jim mk2

It was like Stoke v Rovers; one team pulling their tripe out, the other going through the motions. France were brilliant but England rugby is in disarray - again. Shaun Edwards has had a huge influence on the French defence, like he did for years with Wales. England had talks with Edwards last year but they came to nothing. A shame. Borthwick is looking a poor appointment so far

Without getting into the politics, it's good to see outside the hierarchy (silence as always) the game of football and current and ex-players rally around Lineker Solidarity. As Ian Wright said

So bleeding obvious - I was bellowing at the screen for Tomasson to change it even then. Huge gaps in the middle, we were far too open and not pressing and defending as a team like we did to perfection at Leicester Really - after the improvement over the past month of so where did that performance come from? I suppose you have to hand it to Neil for spotting our weaknesses but there was no excuse for the apathetic demeanour of the players. We looked better as always with Brittain at right back and later with the extra man in midfield but the match was lost by then Tomasson has to get his head round this because Championship managers would have been watching tonight and making notes.

Neil did his homework on us and set up his side accordingly. Did Tomasson do the same with Stoke? It didn't look like it.

So a canny manager, knowing he's coming up against another canny operator, should do the unexpected and change a winning team. Tough on those playing well, but that's football. The best managers - Guardiola etc, - do it all the time. If Tomasson had switched us about it might have thrown Neil's game plan. But then again, if the players aren't up for it (like Rovers tonight) nothing makes much of a difference

4-1 Stoke would have been a more true reflection of the game but it just goes to show with those 2 late goals that we might have stolen a point if we hadn't given away that pathetic 3rd goal. Tomasson should show that to his players and ask how one man can go past 4 players from out on the touchline without a tackle going in. Rovers continue to frustrate. I thought "performances" like that were consigned to the past

Those 2 goals masked the 85 minutes of dross that went before. We got precisely what we deserved - nothing

We've started playing when it's too late

This performance is as bad as Burnley, Reading, Coventry, Rotherham and a few others Awful, and embarrassing The past few weeks have obviously been an aberration

That Stoke player went past 4 Rovers players Pathetic

One of those games when you wondered why the players bothered turning up Another miss Should be 3 or 4 to Stoke

Rovers fancy dans didn't fancy a cold Friday night at Stoke. It doesn't matter how good you think you are, if you don't go out and compete you'll lose. So many players off their game we're making Stoke look like a decent side, which they're not.

Tomasson has to show his mettle at half time ...... the players need a good bollocking

2-0 well deserved We've been rubbish What does Pep think?

Back to the rubbish from not long ago; second to every ball, outfought and out-manouvred. Stoke should be 2 up

Is that you Pep?

It;'s been pointed out many times that the team that wants it most usually wins Our lot playing as if they couldn't care less

Defence all over the place, midfield non-existent

That was coming..... we've been really poor

We're wide open in midfield, not pressing high as a team like we did at Leicester

Should be 1-0 down

Rubbish by JRC

Netted! Another seagull has followed the trawler

Snow flurries at the moment but Stoke looks Ok from early afternoon onwards even a touch of sunshine. We need this to be on and keep the momentum going.

If he sees Rovers as a "project (his word), how is that going to work in the medium to longer term? The answer is that it won't work, and he'll be looking to move closer to home sooner rather than later