Poor match but much better when Bucky came on, first thing he did was turned someone and played a forward pass getting us into an attack, a lot better and glad to see him back. I think a midfield 3 of Fleck, Buckley and Tronstadt is pretty decent at this level. Buckley played very much the Adam Wharton role and got a hold of the game for us and killed it for them really. Garrett is nowhere near the required level right now, same for Ayari, forget those 2. Fadz was class again, exactly what we needed. MoM Small shout to Pears, didn't have to do too much but cleared his lines well and made saves when required. Seems safe hands to me. Don't get me wrong, it was sh*t to watch but builds some confidence keeping a clean sheet. Hopefully if Bucky can find his feet it makes us a lot better to watch under Eustace and gives us that balance between his defensive style and brings back some ball retention we had under JDT. Get Hedges back in for Norwich and have them bombing forwards like against Stoke and we might get something. Play like we did tonight and we'll get murdered. We need to take more risks against Norwich from the off and give them something to think about. If we stand off them it won't be easy to watch.

Hedges? He could play central. Had a shocker at Brum but so did everyone else.

The team picked on Saturday and at Brum is a lot more of a tougher physical side, I think we showed that on Saturday... Against Brum, we just simply didn't play well, I don't think we got bullied. It's a shame we have JRC out because we really need players like that in the middle for a game like Preston. It's a big loss in my opinion and makes me concerned that we will lose that central midfield battle and ultimately the game. Really hope his injury turns out to be nothing and he insists he wants to play.

I think this speaks volumes about how the players had lost faith in JDT's philosophy.

Anywhere to watch this?

It's down to where he's played. HE IS NOT A WINGER. He doesn't have the genuine pace to play out wide. His best performances have always been when he's played more central, pressing defenders, breaking into the box, turning people whilst playing between the lines. He's an easy player to mark when he's wasted out wide.

Really hope he becomes our version of Sean Dyche. That's the thread of hope I'm clinging on to. Makes us hard to beat and well drilled. Reality is he's probably the next Micheal Appleton. Good look John.

You still pick up the phone just in case.

In the position we're in, if Sam Allardyce says yes... YOU PICK UP THE FECKIN PHONE.

On the topic of this thread... I think the perfect theme would be... LOVE Rovers | HATE Venkys Can't be any clearer than that. Plus the chant is already there.

That's a very fair point and a reason why I'll protest against them, however like I said, there are no guarantees those signings will perform, Ellis Simms for e.g. You get the best out of what you have and I maintain it was the injuries that killed it for us all.

Best game I've watched so far this season was Everton v Brighton 1-1. The contrast in styles was great to watch, Brighton trying to play total football and Everton playing long low, long high, cross field, through midfield, out front the back... Brighton didn't know what to do and it was a perfect display from Dyche to the rest of us that there are other ways and methods to play in the modern game. I think this Guardiola way has generally made some of these modern managers a bit lazier in their approach that if their players don't win or perform that it's down to the fact that they don't have the ability to do it... Rather than getting the best out of what they have and playing to their strengths and setting them up in a way the opposition won't like. Which requires more time, studying and planning. Total football is great to watch when you win but murdering teams and being comfortably beaten is not fun to watch.

I was about to post something similar Jim but you've put it perfectly there. I think all of us appreciated hearing someone within the club talk about ambition for once, that's why people are mainly upset about this one. The reality though is 10 wins in 40 and the goals against column doesn't lie. He didn't get the best out of what he had and threw away countless points. We did sell key players but so have other teams (Hamer, Gyokeres, Scott, Akpom for e.g.) Whilst I appreciated his willingness to put the owners and Maggot to the sword, his job was to win games and pick up points. He started with a pragmatic & measured approach with sprinklings of excellent football which I think really suited us. Eventually he ended up with a crazy fantasy football ideology without the budget and players to pull it off and without the dignity to take it on the chin and switch tactics. That isn't necessarily a criticism of just him but many other clubs outside of the top 8 of the prem who are trying to play the guardiola way, without the budget. In the championship you must get the best out of what you have and in the end... He didn't. With that said, as much as he wants to point at the finger at the lack of signings, it was the injuries that hurt him more. Those are proven championship players and you have no guarantees new signings will perform to the standards he wanted. It's a failed project unfortunately. No one is wrong in this instance for feeling the way they do, missed opportunity or relieved he's gone. We can all see the positives and negatives for ourselves.

I don't disagree with you either but I'd say it's not the lack of transfers that hurt but rather the injuries we picked up. I loved some of the football we played but that goals against column tells a story.

Putting the ownership/management to one side for a second. JDT 10 wins in 40 is a garbage record and would be sacked anywhere else.

If Eustace comes in PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE... F*CK OFF BEN BENSON & LOWE. Start again with a clean slate. They make my skin crawl. There has to be better out there.

Christ, I was at the forefront of most protests back in the day. Mad to think a decade and more I'm having to do it all again. I need to try and summon up the fight I used to have back then, these f*ckers have ground me down over the years. I protested at the training ground, outside the ground, inside the ground, at other grounds, with other fans, fought with our own fans, stewards, interviewed Paul Hunt (remember him?), did protests with other clubs against the F.A. I remember when everyone had given up I was stood outside Bloomfield road for a pre season friendly, on my own with banners whilst our own fans gave me shit... it takes it out of you. It made no difference but it needs to be done. You can't let them stand on your neck.

If the manager doesn't want to be here, which he obviously doesn't if he's offering to walk.... Then he should leave. What's the point?

Moran is poor, never going to make it at Brighton, have no idea what his position is. Certainly can't rely on him in CM. Tronstad is trying to do it all himself, we look easy to play through because Moran offers us nothing in defence. We rely need JRC in the middle, he's done well at full back but could do with his leadership, runs and physicality in there.

Who's playing in centre midfield there? There's only Tronstadt who's an out and out recognised CM.

I agree. Always thought Pears was ok. He's made some mistakes of course and there are better keepers out there but he can still develop.

Tbh, I know he's had injuries this season but he hasn't got the best out of them. His substitutions have always been poor and his game management from winning positions are even worse. As much as I like the guy I think he's getting a lot of leniency because of his character and ambition but the goals against column doesn't lie and I don't think we've got a bad defence. At this point it's starting to seem like it's him doing us a favour and he doesn't want the opportunity any more then he should leave and allow someone to come in who wants it. I'm coming at this purely as an assessment of his performance this season. Don't get me wrong, I think he could likely move on to bigger and better things and whilst we are under Venkys we'll continue on downwards trajectory. That aside it's still possible for a manager to come in and easily sort out our defensive issues and move us up the table.

One thing that's keeping spirits up this morning is the tiny bit of hope that they've shelved the singings in case they lose the court case and then plan to leave.

HE WAS AT COVENTRY WITH WAGGOT!!! YOU COULDN'T MKE IT UP! 🤣😂🤣😂

John f*cking Fleck 🤣 After being knocked back for everyone on their list, did Jon and Broughton just go "FFS, go on then Maggot, you pick one" Going to bed laughing. Wank.