1 minute ago, Hasta said:

Exactly. Negative.

You're right of course but that's deliberately an attempt to scrape together the necessary points

I know how this will be received but I feel like someone needs to defend Eustace to an extent.

The tactics yesterday were straightforward - don't lose. He wants to stay up and that's it, there's no extra points for style, just stay in the division. Those tactics didn't work yesterday but I completely understand why he lined up that way and to be fair - not many would have suggested pre-game that the same team would give such a different performance to last week. Its tempting to suggest he should have changed things but if we're honest this squad doesn't have the depth or quality to allow that. There are no game changers on the bench. He's trying to enhance what he sees as our strengths to scrape enough points to stay in the division, nothing more or less.

His interview post game looks awful with his grin but he's trying to keep some positivity around a team that are no doubt hating this season. If he adds to the negativity they don't have a hope in hell in the next 2 games. He is their leader and he needs to show them he believes they can beat Coventry. He doesn't do that by throwing Pears under the bus live on sky sports. He talks so much about togetherness which winds some up but actually thats the only way a club like Rovers can compete when the lifeblood is being sucked away. He cannot allow frustration and negativity to be the prevailing feeling amongst the players.

If he can get us over the line this season I genuinely believe we will see a different approach next.

He picked up an injury during a game that needs surgery, that can happen to anyone. I think it's a bit dramatic to be overly critical of the recruitment team here.

Naive I know but I thought we'd be looking at a decent crowd for this one, doesn't seem it on the seat map at the moment. 

11 minutes ago, J*B said:

Suhail writes and approves the statements on their behalf - it’ll come.

Come on JB, is this something worth us checking in for every 10 mins as I'm currently doing?!

1 minute ago, rigger said:

But Brittain moved inside almost like another center-half to accomadate Gally playing where he was. At no time was Gally a physical presence infront of Brittain.

You're right that this happened at points but that's even more of a reason to bring him on, it gave extra flexibility to a struggling formation. Gally added physically to a midfield being overrun by the extra man

5 minutes ago, rigger said:

So do you think Gally should be played in a defensive wing-back role ?

When we've been down to 10 men for an hour, the right back playing left back needs a physical presence in front of him and the other option is Markanday...yes

8 minutes ago, rigger said:

He did a good job, for a center forward, playing at left back. But why ?

The issue is, who else was able to play there? Brittain was struggling and needed cover, Gallagher provided that and also posed a goal threat. I actually think his performance was one of the bright spots of the game from a rovers perspective.

Took my two lads today and given the littlest is essentially feral we had to be on the front row to give him some room, good for him but not great for viewing angle. As a result I've had to watch back a couple of key moments:

Red card is as it looked livetime, Pickering mistake followed by a lack of pace to recover. No issue with the red.

Gallagher goal was well taken. As others have alluded to, he played really well and Brittain was a better player for having the cover on the left.

Both Hull goals were as results of straight balls that hadn't been played in the first 80 mins, we just couldn't adjust to a different tactic.

Ennis hitting the post looked more impressive at the ground, actually on watching back he's scuffed his shot a little. That said, he added some energy that had been missing.

Leonard isn't ready for regular 90 first team games sadly. At one point JDT was absolutely fuming at him for something he wasn't doing right.

Brittain always looks sad. 

Travis was fine but probably nothing more.

Pears made 2 cracking saves but should have done better for the goals. First went straight through him and the second his positioning is so odd, he doesn't close down the angles or pressure the attacker but also doesn't give himself chance to react and as a result it was an easy finish.

Decent performance in terms of 80+mins with 10 men, no-one can criticise the work rate but we need to improve at both ends of the pitch quality wise

My theory is that we're sticking with AP to give him gametime and sell in the summer. I think it's clear TK is the better keeper but Pears hasn't quite done enough to justify dropping without going against JDTs policy of "keep a spot if you've earned it"

Two points, both unconnected with the game yesterday:

1. Absolutely agree re sponsor, my young kids have started pointing out any time they see a Totally Wicked store/ad which I understand is the whole point but the club really need to consider the morals around what this encouraging in kids 

2. "Kim Jong SteB" is honestly the funniest thing I've ever seen on this site

Has there been any confirmation about Gallaghers injury? 

I honestly don't think this needs to be complicated, just make season tickets cheaper. If they were £200 I'd buy one despite being able to make only maybe half the games. If I get one so do 2 kids, so does my aunt. 

3 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

                     Pears

JRC   Carter   Hyam  Pickering

            Travis    Wharton

 Hedges    Szmodics   Brereton

                       Dack

 

Kaminski, Ayala, Phillips, Garrett, Dolan, Thomas, Leonard

The prospect of Morton against this lot terrifies me. Scott Wharton’s recent performances aren’t good enough for a place on the bench regardless of where he was born. I’d also take away any temptation to bring him and Brittain on as it leads to disaster.

No expectations, but a demand of 100% effort and no stupidity.

This is exactly how I'd play. Morton wasn't bad yesterday but lost the ball too much and he'll get so badly bullied against Burnley we can't risk it. Dack will get himself in the right position in and around the box, we can't drop SS as his energy is vital and I can see them working together well

5 hours ago, lraC said:

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/bambo-diaby-ban-preston-swansea-26755213.amp

Am I being thick here? Is Lowe fine to be in the dugout despite the red card or are the efl waiting to announce his punishment?

So Diaby is confirmed as out but I can't find anything confirming a touchline ban for Lowe?

Interesting to see Andy Cole posting a photo with BBD in training today, I wasn't aware he was working with Rovers

Are they definitely sold out @superniko? I was only 6th in the queue by phone so it didn't sound like there had been a huge rush?

I managed to get mine, sounds like it was touch and go though. Will be my 8yos first away game so I hope he sees the rovers of 2 weeks ago as opposed to last week!

I think it's now mate!

Caved and got my ticket for this, its causing chaos at home with the match being in between 2 school strike days but it'll be worth it I'm sure. Going on my own so I'm heading back to the BBE (NO2) for the first time in at least a decade 

Considering taking my 8yo to his first away game for this, just hoping tickets make it to general sale

Feels a good allocation but given the subsidised travel and size of the game what do we think the chances of tickets going on open sale are?

One for consideration - does Dack get back into this team when fit?

I'm not sure how SS can be dropped, it feels to me he adds some agility and drive BD just doesn't have. That said, BD reads the game so well he continually gets himself into the right position to score so I think he's worth more goals.

The last couple of games SS has been my POTM as he is at the heart of every positive move, add his personality and assign to that and I think dropping him would be a mistake.

Another point to consider is whether BD should be extended by the extra year, assuming we remain in the championship and the rough guesses around wage (25k pw) are accurate then that feels a big chunk. Combine it with Ayala and we'd be in a position to pay the wages of a decent striker.

JDT has been hinting Dack needs a rest so it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see Dack on the bench. If Wharton is out but we're 5 at the back I wonder if it's Ayala or Phillips accompanying Carter and Hyam