Saw the first half where I thought we did well against a good team. The kids took over the tv after that so didn’t see the rest. How did the other semi finish ? from a first brief view looks like we have some good young talent. Very promising

City on top. Dominating the ball. Couple of decent saves front our keeper

Both teams started well end to end very entertaining

Horses for courses and all that

I’m all for giving pears a clean slate Saturday. Be harsh to not give him another chance to see what he is really capable of

He’s been poor this season Lenihan and he isn’t going to get ten million pound moves to the premiership but he is a decent enough player and is getting pelters when I would suggest it’s more a dip in form, possibly down to being a new father but he has been solid enough to be given some slack imo as long as his performances improve

I would ditch the 4-3-3 also and play Anyone nyambe. Lenihan. Williams. Douglas Davenport. Holtby Dolan. Elliott. Brereton Armstrong This is assuming rothwell isn’t featuring

I think we can all agree that to score 12 in a relegated side at a young age is a good return . The time at brum is similar to now. He played out wide on the right and got the same results as now. Gallagher shouldn’t be in place of Armstrong as he is clearly a better finisher but he should be a viable plan B and one we shouldn’t cringe at every time he warms up. I blame Tony and only him for Gallagher poor performances. Until he is played centrally with the wide men instructed to supply him and given a fair crack even from the bench I won’t say anything other than Tony has mishandled him

Personally I wouldn’t want joey Barton. I think he will be similar to Keane as his attitude and personality are also similar to Roy. Keane did well at Sunderland and then nothing after . It’s easier to command respect from players at Fleetwood and he is doing well but I think his style has a very short shelf life and you only have to listen to graham talking about him and dacky to know it won’t be long before the wheels fell off . I’m not saying joeys way isn’t right but times are so different and players are soft and entitled . He would probably get a new manager bounce but come this time next year he would have swung a punch at waggott, stubbed a cigar in dacks eye and it would all go pear shaped

Looking at the Gallagher we have now I would have to agree. However when he left here he was shunted our wide for Birmingham and we all know what’s happened here. How is the guy supposed to learn his trade and build confidence, which goals breed being dropped every other game and playing out wide and cameos on the wing. His progression has clearly been stifled because as raw as he was the Sam who came on loan had all the attributes and ability to kick on as far as I could see. I watched Toney play at Peterborough and Wigan and he never really impressed me to the point I thought he could kick on in the championship to good standard. Toney has persistently been played in his favoured role with players around him playing to his strengths and the evidence is there for all to see his progress. I just find it hard to blame Sam for things clearly out of his control . He comes on does as he is told and gives 100 percent. What more can he do. He will never progress or learn his trade the way we are using him. If he was at Brentford within 12 months he would be seen as a good championship striker.

I was one of the few who thought Sam coming back , even for the fee, would turn out to be sound investment. That was on the premise he came back as Danny Graham’s long term successor. I honestly believe if you swapped Gallagher for Ivan Toney the goals would dry up here for Toney and Gallagher would be on the sheet every other week. I think he is being badly misused and his confidence has nose dived from the young lad that turned up here and was a breathe of fresh air under coyle. Sadly I think phillipl is right. He will be let go after his contract expires and like graham start rebuilding his reputation at a later stage of his career .

Or maybe they sign specific players for specific roles with specific attributes to fit into a specific system . It’s no coincidence every player they sell is replaced with quality. Compare that with our strategy and it’s laughable

Can’t agree more. We have the players. We have a great academy. We have even been backed by the knobheads in India lately . We are an attractive proposition and a good manager would get this team competing consistently at the top end of the table. I’m bored of the Tony is a nice guy routine. Yes he is but he will never get us promoted in a million years. It’s no good having a good orchestra if the conductor has dementia. For god sake get someone on who can at least organise a defence and sign someone south of feckin Gateshead

Yes I agree. Is everyone agreeing it’s Tony’s job to counteract these things when players are injured/missing and use the squad accordingly with all this in mind as well as the opposition where playing to nullify there threat and play to our strengths with the players we have available not starting Evans and playing fecking Gallagher on the wing. Leaving our best RB off the field and everything else everyone has constantly reiterated for the last three feckin years. I feel like I’m banging my head against a wall trying to understand an unreasonable ex wife . Tony is ex wife material. I loved him once but I’m struggling to see why

I’ve been watching rovers 28 years and I would class Evans in that bracket. He is no worse than j lo. This McKinnon lad must of been abysmal

I would be

There all in Europe via Middlesbrough

Least Barcelona will be signing this rankin Costello lad soon

Serious question who would start Bennett over Evans in that position. I certainly would. Buckley would of played further forward for me to unlock a team that sit back. Evans gets a nose bleed near the box and is just as shit anywhere else

Happy with that except Evans. I’d rather play Gallagher there

Nothing to fear and an early rovers goal could lead to one of those games like the Coventry, Wycombe, Derby etc. However I fully expect it to be a night of frustration where the first half is one of those way to familiar 0-0s at half time of last season, cautious, cagey, boring. We all remember them. The second half will be More entertaining but equally as frustrating culminating in 0-0 score line. Paying viewers you’ve been warned ?

He seems a yard quicker than everyone else in every way. Nice to see such energy and willingness. He plays without fear the opposite of how brereton has been since signing. Hopefully they can bring the best out of each other . Exciting times to be a rover ?

Well I’ve learned something new . Cheers ?

I love how Clint corrected him then called brereton bereton straight after ?

Sadly can’t watch this one because I’m at work. Echoing a lot of other people’s thoughts but a win in anyway, style, shape is a must today. Fancy a win and three points today . COYB