He is a player that was totally the opposite of what we needed in an otherwise young central midfield. A lightweight youngster with minimal first team experience who has mainly played sanitised kids football for a big club. I just cant have that he hasn't got the desire or that he isnt bothered about what happens whilst here, that IMO is really unfair. Questions about his lack of robustness are fair, he is very slight (as Buckley was even more so when he came into our team) and can be easily brushed aside. He is never going to be a brave enforcer smashing into challenges, that sort of approach has limited use anyway but he does need to become more physical. He did put in a very strong challenge that lead to our second at Sheffield United and also he did win the ball a couple of times yesterday with solid challenges but he needs to be braver and stronger more often. Assuming he is available for loan next season, a Championship club would likely move for him, most likely one nearer the bottom. Also, some of the players you list are not better alternatives. We have mentioned Harlock, a kid about to be released and one who has never got close to the team. But even aside from that, Dack and Szmodics don't play the same position, Rankin Costello is thriving at right back in the role he gives us a totally new dimension in and Edun is horrendous especially in midfield, has Morton ever been as bad as Edun was away at Peterborough. So we are left with 4 options, a very limited and inexperienced pool and we may well need them all, but Wharton IMO shouls play v Norwich with Travis.

At Sheffield United he played Pickering and Phillips beside Ayala so he clearly wasnt totally sold on just sticking Phillips in. But if the alternative is Edun who is awful at left back and Pickering who is a small full back at centre back then it is hardly a viable alternative. As I said, it has often been down to necessity when those players have played. I doubt Phillips and Vale would have played much had Ayala/Wharton and to a lesser extent Hyam had picked up injuries, or if Broughton had actually signed a competent striker. It's not a criticism, but equally I don't think it has been down to bravery.

Comparing against different standards from different years. The side we had in 2001 was one that finished 19 points ahead of 7th, it was an automatic promotion chasing side in only its second season after relegation, full of Premier League quality. Now we are not even claiming to be chasing tbe top 2, just to get 6th in a poor league. You look at Millwall's side, Ryan Leonard, George Savile, Tom Bradshaw, Duncan Watmore, Luton with Amarii Bell, Jordan Clark who they signed from Stanley, a couple of forwards from Barnsley, they aren't sides packed full of great quality compared to us. Us finishing in the top 6 would certainly be a good achievement but it wouldn't be a miracle even allowing for transfer failings.

He often has played those players out of necessity. Phillips has only really played when we have had to due to injuries, Vale is awful but has played when we have had to due to recruitment failings from Broughton and we have been light in central midfield, although he has never really fancied Wharton sadly.

What makes you confident about Southampton? They look absolute shite. Can't be a surprise, horrendous form all season. Plus very pleasing as he comes across as an absolute bell end. I remember watching one of those documentaries when he was at Liverpool and he had a portrait of himself in his house. If he was made out of chocolate he would eat himself.

What is more important, making the right decision or avoiding a 3 minute delay?

Presented without comment.

He is one of two crucial positions that Broughton has failed to improve in the transfer market despite having 2 opportunities to do so. Both could cost us a play off place. Obviously the first one is up front, first he signed Hirst then he went back and we got absolutely no one bar a pile of excuses. I said at the time that Morton was not the type of player we needed. Our midfield is young and we were crying out for experience, Broughton talked about bringing in a player and having youngsters so it made no sense whatsoever to bring in another young player on top of that. You look around at other players at other clubs, O'Brien would have been ideal but even then, Pearson went to Stoke, Nakamba went to Luton, Chalobah went to West Brom, and beyond that, basically every play off rival has a more proven, physical and experienced midfield that you would fancy over ours. I dont have the same problem that many do with loans, I do also think that because he is a loan player, people do go over the top. His type of contract makes no difference, the focus is now on this season, not on development for next season and beyond, so talk of him never playing again is silly. Garrett isn't better than him, Buckley is injured and I do think Adam Wharton is better but that is a curious situation. But either way, Morton probably should be in the 18 for the rest of the season. But he isn't what we needed.

Do you think Luton or Millwall fans have similar thoughts? Look at their squads compared to ours, are they massively different in quality?

I have been watching him for years, many times in person. He does try. He just is ineffective more often than not.

I know you are on to exaggerate and I am not Gallagher's biggest fan but to suggest that he puts in no effort and is lazy is simply untrue. He also does try and win headers and sometimes does albeit usually poorly directed.

But Dack would be coming in instead of a striker ie Gallagher in that proposal. We have won 5 of our last 7 league games with the current formation.

There is definitely lots of misfortune contributing to why I couldn't consider him a good signing at the moment.

The only time I remember both Szmodics and Dack starting together was v Preston and it didn't work at all, both want to play off a striker and they both went into the same spaces. There was no threat in behind and neither can play wide. I also dont get why playing them both would have to lead to 3 central midfielders @rigger

Indeed, it is a very emotionally driven part of the season, every win and loss feels particularly big. Add in what happened last season and also the Sheff United heartbreak and it will be a nervy end. He is partly not starting due to the form of others but his lack of appearances is part of why I don't think he can be deemed a good (or excellent) signing, not yet anyway. Even when he has played in the main I think he has been average. Gallagher does perform better when he doesn't have to think. Mainly when sat on the bench. I don't get how you can argue on how the performance was based on a game you haven't seen! I watched it and Birmingham had a host of much better chances compared to us in that first half, we were poor when we got in the final third. After the goal, our play was too slow and as per usual when losing we seldom looked like scoring. And Birmingham are the 9th poorest side in the league, even lower before the game. League table proves that.

Is it little wonder that people are deflated when we have had a chance away from home against one of the poorer sides in the league and have put in such a poor performance, spurning an excellent chance to gain extra ground on our rivals? This late into a season, every game feels massive, especially an hour after it finishes.

This becomes a critical game now, win and we have some margin for error, lose and I would fear for us. Pears Rankin Costello Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Wharton Hedges Szmodics Dolan Brereton Subs: Kaminski, Brittain, S Wharton, Morton, Dack, Gallagher, Thomas Thomas spurned a chance at a start with a shite cameo. Dack was good when he came on so hopefully he is fit enough for a much longer appearance.

I don't remember too many excellent performances from him even when he has been available.

That Brighton and Brentford stood out looking at the fixtures and I would have watched that had it not been for the rarity of Rovers playing at 3pm on a Saturday.

Can Brittain be considered a good signing? I am not sure it has worked out very well at the moment. I also don't get why he was brought on in the last 2 games. File that signing under average so far. In and out, often unavailable and not in our best 11. He has something about him but still. Not many good opportunities at all for us.

To be fair, I don't have total faith in Broughton to bring in a good one. The first choice last summer was apparently Hirst and then he fucked it up in January too. Lets hope for third time lucky.

Really, really poor in such an important game. We aren't good enough away from home and our record from losing positions is an absolute embarassment.

Must have been April Fools Day when you wished the same for Szmodics.

Mowbray's men? I very much doubt that Tomasson has such a petty attitude.

Second player this season?