arbitro

Richie Smallwood went ages without a caution whilst he was on nine several years ago. Travis was excellent yesterday and he has forged a real partnership with Mr 7/10 Sonny Tronstad. Playing with Tronstad allows him to get forward more and has added another dimension to his game.

The 'pitch encroachment officer' in pictures 2 and 6 was getting on my wick. Simply overkill. Games gone 😁

I'll never understand this game. Expectations were pretty low today it's fair to say after an awful run of results, no goals in four games and a poor away record without a win. Leaving home at 6.30 to go to Cardiff we said days like today were pretty much borne out of a blind loyalty and the consensus of Rovers fans I spoke to would have snatched your hand off for a draw. But we were wrong and delighted to be wrong. Fast football, good movement, intensity, aggression and skill were seen in abundance as we fully deserved our win with three of the best team goals you are likely to see. I honestly think counter attacking suits us away from home despite the lack of pace. Today was another reason why I believe statistics are a load of bollocks. The stats today were almost the polar opposite of the Stoke game where we had more possession, more shots and a host of other meaningless numbers. We lost and today with a lesser percentage of nearly everything we won. Thanks Rovers for helping to make the next two weeks without real football more palatable.

I know which camp I am in not just tomorrow but every game.

The coaches are leaving Accrington at 5 am tomorrow and Ewood at 5.30 am. And adults are being charged £42 for the privilege with concessions a whopping £1.50 cheaper. This is our third consecutive Saturday match with a 12.30 kick off. I wouldn't mind so much if the extra income from this was going into the club infrastructure and improving facilities for the fans but I know it isn't. Thanks Waggott and Sky.

Four points from a possible eighteen tells its own story and is indicative of where we are right now. The early season form and the confidence gained from that has gone and the only way to rebuild it is by winning. Despite the platitudes we got on Wednesday for playing well and creating chances the fact is we lost a game we shouldn't have. Around this time last year we were playing some really good stuff and in several games we were desperately unlucky to lose but losing became a habit and we never really recovered from that confidence sapping run of results. Eustace has to recognise these signs and set us up accordingly. In my opinion we have the players who can nick us a goal so for me he has to set up to counter like we did towards the end of last season. The inane passing from keeper to centre halves and full backs is too risky so we need to be prepared to play the big diagonal balls and over the top as Cardiff usually play a high defensive line. The first goal will be crucial and us getting it would at least give us something to defend.

Players slipping embarrassing? Come on it can happen anytime to any player. You could point to every goal that is conceded and apportion blame but a player slipping on a damp surface is a new one on me. As I said ridiculously harsh particularly when Stoke had to go pretty much the length of the pitch. However you rate him or don't be is still statistically our best striker. It reads like you have written him off already.

There are certainly options whether you agree with them or not. Mobility isn't key when playing in a back five particularly when playing deep. I think you would agree that changes should be made and that appears to be the general consensus. However the man that matters most might not see it that way.

We only have three fit centre halves and something radical needs to be done. Are you happy to carry on conceding goals? McFadzean can play in a five if we are sitting in like he did at Leicester and the second half at Leeds. Out of interest what would you do.

In a nutshell that, I believe is the real issue. Pace isn't about being able to run 100 metres in 10 seconds. It's more about speed of thought, quick passing, vision and not taking too many touches. We are so easy to play against most of the time as we allow teams to get back into their defensive shape as we pass the ball across the back four and short passes into midfield ad nauseam. This is the fundamental difference between Tomasson and Eustace for me. I really don't mind what style we play it we are getting results. Questions are asked when an almost one dimensional way of playing doesn't yield results. The accusation levelled against Tomasson by many was that he had no plan B. Eustace is in real danger of that label being attached to him too. I really thought we were going to see a variation on this last night as in the first twenty minutes the long diagonal ball looked the most likely source. After that period I don't think we played another one.

I'm not aware of too many out of work managers out there so Coventry may well have to pay compensation for most of their targets. As you say Eustace would be cheap even if he has a release clause in his contract.

Without Carter we look really weak in the centre of defence. We must have the least aggressive centre halves in those two in the Championship. Cannon was beating Hyam in the air so often last night and between them they are pedestrian. I would slot McFadzean in between them on Saturday to keep it tight and deny Cardiff any space.

Ex Coventry player. Coventry are in an early relegation fight and he has a good track record of keeping clubs up. And he will be cheap.

When you're on a bad run and confidence is really low a trip to Cardiff looks daunting. But this pales into insignificance when I saw who the referee is for Saturday. Gavin f***ing Ward. It's going to be a long day.

Football has come up with a new way to surprise me after Coventry sacked Mark Robins today. He dragged that club up by the bootlaces and gave the club some identity and pride back despite multiple obstacles he had to overcome. He won't be out of work for long. I wonder if Eustace will be on their wanted list?

Externally renowned coach? What are we paying our coaches for.

The scourge of midweek results continues. Roll on Middlesbrough on November 27th 😄

All this extra coaching with Keith Downing doesn't appear to have any effect on him. We can see it, the other players must see it so Eustace should too. I know Eustace is short of striking options but something has to give here because right now Gueye isn't even worth a place on the bench.

Incredibly harsh. How can Ohashi cost us a goal by accidentally slipping in the Stoke penalty area? On both occasions Stoke had a lot to do but how about several players not closing down for the first goal and an awful pass from Hyam for the second coupled with Baath running in sand. Blame Ohashi and Gueye for missing chances by all means but to lay the concession of both goals at their door is frankly ridiculous.

With our pedestrian defence we will always offer a chance or two up to our opponents so for me I would like to see Eustace revert to a back five which was quite successful in a few away matches last season. I will happily shake on a 0-0 right now.

Excellent point.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24483370.blackburn-rovers-break-transfer-duck-makhtar-gueye-deal/

Particularly when the reports say we paid anything between £1m and £2.5m for him.

We are stuck with him Den and it would be damage limitation to play him with the youngsters. Personally I'd be looking to shift him out in January.

I've said it for a few weeks now. He needs to play for the under 21's for a few games where results don't matter as much. He is in danger of becoming the new Chris Brown unless something drastic happens.