My team for today…. Toth Carter. Batth. Hyam. Beck Travis. Sonny ACD. Dolan. Cantwell Gueye Subs - Pears, Mcfadz, Pickering, JRC, Buckley, Weimann, Baker, Hedges, Ohashi. Rationale Rotating the keepers is hard, unlike outfield player, you can’t sub them for that 15 mins to see how they do. But after a couple of poor team performances and losses, this game feels like the one to see Toth. The back four picks itself based on Brittain not being fit, and Beck being far superior to Pickering. Travis and Sonny as they were. Cantwell is perfect, tucking in, off the left with Beck pushing forwards. Him or Dolan can do that. I would give ACD a start and Big Mak up top, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Hedges or Weimann, and Ohashi in front of them. Rover 3 - 1 Swansea…back in the goals!

An absolute waste of talent. Had near enough every PL club looking at him when he broke through….I remember being in a lounge and there were 11 (ELEVEN) PL scouts in there to watch Buckley. Seems to sink back and regress with every year that goes by…

Very Un-Eustace like performance. Weak as piss, and as bad as we played, we gave them the first two goals. Wtf Dolan was doing with that second goal, I’ll never know. What an absolute wet wipe! 🙈🤣 However, as a fully grown man, I refuse to lose my shit over one (very) bad performance. I also refuse to get involved in the dismantling of every player. We were dog shit, to a man tonight. Dust yourselves off lads, and make sure you put it right on Saturday.

I like the idea of Hedges at left back with Hyam, Batth and Carter next to him. In my opinion, he’s physically and technically better suited to Lb than midfield. Plus, him pushing into midfield when we’re in possession will free up the left side attacking player (A certain Mr Cantwell) to roam…I would start him at LB over Pickering when Carter is on the right. I saw that Trav is now one booking away from a suspension. Be good to have him for the next two away games before he serves his one game ban. Carter is only two away… Be hard to guess the team for Tuesday, most ‘surprise’ changes will be related to niggles and injuries, is my guess. My one hope is that he gives Mak a start. We look better with his physical presence up front and he needs a confidence boost.

Pears Carter Batth. Hyam. Pickering Travis. Sonny Weimann Dolan. Hedges Mak Subs - Toth, Brittain, Mcfadz, Buckley, JRC, Baker, Cantwell, ACD, Ohashi Cov 1 - 2 Rovers. The back six pick themselves as long as everyone is fit after Saturday. I think Big Mak is due a start and we may freshen up one of the three attacking midfielders depending on tiredness and any niggles, but all being well, I reckon we’ll start like this.

A solid performance of 7/10’s…. Special mentions: * Danny Batth - Excellent throughout. A solid, reliable partner for Hyam. * Ty Dolan - His best game for Rovers in my opinion. Had some end product and ran tirelessly. * TravStadt - A formidable duo. * Cantwell - Everything about him is top class. The assist was beautiful and he was constantly looking to punish QPR We are now a very well coached team. We don’t let games open up and become end to end. I’d liken Eustace’s style to a Boa Constrictor in that we wear teams down by restricting them for 60 mins, tightening our grip tactically before we get to the last third, bring a glut of technical players on to add the bite, and teams just buckle. The strikers do look a little lost at times but honestly, I think it’s our game plan that hinders them, because I don’t think it’s in our minds to get on top of teams until 60 mins. In boxing terms, we jab away for 8 rounds, keeping our defence up and tiring our opponent. The strikers (Both Gueye and Ohashi) have only ever imposed themselves in the final third of games because in the main, we don’t actually go after teams until this point. I think the criticism of them on here is a little unfair. They’re both making runs and getting into areas they need to be. We don’t find them regularly enough. Had Yuki got that reverse right and swept the ball in having cushioned the ball into Ty on the half way line, in the first half, we would all be gushing (and rightly so). For the record, he showed a great turn of pace. Gueye did look a little flat when he came on, but again looked far more dangerous than Gally did in 5yrs. I hope he starts at Coventry. Finally - I think that left side wide player, inverted when the left back (Beck) attacks is PERFECT for Cantwell. Basically makes him the ‘free man’ every time we attack! 😍

Good summary mate. tbf to the manager, he brought on Gueye at half time, and a couple of other forwards / creative players in the second half. It just didn’t work out. Hecky has them defending properly and as soon as they go down to 10 men, then there’s no pressure for them to win the match. The home crowd aren’t going to get restless.

I don’t think you’re far off here. I personally would’ve given ACD a start but I can see JE playing two strikers to counter the imbalance of the team with two defensive fullbacks starting.

You make a good point about Carter, Batth and Hyam being ‘undroppable’ after two clean sheets, especially when you consider QPR’s physical presence. Maybe he will start with your back four and see if Carter (who’s pretty good going forwards) or Pickering can be an attacking outlet out wide. I can’t see Cantwell starting, but I do think it would be good to freshen up those front four positions..eg ACD. Dolan. Siggy Gueye

Pears Brittain. Carter. Hyam. Pickering Trav. Sonny ACD. Dolan. Hedges Gueye Subs - Toth, Batth, Mcfadz, Buckley, JRC, Baker, Cantwell, Ohashi Rovers 3-0 The only conundrum I see is dropping Batth with QPR being so strong in the air. But a back 4 with Batth and no Brittain hugely limits our forward play.

My team for today…. Pears Brittain Carter. Hyam. Beck Trav. Sonny Hedges. Dolan. Weimann Gueye Subs - Toth, JRC, Batth, Pickering, Buckley, Baker, ACD, Cantwell, Yuki Yuki really unlucky not to start but Mak is better suited to the lone striker role, especially away from home. I think other than Pickering who cannot take Becks spot, a lot of the team selection will rely on ‘how fit’ those returning are. How fit are Brittain and Weimann to start? I wouldn’t be against starting with the same team as last week. Yuki to come on at 60 mins and score the winner. Cantwell and ACD on from 70 mins. PNE 1-2 Rovers

That would be my pick, and have us looking like this in possession… Pears Carter Batth Hyam Hedges Travis Sonny Beck Dolan Gueye Yuki Appreciate this is a slight deviation from Eustace’s two #10’s but I’m dying to see what Gueye and Yuki could do as a big man, little man combo…🙌🏽

Swag is the monkey, Suhail is the Organ Grinder!

Hmmm…yeah maybe. The big one, is when Brittain is fit and we have the option to play him in the right and Beck on the left. Do we then choose phases of the game to unlock the right or left side and the other one tucks in?

I guess it will come down to who is fit and trains this week. Doesn’t sound like Brittain will make it but Pickering and Weimann might. Flip of a coin on Mak and Ohashi. I’ve gone for Mak because I think he leads the line better but that would be incredibly harsh on Ohashi. Will accept the managers take on it. Would love to see them together I reckon… Pears Carter. Batth. Hyam. Beck Travis. Sonny Weimann Dolan Hedges Mak Subs - Toth, JRC, Mcfadz, Pick, Buckley, Baker, Cantwell, ACD, Ohashi PNE 1 - 2 Rovers Note - Elliot’s article in the LT, about tactics on Tuesday was brilliant in explaining our in possession and out of possession tactics and formations. Explains how the choice of fullback dictates the players roles further up the pitch. With one of the wide players inverting into a second #10 in behind Yuki. Makes me think, Dolan will take that spot in the team (on either side) once Cantwell is fit to start as a #10.

Swag has no power. Everything is decided by Suhail.

One thing is for sure, if we stay in the top 6 with the 16th biggest budget in the league, after losing the Championship top scorer and spending the square root of nothing, there will be a queue of clubs wanting Eustace from November onwards. Fingers crossed the financial thing gets sorted in November and they give him some money in January to kick on for a top six charge!!?

Any club with a solid grounding who are willing to follow through on what they say and offer him an opportunity to get out of the league…🤷🏽‍♂️

I would be very worried about someone coming to take JE from us. 🙈

i guess it will come down to who is fit and trains this week. Doesn’t sound like Brittain will make it but Pickering and Weimann might. Flip of a coin on Mak and Ohashi. I’ve gone for Mak because I think he leads the line better but that would be incredibly harsh on Ohashi. Will accept the managers take on it. Would love to see them together I reckon… Pears Carter. Batth. Hyam. Beck Travis. Sonny Weimann Dolan Hedges Mak Subs - Toth, JRC, Mcfadz, Pick, Buckley, Baker, Cantwell, ACD, Ohashi PNE 1 - 2 Rovers

Please read my post. Mercer would be delighted if Rovers were doing great, in spite of the manager, who he wrote off months ago. I said it is killing him that EUSTACE is doing well. Rovers are doing great because of the manager and it’s excruciating. The fact that he’s now decided, the ONLY way JE can ever be seen as a decent manager is to get us in the playoffs this season is the best evidence yet of this theory.

So, you’re arguing Ipswich do NOT represent the exception to the rule before naming just 5 ‘other’ teams in 32yrs that have done ‘an Ipswich’ 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for proving my point pal. Much appreciated. You’ve only decided to ‘judge’ Eustace on his ability to get us promoted this season because a) he pissed all over your drunken ramblings and kept us up, and b) has started well this season which deep down, is killing you, because you wrote him off months ago. If he did, by a pure miracle (on our budget) get us promoted, you’d probably suggest he could only actually earn his stripes if he got us in the Champions League! Right? 🤣

I think Eustace’s plan for JRC was to play the way he did with Baker yesterday. For Joe to tuck in that advanced right side position and create havoc whilst Brittain creates the width. The problem is that JRC has been crap throughout preseason and into the season. I think he will come back. He’s a cracking player, though it’s clear that the manager doesn’t see him as a RB in this team.

Haha, backpedaling much!? No one said we want to stand still. But let’s get a couple of things straight. Firstly - Ipswich are the exception to the rule. You quoting them, implying that they are the standard is laughable. The straightest line to promotion out of the championship is to have the highest budget. In truth, we all hope that Rovers can pull off ‘an Ipswich’, but that wasn’t your point. You said that you were judging Eustace’s ability as a manager on whether or not he could get us into the playoffs THIS season. Which is honestly laughable bearing in mind we were basically dead certs for relegation in June and haven’t spent more than a million quid on any player and sold Szmodics for £10m!? Would I love Rovers to go up? YES! Has JE more than excelled in his job if we finish in the top half having sold his best player and spent bugger all on a team who were one of the worst performing in the league last season? YES.

I saw that, worth watch back just to see it again…made me feel all fuzzy! Love it!