Devon Rover

Morning all As part of my duty-bound indoctrination (!) of my seven-year-old, I am planning to bring him to Ewood with me for the Swansea game. It will be his first time at a football match, at all, due to his being a bit anxious about some social things. He is, however, a fan of Rovers, wears the kits to his own football training each week, and I know he is keen to come to a game, albeit clearly nervous. Is there any advice you could offer me in terms of making it a good experience for him, whatever the result!? Also, would any of you who have taken children along recommend the Family Stand or the Riverside, instead, as likely being the most appropriate for this situation? I've not sat in either, before. Thanks very much.

Thanks, although that wasn't necessary - I was just a bit miffed about it without any context (plus, I am grumpy because of the result, let's be honest!) I thought your response was clear and reasonable. I'd agree re indecision about our best front 4 and I certainly get the impression Eustace feels similarly 🙂. Have a good evening.

Fair enough, Chaddy. I disagree on a few areas but down voting you would probably be a rude way to show that. Thanks for the response.

Hi @chaddyrovers I'm interested in what part of my post and my opinion you felt you should down vote without commenting on? I tend not to down vote other poster's opinions out of courtesy but I guess that is your response to disagreeing with something? Not particularly constructive, or impressive, to be honest.

I think we have two very good (at this level) defenders: Beck and Carter (as a centre back, it goes without saying). Other than that, we've not got any real quality and it is really disappointing that CB and RB have not been addressed.

Do you really need to ask that? Mentality, physicality. All lacking. We got some wins and should be grateful for the opportunities to have played against 10 men. This is not a good team and it is not being well coached, selected, nor led on or off the pitch. I think most can see this when not wearing our blue and white tinted glasses. It needs a big rethink and a big shakeup for Swansea. But then it needed that for Plymouth.

Something is very wrong with things in this team.

I am delighted and relived to hear that. Ill assume that picking up on one word in my post has made you feel better about it all. Cheers.

That's OK then. All fine here. Right team selection and a decent performance, yes? How bad does it need to get to be outplayed in your definition?

I vaguely remember some criteria Eustace and the scouting team had for addressing weaknesses in the squad in the summer. Athleticism, pace, leadership among them, I think. That hasn't gone well. We've added some experience, some skill, and some youth but not those physical traits we have missed for years and nor, it seems, the fighting spirit.

To be honest, I've already lost a lot of faith in him with his awful team selection in response to midweek. I seriously cannot understand the decisions to retain the goalkeeper, defenders, out of position right back, formation, dolan, weimann. It can only be a case of "go out and show me what you can really do". In which case he needs to hook several of them at half time as they have done exactly that and are making Eustace look silly, here.

37% possession, 1 attempt in 45 minutes. Outplayed by the might of 'Rooney's Plymouth'. Off the back of a horrible performance and 3-0 loss at struggling Coventry. Pathetic team selection. Another shit performance. Let's see if there is finally any early decisiveness at half time to rectify the absolute crap that Eustace has served up.

Hyam on a yellow for the next 70 mins. Take him off now, move Carter into his actual position and bring JRC on. Otherwise I can see us down to 10 with the pace running at a pretty useless Hyam.

Yeah, skillful and pacey attackers against what is a dreadful defence. Honestly can't believe virtually the same line up (and identical GK and defence) as the horror show against Coventry. The manager has set us up for this and I only hope I'm made to look wrong in an hour or so. I suspect it's going to take a big change if personnel soon, to have a chance.

It's no surprise, is it. Needed significant statement changes after midweek and we got none of the right ones, except Gueye in. I saw the line up and my hopes were destroyed.

Dolan off, 10 mins too late. And still no Gueye. The one target man our attackers could play off. Why bother?

Partly on Eustace as, if ever a game needed substitutions at half time, it was this one - and Dolan should've been off. He's fucked any chance we had with a minute of insanity, there. Honestly, I can't believe that

What the actual fuck was that? Shambles. Dolan - fuck off

Hedges on for Pickering, Gueye for Dolan.

We look dreadful in both full back positions. Very lucky not to have conceded a few from the crosse we are allowing them.

Decent game. But only because both defences look shocking. Still no proper chance created. Mak should've been playing here.

Horrible performance, so far.

I'd honestly be taking off Hedges now

Trav and Tronstadt look such a good central midfield partnership.

Similar to last week with some hopeless long balls up to Ohashi. Credit to Dolan, he has looked the bright spark for us so far.