All of my responses have been in reply to an opinion that playing wingers on the "wrong" side handicapped them. Which is complete nonsense and yes, I do think Hedges plays better on the right and he'd agree, hence why he was uncomfortable on how to finish his infamous chance vs Preston away. Cozier Dubbery seems to fancy himself as a left footed right winger - Arsenal and Brighton agree... and Dolan seems to be favoured on the left as a right footer, as did Brereton. Rak Sakyi is another left footed right winger. It's football. The goal is smaller if you are finishing from the same side as your strong foot.

This argument is wild. Nearly every winger plays on the reverse side at Championship playoff level and above. Patrick Roberts IS an inverted winger, he is left footed playing on the right and is..... as I said earlier today crossing with his right foot because every pro winger is expected to be able to cross well on their weak foot. It did not handicap Roberts and is the preferred choice of Cole Palmer, Mo Salah, Mbuemo, Pedro Neto, Sancho, Doku, Savio, Gordon, Bowen, Saka, Musiala, Hudson-Odoi, Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Olise... and their respective managers. The majority of footballers you're watching go to the byline and cross are doing it with their weaker foot. Nearly all Rovers' wide men prefer it too. I can't write about this any more. There is a winger issue at Rovers and it's a lack of pace to be able to go on the outside NOT them playing on the "wrong sides".

Sunderland's number 10 is Patrick Roberts, who is literally another left footed right winger.

That's not the argument, the argument is fans saying playing wide players on the wrong side "handicaps" them, when nearly all professional coaches play their wingers on their "wrong" side today. I struggle to get on board with fan views that are based on football decades ago... or their own Sunday league experience..... and decide based on this that professional managers are wrong and handicapping their player by playing them on the opposite side... they simply aren't. I listed a bunch but could almost name nearly all effective wingers today... Anthony Gordon, Jared Bowen, Cole Palmer, Saka, Savio, Luiz Diaz, Madueke, Grealish, Harvey Barnes, Mbuemo. They all play on the reverse side...... it's genuinely wild to still hear this in 2024. Football isn't a game of run to the byline on poor pitches, whip it in and score any longer... hence why nearly all top wide players play on the reverse side.

Good point for Rovers. Signings are needed if we're to push on and get a playoff spot.

Well you won't see many wide players play on the side of their strongest foot in the top 8 of the Championship and above. Running down the wing and crossing is a basic ability expectation and the consensus is they should still be able to do it on their weaker foot. I'm not saying a good winger on their "correct" side isn't effective.... but the idea of "right footed winger on the right and left footed winger on the left" is dinosaur football, proven at the highest level. The reverse changes the size of the goal entirely for finishing when through on goal from a wide area.

Wingers on the wrong side is one of the most effective moves in football in terms of goalscoring. The reality is the goal is central and if they cut inside they should be facing goal with more space on their stronger foot = more efforts on goal. That's preferred by most good wingers today. Hence the likes of Saka, Cole Palmer, Jared Bowen, Mbeumo, Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, Mahrez was an expert and closer to home Ben Brereton at Rovers or Harvey Elliott. If it handicaps them they aren't good enough. Mohamed Salah is a left footed right winger, so this opinion... that I hear fairly often around me during football I'm sorry to say is wildly wrong. Nearly every good winger you're watching today plays on the "wrong side" and for a good reason. I hope this changes your mind and gives you a new outlook on a winger. If they can't still run to the byline on their weaker foot and cross... they aren't good enough.

Interesting that Millwall paid £3m for Mihailo Ivanovic in the summer. Isn't that more than our entire transfer budget AFTER selling Adam Wharton, Szmodics and getting £4m extra for David Raya?

Loved the first half display, we made Luton look very ordinary. Gueye was a real handful and skilful, also ran his socks off. Tronstad was absolutely outstanding, first half in particular; he's always been great at breaking up play but his passing and first touch seems a lot sharper this season. I feel he is the player we'd really miss. Quite fitting his new song mentions Rodri. ACD showed glimpses of what we've lacked this season - a directness, offering tricks whilst actually progressing and entering the box... I would look to loan out Leonard and bring in a quality striker, then attempt to get Sigurdsson off the books. If we can bring in 4 players in Jan and keep the squad together we'll be looking a decent force. £2-4m might be all it takes, it should be there, we didn't spend it in summer.

The goal was absolutely miles offside. Rovers are very fortunate to be ahead but it was a great move. At the same time Boro should have 10 men.

Dolan doesn't have the right footballing brain or ability. His work rate is good though but that's about it. It's a sorry state of affairs if we've no one better.

This is extremely safe from the manager. Zero ambition shown.

The current 11 on the pitch aren't going to win this match. Pretty certain of that. So not sure what the plan is?

But but... there's a court case. OK what about the other 12 years? 🤣

Ultimately what you can choose to take away from this is that a lack of investment is the reason we were the only top flight game cancelled on Saturday. Has anyone seen Venky's??? Are you out there? 😱🥸🧐