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

I’ve seen guys miss a tackle for my rugby league team and they’re subbed off instantly.

If I’d got a £1 for every time I’ve seen that happen I’d be rich. Div 4 Rochdale 3 - Div 1 Rovers 1 in the League Cup Semi Final was the first time for me but it wasn’t the last by a very long chalk.

Some of them need the hard word after tonight. For instance - I’d be saying to Dolan “ if I see you running with the ball towards your own goals again I’ll sub you off right away “.

I hope he said a bit more in the changing room.

I was looking at their team before kick off and the thought went through my mind - “ if these click we could be in trouble “. They’ve got some good players.

I would have held Cantwell back also but let’s see how it goes. Eustace sees what they can do in training.

Strong bench.

Dora Bryan - All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle

I’d put Pickering and Hedges in the same boat. OK to have on the bench but they won’t get you into the top six at the end of the season. If we’re happy with not being a top six club there’s not much us fans can do about it. I’d still start with Hedges on Tuesday because I don’t think ACD is ready as a starting player. Same goes for Cantwell. Just my opinion, other ones are available, and probably just as valid.

What’s OGS done since he got the bullet ? I genuinely don’t know. Is he still in football ?

Or maybe JRC, he’s played left back in emergencies. I don’t think Cantwell will start.

That’s the problem. The issues are much bigger than what goes on out on the pitch.

With the possible exception of Weimann I’d expect that to be our starting line up.

Jeannie C Riley - Harper Valley PTA

I’m looking at what Southgate did for the national team. That’s why I hope he gets the Utd job. Dull, unimaginative, turgid, boring , you name it - that’s Southgate’s style. I’d rather have Eustace any day of the week and I’m being serious about that. Utd fans know that, which is why they don.t want him at any price. Being honest, with the possible exception of Pep the job is too big, the malaise goes too far, for any current football manager on the planet.

I used to think like that but I’ve changed my mind recently. As we’ve seen this season, in the modern game it’s not as easy to defeat a team playing with 10 as it used to be. What you can be sure of though is it will kill the game as a spectacle as the 10 set out to defend the last third of the pitch for the rest of the game.