smiller14

Chaddy, I don't see why you get so arrogant if someone disagrees with you - 'did you miss this' is just condescending nonsense. Yes, we played well in 3 games (although I'd argue QPR we didn't press well, we created very little and scored a wonder goal). What about the other 9 games? The performances at Sheff Utd, Cardiff, Luton and Reading all rank amongst some of the worst I've seen in recent years. I fully back JDT to get it right, but he certainly isn't above some criticism.

I do believe him that Szmodics and Hirst were top targets, but they've shown nothing so far to suggest why. Peterborough fans were shocked at the reported fee for Szmodics, and I can see why. I hope they prove me wrong and it is early days. If that's a Szmodics 'decent game' then I dread to see a bad one. He dropped deep when he needed to get the ball? What did he do with it though? Hirst looks a strange, strange buy. My Pompey mate wasn't convinced by him in a league below and his brief cameos haven't inspired much confidence. Even the penalty was taken like someone who isn't a goalscorer. He has time to prove us wrong but he doesn't seem like a player who is going to offer much.

Seen people slating BBD's performance. Yes, he was poor, but he also got feck all service as we spent the majority of the game slowly passing the ball across our backline/keeper. It was infuriatingly slow and obvious, and a better team would have put 3 or 4 in us in the first half alone. We were as easy to play against as Swansea were. I have no problem with passing football, but I keep thinking back to JDT's 'Dutch disease' comment. This was that x10. Every pass was easily telegraphed, every touch too slow, no movement off the ball, huge gaps between defence, midfield and attack. Either it was another severe off day or whatever is being coached isn't translating on the pitch and isn't being understood or implemented correctly by the players. The coaching staff must bear the brunt of that. If that was Mowbray, we would be absolutely furious. We should give JDT time, but it doesn't mean he's above criticism for what was an insipid and frankly embarrassing performance. I was lucky the game was walking distance, but feel for those who travelled much further. I am still absolutely livid at the performance, and can only apologise for anyone who witnessed my anguished shouts at the end as the odd player limped a few yards towards the away end. Hirst and Szmodics signings looking odder by the game, and if they were our number 1 targets then I really do fear for our recruitment strategy. We've played well in 3 games (Blackpool, Watford, Swansea), okay in 2 (QPR, West Brom) and have been absolutely rank rotten for the majority of the other 7 (bar the 2nd half vs Stoke and a period vs Millwall). I'm relieved we have some points on the board but we've seen other teams drop like a stone and I don't see the fight or signs of improvement necessary to prevent us doing likewise at the moment. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

Good news at least. Although, as a train goer no doubt there will be a heavy escort between the station/ground, and imagine any pubs are off limits (unless they let us in the Cricket club?). Remember making my own way there for the Youth Cup game and it was like a warzone after the game, thankfully came out unscathed but there was idiocy everywhere!

Saw Cardiff once or twice this year and their strength seems to come down the wings - O'Dowda on one side and can't remember who on the other side! Would rather we had Brittain playing there as well. Imagine Hedges will come in for Dolan/Gallagher, probably the latter.

Winning is most important, but them having 6,000 plus behind the net vs our 2,000 gives them more chance to win (if you believe atmosphere makes a difference). As well as being slightly unfair (not that I'd blame Burnley for doing it, if I was their fan I'd be fuming if I got moved). Plus, would be nice if more Rovers fans got to see us win!

If we get the normal away allocation of 2,000-2,200 at Turf Moor, I'll be extremely disappointed (although not surprised) if we give them a load of tickets behind the net. No doubt certain eyes in the boardroom will be glowing at the thought of fleecing a load of Burnley fans, even at the expense of any possibly 'advantage'. I appreciate they have season ticket holders in the CFS and understand their rationale, but my view is we shouldn't give them north of 5,000 at Ewood. It must be a psychological advantage having the end behind the goal packed with your fans - at the very least I hope we massively reduce their allocation. At least when we give PNE the lot we get the same treatment at Deepdale.

Fully agree. Seemed like a great lad too. Remember he ended a long goal drought the next season at Goodison and I was chuffed for him. Always followed his slightly nomadic career afterwards.

Surprised he didn't do well there, he's done a good job everywhere else. He started well but it fizzled out last year and this year has been desperately poor by all accounts. Sure he will go somewhere else and do well enough, but Boro definitely needed something different. All set up for their 'new manager bounce' when we play them in 2-3 weeks!

I genuinely have no idea. I was concerned about Saturday's match and didn't see us winning, so happy to see us win (despite it not being a vintage performance). Cardiff are a funny side. Looked good at times under Morison, consensus seems to be he deserved more time. There doesn't appear to be any imminent plans to replace him either. They seemed to give the Dingles a good game on the weekend, but this one should be there for the taking really if (and that's a big 'if') we turn up. I predict a dour 1-1 draw to break the run of no draws but to reinforce the infuriating inconsistency we demonstrate. As a Cardiff resident I'll be there, feel free to give me a message if you want pub recommendations. As a quick rule of thumb, I'd avoid pubs in the vicinity of the ground - Canton can be quite rough, and the non-rough pubs in Leckwith aren't the best. City centre is your best bet - can then get a taxi to the ground or a train to Grangetown/Ninian Park - or it's a 30-40 mins walk.

England should get out of the group comfortably but not sure on the last sentence. Wales aren't at the level of England unsurprisingly but have beaten/drawn with Austria, Ukraine, Belgium, Czech Republic in the last year alone. Not the same pedigree as England but hardly tantamount to playing some part-timers, especially with the additional flavour of it being a 'derby' of sorts. USA aren't pushovers either. England should win all 3 but if England get 7 points I'd be amused at the knives being out for Southgate. Tournament football is about peaking at the right time - after all, England drew with Scotland last Euros and still made the final! As a Cardiff resident, I hope Wales do well. The squad seems to perform greater than the sum of its parts, with an unbelievable team spirit. The atmosphere at the home international games are generally superb too - thousands stood up and making an almighty din. One of the benefits of having a siege mentality and feeling like underdogs every game. Think Wales will give England a good game but lose narrowly, although if England score early it could be a heavy scoreline.

Can't see us winning this one - we seem to struggle particularly against well organised, physical teams (and have done for a while, but especially this year). Hopefully we find a way - type of win that would offer reassurance we are progressing.

A few contributions from me, not sure if they've been covered yet - apologies if so. James Thomas played a few games for us early on in 2000-2001 - no idea what happened to him! Think he even scored once. Kaba Diawara - didn't he score in the 6-1 hammering of Rochdale (I think) where Dunny got a hat-trick of penalties? Vratislav Gresko - remember 10 year old me rating him but no idea what happened to him! We had a few decent left backs in our time in the top flight. Scored a hugely deflected goal vs Spurs I think! Francis Jeffers - his fall from grace is quite well documented but I forget he ever played for us! Our lower league spell between 2012 and 2017 had loads of forgettable players. Alex Marrow has been covered above but he's a main one. Likewise Ben Marshall - he was brilliant for us at times but another I totally forgot about.

Haven't caught the podcast yet - why was Rhodes being defended? Just criticising his performance?

Glad there's an international break. Can see us struggling in this game - Millwall are the sort of well organised, physical team who have overpowered us this season. Hope I'm wrong, but can see another Stoke/Bristol City.

Very strange decision. Number 2s really work long term, and it's not like he's taking over from a successful manager with the foundations in place for success. Once or twice I've seen them this season and they've looked either superb (Birmingham) or woeful. They seem to struggle in front of goal, a problem that has plagued them for a while now.

Seen some talk about 'exciting football' this season, but to me any excitement has been few and far between. The wins vs QPR and Swansea were based on good organisation (and two poor oppositions), but they certainly weren't exciting, as delighted as I was with both results. Swansea we scored 3 but were extremely clinical - not that this is a criticism. Other than those games, we've beat West Brom (didn't watch it but sounded all hands on deck), Blackpool (played some really nice stuff there) and Watford (likewise, really good performance). At the same time, we've put in some truly rotten performances. Bristol City, Luton and Reading stand out - the latter 2 are as bad as anything I've seen in years following Rovers. I'm still yet to see a really clearly defined style of play since we made the managerial shift, at least not consistently. More likely to play it out from the back, a few triangles, but lacking the fluidity and adventurousness that had previously been discussed. It'll take time and I'm not criticising JDT or expecting miracles, but it has to be said that the Luton/Reading games could easily be the 2 most toothless performances I've seen from us at this level. In neither game did we lay a glove on the opposition or look like scoring.

Got a last minute ticket for this one - will have to brave the train stop in London with all the crowds! No idea how this game will go. I'm trying to not get too excited as we usually flatter to deceive when I do. If I had to make a prediction I think we'll play well but only manage our first draw of the season - which wouldn't be shocking.

On the flipside, we had a new manager win at Swansea (lost last year), new manager win at home to West Brom (lost last year) and a not-quite-new manager win at Blackpool (lost last year). Such is the hot and cold nature of this league (and Rovers!)

What is everyone's gut feeling regarding the ticket requirements to go to Burnley? Season ticket/membership are a cert, but 2 or 3 away games too do we think? Heard a few murmurs their fans are being turfed out of the Cricket Field for it (not surprised given some of the handbags in there this year vs Blackpool) but not sure what our allocation is.

This is spot on. The journey took so many detours. We went from possession hungry (and often tedious) to counter attacking to Bradley Johnson in a false 9. And like you said, it was usually Mowbray spitting the dummy about something.

Went to bed last night absolutely chuffed to pieces. A great win and sounds like a great performance. What a goal from Hyam too - and Hedges probably deserved his moment more than anyone.

Goes without saying how brilliant Wharton was. Hyam and Carter similarly brilliant. Impressed too with Travis in a makeshift position and Pickering after a tough start. But a word for Bradley Dack. Superb pass, always had an eye for a good ball, looked a class above most. Hope this is the first sign of many that his ‘demise’ was very premature and some of his nay sayers were wrong. Been a lot of nonsense about him lately.

01254 372 000 - the ticket office are usually pretty helpful.

To turn this on its head - there has been no noticeable interest in signing/loaning Vale. Sadly we aren't likely to be top of the list for players who are sought after by a number of clubs.