It absolutely isn't helping. This is one of our most serious problems at the moment (and we have a few), we seem to think that keeping possession is more important than anything else, but have no idea what to do with it. This season, we have had more possession than the opposition in 12 games out of 15. We have had 60 percent possession or more in 6 games. These were Charlton (L), Oldham (W, cup), Cardiff (D 0-0), Luton (L), Forest (D), Hudds (D). The only win when we 'control' the game so much being when we had 73% possession against League Two Oldham and only scraped victory from defeat in injury time. We let them have 12 shots with only 27% possession, only managing 3 more than that ourselves. We had 67% possession against crappy Luton and yet hit the target twice to their five. Charlton was similar - 62% possession but we hit the target twice and they hit it five times. Cardiff, we had 61% possession but had 9 shots, 2 on target. They had 14, 4 on target. Hudds nearly matched our shooting too (12 off, 2 on, to our 13, 3) despite our 64% possession. The only 60% plus game where we properly outmatched the opposition for shooting was Forest. In 4 out of these 6 possession-thrashing games, we had less shots on target. We also had less possession, yet won, against Boro and Reading. That's half our league wins, even though there are only 3 games where we had less possession. We are actually statistically much, much better when not controlling possession, that's how awful we are at being effective with it. The personnel and/or the formation are clearly much better adapted to playing counterattacking football and/or defending when we let the opposition have more of the ball.This matches with what I've seen, personally. Counter attacks carve us to pieces frequently, and we do have the pace to transition quickly. The stats are utterly damning of our possession-based game. Took the stats from the google match reports btw, may be some discrepancies with other sources as there usually are with possession in particular. I wonder if these stats form part of our new-look statistical analysis! Can't imagine so.

Agree if we are going to use the same system. But personally I'm sick of us using two defensive mids like we have for years now. It hasn't stopped our defence sucking. I'd rather see someone like Holtby or Rothwell there, playing just slightly ahead of Travis and providing some creativity and drive forward. Obviously though, this isn't going to happen.

Might be the worst I've seen him play, tonight, Travis. He looked clumsy...although next to Johnson he looked like a goddamn gazelle doing somersaults. I don't know what's happened to that guy, he started the season so well.

It's worth noting actually, with our next 3 games being so difficult, that we are probably about to be cut adrift from the top half, let alone the playoffs. Until now, it has generally been 'oh we are till only 3, 4, 6 points off the playoffs'...well now we are 3 points away from moving up ONE spot, from 14th to 13th!! The league is starting to take shape. Three straight defeats could leave us very, very far from the top half already.

Yep, we are playing 5th (away), 3rd (home) and 2nd (away). On paper you can only anticipate three straight defeats the way we are playing, and even the Loons surely can't accept that. That said, games aren't played on paper and we have a tendency to lose the games we expect to win, and win the games we expect to lose.

So that's 1.21 points per game last season (after Preston away), 1.15 per game so far this season, and 1.19 per game in total since that match. Which would give 55 points over a 46-game season. Derby got 6th last season with 74, or 1.6 per game.

OK, to try to avoid talking Mowbray briefly...I think our problem in attack is that we are still setting up with the same formation we used when Dack and Graham were linking up to good effect, but attempting to play a different style which doesn't suit it. We also have Graham's legs going, whilst the replacements simply aren't that kind of player. We've assumed that Gally is because of his height, but it's clear he can't hold up like DG and doesn't have his intelligence. We are now essentially playing one up front, without any players capable of fulfilling the role (DG still can on a good day, but that's it). I believe we need to go two up top.

Christ. I've actually stuck up for Armstrong and feel he is a lot better than most are crediting him for (if infuriatingly inconsistent). But he was utter bollocks tonight. And not the dog's either. Dog shite though.

And I won enough money to buy a double cheeseburger after betting against us at 1-0 down. I don't like to do it, but I feel like I need an upside to our inevitable fuckups now. I'm also ludicrously, ludicrously unlucky, so my bets usually fail...but even my bad luck being used on a bet against us couldn't change how shite we were.

I think the writing is on the wall now for TM. Any other club, even the patient ones, would have sacked him after this performance. I've wanted him gone for a while now, but after a while following Rovers and football in general, you get a feel for when a manager's doom simply isn't going to be reversible and is a matter of time. I feel tonight was that moment (although it was probably always coming to this moment eventually as he isn't up to it). The only question now is when Pune will decide they've had enough. They're highly unpredictable with manager sackings, historically. When they like them, as they clearly do with TM, it takes a lot longer though. Mowbray out.

That's Nyambe not starting for the next 20 games.

Ah thank you, now I have advance warning to get the noose ready.

He's putting it because he thinks it's what the manager will go for. For a sec I thought you must be new here and I was about to tell you about Mercer's match predictions ?

Buckley too. I'm curious why they're all out as well. LT not clear.

We did, and the goals were both very late.

We also took off three of those four by the end. The manager is the problem. Attacking-wise, the main thing we are short of (aside from the correct selection) is a goalscoring striker. Failing to land one is also the manager's fault.

https://www.howardluksmd.com/sports-medicine/partial-anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-tears/

Last one sums it up best. Similar shots stats. We can have all the possession and passing accuracy we like, but the shots still being even in spite of this shows that we get penetrated much more easily than we penetrate. Feel free to make lewd jokes about that of course guys.

I'm not a doctor, physio etc but that sounds like bollocks (no offence). Tears can get bigger. Running on them seems a good way to make that happen. As I said, no medical qualifications here so if I'm wrong I'm wrong. Just doesn't sound right to me.

Side note, as soon as Cunningham took that knock in the game I said take him off. It looked immediately worrying and I know how crap we are at LB without him. Instead we tried to have him play on for a few minutes, which can only have worsened it.

The kind of injury he has picked up, at this stage of his career...as good as he's been for us, I'd be wary of signing him permanently now.

From the LT: A first goal in Rovers colours for Lewis Holtby wasn’t enough to inspire his side to a home win Inspire a win? Hell, it wasn't even enough to keep him on the pitch! Even with an assist and being excellent throughout.

I think it was Millwall last season? In January. Last one I recall anyway.

We sold Dann at a loss.

Yep, got bored of listing them all so didn't even mention those! We didn't have them available before the recent injury crisis anyway. This whole defence thing has been mismanaged beyond belief!