Exiled_Rover

Time and time again there was acres of space for Pickering to run into (with and without the ball), but he simply doesn't have the athleticism to do so at this level. You could see he was erring on the side of caution and hanging back rather than pushing on into the space - it leaves us very lopsided. This system requires the FBs to push on to provide the width - Brereton (or whoever) is meant to cut inside in this system.

They can't put in that kind of shift twice a week. Quite a few players were out on their feet at 80 minutes - I think JDT left them on to get 90 minutes into their legs as QPR weren't really threatening. We need 3-4 quality additions if we want to do anything this season - LB is a glaring need.

I did some work experience with Creatv (the company behind Rovers TV) many years ago. I told them that at the time - you can't hear yourself think in the stands with how loud the PA system is. Obviously I was ignored. They continue to turn it up to 11.

If we want to do anything this year we need to replace Pickering at LB - he's unable to get forward enough to play in this system and we need better options than Hedges (squad player across that 3) and Vale.

4-2-3-1 Vale is miles off this standard. Hindering everything we do going forward.

What teamsheet are you looking at? Its Brereton left, Hedges right, Vale at 10 and Gallagher at 9. (Albeit they'll interchange during the game)

Yep - works hard, retains the ball, quick enough to bother teams. Just needs an end product now.

Looks like Broughton and JDT are being ruthless. When these players are going out on loan to teams like Curzon Ashton as 19/20 year olds and not ripping up trees they're just a drain on the wage bill.

If we're counting U23 players that have been released it's 16 out, 2 in.

Jekyll and Hyde performance that from Burnley. First half looked like they were going to win the league at a canter. Second half looked like mid table plodders.

He hasn't undone 12 years of ineptitude and neglect in 6 weeks. Sack him.

Huddersfield looks like they've never played together. Think they're in big trouble this season.

Barring a rash of injuries that's a Playoff team.

Isn't it a problem position for us? I feel like they've made the right call on Brown, Butterworth, Magloire and Eastham. They know what they're looking for in a player - maybe they don't see it in Dolan and Dack for 48 games a season at #10?

Looks like a #10 from his highlights, so he'd replace Dolan at the moment. I guess that's where you'd want Dack to come off the bench at too. The Front 4 will interchange quite a lot during the match so I think we're looking for versatile players. Ones that are quick and good with the ball at their feet.

It's a two-way street. A League One club has to be willing to take him on loan...

Eastham has gone out on loan: https://twitter.com/Rovers/status/1552987308546301952?s=20&t=V9gaESuCtiyghPiPnTgXCg

I think it's two-fold: I'm excited by the calibre of player we've been linked to: Styles, Bowler, Davies, Ahmedhodzic - they would all walk into our first team and improve it. Generally I wasn't disappointed with the calibre of player Mowbray brought in (albeit Pickering, Hedges and Edun might be struggling to make the grade), it was more that he brought them in without a plan. We shifted from a possession based 4-2-3-1 to a direct counter-attack 3-4-3 (or 5-2-3 if you like) with a False 9 basically on a whim under Mowbray. Those obviously require completely different types of players. Take Clarkson and Giles last year - for both it felt like he just brought them in because he could get his hands on them. He ended up playing Clarkson all over the shop (including as a False 9) and Giles as an inverted Winger on the right hand side when he's CLEARLY a FB / LWB. I'm hopeful that JDT will operate to a structure and a plan, tactically to make the most use of our resources - which is what this Morton signing seems to be; a backup for Buckley.

From the highlights I've seen he looks like he'll be Buckley's understudy - a deep lying passer from CM. If he's one of the four then yes we're really struggling. I do think it's a canny signing though if he's any good - Travis and Buckley can't play every game.

I imagine it's much like Magloire - they've seen him in training for a month and decided he's not up to it. Shipped his wages out the door for 12 months.

It's just depth, hopefully. Buckley and Travis being the two starters. Takes pressure off Wharton / Garrett (and I guess Edun?) to hit the ground running.

Yep, that's brutal for Blackpool.

Repay the club that found and nurtured him. Looks like Bellingham handled it the right way.

I mean the PL submitted a proposal to turn the Championship, L1 and L2 into their Minor League clubs the other day. It's shit. Greed has ruined football I'm afraid.

That's not how it works. It goes to tribunal, who determine the value of the player. They also add a sell-on clause and a training fee. If the compensation is £250k then either Spurs have someone on the tribunal, or he's not as good as we think. Also, as I've said previously, Phillips' mum will want to get off Twitter for a while if he shafts the club like this.