Bethnal

This manager is basically the opposite of what you need in our position. Soft-touch, defensive-minded, zero personality. So far, the only attacking plan appears to be “let’s hope Sammie scores.” His defensive game plan is “5 at the back is better than 4,” and he can’t even make that work. He’s got a week with the team to get something working before Middlesbrough, so it has to be a point, minimum. After that, an international break with the players, so Ipswich at home should be a victory, if we’re genuinely playing as well as he says we are and the only thing holding us back is the lack of time on the training ground. He won’t deliver either of those. We’ve been made to look incredibly ordinary in the league games and he cannot find a way to win with us against the poorest teams you could ask for (after Rotherham) at home. It would be viewed as madness to bin him off at this stage, but how many do we let him have without a victory? Ten? That leaves 6 games for a replacement, which would have to be Warnock or Big Sam, if you wanted to stay up, but you waste the international break between them. He should be gone, he won’t be and there’s every chance he is at the helm come first day of next season, in League 1.

Some woeful performances today, players need a frank conversation about effort and desire, so many seem devoid of it. Sammie heroic once again, Ayari very impressive. Siggy better but still not seeing enough from him, currently. The rest need a slap, a proper slap, in the chops.

Well-worked goal for Plymouth, to give them credit. They’ve looked more than value for an equaliser. For context of how bad that was defensively, Szmodics made a goal-line block in the middle of it, because nobody else on the pitch had been able to handle it before then. This manager is clueless. We’ll be lucky to get anything here.

No idea how Harry Pickering had just been megged from five yards away then.

Atari’s distribution today has been excellent. Fashioned a number of excellent breaks and chances for us. Effort and application throughout. Wouldn’t mind seeing him back next season, he’s found his feet relatively quickly and - while not the same level - could be the one to slot into Adam Wharton’s boots.

He appears to have very little stamina for a guy who thinks he’s a winger. Get’s to their box then and basically has nothing left, so loses control easily.

Gallagher ambling around the field, aimlessly. For a guy out of contract in the summer and a baby recently arrived, he doesn’t appear to give a shit.

This is a shambolic defensive display.

Ridiculous red card. All at sea and Fadz drags him down, pointlessly.

Sam Gallagher utterly anonymous, so far. Captain Hyam hasn’t got a hold of this game. Big names in this team (relative) not showing up at a time we need them to. Luckily, one of the leadership group is turning up every week in a big way, but the others need to be showing a lot more.

Siggy hits the woodwork from point-blank range. excellent link-up between Ayari, Sammie and Siggy, though, another great move. Gallagher needs to be better contributing up top.

Huge let-off

Yeah, there’s only one confident man in blue and white on that pitch.

Don’t care what Eustace says, today is must-win. The players should be made abundantly aware.

Good because I want him out and I don’t want to catch any more grief for it. I genuinely believed we had to win this and Saturday to stay up, because the only other potential win I saw was Sheff Weds at home in the run-in. If we turn up again on Saturday with this attitude, we’ll have stolen a win, if we manage it. While typing this, his interview came on the Rovers TV feed. I’d share it but it’s too big of a file. Suffice it to say, he’s pleased with the performance, somehow.

Are we out of the “FFS, give him a chance!” window, yet?

Dom Hyam turning to the fans while the ball is in play to tell them to calm down after he drives forwards to start a break before turning back on himself and passing it backwards? The fucking hell is this team even about?

Ayari very positive since he’s come on.

Why have we decided to make our most crosses in a game since Mowbray against a Neil Harris Millwall side? This is just devoid of any imagination, Eustace is stealing a living if he thinks this is what’s required.

Do the players not realise that a win here is absolutely essential? What is the motive? How do they not understand?

He is League One at best and he’ll carve out a career at that level but he is a bench option at this level. Nowhere near enough about him to make it in the championship.

I’m going to name my first child Sammie. Fuck it, I’m going to name them Szmodics.

Leo entirely at fault. So soft generally but that is the definition of saveable.

Think the project is officially dead, at this stage. Operation “No Pressure On Results” in full swing. I’d want a new coach ASAP, but Venky’s aren’t paying 2 years off and nobody’s coming in for Eustace on these displays.

So uncertain on the ball, which is why there’s nothing happening up top. Too much dawdling, Scott Wharton having to try and force it. Szmodics coming too deep for the ball, but will struggle with speculative crosses against a deep line. Again, I watch that first half performance and can truly only wonder what Eustace has actually told them to go out and do. I have to assume that whatever he’s told them to do, they’re not doing, but still no semblance of a plan. Hopeful that he can get across in 15 mins what they didn’t pick up in the past couple of days.