He didn't have choice yesterday, the team with square pegs in round holes was due to Brereton and Khadra being unfit to start and Gallagher and Dolan not quite making it after injury themselves, we only had Hedges out of our 5 options there. That had the knock on effect of having to push Giles forward where he is less effective, which then left Zeefuik on the wrong side with Pickering and Edun also out. So you have 2 players in less than ideal positions because of 6 fitness concerns, at least 5 of which should clear in the next week or 2. It wasn't down to the manager having loads of options and tinkering, it was the complete opposite. He is right in that the way that we play using a false 9 and 2 wide forwards has brought us the success to get us into 2nd. I do think that we could have done with another forward who has the mobility to play in those 2 wide forward positions, similar to Brereton and Gallagher who give us a bit more physicality to the other options. Saying that, it cant be easy to get similar to the options we have when he seemingly was in the loan market only based on his quotes last week. This talk of having someone pressuring him "when we falter" seems counter-productive, we are still 2nd, our form has stuttered lately coinciding with some fitness issues, but why would someone being on his back after a run of 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses help, surely it would cause further panic.

It looked undoubtedly toothless but it was very much borne out of severe unavailability issues that seem to be about to ease. Brereton was deemed not fit enough after his travels and Khadra the same after a hamstring twinge. Gallagher has an injury he has now been given the all clear for, Dolan is almost back and Dack is hopefully a couple of weeks away from inclusion in the squad. We likely very soon will have a situation whereby one or two of the above names may even fall out of the squad.

I dont remember one good delivery from him so far and thought that especially v Luton, he tended to lose the ball when he got into the final third. Nyambe IMO has done nothing to deserve being dropped.

Has he done anything to show that as of yet? Nyambe set up one or two things today with good runs forward and won the foul that led to us hitting the post.

I dont get why Zeefuik would play. Nyambe was one of our better players and hasnt done anything wrong. Zeefuik albeit on the opposite side has looked shaky in the last 2 games and has done nothing going forward.

Really poor first half. Buckley particularly poor, I feel like he is succeptible to a red after a pathetic dive and his miss was shocking, he needs to add a goal threat to his game. Zeefuik keeps getting caught out, Nyambe has been very good as has Giles albeit he is too far forward. Brereton and Khadra needed.

I don't and my comment was not a criticism of either player. Ideally Giles would be at wing back where he was so effective for Cardiff though, he is more of a creator than a goalscorer. I feel like we really will miss Brereton's goal threat.

Worryingly blunt looking side with Brereton only a sub. Not too sure where the goals are coming from.

It makes sense that we didnt bring in an out and out number 9 in January, in particular one who wouldnt be able to operate as one of the 2 forwards we play either side of the false 9. That being said, I do think we could have ideally done with a more natural forward who would offer more of a goal threat from that position, as Brereton and to a lesser extent Gallagher do, I suppose that is a difficult task with a minimal budget and with the added blow of losing Markanday. Hedges has scored a reasonable amount of goals as a winger so hopefully he can offer a new dimension to our team.

Seems like Saturday's game may fall into a bit of a limbo between us struggling for a squad and for any attacking options and in a couple of games time (maximum) when we are struggling to pick a team/squad for the opposite reason with Brereton, Pickering, Dolan, Khadra and maybe Gallagher back. If Khadra has any discomfort, we can't risk him with a hamstring injury, and the Brereton one might be too much of a risk too. If they both miss out though, I can't see who we possibly play on the left of the attack with Hedges on the right. I hope Zeefuik is not shoehorned in there as he is not an attacker, maybe we could put Giles there but we need him at left wing back, there is no one if we have to cope with the absences of Brereton, Khadra, Gallagher, Dolan and the longer term absences of Markanday and Poveda. Also, not a clue either why people get so wound up by what Mowbray says in the media.

Apparently its good news for a rival to win.

Oh dear, lets hope this is more likely than your other tip from the last 24 hours!

I bet you are glad that the Bruce story has broken quick enough for more money not to be wasted! Only probably? And does he get the boot if he manages a remarkable promotion?

As mentioned, Alex Neil has been waiting to be announced here for months and months. Lets hope this isnt one of your twice a day as a stopped clock!

When is he signing a new deal here then? 90% just about leaves scope for it to go either way.

Not sure, ideally it doesnt need deciding now. Go up, what a bloody job done, new deal natural. Narrowly missing out, say in the play offs, still the progression is massive, surely in the best bet to continue? Fall out off the play offs entirely, we start again and let him go. Think thats fair. Either way, lets hope he isnt taken mid season.

Again, big if that they would go for someone that they have had in the past. Regarding the length of contract, maybe it would lead to an extension here? Lets hope they go elsewhere and leave us ticking along as we are.

Big assumption that they would firstly go for him (compensation cost, has managed there previously so water under the bridge) and that he would go. Lets hope not. Even the biggest doubter of Mowbray surely would not embrace the loss of our manager where we currently are.

Not injured I hope? I wonder if he does start on Saturday after playing at high altitude.

Did Ravel Morrison do anything as despicable like this? Correct me if im mistaken but they surely arent comparable.

He will do well to get through this without injury.

He really wouldnt.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2022/february/01/boss-pleased-january-business/ Maybe Giles wont come into contention on Saturday to start. He should but it is mentioned that they wont come straight into the starting 11, maybe a turn of phrase.

Has to be the team, fitness permitting. Giles has to start, Zeefuik looked uncomfortable on his wrong side at Luton. Rothwell needs to come back in. The questions perhaps come up front. Khadra had a hamstring injury, if there is any risk then it makes no sense for him to play, Hedges should then start. Brereton is obviously the key, I wish he wasn't playing for Chile tonight. I also wonder if Gallagher will be ok, last time he was coughing up blood he came back almost instantly.

Seems like beyond square pegs in round holes with some of those. Zeefuik is a right back/right wing back, has he ever played in central midfield? Hedges is an attacking winger, has he ever played in a central midfield 2? Giles is a wing back/winger, has he ever played in a central midfield 2? How long will Edun be out does anyone know as he would be the obvious one out of those 4.