sharpysharps86

Pickering can also play as a left sided CB, and Morishita as a LWB. I like this system in the sense that it gives Ohashi a strike partner, which feels needed...but I'd be surprised if Ismael made such a big system change.

Agree there's no reason to drop Ohashi, but equally I think they should start Gudjohnsen as something has to change in attack. Perhaps shift Morishita out wide for Kargbo, and then put Ohashi behind Gudjohnsen?

I think its pretty clear to see that Gestede is making himself the new 'villain' at Rovers. We've seen a few of them in the Venky's era, but Gestede clearly doesn't appear to be able to take any kind of criticism well, so it'll only snowball into an even more toxic situation until he eventually leaves the club...and then given the track record of the owners we'll simply move onto the next circus clown.

I agree he's absolutely replaceable, but its not looking like they'll actually go ahead and do that. I suspect Riordan recall in January will be Hyam's replacement....."it'll be like a new signing".

Let me get this straight, our CB choices are now: McLoughlin who only joined this summer Wharton who's just returned from a seriously long term injury Carter who can't last more than 20 mins before picking up another injury Miller who was signed as a right back to replace Brittain With McLoughlin suspended for the next game who's playing CB against Watford away? Wharton and Miller? Christ. A complete an utter mess.

Disgusting.

Doesn't look like Rovers are doing anything today. In which case, it's hard to not be concerned about the squad. One injury to Tronstad as others have said and we're in a bit of trouble in the middle of the pitch.

I do have some sympathy with Ismael in that the core of last seasons team has been well and truly gutted, and replaced with a distinct lack of experience at this level. I think we're in for a long hard season as a result. However, I'm far from convinced by him and his ability as a head coach. I worry he is not the man manager that all these new players need ahead of what will quite possibly be a relegation scrap. 4 defeats from 5 in all comps just isn't good enough.

Happy international break everyone 😂. Whether it was soft or not, McLoughlin made it easy for the ref. If he leaves Sargent then yeah he probably still scores but Rovers still have 11 men on the pitch. As it is, there's little to no chance of a way back now.

The Leonard story is odd. Elliott doesn't usually publish a story like that unless he's spoken to someone at the club first and they've confirmed it Baradji could well be this seasons Dennis, signing a player with a known injury just doesn't seem to all that clever but I hope I'm proved wrong and he makes a good impact.

Would Smit not need an ESC slots? Gudjohnsen in and Leonard out I'm fine with...although its always sad to see an academy player go, Leonard just never looked like he'd be able to get a solid run of games behind him. I can't see Rovers bringing in 2 strikers when we only pay 1 up top. Unless Gueye is on his way as well, which I highly doubt.

Very happy with that signing on the face of it. Seems an exciting type of player, decent length of contract as well. Feels like a proper signing we can get behind. A striker next would be nice.

Yeah, I don't particularly expect Hyam and Tronstad to see out the season with Rovers, but unless we're about to have a truly chaotic week before the summer deadline I can't see either of them going until January.

I have a feeling that Forshaw is this seasons McFadzean. Would've probably played against Bradford if fit, but now Rovers are out of the cup it's unlikely we'll see him when he is ready unless there is a huge injury crisis in midfield.

I'm assuming the other two deals are outgoings of Travis and Buckley. Bit of a misleading headline 😂

No need to change the starting XI after yesterday, but hopefully we see a couple of new faces on the bench to be able to freshen things up. Rovers 1 - 1 Norwich. Cantwell to score for the third game on the spin, against his old club.

Gueye going is somewhat expected in a way, as Ismael doesn't appear to rate him. The problem is can Rovers replace him and bring in extra depth in attack where we appear to be lacking. I don't see a way in which Hyam can leave in this window. He and McLoughlin appear to be forming a decent partnership. Should be an interesting week anyway!

Winning 3-0 is brilliant, it was a fabulous team performance overall....but we are still allowed to call out poor pieces of play where players should've done better...it's ok to do that y'know, we are allowed. Go back through the match thread and I'm sure you'll find PLENTY of it even when the score was at 3-0. The 'having an agenda' against Gueye take was just....odd to me. Want nothing more than all Rovers players to be a success.

I singled it out because it was a poor piece of play, not because of who the player was...there is a difference. Doesn't matter whether he's been on the pitch for 5 minutes of 85, he should be doing better there. Do you disagree? I'd have said the same thing if it was any other player in that scenario.

Ok I'll take the bait. Am I not allowed to say Gueye should've done better there? No agenda at all. My criticism is that he should've been able to keep himself onside, and then he should've been able to put it in the net. I think it was poor play and he should've done better. Do you disagree? I want nothing more than Gueye to be a top striker, why would I have an agenda against a Rovers player? Weird take that. Equally, I think we're all allowed to say when a player should've done better in a particular moment.

Sensational result. Rovers were excellent today. Hull may have been poor but Rovers did a job on them. Reminded me a touch of Norwich away under JDT. Alebiosu appears to be a very good signing. Early days but looking like shrewd business. Hedges was very good. Need him to turn up and be like that more often than not. He deservedly gets stick on here, but today he was great looked up for it.....and arguably should've had a hat trick. Definitely prefer Kargbo on the right. Cantwell - class above everyone else on the pitch. Maybe the captains armband has reminded him how good he can be. Big player for Rovers this season. My only real criticism is with Gueye. Couldn't keep himself onside for that one chance, and didn't even put it in the net anyway. Poor. The need for a striker is clear as Ohashi will put in the work rate and deserved a goal....but he does get bullied and the first touch isn't great. Just a joy to watch overall.

Last time Rovers lost the first 3 league games was 2016/17, it was the infamous Cardiff away defeat when Shane Duffy scored 2 own goals and got sent off. We all know how that season ended. Obviously a long way to go but Rovers really need to get something on the board. The starting XI is probably the best they can do in the current circumstances, but I just don't see enough creativity in that team. First goal is crucial. If Hull score it then I can't see Rovers finding a way back.

Can hoof the ball up to Gueye all they want, the fella can't time his jumps properly and is more likely to elbow a defender in the face than connect with the ball.

Is Baradji genuinely injured or is that just a rumour?