Guess we'd best hope Chrisene comes good then... This is so typical of following Rovers these days. Good start, 1 up, lots of players back and you become foolishly tempted into thinking maybe we can reignite our season. Then an injury, a goal conceded, penalty appeal waved away and another injury. Both injuries looking bad. Couldn't write it.

It's his first game. You don't think it might be a little too early to call?

Villa fans say he's a better CM than LB. So AML shouldn't be too much of a stretch if he is suited to both those other positions. I'd put it down to being new and inexperienced for now.

You can play zonal but have their most dangerous header of the ball be man-marked by your best defensive header of the ball. It's unacceptable for it to end up being reliant on Pickering in that situation.

If they think what Venkys are going through is hard times, they should try being a Rovers fan under their tenure.

Exactly the sort of thing we didn't need...how come every time some cause for optimism emerges, something shit happens? Hopefully nothing serious, it would be frustrating to start losing players as soon as we've started getting some back.

Aye

Nah don't agree, primarily because Walton did it for a whole season. He was as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Leo has been as bad for the past few weeks though. Not worse, certainly not far worse. It may look that way though as the way we play leaves us far more exposed than the team Walton played in. I'm not even sure if Fettis ever made a save...I'd imagine he did, but it used to seem like every shot against him went in.

Looks like a change to a back 3, and that's probably overdue. However, I'm not sure if today was the right time to implement it, at home to 21st placed Huddersfield before we go on a run of home games. Or maybe it's the perfect time to try to settle into it or see if it works. Think we could have been better served with it last week though against WBA away.

The bench is looking stronger with JRC and Gally back in the squad. He probably just isn't deemed good enough to make it anymore.

He's in the club at the mo (so is Pears), but Fettis and Walton were worse.

Ridiculous hyperbole. There's very little between them, both are poor keepers. Leo is just in the worst form of the two and may have a little more to learn. But Pears freshly back from injury after shipping plenty during his comeback could easily be as bad. If he gets hit for a few we'll then have two keepers with shook confidence.

Better to admit failure than to seek a greater one.

How about... Luca Toni?

6 years older. Nearly 7...

Nah it's not. At 34 and with 6 months left on his deal, if I wanted him I wouldn't be giving them any money. Maybe 100k tops. He's one of those players I always dread coming on against us. I think mostly because he is just the type of player we cope badly with (I'm sure he's notched a few against us too). But then you look at his scoring record, and see he hasn't hit decent numbers since 2019/20, is increasingly immobile as he ages, doesn't have the technique to match our approach and we don't cross the ball to take advantage of his main attributes, and it looks awfully pointless to sign him. I mean, I'd possibly take him if we weren't losing anyone to make it happen, and free up a loan for one of the younger lads, but otherwise I'd rather stick than twist on this.

Nothing like cutting off your nose to spite your face. There have already been cash bids but you'd give him away for free.

I don't care what works from another club's perspective, I'm very confident his form will improve and we shouldn't let another club get a bargain out of us. Especially Prem clubs that have many millions to throw around. I don't want to sell him, so if nobody pulls the trigger that's fine by me.

I don't consider 10-12 mill a premium for him. I'd consider that a bargain. I'd refuse such a bid outright.

I just don't think they care enough about what people might think of them for that

I can't see them opening the Riverside and incurring those dreaded running costs just to justify giving Wrexham the entire DE. Why bother? Just give them the entire DE anyway.

What is this though?

The worst thing is there are zero indications we have any intention of signing a better keeper. Which will likely make the rest of the season a struggle.

Goals were two from Markanday and one from Telalovic.

Should have been winning with that team. It includes 6 first team squad players. Pears still conceding at a Wahlstedt rate against worse opposition. People clamouring for him to return need to be careful what they wish for. At least let him shake off the ring rust first.