gea being a prime example. Cech always seemed poor at them too.

Indeed. Dack and Brereton (well, half a season Brereton) are the only players at the club who can anticipate balls coming into the box and then have the ability to put them away. As you say, we really need our centre halves to start chipping in with a few.

He was on crutches and in the boot at the boxing last night too, so it’s not just window dressing for Ewood / Brockhall. Sickener this - just when we had to hit some form again.

Yet throw Evans in a NI jersey and he’s decent, which shows it’s all about his attitude.

LOL. It’d barely trickle to the goal line.

The single worst fixture we could have right now given the run we’re on. They are the leagues form team and look pretty formidable opposition, especially at home. We couldn’t hit a barn door, BBD is out for a while, and our friends at Sky are showing it again. Surely the tide has to turn at some point? I really think it’s important we don’t lose, and have a feeling we may spring a surprise: Sheff Utd 0 Rovers 1

That’s seven matches - 50% of our remaining games. As I say, an absolute balls up not bringing in some more firepower in Jan.

Surely we need to forget Fulham. Lost today but they’re ten clear with a game in hand. Far too much quality to let anything slip.