Wasn't there a game last season that you missed out of fear?

He usually gets 8 or 9 goals a season at this level, that obviously isnt the case the season not helped by missing so many games injured, but put him in League 2 and safe to say he would likely stand out. He is much more effective than the likes of Telalovic, Ennis and Hirst were with us having no money. Hes bang average and he will never be a natural goalscorer but he has proven over a number of years at this level that he is a bang average striker in the Championship.

Eustace often plays with a back 3 (well 5) and still O'Riordan cant make the bench.

Markanday and especially Telalovic would struggle in league 1.

Isnt the rule that it has to be 10 yards from the goal line, so it would be taken from there? As you say though, unsure if similar to if a defender does it, an unintentional slice that goes back to the keeper isnt a backpass, but not as straightforward if its the keeper himself that does it. So not sure on that.

Dismissing any thoughts of reinvesting as fantasy land stuff. We can get worse, simply because of the cuts. Telalovic, Ennis and Hirst have all been worse in the last 2 years. Thats the standard we are working with. I have always said that Gallagher simply is not very good at anticipating chances. Thats the main reason why his goal tally is never going to be near the top of the league, he doesnt have that instinct and never will be. Offers other things but is simply not a natural goalscorer. That being said, under Eustace he like every other attacker is hindered more than ever. There is absolutely no sign of an attacking game plan. He often spends much of the game wide and the tactic of centre backs whacking it aimlessly in the channels just has him running after the ball with the defender naturally ahead of him. He wins throw ins and the odd corner which is all he can really do in that situation but its just not going to lead to him doing anything constructive.

The blame should always go back to India. The players arent very good, surrounded by other players who arent very good, managed by someone who seems out of his depth. That same manager though is hindered by poor players. Broughton's transfer record is poor but he is working with buttons. And Waggott's a failure in many ways but seemingly just working to the owners commands. All of these issues are just symptoms of the real problem. The same problen that has existed for is it 13 long years? In the last 2 seasons, we have overperformed with some very good work from Tomasson and Mowbray. But not enough players led to the season imploding. More cuts at a more aggressive rate and this season has been in the post for years.

Carter has done well to get the second highest rating. He was all over the place.

It would be recency bias to make any judgements on the Leeds performance, that was the exception. And to be quite honest, and I said this last week, I dont think he warranted man of the match, a defender deserved it. Pears did well but none of his saves really went beyond ones youd expect him to make. Hes proven over the whole season (and beyond) that he isnt good enough and is never far from a mistake. Yesterdays was particularly bad but not a one off.

He obviously has mentioned to want to become harder to beat, and fine, although conceding 3 v Wednesday and 5 v Bristol City hardly is a ringing endorsement. But you have to have some sort of strategy in how you attack. Games against the weaker sides at home have to be your bread and butter and you need to win them more often than not. The onus should be on you to attack more than the opponent. Also, he seems to put everything down to individual errors. Most goals have defensive mistakes in them, but you cant absolve yourself of responsibility as if its one of those things. Im just as worried that we created 2 chances all game.

To go into a game where a win at home to second bottom seals your place in the league next season with the sole focus of not losing is not constructive. A back 5 (not a back 3, as very much a 5) kept until 15 minutes from the end, not good enough. And even if your primary focus is to avoid defeat, you have to outline some sort of plan as to how to attack. We again didnt have one, Gallagher and Dolan were ineffective but its not helped when the only sort of way of getting it forward that I could see was for our centre backs to aimlessly lob it into the channels. All they spent their day doing is chasing them down where at best you win a throw in. He said after the game that we controlled the first half. Laughable.

And the other ones wages would probably put him beyond our means. Id be amazed if it wasnt the same 2 clowns next season.

But ultimately that goal is agains the rules if it is ruled out, so not valid goals.

I definitely think that semi automated offsides will help things like they did in the world cup. VAR certainly isnt perfect and I do take your points on its impact on the spirit of the game. It is a debate between accuracy and keeping the game pure.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24268056.blackburn-ratings-pears-error-costly-laboured-display/ Some bloody generous ratings here.

Lowe and Bennett weren't bad players? Especially Lowe?

I never get this idea that Ainsworth/any manager would be better because he gives a shit. I dont doubt that Eustace is trying but like Ainsworth certainly is at this level, he seems out of his depth.

Its one of them, you either accept considerably less accuracy in decisions and enjoy a "purer" game or you accept the delays and at times how slight the margins are in favour of much more accuracy. He was offside at the end of the day. Just. Like some of the penalties JUST avoided hitting the post, like some goals JUST go over the line, tight margins but still there is a right and wrong decision. Im not really buying into the conspiracy theories of purposely favouring teams, they could have easily ruled out the handball.

Had we cut the errors out? Second away at Preston was a mess from the keeper. McFadzean sent off v Plymouth. Wahlsted diving out the way v Millwall. Silly free kick after a poor Pears pass v Norwich. Hyam made a big error v Southampton that went unpunished. Obviously a number today and v Bristol City. Mind you, most goals will contain a defensive error. You cant just shrug your shoulders as if its one of those things. Im yet to see justification WHY Eustace can push us on. We havent won a home game, we have won 2 overall. Have we got less than a point a game? There is no sign even yet of any attacking plan at all. Faith of a top 10 finish, why? What based on?

Impossible to pick a team bar Szmodics. Cant chuck a kid in net, cant play Pears, so left with the inept Wahlstedt. Captain marvel has shown he hasnt got the right character. Mind you, Carter was awful today and made 2 big errors, Wharton got a bad injury, Wright and Simms will have a field day behind McFadzean who is too old and Koumetio is unused because he is a bombscare. Pickering is never a wing back, in a back 4 he is much more comfortable. Chrisene isnt the answer. Both JRC and Tronstad have enough credit accrued both both were awful today. The former had clear set instructions under JDT and thrived, now he seems lost. Brittain has the heart the size of a pea. But whether you want to move JRC to RB or just give the midfield another body, again, little alternative. At a push Ayari, Buckley was awful when he came on. Play any attackers and theyll be up against it under this manager who clearly doesnt factor in attacking in his game plan. Our ventures forward involve a centre back aimlessly punting it in the channel leading to an impossible chase. Dolan and Gallagher both offered nothing today but any alternatives especially the dross we have wont do anything in attack under him.

I dont see how you can start using grey areas like "clear daylight" when trying to get objective offside/onside decisions correct. You wouldnt say similar if it was nearly over the line. It was the last minute of an FA cup semi final so the decision had to be correct and it was. You cant review it and go well he is offside but only just so lets give it. It is unfortunate as we all wanted United to lose but there is no grievance to be had.

He is the perfect captain for our current mess and not in a good way. Weak, cowardly and soft. Showed himself up in that "secret" selective supporter meeting moaning about the boos. A proper captain says something like "we understand the frustration and arent happy ourselves but will do everything to make it right." Say what you want about Travis' ability and even that he can be petulant but you see leadership qualities shining through. For Hyam its the opposite.

He gave the ball straight to Che Adams who dragged a very good chance wide in the second half. Pears was poor for their first but he nodded it to a team mate, at that point there is no danger if he helps it into touch. Pears has always been crap, amazing how anyone thought last season he should start over Kaminski.

Did anyone say that after not even winning but drawing v Southampton, a game in which he made a big error that nearly cost us that point? Strange argument. Hes as far removed from a leader as you could find, he sums this bunch up. He should have smashed it into touch but lost it for their first.

Every defeat and pretty much every goal conceded could be put down to a mistake in isolation. Thats not looking at the bigger picture and obviously just echoing what the manager has said post match. Eustace reminds me of Appleton. Really negative, defensive football, I totally get that we needed to tighten up but even then the Leeds win is straddled by shipping 5 and 3. Its fine if you win games but we dont. To have still not won at home having had some very winnable game is symptomatic of his approach. Nobody could possibly say what his game plan is from an attacking sense, bar being reliant on Szmodics taking one of his one or two chances every week and clinging on. How often do our centre backs (Wharton is bad for this) just chuck it aimlessly in the channel giving one of our forwards an impossible task of chasing the ball near the corner flag where the best you can get is a throw in deep in their half? I cant see him being the man to take us forward, even acknowledging the state of the club under these owners.