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I think so, although given his age (going back to the Mafoumbi discussion during the summer), one appearance would then mean he could be converted to a standard work permit "Or they can give Exauce Mafoumbi his Championship debut. As the player hasn’t yet made his senior debut for any club, making his first appearance in a bad second-tier league would earn him five points. He’d then get an additional 10 points for playing in the Championship, hitting the 15 needed to qualify for a GBE work permit."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cedx6296jylo Looks like something is happening with the pitch based on that story but no idea what?!

Would he need a ESC spot?!

Would hope (although not necessarily expect) that a 20 year old college kid who has never played a senior game would be a signing for the u21s, not the first team

I did implied nothing of the sort so please stopping lying cos you losing the argument here. But different players play different roles within team structure whether its a centre back or wide players or centre midfielders or strikers. That's going years and years. Shearer was number 9 whilst Sheringham was number 10, you wouldn't play them the other way round would you or David Batty has midfielder playmaker would you?

New defender sorted then 😄

The issue is you only need one shot with defensive headers like that - it was routine. As I say he's cost us plenty of goals and the entire Norwich game at home but he's our go to number 1 starter at centre back. Got his feet muddled on the line for the calamitous equaliser at Deepdale too, he isn't that good but he's the best we've been left with and is a guaranteed starter. I'm certain we'd have seen some of these recent games out too at 1-0 had the club spent some money on a proper centre back that can attack a cross and command the air.

We had more championship experience team last season compared to this one. I think a defence with Hyam still be better and that's my biggest regret of the summer transfer window is selling him with no replacement brought in.

probably a few £100K

Like Oxford and Wednesday this lot are a poor side. So are we. They'll be desperate for a win and will see us as a great chance to do that. We've got to maintain our decent away form as if that slips the bottom 3 at Xmas beckons. Not a ground I can remember us winning at too often.

The club's head coach, Valerien Ismael, said earlier this week he would be willing to sacrifice part of his transfer budget if it meant the money was reallocated to improving their pitch. Just going back to this a sec, it implies we have a transfer budget for January??

That makes me utterly detest them every single time I hear it

Rochdale have already decided that they’re going to lay a new pitch in mid season.

I’m with you, I fancy us to get something here. Our current formation is made for away games.

There’s playmakers and then there’s spear carriers for me. Tronstad, Taylor-Hickman, Forshaw, Montgomery, spear carriers. Cantwell, Morishita, Baradji, playmakers. Tavares, Henrikson,- wanna be playmakers.

So maybe they've bought some covers and will also be mapping out the undersoil heating pipes the drilling holes between them. Then in summer they'll get the drains jetted and insert a sleeve up the pipe, all that will swallow the few hundred grand there might be spare for a player unless another few sales are made. In short, anything to avoid a full pitch and drain re lay.

How many times have we said that this season, and lost or drawn to teams below us.

Due to the horrendous pricing policy to fleece 7k Brum fans we started this season with barely 11k home fans in attendance instead of 13-15k. First home game of the season is usually one of the bigger 'walk up' match by match buying ones aside from derbies etc so that pathetic effort set the tone for this season. No surprise at all there are regular 8/9k turnouts now with virtually nobody actually buying tickets and a small ST base anyway. The seeds were sown for this in the summer and it all rests on the club but no doubt their answer with be more hikes next season to cover even more shortfall on their budget. The ticket deals they've been trowing around recently are a desperate attempt to boost the averages after no doubt they've budgeted for 15k ave's for this season. There'd be no restrictions on Buley this season if they were around and Leeds would probably get a block in the riverside as well.

It's the worst Rovers team I've seen for decades, sorry if I spoilt your optimism. Getting rid of Ismael would be a step in the right direction. There's nothing more I'd like, than to see Rovers back on the winning trail, but I can't see it at the moment.

Looks like Ismael got "his wish", and exchanged some/all of the transfer budget for "essential works on the pitch" https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/december/10/venue-change-for-fa-youth-cup-contest/

Yeah but the club could come out & say the attendance was 31,000 every game, then our average attendance would be 31,000.

At this stage it is a must not lose. Yes a win would be great but a loss dumps us right in the mire. Even with all the injuries, we ought to have enough with last night's set up to avoid defeat. I wouldn't rate them as better than Oxford.

Its pretty blatantly implied. They are all centre midfielders, and we seem to be in the habit of boxing off midfielders into holding midfielders and box to box midfielders. He said that Tronstad (our holding midfielder) has back up of Forshaw and Montgomery. He also said Baradji is box to box and suggested that Tavares isnt either. In which case, why sign 3 players for the same one position?

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/december/10/venue-change-for-fa-youth-cup-contest/

Where did he say Baradji, Tavares and Gardner-Hickman are considered box-to-box midfielders? If you're going to relentlessly argue with him, at least be honest.