I've tried to ignore all the noise and emotion around Rothwell, especially until the rumours were confirmed. I'm now ready to say what I think of his actions, and timing, but I will try to wait until he actually leaves. Safe to say I'm not impressed with the timing. My focus though is our league position, and if any deal potentially falls through, I'll be fully supporting him on the pitch, especially as he is, more than ever, vital to us continuing the push into the top 3. But if he goes, yes, I've got some personal things to say about intellectual capacity and loyalty etc....oops, couldn't help myself. I really want him to stay, tho....

I'm not as worried as many are with this team and formation. I think the system is as important as the personnel. Buckley and Zeefiuk will play behind Gally. We'll be ok. I only worry when he changes the system, as he did at Hull. As long as Trav and Johnson play, the forward boys are free to create and score. We will win this, but can't predict the score. COYMB!!!!!

If Elliott was playing in the current system, he would be shining and scoring, as hopefully Dack will be soon. My worry about Dack is that he will need to track back, and break quickly, neither of which are his forte.

Just crazy. I repeat, Davenport has looked every bit as good as any other player on the few occasions he has been given a run. TM obviously doesn't see it in training, but usually if a player performs well every time you bring him on, he will go on to get an opportunity, or at least more sub minutes. No sub has looked better for me since Fulham. Butterworth at the moment trails behind him. If he goes, we must be buying someone good. And not letting Joe go....

This is not impossible....

Sorry, mate, I didn't mean you shouldn't have posted it, it's interesting to hear what rumours are being officially shared. I just meant they should always be taken with a pinch o salt. 🙂👍

Really not worth lisnin to this noise, but always happy to hear that any of the 3 are (possibly/probably?) staying. Hope that bit is true. A fully retained squad with one or two additions will prob see us at least in play-offs....assuming we can keep the cuffs on Tinker-Tony...

I wanted Davenport instead of Gallacher, but Tony has decided to let him waste away on the bench.

Davenport would've been a much better option in terms of energy levels, and he would've been ready for any counter attacks. He gave the nod to Butterworth because he wanted to shore-up the 9 man defence, and it backfired as they had 3 or 4 good chances when Butterworth was introduced. I was worried when we took Khadra off straight after the goal. He would've been the perfect player to exploit the space. Still, it worked, and we were euphoric after 104 minutes....

I agree 100% with your point about Edun, he will cost us points this season. Not sure about TM not being involved in negotiations, tho. He has a significant involvement, through his views on how valuable a player is to the team and club, and how much he thinks we should be trying to keep him. These opinions and advice to the owners have a bearing on how much will will offer that player. I agree with Rev, if we can keep Nyambe, and buy Zeefiuk, our right back position would be the strongest in the League, and potentially a solid PL pairing.

I think that's the overall consensus, although we created very little to trouble their keeper, and sat too deep for me as soon as we had scored. But, yes, I really enjoyed it and the crowd showed their appreciation for the commitment throughout.

Yep, I understand that, and I usually agree, but Johnson has been as reliable as any of them since Fulham, and deserves his place in our 1st 14. I'm also not as worried by our depth of squad, when Davenport can't even get off the bench. I would much rather replace Buckley with him rather than Butterworth, although I think Butterworth has lost match fitness whilst being permanently benched, he lacked energy tonight. Mark my words, when TM is forced to play Davenport at some point, he will show us all what we've been missing in terms of a real final third creative spark, in the pivotal last 20 minutes.

I agree on both points. Gally had a reasonable game, and took his goal very well, but will never do it consistently. Edun is positionally all over the place, whoever he is up against. His jump from behind into their player, in our box, just shows his decision making is suspect, I think he is struggling mentally with that role. I thought he had a better last 15, as we all did after the break in play. I really enjoyed the game, we just needed a little more composure in the final third all night. Zeefiuk looks strong, I would play him or Nyambe at left wing-back.

I can't see the justification for the amount of hammer Johnson was getting on here before (and during?) the game. He hasn't let us down all season, and I think him and Davenport have been our most consistent subs thro the good run. He deserves some slack, and he is the only one who can currently step directly into the Travis role, when needed (Travis was brilliant tonight). Another solid performance from Johnson.

This sums it up perfectly. We have been criticised for being 'slow out of the blocks' but the whole team must have been wondering what had happened to their winning formation and formula. No wonder they looked off the pace. The change of formation and approach tonight is season-defining, and bodes bery badly for our prospects. Before I have a total hyperbole-overload, I'll bid you all goodnight, and thanks for allowing us all to let off the steam that would've otherwise resulted in more destructive actions. This is a real benefit of this brilliant forum. Adieu.

I agree with this, but we'd have possibly got away with our 2 limp wing-backs if Buckley hadn't been imprisoned in front of our defence. He HAS to play further forward, in a free role. He is no longer our plucky utility player. He's our creative force. It's criminal, short-sighted, and clueless. That's why I'm depressed tonight.

Couldn't agree more.

Very prophetic! I think TM has sat Butterworth and Davenport on the bench long enough that he just had to trust one of them tonight in Trav's absence.

Regardless of all the froth around Sky, the Ref, the spineless cheating Hull management, etc., if Davenport or Butterworth (who I still think are the same person) had replaced Travis, we would have got at least a point. I'm truly devastated that the predicted hopeful but entirely illogical team tampering has begun. We (or should I say some of us) prayed (in vain) that Tony may have learned and understood by now what has and hasn't worked for this squad. This is why there's an overly-sombre mood on here tonight. Sorry.

I think Gally is copping so much stick because he's the only one in our 1st 14 that I can't make a case for being in the starting 11. Yes, he may start our next 10 games, but history tells us that will result in mid-table form, at best. It's not his fault, it's just TMs blind spot, we all have one. Sam Gallagher has had 4 or 5 good games (total) in 4 or 5 seasons (scoring a good goal doesn't mean you have had a good game). The rest of the 1st 14 or 15, with the possible exception of Edun, have fully contributed to our run since the Fulham game...

This ignores the fact that we didn't play well except for the 1st 8 minutes of the 2nd half. That formation was never going to win any game. We made a poor side look very good. We haven't played well since the 1st half of the Barnsley (& poss Huddersfield) game. Its been coming, but replacing Travis with Buckley and starting our £6m wing wizard just gifted Hull the points. I blame nothing else. We hoped and prayed this wouldn't happen, but it has...

This is all that we need to focus on. Gallagher replacing Travis. Our 2 creative midfield gems playing as defensive midfielders. This was Mowbray's 1st real test since the Sheff Utd game, and he was always going to build the team around our lynchpin Gallacher. There are still posters on this board that genuinely believe Gally deserves his place in our 1st eleven. Davenport has created more in his few cameo appearances, than Gally will do all season. Yes, we didn't give Gally any service, but his very presence on the pitch means we are 30% less likely to threaten the opposing goal. We have tried this formation for months, if not years. IT DOESN'T WORK. Our only option tonight was to replace Travis with Johnson, and actually play the same formation and style that the players are now used to. It was enough of a change replacing both wing backs, without regressing to our pre-Fulham approach. At least it was probably bad enough for even TM to realise he totally f***ed up, and hopefully he'll be shamed into returning to our winning formula. Yes, I'm ready for the Gally lovers to now trot out the statistics that show how well he has been playing. The fact is that as he has become more of a presence on the pitch, our form has deteriorated. There are other factors, I accept, but it is NO coincidence. Don't worry, I've got 4 more rants just waiting to be released..... 😉

Yes, hopefully anyone who decides to go on the spur of th moment will know someone who has a spare ticket or two, especially now there are no tickets for sale on the day. We should have set up a KC ticket-market....

Really useful, thanks, esp as I was one of many who couldn't get the stream to work. We can't continue to give the opposition 70% of possession in our half and get away with it. None of our team are comfortable stood still with the ball at their feet, and we are guilty of rushing short and long passes. Praying for a much needed 90 min performance at Hull.

Any chance of pinning this to the top, don't think it should be 12th thread in the pecking order? Cheers.