Rover down South

Repeat that line up from tonight and Stoke will hammer us on Saturday. We are vulnerable at the back as no combination of any two centre backs are close to what we had with Hyam & Batth. I think we need to go with a flat back three with wing backs. Of course, we are short at CB so until Carter is back, Pickering would be cover! Ohashi has never looked like an out and out striker to me and always felt he would be better playing just off the target man. I would try….. It’s always Alebiosu and Ribeiro getting forward and getting crosses in, so just feel the wide players are pointless and tightening up the central defence and getting Ohashi in to take the burden of TC, who is trying to cover every blade of grass at the moment, would be better. Just my opinion.

Just seen the replay of their second goal. Kargbo, with his only real asset being pace, just slowly jogging watching the Swansea player break away! AK47 turned into a spud gun. Absolute shite.

Great ball to Alebiosu who has been fantastic tonight. Gooooaallll Cantwell

Not really confident on a result but let’s be positive and go 2-1 Rovers with Gudjohnsen & Miroshita scoring. Personally think to get the best out of Gudjohnsen & Ohashi is to work on a system where they both play.

Two things I have questioned this past few weeks. 1. Where is Pears? Why has he not been in the matchday squad? Why has he not been seen on social media posts? Given Glens post about what’s gone on, did he speak out and been banished to train with the kids? He needs to be our #2 keeper regardless of previous performances. 2. Why was the captaincy given to Todd Cantwell when Sonny has taken the role in Trav’s absence? Seems an odd decision. No disrespect to TC but why was Sonny overlooked?

I have the same feelings. Rovers supporter for over 30 odd years and this lot running the show have sapped the last of my enthusiasm this summer. I understand we should be getting behind these new signings, but losing Brittain, Batth, Dolan, Trav and now Hyam is too bad. Most other clubs in this division would have tied them up to longer contracts and strengthened to compete. We are League One next season without question. We haven’t got a good enough squad. Players will be played out of position and as we saw when he arrived, when the going gets tough, Ismael hasn’t a clue. I imagine that purple patch towards the end of last season was the players putting themselves in the shop window. Our demise this season will be tragically embarrassing.

It’s going to be Pickering & Miller at centre back at some point v Watford. Wharton still not 100% Absolute madness to let Hyam leave

Surely only a matter of time before Hyam confirmed then 🤬

Agree. Cannot see Pears going this window personally. As much as we’ve all criticised him in the past, I’m sure we would all want an experienced keeper in should Toth face a period out injured.

Still handed the #1 squad number which surely would have gone to Toth if Pears was off.

Hate to slate our own players but Gueye is poor. Really poor. He’s just a big lump that is nowhere near championship level, unlike similar sized players like Ellis Simms & Kieffer Moore that at least chip in with some goals. I think we all knew that last season he was bad but he’d built a good rapport with the fans and our good league position most of the season possibly deflected the criticism. Ohashi does offer something, but as lead striker, I’m not so sure. Probably better sat just off main target man.

Cantwell looking a different class this season so far. No doubt they’ll be cashing in on that next summer so enjoy it while we can. Great to get three points. Keep the faith 🤞🔵⚪️

Been the case since Eustace left. VI just hasn't had that bond with the players Eustace had. Do feel sorry for Ismael as his hands are tied. Surely he regrets taking the job.

Few comments earlier about Tavares can step in to Trav's boots if/when he goes, but what happens when he or Tronstad are injured or suspended? In comes Montgomery/Forshaw/Buckley. We are absolutely in trouble. We have nothing prolific up front, like an Armstrong or Graham to get regular goals. Team just looked all over the place tonight. Sloppy mistakes and misplaced passes. I feel that team selection was a message from VI to Gestede. Here's your academy players against a side playing in League Two last year. Play that side against Birmingham on Saturday and its a cricket score.

A year from now, losing on a Tuesday night to League One opposition will be the norm, as that's where we are heading.

Good first half from Tavares & Henricksson. Tyjon looked quite good at times. De Neve not good, but with all due respect, he took that goal very well. One change for me would be Alebiosu on for Montgomery. Before that goal I'd have said get Kargbo on too for DDN. Tronstad on a yellow bit risky. Don't want him picking up a second yellow and ending up suspended.

What a player 😂

What is Gueye doing? He is coming so deep and just trotting around the centre circle? Sit on the last man! We are playing one up front and 2-0 down. Making it easy for their defence.

De Neve should be hitting the target there. Not only that, but a few minutes earlier he blasted a cross at height for Gueye. You float those in not with power. Cross low with power. He's going to become another Hedges.

Big fan of Miller already. Covering a lot of ground.

Miller’s throw in 😳

If there was a positive to take from the game, I think Alebiosu has looked ok so far. Gets his foot in at the right time. Think he’ll be good.

Add to the De Neve negativity. He’s awful. With him one side and Hedges the other we have no chance. Get Miller on for Hedges at RB push Ryan RM, Kargbo for De Neve and Gueye for Ohashi.

Going to be a long season. Looked so poor already.

As we start to look towards loans, spent a bit of time reading through Brighton & Liverpool’s fans forum to see who they were predicting to go out on loan given our history of loaning their players. Abdallah Sima - (linked with Norwich loan) is one likely to head out and although listed as a left winger, he is right footed and can play centrally or on the right and has a pretty good eye for goal. Jayden Danns - Fairly injury prone and didn’t feature at all on loan at Sunderland because of injury. LFC fans feel he needs a full season in the championship to develop. Both could add that goalscorer we badly missed last season. Just a few names to consider.