Bethnal

There’s a fairly compelling netball game on Sky Sports Main Event

He’ll have to do it with less than zero budget.

Looked like his calf, but hadn’t seen an impact.

You and me both, but the opening 7 minutes of this game makes me wonder how bad it would be. Sounds like Derby fans have turned up the volume and we are overwhelmed. Feel for the many that made their way down.

Could you imagine how badly we’d fold in the playoffs? Almost makes it look like we’re being done a favour being kept out of it.

For the best.

This is fucking embarrassing

Everything I said earlier about getting an early one also applies to us, so we know how this is going

That’s the lineup I’d have picked, but - ironically - that fills me with no extra confidence, as it’s become clear this season that I don’t know as much about football as I thought I did. Despite being a general fan of Cantwell, I’m glad he’s not starting today, as we need to be at it early and he doesn’t instigate early on. Nothing better than getting an early one against a side that will have very little belief at the minute. Getting two and there’s every chance they crumble. I do wonder how many defeats in the bounce Eustace will be allowed before the crowd eventually turns. They’ve not looked too bad apart from the QPR game, but what little belief there is will be fragile and Eustace is currently experiencing a new manager splat that could become terminal with a heavy defeat at some point. Hopefully that’s today.

Sure, I just think the balance of play would have been very different with the red card. They had the better opportunities (marginally). Draw flattered us ever so slightly, but the fight to equalise was a big statement. Even still, I think they’d be rightly pissed off and so would we, in their shoes.

Gonna suggest that the obvious elbow from Hyam and Dennis’ studs up challenge should have had us at 9 men is the basis for my assessment.

Not judging the manager until Cardiff, as I’ve previously said. A lot of players were just not up to it, today.

Nixon branded it a “coup” I believe. Expert negotiation from Swaggott, apparently. ”football people” know much more about these things than we mere mortals.

Draw’s a good result here. A win would be daylight robbery.

Can’t argue with any of the subs. Don’t care if it’s formulaic, it’s the right move.

Our press is rubbish.

Feels like defenders should be able to clear from their 18 yard box beyond the halfway line, but we refused to do so at all there. Concerning opening five minutes to the half. I will say - not at all looking at the manager just yet, before I get a “back the manager FFS.”

Good few Rovers aren’t able to keep with the pace of the game. Ribeiro, Forshaw not dynamic enough for what’s being asked of them so far today, even Trav looks a bit overwhelmed. Not convinced Carter is fully back at it. Dolan having a poor showing. Kargbo lively and direct, Gueye is working very hard, Hyam committed but bordering on recklessly so. Cantwell and Brittain bright but not coming up with the goods yet.

Indeed. “Rather have lucky generals than good ones.”

Impossible to work out what the players are trying to do here. He’s either not told them to do anything in particular or they have not at all understood what he’s asked for. Either way - this is poor, we’re lucky to be in it.

What the hell is Hyam doing? Letter of the law, that’s a clear red.

I missed this entirely, but would’ve been keen to join. I don’t use Facebook, but if there’re more updates, do keep us up to speed on here.

Didn’t see too much of him in it, but the follow-up interview with Ismael had the manager with his arm around him talking intently. Any manager arriving at the club would view him as key to what they want to achieve, it’s just a question of getting the maximum out of him. I backed Eustace’s approach of making him feel important but he probably let him off a little too lightly with responsibilities, towards the end. If you can get him motivated and keep him that way, he could become essential in the run-in. He’s still a very talented footballer. A goal from open play would be massive for him.

Find me footage of Adam Wharton running himself out of play in the 92nd minute under no pressure and I’ll be inclined to agree. Rice is really overrated.

Adam Wharton is already better than Declan Rice, for me and his ceiling is far higher. I genuinely believe Wharton should only be going to a team with a realistic shot at winning the Champions League. Spurs, Everton, Newcastle, Arsenal and Man United believe they have a shot at signing him in the summer but he’s better off staying where he is, getting England caps in qualification, going to the World Cup in 2026, sending Kobbie Mainoo some Adam Wharton pyjamas to wear while he watches the games from Manchester and basically having his pick of the major European clubs afterwards. He’d be magic at one of the big two in Spain, he’d do extremely well at Milan and he’d probably suit Citeh extremely well, too (the vertical passes through the lines are an exact match for the runs Haaland makes). He’ll work his way into the starting lineup wherever he ends up quite quickly, his instinctive talent and composure is basically unmatched at his age profile, in England. I’ve never seen him look remotely rushed or pressure by his environment. In terms of playing with England players at his club: why not Bellingham?