Really satisfying to win all 4 home games off the back of some valid question marks over Eustace who was unable to win a single home game last year. A very impressive start. Thought it was a game of 2 halves today. First half we were poor, I was underwhelmed with the first 11 and we (not unexpectedly) were flat in attack. Hedges was really poor, Weimann struggled to get involved and Ohashi was again invisible, Dolan was the one bright spark but we didnt really create anything of note. After the game changing red card, we did everything this week that we should have last week to capitalise on the man advantage. We from the start came out aggressively on the front foot, moved them around and created chances. Cantwell was a catalyst and looked much fitter with his class a level above anyone else. We got fortunate with their disallowed goal as it wasnt a foul on Batth but we deserved the win. Travis again was good albeit getting needlessly involved in his usual antics, Tronstad was solid beside him and the defence (beside Batth's big and thankfully not costly mistake) gave Pears an easy day. I have felt this season that we have struggled with the balance of the 3 behind the striker which I put partly down to the lack of fitness of signings made especially towards the end of the window. Hopefully with fitness building, Hedges can be removed from the team as he isnt good enough. Cantwell has to be built around, and I also thought that Cozier Duberry showed flashes in his cameo of what he can give us that no one else in the squad can. The striking position is a bit of a conundrum. After the initial excitement over a pair of unknown foreign signings, the jury is out as to which is better. Ohashi struggled again and was totally anonymous, lacking any physicality but we know that he can finish. Gueye was no better and needs to get off the mark.

There is definitely more senior depth in the squad compared to last year. I still think the side hasnt fully formed as a result of late deals for players with a lack of pre season. I also have question marks over that 3 behind the striker, we have more options so we arent looking at the likes of Markanday as alternatives but I am still unsure exactly what the best 3 will be when everyone is fit. I know it isnt a case of the same side every game but I feel like the decisions Eustace has are as much about him trying to figure out an effective attacking midfield with some balance as much as being spoilt for choice. Cantwell is the one that should be above everyone else but obviously is nowhere near fit enough yet, at the moment it feels like when Dack had just come back from injury, our best player but not in shape and only considered from the bench. So its how we build around him. My concern is that we didnt get enough pace and width through the door over the summer. We really could do with Cozier Duberry being good enough to nail down a regular spot. Hedges wont have any Championship side fearing him. Dolan flatters to deceive more often than not, he offers more than Hedges but the question will be how to fit him in the side when Cantwell is starting. Weimann at his age was intended (as per Eustace) not to play every week but he is a useful player to have to offer a goal threat. And start Buckley over either Tronstad or Travis? We really couldnt.

It is a myth that it is HARDER than against 11.

I do wonder if you are right, he was described as quick but in his brief cameos he doesnt look rapid, but he didnt really get into a sprint very often. Still far quicker than the others but our lack of pace has still not been addressed. But even if he likes running at players and cutting in and shooting, it could give us a new dimension. Agree on your last comment too.

I would like to see him as he sounds like a quick and direct player who can take people on. Our alternative wide options really underwhelm. I know theres been a lot of talk of players being played there purely to perhaps faciliate the full back on that side going forward and I get that, and maybe we can do that on one side depending on who is used there, but some individuality would be great. Hedges has shown over a number of years that he shouldnt be starting regularly and is very limited. Dolan and Weimann would rather play centrally, they can do a job wide coming inside depending on the circumstances and who is around them but are limited there. Sigurdsson has struggled and seems out of favour, the JRC out wide experiment seems to have been potted and the Baker starting wide choice also didnt work.

Obviously it doesnt always translate to a win, and it didnt. But we had a big advantage for 45 minutes and didnt make it count or even threaten to. Certainly disappointment and frustration from me coming away and seemingly a number of others. As @MarkBRFC touches on, dont get this idea that we would have lost that in previous seasons. Especially as comparisons are mainly to games with 11 v 11.

Why would the FA hate us?

It proves that statistically it is less of a hindrace than it used to be. Some examples given are of big teams who are superior to their opposition. But it is still objectively beneficial to have an extra man, it just isnt quite as statistically advantageous as it used to be. The cliche you sometimes hear on commentary (or at least used to) is that it is harder to play against 10 men. It isnt, it cant be.

Both are true, but I am speaking from a Rovers perspective. It isnt a given that 10 men will lose to 11 men, and it does have challenges. You wont be able to counter on them because it will become attack v defence and an exercise to try and break them down. And it might create a bit of a seige mentality. But to not even create a decent chance in 45 minutes with a man advantage, never mind score is poor.

A myth that is sometimes peddled is that its more difficult to play against 10 men. If you have an extra player for a significant period of time, you have such a big advantage. If you fail to capitalise, especially not creating a chance of note then it has to be a huge disappointment. On the flip side, we had 10 men against Burnley for half an hour and did very well to keep them at bay, again with minimal chances created.

That comment from Pasha is terrible. At least we have in black and white from a direct representative that the owners literally do not give a shit about us. They never have.

That same like is from the one person who seems to have asked the only question to try and challenge the rubbish that the clubs representatives come out with. The answer was as you would expect a load of shit but the question is appreciated nonetheless.

Of course there is disappointment from the Preston game, we had a man advantage for half a game and couldnt get the win. And in truth, were poor and never looked like winning. That result doesnt mean we havent had a good start to the season and equally that good start doesnt mean that we werent poor last Sunday.

But what if the neutrals who want to watch some football, dont fancy the Premier League game, dont fancy the main Sky Sports Championship game or the other 5 games from the EFL, all on at that time? Surely enough to justify inconveniencing many people who are or plan to attend, including those from London.

The prices were cut by a slight amount and for only a short period of time, at which point we had just come off the back of a terrible season and were the last team to sign anyone with rumours circling regarding our off field position. By the time that any glimmer of positivity came back with a couple of signings, the prices comparatively were The comments from the fans forum are misleading.

To be honest, I am not convinced that Eustace himself is overly sure who he fancies on either side. He tried JRC, and since he cant get off the bench. He tried Hedges off the left, he was as ineffective as he is on the right so he has since been moved back. Clearly doesnt fancy Sigurdsson, and has tried Baker drifting in from the left which again hasnt worked. We badly needed to overhaul our wide options in the summer, and one failing IMO of our business was that we only managed to sign one who is a natural out there. Hedges 9 times out of 10 struggles to impact on games. And you have suggested Dolan where he doesnt play. Cozier Duberry is the obvious choice for me, I would go with Weimann on the other side.

It isnt right, regardless of what happens elsewhere, and it has likely put a low ceiling on the potential season ticket sales. Waggott seems genuinely confused as to why no sales were really made once signings were made and we had started well. A baffling naivety towards the considerable price increase he set and in previous forum meetings refused to reconsider. Venkys continued ownership of this football has been a source of confusion pretty much since they sadly joined. But we have it in black and white from their pet snake Suhail that basically they are concentrating on more domestic businesses. That shows that Rovers are not anywhere near the forefront of their mind.

I wouldnt want Hedges to play, no. Nor Dolan on the right.

They shouldnt be increasing the price at any interval, full stop. And I was just pointing out again that Venkys have no interest in the football club.

There is such a lack of context regarding season tickets and I am not sure if it is purposeful manipulation or incompetent naivety, both of which are as bad as each other. The initial reduction doesnt factor in what the prices are before, or the fact that we live in one of the least affluent regions. But mainly, there were massive price hikes throughout the summer. Yes, a big reason for initial poor sales may have been a lack of transfer business. But why are they confused that when we did start signing players, for a small fraction of sales proceeds but ignoring that. People didnt then start suddenly buying considering the prices had since been massively increased. It at least helps with the narrative that price reductions arent sustainable, and im sure the relevant fan groups will lap it up.

- Venkys wont be coming over any time soon because, well, they have better things to be doing. - Season ticket sales are massively disappointing, but no awareness of why they predictably have dipped. - Why was a reasonable amount not made available for transfers? Well, its no guarantee of success, end of discussions. Obviously but it makes it easier.

I never suggested playing a left footer, I suggested Weimann who himself would drift inside. Not a natural wide man himself but not as unfamiliar with starting from that area.

I never said I wanted to play traditional wingers. I just think that even with limited choices from the wide roles, that Baker would certainly not be someone I would want to play from there.

But that is quite clearly what I am saying, that it isnt the best of use of that wide midfielder position. I am unsure why you are being so pedantic and making out like I just must not understand what his role is, especially when you yourself dont seem too convinced by him playing there yourself. He is playing on the left initially even if his role is clearly nothing like that of an orthodox wide man. But even drifting inside, I dont think that he has had any positive impact on the game in either of his first 2 appearances, he has been fairly anonymous. He also doesnt really provide any cover for Beck defensively and his set pieces (obviously irrelevant to his position) have been poor. We do have a weakness in terms of personnel to play left and right, Hedges and Dolan have proven over a number of years that they are more often than not ineffective themselves.

No I dont, you keep wrongly interpreting that I must simply not understand what is being asked of him. He has been ineffective in both games.