All Activity

Yeah and they would be playing off Drogba who would suit having them as two number 10s off him. Rooney would want to drop off and play the same game in the same areas as Lampard and Gerrard

Only 7,700 actually went to the game vs Swansea this season, depending on the weather can see it being less than that

Concussion protocol, depends if he actually was knocked out but EFL will have enquired after his comments on the post match interview

Just playing your best 11 players is not the best strategy, its been the sort of motto that has held England and other teams back over the years. Had Mourinho signed Gerrard to play with Lampard, they would have had Makelele behind them providing the balance. Beckham was very hard working so that role would have suited him. King could be changed to Sol Campbell.

D'oh...! Robinson Terry. Ferdinand. King Beckham. Scholes A Cole Lampard. Gerrard Rooney. Owen. Still super awkward with Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard all getting in each others way... And kind of assumes Scholes would nail the deeper role much earlier than he did in reality. Thats why today the likes of Rashford, Gordon, Madueke are so important as they look to stretch the play. Yeah maybe, but unless they played at club level enough together to figure it out I don't think it works. Not enough game time to figure it out at international level. God knows we tried over 8 years.

You would think/hope that if Pratt pushes on and makes a few more appearances and does ok, that clubs higher up the pyramid than Chorley will be looking to take our players on loan. At the same time, it is possible that those enquiries are coming in, but Rovers are being overly cautious about which level to send them to? Olson did well in tier 5 last season, cant get a sniff with a newly promoted team in tier 4 this year. On the face of it, trying him up another level made sense, but it hasn't worked out O'Riordan doing well in tier 3 this season, but couldn't get anywhere near at Bristol Rovers team fighting relegation last year Markanday last year dropped off a cliff once he was moved up from tier 4 to 3, similar to Olson, moving him up a level made sense at the time Both of Garrett's loans last year were badly chosen I can see based on those why they may prefer to play it safe and send players to tier 6 Chorley, rather than have them struggle to get on the bench at tier 4 Oldham. However, after Olson's success in tier 5 last year, I would be surprised if we didn't field a few enquiries from that level for other players (such as Pratt) during the summer

I'd imagine Miller won't be due back in till tomorrow, so should have fully recovered from the travel tiredness. If he was going to sit any game out it would have been Friday I'd have thought.

This is what I expect based on no money or ambition.... Centre Backs x2 - ORiordan and a new signing to replace Hyam RWB x 1 - Maybe a loan or is Miller back in the mix as backup after CB signings? LB x1 - Pickering sold CM x 2 - Tronstad sold and we make Baradj and TGH permanent Forwards x1 - Cantwell sold, Big Mak sold and we bring in 1 new signing. Even that is probably being ambitious for the shower in the directors lounge.

I've been watching Palace more since AW joined and outside of him, Eze is my favourite prem player this season. Full of skill, strength and awareness. Plus he's got a cool name and looks like the Predator. 😁

And play who in his place ?

Ah, yep, so he did. Looks like he was injured or not in the plans during his second spell at Leeds. I Loved Scott Sellars for Rovers, probably my first 'favourite' player.

I think until he starts winning some home games he is still a dud in my eyes. I don't go to away games so what I have seen at Ewood has been largely abysmal to date (this season and last). I also think he talks complete bollocks about the playing staff and covers up for the club when they do things like sell Hyam at the 11th hour with no replacement. He has a lot more credit in the bank now we have a few away wins though and the formation change to 3 at the back is making us look a much better team. If he wins a few of these upcoming home games I could upgrade from dud to steady. He is way off being anything like good or great in my opinion.

Yep, Brad Friedel's initial time at Liverpool want great Bergkamp & Henry also both took a little time to adjust at Arsenal (both took about a quarter of a season to register their first goals)

B.R.F.C. underneath the Rose?

Closer to home, Andre Ooijer and Michel Salgado were top internationals who took time to get up to speed here. Both came good in the end

Ismael doesn't seem to do logic at times. Pickering would have been my choice for the Derby game for sure but he seems to be completely our of favour as does Ribeiro.

Pratt was playing in grassroots football up until 2019 which possibly accounts for him being a bit of a throwback compared to Litherland & Atcheson who both grew up in the academy system

Logically that should have swung things Pickering's way shouldn't it?

I believe Litherland would have been the centre half to step up to the first team based on what I have seen of him and Pratt but injury has stopped him progressing. For me he is better equipped to handle all aspects of Championship football. What might have swung things in his favour is the fact he is left footed given Ismael's penchant for left and right footers at centre back. However Pratt got his chance and took it exceptionally well so right now he has the shirt and (in the short term) it's his to lose.

Why?

I suppose it will depend on how much they need an excuse to not sign anyone.

The Tom Robinson Band - Glad to be Gay

Surely you don't think that side is so good that we could have afforded to play with 10? 😉

Top quality summary once again from @DE. 👌

Matchday 16 Summarised Read the full article on the front page and let us know your thoughts.