Exiled_Rover

Burger should be off - two bookable offences, neither of which he's been punished for.

We need to bring Leonard or Telalovic on - there's just nothing going on upfront.

He's got an awful lot of time to improve - but yes, right now he's the type of player who wins you a game, but not the type that sets the platform for you. Fortunately his CM partner is the latter.

Funny how we all watch the same game and come away with different views. I think Moran has been absolutely fantastic today. They brought Travis on at RB because they're terrified of the Stoke RB overlapping, which is why Brittain is playing on the left of our midfield today.

I watch us play every week and come away each time thinking "if only we had a 6' striker with a bit of pace". We're playing with a False 9 again today with Dolan upfront. It really does stifle our attack.

I feel sorry for him - he's played three killer passes today that more talented attacking players would have scored from. He needs to clean up the rest of his game, for sure.

We had three CBs on the pitch, i.e. we have height on the pitch for once.

I think they've got Brittain playing on the left for that very reason. He roasted Dolan twice last season who simply didn't have the athleticism to track him.

Looks like Scott Wharton is coming off.

And he was their best player when fit. I think he was signed to add depth to the ST position, with the plan being to sign someone over the top of him (and loan Leonard out). Instead the taps were turned off and he became our marquee signing of the summer.

Batty ran out to warm up when Travis went down with that injury in the second half against PNE (did he end up in the advertising boards?). Garrett was summoned over from his warm up by JDT for a chat - then jogged back down the sideline. From the way he interacted with Batty (who clearly repeatedly asked Garrett what JDT had said), it was clear Batty was not an option to replace Travis if he couldn't continue.

My point is, and I'm sorry if it went over your head, that you cherry picked one of the best Goalkeepers in the world as a comparison. He's significantly better than Pears.

It certainly was a boxing match - which is a shame because I paid to see a football match. The referee shouldn't be allowed to officiate again.

I really like JDT, but I'm starting to get frustrated at his refusal to give Ennis, Leonard and Telalovic a crack. You can't continue to start games with two slow, sub 5'8" guys playing centrally. Both Swansea and PNE set a high line against us at Ewood, knowing that neither Szmodics or Dolan could run in behind them. When we did move the ball closer to their goal they just set up on their penalty spot knowing we couldn't whip dangerous crosses in. It's maddening.

Can you have a word with your old mates and get that referee struck off, please?

I'm not going to get into a detailed breakdown of the match itself - they took their chances and we didn't, that's football. I will say though that it was very telling that every single PNE player went over and shook the referee's hand and not a single Rovers player (or indeed the manager) acknowledged him when he was stood there, preening, with the ball at the end of the match in the penalty area near the Blackburn End. If they actually assess referees then he can never be allowed to referee again - I've never seen a worse performance. Utterly abysmal.

PNE playing 4-4-f'ing-2. They're going to hammer our box with long balls and crosses today.

'Cos he's a fantastic footballer?

Wayne Rooney scored 11 Premier League goals as an 18 year old. What's your point?

We would be if you replaced Szmodics with the immobile Dack.

So many posters are hell bent on us playing 4-3-3 - they suggest it every match thread. 🤣

A 4-2-3-1 can play as an exotic 4-4-2 if you like.

Absolutely no chance we were bringing in a PL loan at CB / RB and an experienced Championship CB. We had to loan Buckley out to balance out the books ffs.

He's an CAM / Attacking Midfielder with license to bomb on. Dolan is essentially playing as a False 9, which is why our CF isn't the most advanced player.

He's also 7+ years younger than Kaminski (and crucially for this administration, a damn sight cheaper).