Equally, Szmodics was a nailed-on dud at this time last year.

Good definition. Only McNamee in my time could be expected to do that every game. Hughes did it in midfield in the cup final. Can think of plenty from the past who would do that when provoked.

As indeed was Sir Sammy - the current top scorer in the division - this time last year. Its beginning to seem to me that a) it takes time for players to adapt to JDT-ball, and b) especially as the number 9.

Excellent win thanks to three excellent goals, as most of ours seem to be these days, all sweet finishes at the end of great moves. With Hill at CB and Tronstadt in front of him, we have got rid of our soft centre, they both really know their jobs and do them excellently. Young Wharton is an enigma for me; no-one better at receiving, controlling and giving the ball in tight spaces, but his adventurous forward passes pretty much all missed their mark today. And, in the twenty mins after big bro got sent off, Adam might as well have gone off with him. He’s not yet the complete midfielder, easily bypassed and seems to react to rather than pre-empt runners off the ball. Early days though. The keeper debate seems to have forgotten that just 40 miles down the road we also scored three but lost thanks to Pears gifting Ipswich 3 goals. The new lad is nervy but I thought his save from the header crucial so soon after we scored our third. Seen plenty of keepers rooted to the spot for those.

I don’t watch Prem games so it was interesting to see from that perspective. As has been mentioned, no fancy Dans in their team, all very skillful and very physical. But the biggest difference I thought was thir movement - very impressive. To get a cup upset you need to be rock solid and lucky at the back, plus clinical with the very few chances you get, and we were neither. Dozed off for a short corner then the pathetic flap, two bad choices by keeper and Brittain for the second, missed two one-on-ones, so we deserved nothing but at least didn’t get shellacked. Wharton Snr’s passing out is the reason he won’t be a starter under JRT. Wharton Jnr clearly has prem level vision and passing, but I couldn’t see him getting in Chelsea’s team, he needs to keep working on his off the ball stuff and put in more miles IMO. No-one else other than Hill looks likely to play at the top level.

Still very much in this. The only player looking out of his depth for me so far is Moran. You need your keeper to play a blinder in these ties and that wasn’t it.

Tronstad easily our best player first half, Carter second half. Best piece of skill/vision was Dolan for the goal, closely followed by our keeper’s one save. Sammy and Siggi were very poor which really blunted our attacking play. Good little cameo by Ennis at the end, got us up the pitch a few times when we really needed it.

That’s how I read it too, the illegal bit is the £3million used on something unrelated to running (ha!) a football club.

Good stuff. Keeper - solid Hill - excellent Carter - out-matched, too much shirt-pulling, penalty in waiting Hyam - OK Pickering - good Tronstadt - best midfielder half by anyone this season; box-to-box contributions, gets back a lot quicker than the jogging teenager. JRC - quiet except for the first goal. Sammy - should’ve shot Markanday - very effective, two assists Dolan - actually quite good Siggy - constant threat

And the three combine to score a great teamwork goal!

I wasn’t really looking forward to the game till I saw the universal condemnation of the line up on here, so just bunged Roverstv £10 to watch a classic away win. 1-2 (Dublin; Oggy og, Fergie’s elbow)

The one hard fact I would dispute is that it’s taking two or three men to stop Wharton. From my eyes it’s been mostly one just following him around, and it’s not taking a Bremner or Stiles to do it either.

Who were the old players on the pitch in the pre-game thing?

Pears - keeps the shirt on Weds Brittain - best game for us so far Carter - our best defender IMO, give him a bigger, even longer contract. Hyam - reliable, better than Lenihan Pickering - learning the JDT way, did the JRC midfield switch thing well in the first half Travis - Travis Wharton - some silky touches but man, he needs to be better when we don’t have the ball, offered very little defensively and I’d love to see his running stats. Hedges - good game, unlucky not to get two goals Sammy - love the guy Dolan - doesn’t have it to play the JDT way and that first miss was pathetic Gallagher - see Dolan Moran - worst home debut I can recall, little boy lost Telalavic - I liked him, some good passes under pressure in the last ten Hill - I liked his awareness and tracking Leonard - not there yet but I have high hopes.

While I don’t claim to understand the intricacies of JDT’s tactical approach, I’m fairly sure throwing seven random blokes in wouldn’t get the best out of it. The current players have been learning the system for a year, so if anyone can pick it up after a couple of weeks, it couldn’t be much good. Sammy was in the U21s this time last year. But, with four new guys on the bench, several of todays team are on notice they have to perform not just today but every game.

The differences between what JDT and GB say to me just sound like the different perspectives that the DoF / Coach structure introduces: JDT wants more and better players whereas GB has to balance the reduced budget. Under the old system, Mowbray had to make the squad/money trade-offs himself.

You are assuming 1500/2000 fans won’t go as a result, but clearly someone else is assuming they will. Given Cardiff fans’ reputation, putting them in a same stand as Rovers fans would’ve been madness.

Is that a young Shilton being rounded by John Connelly?

The first thought that occurred to me was, is this a sign of how close to the financial precipice we are? Let’s hope it’s just all about Waggott being Waggott.

Bolton in the 70s was far more intimidating. Turd was a great day out, Burnden was like the first 20 mins of Indiana Jones.

If you haven’t been hit by a brick at the Turd, you weren’t standing close enough to the Longside dividing fence - I got hit by a quarter of one and my mate next to me by a golf ball - the inbreds didn’t even shout “Fore!”

I can understand it if we had been largely paper losses, but it’s been entirely cash, most of which has gone in wages to not very good footballers. Who could benefit (and how) from disbursing that much cash on something that remains mostly value-less?

Plenty I’m sure. Two nailbiters spring to mind from the Furphy era: Away to Willington 0-0 Home to Altringham 0-0 and they hit the bar late on.

Same. We hadn’t played Burnley for 7 years and they were two divisions above us - I barely thought about them.

Really enjoyed that. Pretty much flawless defending, some great counter-attacks, and the goal of the season that epitomised Arte et Labore. Pears - very assured performance, two good saves and a crucial brave header in the first half that dealt with the only ball that undid us. JRC - had his work cut out against their best player, did fine. Carter/Hyam - both excellent. Brittain - upgrade on Pickering. Needs to be more choiceful on when he tries to beat his man in our half. Wharton - fabulous vision and touches make up for occasional sloppiness. Travis - Fabulous for the goal: wins it on our D when we are under the cosh and a few seconds later he’s almost through on goal. Hedges - his best game for ages: provided a good outlet, involved in most of our good moves and a truly sublime goal having run 70 yards to get there. Leonard - not yet Dolan - not ever