Dack signs new 3 year contract, merry Xmas!

That was a good watch for a Monday night. I'd be picking Dolan and even Chapman over Gallagher going off that, of course he won't do though. Dack looks some way off being match fit, understandably so. Reserves don't play again till the end of Jan though so that's not ideal.

I'm at the point now where I think I'd pot him. His stubbornness or blind stupidity keep playing a failing system is taking the Michael. Even Gallagher himself knows he's about as useful as a willy in a lesbian orgy playing out wide. If he lasts till January, which tbh I fully expect him to, Ben and Dacky may help it look a respectable season, but it will still be another mid table one.

We'll win this 2-1 chaps, its gonna be another late show though. Based on stats we'll take an early lead, Stoke will equalise in the final quarter of the first half. Both teams will cancel each other out most of the second half, but in the 88th minute Dolan will get round the back and square it for Armo to fire into the roof of the net. As for the team, I think he'll go similar to last time but swap Buckley for Holtby. Unless he also decides to give Bell a go, he did look brassed off at Douglas the other night when he hooked him for Bell. Personally I'd persevere with Douglas's for at least a few more games. Its easy to forget that Bell has been poor for a few years, Douglas for a few games. I don't think he's gone garbage all of a sudden, but he's started a lot slower than I hoped. MY team would be: Kaminski Nyambe Lenihan Ayala Douglas Johnson Holtby Rothwell Dolan Elliott Armo I'd like to see Dolan and Elliot supporting and interchanging sides, keeping Stoke guessing. We've become predictable and laboured since Ben unfortunately got injured and we really do need to change things.

What a ridiculous statement, and you see a lot of them on here. Just to clarify, if someone wants Mowbray out they're a glory hunter? A part time fan? What exactly are you saying it makes them? I'm not after Mowbrays head just now,but I can see why people are without labelling them.

Not sure Douglas will start on Saturday, Mowbray looked pissed off when the camera panned over to him after another wayward Douglas pass went out of play and a minute or 2 later Bell was on the pitch.

Did anyone else listen with Rotherham commentary? I don't like to laugh too much as others misfortune but the fella was literally getting choked up and sounded as though the tears were going to start at full time. Went from a chirpy chappy to an emotional wreck, bloody football eh.

Pretty much called it, although a bit later than expected! Very poor tonight and again missing something in the final 3rd most of the game, a Brereton shaped hole in my opinion. There's nobody dragging defenders out of position, nobody making those driving runs either, we've gone from being bloody hard work to defend against to being very, very basic. Of course this may well revert back in January if players touted to be back then suffer no further setbacks. As it stand we need to stagger and bumble our way through the next 4 games or so. Douglas again was poor, looks nervous and again perhaps an indirect consequence of poor cover in front of him. Regardless of that he needs to improve though. The knack of late goals is a fairly unfamiliar trait and would usually result in a few bruises from falling over seats, steps and fellow fans. Not sure what to attribute it to though? Is it a never say die attitude, improved fitness, the increased number of subs? Or just good old fashioned luck? Not sure, but I'll take it, not least tonight when quite frankly it was undeserved.

We'd cut through Rotherham like a hot knife through butter if Brereton was playing, sadly we aren't finding this quite so easy without him. I think we'll edge it 2-1 which will do, but looking forward to his return and banging a few more goals in again.

What should be banned? All social media? Harvey Elliott should be waving his willy about on concert square right now, if u think him loving scoring a goal, at 17, for a club of our magnitude aint right, then I really do despair!

He's 17 years old, of course he's going to be buzzing his little head off scoring a peach of a goal against the league leaders, I don't see any issue whatsoever.

We could, it obviously then becomes more expensive though and pretty sure we wouldn't go down that road!

Thought you would have an opinion like you do on most things, my bad.

Souness remains my favourite manager in my time, can't think of many managers in the game currently with his no nonsense approach, a sign of the times sadly, he'd probably get reported to the FA for bullying or something now.

Yes, but who fits that criteria?

Maybe its a good point to ask, again, who people would replace him with?

Erm. Bell can't defend.

So frustrating again, but we can't just keep saying we were unlucky (we were though). Bemused by the selection of Del over Ayala. Was he brought in to play second fiddle or is it fitness related? Baffled. We really do need to go on a bit of a hot streak now though. One positive was some decent set pieces and at times we really opened them up, I literally cannot wait till big Ben is back though, we miss him.

He's had a mixed start, partly because of injury, but if he stays fit for a decent amount of time now Ayala will be our best defender by some distance and it will show, absolutely no doubt about that. It will help massively if he can go say at least 10 games or more with the same defensive partner, presumably Lenihan. The best teams have the best defensive partnerships at the back, its actually ridiculous how long it is since we've had one. Injuries and suspensions can bugger off for a while now, give is a break 🙏

Its getting on my tits a bit this losing points to the teams above us. I can honestly say I don't think any of them have really shown us up over the course of a game, they've simply been more clinical and we've had blatant lapses in concentration that have cost us. Reading and Watford both games we conceded 2 goals in quick succession. Bournemouth we gave as good as we got and a few quality strikes did us over. Not saying its acceptable for one minute, just frustrating. And it must change, on Saturday it will. People are being harsh on Douglas in my opinion, given his game time the past few seasons he is a bit rusty. No its not ideal, but now is the time, if possible, to stick with a settled back 4. The commentary alluded to how many different combos we'd had this season on Wednesday- admittedly this is largely down to injuries. Ayala and Lenihan for me and the full backs pick themselves. I'd be inclined to slot Dolan in for Gallagher too. They'll be preparing to face Gallagher so throw a spanner in the works and let Dolan run at them, 2 totally different players to face up against. We looked too flat on Wednesday and Dolan cab bring a spark and some energy. Whilst people vented frustration at Armo, he was feeding off scraps. My second change would be Downing for Holtby. Largely ineffective again the other night and I'd like to see some quality through balls from Downing for Mr Armstrong to run onto. Also gives us better delivery options on set pieces, which have been woeful. 3-1 Rovers.

Whilst not being a Mowbray fan boy, or being totally against him being replaced, the issue still remains who replaces him? Chris Hughton has probably been mentioned more than most on here as the saviour, his Forest team are nervously looking at relegation spots rather than play offs. Warnock as well, his Boro team are below us after getting stuffed off PNE of all teams.

Didn't deserve to lose that, 1 goal was always going to win it though I'm afraid and wasn't to be. Actually defended pretty well for the most part and Williams didn't look like he was short of match practice to be fair. Could be worse, we could have got panned 3-0 off PNE like Boro. A few players looked shattered tonight and it'll be a relief to have a home game at weekend and let Norwich face the long trip, they won't just come and defend either. Really do think we could have done with Big Ben tonight, he's not even training again yet though so assume the injury might be a bit worse than they first thought? We really need to sort the corners out, wtf were THEY tonight? It looked like they'd been practicing of a sort, not sure what they were doing though apart from a shit effort at a conga. Remember Mulgrew banging a corner in against this lot in the early ko on a Sunday a few years ago, I don't think we've ever replaced his corners have we?

Really like the look of the team, hope Del hasn't been rushed back in. What would be nice is to go 90 mins with no fresh injuries 🤞

Lenihan card stands, appeal waved away just been confirmed

Ridiculous if they don't yet know the outcome, how hard can it be to look at a quick video clip of the incident? Or does it not matter so much cos it's 'only Blackburn'?