Displaced Rover

God Pears is gash isn’t he? Cracking result, sets up the weekend beautifully!

I struggle to think of a recent Rovers game where I cared so little about the result. I do care however about JDT risking two of our best players so close to our biggest game of the season. Absolutely nonsensical. Edit: The fuck do I know…

You'll never top Smallwood and Bennett starting in CM for me...Admittedly we were in League One

Surely the dream is norovirus rips through their squad this week and we pump their reserves 9-0...That's what I'm hoping for anyway

Regardless of other teams, it was £14.60 last year, even in the current financial climate, £18.75 is quite the rise.

Not quite as bad as last year (off back of the Fulham debacle) but once again trying to sell cheap tickets for the “anniversary” game on the back of a woeful midweek performance. The playing staff don’t help the commercial side sometimes. On the game itself, need to bounce back and give ourselves some confidence going into the massive game next week. Some big selection decisions to be made.

No we aren’t…

New breed of goalless striker. Never scores but his sports bra says he’s run around a bit (actually not sure he even does that…)

Just absolutely useless. Szmodics shouldn’t be giving it away as cheaply as that but when he does, clearly has to take the yellow card. Brainless.

Not if most of our midweek away games this year are anything to go by...

I don’t, lovely 4 year contract. Sure he’ll be alright with a bit of criticism.

The fact we’re currently second says an awful lot about this league…

I'll reserve judgment until after we see them in action but feels like a baffling Mowbray style team selection. Maybe injuries/heavy legs forcing his hand? Feeling less confident than I was earlier!

Completely different situation with Brereton. He was our £7m player and personally (for what that comment is worth) I was far more open to him getting a chance for that reason. There is no possible way that Hirst will do enough to justify his option to buy price this year. You might be right, maybe he will come good but why should we waste time developing a loanee if he can't contribute now? We don't have room for dead weight and if it comes down to giving development opportunities, clearly they should go to our actual players (Vale, Dolan etc).

If Hirst scores it's likely to be because the ball has just bounced off him. He's shite. Should be nowhere near the first team squad and needs sending back (if possible per contract) on 1st January.

It tells you a lot about the quality of chances created. You can call it bollocks all you like but we're not creating a lot of super clear chances. Against Sunderland for example, Diaz bangs one in from 20 yards, not sustainable to be winning games solely on the back of goals like that (especially when he's gone post January)

I know a lot of people don't love xG but I was taking a look at Championship stats through the season so far. Much like last year, our actual for and against goals are performing far beyond expected. Like last year are the wheels going to come off spectacularly? 23rd for xG (0.96) 8th (highest) for xGA (1.5) If we're anywhere near the mix for top 6 come April/May I think we will have had a fantastic season.

Looks I’m watching the same one as JDT…

He gave it away more than anyone else in the first half…

No one else think Wharton hasn’t been in it at all apart from the goal? He’s a great talent but struggled playing a bit further forward for me. Took his goal incredibly well though.

I'd forgot that Arsenal handed them a league cup win. Was it Szczesny in goal?

Are they sacking Mowbray? If not they’ll not be in the top 6. Nowt in this league for “winning” possession but doing feck all with it

We're not going to continue winning 61% of games are we? The amount of defeats and manner of performances in these defeats is a worry...

Which means he's lost 39%, more than Tony Mowbray...

There was contact from Hedges, Sunderland lad’s foot goes back, stops, then he throws himself on the floor. Zero sympathy