Because I dont support them or have a strong interest in them but as I said there is less of a gap between rich and poor in the fourth tier. Burton and Burnley are examples which belittled your own point, little money in comparison to their Leagues so play football that isnt easy on the eye because they know that if they went toe to toe and tried to play expansive football they would struggle. 4-5m is far more than McCarthy ever had and comes from players signed for fairly cheap in McCarthys spell sold on for a profit. Your totally missing the main 2 points anyway. Firstly Hurst is not a manager that plays attractive football, look at Shrewsbury. So if your main bug bear with McCarthy is style then why appoint Hurst? Also, he let them 3 go you mention (you have definitely turned your nose up at at least 1 or 2 of them coming here over the summer by the way, apologies if mistaken) one of whom was forever injured and the other 2 who he only had for a season. He has spent lots yet why is a place 9 places lower than last season suddenly a good season? Basicaly you hold a personal grudge against McCarthy and you are covering the fact that you was wrong to deride him so much. The reason he went was simple. He was a victim of his own success. Supporters had delusions of grandeur that a squad full of frees could play exhillirating football whilst maintaining the excellent consistent results he kept achieving.

Its more the struggle to empathise with an attitude whereby you would prefer Rovers to lose. Surely when Tuesday comes around and if you read that we won your instinctive reaction would be one of happiness and not dissapointment that weve got another game to fit in down the line? Its like when Kean was manager and people bunged up with "ITK" information kept proclaiming that Kean was a game away from the sack. I still couldnt bring myself to cheer our opposition. Even if you saw the cup so much of a low priority that you used it as a vehicle to give mainly fringe and younger players a chance to push for a starting role in the League, surely winning cup ties is useful for that? Had we lost in the last round, which presumably you also wanted, we wouldnt have such a good opportunity to give Brereton, Rodwell, Rothwell, Palmer, Armstrong etc a chance to keep themselves competitively ticking over and push to start League games, or a chance for the likes of Travis, Nuttall and in the last round Grayson and Butterworth vital first team minutes to make them want a taste of more. Im not saying it should be anything other than second in the list of priorities. But the prize of winning is one more game, at max we will play is it 6 or 7 which baring in mind we will be using the whole squad will not derail our season, and thats on the basis that we went all the way. I also remember playing the big teams regularly but that doesnt mean that playing one, and most likely a weakened team would be an inconvenience. Beating them would still be very enjoyable. Also, winning games is a habit not to be sniffed at.

Your point was to play attractive football and how it is possible?! Not teams getting results/promotion on lower budgets. I cant profess to know how Accrington Stanley play, even if it is open, attractive football there will always be exceptions to the rule, but in the fourth tier there is naturally less of a financial chasm between top and bottom anyway. Burnley in particular and Burton both rely on organisation and substance over style, because they have low budgets. So them examples back my argument up if anything! Your argument/points change from post to post. My point was, why with the majority of a squad who finishes 12th last season, is 21st now acceptable only a season on? Yes they sold 3 very good McCarthy signings on for a profit but Hurst been able to spend lots of that money (probably more than McCarthy was allowed in his whole tenure) and has done partially on players you rate. So why after that is a drop of 9 league places acceptable? Also, as has been mentioned, Shrewsbury werent a team that played attractive football so the managerial change made no sense anyway if that was the reason. No one mentioned anything about him coming here. That comment shows you seemingly just dislike him as a person IMO.

But the side you named has made 6 changes and still looks fairly strong so it cant be that light. Thats without Travis, Downing and Davenport. We could get a glamour tie in the next round. Or we could with a favourable draw get to the latter stages, which is hardly a massive burden on our squad to play 2 or 3 more games, if anything, it can be a chance to rotate and keep everyone ticking over. So if its one one, last minute and you hear that weve scored would you genuinely feel dissapointed? Its something I cant empathise with. Priortising the league, yes, rotating the squad, yes, totally get that and would do the same. But I still want Rovers to win, to be in the hat for the next round, and also for the fringe players to really give Mowbray a problem.

Sarcasm or genuine hope for a loss?

Firstly biz, I know that he did play in his youth career but, for the vast majority, he has played professional, senior football as a midfielder. He was playing as a midfielder to do everything that Mowbray has eulogised over, played for England, earned a massive transfer to Man City etc. Thats where hes earnt his reputation. I am not being ignorant to it, but to stick someone there at this stage of his career is a massive, massive risk in my opinion. I totally get how that, in case of injuries etc, his versatility to have at least some understanding of that position could come in handy, but I am not a fan of signing midfielders to play as defenders. I also am unconvinced that he will do himself justice in that position. And although that Mowbray has suggested that there is a chance of him playing there, I personally hope that he is played where he has impressed in the past.

Hes being pedantic over wording and spelling to cover the fact that his argument is full of holes.

Chose wingers that side to allow Rothwell to cut in more. Armstrong was effective on either side last year. Dont get the clamour to play a player who has played midfield all of his senior career at centre back.

As per the last round, hope we win but we have to use the squad a bit more and leave 2 or 3 at home. That said, would love to progress, dont understand why some "dont care" at all about the cup and also we can hope that some players give the manager some decisions to make regarding League selection. Raya Travis Downing Williams Bell Rodwell Smallwood Armstrong Palmer Rothwell Brereton Subs: Leutwiler, Lenihan, Nuttall, Conway, Reed, Bennett, Nyambe

My point was more that in games that we continue with the "2.5 attackers" that Mowbray likes, that Reed could be a better option as the alternative "defensive winger" to Bennett rather than Conway who up to now has been the main alternative but isnt up to it nowadays. Like you said it will be difficult to drop any of them for the next League game, I meant more in general.

Firstly, you seem to be being particularly pedantic regarding spelling, thats twice in a few days youve corrected me which considering your own spelling is quite rich. But im not interested in Ipswich fans' opinions, I was asking for yours. Not sure why you have mentioned them 2 lower league teams, if you cant see that there is a fairly strong correlation between the budget you have to spend on players and the style of football those players will be able to play then lets leave it there. I am not saying that they should sack him now. My question was specific to the fact that you said that 21st AT THE END OF THE SEASON would be "job done." That is with the majority of a squad that has consistently been a top half squad under a manager you clearly dont overly rate in Mick McCarthy. And with a few new players that you have specifically stated that you rate enough to have at your own club, who you expect to be finishing well above 21st.

Very good point. Majority of their wins were 1-0. Practically got in someone who had a very good season, and theres nothing wrong with his style, but hes essentially a similar manager without the proven track record.

Reed impressed in the role he played wide yesterday, but like Bennett he is very much a conservative choice out wide considering he is usually a central midfielder, who can fill in at right back. Yes he scored and it was a cool finish but based on his post match interview, its maybe not a common trait for him! I do wonder if we have stumbled upon someone who can be a better alternative to Bennett, should he be either unavailable, needed elsewhere or lacking form, rather than needing to resort to Conway again? As much as it worked very well yesterday, it is very rare that we need all 4 of Smallwood, Evans, Reed and Bennett across the midfield, and Mowbray likes to play Dack, a striker and one other attacking player.

Totally agree @DE. I didnt know about them chants specifically but obviously its well publicised what the fans thought of McCarthy, and the ridiculous part is that he was criticised for occasionally giving a bit back! @chaddyrovers who were these decent players who he could have played exciting, winning football with? How do you get bored of regular overachievement? In his full seasons there, he finished 9th, 6th, 7th, 16th and 12th. For a good few years, his only transfer buy was famously to replace Aaron Cresswell, buying Tyrone Mings for 10k from non-league who he then sold at a massive profit. He would have loved to spend the money that Hirst has been able to, after selling a few of cheap McCarthy signings in Garner, Webster and Waghorn that he was allowed towards the end of his tenure. May I ask a question chaddy. The squad Hirst inherited you have described as one that is capable of playing decent football, and theyve only been out of the top half once in the last 5 years. They have added some players for decent fees, including Jon Nolan and Gwion Edwards, 2 players you repeatedly suggested as potential signings for Rovers during the summer. So why is 21st now a good achievement for them?

I was worried at the time but Rich Sharpe has responded to a couple of people saying that he wont play midweek regardless but hes not injured and it was just a whack, according to Mowbray.

I am aware of the lack of money, although McCarthy had far less yet you had absolutely no time for, and expected him to play entertaining football as well as consistently keep them well away from danger. But youre missing my point. It was in regards to the inflexibility of your statement "Hurst should be given the season for me." Its easy to say now, but its not as cut and dry as that. If at the end of November, they are bottom, 6 points from 21st, consistently leaking goals, no signs of improvident, then it would make no sense to blindly keep him. Im not saying that will be the case, its a totally hypothetical scenario. But its just to show that he will only get the full season if he shows enough to suggest that it would be the most sensible thing to do that. At the moment it is too early to know either way.

You'd make a very rare breed of chairman then if you would suggest that, regardless of hypothetical results, or even if the team wasnt improving, you would give a manager the season regardless. Nonsense. As much as I agree that the spirit here is there for all to see, I will give you Wigan as an example of another team with an incredible team spirit. I do think the togetherness at Rovers is a big strength but it certainly isnt unique.

I would look to continue in the system we play in the league but with different personnel. I know that you would rather play anyone but Palmer but I would play him for a first time in his natural position. See how Brereton links with a natural number 10 playing off him. I've already acknowledged that there will be a settling in period so I dont know why you are trying to start an argument with something I am in agreement with. I have already repeatedly stated that there are mitigating circumstances and reasons why the games he has come in to would have been especially difficult. I think that Brereton has been poor in all 3 sub appearances. I wish he would stop throwing himself over too. You are talking to me as if I have said he is a crap player or I have written him off.

I think its very much an outside chance, similar to Wigan I would suggest, but we definitely should have half an eye on them. The spine of the team is very settled and Mowbray has had not much shy of an 8 figure net spend in the summer to boost the team further, so of course expectations are higher than just to scrape enough points to get into 21st. I think our final league position is as much of a mystery though in advance as it has been for a long while, following a season when we was heavy promotion favourites, 2 prior in which we always seemed destined to struggle, and before that when we always were much stronger contenders for the top 6.

I never said that Ipswich were adrift or that they should sack him already. I said a couple of months down the line, if they are not improving and in danger of being cut adrift, then I'm sure their supporters wouldnt be of the opinion of lets give him the season anyway. Its a hypothetical situation but my point was you cant say give a manager a season, regardless of progress/lack of progress, and just take the consequences.

I would play Palmer off Brereton, because Brereton will always be playing with a number 10 in the league, so he should get used to being the focal point with someone playing off him. Armstrong is far more effective wide so play him one side and Rothwell the other. I never said I am not going to give him time. I said I havent been impressed in any of his 3 cameos but obviously hes yet to even start a game, and I said I would love him to get a goal or 2 and get up and running. I havent written him off, just commenting on him in the match thread to which I am judging him on, like everyone else. Hes moving from Nottingham, a couple of hours away, not Split! I hope it isnt similar to Kalinic whose time ultimately was a failure here.

Huddersfield and Cardiff are in danger of being cut adrift. Think youd struggle to argue against the fact that the current bottom 3 are the 3 worst squads in the league. Wagner did such a good job to get Huddersfield promoted, made some shrewd signings at Championship level, Ward, Mooy, Palmer and Brown all on loan and players like Lowe, Schindler and Kachunga who were signed for cheap using Wagners knowledge of the Bundesliga, and they played high intensity football and really impressed and surprised that season. They did have quite a few players already there who were important who knew English football so the clever foreign buys made for a perfect mix. They did really well to stay up but I cant see them being so lucky this time out. I feel like Wagner has, with a lot of money spent, has wasted too much on random foreign players who have yet to show anything and I see them either 19th or 20th this season. Warnock at Cardiff seems to have gone with the attitude of, we will struggle anyway, lets sign some top Championship players, people like Reid and Cunningham, we will give it a go and we go back down we will be ready for a quick attempt at getting back. Not sure its the wisest attitude but who knows. Outclassed by City but youd expect that.

Understand Bruces job should be at risk but I disagree that Carvalhal would be a good appointment, hes a bit of a chancer. They shouldnt appoint a director of football, if they are going to make a change they should give whoever they appoint the license to sign who he wants in the window. Agreed that Stoke have various problems but someone like McCarthy could come in and get the most out of what hes got, as he did at Ipswich. I agree that Hirst shouldnt be sacked now but you cant just say give him the season and hell to the consequences. If its 2 months down the line and your looking ahead to December with no signs of improvement and at risk of being cut adrift, theyd need to make a change. And on McCarthy, I wonder if them fans now realise what a big loss he is to them, and what a good job he did there. And on Potter, hes having to do it that way due to a lack of money.

I didnt think he even looked tired, but he was so good yesterday, as you acknowledged. For me he was a class above anyone on that pitch. As soon as he goes off we cant hold the ball up. I thought Brereton (and the other subs to be fair) was poor in the last 10 minutes and hes had 3 cameos now where in each hes looked sluggish, half-arsed and unable to hold the ball up. There was once when he threw himself over, won a soft free kick and literally instantly gave it back to Stoke, he also didnt seem to properly challenge for the ball in the air. That said, I dont think anyone could have hand picked 3 more difficult introductions, against Bristol City when they were building a head of steam, against Villa out of position and then yesterday when we had just collapsed and let in 2. Would love for him to play 90 minutes against Bournemouth and score a goal or 2. That said, in terms of the League, Graham has the shirt and it will be difficult for Brereton to get it off him anytime soon.

Carvalhal is a crap manager. They should go for the best manager available and not solely pick based on nationality, although I am not sure how you know either way. No director of football either. Not sure who would be best for that job. Dont see why Smith would go to Stoke. May be a job for McCarthy, plenty of experienced players but ones who seemingly cannot stop letting in goals. Ipswich shouldnt have sacked McCarthy as many said and now they are paying the price. Ipswich spent a decent amount albeit selling a few too and its not working for them. Whilst I wouldnt sack Hirst yet, you cant just say give him the season, if he carries on losing games a point will come where they need a change to give them a chance of survival. And anyone who gives Lambert a job again is asking for trouble, but the fans will never accept him anyway after his time at Norwich.