19 minutes ago, JoeH said:

Tommy Doyle is a very competent player. However, I just cannot comprehend why we'd bring in another central midfielder?

Clarkson, Buckley, Travis, Rothwell, Davenport, Johnson, Dack... do we really need Doyle too?

I'd prefer Doyle as our Striker option ahead of those we have been linked with. Looks like the lad can do the lot. 

Really not excited about the strikers linked, would rather we gave Butterworth a chance.

14 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I think JRC looked really ordinary (at best) pre injury.

Are we allowed to say that.

You are allowed to say that but it is complete nonsense. JRC is our best player imo. Our form falls away when he is missing. 

2 hours ago, matt83 said:

What have they made right out of interest?

Invested heavily in both the £3 million a year for the thriving academy, and the brilliant support this season in the transfer market. 

They made a mistake but stuck around to make things right. And supported is in the transfer market in a time of great trouble.

I applaud the Venkys. 

5 hours ago, 47er said:

You'd leave Elliott out?----best player on the pitch, better than Dolan, Dack or Rothwell.

Elliot goes missing and doesn't put himself about. I would almost pick Dolan ahead of him 

51 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Fair point. I was more talking about him being ahead of Pike, but yeh there are those two for Pike to contend with too. Who knows what the pecking order is now - JRC and Bennett haven't been fit since Buckley made his ineffectual appearances at RB (well he did surprisingly ok in one of them tbf, but just doesn't have the attributes to play there without scaring me).

I would imagine you're right though, that Bennett and JRC, as well as Buckley, are all ahead of Pike for consideration there at present. Plus the City lad like I said. Which, based on what regular u23 watchers say, seems a real shame. Looking at it like that, Tony probably thinks there is a plethora of 'talent' at RB so that he doesn't have to risk a 'kid'. At least, not one that we actually own who actually plays RB....

Bennet was poor and Pike excellent.

No favour should he given to any player not cutting the mustard.

I would like to see JRC in midfield.

5 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Given that the City lad we brought in can apparently play at RB too, I suspect the opportunity to give Pike his debut this season has been and gone, and TM chose to put Buckley there instead...

The new city lad will be cover for Lenihan mostly. Pike should make the squad at some point. 

Yes, the Buckley thing is daft. He has great vision but still looks like a boy; Pike is a man. 

Just now, rigger said:

Perhaps you where not aware, but we were trading quotes from Dads Army 

Am not a fan of it. 

You'll be mentioning Last of the Summer Wine next. Lol!

Just now, roversfan99 said:

It doesnt seem that he is in serious contention within the first team picture. When Nyambe, Bennett and Rankin Costello were all injured, he still didnt feature.

That is a poor decision by the manager imo.

12 minutes ago, rigger said:

He does not play right back often. Tonight he was in midfield his usual position.

He has played right back more than midfield; angered folk like me that could see Nyambe was infinitely better.

10 minutes ago, StevenSK said:

If Nyambe is sold in the summer he either signs or we sell then bring in fankaty dabo very similar to Nyambe but can cross

With JRC and Pike I don't doubt we will be fine. 

4 minutes ago, rigger said:

Stupid boy!

I'm well aware of where Benno was playing ineffectively tonight, while pike was class.

I wasn't being critical of you, hopefully you will have the intellectual capacity to work that out 

Pike should be RB cover in the first team imo. Benno should not be in the squad.

2 minutes ago, rigger said:

Where have I mentioned Pike?

You.diidn't. But you mentioned Benno and he plays right back often; Pikes position.

1 hour ago, rigger said:

In the first half Benno has shown sod all for the U23s

Yeah, and you'd have Pike ahead of him at RB also. 

On 27/01/2021 at 21:15, roversfan99 said:

Absolutely, it was in no way a criticism or doubt as to the worth of the academy. I was just pointing out that considering how well in regards to under 23 league tables that the current crop seems to be doing, there doesnt seem to be any star talent that stands out. The three that have played a role this season, one is a versatile squad player who perhaps hasnt made any position his own and seems to have injury issues that the manager touched on, one has been on some successful loans and of course was unfortunate to get that injury although had never established himself at this level with any regularity prior, and one of course we differ on the opinion of but I am sure that you will concede that he has never broken through and gotten himself a regular run of starts in what is a congested area of our squad. With the others, they have either had the briefest of first team careers and/or see to be either too injury prone or not considered even when there are no senior players available in their position.

It is unreasonable to expect a steady stream of constant new first teamers through the academy each season, and indeed even a couple of squad players (on the back of a spell in which 4 key players came through, one being sold) is very useful.

I seem to recall Travis playing at right back in the 2 dreadful spectacles that were the Checkatrade Trophy games v Stoke and Bury before he had established himself in the first team in midfield a year later.

Pike was absolutely brilliant from start to finish imo.

Pike looked a real quality player tonight imo. 

Vale and McBride very decent too.

18 minutes ago, RV Blue said:

How was Buckley playing ahead of Pike at right back?

100 Percent!

Pike looks like he would give Nyambe a run for his money. He has everything; tackles, can head, pass, is quick, and is energetic. 

12 minutes ago, tonygreenbank said:

Does this mean that Branthwaite has picked up an injury from Saturday’s game so we’ve gone in for the City lad? I’m a little confused as to why we’ve got 2 youngsters on loan at CB but maybe I’m missing something.

No, Tony sees the young city defender as right sided CB cover and RB cover.

33 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

You could say the same about us if Armstrong got injured with our second top scorer on 4. They also have Meite who has been injured who returned to the squad last night.

8 points is a lot to make up, 3 more wins whilst keeping up with them for the rest of the time. Bournemouth look the most vulnerable, their squad is definitely better and more rounded than us and indeed I would suggest everyone bar maybe Norwich but they are not performing to their maximum under Tindall. 

Armstrong would not be as big a loss for us. He is not as clinical. 

2 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Im not sure if Reading are that vulnerable, I understand that they werent top 6 favourites before the start of the season but an imaginative and inspired managerial appointment has made them the real deal. They are 8 points ahead of us which is a lot, they looked brilliant again last night and they have real quality in attacking areas with Joao, Olise, Meite, Swift and Ejaria.

Brentford have also gone on a brilliant run and seem to be right in the mix for the top 2, backing up a good season last season. Bournemouth seem the most vulnerable but their squad is packed full of quality and are perhaps underachieving under a rookie manager, they have just added Pearson and Wilshire to a squad already containing quality throughout, Begovic, Mepham, Cook, Smith, Kelly, Stacey, Rico, Lerma, Lewis Cook, Billing, King, Danjuma, Stanislas, Brooks and Solanke.

I think if Joao gets injured they might not be the same. I imagine they have been pretty lucky with injuries. Don't think many team have a better 22 than us. 

They have been a lot more than 8 points ahead of us. 

48 minutes ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

Mowbray called him moody. He also referred to his work rate as not being good enough yet I've seen Elliott and BB not tracking back with their full back on many an occasion. Mowbray also refused to sign players with ripped jeans. I think the problem may be Mowbray in this instance. 

BB works like a Trojan; so too Gallagher who gets much abuse. Elliot has been disappointing for quite some time imo after a brilliant start. I would start Dolan ahead of him next game.

5 hours ago, J*B said:

Congratulations to TM on a fruitful January, really got some results when we needed them both. I’m not bothered about performances, we won 1-0 and if we could replicate the performance and result every week I would be ecstatic. 
 

Now we’re in touching distance let’s hope we can break the glass ceiling. Bournemouth will come good, they’ve got some great players, so we need to match or better Readings results every week to break into the top 6. 

Spot on sir..Reading are the team I think may be most vulnerable. I don't see why we can't make the top 6. 

3 minutes ago, Evertonfan1 said:

Everton fan in piece..... I see branthwaite got motm today. What is your initial take on him? 

 

On a negative I can't believe how bad your pitch is. Always hold Blackburn quite high up and it's a shame to see. 

Made 3 excellent tackles. Cool in possession, and some very decent passes. 

MOM imo. He really has helped out defence.

1 hour ago, Darrenbot said:

no shots on goal isnt being excellent in my book.

We were close to scoring twice in the first three minutes.

We clearly stated really well.