Pears Brittain. Carter Hyam. Ribeiro Travis. Tronstad Dolan. Ohashi. Kargbo Gueye Subs: Toth, Sanderson, JRC, Buckley, Hedges, ACD, Cantwell, Weimann, woodrow, I think you need one of dolan or Hedges for their work-rate at least for an hour anyway. Hedges has been poor for a while but I thought did quite well off the bench on Saturday. Dolan was really poor on Saturday but I think he's been decent before that. Weimann should be coming off the bench not starting.

I thought we pressed higher with a higher defensive line (that could he due to Carter returning). But i also think that they played with a higher line too which compressed the game adding to the scrappy feel as we couldn't get hold of the ball and sustain attacks. Felt we were too open early and we somewhat self corrected as the game went on. They played through our press in the first half and got into good area, and missed a couple of chances. Interestingly forshaw was pressing higher with Travis deep, which switched when tronstad came on. One of the things I knew about ismael coming into this was he was going to do a triple sub on the hour, and I think we looked better for it too. Whether that was personnel or fresh legs but we had a good period of pressure until the red card. Wasn't overly impressed with the first half or so but with Carter, tronstad, kargbo and ohashi getting mins in the tank and another week between the game, we could yet improve.

The problem with the starting lineup was their was no pace and mobility in the side. Dolan as we know is deceptively slow, weimann and hedges aren't quick. Dolan often picks the wrong options as we know but Hedges and weimann create little from open play. Weimann is in because he can finish but he didn't take either of his chances today. Forshaw was fine in possesion but his mobility is poor and was of the main reasons why we dropped so deep in midfield today. So many times Gueye would get the ball back to goal and there was no option moving off him to lay it off too. When he did drop him, nobody had any pace to exploit the space in behind. We lacked energy, pace and running power. Part of that is the players dropping their levels but it's mostly not picking the right team.

Why haven't we made these subs at half time i don't know

Carter for sanderson Buckley for Forshaw Kargbo for Hedges Dennis for weimann. All at half time. Thats what's needed here.

Win tomorrow and we have 10 points on them. That's a big gap at this stage of the season. With the squad they've got too they should've been the big threat here.

No they've backed him apparently. Doesnt mean he won't get sacked after Fridays game.

Don't get the desire for allardyce at all. Why would they hire him after they already sacked him. It's not as if he's been complimentary about them since leaving. If anyone has listened to him recently on his podcast then he doesn't come across as the same big sam tha was here, appears to have slowed down a lot.

Peaked in his first month. After that he was mostly injured with the occasional flash of talent. Not worth the wages at the end of day. Could've worked out differently but ultimately better for both sides to move on.

I'm hoping it's just this. Agent drumming up interest, he gets an interview as he has previous links to the club. It can then be spun that he came close to the job and use it as a springboard to get a first managerial position in L1 or L2. They can't seriously appoint him can they? (Insert mick Mccarthy clip, 'they can')

That's a blow. I'd get dennis in for cantwell in that case.

Pears Brittain. Sanderson. Hyam. Ribiero Travis. Buckley Dolan. Cantwell. Kargbo Gueye Subs: toth, Litherland, Beck, JRC, forshaw, Hedges, ACD, Dennis, Weimann If batth is available then he starts I think Carter and Dennis need a long run for the 21s before being in contention to start vs Norwich.

I went to find this out. The answer is basically nothing of any note. However this section of his wiki did interest me as I don't remember this happening at all 'Blackburn Rovers F.C In season 2012-2013, English champions Blackburn Rovers FC, who won the Premier League in 1995 appointed Judan Ali as their U23 and Academy coach after being invited as a 'guest' coach by the owners.[23]'

If they were to stick with johnson and Lowe until the summer then I'd consider bringing in another coach to help out and just give a little fresh impetus. Id echo what others are saying about the uniqueness of the situation. We don't want a manager to rip everything up and a lot of last nights performance was due to muscle memory from whats been worked on with eustace. It feels like a similar situation to what happened at luton. Where rob Edwards took over a side doing well in the league which were playing a certain style of football and opted to go with what had worked so well for them up until then. That's why I'm quite intrigued by him being linked. Ultimately the board shouldn't try fo missell a project or vision of the club as we don't have one. Tempt someone talented in for 4 months and see where things are after that.

Pears Brittain. Sanderson. Hyam. Ribeiro Travis. Buckley Weimann. Dolan. Dennis Drogba Subs: toth, jrc, Litherland, forshaw, cantwell, Hedges, Kargbo, ACD, woodrow Similar team but with sanderson in for the presumed injured batth and dennis on the wing for Hedges. Could put the front 3 behind the striker in any order you wanted.

Doesnt suprise me. Rocked the boat by trying to actually achieve something.

Personally I'd look to pick the team vs west brom now and work backwards. And working out who needs a game which is pretty much all the new lads. Wba and Plymouth are two massive games for us. Need a point followed by a home win. Then it's back to a game a week. Keep it tight here and look to nick it with new found pace on the break. Toth Jrc. Hyam. Batth. Ribiero Forshaw. Buckley Acd. Cantwell. Kargbo Dennis Subs: Pears, brittain, Beck, Travis, dolan, hedges, weimann, woodrow, Gueye

A big problem is weimann is our best finisher but offers nothing in general play. Him and hedges off for me.

Fm24 also has him down as a right winger. Transfermarket has him down as not playing on either wing a lot over the last few seasons

I expect dennis to play wide right. He's not an out and out striker.

Pears Brittain. Batth. Hyam. Beck Travis. Buckley Dolan. Cantwell. Hedges Gueye Subs: toth, sanderson, jrc, forshaw, weimann, karbo, Leonard, new signing 1 and new signing 2 (or 2 kids more likely)

Yet he created the goal today. His decision making remains poor

Say what you want about dolans decision making in general. Buts he's starting to create chances and got an assist tonight with some old school wing play. Got a yard and whipped it into a good area and we've a striker who isn't afraid to put his head in. He's done something kind of similar at least once in the last few games and it always leaves me thinking why doesn't he just do that more often? Hopefully the penny is starting to drop.

Tbf to Travis its exactly the reaction I'd expect from him. Every interview with him he always says we should be getting in the top 6 regardless of quality. He's got quite a belligerent character, he likely knows that we need more quality but he's likely riled up having not got it and wants to prove that they can make it anyway. Proper captains attitude and I don't buy it that he's spamming the party line On a separate note i've no faith in the work experience boy to pick the signings. Hope I'm wrong as I've previously backed a DoF model but I'd rather have let eustace make the decision on incomings.

I must say if we get a fully fit cissoko then I will be very happy. His performance vs us earlier in the season was exactly what we've needed all season. A direct and quick left winger who hugged the line. Able to cause problems on the break and good 1 v 1. With the added bonus of some end product (on the day). Question is though... is he fit. I've read mixed reports. And he hasn't played much since the end of October even if he isn't injured. Would be typical rovers, signing a player on short term loan for a playoff push who doesn't get put on the grass until April.