Exiled_Rover

We've lined up with 3 at the back once in 9 competitive fixtures this season. I don't know why people are so obsessed with it. JDT will drop into it to see games out, or (like at Sheffield Utd) if he thinks we need to set up more defensively, but 4-2-3-1 is his primary formation. Of that list we know Ayala will miss time with injuries, we know Phillips has just turned 17 and needs to be managed carefully (if he's even here...) and it looks like Mola is a bit of a utility player who primarily plays LB. We have cover at CB, but it's hardly a logjam - especially with 2 games a week.

No, I think they can do it once a week, or 30 minutes per game, with Buckley and Travis handling the bulk of the duties.

So we need to spend £10k a week on another Bradley Johnson journeyman? No, ta. Blackpool scored 6 in their last 2 games (against Bristol City and Burnley no less) and barely had a sniff against us. They're a decent side at this level.

We were missing 4 first team players - and we've won 4 games already. I'm very pleased with the start JDT has made. I'm not getting carried away, but I just don't see the need to spend limited resources on central midfield when we have Travis, Buckley, Morton, Wharton, Edun (at a pinch) and Garrett to play there. We play a midfield 2 and, as you saw against Blackpool, they're meant to be comfortable on the ball and act as pivots rather than just break play up.

For all the shit I give him (he's not very good), he wouldn't be doing his job correctly if he wasn't trawling message boards.

With Priti Patel in charge that's a dangerous assumption.

We've just seen our 18 year old and Liverpool's 19 year old play with slippers on in a dominant performance - and technically the 2 starters (although I wonder how long that will last for!) were on the bench or playing RB... yep people are still pining after some midfield destroyer. Beggars belief, really.

Mowbray would never have played Phillips and Wharton. Credit to Broughton and JDT for a) recognising their talents and b) trusting them.

I can only imagine they'd had a few drinks in the office and had the Blackpool - Rovers game on in the background. "Go on then, for a giggle let's put in a bid".

I mean he's played at a level only perhaps Wharton and Phillips will be able to dream of. He knows how football works - money talks.

Does anyone know if the game is repeated on SKY?

And I'll tell you what, the striker that scored did NOT look happy. He clearly wants away.

Travis played well there in the second half against Stoke. We really didn't have anyone else to put there - not unless you played Carter there and asked Phillips to play twice in the week. I think the Edun sub was just game management as we've got another game in 3 days time. - needed fresh legs on and we simply don't have the squad (not with 4 out injured atm). I'd also add that Wharton and Morton absolutely bossed it in the second half against Stoke.

No.

They play different positions.

Heard the same from someone who knows their dad - he's right.

All this talk about teams tracking Phillips and Wharton sneaks in a performance like that on his full debut. Bloody hell, what a player he is.

Anyone else notice that kid in the crowd in the Liverpool shirt - with two older women. The PL clubs get their hooks into them early. 🤮

On reflection I think Travis went on a run and Morton dropped in to fill for him - just looked very odd.

Has he switched Travis and Morton?

Bloody hell I wish Sky were this critical when Mowbray was in charge. Can't stop mentioning the 3 defeats. When Mowbray was going through one of his death spirals he was a good manager and our current form was brushed over.

Szmodics was concussed on Saturday and is unavailable for selection today.

I'd love to ship JRC, Butterworth, Edun and Vale out - but they'll all be needed at some point during the season, unfortunately. Unless we have a monster transfer deadline day that is.

Genuinely, who else do you play in Dolan's place? Vale isn't up to it at this level - JDT knows that. Burns and Leonard are too young / unknown and need to go out on loan to prove themselves. That's it. That's why we signed Hirst.

Said sick note is probably the best player at the club - we've played him too much at the start of the year already, he shouldn't be asked to play twice a week. Said teenager is a wonderkid that a host of PL clubs want. Wharton has had a bad achilles injury and a niggle to start this year - hardly injury prone. Hyam apparently is an ever present, so there's your Matt Woods guy. We simply can't allocate MORE resources to the position without selling someone first.