I can't see Adam Wharton playing much this season, he has put in a number of good performances (not just Blackpool, think Boro away, Birmingham home, Hull away, Stoke home off the top of my head) and more than Buckley or Morton but Tomasson doesn't seem to like him. That being said, @roverandout O'Brien was arguably the best midfielder in the league last season. Think you implied before that you hadn't seen much of him but they are incomparable.

I looked the other day and we have actually conceded more per game this season than last season, so we haven't actually improved defensively. That being said, we have conceded 17 amidst 5 games which is obviously worrying in itself but that also means that only Coventry (surprisingly) have more clean sheets than us. Our main strength up until late December was our organisation when holding on to leads which was exemplary. Then suddenly within a month or two, I can think of 10 points (Sunderland away, Boro home, Bristol City away and Watford away) where we have thrown away points. Hopefully we are back on track defensively which has been our strength under Tomasson in general, and hopefully he can fix the other end where we have struggled to create chances all season. No problem with the type of finish? An unconvincing prod spinning slowly away from goal. Either way, Morton as an attacking midfielder was a strange choice I felt.

His first touch took the ball too far left and the technique he went with was poor in that it was always spinning away from goal. The sub and utilisation of Morton was strange. I get that we have limited options but surely Hedges was a better option, or even if Morton comes on, you push Buckley on where he has played most of his Rovers career.

It was more than he isnt really much if any better this season specifically under Tomasson who like Mowbray has had him in and out of the side. I quoted the poster who mentioned Elliott because I feel that the 3 that regularly played that season merited a place in the side more than him. I don't think that Mowbray mis managed him as has been suggested. He finished his second of 2 seasons under Mowbray as a better player albeit not one who warrants a place week in week out. I also thought his general game last night was poor aside from his fantastic finish. Some of the tendencies that have improved since his debut (too many stepovers, poor decision making etc) were back on show yesterday but if you get the winner then it understandably overshadows it. It wasnt a massive criticism of him, I just think that the reason throughout his Rovers career that he hasnt been a total regular is because he hasnt made himself undroppable due to inconsistent performance levels. But he definitely has something to offer and I have been calling for him to be played wide for weeks rather than up top which doesnt suit him. Hopefully he will become more consistent over time and start to justify a place every game.

I don't think that Dolan has merited a regular spot throughout his time here, in that first season we had Armstrong, Brereton and Elliott as our front 3. I do think that he did develop somewhat under Mowbray and he was handled well, and he hasn't personally kicked on really under Tomasson. Last night saw most of his poor tendencies as I mentioned but in general he doesn't do as many needless skills as previously.

I think it was because it fell on his right foot, shocking decision though.

And if you read my posts over the last 24 hours, I have said numerous times that it is about results and I have praised Tomasson for that. His football can be effective over the course of a season AND not often entertaining, and I have made it clear which is more important.

Of course, totally agree that entertainment is subjective. We have struggled to create chances and offer a sustained goal threat throughout the season, and the tempo has been slow for the majority of games. Take many managers who are tarred with the brush of playing boring football ie Allardyce/Dyche etc, they might not pass it out from the back (which to me isn't necessarily entertaining anyway) but their teams do focus on having the ball in dangerous areas so that is more entertaining than watching Rovers this season. Ultimately, results are the important thing so I much prefer the satisfaction of a win over the potential excitement of lots of chances when we don't win.

It was the owners that decided against the full pitch revamp, it was in the fans forum minutes that they had asked them for the funding and they declined. So the blame lies in India. Probably not aiding the numerous muscular injuries we are picking up, 4 hamstrings in 2 games.

I seem to be in a minority in thinking that Dolan was generally poor last night and below his usual performance levels. His negative traits were particularly prevalent, constantly over-doing stepovers, poor decision making and even a dive. He lost the ball on a number of occasions and was predictable when facing up the full back. That being said, his goal was a fantastic finish and it won us the game. That outweighs the rest and you would take that any day of the week.

Passion, effort and commitment should be a minimum expectation. Always been consistent in my stance that it is about points, but that doesn't mean that I can't also comment on performances. As I have put in the other thread but it is more relevant here: In isolation, I can say that Tomasson's style of football is terrible to watch. That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the recent run of 4 games, the general organisation of the team or the fact that Tomasson can clearly build a solid base, or that the home form is strong. It also doesn't mean that I have changed on my stance that it all comes down to results nor that I am anything other than happy that we are sat in 4th, I will happily watch a boring game as I have done twice within the last week at Ewood if I get the satisfaction of 3 points once that whistle goes and beyond. If you replaced Rovers with another random side and had watched the 2 games we have seen at Ewood, you would not have been remotely entertained.

Again, none of those impressive stats are relevant to my comment about the aesthetics of our performance. In isolation, I can say that Tomasson's style of football is terrible to watch. That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the recent run of 4 games, the general organisation of the team or the fact that Tomasson can clearly build a solid base, or that the home form is strong. It also doesn't mean that I have changed on my stance that it all comes down to results nor that I am anything other than happy that we are sat in 4th, I will happily watch a boring game as I have done twice within the last week at Ewood if I get the satisfaction of 3 points once that whistle goes and beyond. If you replaced Rovers with another random side and had watched the 2 games we have seen at Ewood, you would not have been remotely entertained.

That Gallagher shot was a half chance at best. Well drilled? Well organised? Effort on show? Wouldn't disagree with any of that. And all of these help to get us a win which is the most important thing. But Tomasson's football is so dull IMO, as I've said before I think it is as bad entertainment wise since Appleton. But result wise as it stands at the moment, it is effective.

Would have to disagree. A stark lack of quality on show and only the goal and Morton's poor finish were good chances. The entertainment of the game not helped by a truly dismal opposition. Its a poor quality league in general so tonight wasnt out of the ordinary. Don't get me wrong, I went home very happy as we won and you can't argue with a win or the league position so thats the main thing. But not an entertaining watch.

Dolan took his chance well but aside from the Morton chance there was nothing really close to being clear cut. Good result, very impressive league position, very impressive defensive solidity, as dull a style since the Appleton days and a total dearth of chances created and excitement. Still, tonight and Saturday were both snooze fests yet if we go home with a win im happy.

A strange reaction to instantly come for the "I told you so." I dont doubt that they will score occasionally but there arent enough goals there over time hence why we need the main 2 back in the team ASAP. A tough watch but built on solidity and organisation against a shocking side.

Cant argue with another win and somehow being 4th in the league. Performance wise, like watching paint dry. Doesnt seem to be any attacking plan and a dearth of attacking plan and quality with hardly any chances again created. Dolan with an excellent goal but otherwise was as bad as he has been for sometimes, constantly losing the ball, stupid repeated stepovers and an embarassing dive. Szmodics runs around with minimal quality and Thomas does offer us natural width but his end product is underwhelming and I think his assist was meant for Travis. The less said about Gallagher the better and Morton playing off Vale overtakes Varney and Brown in the worst attacking duo I can remember. Defensively excellent though, both full backs competing for man of the match, Pears could have sat next to me. All 3 centre backs dealt with a poor Blackpool side easily, Hyam the stand out and Travis is really performing well at the moment. Buckley is not a deep central midfielder, Adam Wharton needed for the weekend. Under Tomasson we are well organised to be fair.

Everyone has to consider money, and most people will be attracted to it, naturally. But not even that, if it comes to career ambition, there will be better options. Makes no sense to commit here at this stage for a year or two.

Can we stop again with the superfan routine please, I will be supporting the team tonight just as you will. On the clean sheet thing, my point was not a negative about our defensive record, I am just saying that you can't keep a clean sheet everytime and we need more than that. When anyones main 2 goalscorers are out, more often than not they will not score at the same rate, hence why strikers cost so much money. Why would I have loads of confidence in the likes of Dolan, Gallagher, Szmodics, Hedges and Thomas to score enough goals to offset Brereton and Dack? None have good goalscoring records.

Huge game, we have to beat bottom of the league, no excuses. Not looking forward to it as it will be another drab game I am sure but lets hope we can get over the line. We need one of the supporting cast to step up.

Can't argue with discussion about his lack of pace, deceptively slow is the perfect way of putting it. He also isn't a striker in a million years. There could be more of an onus on him now with Dack and maybe Brereton out, he and Gallagher failed to step up last season which is a worry.

I am still unclear on what his strengths are. He is slow, weak, doesn't put in much of a shift, can't win a header, doesn't get into goalscoring positions and his movement hinders other attacking players around him. What about Thomas could feasibly help him. I think he has been on a bad run of form so put him down for first scorer.

Dack. In the league aside from 2 own goals and Dack, we have scored 4 goals since the World Cup break. No one with more than 1.

Does a one year contract offer stability? If he wants to stay local, I am sure that a few local clubs who can offer more money could entice him on a free. Change that to for multi millions and those potential suitors may look elsewhere.

We won't keep clean sheets in every game so we need to start offering much more of an attacking threat, which isn't helped when the only player who has offered anything close to a consistent threat in recent weeks and months is now injured.