Thanks, updated my original post re Carter.

With the loanees going and several first-teamers out of contract in the summer, just how big of a gap will we have to fill in the squad for next season? Loanees: van Hecke, Poveda, Giles, Khadra, Zeefuik (although we have an option on him I don't see us paying 3.5m) Out of contract: Lenihan, Nyambe, Rothwell, Davenport, Johnson, Chapman Contact extended: Magloire, Butterworth, Eastham Sold (anything else would be a big surprise): Brereton Diaz ------- This leaves us with: Goalkeepers: Kaminski, Pears, Eastham Defenders: Brown, JRC*, Ayala, Carter, Wharton, Magloire, Edun*, Pickering *JRC and Edun both prefer playing further forward Midfielders: Travis, Buckley, Dack Wingers/Forwards: Dolan, Gallagher, Hedges, Markanday, Butterworth Plus any promotions from the U23s/academy. I've already counted Brown as he will be too old for the U23s I believe. As it looks now we'll be as strong in the goalkeeping department as this season but that's about it, major strengthening needed in all other areas. Thoughts?

Tony is out blaming the ref for the stoppage time. I must say the added time felt justified to me, so many players lying on the deck.

Yeah what a genius

Not the worst result in isolation but that first half was not acceptable. Even more worrying there have been a lot of first halves like that lately and the manager has to be able to address it. Once again a baffling team selection, the changes at the back probably made sense but the forward line was wrong in every sense. Giles on the right forcing him to turn back where every single cross was poor - terrible tactical decision. Gallagher on the left where we all know he cant’t play. If you absolutely need to play Gally then give him a punch in the nuts - not too hard, just right to piss him off - and play him up front where he can do something. Then Buckley our best forward passer as a false 9 with nobody in front of him to pass to. Is it so hard to see Tony, really? I don’t want to be that guy who demands kicking the manager after every winless match but I think it’s time. Sure he can see out the season but it’s high time to start planning ahead.

Good topic. Although this spring has obviously been a big disappointment I’m sure most of us would have taken a top 10 finish before the season started, with all the usual gloom on here. It is progress, but slower than many of us would like. Overall I think the club is better off now than when he came in. The guy knows what management is about and does his job, he cares for the players (maybe at the expense of the club sometimes), and his transfer record is pretty good overall. It could be much worse, and it has been at times under Venkys as you all know. On the flip side, his media handling and touchline demeanor leaves a lot to be desired. As does some of his much debated tactical choices, so points will have to be deducted there. Like many others I think 6/10 is the right score.

Pathetic performance. Serious lack of quality all over the pitch. Play-offs gone.

Not as bad as the first half v Derby, but close. Decent until Khadra went off, then we just stopped playing. Hard to find any players worth praising bar Kaminski. Giles useless on the right as expected.

Defense all over the place, Kaminski keeping us in it

Khadra injured, Pickering to come on

No Nyambe despite Mowbray’s pre-match comments.

I don't even care about Reading, I just want to beat Paul Ince.

Ludicrous starting lineup. HT team talk from hell almost gave Tony a heart attack and he had no energy left for any second half facial expressions. Gally changed the game and deserves praise, he actually looked a little angry and put himself about, I’d love to see more of that passion from him as he usually looks far too placid. Dack is class. Dolan is good and has twice the brain of Khadra who was bad today. I don’t really want to see Johnson play for us again.

Is that a 3-5-2? No more wide strikers?

Didn’t get the date and time right, but at least Gallagher is benched.

After the terrible run we have been having, keeping faith with the same forward line is simply not acceptable. It’s time to try something else. Khadra, Gallagher and Buckley all deserve dropping if possible. Gallagher for not scoring and not really being interested in anything but defense, Khadra for continuously and stubbornly refusing to pass the ball to better placed teammates, and Buckley even though he can be great doesn’t score either. The question is who to play instead. Giles deserves a chance on the left, Hedges on the right and that unfortunately leaves Dolan in the centre where I don’t really like him. I’d take Vale but he won’t be ready for another game so soon. So instead I’d be crazy and put Khadra in the middle where he won’t need to pass much but will pose a counter-attacking threat. Buckley in centre mid for Rothwell with license to roam forward. Kaminski Three amigos JRC Pickering Travis Buckley Hedges Giles Khadra

Utter borefest of a half. Lenihan superb, van Hecke pretty good and the rest haven’t showed up yet.

Oh and JRC having a pretty good game as well, he’ll come good for us.

Dominant performance apart from finishing, Millwall completely nullified. Buckley, Rothwell, Travis all doing well. Wide attackers Giles and Gally not working, gaping void in front of goal most of the time. I would bring Vale on somehow, we need a breath of fresh air from somewhere.

Well that’s over and done with. Now the real run-in begins.

Exactly right. If you can’t get fired up for this then you have to wonder why you’re playing football. Which is why I think we might surprise Fulham today.

What, no option for 1st? 😉 I think we will end up 4th, maybe 5th. Which will mean a very successful season. We will return to some kind of form and some of the other sides around us will trip up.

No matter how you look at it that was much better for rovers, especially with the late Ayala withdrawal. Wharton is a star.

For God’s sake Khadra try a pass