The cash for some long term security wouldn't be bad.

I just remember him running around aimlessly like an over enthusiastic dog and thinking, wtf have we signed? Is he actually a footballer? Is this the final insult by Venkys to try and find the worst footballer in the world. A year later we signed Gallagher for £5m and then there were two. I'm glad both of them have improved over the last year or so as they are both likeable lads.

On BBD, the problem was at the time we needed a new defence and Mowbray decided to spaff all the money away on a 19 year old who wasn't ready. That's what caused a lot of fans to be pissed off and rightly so. At the time the club and Mowbray were still saying the priority was promotion to the Premier League so that didn't help temper expectations. Brereton was unfortunately caught up in this even though he wasn't to blame. He always tried even if he did sometimes resemble a one legged painter and decorator who'd been drafted in last minute in a charity game. One thing Brereton always had was enthusiasm and 100% effort which I don't see from Vale and Hirst. Hirst looks terrified out there. Vale seems too laid back. It's highly frustrating that now Brereton has come of age, and become quite a player that he's going to go elsewhere.

I think if you don't go up this season it'll be a failure, as it would for any club that went down with parachute payments and big players sales. Do I think you'll do it? I have no idea as it can swing easily, you've a new team and manager, an unknown quantity. We don't know how Kompany would respond to a couple of losses. I've seen too many Tony Mowbray death spirals to predict anything. I have watched Burnley a few times to know that Kompany can be a bit naive and... Dull maybe? They reminded me of us under Mowbray. But you have players like Tella that look very good for this league that enable him to get away with it (Mowbray also had players who dug him out from time to time). I'm left thinking he's one of those managers who could easily f*** it up with a few bad choices, but not as nearly as bad as I would have hoped. The "we're going to walk this" gang were definitely in full swing on Facebook. They actually come on the Rovers page as well as the other haunts which in the past has been reserved for nobenders. They must have forgotten this league and how it can easily bring you down to Earth within a week, as it did for us earlier in the season.

I don't want to keep banging on about this but you've also had far less injuries. Some of the chatter on various message boards and social networks about us losing as many as we won a couple of weeks ago were daft. I couldn't name another team with an injury list like ours and any team would have struggled. Add to that a new manager learning about his players and them learning how to play how he wants. It's helped to stall progress for sure. At the moment we have Summer signings Brittain and Szmodics out. Second spell on the sidelines this season. Brittain especially is a fantastic player from what we've seen. A full back that runs at defences is a novelty for us Rovers fans. January signing Hedges who has played well this season is now on his second injury of the season too. Our only real centre forward is Gallagher and for all his faults he's actually having a good campaign this year, probably because he's being played to his strengths more. He's been out injured for a spell too. He's on 7 goals, which almost equals his season total of 8 last year. So playing under Tomasson is helping him (or it may be that he's without Mowbray sticking him on the wing/bench/full back). Also don't forget we've had 5 years of Tony Mowbray who developed a severe allergy to centre forwards, and had this fetish of turning them into wingers. Keep your eye on Sunderland. JDT must address this in January. But yes, currently in joint second after enduring a horrendous injury list. WLWLWL could have easily have been LLLLLL. Had we not had those injuries we'd most likely hogging the top spot as we'd have at least won and drawn a few of those where we had to play kids in key positions, or worse, perpetually disappointing fringe players who should have been offloaded years ago. Be interesting to see what happens if Tella, Rodriguez and Brownhill are out for the best part of a month.

Harwood Bellis looked solid especially for his age we had him, but Van Hecke was a classy player. We've had some very good loans over the years. The ones that have stood recently out are Van Hecke and Elliott. He's completely wasted at Brighton and at 22 should be playing. Like I said earlier Mowbray will be on the phone in January, and I'll be gutted if he goes to Sunderland. Sadly I don't think CB is our priority.

I imagine you don't go on Facebook much.

Brighton kept hold of him due to injuries. Since then he's had one appearance in the PL and one in the league cup. So no, not playing. I imagine Mowbray will want him at Sunderland in January.

But nowhere near the quality of Van Hecke (Harwood Bellis). If we could sign Van Hecke in January as replacement for Ayala (who is great in the short time he's with us, but a luxury) that would be brilliant business.

They have and so have we. If our players turn it on we can win but we all know we've got those days where it's like the players have just met. A lot of it hinges on BBD. He plays well and the team does, even if he doesn't personally score. It's weird as it's not as if he's the engine of the team. Would be great if he managed to kill the game off with one of his worldies, that's the main thing for Burnley to fear... And the Wilpshire Pirlo.

Bradley Johnson played a forward role, doesn't make him a CF. Tbf, I don't actually know what Dolan is, I just know what he isn't.

That or injuries. I have a terrible feeling we'll be a bit threadbare by the Burnley match. On his day though Adam Wharton could dominate any midfield. Sadly I can't see him being thrown into the cauldron of hate at his age.

I don't think Mowbray helped. Signed him for a lot of money then didn't play him. The lad must have had major mixed signals.

Or to spin it another way, Hirst has 38 appearances in the Championship, 2 in the cup and zero goals. He's currently working on his fitness in the U23's. Not someone I'd want to pin my hopes on. Dolan isn't a CF.

The point I was making is there is a difference in experience, I was just making an exaggerated example to make it clear. Keeping it pro then. Is the professional experience of playing in the U23's for Liverpool just the same as playing in the Premier League?

There's many variables to consider, but I think it matters. A sunday league squad may have plenty of footballing experience but most likely wouldn't endure a championship season. Also that's 7 players picked out of the squad. We've plenty of players with a lot less experience. Our two young midfielders have less than 23 championship appearances put together. Don't get me started on our CF options. We've Gallagher and then the rest have about 15 appearances between them.

Szmodic and Brittain have had two lay offs already this season. Hedges has been out. Scott Wharton was out for a while and in the last couple of matches seems to be carrying a knock. I thought when everyone was fit that was our "injury crisis" for the season over.

Young and inexperienced squad probably best describes it. Also a lot of those games were played at a lower level for some players.

A simple "Google" search would reveal a plenty of premature celebrations from your lot. Though it's Facebook where I'm seeing most of the outlandish statements so googling won't pick those up. It's bizarre as a few weeks ago I saw equally premature and silly posts about Kompany not being the man and too many draws to go up this season. That last sentence reminded me of on here. I think in terms of injuries it only takes a few to put you off your stride. We're riding our luck at the moment with a few key players out (Ayala, Brittain and Szmodic). Earlier in the season most of the defence out, then Gallagher was out for a while. With a thin squad already it's difficult but I think our injuries would trouble any team. I hope JDT addresses our uncanny ability to get at least two injuries to key players per game. The bizarre injury problems seemed to coincide with Tony Mowbray being the manager and plagues us to this day.

They've already won it according to their fans. Have Burnley had any amount of injuries yet? I remember when they went up and they didn't even muster a stubbed toe.

We can still predict financial ruin can't we? Or is all well with Pace and co now you've had a decent start to the season?

"Those criticising me need to get a grip. Sunderland isn't a huge big tanker any more." - Tony Mowbray 2023

When AW played against Blackpool he was brilliant, then in the next match he wasn't. I imagine JDT is just trying to ease him into it to get the most out of him. I'd prefer that approach rather than TM's either not playing young players at all, or making players undroppable.

Probably just getting used to life in the Championship. Still... A goal from Scott W on Tuesday and a goal from Adam W on Saturday. I'm happy to see their names on the teamsheet. Scott looked like he was playing with a knock today though. I hope he's okay for Hull.

Yep we need a striker with pace in January. I think you'll be waiting a long time if you're expecting Hirst to get good in the short time he's on loan though.