The Official Rotherham United v Bristol City match Day Thread

[havanatopia]

A Yorkshireman goes to the vet with his little Yorkshire Terrier and says to the Vet "can you sort the dog out", the vet says "what's the matter with it", well he says "its a swallowed a condom", "oh" he says "well that's priority that is, you go home, make yourself a nice cup of tea and I'll let you know as soon as I've sorted it". "ok great" he says and off he trots back home. 10 minutes later the vet gets a call from the dog owner and says "yeah about that condom", he says, "forget about the condom because the wife's just found another one in the bedside cabinet".

Good day to one and all from a rain soaked Malaysia. Football mad they are here. I have done a sort of straw poll amongst taxi drivers and I have a level of dissatisfaction to report that 4 out of 5 are Manchester United fans. The fifth guy, rather interestingly, was a Sheffield Wednesday fan and was waxing lyrical about Trevor Francis and, when I told him my team were playing them and, 'down the road', Rotherham a few days earlier started off on a ritualistic verging on unhealthy obsession with one Chris MacGuire. By the end of the taxi journey i felt I knew more about him than most City players. He played for both Rotherham and Wednesday with a 1 in 4 strike rate for the latter, not so successful for a later stint with the former and now plays for Oxford United. Completely irrelevant save for the fact that 1 in 5 (of my) Malaysian taxi drivers knows a fair bit about a footballer who used to play for two teams we are up against in the next 4 days. I just found that a rather jolly little moment of coincidence. And, moving along, since I have written a fair bit about Rotherham in at least 2 earlier match day threads I felt I had too little material buzzing around my head.

So, ad lib it is.

May I suggest that those marvellous souls making the rather arduous journey to South Yorkshire today pay a visit to the Florence Nightingale Pub on Moorgate Road. I believe it should still be there and is where the Classic Rock Society was formed in 2009 and has had the likes of Rick Wateman, Steve Hackett from Genesis, DJ Bob Harris, Rod Argent, Dave Cousins, Fish, Gordon Giltrap, Dave Greenslade, Roger Hodgson, Carl Palmer (Emmerson Lake & Palmer), Dave Pegg and John Wetton (Asia) as patrons and presidents. The society is still going strong and Rotherham has rather become the go to 'base camp' for rockers of all ilks with regular concerts and get togethers. Focus, Glenn Tilbrook, Magnum, ex-members of Whitesnake and Bad Company, Springsteen guitarist Nils Lofgren, It Bites, The Groundhogs, Climax Blues Band, Judie Tzuke, Sam Brown, members of Supertramp and a whole host of big name progressive rock bands from the UK and countries such as the USA, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Holland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, France, Belgium, Germany and others have performed, often quite regularly, in Rotherham.  One such band with a big reputation today is Californian group Spock’s Beard and their first ever UK show was for the CRS in Rotherham. Marvellous.

The New York Stadium is gonna be rockin' with 700 City fans today is it not? No more Neil Warnock or, sadly, Neil Redfearn it may be but with 22 wins for them and only 15 for us, bizarre that is, we are due a win in South Yorkshire; not since 1995 have we beaten Rotherham in their home town. 1-3. Has to be. Enjoy the game and bring back happy memories. UTC.

Joke attributed to John Cooper Clarke while performing somewhere in South Yorkshire, possibly Rotherham.

[EmersonsRed]

Our biggest game of the season in footballing terms so far IMO... We didn't know what to expect from our August league games, but if we want to progress as a club teams like Rotherham should be the teams we are looking to take 3 points from.

[daored]

3 hours ago, EmersonsRed said:

Our biggest game of the season in footballing terms so far IMO... We didn't know what to expect from our August league games, but if we want to progress as a club teams like Rotherham should be the teams we are looking to take 3 points from.

Looking forward to today, going into a game expecting to win, with their form to date and us on the back of a good second half versus Villa

Are we expecting Tammy to be fit?

[CyderInACan]

5 hours ago, havanatopia said:

 

May I suggest that those marvellous souls making the rather arduous journey to South Yorkshire today pay a visit to the Florence Nightingale Pub on Moorgate Road. I believe it should still be there and is where the Classic Rock Society was formed in 2009 and has had the likes of Rick Wateman, Steve Hackett from Genesis, DJ Bob Harris, Rod Argent, Dave Cousins, Fish, Gordon Giltrap, Dave Greenslade, Roger Hodgson, Carl Palmer (Emmerson Lake & Palmer), Dave Pegg and John Wetton (Asia) as patrons and presidents. The society is still going strong and Rotherham has rather become the go to 'base camp' for rockers of all ilks with regular concerts and get togethers. Focus, Glenn Tilbrook, Magnum, ex-members of Whitesnake and Bad Company, Springsteen guitarist Nils Lofgren, It Bites, The Groundhogs, Climax Blues Band, Judie Tzuke, Sam Brown, members of Supertramp and a whole host of big name progressive rock bands from the UK and countries such as the USA, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Holland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, France, Belgium, Germany and others have performed, often quite regularly, in Rotherham.  One such band with a big reputation today is Californian group Spock’s Beard and their first ever UK show was for the CRS in Rotherham. Marvellous.

I wonder what Fish drinks like?

[SuperDziek]

49 minutes ago, CyderInACan said:

I wonder what Fish drinks like?

Like a trooper, probably.

[Son of Fred]

1 hour ago, daored said:

Looking forward to today, going into a game expecting to win, with their form to date and us on the back of a good second half versus Villa

Are we expecting Tammy to be fit?

Tough game,always hard to beat at home-2-1 Rotherham 

[old_eastender]

3 minutes ago, cynic said:

Their home form is ok, they are atrocious away.

I'd be happy with a point.

2-2.

I won't be happy unless we take all 3 pts, two tough games to follow in quick succession where we could well get nothing, this is the game to gets some points on the board and ensure we are still in top half come 5pm next Saturday. Today will be a good test of how far LJ has really taken us forward.

[Port Said Red]

4 minutes ago, old_eastender said:

I won't be happy unless we take all 3 pts, two tough games to follow in quick succession where we could well get nothing, this is the game to gets some points on the board and ensure we are still in top half come 5pm next Saturday. Today will be a good test of how far LJ has really taken us forward.

I wouldn't say that, with all the changes to the squad it will be a few games in before this group start to really develop as a team I think.

[Meh]

So Lee has had sleepless nights over his team - my guess presumes Tammy not quite there but worth the risk on the bench and Korey in squad but not starting :-

ROD

Little - Flint - Magnusson -Golborne 

ONeil - Pack

Patterson - Tomlin - Bryan

Engvall

Subs : Fielding, Ekstrand, Reid, Smith, Freeman, Abraham, Wilbraham.

Shows you the dilemma  with some good players not even in the 18 !!

 

Edited September 10, 2016 by Neo

[Port Said Red]

1 minute ago, Neo said:

So Lee has had sleepless nights over his team - my guess presumes Tammy not quite there and Korey in squad but not starting :-

ROD

Little - Flint - Magnusson -Golborne 

ONeil - Pack

Patterson - Tomlin - Bryan

Engvall

Subs : Fielding, Ekstrand, Reid, Smith, Freeman, Abraham, Wilbraham.

Shows you the dilemma  with some good players not even in the 18 !!

 

I wonder how bad that ankle injury of Tammy's was if he was playing 1 on 1 in the back garden with his brother (according to Lee on Radio Bristol). I think it was more about getting him an 11 day break for the first time in 3 years. I have to say that i was amazed at that, if Chelsea are so keen on him they are taking a big risk of burning him out. I agree about Smith, I think he will stick to a team close to the one that beat Villa, but he will have a very strong bench containing 3 internationals! 

[BCFC Grim]

Rotherham away is a game we should be targeting 3 points. They will be down there. I'd be dissapointed with a point to be honest. You won't be troubling the play offs if a point away at Rotherham is deemed a good result. A little surprised at LJ comment actually.

[The Fat Controller]

Can't see O'Dowda being left out completely. Unless he's injured?

[RobArnold10]

I can see Wilbs starting today with TA and GE having been carrying knocks. 

      ROD

ML AF HM JB

   MP GON

  JP LT COD

       AW

hope I'm wrong and Tammy starts, but we'll see. Can see us getting a point, three if we play well.

[BigTone]

7 hours ago, havanatopia said:

A Yorkshireman goes to the vet with his little Yorkshire Terrier and says to the Vet "can you sort the dog out", the vet says "what's the matter with it", well he says "its a swallowed a condom", "oh" he says "well that's priority that is, you go home, make yourself a nice cup of tea and I'll let you know as soon as I've sorted it". "ok great" he says and off he trots back home. 10 minutes later the vet gets a call from the dog owner and says "yeah about that condom", he says, "forget about the condom because the wife's just found another one in the bedside cabinet".

Good day to one and all from a rain soaked Malaysia. Football mad they are here. I have done a sort of straw poll amongst taxi drivers and I have a level of dissatisfaction to report that 4 out of 5 are Manchester United fans. The fifth guy, rather interestingly, was a Sheffield Wednesday fan and was waxing lyrical about Trevor Francis and, when I told him my team were playing them and, 'down the road', Rotherham a few days earlier started off on a ritualistic verging on unhealthy obsession with one Chris MacGuire. By the end of the taxi journey i felt I knew more about him than most City players. He played for both Rotherham and Wednesday with a 1 in 4 strike rate for the latter, not so successful for a later stint with the former and now plays for Oxford United. Completely irrelevant save for the fact that 1 in 5 (of my) Malaysian taxi drivers knows a fair bit about a footballer who used to play for two teams we are up against in the next 4 days. I just found that a rather jolly little moment of coincidence. And, moving along, since I have written a fair bit about Rotherham in at least 2 earlier match day threads I felt I had too little material buzzing around my head.

So, ad lib it is.

May I suggest that those marvellous souls making the rather arduous journey to South Yorkshire today pay a visit to the Florence Nightingale Pub on Moorgate Road. I believe it should still be there and is where the Classic Rock Society was formed in 2009 and has had the likes of Rick Wateman, Steve Hackett from Genesis, DJ Bob Harris, Rod Argent, Dave Cousins, Fish, Gordon Giltrap, Dave Greenslade, Roger Hodgson, Carl Palmer (Emmerson Lake & Palmer), Dave Pegg and John Wetton (Asia) as patrons and presidents. The society is still going strong and Rotherham has rather become the go to 'base camp' for rockers of all ilks with regular concerts and get togethers. Focus, Glenn Tilbrook, Magnum, ex-members of Whitesnake and Bad Company, Springsteen guitarist Nils Lofgren, It Bites, The Groundhogs, Climax Blues Band, Judie Tzuke, Sam Brown, members of Supertramp and a whole host of big name progressive rock bands from the UK and countries such as the USA, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Holland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, France, Belgium, Germany and others have performed, often quite regularly, in Rotherham.  One such band with a big reputation today is Californian group Spock’s Beard and their first ever UK show was for the CRS in Rotherham. Marvellous.

The New York Stadium is gonna be rockin' with 700 City fans today is it not? No more Neil Warnock or, sadly, Neil Redfearn it may be but with 22 wins for them and only 15 for us, bizarre that is, we are due a win in South Yorkshire; not since 1995 have we beaten Rotherham in their home town. 1-3. Has to be. Enjoy the game and bring back happy memories. UTC.

Joke attributed to John Cooper Clarke while performing somewhere in South Yorkshire, possibly Rotherham.

Condensed Version

Rotherham:

If you want to shag a dog in Rotherham it will steal your condom.

Apart from that its still a shithole.

City to win 2-0

[P'head Red]

Eventually I think we'll see something like this:

                        O'Donnell

    Moore      Flint        Magnusson    Bryan

                  Smith       O'Neil

    Patterson      Tomlin    O'Dowda

                         Abraham

But I can't see Moore being quite there yet, so expect Little to start. Also Wouldn't think Smith is fit enough to start yet, so expect Pack in there. 

Edited September 10, 2016 by P'head Red

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

4 minutes ago, P'head Red said:

Eventually I think we'll see something like this:

                        O'Donnell

    Moore      Flint        Magnusson    Bryan

                  Smith       O'Neil

    Patterson      Tomlin    O'Dowda

                         Abraham

But I can't see Moore being quite there yet, so expect Little to start. Also Wouldn't think Smith is fit enough to start yet, so expect Pack in there. 

  So what you're really saying is this......

 

                     O'Donnell

   Little      Flint        Magnusson    Bryan

                  Pack       O'Neil

    Patterson      Tomlin    O'Dowda

                         Abraham

[P'head Red]

3 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

  So what you're really saying is this......

 

                     O'Donnell

   Little      Flint        Magnusson    Bryan

                  Pack       O'Neil

    Patterson      Tomlin    O'Dowda

                         Abraham

Oddly enough yes....

[I Am A Cider Drinker]

2 minutes ago, P'head Red said:

Eventually I think we'll see something like this:

                        O'Donnell

    Moore      Flint        Magnusson    Bryan

                  Smith       O'Neil

    Patterson      Tomlin    O'Dowda

                         Abraham

But I can't see Moore being quite there yet, so expect Little to start. 

Got to say that that team is exciting but if I'm honest I can't see there being a chosen 11 as such, like LJ has said it will be horses for courses but with a strong spine of ODonnell, Flint and Mags, ONeil then Tammy.

Anyway, on to today, first away game for me this season and for me the start of working out where we could end up. At the moment my prediction is still anywhere between 3rd and 18th. Win today and that will go up to anywhere between 3rd and 15th. Impossible to tell when you have the previously unheard of pattern of playing 5 new teams in the first 5 games. 

Hoping for 3 points and a first clean sheet of the season, 2 0 City Tomlin & Paterson both assisted by Tammy, who unlike his predecessor, looks like he can spot a pass.

COYR

[1960maaan]

@havanatopia and @BigTone  join forces in some sort of weird , twilight zone comedy duo.  It works 

Saw a TA tweet saying glad to get back to training so I hope he's fit enough to at least be on the bench. Didn't hear of GA's niggle so it makes it hard to guess the line up. Nice having options all over the pitch now, also I'm not used to Saturday mornings with this level of optimism , long may it continue.

City win 2-0 , Flint to score first 

 

[Kibs]

Can we beat Rotherham? Of course. Should we beat Rotherham? Not so sure......

Aside from the fact we are usually crap up there, they've taken 4 points from their 2 home league games and 2 of their 3 away defeats were at Brighton and at Villa. Hard to gauge just how good or bad anybody is at this stage of the season. 

I'd be happy with a point.

 

 

[Red white and red]

7 minutes ago, I Am A Cider Drinker said:

Got to say that that team is exciting but if I'm honest I can't see there being a chosen 11 as such, like LJ has said it will be horses for courses but with a strong spine of ODonnell, Flint and Mags, ONeil then Tammy.

Anyway, on to today, first away game for me this season and for me the start of working out where we could end up. At the moment my prediction is still anywhere between 3rd and 18th. Win today and that will go up to anywhere between 3rd and 15th. Impossible to tell when you have the previously unheard of pattern of playing 5 new teams in the first 5 games. 

Hoping for 3 points and a first clean sheet of the season, 2 0 City Tomlin & Paterson both assisted by Tammy, who unlike his predecessor, looks like he can spot a pass.

COYR

Kodjia assisted tammy away at burton for the 94th minute winner...

[Red Army 87]

I would expect wilbs to start up top today if Tammy isn't quite ready. Engvall will need time to settle and as he's also recovering from injury I don't expect LJ will chose what will basically be a fight at Rotherham as his first start.

[Davefevs]

Assuming everyone is available for selection LJ has got some tough decisions today:

- Little or Moore, probably Litts

- Pack or Reid, suspect Pack might get the nod as we try to go a bit more solid away

- Golbourne or Bryan, playing Bryan might be more attack minded, but allows another one of our wide-men to start, where there is probably the most contention for places

- Bryan or O'Dowda or Freeman or Paterson, for the two wide berths.  If Bryan starts on left, there's one from three on the right wing

Can't see Smith getting a start.

My team:

O'Donnell, Little, Flint, Magnússon, Golbourne, Freeman, Pack, O'Neil, Bryan, Tomlin, Abraham

Subs:

Fielding, Ekstrand, Moore, Reid, O'Dowda, Paterson, Wilbraham

Not getting kit on:

Brownhill, Smith, Engvall - one not quite done enough yet, one still on the road to fitness, the other has been carrying a knock.  If I had to swap 2 of them into the 18 it would be Reid and Wilbraham to drop out.  Would be a bit of a kick in the nuts to Reid.

Expect LJ will think differently...also think he'll be doing a fair bit of man-management along the lines of "2 back to back away games, 3 games in a week" type stuff, and expect the squad to be used over the next week, unlike last season.

[reddogkev]

Thank God the international crap is over again, back to the proper stuff. 

I strongly believe we'll manage the game well and rough this one out, show some of our class, and sweep to a 3-1 win.

UP THE CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

COME ON YOU REDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

[Abraham Romanovich]

Am I the only one concerned about the Yorkshire Terrier - hope it's alright.

I once had a pickled egg stuck in my throat so have every sympathy for the little blighter.

[Bar BS3]

It's mad to think that this is our Eighth game this season, in all comps, yet the first one against a team that we played last season!

Lets see how we compre against last seasons 3-0 humiliation. 

Come on you GOLDS! 

[Scrumpty]

31 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Assuming everyone is available for selection LJ has got some tough decisions today:

- Little or Moore, probably Litts

- Pack or Reid, suspect Pack might get the nod as we try to go a bit more solid away

- Golbourne or Bryan, playing Bryan might be more attack minded, but allows another one of our wide-men to start, where there is probably the most contention for places

- Bryan or O'Dowda or Freeman or Paterson, for the two wide berths.  If Bryan starts on left, there's one from three on the right wing

Can't see Smith getting a start.

My team:

O'Donnell, Little, Flint, Magnússon, Golbourne, Freeman, Pack, O'Neil, Bryan, Tomlin, Abraham

Subs:

Fielding, Ekstrand, Moore, Reid, O'Dowda, Paterson, Wilbraham

Not getting kit on:

Brownhill, Smith, Engvall - one not quite done enough yet, one still on the road to fitness, the other has been carrying a knock.  If I had to swap 2 of them into the 18 it would be Reid and Wilbraham to drop out.  Would be a bit of a kick in the nuts to Reid.

Expect LJ will think differently...also think he'll be doing a fair bit of man-management along the lines of "2 back to back away games, 3 games in a week" type stuff, and expect the squad to be used over the next week, unlike last season.

Think we may go five at the back today, with the new Swede in.

[wallaceboy]

Would take a point up there.but think we will come away with a 4-2 victory.2for tammy and one apiece from flinty and engval.frecklington for the millers.

[FNQ]

28 minutes ago, NeilS said:

I had a dream!! We lost 5.1, just putting it out there just in case we do, 'cuz no one would believe me if we do, and then I said I had this dream....

Not a good hunting ground for us, never won at the new ground, and never beat the Millers for 25? years away, so let's re-write history lads.

 

City 1-3  

 

Agreed... It's gonna be a Yorkshire Ripper...

1) W 2-1

2) W 2-1

3) L 0-1

4) L 0-1

5) W 3-1

6) it's written...

COYR's

[David Brent]

You'd take a point away to any team in this league. That's not to say we can't, or won't try to, win. LJ has said himself we won't draw too many games as he always sets out to win. 

So, it'll be all or nothing I reckon. Hopefully all.

[Jerseybean]

This is a really interesting game by which to mark our progress as its:

1) against a team we haven't done well against 

2) the kind of game we should be looking to win these days

3) the first game when LJ (other than for Matthews and perhaps Smith) has to pick from a full/new squad

Team selection IMO will be:

                                   Abraham

O'Dowa                        Tomlin                   Paterson        

                           Pack                O'Neil

                    Bryan    Magnusson   Flint    Little

                                      O'Donnell

Subs: 

Fielding, Ekstrand, Moore, Smith, Reid, Freeman, Engvall

Obviously would be delighted if we come back with three points; but critically let's not lose today.

[Offside]

It would be good to beat them after what happened at their place last season plus their antics at AG. Today's game will be a useful yardstick for seeing how we have progressed from last season.

 

[Meh]

Serious question so don't just shoot down as genuinely interested - everybody seems to want O'Dowda to start or certainly on the bench.

I know Oxford fans love him and I know he scored a nice header in the week - but is he actually that good? Apart from one game i saw him go at defenders quite often (I'm not good with opposition, dates etc); when he is on the pitch since he seems to spend more time dropping deep and passing backwards and not getting into advance positions or running at defence - is this just instruction or what?

Genuinely not seeing it yet so interested in what I'm missing - albeit in a short period of games?

[Lanterne Rouge]

Going by the way we are getting so good at keeping things under wraps these days I expect Tammy to either start or not be in the squad at all as the injury will be either worse or much more minor than we`ve been told. Keep the opposition guessing.

I also wouldn`t be surprised to see Taylor Moore at RB as he shouldn`t need to have to get up to speed and it would make us more defensive down that side. IIRC Jonson Clarke-Harris plays wide left for them and he is quick.

The big loss for them is Matt Derbyshire, of all the games/highlights I saw of Rotherham last season he seemed to be involved in anything they created.

[Bar BS3]

5 minutes ago, Neo said:

Serious question so don't just shoot down as genuinely interested - everybody seems to want O'Dowda to start or certainly on the bench.

I know Oxford fans love him and I know he scored a nice header in the week - but is he actually that good? Apart from one game i saw him go at defenders quite often (I'm not good with opposition, dates etc); when he is on the pitch since he seems to spend more time dropping deep and passing backwards and not getting into advance positions or running at defence - is this just instruction or what?

Genuinely not seeing it yet so interested in what I'm missing - albeit in a short period of games?

I like what I've seen of O'dowda so far. 

He's an upgrade on Freeman, IMO. And will only get better. 

The new recruit I'm looking forward to seeing and hope for good things from is Patterson. He can be a very good player on his day. 

[Chairman Mao]

Can't drop Goldbourne, he's been excellent so far

[Bar BS3]

1 minute ago, Chairman Mao said:

Can't drop Goldbourne, he's been excellent so far

Can't argue with that. 

I'm expecting it to be this line up for today..

ROD

Goldbourne, Flint, Magners, Little

O'Neil, Pack

Bryan, Tomlin, Patterson

Tammy

[Gillies Downs Leeds]

1 hour ago, Chairman Mao said:

Can't drop Goldbourne, he's been excellent so far

Got to agree with this, also playing Joe Bryan further forward on the left, gives you the option to push him back into midfield if we are getting "overrun" in there like we did versus Villa last time out.

 

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

24 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

He's an upgrade on Freeman, IMO. And will only get better. 

I think he may be in the long term, but I haven't seen it yet.  Freeman contributed more in the Villa match than O'Dowda has so far...

[Bar BS3]

2 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

I think he may be in the long term, but I haven't seen it yet.  Freeman contributed more in the Villa match than O'Dowda has so far...

I disagree. I thought O'dowda showed Freeman exactly what he should have been doing when he came on, with his more direct style. 

[otib118]

10 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

I think he may be in the long term, but I haven't seen it yet.  Freeman contributed more in the Villa match than O'Dowda has so far...

Wasn't it O'Dowda who got tripped up for Tomlins free kick?

[Nogbad the Bad]

17 minutes ago, JamesBCFC said:

I presume you were watching a different game, O'Dowda was far brighter when he came on. Barring a nice bit of play leading to a tame shot in the first half, Freeman did very little.

Very different game by the time O'Dowda came on.

City were already 2-1 up and very much in the ascendency.

Much easier to shine when your team are on top.

The hard work to get on top had been done in the previous 67 minutes, and Freeman played a full part in that.

Edited September 10, 2016 by Nogbad the Bad

[Nogbad the Bad]

DP.

Edited September 10, 2016 by Nogbad the Bad

[Major Isewater]

2 hours ago, Abraham Romanovich said:

Am I the only one concerned about the Yorkshire Terrier - hope it's alright.

I once had a pickled egg stuck in my throat so have every sympathy for the little blighter.

Those hard whitish things in your mouth are called teeth and you could try using them before attempting to swallow a whole pickled egg . 

Unless it was for a dare of course .

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

23 minutes ago, JamesBCFC said:

I presume you were watching a different game, O'Dowda was far brighter when he came on. Barring a nice bit of play leading to a tame shot in the first half, Freeman did very little.

The good news is that with LJ not remotely afraid to make a sub early on he can make a decision based on who's going to affect the game most.  I'm pretty happy with either starting with the other a very useful Plan B. Both Callum and Luke have a part to play and it's a long way from previously looking at the bench and thinking 'I hope no one get's injured'.

[ashton_fan]

With our strength in depth no point in risking anybody with any kind of knock, he'll have Tammy on the bench, we'll need him more on Tuesday

[Davefevs]

53 minutes ago, JamesBCFC said:

I presume you were watching a different game, O'Dowda was far brighter when he came on. Barring a nice bit of play leading to a tame shot in the first half, Freeman did very little.

 

40 minutes ago, Nogbad the Bad said:

Very different game by the time O'Dowda came on.

City were already 2-1 up and very much in the ascendency.

Much easier to shine when your team are on top.

The hard work to get on top had been done in the previous 67 minutes, and Freeman played a full part in that.

Agree with you NTB, thought Freeman had a decent match, and believe it or not, him and a Little combined well down the right hand side.

[WolfOfWestStreet]

Posting just to put the match thread above chat about man united. 

[Tom]

#ROTvBRC: O'Donnell, Little, Flint, Magnusson, Little, O'Neil, Reid, Freeman, Tomlin, Bryan, Abraham.

 

Two Littles?!

[CiderJar]

#ROTvBRC: O'Donnell, Little, Flint, Magnusson, Little, O'Neil, Reid, Freeman, Tomlin, Bryan, Abraham.

 

I've a feeling Mark Little may struggle

Edited September 10, 2016 by CiderJar

[Tom]

I imagine Golbourne is playing LB, but Adam (or whomever is managing twitter) has gotten in a muddle.

[daored]

1 minute ago, Tom said:

#ROTvBRC: O'Donnell, Little, Flint, Magnusson, Little, O'Neil, Reid, Freeman, Tomlin, Bryan, Abraham.

 

Two Littles?!

Playing with 10!

Happy with that team, although thought may have gone for Pack as being away from home against likely to be a physical team

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

No sign of Gustav in the 18...

Edited September 10, 2016 by The Dolman Pragmatist

[BRISTOL86]

Still not convinced Bobby should be playing there!

 

 

Edited September 10, 2016 by BRISTOL86

[BristolBEAT]

No.

Brownhill

Smith

Engvall

There's going to be unhappy campers this year.

[DaveF]

2 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

No sign of Gustav in the 16...

He might be in the 18 though?

But hes not

Edited September 10, 2016 by DaveF

[And Its Smith]

1 minute ago, BristolBEAT said:

No.

Brownhill

Smith

Engvall

There's going to be unhappy campers this year.

Two of those aren't fit.

[BristolBEAT]

Brownhill not in the match day squad not sure he was thinking this when he left Barnsley.

[BRISTOL86]

1 minute ago, BristolBEAT said:

No.

Brownhill

Smith

Engvall

There's going to be unhappy campers this year.

Smith's not fit yet and presumably Gus isn't up to speed either or would certainly be in the squad. 

[BRISTOL86]

It makes me laugh that we're acting like it's a bad thing that we can't only just about name a bench anymore. 

[cityexile]

4 minutes ago, daored said:

Playing with 10!

Happy with that team, although thought may have gone for Pack as being away from home against likely to be a physical team

Yep, he seems to prefer Reid there at the moment, whereas I would like to see Pack and at least see how it goes. He also seems to be warming to Freeman as a starter.

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

1 minute ago, BristolBEAT said:

Brownhill not in the match day squad not sure he was thinking this when he left Barnsley.

He was more likely thinking about Preston

[And Its Smith]

1 minute ago, BRISTOL86 said:

Smith's not fit yet and presumably Gus isn't up to speed either or would certainly be in the squad. 

Engvall has a knock

[Tom]

I'd imagine Paterson needs a bit more time to gel, in Lee's mind, as I'd imagine he'd be preferred on the right wing to Freeman...

[RobArnold10]

I do find it funny how we were screaming out to get a stronger squad and now we have there's outrage because players don't make an 18! The squad will no doubt rotate this year and players accept that! 

I've even seen one lad on Twitter having kittens because Engvall is not there, the boys probably still carrying a knock. 

Frankie says relax people.

[BS3rich]

Interesting line up, also thought Pack might be starting this one as I can see it being a scrappy game. Rotherham must know they're likely to be down there this season. Plenty of attack in this side so maybe get at them early and hope they fold! Come on City!! 

[TrowVegasCidered]

No engvall or brownhill in squad today- what a squad we have. Like it.

[Super]

3 games in 7 days so expect the whole squad to be used.

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

2 minutes ago, BRISTOL86 said:

It makes me laugh that we're acting like it's a bad thing that we can't only just about name a bench anymore. 

Exactly so. Plenty of options on today's bench- why on earth would Lee rush anyone back in if not fit or ready or both?

2 more games in the next week so more changes will be made. There may not be a permanent 11 more the 11 most suited for LJ's given match day strategy.

[Luxo Jr.]

Honestly struggling to understand how Reid continues to start in that role (or at all, to be honest, but that's a different thread) after the first half against Villa where we were completely overrun and O Neil appeared to be doing all the work.