Glad Armstrong slotted the penalty, missing 2 in 2 might have had a dent in his confidence a bit. Hopefully we kill it off quickly in the 2nd half.

No complaints with that team what so ever. I’d rather have seen Buckley than Johnson in this kind of game but can’t complain. The main thing Tony had to do was replace Bell and Evans with Douglas and Trybull and he’s done that.

No Holtby? Or is he not available and I’ve missed it? He’s been our best player this season.

Buckley was poor against Forest, however Johnson has been no better in the last few games. He also played alongside Evans and Johnson, I’d expect more for him with Holtby in the centre too. Assuming Ayala is injured... Kaminski JRC Lenihan Williams Douglas Holtby Trybull Buckley Elliott Armstrong Brereton

Did he also put the ball through for the yellow card that could/should have been red? I think it was, and it was also a lovely weighted pass. Both were from more central areas though, not convinced he’s an out and out wide man (first time I’ve watched him mind you).

Rothwell still out for Saturday. Eugh

The Cardiff and Forest games were far more frustrating. We really need to bounce back in a game we expect to win on Saturday. Rothwell, Trybull and Douglas in for Evans, Johnson and Bell. Williams in for Ayala if he’s injured.

Is Rothwell clear for Saturday? If so I’d like to see him and Trybull alongside Holtby.

Fair enough, I’m only going off what I’ve seen in a Rovers shirt. Don’t get me wrong, he’s good enough to be a regular in our front 3, but that says more about Gallagher etc. than Arma himself.

I remember the average years prior to that, does that make my memory good / not laughable?

Let’s put this “relying on Armstrong’s goals” shite to bed please. He’s had half a good season with us (and 2 games this season). He was bang average in L1 with most this board calling for him to be benched. Talk of £15m was laughable and we’d be complete mugs to have turned anything like that down.

“See above”

What the fuck is Armstrong doing there. It’s like he assumed he was offside so just went for it. I wonder how many games he has to go without scoring and constantly missing chances for everyone to remember how bang average he was for 2 years

I posted this same team in the “best team” thread last week. Hopefully post Christmas when everyone is fit, with Dolan and Brereton playing their part in the attacking 3. In the meantime Brereton/Dolan for Dack with Arma in the middle and give Trybull a run until Travis is fit.

Holtby has been brilliant, he makes such a difference. Evans and Johnson are passengers. Do not suit the high press game and offering nothing on the ball either. Evans can’t play in a 3 like this. Bell out of position on numerous occasions and he’s so uncomfortable on the ball it’s painful to watch the mis-placed passes. We’re not far away and that’s what makes it so frustrating. How long will it take Tony to play our best 11?

I’m not too disappointed with the line up to be fair. Dolan has been quiet the last two matches. Glad Elliott has come in, although could have been for Brereton. Just glad Gallagher isn’t starting in the front 3 personally. Would have preferred Douglas and Trybull instead of Bell and Evans but I understand the reasoning. Hopefully we look more like the Derby match than the Forest match.

2 goals for Whiteman tonight...where’s Sparks!?

Kaminski Nyambe - Lenihan - Ayala - Douglas Holtby - Travis - Rothwell Elliott - Dack - Armstrong 7 of these 8 Subs: GK, Williams, JRC, Trybull, Johnson, Buckley, Dolan, Brereton Not needed: Gallagher, Chapman, Bell, Evans

One positive to take is that when (if?) everyone is fully fit 6 of that 11 will not be starting.

If we’ve learnt anything from the Cardiff and Forest matches, it’s that Bradley Dack is the 1st name on our team sheet. Everything else that needs to be said, has been said many times before... - Sam Gallagher was woeful, 2nd to everything. - Bradley Johnson was a ghost, too inconsistent to be a regular for me, especially when Travis is back fit. - Ayala was our best player. No positives to take, yes we had no Holtby or Rothwell but Tony has to get better performances out of them than this.

It’s been drab so far to say the least. Dolan the worst player on the pitch in my opinion, closely pushed by Bell. The midfield 3 are too slow with the ball as others have said, nobody is driving forward with it. The 2 x CBs and GK look good, probably the only positives to take.

Good man Merce! It’s a great bet and I make the true price ~15% and you’re getting 13.3% at 13/2 (maybe you’re shrewder than I took you for ?) I do this professionally but tend to avoid anything too close to Rovers, however i must say I backed 3.6 for top 6 finish today which I make 16% value. It’s a bit early in the season to have too much confidence in my pricing but it’s a double interest at least. I’ve been involved in plenty of bickering on this site over the years, we’re always criticising and wanting the best for Rovers but it’s great on days like today when we have genuine optimism (not like that bollocks Ronaldinho stuff). A great squad, full of players we believe in, full of recruitment we believe in (I don’t want to mention the names of Kean/Appleton/Berg years). Really looking forward to tomorrow, 2020 has been a shitter all round and we deserve this optimism after the last 8 years. See you all in the morning in the Forest chat. COYB

Depends if said 17 year old is good enough. Jude Bellingham was a regular in the league for Birmingham at 17.....then signed for Dortmund for £25m. I'd hazard a guess that Elliott is good enough.

Jeez, picking a starting 11 is going to be difficult!!

Wolves fans really rated him when he got promoted with them, there was a lot of restless voices when they replaced him with Jonny and sold him to Leeds (Look how that turned out, Nuno knows what he's doing!) FYI - 5 goals and 14!! assists from left back when Wolves won the league. Has been a bit injury prone recently but it's without a doubt a big upgrade, and I thought out of our budget. Well done all involved, the squad is really shaping up here. A win tomorrow and this place will be bouncing.