Baker has got the nod over Buckley, but my feeling is it has was quite a marginal call, and that we have gone for a very low cost option to replace Baker and keep funds for attackers suggests to me that he thinks Buckley and JRC can cover the role. We'll have a better idea about if it was the right call or not in 4 or 5 games, as it stands Buckley hasn't had enough game time to judge. Often us as experts on here come up with definitive opinions hat players are not good enough or finished or that Rovers will get relegated etc and it turns out quite different (in recent times writing off Pears, Hyam, Szmodics, Pickering, Travis, Britain, JRC, Brereton-Diaz, that we are near the playoffs now when most said we would be in a relegation fight etc etc) Obviously everyone will have opinions, me as much as anybody, all I am doing is making the point that as often as not they are wrong... I am hoping we will be looking back in a few months and Buckley will join that esteemed list above.

I'll reserve judgement on Buckley until he gets a run of games. He's only played 134 mins for us in the Championship this season across 8 very short sub appearences.... and last season only played 500 odd minutes. He's got a chance to come in and make a big impression over the next few games till Travis is available, so looking forward to him making a big impact. I think Eustace is interested in getting the most out of him, that is why he was made captain in the league cup games.

Yeah... I personally think Travis has come on so much he might make it in the prem. Carter and Tronstad maybe too at a stretch. But that's about it.

Yeah, I think JE is a very good manager so while on paper this looks very underwhelming its reassuring that Eustace knows him well.

I am not sure I would swap Travis or Tronstad for him. Would swap Cantwell based on what I have seen so far which is a shame as so much was expected from Todd when he signed. Edit - what I mean obviously Shelvey on form was a great player, but so many of these swan songs just don't really work out. Murphy or Etuhu at us for example. Happens all the time across the Championship. Travis and Tronstad have not only proven themselves in this league, they are also getting better and better both having brilliant seasons this year. That is better than taking a player from a higher division who may not be motivated, fit, in the right headspace etc...

A mere 29 players!

Don't think so really unless they are injured or genuinely fatigued. Neither have looked like that to me, but obviously Eustace would have the best view.

I wouldn't read too much into it. He managed to get Cantwell so it's not like we are not trying and succeeding to get established names.

I would stick with the same system we have been using if there isn't a compelling tactical reason to change it. If we were looking to use 343 in our upcoming league games it would make sense to try it out, but if we are changing it just to accommodatea Fadz who has played virtually no minutes this season nor looks like he will in future and then bin it again what's the point? I'd just make a few changes but keep the core of the team as per our normal squad and system. Let's have a look at Litherland and see how Leonard and Gueye work as a two. Pears Brittain Baath Litherand Beck Buckley Tronstad JRC Leonard Dolan Gueye Subs : Toth, McFadz, Batth, O'Riordan, Garrett, Hedges, Wieman, ACD, Tyjon, THere's enough subs for wholesale changes if needed.

I think this could explain why England haven't won anything.... too many Spurs players! Also very surprised West Ham aren't on that list. Don't think their fans would like to see that Rovers and West Brom have had more England internationals...

Given Morton isn't on loan anywhere and has only played 3 times for Liverpool feels to me like he will be on his way somewhere. Would be a bit weird for him to come back here at the same club but different manager. I would have thought they would prefer a new different environment just for the change. Also the Liverpool loan team aren't daft - they will see that if Travis, Tronstad and Cantwell are fit Morton won't be starting like Baker wasn't. I am sure their number 1 criteria will be who will put him straigth into the first XI like he has been at Rovers last time and then Hull. So I can't really see it.

Yeah maybe thinking about it we didnt even bother registering him? If so that would free up a squad place. Ah we didnt register him.... https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24568348.blackburn-confirm-efl-squad-list-stance-free-agents/

Based on the above I wonder if we are looking at moving players on to create space in the squad as we literally don't have the room to sign the 3-4 players we want. Until I just looked that up I had no idea that squad sizes are so tight.

Tin hat on - that's a first team squad of 24 players (not included Gilsenan as I would view him more as a U21 player). That's near the maximum for a Championship team I think? Indeed the maximum squad size for the Championship is 25 players + as many non-loaned Under-21 players as you like (only Leonard could come under that I think from the above diagram). So we are only two under the limit, and it would have been one before Baker left. From https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/what-are-the-efl-squad-rules-for-202425-loanee-limits-home-grown-players-and-how-many-subs-are-allowed : " Championship clubs can have squads of up to 25 players, of which a minimum of 8 need to be home grown [see below]. you're allowed an unlimited amount of under-21s on permanent contracts without registering them, but you would need to register any loanees among your 25 players, even if they're under-21s. For home grown : a player to be considered home grown by the EFL, they don't necessarily need to be British (they can be any nationality) or to have been trained by that specific club. All that is required to qualify as home grown is to have been registered with any club affiliated to the FA or the FA of Wales for at least three seasons or 36 months prior to their 21st birthday (or the end of the season they turn 21). We can't see anything to say loanees are excluded from counting as home grown players."

Ooh good question... Id say current is just about better I think. Probably would only have Kaminski and Brereton out of that. Maybe Rothwell over Cantwell but its close. We have a better bench (though not much better) now too.

Hmmm.... Not sure I trust that... Look at Travs salary!

Why do you say second highest earner? Is Baker our second highest earner? According to what source?

Personally I couldn't really see that much difference between Baker and Buckley... So don't think Baker going is an major impact quality wise, but we are more vulnerable to injury. If money is tight I would be tempted to use the wages to top up the budget for a striker as that is what we really really need. A bit risky if we get another centre mid injury, but think it's more risky not to boost our striker options.

I think that weve stopped winning has saved us with JE... We now have 2 points out of the last 15 and the shine has come off. Eustace now gone back to looking more like a middle of the table championship manager who only managed to keep us up on the last day last season. Footballs fickle like that. If West Brom were looking five games ago they might have made him first choice. From JEs perspective - if West Brom have money to spend I am sure he would welcome a move.

A good run and it's an extra game a month, not a lot in the grand scheme of things. The morale boost of a run outweighs a relatively small number of extra minutes. I'd rest anyone genuinely fatigued or carrying injuries, but beyond that wouldn't be too worried.

Could be wrong but I dont think Eustace is a wholesale changes type of manager, think we'll just make 3-4 changes. Cantwell for one needs to play if fit to try and recover some form

Yes, given his pedigree I thought we were signing someone at Brads level but Cantwell doesn't seem to be able to impact games really. Shows some nice touches etc (but recently just as many dreadful ones) but in half a season now there are very few truly impactful moments from Todd.

Very tight game, probably Burnley edged it. After the first 15 mins we didnt trouble them but they created very little themselves. Really disappointed by Cantwell. We got into some good positions but he was very wasteful. I get that its risk vs reward but other flair players we have signed (Dack, Marshall, Holtby etc) just havent been as wasteful as he has been. He was really poor. Thought we should have hooked him before Gueye or ACD...

Yeah I tend to agree... We could start Gueye but we will run out of legs second half and bringing him on really helps. Buckley at 10 would give us the ability to pack the midfield which is useful. I guess game plan will be to not concede and bring Gueye and ACD on around 65 mins to make something. Shame to approach a home derby that way but we cant risk going down to an early goal.

Gueye for me already offers more than Gallagher. His finishing is hopeless but his link up play and quality in the air is pretty good. Dont think Gally got anywhere near Gueyes level of assists. Gueye causes defences problems whereas Gallagher just didnt really. Sam is real conundrum - a big lad who hates playing back to goal, is rubbish in the air, and much prefers to be wide running with the ball at feet despite not really being able to dribble or cross. Couldnt fault him for effort but he is a fish riding a bike. Gueye stays central, gets his head on things, causes issues with his size and strength. So while similarly goal shy he at least is trying to fit the job description of a target man with some decent results