I feel he did a bit in his early time with us, but he used to dive for it. Then refs marked his card as a diver it seemed, and now he doesn't even get really blatant fouls.

Now JRC is booked he really, REALLY needs to come off at half time. Accident in waiting for sure. I assume Brown didn't play for the u23s today, so get him on. When else are we going to get to see him?

Even worse than that, a kick given against him!

Joke decision against BBD, he was clearly the one fouled. I dunno where they find all these terrible officials.

Probably more the damage it can do to a player's confidence. Generally I'd probably only do it if I thought the player was finished at the club. But JRC should be hooked in this case.

At present he absolutely is, yes. I can forgive him for being poor fitness-wise (not that he was ever that fit or fast), it's the manager's fault for picking him before he is probably ready, but his decision-making is bollocks, and injury doesn't affect that.

No, but I doubt they've been saying we have one of the highest budgets in the league?

It's not like we didn't already know that. What we also have, however, is a Premier League level academy.

Yep, it never had a chance of success, really poor.

I know it's Valentines Day but Buckley can't hear your high opinion of his testicle. And you didn't even clarify which one.

I mean, I'm not that bad looking.

Ayala's injury has resulted in Brown being added to the bench, don't know if it has been noticed. Could be relevant with how injury prone JRC is though. Tbh I'd have tried him at RB before I gave JRC another throw there. And as I type that, a poor attempt from him to get on the end of a ball there.

I don't think it's our place to mock anyone else's attendances...

Took all of 2 weeks after the window closed for my prediction to come true that we would have 2 or more CBs out at some point. Sending Carter out was stupid. Nothing learnt from the other year when we didn't sign any CBs in Jan, sent one out on loan and were short a week or two later when I think it was Lenihan got injured.

That had better mean a change of formation...

Serious?

Quick trip to specsavers should sort you out.

Giles wasn't in the lineup first posted on here. It was 10 men listed and I hadn't noticed as I'm multitasking. I feel more comfortable now.

Has to be injured if he isn't even on the bench.

I'm not so sure that's what he has done. No LB named. I'm guessing 4-3-3 with Wharton LB. Either that or Buckley is playing LWB.

I'm not sure STDs will be of any help in our promotion campaign, whether at the front or back.

I think Buckley, on the other hand, has been a fairly important part of our counter attacking. Dropping him for a defensive minded replacement reduces our ability to counter attack, meaning we risk just sitting back, with little ability to retaliate, potentially until our walls crack. If Dolan is fit enough for 90, he could be the most sensible replacement. Tbh I expect Buckley will start though.

I think Buckley should probably sit out this game, but putting Johnson in his place doesn't set us up for counter attacking whatsoever. He's far slower, can't nick the ball like Bucko can in the final third to start counters that are already next to the goal, and doesn't have as high quality range of passing to start counters. Not saying that makes him the wrong choice (he wouldn't be mine though), but he really isn't of benefit over Buckley specifically in the sense of counter attacking.

I don't even recall the name Tre Pemberton whatsoever.

Both Great Harwood born, and Derbs was at Darwen and Great Harwood before joining Rovers aged about 17.