Definitely a possibility, yeah.

and if one or both get injured / suspended! Absolute folly to think we have Leonard in reserve - needs loaning out to League 1 or 2 to see if he's fully recovered, can put a run of games together and can find the onion bag a few times! He's no longer a youngster at 22 and 25ish senior games over 4 years is pitiful. Time for the lad to sh1t or get off the pot!

Perhaps they see Pickering as being the fifth centre back.

ha fair. My bad. You are indeed correct. They just got even worse when the takeover was completed.

It's more 2 of the 4 being injured. I'd say it's quite likely that Carter and Wharton are injured at the same time. Leaving us just McLoughlin and Hyam to play every minute of every game and hoping they don't get suspended. Last season we at least had Sanderson to call upon if required when Wharton and Carter were both out injured for the long term.

No.plans to strengthen our strike force, Ohashi and Gueye weren't prolific scorers last season. I would have gone for another striker in the transfer market.

Even if/when Brittain departs,, both Duru and Alebiosu are also both very attacking options on the right, (and presumably if a replacement is signed for Brittain, he will also be a more attacking full back). I am not saying if they are of the required quality or not, but they are all full backs/wing backs who will push very high up and hold the width on the right. It does look as though that is how Ismael is gearing the side up to play this season, which would not require a traditional wide right player. Although that being said, I would still like to see one signed so that we have options to change things up. I just don't think it will happen

Flowers Le Saux Berg Hendry Nelsen Duff Ripley Tugay Sherwood Shearer Bellamy

It depends on your full back. Brittain's willingness and ability to get to the byline, overlapping the winger, means a left footed to cut in offers the option of shooting or a inswinging cross. Both of our LBs don't have the same engine for getting forward so it makes sense to have a direct winger to get to the byline to cross.

Transfermarkt lists his game time at Yverdon as box-box CM/DM and some games on the right wing, presumably for his engine and coming inside. Would be typical of us to have him cover both and not sign an actual winger. I think we do need a proper right footed winger, as Hedges will already cut in on his left. The aim should be what we in theory have on the left, where De Neve uses his pace to get past RB and then cross with left, while Kargbo can come on and cut inside on his right.

He could make his league debut at Accrington on Saturday.

Here is some background to the situation at Morecambe. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c860979gg64o Once again the EFL have failed with their due diligence to protect a club through their laughable Fit and Proper test. Who knows where Morecambe will now end up as it seems unlikely they will play in any league next season.

Senior moment from me there. 😉 I got Grimsby and Gillingham mixed up, Gilsenan is at Grimsby, Cirino at Gillingham with Ainsworth & Dack

Agreed- I thought Cirino looked a great prospect from the limited coverage I saw of him. Gareth Ainsworth is the Gills boss now. He could have two far above L2 gems if he they can keep injury free.

Former U21 Lenni Cirino signed for Gillingham yesterday. Cirino had been at Clitheroe last year, which seemed a very low level for him based on what I had seen of him in the past

I still think Baradji covers both RW and CM in typical budget Rovers fashion.

John Martyn - I’d Rather Be the Devil

Doesn't really help the here and now but could always park Baradji till the winter transfer window if we want him still. The Swiss league will be on winter break for a month from December, see how many games he's managed with this mystery injury. I'm not convinced it's just a dicky foot though....

His last act on this earth was to manage a 2-0 win over the unwashed. He can be club President at the very least.

Perhaps we could compromise on Crompton and make him the manager?

Not really managed it since Hughesy. We had something like 12 international captains and vice captains in that side 🤣

I have. I’ve also been to Fans Forum meetings. They are completely different formats.

It isnt, but we usually fall well short. Players who obviously arent as good as your first 11, but the gap isnt too big. Your subs need to be at least capable of coming in and not significantly weakening you. Baker was a good case. He wasnt as good as Tronstad or Travis but he was still a good Championship player. Forshaw was a bad case. When he came in to start he was such a significant downgrade. Buckley is the same. Hopefully Tavares is more of a Baker than a Forshaw/Buckley. Similar with Alebiosu at right back. Weve not got it in many positions at the moment. Pickering and Ribeiro feels pretty interchangable so if one is out, I would be fine with the other in.

Morecambe on the brink of expulsion from the national League. First three games postponed next meeting 20th August could see the club thrown out.

Ex rover Lennie Cirino joins Gillingham from Clitheroe