I also don’t hate hedges at wing back

Not necessarily, a lot of European mangers have gone with a double CAM version of 3-4-3 in recent years - almost a 3-4-2-1 which I think could potentially work for us

I’ve stated previously I’m not a fan of Cantwell, having watched lots of SPL (large parts of my family are Celtic) I’ve seen TC flatter to deceive with the ball on the halfway for a couple of years. That said he looks competent with the ball in the championship, albeit mainly in areas that aren’t hurting the opposition. Now I’m not blaming our run of form on his inclusion in the team but we obviously need to find a way of winning with him in it. That starts with him either being played deep to build attacks or playing higher up and staying there as this free role means we have often have Tronstad, Travis and Cantwell all building in deep areas. Leaving us with a wonky looking 4-3-2-1 (at best), given how Beck and Brittain are instructed to stay high this is causing problems with the ball coming back at us so quickly with depleted numbers high up centrally. Injuries at CB are making it difficult to play any formation with 3 at the back, and the gaping chasm that is the quality between Pickering and Beck has also caused a problem. 3-4-3 with MacFazdean anyone?

Incredible that wasn't it, better team man for man all over the park

Chris Brown is a million times better than Gueye, he at least could control the ball and bring others in. His total lack of understanding of the game was shown again with the Leonard effort, any forward worth their salt is in that space for the ball being sent back across. Where is Gueye, hiding behind their CB toward the touch line. I'm sure he tries hard and is a nice lad but I wouldn't be unhappy if I never say him in a Rovers shirt again, it's like playing with 10 men.

Anyone who tries to argue Gueye is anything other than completely fucking useless is deluded. The one thing people have been trying to claim he does he’s gone and absolutely fucked

No, his lack of technical ability is what has led to a confidence lost.

He's not caused opposition any problems since the Dingles game, the only problems he's caused are to us when he trampoline touches the ball out of play from a throw in. Like all underpar Rovers players I'd happily eat my words should he turn it round however my view remains that he doesn't hold the requisite level of technical ability to be a success at this level.

Oh great, so instead of having 1 shit forward on the pitch we'll have 2.

Cantwells cross in the second half was as bad as Ohashi’s earlier pass.

I think we're pretty fluid with what we play and not particularly wedded to anything. We've seen everything from 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 3-5-2 (5-3-2), 3-4-3 and 4-1-4-1 in games this season. 3-4-3 would actually be a decent fit with the personnel we have

I wonder if it’s time to give Siggy a go as the middle of a front 3. He’s the best finisher at the club by a country mile. He can’t be any worse up there than Yuki and Gueye have been over the last month

That's my greatest concern with Gueye, whilst we've had players who've been unsuccessful from a goals point of view they've all shown the basic skills required to be a champ player. Gueye looks so far off it from a technical point of view, admittedly I'm now primed to look for his mistakes but I don't remember a single time he took the ball in and popped it off or was able to move forward with the ball on Saturday. As I've said there were at least 4 times when he's received it from a throw or simple bounce pass and he's played it straight out of play of the ball has bounced off him. I fear his touch is just miles and miles off it and at this stage in his career it's not going to change!

I've only managed 3 games this season down to the ridiculous Sky scheduling. Anyone who is involved in youth or adult football will no doubt be in a similar boat to me where you're having to pick between playing/coaching or attending games. Totally flies in the face of the nonsense that is the 3pm TV blackout when games are scheduled at 12.30 that directly clashes with grassroots football, etc.

I am going to go out on a limb and say Gueye is the worst forward I’ve seen in blue and white since Kaba Diawara

I thought we played well in parts today, was quietly impressed with Hedges who caused problems with Brittain overlapping. We’re a much more potent attacking threat with Brittain in the team. Beck was excellent again. Gueye is awful, his touch is so far from the required standard it’s almost comical. He played the ball straight into touch from throwins at least 4 times

Sigurdsson is the best finisher in the team by a country mile, the problem seems to have been getting him in positions to make the most of that since around October 2023

Clear difference of opinion on this one which is what makes this site worthwhile, I think he's absolutely miles off it. I don't believe he is a nightmare for good defenders, he's fairly easy to pop off when pressing and his first touch is like a sledgehammer, which undoes much of the physical attributes he brings. Admittedly he did cause one panic attack but I felt that was more to do with the lad at centre half switching off rather than clever or purposeful running from Gueye.

Pears long kicks were awful last night, the amount of times he did a sort of looping on purpose slice to Hedges was infuriating. Cantwell (who strikes the ball beautifully) needs to pull him aside and give him a few pointers on clipping the ball if he's going to go long as much as last night.

Agreed on the entertainment factor however my counter would be that neither Luton not Ipswich set the world alight playing free flowing football, and look where that has got them. I'm not saying we're anywhere near that but a team near the top of the table will always draw fans in regardless of performance, no matter how much we moan and pull it apart on here.

I was surprised by his inclusion with the game so tight. Yuki looked knackered but Cantwell seemed to have more in the tank, however I understand his minutes need to be managed to some degree at the moment. Siggy was Siggy when he came on, the more worrying aspect is that with each passing game Gueye looks further from the required standard. His pressing was non existent last night and was continually behind his man when he should be getting in front to hold the ball. At least 4 times in the last 10 he was stood behind his man, waiting for a pass, leading to us losing the ball, creating 4-2 situations in midfield and the press being completely bypassed. His efforts in the first few games are becoming a distant memory as at the moment I feel he offers nothing.

I thought Weimann carried out the pressing instructions he was given reasonably well, there were a number of times he was directing the press and trying to cajole Yuki and others into pressing however they were just too tired and we got popped off the last 10 minutes, not helped by Siggy and Gueye either not understanding or not carrying out the pressing instructions.

I think we will find out Carter has done serious knee ligament damage. Looked.as though he twisted as he rolled through the challenge and when he tried to bear any weight it looked to be giving way.

Two very well organised teams who will both be relatively happy with a point I reckon. I was convinced we were going to chuck it away last 5 minutes due to having Siggy and Gueye on the pitch reducing us to 9 men. Neither pressed nor tackled and got popped off with ease. 3 dangerous attacks came down the left of as a resulting of their incompetence, lucky that the decision making was poor with fatigue setting in.

Brittain was also way up in the assists chart last year too, he also contributes a lot in the first phase of attacking build up. I think there is very little between Brittain or JRC on the defensive front, I'd go for Brittain being better due to his pace and positional sense. He does get beat the odd time and crosses come in but then that's the case for most full backs these days as with wingers 'cheating' and staying as wide as possible it's often difficult to cover inside and get out and cover the cross.