I probably see Miller as the most sensible signing of the summer, along with probably McLoughlin which seems a bit of a no brainer given his Champ experience. Okay, SPL isn’t the pinnacle of global football, but Hibs have progressed well in recent years. He’s a good age and it seems a good price given his contract situation. He obviously offers versatility given his ability to play two positions, BUT I do sometimes wonder whether that can become a bit of a Jack of all trades situation. Other than Berg, how many players have we had over the years that have really excelled at CB and FB? Maybe Mulgrew, but I didn’t have him down as a good LB really. He came in to his own when he moved to CB. On paper, I think this is a decent signing. But like always, that opinion could change dramatically in the next 10 months. He’s also replacing one of our standout players from last season, which is another matter entirely.

Brittain was right up there with the best in the league in that position so it is unlikely that any replacement would be as good.

As I said on the transfers thread, very athletic, powerful, good in the air and good going forward. Good crosser and fabulous long throw. BUT, tends to lose his man and make bad choices in defence (which is his main job). Probably safer as a RCB but will hopefully learn discipline in the Championship. He won't play a lot if he doesn't. I doubt Rovers paid more than a mill for him so a pretty good deal for all involved (except maybe Hibs - he would have been important for them this year).

How did he win player of the season in his first season here then?

Batth is a good player and decent for us but people seem to have quite short memories, some of his passing into midfield was a bomb scare. I forget who it was but feel it was QPR at home when he repeatedly played slow, flat passes into midfield that kept getting picked off, it wasn't the only game he did it either. We have a tendency as fans on here to go overboard with negativity or praise when a player leaves, they were either the second coming of christ or the worst player since Kaba Diawara. Batth was a solid championship centre half at the end of his career, who provided a good foil for Hyams skills set. Beckenbaur he is not.

We'll see how Hyam gets on without Batth, wonder if anyone will be checking how Batth is getting on without Hyam. A defensive partnership won't work well unless they compliment each other. That chemistry works both ways.

A league 1 player getting called up ahead of him is surely a barometer?

When he has to take responsibility for the defence he tends to flap so unless the new lad is that type it could be a bit ropey.

That means nothing and certainly in his position/s isn’t true - don’t think hedges is v good myself steady player who can do a job (just not the one that we need) but using international call ups isn’t the best barometer

The FF worked well when it was two sets of people across the table pulling in the same direction. Issues like the price of pies really were the most concerning thing on the day as the likes of John Williams were trusted to get on with the macro stuff. Now both sides aren’t pulling in the same direction and the FF are being expected to pull the regime up on all kinds of strategic stuff it was never intended for when it set up in more simpler times. The FF hasn’t changed, the club has. It’s somehow ended up in this position by default as the last forum standing. Ergo other supporter consultations (I.e the ones they quietly dropped around Covid) need bringing back ASAP, and the FF can go back to its modus operandi, I.e the lower level retail stuff - of course they won’t bring them back as this set up works perfectly fine for the regime.

Thanks 🙂 Yes we do, have amended my post

Just for completeness… If we have 4 ESC players but our number of slots is then reduced, we can still keep those 4 ESC players.

Speaks volumes that league 1 players get selected ahead of him in the Wales setup

I’ve got big worries about Hyam when he isn’t partnered by an experienced CB that tells him what to do. Great with Batth, a danger with Wharton or Carter.

To add, the flaw in the ff system is the original minutes go to the club for approval prior to being circulated to the FF attendees, with the intention they are on website within 48 hours of club approval. This needs to change, having no input into the minutes or agreement of the accuracy of minutes prior to going to the club has created this indigestion Its the process which is broken, not the people

Winners: Ipswich Town Auto: Saints Play Off: Norwich, Sheff Utd, Swansea, Brum Relegated: Wednesday, Charlton, Wrexham Rovers finish: 9th First Manager Change: Wednesday Prem winners: Arsenal Wild Card: Rovers to get into a big brawl at some point this season

Writing minutes in a meeting with so much going on aint easy, so very unfair to take it out on O2G. He did the minutes, they were asked to be amended, he's obliged by sending the edited ones for approval. They are sat with the club, Taking lumps out of each other is exactly what the club would like to see.

This is laughably wide of the mark. Have a word with yourself, FFS.

In order to maintain 4 esc slots after this season, English qualifying players (EQP) would need to play in at least 35% of minutes in the Championship for Rovers this season. This equates to a little under 16000 minutes. Any less, and the number of allocated esc slots will drop. This may be an issue. Following the departure of Brittain, Dolan, Batth etc and with seemingly Pickering & Pears no longer being regular starters, as I only see Travis & Cantwell as "guaranteed" English qualifying starters, So even if they both remain & play in every single minute of every single Championship game, that is only just over half of these minutes (8280 minutes) & if either of those leave, they are likely to be replaced by an non qualifying player. Whilst some of those remaining minutes will be covered by subs./rotation etc (Carter, Wharton, Pickering, Forshaw, Tyjon, Alebiosu etc), This may be an extra reason why Gestede was so interested in increasing the minutes for U21 players (who are in the main English qualifying), as not doing so will derail any future transfer plans and leave them having to shop in more expensive (British & those who qualify for work permits automatically) markets * Obviously this makes the rather precarious assumption that Rovers consider events at least a year in the future ** If we have 4 ESC players but our number of slots is then reduced, we can still keep those 4 ESC players (thank you WilsdenRover), although if we sell/convert them, we cannot replace those slots until our minutes are back up to the required levels https://analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2023/06/21/introducing-esc-the-new-gbe-guidance-opens-up-recruitment-post-brexit/ 2024/25 onwards Criteria However, from this season onwards clubs will be able to plan for the number of ESC slots that they have, with the possibility that they could only have one if the number of minutes for EQP is lower than 20%. Number of available ESC places Weighted EQP minutes % Premier League Championship League One League Two >= 35% 4 4 2 2 >= 30% 3 3 1 1 >= 25% 2 2 – – >= 20% 1 1 – –

The judge is currently Bazballing it. Already on case 11. edited to add. Case 11 went on forever and the judge has now done a runner. Hopefully he’s coming back…

He could be a very decent championship player based on what I’ve seen of him, albeit in the dog and duck league*. He’s steady, hard working, good in the air and reasonably robust, with a long throw. *Disclaimer - Ryan Hedges didn’t look shit in the same league.

Repeat of yesterday. We will end up 6 runs short is my bet

I wouldn't rule out Travis starting at right back if For Shaw is fit and Miller is not recovered in time. I expect our performance will be more Elche than NEC. Then it depends if WBA finishing is more NEC than Elche.

Consecutive. item 5 just called…

Hedges now replaces Dolan for the misery guts who get high on moaning. Or perhaps not as I am seriously worried by McLouhlin and the other summer signings based on their (non) performance pre-season. Hedges has been a serviceable Championship player for us but sadly has proved Welsh management right correct in not selecting him for a seriously underwhelming Welsh squad of players and opted for L1 and L2 plodders instead. If he is a regular starter this season then we really have had a dud of a summer window.