Yes but he's had very few decent games. As for tonight the lay off to Dack was his only contribution in 75 mins of the second half and extra time. You need a lot more than that and he should have made way on the hour mark with Armstrong who was doing ok moving more central.

Is it April 1st already? I'm very much a fan of Raya on the whole but he needs to know blunders like the one he made tonight aren't acceptable. If he wasn't confident about catching it, all he had to do was pat it down in front of him. Not lose concentration and let the ball bounce off him to the striker. Maybe being benched for two or three games might be the kick up the backside he needs.

Bell was poor first half but had a really good second half. Brereton looks short on confidence and who can blame him after on start in his proper position in half a season. Still thought we looked more threatning with him on the right than Conway though. Agree on Bennett. Graham showed exactly why he shouldn't have got a new contract. Great for 45 mins then faded out of the game completely. You never know a) If he's going to be available or b ) if he is if he is going to be on his game and c) if he is whether he can last 45, 60 or 90 mins etc.

So what? Downing is still on the books and shouldnt be sold until a replacement comes in. No need to play Bennett, Reed Nuttall and BB out of position either.

We did well to get back to 2-2 but once we were level we were extremely disappointing. Never showed the drive or desire needed to win the game. So ended up soundly humiliated by Newcastle's reserves. Season over, roll on August by which time Derek, Corey, Richie, Elliott, Craig and Danny will no doubt have new five year extensions to their extensions.....

Why? Two years in there's no evidence either he or the players have the slightest idea what our best line up/formation is.

Of a fashion. He had a great first half but hasn't been in the gane at all 2nd half or extra time. You're always hoping a chance drops to him though I suppose. Conway's been shocking since he came on. We looked more dangerous with BB on the pitch. And he wasnt playing well. Poor miss by Dack. Needs to do better there. Edit: Raya - Im a big fan but that's shocking.

Wasn't expecting that when we went two down. If we can concentrate 2nd period we have half a chance. Need to sort the back line out, Bennett is playing neither one thing nor another ten yards in front of where he should be if he is playing LB. Leaving Bell horribly exposed when Newcastle come forward and not getting forward or contributing anything worthwhile when we have the ball. I'd move him to RB and Reed who is completely wasted at RB into central midfield I think. Square pegs into round holes Tony strikes again.

Surprisingly there was a large queue for walk ons and a massive queue round the block for collections. Decent turn out in the end. Shame about the score.

Its more like 5. Bennett Bell Lenihan Nyambe Reed Bennetts having a shocker so far. Not moving into space when he gets the chance. Like being a man down. Bright start from Brereton. Edit: Game over. This lot have no heart whatsoever Sick to death of them.

I don't think we'll ever get a better chance of beating PL opposition, Newcastle certainly didn't look like they didn't want to be out therr in the first game either and I hope we don't manage to blow the opportunity.

That's pure conjecture. No way to prove that one way or the other. We'll see how many finally turn up. If it were to get to around 15k home fans tonight I'd tend to agree with you.

Disagree. Whilst its possibly slightly more than if the tickets were "normal" price I think its still a very poor turn out. Evidence imo that £10 tickets have no or negligible effect.

Just been to get my ticket.A few in purchasing for tonight. Currently 10 k Rovers tickets sold, just less than 2k Newcastle but obviously we may sell some more today.

Or "Smallwood's rush of blood saves Rovers millions". Wasn't TM talking about Travis (and one or two others) going out on loan prior to the window and Smallwood's suspension? Still. If you can claim it as a stroke of genius on your part so much the better I suppose! (And yes I know they both started the Sheff Utd game. ONE game)

It doesnt get others goals though. Seven (and 2 og's) other than Dack/Mulgrew/Graham.

Going down for my ticket in the morning. Still can't imagine this is much of a priority for Newcastle and really really hope we win this one after the way the first game went. N.B. It clearly states on the website that tickets bought after 5 p.m. are £20 before anyone starts moaning about it.

I don't, at least not without very major surgery elsewhere. It would have echoes of selling Rhodes on the last day of the transfer window. The season after we went down.

So that's your own view and it's purely coincidental that it's word for word what Pep Guardiola said on Sky the other day? ? My view is that if players are available who will improve the team on a permanent basis are you have to sign them whether it's January or July. Otherwise if you just fiddle about with the odd loan you're back to square one in August. You'd have to go some to unearth a player who'd improve the City team. However I can't believe there aren't any players available in January Europe wide who would improve our first eleven.

I think it's stretching it a bit to say that the players TM is talking about have done particularly well by the Club. In the last 3 seasons in the Champoonship we've finished 15th, relegated, and are currently 14th. And let's be honest, we wouldn't have been anywhere near bouncing straight back were it not for Dack, and without him we'd be in serious trouble this season as well. Imo there's no way the core of the players TM feels so loyal to are going to deliver anything other than a lower mid table finish at very best. We had this problem when the late Ray Harford took over and he was being too loyal to players who'd won the Premier League. Not ones yo-yoing between Leagues 1 and 2.

He's done ok but even at this stage only has one really good game every four or five. The rest of the time he looks miles off the pace.

I dont think that's right, at least not according to the LT, but if you can provide the source I'm happy to stand corrected. Even if it was only an option we shouldn't have taken it up. It should all have started with some proper recruitment in summer.

What are you talking about? Graham triggered a certain number of appearances this season and apparently was automatically entitled to a new deal. I thought we'd stopped all that nonsense. It's all well and good on the best case scenario but hopefully no-one will come on here complaining we've been unlucky if Graham is either permanently injured or unable to hack it next season.

That's just ridiculous. So after another 25 appearances next season he should be automatically entitled to another one? You never know if he's going to be available. He should have been replaced in summer with someone in his prime (not BB) and used more sparingly as capable back up this season allowing him to leave at the end of this season with everyone's thanks when his previous deal expired.

No. The likes of Conway, Bennett, Evans and Graham should never have been given new contracts. As he aluded to in his interview with Henry Winter, TM is far too focused on looking after players already here and doesn't seem to be showing any appetite for the occasionally uncomfortable task of upgrading the squad and replacing certain players with better ones. Arguably when Reed goes back we'll be in exactly the same position as we were when we were promoted save that certain players who TM considers mainstays will be another year nearer retirement but still enjoying their golden handshakes.