Best performance from us in ages... Way better than Norwich. We are passing the ball really well, Buckley has been superb as has JRC. Defensive pair so good. Dack has been very involved. Gallagher has done well but equally if we had a player with his athleticism but the ability to finish we would be at least one or two more up. Wonder if Carrick will make some major tactical changes as we are owning them on the counter attack

Think we might end up going back to 352 for this as we continue to struggle to impose ourselves on games. Kaminski Hyam. Ayala. S Wharton JRC. Travis. Buckley. A Wharton. Pickering Gallagher. BBD

Personally I'd say we've got a pretty good set of centre mids. The issue is we hang them out to dry tactically. If we want to play two midfielders against three or four opposition mids they need to be exceptional both physically and technically to come out on top. I don't think we will be signing anyone who is exceptional. If we bring in Bannan or anyone really the fact that they have no support will not change.

I agree with most of this post, but on Hirst I'd say has had enough of a crack to show that he is a million miles off it. Granted he could do a Diaz like transformation but I think Ben despite being diabolical for his first two seasons here had shown something here and there. Hirst has done nothing at all, never wins a single duel in the air or on the ground let alone get in scoring positions. Never seen a player so obviously out of his depth. If we replace Hirst with a good goal scoring centre forward who carries a threat it will make a huge difference to the side.

Can't believe we're still 3rd and have five of the bottom six over the next six game... Mental. Thought defence was pretty good and JRC excellent. However midfield and forward balance all wrong. What worries me is that we just struggled to get hold of the ball. Morton, BBD, Dack, Gallagher were all really poor. Morton wasted the ball in good positions repeatedly while Dack, Gallagher and BBD struggled to get on the ball at all. Thought Hedges, and Buckley did okay. We seem to be drifting back to the very top heavy 4231 we played at the start of the season with the front four all pushed up into the last third so the centre mids carry all the work in the middle third of the pitch. I just don't really get it personally. Very hard for us to establish control over a game. I suspect we will probably change systems again. Half way through the season and we are still very unsure of what we are doing tactically. But if you told me we would be third on boxing day I would have taken it.

Not a great half. Basic issue is we are not competitive in midfield. Dack is a total passenger at number 10. Id take him off and get someone in to help Morton and Buckley.

Never known in all my time following Rovers to have such a little idea of who will play, how we will play and what our chances of winning or losing will be. Literally havent got a scooby. A guess at the lineup is for us to just replicate Norwich but wouldnt be surprised if we saw Travis, either of the Whartons, Hedges, Szmodics, Garrett, Careter even Edun play. Only real definites are Kaminski, Hyam, Morton, Gallagher and Brereton. . Kaminski JRC. Hyam.. Ayala. Pickering Morton. Buckley Dolan. Dack. Brereton Gallagher

Hedges for me could become a significant value player. Hes got a lot of attributes to be a good player at this level. Could see him kicking on over the next season or two.

Personally the only player I would focus on signing is a striker with an established goal record. I think we are well stocked everywhere else to be honest. Right back and reserve goalie would be useful. But really the only thing that really matters is a quality goal scoring forward.

I guess the counter to the bit in in bold is that we are third at the moment, and all of our young players seem to be having better seasons than the likes of Evans, Johnson, Smallwood etc.

Doesn't give you any faith in the player ratings if they can't get the formation right...

Thought we defended and broke on the counter really well, though we seemed under the cosh for most of the game It felt like both a good well earned win yet also a bit fortunate which is an odd mix. Anyway after a run of difficult fixtures we're back looking at a lot of winnable games ober the next couple of months and we are third. Great position to be in....

Terrible at this world cup though...

Yeah, a France-Croatia repeat is not particularly enticing. I am hoping for Argentina-Morocco! Really hope France get beaten tomorrow, not because I have anything against them, but just will make the final a lot more interesting. Morocco do have a kind of Greece 2004 vibe going on (though to be fair to them they are much better technically than that Greek side, and much more exciting to watch on the break).

Thought we were the better team if not vastly so. Created more, controlled the ball better... Just France pulled off two sensational finishes whereas we couldnt convert our chances. Probably our best performance against a top team in knockout in the last 30 years. Does feel different to previous exits in that it does just feel a matter of time till we win something. Squads so young, more top talent coming through, looking across the squads across the world no other nation in such a strong position. For me if Southgate wants to stay he should.

Looks like were going to have the inverted wing backs again too. Though actually I suppose theres a chance of 4231 with Carter at right back and Brittain at left back, and Hedges playing right wing. Very mysterious.

Could be 343 or 352 depending whether he plays Dack in midfield or up front. I hope midfield, think we're better with three in there personally.

I doubt we will be changing the team. If we do it will be probably to drop a striker and play a third centre back. Could go to : Pickford Walker Stones Maguire Trippier Henderon Rice Bellingham Shaw Saka Kane But... Saka, Foden, Henderson, Rice and Bellingham have all been so good I can't see one of them being dropped. I think we will take our chances in 4231 but tell Walker to sit deep at right back and play an almost entirely defensive game against Mbappe.

Yeah and to be fair even in 2008-2012 they had players like Torres and Llorente who could play a physical striker role. I don't think you can get away with not having a striker at all unless you vastly outmatch your opponents, which Spain have not.

Wow didnt see that coming from Portugal at all. Look so much better without Ronaldo leading the line. That new forward looks an outstanding talent. Quality from the bench too. Brazil, France, Portugal and England all really looking strong. Netherlands and Argentina have turned it around too. Shaping up to be a top set of quarter finals.

Also I guess taking over a national team with an aging squad is not really that attractive either, as he would have little opportunity to beat Martinez's third place at a world cup or Euros and make a name for himself. Cant really see him going for it.

Yeah... hard to disagree. The other main contenders - France, Brazil, Spain, Argentina - have all really struggled at times. I've been surprised how much really. England had a flat performance against US but were never looking like they could actually lose the game, unlike France vs Tunisia, Brazil vs Cameroon, Argentina vs Saudi Arabia, Spain vs Japan. I know the France, Brazil, Spain were all playing weakened teams, but still.... they should have won those games comfortably given the players they put out. I wouldn't say England are the favorites though, still think Brazil and France have slightly better chances of winning the trophy.

Id go the other way personally - Deschamps and Southgate both conservative defence first coaches. I think it could be quite a stodgy game till the first goal goes in.

They had a good chance, give you that. But equally nothing like Polands domination of France for 20ins before Gorous scored... So meh.

I think weve now evolved to a 433 with Bellingham, Rice and Henderson, with Walker sitting back at right back to help out the centre backs as needed. Looks good! Assurance across the defence with numbers in midfield.