Last year we struggled to score goals even with Dack and Brereton hence our minus goal difference. We are weaker in that sense so putting more bodies forward and pressing is the tactics to address the lack of goals. We don't score, we don't win. Key is getting the first goal and stop giving away the cheap early goals.

I think its worth noting the praise the club is getting from rival managers. They see the threat but of course are ruthlessly exposing the weaknesses. It's been a disjointed start with injuries, lacking depth, late arrivals. We have to back this team of players and JDT following the card that's been dealt. This defence and midfield achieved plenty last season and I didn't hear many preferring Morton over Wharton. I genuinely believe it will come together as we find a balance and blood the newbies, it's just how far behind we will be. It's frustrating to lose and to keep shipping goals but our summer business was never going to make us challengers. JDT will know where the weaknesses are but with his budget his hands are tied. Several interviews have shown he's been let down not just this summer but in January. Could have easily been a different game and result today and Leicester have an unbelievable squad for this division with them on a high, unlike the death spiral when we met them in the cup last year. Leicester, Southampton and Leeds should absolutely walk this division.

To claim not to know the reason crowds are smaller than most of the league and then when it's explained to dismiss it and keep saying I don't understand probably says it all. Football is incredibly expensive to follow these days, especially when it's a family day out. The modern man going to the football and leaving the wife and kids at home gets harder and harder. If there is an interest the cost is ooutof reach for many every other week. Anyway, to the game....3-1 Rovers with at least one scored by JRC!

Eddie, won't let me quote for some reason. I wasn't meaning a dig at Wharton, I meant at Phillips. The point about playing games and building momentum for a successful high level career rather than sitting in PremierLeague reserves is what I was referring too

I normally like what I hear from GB but personally this time I wasn't sold. Speaks well and answes the questions but to me he came across as covering for the owners and painting a glossy and rosey outlook. Yes I get it, what's he likely to say in public about his bosses but I think he could answer a question and stop short of all the praise and support for them. Saying the squad is stronger I just don't buy. It might well turn out to be but in most cases our signings are relatively unknowns or certainly at this level. Also, he spoke glowingly about Phillips but when moving in to Wharton, was there a subtle dig about playing games, build momentum and walk in to a 1st team premier league squad as a starter?

At the start of the season I would have expected to beat Hull at home but lost away at Watford so we're about where I expected. Not a pretty performance but how proud of that team and JDT. Gave everything on the pitch. Back line as a unit we're solid and put everything on the line, a brilliant clean sheet, our first away of 2023. Midfield really dug in but sloppy on the breakaway. I don't doubt Whartons potential but he does give it away a little too often. Classy on the ball but just needs to perfect that decision making. Up top, Hedges was solid and that goal was special, great to see. Leonard was up against some big athletic units and struggled but will be ok in time. Dolan has regressed so far it seems. I know his press was important last season but so far this year I don't see him offering anything. Little choice right now but we need better on that side and up top. Taking nothing away, it was a fantastic team effort and thrilled with the 3 points. JDT interview seemed to avoid the questions asked just to get his point heard again.

Today was my first game of the season and not long got home given the trek it is for me. What really struck me was that Hull were there for the taking today. Even with 10 men I felt confident we wouldn't concede. They were savvy to a lack of pace at the back and found a way to win. Whether that's the players or Rosenior who knows. We were of course stretched as well. I thought the lads put in a great shift under the circumstances and come out with credit for how they marshalled the game until the last 10mins, but its clear the final 3rd is way way short. No final ball, no one on the same wave length and several break away opportunities went missing because of that. That led to frustration and the customary groans from the crows. I'd read before today that Ennis lacks the pace expected but I wasn't prepared for just how slow he was, like he was running in mud. I don't want to write him off after one live game, but I just can't see a player in there. Granted he missed pre season and has done some positive things in the last few weeks since coming into the fold but I don't think he's a pacey finisher or strong target man to tick at least one box. Stating the obvious but this week makes or breaks the season for me. Our forward options won't get us relegated but we'll be way short of the play offs. The other thing that really disappointed me today was the exodus as the 2nd goal went in. I think a team needs it's supporters behind it especially being a man down. I couldn't believe how quickly the place emptied. I walked away from the ground today sad we had lost from a winning position but it felt different. Felt like something else was missing beyond the obvious board and ownership impasse. I can't put my finger on it but it didn't feel like a club at it together. Tomasson is probably my favourite Manager we've had in my time. Not saying he is the best tactician, or has won us most, I just think he's the perfect fit for our club. I just hope he knows some wealthy businessmen that could buy out the clowns and get the club moving again. There is such a strong foundation there, I'm amazed it doesn't carry more appeal. I know the owners previously said they wouldn't sell but everything has a price.

Must choose the goal scorers more carefully

The thing I find most strange with Dack is he actually makes the bench. If JDT was forcing him out surely he wouldn't make the match day squad. Whether that's about money, pressing, trigger clauses in contracts or anything else being suggested. I think there is a worry his cruciate goes again and then we are paying a lot of money for someone on a treatment table with no sell on value. If the club keep him fit so to speak, he has a value someone will pay knowing he wants and needs first team football in January. Like most, if we are losing by a goal or 2, it makes no sense to keep him on the bench or give him 5mins, press or no press. I'm also surprised how quiet Dack is. He doesn't strike me as the sort not to speak out if he feels he's being miss treated...

Whilst perhaps only Millwall come close to our level of inconsistency the league is so tight it shows we are not really any better or worse than the rest right now results wise. The performances are equally inconsistent although more drab than good but that in itself is an improvement on TMs reign. Very rare I could say we were brilliant watching TMs football. It's only October so for me it still needs time before giving up on JDTs blueprint. Once it stops it stops, clearly he believes in it and we need to get behind it. As always it's frustrating because if we got our act together we could be storming off in front but as we stutter so is everyone else. Not many are expecting a result Saturday so the scene is set for an impressive away victory!

It's a shocking comment to make. When I saw the headline I thought it was one of those twisted articles that sounds juicy to draw you in but it really was as bold as the headline. It actually made me laugh and my first thought was, how things change? Last few years have been largely depressing listening to TM to the point I couldn't read another word or hear another word. When he's not ruining your club it suddenly flips it to being comical and you just can't take it seriously. I don't think Stuart Harvey would need much convincing to leave a flat entrapped with Venus and Mowbray, more of an escape room. 3 stooges pmsl

If Hyam is the centre back as it appears, I suspect Caulker is the standby in case Phillips doesn't sign. I think Styles has to still be a target especially as he could play left back like we need but also cover Midfield as backup to Travis. If the 3rd is Gyorkeres from Coventry I think its a decent end to the window. The only doubt after that is if BBD does go, no idea who would be lined up. Adam Armstrong loan?

Time to move on, no time for nostalgia. Most were giving Ayala pelters and then talk of signing Jones. Would be a huge risk and nothing suggests he's over his troubles. He's not the player that left Ewood, nor is he the player he was at United earlier in his career.

Hands off, he's mine. I saw him first 😍🥰

Is this the topic where Chaddys meeting notes will be posted?

Or triallists?

So do all when they move on. How many of the best stay at relegated clubs. Not sure if you are familiar with the Diamonds story but it wasn't just a relegation, it was the collapse of a club. The best players were released on free transfers just to get them off the wage bill so not many could criticise how those that moved on did so to protect their livelihood and careers.

Have to be honest, when the links started last week I felt underwhelmed as I knew very little about him after his playing career. I watched the interview posted on here with Hunter and I was instantly intrigued and impressed by what I heard. When I got word over the weekend that he was chosen and got the job to be unveiled Monday or Tuesday I felt a level of excitement I've not associated with the club for a long time. Today's interviews just add to the optimism. I've got a really good vibe about this but of course he needs some backing in the market now to bring the numbers up with the undoubted need for some quality. Also, for those doubting Broughton, he worked at Diamonds which was my local team for years. He did a phenomenal job there and was part of the success of a non league club that did well in the football league. He left when the chairman gave the club to the fans, the money ran out and the club slid back to non league. Broughton by then had moved to Luton and took a couple of the better players with him. Incidentally around that time, Luton then started their own slow revival.

JDT will be confirmed as Manager tomorrow, Tuesday latest

Rooney will be free next week now his other commitments are concluded....

Michael Carrick has never been a manager but makes the list? I see Keane as having failed in his last gig at Ipswich and since went away as an assistant to develop but also because the opportunities weren't coming at the level he would want to be at. But not many have succeeded at Ipswich for a long time due to their own issues over a period of time, not just down to the Manager. My point about proving himself was more based on once in a gig, he wouldn't just go through the motions, he's a character that would give it his all to be a success. He's a nutter because he says it how it is and calls people out? As I noted, he was 5th on my list and I think worthy of the poll. He talks a lot of sense in his punditry, will still be a pull for the right type of player willing to run through walls because you know what you are getting. Snowflakes need not apply....

Missing Keane for me on the list but only because I think he and Duff could work well as a good cop bad cop setup. I love Keanes brutal honesty and whilst I accept its not always motivational a lot depends on the personalities in the dressing room. TM has tried the other approach with the exception of one or two hung out to dry but the death spirals continued. Keane also played for two of the best Managers in this countries history as well.so should have picked up a trick or two. His management career is nothing to shout about but he'd be desperate to prove himself based on his own standards and would demand the best from his teams. 1. Farke 2. Rooney 3. Ainsworth 4. Carvalhal 5. Keane

I think as was discussed in January, there is some real talent at Derby and most wouldn't want to be in League 1 I would think. Poaching Rooney and some of the select who would want to follow could fill a lot of out gaps on relatively modest money considering the circumstances I would think

I long for the day its official. Can't read another word of his, makes my eyes bleed. Even if he got us promoted, it doesn't make his interviews any better.

For me this is just showing what an over achievement the season had been until we were found out and confidence has dropped week after week. That said, with the rest of the division except Fulham being so poor there really was an unexpected opportunity. Recruitment again poor, a team poorly managed but a pretty average Championship team to start with. Most at the start of the season feared relegation and hoped for mid table. Sad but true. I don't like the performance, don't like to see such an opportunity slip away but it was inevitable because we all knew recruitment would be poor and we all knew a death spiral would play its part at some stage. Only the continued poor form of others has kept us in the mix but what do we gain from going up anyway. This team would get murdered in the Premier league and do we trust the owners to invest then? Do we trust the owners to find an alternative to Tony? It's bad enough in the Championship but seeing us ripped to pieces in the Premier League on these foundations is a nightmare I couldn't live through. I could go on but this is the reality of the club and so it will remain this way for years to come.