1 minute ago, Bethnal said:

Not the start we wanted. Gonna stick my neck out and say if we win this from this position, we go up. If we lose it, we’re gonna drop out of the top six. Exact situation we’re in is all about bottle and we have to find out how much of that we’ve actually got.

We have no bottle. 

15 hours ago, The Hypnotic said:

I get your point about naturally talented players not trying as hard but Wharton is 19 and hasn’t got double figures in appearances. Bit much to compare him with generational talents and suggest he should be the first name on the team sheet. He has to earn the right to be seen as a le Tissier or a Tugay that doesn’t have to do anything in training. So far it seems like he hasn’t, and seeing how JDT has gotten the most out of our other talented youngsters do you not think it’s sensible to trust his judgement on Wharton?

I get the whole put a shift in debate to justify selection. I just think at this stage, given the lack of options/creativity in the middle, he should at least be on the bench and given a cameo  or 2.  If he's potentially a 'difference' maker, there's not much to lose at this stage.   If he does nowt, then he'll have to graft to get a place next season.

I imagine its long been the case that gifted players are lazier in training.  Those less gifted naturally have to work harder to impress.

I can't imagine Tugay was ever a great trainer..

or Gazza, Maradonna, Ibrahimovic etc.

Still be the first name on the team sheet though.

Either build a team aroun a talent or move the talent on if you want a team of grafters.  

4 points minimum needed this weekend.  I fear anything else and we kiss the play offs goodbye with a whimper.

Piss poor since goal.  creating nothing. 

Dolan, Hedges, Morton all need replacing

3 minutes ago, XLM said:

So what? It's what I think. If it angers people then they need to grow up.

9/10 the ref stops play, foul or not. That's the law of the game. If he gets up the ref stops the game 0/10 times and he's out of position.

That wasn't my point anyway, he was good before hand and made a mistake.

Watch his performance back second half - especially off the ball. 

2 minutes ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Bit of an overreaction on morten imo. He showed bravery going for the second goal, he is a young lad and he got a poke in the eye and stopped playing, he will learn. 
 

im disappointed but more so I’m proud of the lads today, stood up to a hostile environment and gave it their all, showing that they can play under pressure. Feel this will put us in good stead for the rest of the season and they won’t want to suffer the same disappointment in our ultimate quest. 
 

let’s get a bit of perspective albeit I know everyone will be disappointed about not going to Wembley 

We'll find out about the squad metal now.  Will they wilt and feel sorry for themselves... or go all out to get to the playoffs?  

3 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Because switching to a back 5 for the last 10 minutes in a tight game has repeatedly worked for him this season.

I wouldn't have done it, I'd have brought Dolan and Garrett on for Morton and Szmodics, but I can't really fault the idea behind it. 

They were the 2 subs to make. 

3 minutes ago, ben_the_beast said:

As Rovers fans, one thing we can't stomach is a lack of effort. 90th minute and Morton rolling around on the floor, one game away from playing at Wembley. The lad had all the time and space in the world to let fly from exactly where Morton should have been. 

The subs disjointed us, but make it to extra time and we could reset. Mortons a player I won't remember fondly when he's gone.

He constantly lost the ball/shit out of tackles and jogged back. Yes he's a young lad but that was unacceptable. Its not the first rime either.  

I wouldn't play him again to make a point. 

Good game, poor subs.

Morton. Fuckin awful. End of. 

Morton just get off.

At least make extra time. 

We're shot. 

Big chance wasted. 

Under the cosh.

Take that.  Average half.  Think Sheffield probably playing better than they have recently.  Hopefully we can step it up a bit second half.  Next goal wins it. 

Just now, matt83 said:

The only decision they got wrong there was not sending him off. No idea what McCoist going on about.

Arms out. shot's on target - I think if it was beating the keeper, he'd be off. 

Playing Morton is like playing one in midfield. He offers nothing. 

snigger, snigger 

21 minutes ago, JoeH said:

Morton played well for me. He's the player who's asked to be brave and make something happen. He takes on that responsibility, that burden. The times it comes off, he doesn't get the praise. When it doesn't come off he gets a lot of stick. Toughest job in our team that role. Same happens to Buckley when he goes in. Adam Wharton still somewhat protected by his age and inexperience. I think Morton showcases a serious mental stability to handle the outside noise. He's not perfect but he's done okay tonight I think.

The problem wth Morton is he doesn't influence the game enough.  He has 2 assists  and no goals in 30 odd appearances.  That's pretty poor for a creative midfielder.  His tackling is weak and he's also cost us 2/3 goals with stray passes/dallying on the ball. 

Not sure how accurate the data is but Adam Wharton has 1 goal and 2 assists in 14 appearaces.  Also struggled with the physical  side at times though.  

For me, especially as he is our player, Morton doesn't deserve to be ahead of Wharton.  

Such a shame we fecked up the Obrien signing...

beautiful. 

Good skill from Gally - Things you don't say often 😂 

How is Morton still on. Kid's not good enough.

Game over based on the first half hour evidence. 

1 hour ago, den said:

Sheffield U are a good side. Let’s not kid ourselves that they aren’t. What teams must do against them first and foremost is match them physically. Rovers did that and more. Superb stuff.

I was a doubter for sure. I was absolutely certain we were dropping into no mans land again. What can you do other than hold your hand up. The football we’ve seen over the last couple of games has been far better than anything Mowbrays side achieved in 5 years. In fact it’s better than anything we’ve seen since we were relegated IMO.

All of a sudden we have key men all over the park. Shouts out to JRC and Smodic. From impressing virtually nobody to looking like leaders all of s sudden. Dolan has lifted his game to way above what it was while Carter has been brilliant as well.

As for JDT he’s answering the critics (me included) in the best and only way- with performances on the park.

Its a long time since I was as impressed.

 

Agree with all this. The commentators also mentioned today that we don't play needlessly around at the back as much.  For me, dropping Morton and  as shocked as I am to say it, Pears,  are the key changes.  

Pears is quite happy to put his laces through the ball and get rid.  His distribution is far superior to Kaminski.  This seems to have coincided with a team decision that it's ok to clear the ball and turn it over in their half not ours. 

As a result we aren't gifting team chance after chance.  It's a far more pragmatic approach.

If JDT has swallowed his pride a little on that front, then hats off... 

It's a bit like the time in league one- after the first few defeats - when Mowbray realised we couldn't  tip tap our way out of the division and changed the system to be more direct.