Blue and white blinkers on. I think he’s a decent enough defender. Very poor on the ball despite giving the impression of composure. Kaminski has bailed him out a couple of times lately after getting caught on the ball, early on yesterday being one of those occasions. He tried the same thing later on and nearly got caught out again.

I think Wharton gets away with a fair amount being a hometown player. Looked dodgy for a while for me

That game today summed his reign up as a whole. Sticking with a formation that everyone but himself can see isn’t working to then making changes and players having to run over to ask him where they’re meant to be playing. I can’t see how anyone can defend him after that today

So we’ve basically got confirmation of Giles to come and that’s it? Another enthralling deadline day

Would really show up how bad a manager Parker is

Why is Phil Jones getting such a love in?? The average man has played nearly as many competitive games as he has in the last 3 years. The man turns down opportunities to move elsewhere constantly, doesn’t scream to me someone who I’d want in my squad, let alone taking up the spot of a player who has been grafting all season to get us up to 2nd

He’s not even there anymore

I don’t really get this whole thing about Maja. Scored a couple of goals in the premier league, a few in league one and has been deemed surplus to requirements at his current team and has barely played this season due to injury. Can’t say I’m overly alarmed at us not signing him. Or am I missing something?

I imagine Travis is practising on something life size as we speak

Might not be this window he’s talking about I guess. Either way good news that he’s staying beyond the window. And definitely proves Bournemouth were trying to disrupt us putting that bid out in the media.

Timing of this Rothwell bid coming out seems rather underhand and desperate too. Released into the media, presumably by Bournemouth, the day after we leapfrog them in the table with our most important win this season to date

Quick someone mention Luca Toni or lemon drizzle to lighten the mood

Actually think Stephens would be an okay signing. Bit of experience in a young side. Never in exchange or at the expense of Rothwell though

Can’t imagine Mowbray would go for this. Sure he’d rather keep Rothwell till the end of the season with the vague hope of him signing a new deal

I think you are yes

I feel like the majority of rovers fans, given previous years form, are expecting a defeat here and a collapse incoming. If we somehow manage to win this I’ll really start to believe there’s something good brewing

I agree. But I bet that’s Mowbrays thinking. He loves trying to adapt our team to the opposition every now and then (ie. Having Gallagher in to help defend corners) rather than us imposing our game on them

It will definitely be Gallagher as Boro are quite a big team physically so Mowbray will think Gallagher will be suited to that, despite the fact he never wins any headers or physical battles

Tonight’s game has shown how desperate we are for another midfielder. He clearly doesn’t trust Davenport, instead shoe-horning Gallagher into the formation which destroyed any of the attacking promise we could have had and restricted Rothwell, who was too aware of his defensive duties to play his normal way.

I’m a man in my 30s, I don’t sit around trying to write new football chants

Nearly made me cringe to death this

Pickering is a far better footballer technically. Nyambe beats him on physical attributes obviously but to call him a far better player I'd say is a bit off. Personally think Pickering has been very impressive and it's clear he's got something about him. I'd take a right sided version of him as a Nyambe replacement and be more than happy. And all for 300k

Why do you think those two will sign new deals? Hasn't it been widely accepted for some time that they won't?

No I don't think that. But a lack of tactical nous can only be covered by passion so far. Successful managers have both. I'd rather a boring sod with some intelligence than someone skating by on passion. That's saved for assistant managers (Duncan Ferguson, Sammy Lee etc), there's a reason they aren't managers. Suggesting you want David Speedie, a man who has been known to make racist remarks and is clearly desperate for attention on Twitter, no matter how serious you were or not, is a little moronic however...

Might as well offer it to any moron then if that's your criteria