I didn't go so I couldn't care less that we got knocked out of a cup that we're not really interested in.

However, people have paid good money to watch a second string side. They have a right to moan.

Its like the FA Cup these days. In bygone times big clubs would field their first XI irrespective of who they were drawn against. We all had a chance to see the big stars of the day. Anyone remember the Arsenal cup tie at Millmoor back in '79 I believe, all the big names played that night and the last game played by Malcolm McDonald. Wouldn't happen now, and it seems the Championship clubs are doing the same. It just makes the cup games irrelevant.

one thing its still showing is we are still to some degree suffering from evans mismanagement of our youth team

I agree that the lack of youth coming through the ranks is a worry. On yesterday's showing young Warren isn't ready for first team action. Maybe he will be one to depart on loan. Yates has something and is ready to be in and around the first team squad.

One of the disturbing things about last night was that we started with a midfield comprising players who would all regard themselves as first teamers, and I am pretty sure that both Halford and Wilson would see themselves in the same light. We didn't exactly send out an entire reserve/junior team.

Looking around, a lot of Championship sides fell to lower league opponents and perhaps (finding excuses for them) the players find it difficult to get fully motivated for a game like that. Oneaday is right to point out though that 3500 of us paid good money to watch it, and you would like to think that competition for places and professionalism alone would be motivation enough.

Whatever the reason, we were dreadful, especially in defence. Hopefully we have got some basic mistakes out of our system in a relatively meaningless game and will be better in more important games to come. I can't see AS putting up with that level of defending for very long without serious changes being made.

I remember that Arsenal game Towdlad. We beat a full strength Arsenal 3-1 I think? And if I remember rightly Finney and Breckin (definitely Breckin because his was a screamer) were on the scoresheet. Both Rotherham lads born and bred, emphasising again the lack of local youngsters we have now.

I looked it up Towdlad and you're spot on. Don't know why I imagined a Johnny Breck screamer - it's not like they were common place. Arsenal had stellar players like Jennings, Brady, Rice, O'Leary, Sunderland and Super Mac in their side. Can you imagine them turning out a first eleven these days in the early rounds of the League Cup? Another example of how money has altered the game and not always for the better.

If stubbs and RUFC aspire to improve then it hardly matters who else does what regarding other championship clubs and even the history of RUFC. This is a time when we have to go beyond our usual performance and history.

5 goals at home to a team 2 divisions below!

He's pretty ****ed off already by the sounds of it and some players have already been marked for the door. No excuses. In some respects my views have evolved in respect of what is and isn't good enough. I think about what I do for a living and even when I've played sports ...I know very quickly who isn't up to it and why...we shouldn't be amateur 's in the respect.

Although stubbs denied it when pressed by quite aggressive questioning that the job was not more extensive than he first believe ,I got the strong impression that he is not a patient character and will demand 100% . He is well aware of the job he has here but he will only just be realising how much pressure he will be under to meet the standards required to be anything like a success.
There will be blood on the dance floor

-- Edited by ian on Thursday 11th of August 2016 01:52:58 AM

Early days but neither a Warnock or Evans side would have shipped 5 goals against league 2 opposition.

I can see Villa running riot on Saturday.