It's okay making room for youth and giving them a chance, but they have to be good enough. The idea is to create a successful football team and fill the stadium. At the moment we have a couple of decent youngsters- we've been here in the past. I remember Jason Roberts lauding some of the young talent coming through the ranks: Henley, Lowe, Kean, Hanley and Raheem Hanley.. Look at how that worked out... I've not listened to the Broughton interview yet. But the only benefit I see in taking this approach is to be able to sell the club and attract better youth players moving forwards. I suppose if we can't compete with transfers this is a sensible model but the chances of bringing through an entire side good enough to win promotion is going to be very slim. We still need to dip into the market and sign good players to remain competitive. As the old adage goes "If you're good enough you're old enough" ... Like-wise if you're not good enough to help the club achieve their ambition then you're getting replaced. I fear in 5 years time we may look back at the current crop as we do now with Henley et.,al When Duff, Dunn, Tiny, Damien Johnson and Beattie were coming through you knew they were special- I don't get that vibe. Got to dip your toes into the market and buy some experience quality to raise the standard within the club.

Sorry lads, Raya is destined to be Spains no1 , is playing in the Premiership and being linked to Top clubs. You need to remove your Blue and White tinted glasses. He's absolutely class. Mowbray shafted us, sold one of the best young keepers in the World and brought in whatever his name was. I remember watching a Youtube video of a former Rovers youth coach being interviewed. He said he was stunned we'd shipped him and for so little for him as it was obvious he had massive potential and was destined for great things... Kaminski is a good keeper, but I don't think he's in the Raya bracket- he'd have been snapped up by now wouldn't he!? This isn't an attack on Kaminski, I really like him, but saying he's better than Raya just comes across as proper bias.

How was Markanday today? Who got person of the match?

I don't think Wharton looks anything special. The fact he's lauded as our best CM shows how urgently we need reinforcements in that area. He should be around the bench coming on making cameos cutting his teeth aiding his development. But I think he has a long way to go. Look forward to seeing his progress but I'm not getting excited. Seen Duff and Dunn come through the ranks and he's not in that bracket at the moment.

Fair point that. He misses some howlers, but he's still feeding off next to nothing. Cole was a goal machine, but he was infamous for needing a hatful of chances before he scored. If you stuck prime Cole in this team he'd look shite. I think we have good strikers (for this division), good defenders and keeper. But a woeful midfield. Fix that in this window and we will get into the playoffs. If we don't it'll be a midtable finish imo.

The reason we aren't scoring is a lack of service, simple. The strikers run around pressing, exhausting themselves then feed off scraps.

Garrett is having an outstanding game

Kipre just punched Gallagher in the face right under the refs nose.. Nothing. Un-fucking-real!

The commentary team praising the strength of their striker for a few two handed pushes on Hyatt- expert analysis at its finest. The standard of refs is atrocious at this level. Stamp someone in the bollocks- yellow card. Throw a ball at someones head- straight red. Absolutely shocking. I think Garrett's had an outstanding half, tenacious footballer. Dack is good on the ball, but looks like a man that's had two ACL injuries when closing down- saying that, think he's had a great half when in possession. Brereton hasn't been in the game at all, nor has Gallagher. Switching Gallagher for Markanday and moving Brereton into the middle isn't a bad shout. I think I'd wait for Dack to tire a bit more and then drop him in Dacks position. I really like the look of Markanday; fast, skillful and a great work-rate. If Vale got a chance then he certainly deserves a go.

I'd flog Brereton, tap Southampton up for Armstrong + money deal. Then use that cash to invest in our centre mid. Surely teams like Wolves/Southampton et.al must have some good quality centre mids floating around in their reserves.

Does anyone know if I can pay a tenner and watch tonights game on NOWTV?

I've no beef against Buckley, never been that impressed though, just seems to saunter around the pitch- Wharton's the same. I never understood how people came to the conclusion that Buckley was a replacement for Rothwell. He was the best ball carrying midfielder in the division. A fast, aggressive, dynamic midfielder that could glide past people with ease. He's everything that Buckley isn't. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Rothwell, with his driving runs created space for other players by pulling the opposition out of position. We've nobody like that now. Bunch of soft, square passing, languid plodders.

I think Markanday looked sharp, hungry and very promising against Forest. Very unfortunate to get subbed. Two wingers, two strikers, 3 centre mids. Be direct, work the ball out wide, cross it, let the midfield then push on. We don't have the ability to pass it out from the back due to our inept, weak midfield that can't play on the half-turn. Even pump it long, stretch the game and play off knock-downs- whatever. We just don't have the personnel to be passing it out. I'd like to see. Kaminski Wharton- Ayala - Hyam Travis Buckley Morton Markanday Dolan Brereton Gallagher

I'd hate to be a striker with the midfield we have. It's appalling. 70% of our strikers game is chasing and pressing defenders. We rarely cross it or knock decent balls over the top or in the channels. Even if you do win something, you play it back to Buckley who dillies and dallies then plays it backwards. Worst set of CM's I've seen at the club.

Weak, languid, backward passing midfielders. I don't know who they think they are but the lack off effort and urgency is shocking. Buckley, Morton and Wharton would be nowhere my first team.

We are so lightweight in centre mid, it's embarrassing. Buckley, Morton, Wharton are all carbon copies of each other. Weak, like to slow play down and play it backwards. They all also lack any sort of physicality. It means our forwards are starved of the ball and our defence has no out-let as long we persist in passing it out. Non of them can play on the half turn, they get the ball square and play it back to their defender. I really miss Rothwell and Bradley Johnson. We urgently need reinforcements in the middle of the park. It shocks me how many people think we are fine in the middle and any more would block the progression of the youngsters. I don't care about the youngsters. You bring in better players that can take us forwards, then those young lads need to raise their game too. I don't think any of them are good enough, weak, slow, backwards passing chuggers. The way the stroll around the pitch belies their lack of ability. You've got to be busting your balls, winning tackles, spinning with the ball and creating things. Just not good enough. Good defensively, Good attackers, but whilst we persist with that tosh in the middle of the park both ends of the pitch will suffer. Let's see if JDT recognises this and addresses in January.

Great share that, slowmo. Sounds like we were left in a right mess. I thought Mogga prided himself on these scouting operations- I could be wrong but didn't he say a European scouting network was being implemented etc? Hopefully this group can contribute and help us dig up a few diamonds.

Still don't think we've looked anything special against an average Wales side.

To add to this, I also think you need men that can carry and dribble past their man. By beating a man you move players out of position and create space and angles for passes. We don't have many/if any of that type of player. Just zip it around square and into feet.

We have a good defence, and two good forwards but an appalling lightweight midfield, lack pace, creativity and snap. We are punching way above our weight as the xg table shows. How JDT has got this group to third in the table is a miracle. I expected us to be in a relegation battle I think we're that poor in the middle. But it seems we have a way of getting results. When we come up against a decent pressing side, we get smashed. Our pedestrian, skinny, small, sluggish, deep lying play makers can't find outlets or carry the ball when put under pressure. They play it back. Our back four then have limited options and end up looking like mugs. I think we've got a bottom 5 midfield. It's awful.

We have a good defence, and two good forwards but an appalling lightweight midfield, lack pace, creativity and snap. We are punching way above our weight as the xg table shows. How JDT has got this group to third in the table is a miracle. I expected us to be in a relegation battle I think we're that poor in the middle. But it seems we have a way of getting results. When we come up against a decent pressing side, we get smashed. Our pedestrian, skinny, small, sluggish, deep lying play makers can't find outlets or carry the ball when put under pressure. They play it back. Our back four then have limited options and end up looking like mugs. I think we've got a bottom 5 midfield. It's awful.

Strongly agree, pal. Posted earlier the same thing.

On another note, I think we're pretty solid at the back. We just need to play direct. We simply don't have the personnel at present to play attractive passing football unfortunately.

I was shot down earlier in the season for suggesting we're very weak in cm. I got told 'We've Travis, Buckley, Wharton, Morton' who'd you drop?' I'd drop them all. Travis: Limited but does a job. Wharton: Should be used from the bench in choice games Morton/Buckley: Decent players but incredibly lightweight Wharton, Morton and Buckley are all ball playing centre mids. Non are blessed athletically, non are any good at carrying the ball. So we're left with a very undynamic, physcially weak, pretty slow midfield. It wouldn't be as bad if we had electrically fast forwards and could play a bit more directly but we don't. I'd like to see us bring in someone in the mould of Rothwell and an experienced physical leader like Johnson was. As it stands I think we're well punching above our weight.

I can tell you right now you are wrong! I've been testing formations and tactics on Football manager, and I can assure you this works. Currently 12th in the Premiership after 4 games in my second season.