Big news and shrewd business to get it done when we are able to, before there’s any chance of being short-changed. Credit to GB, tying down important players is important and something we seemed to have no capacity to do previously. Mark Venus has cost us millions.

Yep. Daft, really, but it’s a big part of his game, is getting booked.

I mean, that’s rich, in the circumstances. Losing 4-2 and playing poor football generally. I suppose best of luck watching your private-equity-backed football club implode with DC United’s former manager at the helm?

Never in doubt, eh?!

Need legs here and to tighten up. Results going our way, we’re in 7th. Need the momentum.

Thank you for your service

Well, this feels grim and familiar

Take no pleasure in saying that I don’t see him in the starting line-up anymore. I get why he gets put in as captain, but he’s not at the level.

I think 5 gets Tom Brady crying into his beer and Rooney on thin ice. Yanks won’t like a hammering, let’s get it done.

Tails are up here, let’s punish them, let’s be the first domino in a cascade of them that gets Rooney out of a job before Christmas.

Anyone struggling with “blocked content” messages every so often?

Good stat, that.

This is a really bad watch. Both teams poor. Temptation to try and tie this one up, but aside from more energy up top, I’m not sure how best to do that, with what we have available.

Tyrhys Dolan looks extremely disengaged and impeded a free-kick being taken for a pointless booking. I’d have him off at half-time, attitude is essential and the bare minimum. Leonard presses at least as well and can operate out on the right, bring him on.

Yep and it’s already looking ropey.

Travis at RB is a disaster waiting to happen, too much emphasis on bombing forward, no positional responsibility, knackered by the time he makes it back. Sammie missing two sitters is alarming. Lots of lazy football. Look like we’ve no sharpness at all.

got to re-register with original email. Insanely poor PR around this update.

Anyone else struggling with loading times on Rovers TV?

I honestly believe in Leonard, I think he’s very close to finding a groove in senior football. But yeah, it’s an indictment that only a 19/20-year-old has a glimmer of hope about him.

Agreed, I happened to watch the highlights of Norwich that were showing before the sky coverage and he loses his man for a dangerous opportunity that is “hungover Sunday league” stuff. I think his tackling ability is strong and that keeps him deep, but yeah, he has a way to go on his off the ball, as JDT has been saying since last season.

Weak bench options. Stretched squad. Underinvestment reaping what Venkys have sown.

I‘m just trying to get Sparks to bite

He’s going to be playing Premier League football in the next couple of seasons and we’ll very likely be in the Championship. He receives the ball very well, can get out of incredibly tight spots and picks passes most players on any pitch he’s on wouldn’t see. He’s encouraged to do so and all of the above increases the risk of a mistake. I think he’s been unfortunate, the mistakes have had real consequence but “giving the ball away all the time” isn’t accurate, for me.

Short corners are a valuable option, but only when you have a clear plan for them and you use them sparingly. Element of surprise is a useful thing. They are pretty useless if everyone knows you’re gonna do it, every time. We only have two significant aerial threats on the pitch at any given time, so we need to come up with routines that factor that in. Flick-ons, basically. Two big lads going hell for leather at the front post and composed finishers working to the back post.

Be fair to him, difficult to get back onside with donkey’s hooves.