And yet only conceded 6 less than us and played 18 of the games at left back already seeing posts about downgrades etc let’s judge after a few games and I’m going to be like a broker record here but the same posters said the same about batth and now he’s put on a pedestal of course it’s a forum and things can be debated and put forward but you will think people will have learnt from last summer about pre judging players….clearly not

So, we are missing 7 first-teamers. Sounds like most of last year. When we got guys back healthy, we charged up the table.

Sensible signing. In isolation, it feels like a good swap for Batth. More experience and reliability at the back, but less likely to drop off a cliff due to age.

This is as much as we got Ex-Toffee Adam Forshaw, Aynsley Pears, Carter, Jake Garrett, Harry Leonard, Ryan Alebiosu and Sidnei Tavares all miss out on the squad, whilst new arrival Sean McLoughlin will watch on from the stand.

Any word on where Ryan Alebiosu is?

They have pretty much gone full strength Pickford aside

7 years younger than Batth

Everton starts a pretty strong team as well.

no aynsley???is he on his way out

Could be our best 11. Extremely weak bench.

Fixed it for you

No. Only started 13 games that season. He started 37 last season when they finished 21st.

Hard to say just going off last weekend’s game in blistering heat. He’d not very big or physical however he can sprint ok and he’s a willing runner but I suspect he isn’t the trickiest player on the planet.

Ismael has named our probably strongest side: Toth Brittain Hyam Wharton Ribeiro Travis (C) Tronstad Hedges Cantwell De Neve Ohashi

Wasn't he a starting cb when hull finished 3 points outside the playoffs? Thought Rosenior had them playing good footie that season too

Wish they'd stop making the new guys pose with a bunch of red roses, looks a little porno-pervy to me. Louche even. Maybe better to portray them with rabid aggression with veins and flesh hanging from their teeth. But what do I know.

No disrespect to him but its a downgrade on Batth for me. One plus is he managed 36 games last season and looks to have a pretty clean injury history, which we definitely need....

the top six to venkys is akin to a gammon steak in a mosque

Decent squad signing. I suspect he will be a level above Dion Sanderson, but not sure he’s first choice if top 6 is your aim.

is this the end of the "significent" investment!!!!!!!!!!think we definately need another c/f and a midfielder

Not at the Rovers.

It was probably originally a 3 or 4 years (with an option) and a higher wage, and then once he had arrived here & done his medical, they changed the offer and did a deal, lower wage, but shorter contract, same as what happened with Kargbo