In the great game of “ snakes and ladders “ that is football management Eustace just landed on a medium sized snake. He needs to throw a couple of double sixes sharpish.

That last goal was a shocker given we were seconds away from what might be a crucial point come next May. The left back, the centre halves, the keeper all at fault.

They could have had him for peanuts last New Year. Now they’ll have to pay big bucks to get him.

I’ve probably defended him more than most but he’s going backwards at the moment because the flaws in his game have never been ironed out.

Sadly that’s the truth of it. We haven’t got the players to breeze up at clubs like Plymouth and expect to win in style The last time we got promoted and had a team that could win at places like Plymouth in a canter we had Dunn, Duff, Jansen, Friedel, Berg, Flitty etc etc . How many of our current team would get into that team. I’d say not one.

I was thinking that, they don’t take a backward step.

When you’re playing 6 at the back plus the keeper we shouldn’t be conceding like we have been doing.

10/10

Joe Brown And The Bruvvers - A Picture Of You

The trouble with Dolan is when he has a bad game it’s really bad. Dog shit level. Hedges has about one decent game in five. Not good enough and never will be.

Preston look like a pub team but being an effective pub team can get you a long way in this league. You definitely have to be prepared to fight them before you get to play football.

When I saw Carter giving that winger half a pitch to run into I could have cried. You can’t let a player gather the ball, turn, and still have 20 yards to get up to speed to run at you. You’re dead meat as a full back against any decent winger in those circumstances. As for the other full back - what can I say. If Pickering never pulls the shirt on again it won’t be too soon. Shocking defending for their second goal. You’re seconds away from a vital point and he just stood and watched their guy head the ball back across goal. That’s not the first time he’s let that happen recently.

I said before the game that playing two screening midfield players with a back four that rarely cross the half way line would give our front four too much to do. Even four really good players would have their work cut out and we haven’t got four really good players up front. Beck coming back will make a difference to a certain extent but I think we need a change of personnel or a change of system.

Get that Wigan v Leigh on. Watch some men playing sport.

The Flaming Ember - Westbound Number Nine A nice bit of blue eyed soul.

I expect you’re right with that formation, maybe not the players though. What worries me is the defensive back six , it asks a lot of the other four attacking players. Neither of Tronstad or Travis are going to create much in the last third of the pitch. Neither will Pickering. The problem is that Tronstad is probably our most consistent player and Travis is the captain, so neither are likely to be dropped. What I wouldn’t give to have a Wharton in there to make the play. If that formation doesn’t keep a clean sheet we’re in trouble because I can’t see us scoring many.

Be careful Herbie, I got in really hot water a while ago when I criticised the height of our players.

He might get a game if he’s brought his boots with him.

Fuck ups have to have consequences or nobody really learns from them. I’d have Pears and Dolan on the bench. I’d like to bench several more but we haven’t got the players. Pickering would be playing his last game for me.

I like the lad but I’m afraid you’re right. He has no game management skills what so ever.

I agree. Dolan played Hyam into trouble but it was still recoverable if Hyam had have dealt with it properly instead of trying to pass it to another player who was in an equally bad position. Not that any of that excuses Dolan. Too much passing on of the responsibility to deal with the situation.

Too many times with Pears in goal you find yourself thinking - “ how did that end up in the back of the net ? “

I can take losing but I’ll never take being out enthused in a game. That’s another thing I’ve said more times about Rovers than I care to think about. I thought we’d turned a corner in that respect but obviously we haven’t.

Decision making ability is as crucial as ball playing ability. You’ll never thrive as a player if you haven’t got both but you can be an ok player without terrific ball skills if you’re wide awake mentally and switched on. As Souey used to say - “ You need to be able to sense danger before it happens “.

Billy “ The Kid “ Emerson - Red Hot