Yup, absolutely phenomenal player. On his day could do things I've only really seen the likes of Thierry Henry do... that goal against Boro was ridiculous. Shame he was a nut case, as if he'd had his head screwed on he would have been one of the Premier League all time greats. Instead he bounced around, had periods of top class form (like he did with us) and then would sit out long periods on the bench.

We've got a dedicated director of football who has a staff and a background in bringing players in so I would be very surprised if we were not a bit more active than we have been in previous Januarys. But I suspect the players we will bring in will be folk very few have heard of. Loans from top league academies or some left field perm signings.

A big part of it was Mark Hughes. I don't think we would have got those players without him. Same with Souness bringing in Yorke and Cole. Big name former players always have a great pull factor for signings. Got one now in JDT, albeit from outside the country. Wonder if he will magic up something from his connections.

Lots of folk after an additional experienced central midfielder. I can't see the point in that personally unless we are getting someone who is real proven quality, and what are the chances of getting that? A Wharton, Buckley, Garrett, Morton, Travis have all performed well imo, and while there is always room for improvement I think they can do that from their own development. I am very aware that over the ten years in the Championship we have signed a lot of experienced midfielders, and none of them have really performed that much better than our current set of mids (maybe Johnson first season with us, but that's debatable. Holtby maybe), and lots of them a lot worse (Akpan, Evans, Murphy, Guthrie etc etc). People have mentioned Rothwell but he took a while to settle and be used effectively, and came as a raw signing from League 1 which is not really what people are saying we need. For me the only real show in town is how do we find someone who can score goals regularly, ideally as a proper number 9.

Yeah, full weeks rest before & after then a game a week till mid feb. Theres no 2/3 games a week for ages. So we may as well play first team for match sharpness as much as anything else.

Just done a bit of reading up... I haven't been following the Premier League much. Sounds like Everton are all over the show with no money and desperate for a striker, so selling Simms to buy a striker could be on the cards. That or just giving Simms a go in the Prem. Hmm...

Simms looks like an ideal fit to me. Proper target man, links up play, scored goals regularly where-ever he has gone. But I doubt he is coming here... why would Everton sell such a promising looking player for a relatively low amount of money? Would they really rate bringing in Diaz as worth letting go of a promising young player plus cash.

Very good article. For what it's worth I thought our long passing has been really good last couple of games. Morton, Buckley, Garett picking up the ball on the half turn and find a crossfield ball or through ball has been really effective. We should stick with it. Also I think Dack has done a better job of dropping in to help the midfield two also which has been crucial. We've got a great run of games in Jan now to try and put a bit of distance between us and 7th. Feb looks a bit tricky so we want to still be in a good position once we get there.

A bit harsh on BBD for me. Thought he took he ball well on the cross field pass multiple times and beat the full back, and it was his layoff that led to the goal. Generally had a good game. Also Gallagher was defensively superb as always, though thats hardly the main objective for a striker. Offensively he dod really struggle as per usual. If we could unearth our own Toney or Watkins - i.e. a proper centreforward who can score goals, thata would really help. Ot should be our number one priority in Jan.

Thought a really good performance that... We controlled the game well, defended excellently. Should have scored more. Cardiff were really limited in their opportunities. I know quite a few folk are jumping off the deep end at the minute, but apart from the absolute travesty at Preston and getting beat by a Burnley side who are the best team in the league, generally we are defending very well and picking up wins hence our league position over half a season in.

Forms dropped off hugely last couple of months, I doubt anyone will be paying a decent fee in Jan. It's beginning to get into that weird territory where by the end of the season if he continues to struggle we may end up having a chance to extend his contract as there is little interest. Can't see any top end Championship teams being interested at the moment let alone Premier League / La Liga. When you're hot you're hot, when you're not you're not. Needs a little 5 goal run to get himself back on the radar.

Lets have a look where we are in six games..

Yeah... I am a big fan of a lot of players in our team but Morton I do worry about. Very good set pieces, but his forward passing is a bit suspect and his decision making is sometimes poor, does have a habit of losing the balls in the wrong area. They are very very similar types of player and for me Buckley is the better. If we're going to stick with the 4231 I'd maybe look to give Morton a rest and try Wharton alongside Buckley. Will give us a left foot in there too. I suspect though from how relentlessly Morton has been included - even when looking a bit tired and out of form - it's a stipulation in the loan terms that he has to play most Championship games he is fit for. Getting the Premier League stars is a bit of a double edged sword.

Presided over a complete shitshow at Boro whereas JDT has us third atm, with only Watford who could leap over us. I don't think we will be making that change just yet...

Well thought we played pretty well all things considering, got screwed by the ref. I dont really see why getting in JDT and bringing in a new manager is going to suddenly improve anything. Lets see how the next six games go. Lots of winnable games. If we are plummeting down the table obviously we will all be sharpening the pitch forks and warming up the firebrands. I suspect however we will pick up a few wins in Jan.

Well Id definitely appeal it. If you asked a 100 people I think roughly 50 would say it should be a warning from the ref, and 50 a yellow card.

He had a really good first half and that is the harshest straight red I have ever seen. If the red card gets rescinded then he keeps his place for me.

Hes been really good value as a co-commentator. You can see why fans warm to him.

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