We really need to get over this embargo news. I know a lot of the comments are tongue in cheek, but there’s plenty of our fans genuinely calling Burnley cheats, the EFL corrupt, and demanding point deductions and relegations. It’s a late submission of accounts which automatically leads to a block in registering new players. It’s an administrative hold up. We only need to cast our minds back 2 years to when we were in the exact same boat (along with Birmingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Huddersfield, Luton, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke). The hysteria from Rovers fans comes across as really bitter. We are better than that.

I’d sooner play Adam Wharton, but that won’t happen. Don’t want to see Morton at all and think we need someone a bit more expansive than Garrett. I certainly wouldn’t be against sticking with JRC and Pickering as fullbacks, I’d be very reluctant to play anyone on their wrong side. I’ve got the nagging worry that last time we played Reading both Brittain and Pickering were diabolically bad and got completely destroyed, defensive duties need to come first.

Britain’s brief introduction against Stoke definitely made a positive difference, but I think that was due to being able to exploit space out wide. Not sure if we’d get that with him playing from the left. Buckley didn’t look to be in any for state to play on Wednesday when he went off, if so I’d bring JRC into midfield and Brittain at fullback. Reason being JRC seems to do a lot of his best work when he comes across into the middle.

We’ve got a very winnable game on Wednesday. A good performance and result then keeps us well on track and builds optimism for the quarter final. Just a blip.

I’m hoping that was just an off day. For as bad as we were - and we were terrible for the record - Stoke were excellent and had us well figured out. Nothing really went for us today. While both sides had a stone wall penalty ignored, they scored almost straight after theirs, ours was cleared with ease. We definitely lacked our recent intensity and overplayed at both ends, and we looked uncharacteristically nervy. When nothings coming off a couple of subs can make a difference and I’d have liked to have seen changes made earlier. The two times we got a decent ball in the box we scored two cracking headers - there’s a positive there, and what a ball in by Brittain by the way. It’s disappointing but it won’t define our season. Oh, and if we’d been at Ewood the ref would’ve played at least another 3 minutes. Picking the same 11 was the obvious call, and I think some of the criticism certain players are getting is harsh. Nobody who started was good today, Carter the pick of the bunch but an incredibly low bar. Calls for JRC and Dolan to be dropped seem really reactionary and very much with hindsight. As good as he normally is Hyam was utterly shite today and head and shoulders the worst player on the pitch, but others seem to be easier targets. The run was never going to carry on indefinitely… hopefully it’s just a blip and we will be back to our best next week.

For someone who didn’t want to make predictions I made some pretty bold ones!

For me the view is way better, you look across at the pitch rather than down on it. I don’t notice the pillars having set there for the majority of time since it was built, and a slight head movement prevents any obstruction. The most obtrusive things are the TV gantries that means I can’t stand up all game at the back any more. There’s also more space and leg room. I can’t see the big screen, but that’s no loss, but I can turn round and see replays on the TVs at the back. I do wish they’d sort out the speakers though. Welcome to @Shakersrarara. Scandalous what happened to Bury, but we’re glad to have you here.

I don’t want to try and predict anything, but we are playing like losing isn’t an option at the moment, and confidence is a huge factor. I think/hope we’ll make the playoffs, prevent a Dingle double over us, and make the FA cup semis. It’s a LONG time since I’ve been anything like this confident. Memorable end to the season in the offing.

I don’t think there is any intention of selling Phillips just yet. It’s definitely the idea further down the line, but I can’t see him being sold for the £5 million quoted in the article. There’s an expectation he’ll fetch 4 times that by the time he moves on. I’m indifferent to the Gus Williams news. If he had input into the Sorba Thomas loan he’s played a blinder there, but he doesn’t appear to be anything like irreplaceable.

We have no reason to fear anyone at the moment. I think we will continue our excellent form here.

Not even a booking! Ridiculous decision that. Thought it was bad as soon as I saw it, turned round to watch the replay on the telly at the back of the Riverside and it’s an obvious straight red. They really lost their cool as the game went on.

There’s real reason to get excited here. Things seem to have really clicked lately and this is the most enjoyable time to be a Rovers fan in well over a decade. We were fantastic again today with every player doing their bit and some. Buckley was fantastic first half, Dolan had them absolutely terrified so they had to resort to booting him, Thomas has been a revelation - his athleticism is massive. Shout out to Gallagher… a proper target man performance today. While he can frustrate massively at times he’s in the side on merit at the moment. Hyam looked like prime Hendry today, only with a more conservative hair do. Travis fantastic, but Pickering just edging those two to MOTM - lovely finish and a rock solid performance all game. 8’s, 9’s and 10’s all round. How they finished the game with 11 men was ridiculous. Horrible side. McBurnie is an absolute wanker, but fortunately for us he’s an absolute donkey too.

I’d go with Pickering today. You lose a bit going forward but it gives a bit more defensive balance and solidarity. Hope JRC is fit, he’s the first name in the team sheet at the moment.

I think we’d be able to block a few hundred off the capacity and therefore their allocation with some “segregation”

I’m absolutely baffled by people not thinking this is a good draw for us! It’s the 4th best outcome we could’ve hoped for… 1. Grimsby H 2. Grimsby A 3. Sheff U H I don’t see the clamour for a “glamour” tie at this stage. We played at Old Trafford and the Etihad regularly in the fairly distant past. We’ve never been to the new Wembley, this gives us a real opportunity.

I think the appeal actually succeeded in its primary aim. There’s loads of “fuck the EFL” posts all over social media from Rovers fans, and the whole invented narrative about a typo and a relegation clause is still alive and well. Despite all the evidence we submitted doing nothing but prove complete incompetence at our end, there’s plenty of Rovers fans happy to play the victim. It’s astonishing. Reading between the lines, I reckon Greg was too busy playing the genial host, and Silvester was completely disorganised and flapping. It’s all typically slopey shouldered from everyone involved. Confused reporting lines and undefined remits strikes again.

That was brilliant! Almost every player out there tonight deserves massive praise. It should’ve been a lot more comfortable, but it’s a wonderful performance and dare I say our proudest day under these owners. Hope JRC is ok, we missed him when he went off. Dolan, Szmodics and Travis all getting a 10 on the vote from me. Vale’s lack of effort nearly caused me a heart attack but I’m not dwelling on that now. What a night! Fully deserved. Let’s carry this on and make it a season to remember!

Got to be bringing Garrett or Harlock on for Morton here. They both love a tackle and Morton is repeatedly conceding possession.

Gallagher was fantastic there, and Szmodics too obviously.

As good as we’ve been that’s a ridiculous miss from Hedges

I’m really enjoying this so far! Good call to bring Pickering in for this one and keep it simple at the back, though JRC is running riot as usual! Dolan has been superb, Hyam and Carter super comfortable, and well impressed with Travis.

This was run by the Community Trust rather than the Supporters Trust. We get this confusion sometimes. I did spot this on the club’s website which might answer your question… https://www.rovers.co.uk/fans/rovers-readies/

I think one of the factors in our collapse last season was the churn of players in January. We brought in Zeefuik, Brown, Hedges, Markanday, Giles. Carter, Magloire, Butterworth and Clarkson (who had all played) went out. Let’s also not forget the baffling situation with Chapman where he came back briefly, played, and then went back out on loan. None of those coming in made any real impact (although Hedges is now an integral part of the squad and was probably under utilised by Mowbray). Mowbray having more options was pretty disastrous and he utilised a couple of these really badly. Injuries were also a factor, but the core 11 that had done well started to get regularly disrupted and we went to pieces. Fast forward 12 months and our January signing is proving to be effective - he’s brought something different, cemented his place and is being picked week in week out in his actual position. If we’d got O’Brien the same would probably apply. I suppose what I’m getting at is the quiet January window doesn’t look to have done us any harm. The players who have been on the fringes have really stepped up when we’ve had to turn to them. Obviously we’ve been left lighter up top than anyone would’ve liked (again), but we seem to be dealing with it a lot better. Keeping a tight knit group together has its benefits.

From my point of view, he’s done exactly what I wanted him to do. The big source of frustration was his stubbornly sticking with the laboured passing style. Lately we’ve been attacking with a lot more intent, playing more direct, clearing our lines, and it looks like prioritising the points instead.