Based on that article: We wanted to sign a left sided CB and for Batth to stay but now we’re happy with signing the first but relying on a youngster in place of the latter. A right winger is a priority so Weinmann not staying doesn’t alter our plans. Re the first - presumably the club are happy for our defence to be weakened then - if not why, does it appear we’re not pursuing a Batth replacement? Re the second - if Weinmann leaving doesn’t alter our plans what were we going to do with him if he stayed?? Everyday there are more questions than answers.

Atcheson is highly regarded at his age level,Still a couple of years off making a statement. O’Riordan needs a league 1 loan this season even if it’s 6 months to see if he can cope with the level. At the time being we are an injury away from relying on Wharton to step in and after how long he’s been out no doubt be prone to niggles at the start. Definitely need another CB to come in, At least the spine of the team is sorted going in to the season if both Travis and Tronstad stay. If any of the latter go and we don’t sign a CB we have no spine and I would fear the worst

Crucially of a team that didnt score enough goals to begin with, that never even as a team came close to filling the Szmodics void and whose attack is the main (on pitch) weakness. We are still 3 attackers light and loads of goals. Badly need a right winger straight for the first team, it always seems to be a debate between people thinking that Hedges is a reasonable squad player or simply not good enough, then he ends uo being a regular. We need someone to compete with Cantwell off the striker, and another proper striker. Ohashi I dont see being prolific but Gueye certainly wont be. Even wide left, we dont really know what we have on our hands

No surprise they can't be bothered to add extra needs to the list, for all we know the 6/7 they mentioned already factored in Batth and Weimann leaving. I half expect them to announce Pickering as the new Left Footed CB and Batty as an exciting young option behind Ribeiro at LB. O'Riordan I still have no idea what to think, seems great in L2 but not done much else; have to hope its a S Wharton situation. Atcheson I have heard good things from the academy.

Circa 15 goals walking out the door for nothing in Dolan and Weimann. Who's filling that void?

Agree with most but I don’t think Val is a yes man

Dann another dubious signing and he didn't want to come here to boot..

Every chance

I see that Elliott Jackson is basically reported that we wont be replacing Batth and Weimann. Bit of a propaganda piece justifying the decision and even saying that there is no downside to giving Forshaw a new deal. What about that he isnt good enough? I dont get how you can go from thinking you need say 6 or 7 to still needing the exact same number after 2 unexpected exits. Surely you decided on a certain squad size for a reason. I recall that the stats regarding us starting new signings on opening day are particularly low and I wouldnt be surprised to see none in the side on opening day this season. The 2 we have signed feel like squad signings (especially De Neve) and I wouldnt be surprised to see a bit of a wait before anyone else comes in. The only change to that IMO would be if any of Brittain/Travis/Tronstad leave beforehand. I feel like our main 11 will include Hyam, Carter, Brittain and probably Ribeiro, probably Toth in goal, Travis and Tronstad and then Cantwell, Kargbo, sadly Hedges and then Yuki. We will just sign 4 to pad things out, and we do need better squad players but we need more than that and also to improve our main 11.

Michael Holding played for Rishy too. Saw him play at Ramsbottom early 1980s, wanging it down at amateur batsmen. He was very fair though, no short stuff and kept the ball up to the bat. Dennis Lillee played for Haslingden in he mid 1970s. Great win yesterday and it will be good to beat India in this series. But as above it's the Ashes that really counts for me and England's pace bowling attack in this Test would not be good enough down under. If Archer and Wood (and Atkinson, who I really rate) were fit and firing on all cylinder we might have a chance.

They're going to do this summer what they planned on doing last summer until Eustace put his foot down and threatened to walk out after only 4 months in the job. After that wobble they backed down and allowed him to bring in McFadzean, Batth, Weimann and Cantwell, some much needed British based experience. He also brought Travis back into centre place and vital importance to the team after the Regime had got him out the door to Ipswich and were looking to sell him. Eustace had correctly identified an issue with inexperience when he arrived at the club, they'd been going hell for leather down the track of untried and inexperienced under JDT, and it was going to catch up with us eventually. They'll be happy that they got Eustace out of the way and got compensation for him and his staff (is that our transfer kitty money for the summer?). Now they've got someone in place who is more likely to tolerate 'the plan' (and I use that term loosely for what this lot are doing) they can resume the operation with gusto. So bye bye to those expecting Championship level wages or contracts longer than 2 years, get shut of Eustace's favourites and it's back to the European bargain aisle.

I already said the eye test is more important. I was simply commenting on the data itself in isolation, since none of us have watched him live.

'A deal up to 2 million Euros' Which means the actual price will be around a million quid paid in 3 or 4 instalments then there'll be various triggers along the way if he pulls them. I always remember the spin put on the transfer of Dann from Brum to Rovers which Nixon admitted was to keep the fans of Brums back. It was around 3 million but made the media as 7 mill however Nixon said it contained that many clauses it would be nigh on impossible for him to hit them. This one is far less theatrical of course but it'll probably be a while before it hits 1.8 million quid.

Brilliant Tyrone, I've seen clips of Brian Close, not for the fainth hearted and no wonder Ian Botham thought the world of him. One more qustions from me, did you go to the games? England or Lancs? Local Rochdale league? I still find it bonkers that Viv Richards played for Rishton: https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1115974/rishton-s-summer-of-viv Allan Border played for East Lancs 'up corporation Park' and Shane Warne played for Accy!

Rothwell-esq?

he did`nt cost 2 million quid,im`e sure of that,bit of media spin from the club to get some fans excited

Exaggerations. Apart from Beck and ACD, your gone list aren't actually gone yet. They're in the 90% going category, which you've also exaggerated.

Once again though you said this last year probably around the exact same time I do think we are behind in terms of recruitment and I’m not a big fan of people saying judge us when the window is closed etc but we are extremely early in it and there are very little clubs doing business at present

Surely they watched several games of him live and in the flesh though, before splurging the majority of our budget.....🤔

Got to say, given it's just the Portuguese league, the only stats that stand out are the passing (completion anyway, the progressive passes and passes attempted are very low) and interceptions. He has more shit stats there than good ones. The proof will be in the pudding of course, and the eye test will be more important. But if he has been signed because of the data, I don't see why. Not from this data anyway.

Fantastic cricket! Had a bit of everything except controversy 👏

We need Wood and Archer really if we’re to have any chance.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Rovers didn't know what was happening tomorrow.

Was a great game, one to remember for a very long time. But its the Ashes I really crave victories in, can anyone see us bowling out Australia in Australia with that pop-gun bowling line-up? Need a fit Wood and a fit and in-form Archer at least---unlikely?

Must be difficult to drum up positivity in the players left when VI sees his decimated squad. No way under Earth`s starry firmanent they can replace Dolan(worth only £1 million apparently) at that level for the money saved including wages without extraordinary luck! Must be his re-sale value isn`t high so they don`t care! I know the lad has his limitations,but he`s far superior to Hedges or anyone else we have as a wide forward plus isn`t permanently injured and does get involved. The absolute reversal of Buckley or Corey Evans, Guthrie etc etc The only contract renewals aka Hedges, Forshaw are players who have no other takers. VI will seriously earn his corn if he stays(and keeps us up).