bluebruce

Nyambe trained today but they still seem to have question marks over his fitness. Williams isn't playing. I expect we will see Bennett back in if there's any doubt over Nyambe. For once, I don't necessarily disagree with that, as I really don't want to risk Ryan getting another big injury. As long as he's back in for the game after. I think we might see Graham dropped for Gallagher. And again, although Graham is definitely the better striker, I'm not sure if I disagree with that. He looks like it's starting to get to his legs, and the games might be too close for him. I feel like I'd rather see him in the last 30 minutes, when he'll be fresher compared to the other players on the pitch and able to deliver more for us. Won't be much good if we've already pissed the game away by then though of course. Just think if he starts he might look leggy and come off after 50-60 anyway.

Beat Burnley 2-1. Samuel screamer and Davenport.

Him and Benson? Interesting, but yeh I'm not suggesting he disliked him personally or even thought he was shit. Just seems likely to me that he thought the other coach could take him further. They might be really good friends on a personal level. You know when someone isn't taking you forward anymore though *cough*mowbray*cough*

Reading between the lines from this interview and Raya's, I suspect the reason Raya wanted out was that we had Ben Benson coaching him, and the Spanish goalie coach Brentford have was one he thought could develop him as a player.

Aye, I was surprised how slowly they worked the ball, and how much space they allowed us. It was almost the opposite of Barnsley, who might be shite but worked us hard and allowed us a lot less room.

I suspect he was taken out to avoid Benrahma roasting him like last season. Can't have golden boy getting torn to pieces like that again, he'd be unpickable going forward. Not that that has stopped Tony before of course, but he won't want to see pressure build on Bennett. Cracking result tonight that you wouldn't see coming...which is exactly why, as Rovers fans, we should have all seen it coming. On a great run? We'll end that. On a terrible run? We'll end that for you too.

I think it's fair to point out that firstly, the people who scapegoated Raya and the people who are now putting him on a pedestal are, at least for the huge majority, not the same sets of people. The ones who keep harping on about him now are the ones who liked him before and wanted us to keep him. Also, Raya's was the more impressive performance tonight, hands down. Walton wasn't particularly tested. He held that one well that was driven straight at him though. Raya's save from Armstrong (the second one) was the type Walton just isn't capable of.

We either did none against Preston as the game slipped away, or waited till we were losing. Either way it was ridiculous especially when considering how he has frequently and riskily made all subs by like 70 mins.

I think it was the Preston game where we made zero subs all game? Or some other recentish game.

The reality is, over a third of the way into the season, he has a third of the goals of Williams. Who, as you know, is a defender. You don't think that might have more to do with roversfan99's opinion than this odd notion you've ascribed that he just inherently dislikes him so much he'd be slating him if he scored 20?

Gally is fairly quick. Not lightning, but fairly quick. That's the attribute which suggests it's a good idea to play him wide. It isn't though, due to having none of the other attributes. Other than that, 100% agree with the rest of your post.

I really hope you're wrong about getting rid of our only reliable striker.

Was this sentence supposed to be chock full of innuendo, or is my mind just relentlessly filthy?

We were crap but 2s are almost always silly Mark's to give. To get a 2 you need to be pretty much scoring own goals. Armstrong got an assist. He was poor, caught offside 4 times in the opening 20 minutes, but had enough little flashes to warrant more like a 4. I'd give Gallagher the same. Walton, probably a 3. Bad, and nearly gave Barnsley the game, but I've seen a lot worse. Fettis was a 2 or less every week.

Another thing he said in that interview was that Gallagher has missed out on some of his footballing education as a striker, due to going back to Southampton, playing in the reserves etc. So what does he do in the next game? Starts him wide again. Another odd obsession, teaching young strikers to play striker by punting them wide.

I thought Mowbray's comments in the recent LT article were interesting (mostly infuriating). Bennett plays all the time because of his work rate etc. Similar qualities quoted in regards to Travis, except for him he couldn't help but throw a negative in there. He gives the ball away too much. Lewis Travis passing percentage, 84. Bennett's 74. Yes, stats don't tell the whole story. Sometimes Trav gives it away at frustrating times. But from personal observation, Bennett does that a lot more. Why slag off the youngster who is clearly performing better and not the seasoned pro who should know better? I can't understand his obsession with criticising the youngsters in public.

Barnselona, that tickled me!

Key stat.

No, you try reading what I put. I was saying I knew you would reference Chapman, and then I asked you directly whether you feel he is in some way responsible for DB's outburst. I didn't accuse you of it. Try not to read too much into things (I won't accuse you of being dense). You say you're not blaming Chapman, that's fine, that's logical. It does beg the question why you felt the need to reference him yet again in something he wasn't involved with, but that'll be on account of your evident obsession.

It's a good thing Dack plays for us.

Never a dive. Amazing when you consider how many players have dived against us this season and got away with it.

Our attacking play has improved since the goal. Still needs work though.

Not true. They've had a shot that could easily have gone in.

Think they've fouled Lenihan on purpose there, after seeing we have no defenders on the bench and knowing Lenihan is just back from injury.

4 times now. How is he not paying more attention to this?