Sigurdsson to me looks like he hasnt got up to speed with English football. Theres a chance with a full pre season he could come back a different player.

I broadly agree with you, but also have to say not a soul on earth including you or I would have thought Szmodics would score how he has this season a year ago. I reckon the most optimistic Sammie lover would have said he could get 10 or 15. So we dont really know how it will pan out. I could see either Sigurdsson or Hedges scoring more if they get a more prominent central role. It would be no more outlandish than what has happened with Szmodics. But obviously it would be much much better if we actually go out and sign an experienced striker with a good scoring record at this level.

Im pretty sure after seeing him run Fadz legs went a long time ago. But as long as we play deep with three at he back its not a problem for him as he doesnt get exposed. My main issue with Fadz is if he plays we have to play that way to accomodate him. I guess the plan would be have him on the bench and bring him on to close out games. Sort of makes sense... But hes a specialist effectively, dont think we can rely on him as a core starter.

For me hes quite wasteful as an attacking mid, picks the wrong pass all the time and gives it away in dangerous places but as a striker hes lethal. His movement and finishing are so good. Also works his balls off which you have to respect. Bet he and his agent are wondering why he didnt convert to a striker earlier in his career. They would both be a lot richer! I would never bemoan a player a move to a higher division, but Szmodics particularly Id be pleased for as the work ethic hes always shown has been so good.

I hope Farron will use his know how and Westminster connections to help get the incoming independent football regulator onto Venkys as soon as its setup.

Im pretty sure we'll sell him if we get a good offer. Combination of high wages, him walking for free next year and his poor season means he will go. Will be very very surprised if hes here come September.

Far inferior seems a bit of a stretch? Lost BBD and Kaminaki and gained Tronstad and Wahlstead. Loans roughly the same quality for me. Thats about it? Lost Wharton half way through the season, but then he was only used about half of last season? Kaminski was a massive loss, and a good keeper is so crucial, but apart from that I dont think there has been a massive change in quality since last year. Since BBD went Szmodics has more than filled his void as the goals tally show. The difference for me has not been the squad quality, its been the escalating madness off the field leading to JDT leaving and the general confusion and demotivation round the squad.

Travis must be exactly the sort of player Eustace rates. I imagine he will be keen to bring him back in. Can't see Trav going unless we get a decent offer.

It will be an interesting battle between Wharton and Mannoo to get the third midfield birth alongside those two. They are both just the sorts of player to compliment Rice and Bellingham as well. What's impressive about England's midfield is not only is there a lot of quality already there and coming through, but different types of player who play in very different ways. Also hats off to Wharton I thought physically it would take him a while to get up to speed in the Prem, but he's already dictating games.

This is the kind of research that I come to BRFCS for. Strong work! Thank you.

We should just survive but Id love to know how many teams showing our form over the latter half of a season have stayed up the next year. Must be tiny. (If you extrapolate that last 50% of gaes over a full season its around 37 points.....) Im very much a glass half full person but it's very hard to not conclude we are done.

Well I doubt we will get anything from Leicester. So were hoping that a Plymouth and Birmingham dont both win or only one wins and Wednesday dont at least draw. Individually packaged each seems possible but all two in combination seems unlikely. Wonder what the bookies reckon.

It such a strange feeling.... feels like we are definitely going down. But somehow bookies have us at 10/1 - I guess just due to all the permutations. So we will probably survive unless the bookies have all lost their minds. But - our form second half of the season is absolutely unbelievable. I don't think I have ever seen anything so bad over as sustained a period as half a season in all my time following Rovers. A month or two bad form you can put down to the ups and downs of the league, but something as sustained as this does suggest we are going straight down next season. I think ultimately if you look at the common denominator it's not really the players or the manager (although they could both be better) - it's the instability at the top of the club which is killing us. As important as finding good players in the summer is going to be finding some firm footing for the clubs future we can build on. I think if we can get a secure financial basis for the club that will be a huge psychological uplift and enable some sensible planning whatever budget we have. But another summer of uncertainty and I really think we are fooked.

Agree with this, I cant think of a single big call hes made with the players. Always picks the most obvious XI. Hasnt punished players for poor performances. Hasnt rested anyone. I dont think hes dropped anyone except when injured/ suspended? Which given the results being relegation form is a bit surprising.

Well I always like to give the manager time and a decent run of games before coming to a view. But I think its fair to say hes not got it. We're not a brilliant team but we have the leagues top scorer and essentially the same set of players who finished seventh last year. If the first XI was disassembled I am pretty sure every player except Pears will get a contract at a mid table Championship club. With the team he should have had two or three more wins by now on the board minimum. I really thought after Leeds he had shown something but a performance like that today is not acceptable.

Surely need to change to four at the back now?

Its not an exact science though is it... If you went back and told everyone on this board that Szmodics would not only replace Diazs goals but more than double them then the pitch forks would be out. Its very hard to predict what happens.

Double post...

I do wonder if the games being more on TV will actually increase attendances. Certainly the trend across English football has been increases in attendances even though more and more games are available on TV up and down the leagues Rovers are going the opposite way but I think that might be more about terrible ownership. Youd think more TV = lower gates but just not been the case. Championship used to have very few games on TV but it's going up and up. Anyone with half a brain has been able to watch every EFL game using a VPN since Covid, but again attendances still going up.... https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/nav/attnengleague.htm One of those things that might be counter intuitive? In 2016 100 championship games were on Sky. This year 193....

If the squad stays the same (and I assume someone will buy Szmodics and Carter while Gallager will also leave but let's wait and see) then I would say the priority list is : A genuine goal scoring target man striker A pacy winger with good delivery A reliable goal keeper A creative centre mid A left back (maybe Gent coming back covers this?) An experienced centreback Everyone loves listing that we need 10 signings or whatever which is not realistic. If we could get those 6 before outgoings and they were quality that would make the difference.

Tactically its an awkward one as the team against Leeds performed so well but it was a totally different sort of game as we knew Leeds would attack all game. Wednesday will probably be a lot more defensive.... That said they need the win more than we do so theyll have to commit players forward eventually - though if the clubs around them lose on Saturday they may aim for a point. It really is all about not conceding the first goal. Thats the most important thing by far. So probably setup same way as Leeds, sit deep, but be ready to break quickly. Think it could be quite a dull game.

I liked JDT a lot as the way we played on our day was brilliant... but I am not sure he really was the real deal even if we had backed him. We did well generally against other mid table sides, but we really struggled against motivated teams at the bottom and the top of the table. We only managed to get back into a game after conceding first once or twice over 20+ games. Those are two stats that persisted so long over his 18 month tenure it really make me question whether he has it in him to properly motivate and organise a team. The way we played sometimes verged on the unhinged with three players overloading the far right channel of the pitch but only one player on his own in central midfield. We'd dominate games without converting chances but end up losing over and over again to very soft goals. If he goes on to make a big impact as a manager in England or the big European leagues fair play. But I wouldn't bet my house on it. If I was a hiring CEO looking through his CV there would be as much to worry me as interest me in his time at Rovers.

Totally agree on this. Leeds smashed us at home earlier this season as we gave them so much room. Total opposite today Think off the back of this Eustace has already beaten JDTs record against top six sides? I dont think JDT won a game against the top six? Could be wrong though. Thought we were tactically and performance wise very very good today, and showed some decent offensive quality in the second half. I feared the worst when we went 343 to start, but it worked superbly.

I think to be honest the tactics have been pretty good and worked well. The issue has been on the half dozen good break opportunities we have had we've missed simple passes in the final third.