Okay, whilst disappointed it was not raining goals, Cardiff are a decent, well organised side and often in recent seasons you’d have expected them to nick a winner - much, much better at the back. Weather didn’t help, but there was enough to show progress - roll on Forest after the international break. Gallagher is a liability and doesn’t fit the system. He is a target man, who I am sure could produce for more direct teams, but that isn’t us.

Another fantastic result! Rothwell has settled in well in the middle, Dolan continues to thrive, we finally have a decent keeper and surely Bereton will find the net soon! Good times! Key for me is a settled side and players in their actual position, too often TM chopped and changed, shoe horning in players (Gallagher on the wing etc) and now we seeing the benefit.

I’d start the same XI. Show faith in a (big) winning team.

TBH I am relaxed if we don’t see much more movement. Club revenue is going through the floor, so I’d rather we weren’t overstretched as some clubs are going to struggle to carry - let it not be us.

Fantastic!!! A complete performance and one that was coming after (very) positive signs in the first two matches. Dolan is a hell of a find, and lots of exciting prospects backing him up. ??????

Family member is a Boro season ticket holder. Reckons he is one of the best defenders in the league, but a glass ankle, so enjoy until the pitch hardens.

Watched this with a Newcastle supporter who couldn’t believe we didn’t win. On the plus side, dominated, created chances and on other days we’d get the win. That said we lost, no doubt a dent to confidence after 2 defeats. Kaminski 6 - Quiet game, maybe could have done better with the goal. Quick and positive on the distribution. Nyambe 7 - Solid, enthusiastic performance. Lenihan 6 - Okay. Williams 7 - I was impressed, he looked to push forwards from the back, cut out an early chance, but did fluff 3 chances from corners. Bell 6 - First touch slowed down some counter attacks. Travis 6 - Okay. Holtby 6 - Okay, snatched at a couple of chances. Rothwell 8 - He grew into the game and kept driving forwards. Took his chance tonight. Rankin-Costello 6 - Okay. Dolan 7 - Exciting, positive and surely keeps his place on Saturday. Brereton 6 - Battled, gave everything but not enough quality tonight. Subs: Chapman - Good cameo. Armstrong - Not the dream return to his home club. Buckley - Good cameo. Hate losing, but plenty of positives. 3 points on Saturday then we can kick on ??

Presume the streaming service that will be used will still be £10. Id swap Wharton for Williams and hope for a miracle!

Same, I stuck with Dack for 3 seasons, but never set the world on fire - sold to Rangers. 4-2-3-1 - Positive. Armstrong was good, but often injured. Travis was good, but always sent off. Rothwell great in the Championship. Tosin and Walton I signed permanently when we went up, though then dropped Walton for Jack Butland. Buckley and Tosin still with me in my 4th season. Key is to (quickly) off load the high wage squad players like Graham, Gallagher etc, plenty of capable youth players who can step in when needed.

https://bertsbooks.co.uk/product/roy-of-the-rovers-the-best-of-the-1970s-the-tiger-years/ (Berts Books can get the 80’s one too)

I am torn on Wharton v Williams for the CB slot. Wharton, 2 good seasons on loan - suspect if wasn’t already ours we’d have been excited to sign a winner with decent experience. Real potential, though is he Championship quality? Williams. Same old, but to be fair solid when he covered in that position last season. Didn’t he even score, but then got injured? Hey TM May just play one of the strikers, wingers or even Fisher there anyway!

Ahh yes Roy of the Rovers - loved it! I see they’ve just released compilation books of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s - will order one. I used to spend hours studying the Match - match stats section, covering all the results over the past week with the player ratings. For some reason I can still picture the Rovers defeat to Notts County in the FA Cup under Dalglish in our promotion year. I think our near fatal slump followed that.

Pretty sure it is heavily discounted at the moment, 66% off? Plus you get a lot of game play for your money. I got Rovers promoted first season, cleared out those on big wages and have settled as a very competitive Champions League(ish) side over the next 4 seasons. Good times are back!

I’ve still got all mine in 2 boxes in the garage. Great magazine, I remember being gutted when I was told by the newsagent that it was no more. I still buy WSC.

Agreed. £120k can’t be sniffed at, especially in these times and presumably for the club. Ive previously written about tightening the squad a little (2-3 players), using the academy players to cover, with the savings used to cut the admission price back towards £20 to try and get fans back. (It looks like that is happening, though the savings being used toward the (presumed) loss in income due to COVID.)

Key with Gallagher is he is a striker, a target man in a 4-4-2, not a wide forward / winger. If TM wants him to deliver he must be used there. A mix of Bereton and Gallagher to partner Armstrong should work in a 4-4-2.

If TM plays everyone in their positions, top half. If he randomly allocates players, bottom half. I am excited about our young players, plus Armstrong, Dack and no Walton... Fingers crossed hey!

Good shouts. You’d suspect Dunn will hope to utilise his connection

Not all is lost, I just had a 3 way battle with Liverpool and Real Madrid on FM 20! Seriously though good post ??

Yes. The BBC Sport website is very poor - content and navigation wise.

The Nations League / Cup if far better than (random) friendlies - however surely with so little pre-season / break why did they bother with this round? I suspect that was reflected in the performance. Also I am not convinced Southgate as a manager / motivator / tactician is the right choice. Very articulate etc, but...

Maybe so, but it’d fill the coffers unlike a mid table where we have shelved out for journey men and loans.

Is it me or is there hardly any (incoming) transfer activity in the Championship full stop? I suspect many clubs are looking at dire finances, with normality still some way off - Rovers included. Therefore perhaps we might not see (m)any further additions? If that is the case I am relaxed. We are all in the same boat, though we have our (great) young players in the mix, plus I’d rather we didn’t risk doing a Bolton / Wigan. Just a hunch?

Sounds like Barrow were unlucky, losing on penalties.

So if Rovers were to be receptive to a loan or two to help out Dunn, who would you send if you were TM?