Shuffle

We have two recognised fit CBs & one of those is now suspended. You could move people but it’s ridiculous at this level to not have cover other than academy players. When fit Kalas was our best defender so for 12 months at reduced wages then I’d welcome him back.

This season was the time to judge Pearson as far as I’m concerned as most of the squad will be his for the first time. After £35m in sales and less than £6m spent (albeit how wisely to be judged) to not back him now would be a travesty. I’ve gone from being very optimistic to very flat in less than 2 weeks so god knows how Pearson feels and if plans have changed since Scott sold ref funding for transfers then he would be entitled to walk. Speculation of course but not quite as blunt as this but back him or sack him Lansdown.

Now I hate Rovers as much as the next person but seems very hollow to take the piss after what we watched today.

I’d love to know how much they have actually invested in transfer fees but the signings of Laird, Buchanan,Bielik, Sanderson, Dembele, Miyoshi, Anderson for around £6.5m looks like fantastic recruitment. Fair play to them as physically too strong and carried a threat with pace.

Both injured

We 100% need a replacement for Scott as two from Williams/James/king leave us lacking mobility. One is fine but if we are playing 2 Eights, we need legs & someone who can go past their man . Still in no way convinced by Max and need an experienced GK & CB imo.

What a brilliant debut….he is technically very good and every pass tonight was weighted perfectly. We have to find a way of playing both Pring and Roberts together as both too good to be on the bench.

We allocated squad numbers to 26 as you say but that includes 2 CBs who have not made their debuts yet& a 3rd keeper in Bajic. Rob & Tommy as you say are out, Benarous is returning after 2 ACL ruptures, Naismith struggling to stay fit & that’s not even mentioning those currently unavailable through hopefully short term injuries. All of a sudden that 26 man squad looks light & we’ve only had 1 game ! No panic but personally feel we are light at CB but all about opinions.

Agree in that he didn’t offer much & thought Williams aside all the subs were disappointing.

I was surprised that Conway didn’t start but have to say that personally thought Wells was decent yesterday. As for Cornick, I so want him to succeed but he’s showing very little at this stage and Sykes for me every time.

You’re probably right & certainly hope you are. Whilst saying Araoye had done well got the impression that NP thought the step up would be too great at this stage & a loan might be better for his development. Just my interpretation though so probably wrong

I agree in that we need another CB. We went with same approach that we will be ok in January where we tried for O’Brien after Klose was released. We ended up with Pring & Tanner playing CBs which we got away with as we probably knew we would be safe. It was a risk worth taking at that time. Think it would be reckless to go into season with just 2 fit CBs & listening to presser today it’s unlikely we will see youngsters start early doors if at all. Why would we take a risk going into a new season full of optimism?

Was due to play

I think Scott would be desperate to move to Wolves as it’s his golden ticket and who could blame him.

Playing Torquay at HPC today

Defence kept a clean sheet too.

Be interesting to see if he plays today as if close, why risk an asset?

Good news & won a lot of doubters over (me included). Still having an influence on the pitch but an even bigger one off it.

I certainly think that Vyner is wanted at club but I get the whole you’ve only had one really good season so an improved offer could follow pre Xmas if he demonstrates that it wasn’t a one off. I suspect that Dickie will ultimately be first choice RCB & in Atkinsons absence we are LCB light. Think Roberts and Pring are considered LBs who can cover so for me a new LCB required as prefer Naismith in MF. Who knows though.

You would like to think that the four incomings were Plan A& B and Plan B is to strengthen areas such as CB,GK and maybe a forward.

RIP Chris & you will never be forgotten. The headed goal from a yard against the Gas & the goals that helped keep us up at the end of our first season up were priceless for different reasons. I could go on & on about what he gave to the club and we will forever be grateful.

There’s a lot of football snobbery here about the Bournemouth which becomes irrelevant as they can offer the one thing we crave in Premiership football. If they have a bid accepted and are the only option of course he will go there. I’m sure he will have other preferences but Bournemouth will raise his profile & if he does as well as we know he will, then he will move on again.

Had a chat with a gas head in the gym who didn’t like my opening comment that “I hear the Russian army are recruiting from Rovers as more convicts there than in Russia” We then discussed the Brown signing & within a few minutes had gone from I’m not defending him but……… he only slapped her, he was drunk, he was racially abused & had his hair pulled & everyone makes mistakes. No mention of spitting in her face and how would he feel if that lady was his wife or daughter. I also said in essence if it was a shit player the club would have released the player if already there as per Wael’s statement pre Barton trial. The bloke was getting more & more rattled and compared the incident with bankruptcy in 82 with the quote “where were your clubs morals when businesses and players weren’t paid!” Strange lot at times.

What I find strange is that from memory not 1 fan at the time of spending £8m for Kalas after an outstanding loan said the fee was a waste of money! Life goes on but tend to agree with your point but if he stays fit then what a player someone will get.

It’s funny how we as fans see things. I thought Kalas mobility and pace (didn’t Pring say he was quickest at club) acted as an insurance policy at the back for us. Thought he was the best defender at the club & personally always felt more reassured when he was in the team than not. His performance v Man City was superb after a lengthy time out & demonstrated his ability. I agree he could have read the game better but every player has a flaw & that’s why he’s playing for us and not in the prem. Kalas is the past and we move forward and we need to add another CB this window. Personally, would have been delighted to keep Kalas on a reduced wage but some club will get a top player.