Feels like getting Glastonbury tickets...

What makes me think that Buckley will thrive in midfield is his fantastic ability to turn and find space. He can do that whereever he is. I can absolutely see him picking the ball up from the defence, ghosting past markers, and picking out players with short and long passes - and getting stuck in when the ball needs winning. I'm sure Bucky in midfield will be given a go when Dack's back as Dack has to ultimately take the "false 9" for the goal threat as you say. And Buckley has to play - so he goes into midfield (he isn't playing right wing back anymore as we now have four - Nyambe, Zeefuik, JRC, Brown). Really looking forward to Buckley, Dack, Rothwell, Khadra, Brereton all linking up. Will be tasty.

I agree - Van Hecke was transferred in from a smallish club in the Netherlands so probably not on that much. Hes only only got a year left on his contract in the summer. Most importantly Brighton have sold a bunch of defenders in the past couple of years and not used him so suggests he probably hasn't got much of a future there. Khadra joined Brighton on a free after release from Dortmund so he may be on modest money, but then he got a new contract from Brighton, but it will only have a year left this summer. If Brighton aren't keen to keep them and counter offer it feels like they might both be within the realms of possibility for us to sign.

In regards to needing midfielders, I can see with Markanday coming in and Dack coming back that Buckley will be freed up to play in midfield. I think he's going to be a real player at centre mid - can tackle, pass, find space, run with the ball, good engine. Wouldn't be suprised if that's his normal role by end of season rotating with Rothwell and Travis.

Can't see how we are signing any more forwards unless 1) Brereton's being sold, 2) theres a view Dack won't be fit enough to play.

Just been having a look at some Markanday videos. Looks like a cross between Khadra and Armstrong. Seems a really exciting player who will fit into our system across any of the front three positions with the quality to drop off and play in a false 9 like Buckley, as well as the pace and trickery to go inside or outside on the wings. Having Brereton, Buckley, Khadra, Dack, Dolan, Markandy and Gallagher all competing for three positions is very tidy indeed!

Think that's the team that will play. Have to say while Edun looks a useful central player on the left he gets caught out. It could disrupt the system quite a lot I think if he can't sort out his defensive positioning.

Wow. Shaping up to be a good window.

Yes Kaminski has been transformational and obviously experinced. I would have agreed with you on CB, but we currently have our best defence since the days of Nelsen and Samba (incidentally both themselves from "lower league" backgrounds) staffed by two kids (Wharton, Van Hecke) and one of our kids who has become senior (Lenihan).

Ive got mixed feelings about this. Over the last 10 years players without senior experience have broadly performed better than those with. We had a few decent experienced players but a lot of dross. We are where we are because of youth (either from our academy, other teams academies who we've bought in or loans) and lower league players.

I wouldn't say we are doing too bad on that front. Few teams in the league have got as good home grown players as us. Mowbray has done very well in the last two seasons on loans. Khadra, Van Hecke, Elliott, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tosin all very good. Really disappointed that we seem not to be spending any money at all.... Don't want a "big name" player like Oli Burke. Will disrupt us in the dressing room and financially. But we should be picking up quality young players who are growing like O'Reilly seems to be.

More I just thought he was defo going this window as we were singing replacements. Seems a surprise he is actually staying, but obviously we are stronger if he does (as the new guys are going to need a timeline to get up to speed even if they are as good/better) so it is welcome.

Has the consensus changed that Nyambe is probably staying till end of the season now? Seems a mad situation - we'll have gone from potentially no right back to having three!

If we'd sold him last Jan wouldn't have been bothered, but he'd showed enough improvement second half of last season to keep him. His performances this season are by absolute miles the biggest leap I've seen a professional footballer make in 6 months.

I'm sure if he's not vaccinated by now he's probably decided he's going to stay unvaccinated. Annoying.

Ah that would make sense. Otherwise Carter leaving just seems a bit odd. He's shown he's decent enough, and would suit our back 3 approach. As someone mentioned losing 2 or more CBs at a time is well within the realms of possibility. I don't think Johnson and Nyambe are really suited to being effective in a back three. You need to be able to head a ball properly (not Nyambes forte) and be very positionally aware (not Johnson's).

I agree it isn't a recipe for success but it's the same situation most of the Championship is in. There's only a handful of clubs who can hold onto their best players. It is depressing though.... not being able to get players who have come in from the division below or the academy to sign new contracts is a situation we have literally never been in before. Not as long as I've followed the club anyway.

I agree. If Mowbray had any desire to play a target man I'm sure he would have done it with Gallagher by now. Whats strange about it is Mowbray played Graham as a target man for ages, but since he's left just hasn't been interested at all despite us having a lot of number 10s who could play off one (Dack, Holtby, Rothwell, Buckley) as worked pretty successfully in League 1 and when we came up.

To be honest we looked totally solid and in control up until the Pears Show. We've been saying it a lot recentky but if we'd had some better decision making in the final third we should have scored a couple more. That said have to say Edun and Dolan didnt convince in the wing backs and Johnson was absolutely diabolical at left CB. Really hope Wharton stays fit! Think Pickering has been a bit under rated in here and losing him for a month could be a big issue. Edun could get targeted a bit. With Nyambe likely off too wouldn't be surprised if our previously super solid defence gets a lot shakier.

To be fair to Pears he was awful last season, but played well this season and seemed reasonable to give him a spin in this game. But while you can just about get over one clanger in a game but two is unacceptable.

Wow one of the worst 20 mins of goal keeping of all time.

Should be at least one up already....

Quite like Dolan at RWB. Has the engine, utterly tenacious, will worry teams a lot on the overlap. Surprised none of us thought of it really

Covid I think with Wharton, Carter and Nyambe. Well official account just says "unavailable". Personally think Nyambe is exiting the building Covid or not. https://twitter.com/Rovers/status/1479815160097353728?s=20

Yes - strangely strong side. Inclusion of BBD particularly weird. Maybe want to cup tie him? That Johnson and Butterworth don't get on is a surprise also. Anyway will be good watching a strong side.