I think playing 5 defenders throughout a very winnable home game and being pleased with a point is a big sign of what John Eustace potentially is unfortunately. The players dont look like they know what they are doing, no one has any idea what the tactics are going forward beside the occasional hoof in the air to no one in particular. We arent creating chances and we arent keeping clean sheets. Even the set pieces are confused, it seemed like we would be going to put crosses into the box with more height under him but that mess in injury time summed up a confused, disjointed and dysfunctional performance and we did a similar corner in the first half. Its hard to know what to make regarding his time at Birmingham, I wonder if he got sacked at a good time in terms of his reputation. His full season there was unremarkable and although they were 6th when he left, it was 11 games in and with a favourable fixture list, Rooney then followed with 5 really difficult fixtures so it might have been a bit misleading at such an early stage. He obviously has inherited a poor set of players but youd expect a bounce and all we have had is lifeless and soul destroying performances. He comes across as a dullard and his teams portray that.

Lucky to go up with 96 points, 10 points more than 3rd.

We can come back to draw. Wins are off the cards though.

Drab, lifeless dross served up yet again by a manager and team hurtling towards League 1. Eustace saying that it is a good point sums him up. Playing a back 5 throughout with Pickering at RWB when 3 points were there for the taking tells us all we need to know. New manager bounce? Still hasnt won a game and is dishing up some Appleton esque football where the players dont really look like they know what they are doing, poorly coached summed up by taking that corner at the end how they did. Its hard to see what Eustace is trying to do, its not as if hes even come in and weve kept more than one clean sheet. The set of players we have are as poor as I can remember too. Go right through the team, only Szmodics (who was poor aside from his goal but his constant supply of goals is giving us any chance) has any right to feel any pride. Wahlstedt making himself as small as possible. McFadzean and Wharton are uncoordinated lumps and Hyam is a coward of a captain. Garrett is a League 2 player, Buckley has had a mixed time back and tonight was more of an indicator as to why he sat on Wednesdays bench and Dolan and Gallagher were totally ineffective. The subs bench is essentially a conveyor belt of shite.

Any clarity on whether you are specifically saying that Broughton has been put on gardening leave, as opposed to the cryptic waffle implying as such?

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Everyone remains in situ despite the shambles, and even an explanation can be deferred whilst they hide behind the manager they appointed who hasnt even won a game yet.

It was just bad luck that a player with a plate in his leg following breaking that same leg twice both very recently has injured the same leg again.

We desperately need a really raw centre back who has struggled for game time in the French second division and who on debut made a big mistake in failing to shepherd the ball out, took a foul throw and didnt react at all to an opposition attacker having 2 shots that had to be well saved by Pears?

I know yeah and totally agree. I dont believe him at all, no. I am just seeing if he at least will outright say what he is implying.

There are always talented youngsters but its whether they make the step up to the top level. Phillips and Henderson are not decent when it comes to the top level against major international teams. The former has been shocking since he started featuring for West Ham, Pep saw through him. Henderson is past it went to the Saudi league and then came back to the low standard of the Dutch league with his tail between his legs, where he only won his first game this weekend. Guehi is a good player but a step or two below Stones and is currently injured. Even if he wasnt unfortunately Maguire will play anyway.

So to clarify amidst the cryptic way of posting. You are saying that Broughton has been put on gardening leave, on record?

Maguire is obviously a huge concern and weakness. He will play even though there are better alternatives (Guehi who is injured himself, Tomori, Branthwaite) but none of them are proven or top defenders. Chilwell is a poor defender and has not been good for a while, perhaps injuries have scuppered him. That position is a concern because Shaw is out for the season, so its either rush him back when rusty or what I think he will do and play the out of form Trippier out of position. The midfield area is a bit of an issue. I would agree with selecting Trent even though it feels like shoehorning him into a position he isnt used to playing. Beyond that, there is a total absence of quality in that area beside Rice. He will almost certainly squeeze in Phillips who is not up to it nor has he played much even at West Ham, or the washed up Henderson. But there isnt really anything in the way of quality there. I also fear that Southgate prefers Rashford to Foden for some reason. Obviously it sounds like from that as if we are doomed. The four attacking players of Kane, Bellingham, Foden and Saka if fit and selected to start are the best attackers in the tournament, 100%. Bellingham gets so much focus and rightly so but Foden is on par for me, he is such an incredible footballer. Rice is excellent at what he does too and Stones and Walker are top players, that 7 are superb. I just worry about the other 4 positions. Pickford has a mistake in him but not a huge concern. If Shaw returns before the end of the season and gets up to speed then he is a good player but big if. The 2nd centre back and in particular the lack of quality in midfield especially coinciding with who Southgate likes to pick in those positions though is a worry.

Mainly Southgate. Although with Shaw again injured, the inevitable inclusion of Maguire in that problem second CB position, an average keeper and only Rice as a competent (he is obviously above competent) defensively minded midfielder, we can certainly be got at.

Unlucky? Most players wouldnt come with the risk of having their leg broken twice very recently and having a plate in there in the first place. Probably dont loan out your captain who as far as I am aware has 2 legs both without plates in. A luxury.

If ever you wanted a summary of this window. Its having a good Championship midfield until you loan out your captain, sell your main player for big money and then the owners wont allow any reinvestment so you sign an aging freebie who has recently broken the same leg twice, and has a plate in there which withstood 17 minutes of football before requiring further surgery ending his Rovers career.

Tronstad hasnt trained, Hedges still out, JRC still out. And Fleck done for the season. One kick to the plate he had in his leg only 17 minutes into his debut and thats it for his Rovers career. Some serious homework done.

Adding the Stoke win to Eustace's record is a nice bit of window dressing considering although he may have had an input, it was explicitly stated that he wasnt in charge for that game. The thing in our favour in regards to relegation is the number of teams below us. Whoever does go down would have to be the worst of 7 or 8 teams, its not like there is 2 or 3 trying to avoid 1 place.

Again im not doubting that Mowbray had more but it was not the lavish spending some would have you believe. But either way, I dont think our recruitment can be seen as MORE successful under Broughton, its been mainly dross through the door, although obviously there are mitigating circumstances. Szmodics is an outstanding signing. Tronstad good, Hyam decent (ranging from very good last season to poor this season) and Brittain at a push average. Everyone else between abysmal and underwhelming.

Its a sad indictment as to the fact we only have one striker that Ennis would probably be of use to us now. And not because hes good.

Not his fault but just not up to it and had we not loaned out our captain and/or replaced Wharton, he could be getting regular football in a lower division.

Garrett is nowhere near the standard required. Buckley is hit and miss but much better than him.

Just seems a strange angle to go down. Any hostility in the crowd amidst poor performance after poor performance has all been aimed away from the players and manager. I still find it strange how these boo boys berating our team (apparently) would specifically be aggravated by playing deep and going long.

Nyambe didnt seem like one youd want in the trenches with you either and isnt the best benchmark to use.

Rashford has been shocking all season and is so lazy. Obviously scored a wonder goal which he certainly is capable of but also wasted 2 great chances. Foden on the other hand is on par with Bellingham. We wont be blowing teams away under Southgate and dont have the strongest foundations.