He took over a mess of a Birmingham side and achieved their highest points tally since 2016, so the context is important. When they sacked him, he had them in 6th place after 11 games. They replaced him with Rooney and finished the season in 20th. That said, I'm not particularly enthused by his record either. He's still something of an unknown entity in truth. All that matters though is what he does going forward at Rovers.

He wasn't actually free. Sounded like it was a nominal fee though (I assume something like 50-100k). Wages, agent fees etc probably aren't a big deal with this one though, he's probably on in the region of 2k a week, so when you add everything up I suspect anything above 300k in the summer would be a profit. He'll need to notch some goals by then to fetch that though, he doesn't have a prior record as good as Ennis.

Dunno about that, they were still following his tactics to a tee. People wouldn't be commenting on the difference today otherwise. They looked low on confidence though, as you do with 1 win in 11.

You're right tbf, his heart wasn't in it anymore. And I can't say I blame him at all. He's only human. I'd hate working for these owners with my hands tied behind my back.

I certainly don't care for making so many in such a short space when things have gone well, and the way they kept making a new set every couple of minutes was odd. I guess Eustace just wants to see what more players have got to offer since we're on top, which makes sense. Feels a bit scatter gun though.

Can't lie, I find that a bit comical ..'oh now we're thrashing them, I'll take it from here lads' 🤣 Still, the sooner he takes the reins the better.

I do think there's an irony that he has gone just before we play the most out of form side that isn't us, and loads of players JDT needed are coming back to fitness. New boss will get credit for good results now though (not saying he shouldn't if results go well), probably even this one he isn't managing.

Hope that's a joke 🤣

No (though there were times he should have gone more pragmatic), we finished 7th with it. We very nearly conceded a second goal in less than 50 mins at home against a Stoke side who have done bugger all. There is still a lot of work to be done. We do look better today, but Stoke's form is as horrendous as ours and a new manager has brought us new enthusiasm as it does 90% of the time. The off field chaos has been the problem. People are naively thinking a change signals a new dawn. It won't.

Well done Pears!!!

I've also just realised that only adds up to 90% !

It doesn't make sense, because he played them plenty when they were fit. But I already pointed that out. The 'up to speed' thing was for new players. Both (wanting players to be fully fit, and time for new signings to bed in) are hardly JDT things anyway, most managers are like that. Although Mowbray would sometimes rush his faves back and get them injured again prematurely, good times.

Yeh that part has been different I guess. But when we get possession in our third we've been happy to play some stupidly risky passes. A couple of times we nearly got caught out in the first 5 or so.

Ahh didn't realise their form had been about as bad as ours.

No, that sounds way off. Maybe just because Stoke's possession is highly pedestrian so isn't sticking in the memory 🤣

No. But it hasn't been in that area too often. Stoke are poor.

Just the new manager bounce. Everyone needs to impress to be selected by someone who doesn't really know their games, first impressions count.

I bet on it days ago, but practically a token bet as the odds were 3.5!! Szmodics was 2.7, didn't make any sense to me even though I expected it. I bet on both scoring.

That doesn't make any sense, both players featured a fair bit under JDT. They just needed to be fit, something both players have had issues with.

That sounds more like two rubbish keepers than two rubbish defences.

That's what I'm saying. I'm far from convinced it's a convinced it's a candidate of appropriate quality. At least having a new manager watching seems to have put some juice in the players today. Except for Chrisene, dunno wtf that was.

Especially since we have spent diddly squat of it. Course, everyone basically knows the figures anyway.

Because it needs to be a quality appointment far more than it needs to be a quick appointment. I'm sure we could have hired the manager from the Dog & Duck in about 2 minutes. If it's not the right man it's shit appointment work, if it is, it's great appointment work. I'm sceptical for now that it's the latter.

It got us closer to the playoffs than ever before. It wasn't the style, it was the constant undermining and budget slashing from above. In terms of the manager's failing, it was a lack of a plan B.

I've nothing against GB but I'm not giving him credit for such a bland appointment (unless it works) just because it was quick.