Ipswich Town v Rotherham United preview and matchday thread

[shamm]

Bye bye playoffs woeful play

If you are giving up Lucy then the ITFC fans outside the UK will have to accept that outcome.
We rely on you for the FAN feedback week in and week out direct from the game.

Thank you anyway. Next season then.

[lucy]

I just think the teams above us are too good and won't be slipping up for us to take advantage of

[ashfordblue]

What the F**k was that starting line up Mick, bloody typical 1st half absolute sh*te, I bet that's about 90% of our games we either don't turn up either half, or make the changes too late, why not start with an attacking line up, go for the jugular from the off, this ain't Marcus's fault, this is very very bad team selection from the off, sorry MICK out end of the season, I'm with Mac Polish and St Jude on this, we need changes now, in 3 seasons Mick hasn't rarely change his style of line up or play, oh to have a manager like Eddie Howe or Mark Warburton, get the club playing attractive footie and get us promoted

[shamm]

I just think the teams above us are too good and won't be slipping up for us to take advantage of

Agreed.
Most teams above us deserve to be where they are.
We have done well with what we have- mostly free.

Bottom line- We need to invest real money to make that leap.

[Charnwood]

I didn't really expect us to win but I didn't expect us to lose either.

I know most of you on here don't like Neil Warnock but that's 13 points from 15 for Rotherham against some tough opposition. He's certainly made a massive difference taking over last month.

[ashfordblue]

Lucy:

You must have a constitution and skin like a rhino to put up with that tosh of footie from us, I think you are very commendable travelling and supporting and putting up with this nearly all the time, now re the teams above us, Hull, Burnley, Middlesbrough, Derby, Sheffield Wed, & Brighton, they have all invested wisely in their player selection and team building, its cost a few bob, but they are there because they have been backed to the hilt by their owners, we have to scrape the bottom of the barrel and struggle, due to the FFP rules, hence 9 out of 10 times we play sh*te footie, lets hope one day we get taken over by a person who wants to see us in the Premiership, I think Hell will freeze over until that happens.

[Tangfastic]

I just think the teams above us are too good and won't be slipping up for us to take advantage of

Agreed.
Most teams above us deserve to be where they are.
We have done well with what we have- mostly free.

Bottom line- We need to invest real money to make that leap.

Investment is needed. But what kind of players to start matches is ultimately more important?

If we invest... we just get a more expensive Skuse/ Douglas/ Hyam player.

Feeney is match fit and should have been on from the start. Pringles done little wrong..... so why drop him?

[Dazzz67]

Shocking, poor effort boys.....

[hallamblue]

Complete & utter bloody garbage McCarthy - AGAIN!

[Bluemike]

Well I didnt think it could get any worse that tuesday but that was an abject performance from the first whistle to the f**king last. I was totally gobsmacked when the news filtered through in the pub as to the starting line up, once again at home we go with THREE defensive Midfielders in Skuse Douglas & Hyam, but this time in a game against a team battling for their lives and in a match we really needed to win !!! Absolutely no doubt MM f*cked it up big time today with that line up and formation, not to mention leaving the likes of Feeney, Pringle & Foley on the bench, what the hell could he be thinking !!

One of my biggest issues this season has been the number of times we get a free Kick or a corner, bring up all the big lads from the back and then proceed to take a f**king short one, worse than that we have conceded from it several times and did so again today, how bloody thick are we that we do it again and again and again. falling behind to this lot and once again we give ourselves a mountain to climb knowing full well we didn't have it in us to turn it around. From the point they scored we had pissed it away. I can't really remeber us creating any worthwhile chance in the first half. The odd few boos told you everything you needed to know about the performance but it was nothing compared to what was to come at the final whistle.

The second half definitely saw an improvement but to be fair it could only improve on the shyte we had witnessed in the first half. It doesnt take a brain surgeon to know that Feeney and Pringle should have started, thankfully we got Feeney for the whole half and Pringle for part of it. What a difference the guy made, yes we were playing a bit better thanks in the main to the new boy who we were clearly trying to get the ball to at every opportunity. I counted 6 or 7 corners that he won on his own and pretty much deliverd every one of them on the money and yet we failed to get on the end of a single one of them ! I noticed in the first half how twice Bart was flapping at crosses because his attempt to punch was thwarted by 2 or 3 Rotherham players getting into him and making it uncomfortable for him to get the ball, and yet he was us getting all these corners into a great position only to watch out p*ss poor attack stand off while Camp calmly caught nearly every f**king one of them.

As the game was petering out we tried to muster a few desperate attacks, most of which fell to Feeney to create, but it wasn't till the dying seconds of ET that Pringle had a glorious chance to salvage a point only to see his shot creep agonisingly past the post. In truth we didnt deserve it and we got nothing. It was another boring spectacle against a crap team wgo we again made look half decent, they aren't.

As for the players, well where to start. Smith (Crap) Chambers (Crap) Hyam (Worse than crap) Douglas(Crap) Sears (crap) Pitman(Worse than crap). The rest average at best. Feeney stole the show but a f**king Donkey with Ricketts would had done had we had one to bring on. I think today is a pivotal day, not only for the fact any play off hopes were all but extinguished but also judging by the very loud boos and chants of "what a load of rubbish" at the final whistle MM may now be losing the backing of the vast majority of fnas who were unsure. I don't say I am at the point of wanting him out but f*ck me he cocked it up big time today and I hope he is man enough to admit it. We had Five very winnable home games which would have put us virtually in the play offs had we won them and we come up with that showing ? Utter crap is the only way to describe it. Of course it isn't officially over but we are so bad in the last 3 or 4 games you just can't see anything other than disappointment. What we have to do next is give it a bloody go with a nothing to lose mentality, drop the bloody carthorses who are out of form and get Feeney, Pringle, Foley and varney more involved, to be fair it wasn't defence issues that caused the problems but our drab Midfield and attack. Wolves up next and for some stupid f**king reason I will be there.

[barmy billy]

I didn't really expect us to win but I didn't expect us to lose either.

I know most of you on here don't like Neil Warnock but that's 13 points from 15 for Rotherham against some tough opposition. He's certainly made a massive difference taking over last month.

I've never had a problem with him. I think he's a top manager, especially in the Championship.

[barmy billy]

What the F**k was that starting line up Mick, bloody typical 1st half absolute sh*te, I bet that's about 90% of our games we either don't turn up either half, or make the changes too late, why not start with an attacking line up, go for the jugular from the off, this ain't Marcus's fault, this is very very bad team selection from the off, sorry MICK out end of the season, I'm with Mac Polish and St Jude on this, we need changes now, in 3 seasons Mick hasn't rarely change his style of line up or play, oh to have a manager like Eddie Howe or Mark Warburton, get the club playing attractive footie and get us promoted

Have I missed something Ash? It's only a couple of weeks ago Mac was bawling me out for having a go at MM.

Either way, I think MM's time is up.

[hallamblue]

Thanks Mike....... Can't disagree with any of that. The absolute crying shame is with a more adventurous tactic, this squad of players coukd actually tufn in a very good footballing display I think. But any creativtity we have in the squad is being coached out if them. I bet the players are sick of this constant HOOF ball!

[barmy billy]

Well I didnt think it could get any worse that tuesday but that was an abject performance from the first whistle to the f**king last. I was totally gobsmacked when the news filtered through in the pub as to the starting line up, once again at home we go with THREE defensive Midfielders in Skuse Douglas & Hyam, but this time in a game against a team battling for their lives and in a match we really needed to win !!! Absolutely no doubt MM f*cked it up big time today with that line up and formation, not to mention leaving the likes of Feeney, Pringle & Foley on the bench, what the hell could he be thinking !!

One of my biggest issues this season has been the number of times we get a free Kick or a corner, bring up all the big lads from the back and then proceed to take a f**king short one, worse than that we have conceded from it several times and did so again today, how bloody thick are we that we do it again and again and again. falling behind to this lot and once again we give ourselves a mountain to climb knowing full well we didn't have it in us to turn it around. From the point they scored we had pissed it away. I can't really remeber us creating any worthwhile chance in the first half. The odd few boos told you everything you needed to know about the performance but it was nothing compared to what was to come at the final whistle.*

The second half definitely saw an improvement but to be fair it could only improve on the shyte we had witnessed in the first half. It doesnt take a brain surgeon to know that Feeney and Pringle should have started, thankfully we got Feeney for the whole half and Pringle for part of it. What a difference the guy made, yes we were playing a bit better thanks in the main to the new boy who we were clearly trying to get the ball to at every opportunity. I counted 6 or 7 corners that he won on his own and pretty much deliverd every one of them on the money and yet we failed to get on the end of a single one of them ! I noticed in the first half how twice Bart was flapping at crosses because his attempt to punch was thwarted by 2 or 3 Rotherham players getting into him and making it uncomfortable for him to get the ball, and yet he was us getting all these corners into a great position only to watch out p*ss poor attack stand off while Camp calmly caught nearly every f**king one of them.

As the game was petering out we tried to muster a few desperate attacks, most of which fell to Feeney to create, but it wasn't till the dying seconds of ET that Pringle had a glorious chance to salvage a point only to see his shot creep agonisingly past the post. In truth we didnt deserve it and we got nothing. It was another boring spectacle against a crap team wgo we again made look half decent, they aren't.

As for the players, well where to start. Smith (Crap) Chambers (Crap) Hyam (Worse than crap) Douglas(Crap) Sears (crap) Pitman(Worse than crap). The rest average at best. Feeney stole the show but a f**king Donkey with Ricketts would had done had we had one to bring on. I think today is a pivotal day, not only for the fact any play off hopes were all but extinguished but also judging by the very loud boos and chants of "what a load of rubbish" at the final whistle MM may now be losing the backing of the vast majority of fnas who were unsure. I don't say I am at the point of wanting him out but f*ck me he cocked it up big time today and I hope he is man enough to admit it. We had Five very winnable home games which would have put us virtually in the play offs had we won them and we come up with that showing ? Utter crap is the only way to describe it. Of course it isn't officially over but we are so bad in the last 3 or 4 games you just can't see anything other than disappointment. What we have to do next is give it a bloody go with a nothing to lose mentality, drop the bloody carthorses who are out of form and get Feeney, Pringle, Foley and varney more involved, to be fair it wasn't defence issues that caused the problems but our drab Midfield and attack. Wolves up next and for some stupid f**king reason I will be there.

Thanks for the report Mike.

I must admit, I really worry when even you start to doubt things.

[hallamblue]

I didn't really expect us to win but I didn't expect us to lose either.

I know most of you on here don't like Neil Warnock but that's 13 points from 15 for Rotherham against some tough opposition. He's certainly made a massive difference taking over last month.

I've never had a problem with him. I think he's a top manager, especially in the Championship.

I actually think Mick and Warnock are a chip off the same block. Both are spoilers, in terms if tactics. Both are the "right" manager to get you out if a hole. But neither can develop a squad of players beyond that basic survival stage. This is Town issue now. Problem is Evans has just extended his contract for another 2 years, so is hardly likely to sack him now......so we are left with these perpetual dire tactics

[bluejacko]

WTF was that?!!!
complete and utter CRAP.the plot has well and truly been lost.
Playing Forest showed we can actually play football,Bring back Murphy and it's back to hoofing every time any of our back four has the ball.
Whether it's time for MM to go I don't know but much more of this crap and I can't see any choice for him but to go,

[Charnwood]

To be honest I lost interest in this game as soon as I read the starting line up and in silent protest didn't bother to follow the game.

Sorry Mike but not sure about the trip to Wolves where I was hoping to meet up, after this massive disappointment I think I might stay with playing golf.

[Bluemike]

Well I didnt think it could get any worse that tuesday but that was an abject performance from the first whistle to the f**king last. I was totally gobsmacked when the news filtered through in the pub as to the starting line up, once again at home we go with THREE defensive Midfielders in Skuse Douglas & Hyam, but this time in a game against a team battling for their lives and in a match we really needed to win !!! Absolutely no doubt MM f*cked it up big time today with that line up and formation, not to mention leaving the likes of Feeney, Pringle & Foley on the bench, what the hell could he be thinking !!

One of my biggest issues this season has been the number of times we get a free Kick or a corner, bring up all the big lads from the back and then proceed to take a f**king short one, worse than that we have conceded from it several times and did so again today, how bloody thick are we that we do it again and again and again. falling behind to this lot and once again we give ourselves a mountain to climb knowing full well we didn't have it in us to turn it around. From the point they scored we had pissed it away. I can't really remeber us creating any worthwhile chance in the first half. The odd few boos told you everything you needed to know about the performance but it was nothing compared to what was to come at the final whistle.*

The second half definitely saw an improvement but to be fair it could only improve on the shyte we had witnessed in the first half. It doesnt take a brain surgeon to know that Feeney and Pringle should have started, thankfully we got Feeney for the whole half and Pringle for part of it. What a difference the guy made, yes we were playing a bit better thanks in the main to the new boy who we were clearly trying to get the ball to at every opportunity. I counted 6 or 7 corners that he won on his own and pretty much deliverd every one of them on the money and yet we failed to get on the end of a single one of them ! I noticed in the first half how twice Bart was flapping at crosses because his attempt to punch was thwarted by 2 or 3 Rotherham players getting into him and making it uncomfortable for him to get the ball, and yet he was us getting all these corners into a great position only to watch out p*ss poor attack stand off while Camp calmly caught nearly every f**king one of them.

As the game was petering out we tried to muster a few desperate attacks, most of which fell to Feeney to create, but it wasn't till the dying seconds of ET that Pringle had a glorious chance to salvage a point only to see his shot creep agonisingly past the post. In truth we didnt deserve it and we got nothing. It was another boring spectacle against a crap team wgo we again made look half decent, they aren't.

As for the players, well where to start. Smith (Crap) Chambers (Crap) Hyam (Worse than crap) Douglas(Crap) Sears (crap) Pitman(Worse than crap). The rest average at best. Feeney stole the show but a f**king Donkey with Ricketts would had done had we had one to bring on. I think today is a pivotal day, not only for the fact any play off hopes were all but extinguished but also judging by the very loud boos and chants of "what a load of rubbish" at the final whistle MM may now be losing the backing of the vast majority of fnas who were unsure. I don't say I am at the point of wanting him out but f*ck me he cocked it up big time today and I hope he is man enough to admit it. We had Five very winnable home games which would have put us virtually in the play offs had we won them and we come up with that showing ? Utter crap is the only way to describe it. Of course it isn't officially over but we are so bad in the last 3 or 4 games you just can't see anything other than disappointment. What we have to do next is give it a bloody go with a nothing to lose mentality, drop the bloody carthorses who are out of form and get Feeney, Pringle, Foley and varney more involved, to be fair it wasn't defence issues that caused the problems but our drab Midfield and attack. Wolves up next and for some stupid f**king reason I will be there.

Thanks for the report Mike.

I must admit, I really worry when even you start to doubt things.

Well I try to comment how I see every individual game and unfortunately that was it.

[Shed on tour]

I knew when I got in the car park and checked the starting lineup on the phone I should have headed straight back home again.

Bluemike's report sums it up completely. However, even though the football is dross there is no way I can see Evans getting rid of Mick anytime soon after extending his contract.

[barmy billy]

Well I didnt think it could get any worse that tuesday but that was an abject performance from the first whistle to the f**king last. I was totally gobsmacked when the news filtered through in the pub as to the starting line up, once again at home we go with THREE defensive Midfielders in Skuse Douglas & Hyam, but this time in a game against a team battling for their lives and in a match we really needed to win !!! Absolutely no doubt MM f*cked it up big time today with that line up and formation, not to mention leaving the likes of Feeney, Pringle & Foley on the bench, what the hell could he be thinking !!

One of my biggest issues this season has been the number of times we get a free Kick or a corner, bring up all the big lads from the back and then proceed to take a f**king short one, worse than that we have conceded from it several times and did so again today, how bloody thick are we that we do it again and again and again. falling behind to this lot and once again we give ourselves a mountain to climb knowing full well we didn't have it in us to turn it around. From the point they scored we had pissed it away. I can't really remeber us creating any worthwhile chance in the first half. The odd few boos told you everything you needed to know about the performance but it was nothing compared to what was to come at the final whistle.*

The second half definitely saw an improvement but to be fair it could only improve on the shyte we had witnessed in the first half. It doesnt take a brain surgeon to know that Feeney and Pringle should have started, thankfully we got Feeney for the whole half and Pringle for part of it. What a difference the guy made, yes we were playing a bit better thanks in the main to the new boy who we were clearly trying to get the ball to at every opportunity. I counted 6 or 7 corners that he won on his own and pretty much deliverd every one of them on the money and yet we failed to get on the end of a single one of them ! I noticed in the first half how twice Bart was flapping at crosses because his attempt to punch was thwarted by 2 or 3 Rotherham players getting into him and making it uncomfortable for him to get the ball, and yet he was us getting all these corners into a great position only to watch out p*ss poor attack stand off while Camp calmly caught nearly every f**king one of them.

As the game was petering out we tried to muster a few desperate attacks, most of which fell to Feeney to create, but it wasn't till the dying seconds of ET that Pringle had a glorious chance to salvage a point only to see his shot creep agonisingly past the post. In truth we didnt deserve it and we got nothing. It was another boring spectacle against a crap team wgo we again made look half decent, they aren't.

As for the players, well where to start. Smith (Crap) Chambers (Crap) Hyam (Worse than crap) Douglas(Crap) Sears (crap) Pitman(Worse than crap). The rest average at best. Feeney stole the show but a f**king Donkey with Ricketts would had done had we had one to bring on. I think today is a pivotal day, not only for the fact any play off hopes were all but extinguished but also judging by the very loud boos and chants of "what a load of rubbish" at the final whistle MM may now be losing the backing of the vast majority of fnas who were unsure. I don't say I am at the point of wanting him out but f*ck me he cocked it up big time today and I hope he is man enough to admit it. We had Five very winnable home games which would have put us virtually in the play offs had we won them and we come up with that showing ? Utter crap is the only way to describe it. Of course it isn't officially over but we are so bad in the last 3 or 4 games you just can't see anything other than disappointment. What we have to do next is give it a bloody go with a nothing to lose mentality, drop the bloody carthorses who are out of form and get Feeney, Pringle, Foley and varney more involved, to be fair it wasn't defence issues that caused the problems but our drab Midfield and attack. Wolves up next and for some stupid f**king reason I will be there.

Thanks for the report Mike.

I must admit, I really worry when even you start to doubt things.

Well I try to comment how I see every individual game and unfortunately that was it.

I would not expect anything else.

[number 9]

What the F**k was that starting line up Mick, bloody typical 1st half absolute sh*te, I bet that's about 90% of our games we either don't turn up either half, or make the changes too late, why not start with an attacking line up, go for the jugular from the off, this ain't Marcus's fault, this is very very bad team selection from the off, sorry MICK out end of the season, I'm with Mac Polish and St Jude on this, we need changes now, in 3 seasons Mick hasn't rarely change his style of line up or play, oh to have a manager like Eddie Howe or Mark Warburton, get the club playing attractive footie and get us promoted

Have I missed something Ash? It's only a couple of weeks ago Mac was bawling me out for having a go at MM.

Either way, I think MM's time is up.

I thought the same thing BB!...and the criticism I've received! Of course, I wish I was wrong. As you say, when Bluemike has nothing positive to say we are indeed in trouble!

[itfc76trev]

Absolute garbage I'm so glad I made the 150 miles round trip to Watch that! First half was worse than Tuesday. I didn't think it could get worse than that. Second half we started better with feeney looking good but we still didn't really create a clear cut chance

[J4ck22]

Well I didnt think it could get any worse that tuesday but that was an abject performance from the first whistle to the f**king last. I was totally gobsmacked when the news filtered through in the pub as to the starting line up, once again at home we go with THREE defensive Midfielders in Skuse Douglas & Hyam, but this time in a game against a team battling for their lives and in a match we really needed to win !!! Absolutely no doubt MM f*cked it up big time today with that line up and formation, not to mention leaving the likes of Feeney, Pringle & Foley on the bench, what the hell could he be thinking !!

One of my biggest issues this season has been the number of times we get a free Kick or a corner, bring up all the big lads from the back and then proceed to take a f**king short one, worse than that we have conceded from it several times and did so again today, how bloody thick are we that we do it again and again and again. falling behind to this lot and once again we give ourselves a mountain to climb knowing full well we didn't have it in us to turn it around. From the point they scored we had pissed it away. I can't really remeber us creating any worthwhile chance in the first half. The odd few boos told you everything you needed to know about the performance but it was nothing compared to what was to come at the final whistle.

The second half definitely saw an improvement but to be fair it could only improve on the shyte we had witnessed in the first half. It doesnt take a brain surgeon to know that Feeney and Pringle should have started, thankfully we got Feeney for the whole half and Pringle for part of it. What a difference the guy made, yes we were playing a bit better thanks in the main to the new boy who we were clearly trying to get the ball to at every opportunity. I counted 6 or 7 corners that he won on his own and pretty much deliverd every one of them on the money and yet we failed to get on the end of a single one of them ! I noticed in the first half how twice Bart was flapping at crosses because his attempt to punch was thwarted by 2 or 3 Rotherham players getting into him and making it uncomfortable for him to get the ball, and yet he was us getting all these corners into a great position only to watch out p*ss poor attack stand off while Camp calmly caught nearly every f**king one of them.

As the game was petering out we tried to muster a few desperate attacks, most of which fell to Feeney to create, but it wasn't till the dying seconds of ET that Pringle had a glorious chance to salvage a point only to see his shot creep agonisingly past the post. In truth we didnt deserve it and we got nothing. It was another boring spectacle against a crap team wgo we again made look half decent, they aren't.

As for the players, well where to start. Smith (Crap) Chambers (Crap) Hyam (Worse than crap) Douglas(Crap) Sears (crap) Pitman(Worse than crap). The rest average at best. Feeney stole the show but a f**king Donkey with Ricketts would had done had we had one to bring on. I think today is a pivotal day, not only for the fact any play off hopes were all but extinguished but also judging by the very loud boos and chants of "what a load of rubbish" at the final whistle MM may now be losing the backing of the vast majority of fnas who were unsure. I don't say I am at the point of wanting him out but f*ck me he cocked it up big time today and I hope he is man enough to admit it. We had Five very winnable home games which would have put us virtually in the play offs had we won them and we come up with that showing ? Utter crap is the only way to describe it. Of course it isn't officially over but we are so bad in the last 3 or 4 games you just can't see anything other than disappointment. What we have to do next is give it a bloody go with a nothing to lose mentality, drop the bloody carthorses who are out of form and get Feeney, Pringle, Foley and varney more involved, to be fair it wasn't defence issues that caused the problems but our drab Midfield and attack. Wolves up next and for some stupid f**king reason I will be there.

Nothing I disagree with there. It was absolute garbage today.

I want to add though, that those who do want Mick out should really be careful what they wish for.

[marko69]

Its the day of the feckin ar$e. Or to put it slightly differently....., the feckin "R's"

That's Rotherham & Raith Rovers. .........., ARRRRRGH!!! RRRRR'S!

Fk off, football.

[marko69]

And err, looks like a couple of f**king raging hardons on this site voted for a Rotherham win at full time. Fkn bellends.

[jaykay]

well my man flu saved me the misery of watching and paying to see this.trouble is this game wasnt a one off.i use to moan when we played 2 defensive midfield players now mick plays 3.i thought ugly football won us games, or so we keep getting told all the time.dont know whos to blame mick or evans.wonder what pringle and foley must think,they play with a bit of flair and get dropped for 2 no flare useless donkeys.
this not being disloyal but i would hate to see us go up with team as we would be lucky to even get a point in the premier.we already got the monkey round our necks for the biggest defeat, dont want break derbys record as well.we would need a complete new team,as we have never built for the future.

[jaykay]

Absolute garbage I'm so glad I made the 150 miles round trip to Watch that! First half was worse than Tuesday. I didn't think it could get worse than that. Second half we started better with feeney looking good but we still didn't really create a clear cut chance

we dont score in the first often at all or play well

[arana peligrosa]

I was so sure of victory I could never have envisaged we are reviewing a home loss to today's opposition.

Got to give a certain level of plaudits to the opposition and their manager. The latter may be the difference between a survival and third league soccer next season but it doesn't excuse another of our own lackluster bullshit performances.

What really concerns me is subsequent seasons with the main culprits i.e. Evans and McCarthy leading our direction. Last seasons top six finish was commendable but this time - one or two matchdays aside - we have for the most part, been disorganized and ineffective. If Bolton could be forgiven, then today was inexcusable.

It would be dismissive to write off the season at such a relatively premature stage, but for some, there's been too many 'off days' and the team looking devoid of ideas or creativity.

I really wanted to believe after the dismal efforts from Magilton to Jewell we had turned a corner and where getting back to something approaching better days, but today's game only reinforced the belief we're once again nowhere near promotion material.

[hallamblue]

THIS IS TAKEN FROM TWTD.

Thought youd like to see it.

Today was p*ss poor. I consider myself very optimistic but even I couldn't find many positives from that. The lineup from the start screamed of negativity and I hope Mick NEVER plays a midfield like that ever again. We were at home to Rotherham ffs, where's the width? Where's the creativity?

We were exactly the same as Tuesday - Same system, lineup, mistakes... everything. We seem to be lining up to stop others playing and trying to be solid and cut out mistakes where as, especially at PR, we should be going at teams, throwing caution to the wind and forcing other teams into mistakes. You also can't play a midfield that defensive that can't keep the possession!

Bart didn't have much to do to be honest, he had a very quiet game but he commanded his box well and had no chance with their goal.

Berra/Smith were average - They kept Rotherham out but it;s not like Rotherham threw much at us. Knudsen and Chambers were very shaky and their distribution was poor, mainly due to the fact that they have no wingers in front of them and the 3 midfielders didn't want the ball!

Mentioning the midfield, that was embarrassing. You look at the Forest game and then look at our bench today. Foley, Pringle and Bru, 3 players who played during are best performance at PR this season, all sat on the bench, all to accommodate an uninspiring and turgid midfield 3 of Hyam, Douglas and Skuse. I've never been Douglas's biggest fan by he outdid himself today - He was awful, he should never play for us again. I can accept that he's not a creative midfielder and he breaks up play, but if he's going to do that, keep possession effectively, don't keep giving Rotherham the f*cking ball! He gave away possession before they scored and he hasn't got the legs to make up for his mistakes - He's past it and for Foley and Bru to sit on the bench behind him, well, I feel sorry for them. Hyam was p*ss poor too today - A return of the Hyam we knew back at the start of MM's time here. Didn't want the ball for more than 1 second, kept looking for long balls and didn't exactly break play up well either. Skuse also didn't cover himself in glory but at least he's competent on the ball! The midfield actually look scored of the ball at times - They're all on the half-turn or looking away from the defence when the back 4 has the ball. Who the f*ck is showing for it and wanting the ball? No one, it was just long ball down field and bypass our scrappy 3.

Pitman, Sears and Murph have been out of form and very inconsistent, and while they're not blameless, they are feeding off scraps and I feel sorry for them in that respect. Pitman tried to make things happen but was being eaten up by their congested defence, Sears did his usual "drop deep to get the ball, drag us up the pitch then has no one around him" thing and Murph didn't look bothered in the slightest.

You look at our bench and you have to wonder why AMN, Foley, Bru, Pringle and Feeney were all left out for a bunch of "dogged" and "scrappy" players. That is entirely down to Mick. I love Mick, but he needs to, and has, taken alot of the blame today. Okay, we won Tuesday, but the performance was w*nk, we could all see that it needed changing, yet he stuck with it? Unambitious is the word for that. Feeney came on and totally changed the game, well, for 20minutes anyway. He gave us everything we lacked not only today, but Tuesday aswell - Width and penetration. Every time he got the ball, he headed for the byline as wide as possible. He ran at full-backs, he used his pace well and he has a cracking delivery on him. As soon as he and Pringle came on, we were stretching them about and were unfortunate not to at least nick 1 goal.

Overall, we were sh*t. Long balls, poor handling of possession, scrappy midfield battle and no supply for our strikers. It was woeful. Mick will take responsibility, he sounds as dejected as all of us and he NEEDS to improve the football, not only if we want to make the play-offs this season, but if he wants to keep fans on his side and progress. For me, forget the play-offs this season, we've blown it. It was in our hands and we dropped points today, at Cardiff and at Bolton. We now need at least 15 points (5 wins) from 8 remaining games that include Sheff Wed, Middlesbrough, Derby and Wolves away. To even give us a slight chance, we'd need to win every one of our last 4 home games and, on todays showing, we look awful at PR and wont go at teams, so 12 points isn't going to happen.

My last point is about the booing and ironic cheering. I don't agree with it and don't do it myself, but if that is whats needed to give those players and Mick a kick up the a*se, then so be it. It was VERY loud at FT and it seems frustration mixed with that football on show is starting to get to some. It's a toxic mix and it's been coming for a while. I don't see the point in booing at HT, it seems pointless, but at FT, you can see why people are p*ssed off.

Come on Mick, you've got 8 games to get us playing like the first few games of the season - If we miss out on the play-offs but go down fighting with nice and attackive football, we'll be positive going into the summer. It's now or never Mick, throw caution to the wind and let's f*cking go at teams!

[number 9]

Great reports folks! It's much appreciated by those of us overseas. Having read MM's post match comments, I'm not sure I understand his pragmatism. He opines that he kept the team the same because we beat Blackburn. Most managers think differently; they put the best possible team on the pitch no matter what. Mick should be careful because quality players like Pringle & Feeney won't put up with being benched for too long. Play your best players Mick, FFS! Just try attacking right from the start! f*ck, if we get over-run then dial back! Come on Mick, get your finger out!!

(Rant over)