RoverKyle

They also weren't the immediate back up to the starter at those clubs. Completely understand the whole point around perceived sub par keepers getting contracts in the Prem due to the home grown quota. Merely pointing out that Steele is probably a bit better than he's made out to be on here, given that he's trusted to be the immediate back up at Brighton. I don't think Pears will ever find himself in that position.

Yet Steele is contracted as the back up GK at a Premier League side.

His pressing and movement off the ball is the best I've seen from him since he signed. You know what you're getting from him on the ball. Neat & tidy and creates chances, as well as being a goal threat.

Quite happy for the WC break now. After a really good run of form and a chance to be top by Christmas, that defeat has set us back months. I hope someone sits the manager down to explain why that isn't just another defeat and to highlight the issues that led to their win, are exactly why we've lost the other games we have this season. Something needs to change as we can't keep riding our luck. I've half supported him leaving Dack out of the side while we've been picking up wins, but when you have worse players (performing poorly as well) starting over him every week, it doesn't make any sense. He's a goal threat from midfield and we have to integrate him. Whenever we don't have Diaz or Gallagher on the pitch, we look abject. Another striker (that's actually good) is a must in January. JDT must be planning on bringing in a new LB/LWB, because there's no way Brittain should be playing there, with Hedges covering on the other side. We lose the threat of our best full/wing back and arguably our best midfielder.

He's the best keeper we've had since Friedel.

He was. You could see from the Riverside quite clearly that he picked up a knock when he was bundled over by a Birmingham player early in the first half. Could see him trying it out loads and he didn't look fully comfortable after that. Fair play to him for battling on.

Popping up on twitter that Leeds are making a LATE move for Brereton. I'd be really pissed off if we sold him now. No way we'd sort a replacement in time.

We've got a smooth operator in Gregg. Talks with such confidence and obviously has a clear vision for player recruitment.

Rovers’ Director of Football Gregg Broughton said: “We are very pleased to welcome Clinton to Blackburn Rovers. “A versatile defender, who can play centrally in a two or a three, on the left in a four or a five, and also in midfield, Clinton gives us great options to suit Jon’s desire for tactical flexibility. “He was brave enough to go abroad at a young age to play first team football and now comes to Rovers as a regular England international at Under-20 and Under-21 level, and with experience in the Bundesliga. “He brings pace, ability on the ball and, most importantly, a desire to improve and fulfil his potential with our football club. “I’d like to thank Sven Mislintat and his team at VfB Stuttgart for their cooperation, along with Emeka Obasi and Ed Bonsu who, as Clinton’s representatives, continue to prioritise playing opportunities for their young players ahead of short-term gain.”

Yeah agreed. I suppose it's just that extra bit of depth (as you say, probably as a 6th choice option).

Being purely speculative here, if we were to bring in Styles for LWB (& move to a back 5), I could genuinely see Pickering being an option at LCB. Not saying he'd be one of the starters but he's looked better there when moved inside from LB in the games recently.

Barkley is dreamland stuff but I'm here for it. Would show amazing ambition to get him in. I still think we need another striker though (and not someone like Dykes), regardless of whether or not Brereton stays.

I think people can probably park the shouts for a new LB for now. I don't disagree with the sentiment but having Pickering & Edun in that position, yet basically no CBs, means it just isn't a priority position at the moment. Get these CBs in and another forward and we'll be looking good until January hopefully.

Oh well. It was good while it lasted. No way they're getting him for £10m though.

I'm pretty sure that when he left it was widely reported that he was a United fan. Think his Rovers following was due to being a local lad.

According to that work permit calculator that was posted on here a while back, it would go to an exceptions panel.

He looks a lovely player going off those highlights. Worth the risk picking up a possible gem like that at 19.

I agree but how many teams are genuinely better than WBA in this league? There won't be many.

Jason Lowe racked up a load of appearances coming out of our academy. That's not a great measure of quality for the argument. Don't necessarily disagree on your feelings about Nyambe though. He'd developed into a really solid defender for us after many years of frustration and I was disappointed that he left on a free (as I'm sure he is now). He had a lot of shortcomings though, especially in an attacking sense which has become a really important trait in modern day football for a full back.

Both are blatantly better than L2. They'll have a great time this season.

100% this

Would be a really clever move. Goes straight in when Ayala picks up an injury and he can also provide competition for RB. Think I'd like another striker after that. Then JPVH.

Pickering was good prior to the hamstring injury he suffered (v Huddersfield?). Wasn't as sharp/good when he came back. He's had a full pre season under a new manager. Can we give it a couple of months before he's made the new scapegoat?

Rothwell took a lot of our set pieces to be fair, so that figure is probably slightly inflated, compared to what you'd get from him in open play.

Whilst I completely agree with your point, these sort of rumours (I.e. players you ideally don't want to leave leaving) tend to come to fruition compared to potentially amazing incomings.