Ghost7

We have a good few players that aren't good enough for the top half and also wouldn't look out of place in League One. Travis, Pickering, Dolan, Buckley, Szmodics, Hirst, Gallagher etc. It's a lot of players and a lot of kids. So with 5 defenders you're relying on real quality ahead of them and we simply don't have it. It's too much to ask of the players we have and we're asking far too much of Tyler Morton. I was hoping Mola could come in and play a role in the middle but it doesn't look like he will. It's a man's league and we're being completely outmuscled right through the middle time after time and playing ourselves into danger at the back. Not good enough from the manager, and the recruitment team in the summer. There's been far too many totally unacceptable performances already this season.

Agree, Haaland would have played sh*te last night with Buckley, Travis, Hedges and Dolan supplying him. I understand the passing out from the back more when you have 3 central defenders as you have the extra man back there (and it still hasn't been working for us) but in a 4, there's absolutely no way we have the players for that. In fact, I'm not sure many teams even try that as a 4? The game was written off again yesterday due to the approach, it isn't working and we've had a good few lucky wins now too. It was incredible Cardiff didn't beat us sooner. We must work on a plan B and be able to adapt when the passing out clearly isn't going to work. Reading, Bristol City, Luton, Cardiff and Sheff U have all been horrendous performances and almost non competitive games in this league, add the Millwall and Stoke performances to that with wins and losses aside, you have 6 and a half games of totally unacceptable and ineffective football. I like Tomasson's enthusiasm, charm... and his smile but ultimately I expected far better.

I get the feeling tonight was Buckley's chance and he blew it. Didn't move the ball quick enough and under hit a lot of passes which seems to be a trait of his at the minute. He also doesn't play with enough intensity, which is probably the main frustration. Ultimately way off what Tomasson is looking for. I think he'll be out the team for a while now and worked on outside of the starting 11 which should mean Adam Wharton gets another chance. That is certainly what should happen.

I've seen a lot of bad performances this season even in the games we've won. It isn't working. Thankfully the points are covering that up.

Bottle jobs that didn't deserve the lifeline they were given

Pathetic night

A thoroughly deserved goal and probably win for Cardiff.

How the hell are they not beating us? We look like a League Two side.

Dack for Szmodics before he gets a red and we might have a shot. Literally.

Buckley AND Travis, Travis shouldn't get away with this horrible performance. Can't have both your CMs not up to it. He should be bringing Morton on, although I'd like to have seen Adam Wharton on instead.

How are they not beating us. Buckley, Travis, Dolan, Hedges all appalling so far tonight. Szmodics and Brereton useless too. We were also crap at the weekend and Dolan is fortunate to be starting games but fair play to him with the goal involvement stats. Morton, Gallagher and Dack on for me, if Dack can't get on in this then surely he's done here.

I thought it was an appalling win today. If there's such a thing this was it! Two fairly fortunate goals and a disjointed team in front of a very steady defence, all the attackers seemed to have different ideas and were largely ineffective as a group at going forward. There was no intensity after going 2-0 up and we didn't control the ball or the game after being gifted a flattering lead. Surprised and a bit disappointed to hear Tomasson was happy with that performance. From what I witnessed it seemed like we fumbled into another victory and the win loss win loss scenario seems the most likely outcome if we are going to continue relying on luck? We could have easily conceded more or gone down to 10 men today trying to atone for unnecessary passes and overplaying in vulnerable areas. I thought we were also fortunate not to give away a penalty. Some players aren't good enough for the system and I think we'll see a few sold in January. Brereton needs to stay on his feet more, Dolan needs to look up, Gallagher needs to keep it closer to him, Kaminski needs to remember how to kick and Hedges... is player of the season so far.

Strange season so far, we're getting some fairly unlikely results and at the same time losing against teams where we have the better players. That does point towards the manager and staff getting things wrong for me and we are arguably higher than we should be given the performances. The main issue I have so far is the manner of our defeats...

Close annoys me, would love to hear we got all our targets. If it was Dembele it could have made a huge difference.

Overall with a few good signings, some very talented youngsters and this manager I'm happy. A solid first window from Broughton and Tomasson, plus a big statement from the club keeping hold of Brereton. I think the manager will be pleased!

Anyone know if Rankin-Costello was injured tonight?

“You had a great game”

Anthony Gordon would also be considered failed at Championship level. Just 1 year ago.

This aged well, since that post JRC has put in a stinker of a performance and the lack of cover in multiple positions has lost us points, particularly RB but it will be LB another month and then CM when Travis is out. We can all see what's needed, let's not let expectations drop now because we're short on time. According to many this was supposedly the plan all along... wait till the death and watch the bodies come in. More points on the line again tonight with holes in the squad. Come on Gregg... get some deals done!

Some odd behaviour on here. Let's keep the content real.

If we're doing the medical then we're doing it for somebody else because there's no way Ross Barkley is signing for Rovers 🤣

Hardly an injury crisis, it's a years of lack of investment crisis. Wharton, Buckley, Phillips, A.Wharton, Travis, Phillips, Rankin-Costello, Ayala, Dolan, Vale, Carter. Barely a transfer fee in sight. That lack of investment is now letting down some very talented academy players and meaning we're keeping hold of others that are clearly not good enough. Rankin-Costello proved himself to be not fit for selection today, sell him for nothing.

Adam Wharton's passing was sublime today, he looks a serious talent.

We need a Robbie Savage style "force the move" from Van Hecke

The intentions were clear when we were 2nd in January (it doesn't get much better than that!) and spent 750k on permanent players. We learned a lot about the club then IMO and the players will have too. Hedges was already lined up as a squad player when the expectations were lower and the other got injured with the window still open, it was massively uninspiring and the players stopped believing. Would you sign a new deal if you felt capable of playing in the Premier League but your club makes it clear mid season that they will do very little to help themselves get there? If I were good enough I'd have no interest. Armstrong, Brereton and Rothwell all agree. I'm not buying the it was there but Mowbray chose not to spend it nonsense. This is promotion to the Premier League we're talking about. What position do we need to be in to take it seriously... 1st in January seemingly and I'm not even sure we'd go after it then! Yes it still gets to me, as that was a surprise position off the back of spending very little in the summer and selling Armstrong. What an opportunity it was, we all knew it and we had to capitalise! There needs to be a major culture change, Broughton has a lot to do and so far we aren't seeing it. Right now there is evidence of either a lack of ability to identify talent and close deals or a lack of financial backing from the owners, nothing else. Both of those things have to come together quickly. and what's Waggott doing these days? That's an extra 2k a week for Ash Phillips right there.