This is first game in a long time I feel like we have been comprehensively the worse team. Even Hull we we created much more till the subs. Otherway round today, created nothing and Luton have created some good chances. Not just the offensive injuries either. They've been on top of it defence. Van Hecke being owned in the physical battle again.

Think we will struggle to cause Luton any problems with this front three. Reckon we might be forced into doing something mental like putting Ayala up front last 15 mins.

Does feel like Rothwell is a big miss here in on the break. Same with Khadra. I'd drop Buckley into midfield and put Gallagher and Zeefuik as a two up front. Maybe bring Chapman on for Zeefuik. Options really stretched. Khadra, Brereton, Markanday, Rothwell, Dack all out is such a killer.

Yes its a funny game. We were all thinking we were heading for a really tough season losing Armstrong, Elliott, THB, Holtby etc and not bringing much in. But we're having a great season. Mowbray not being able to extend the old guard was a blessing. And that's not really to pick on Mowbray - I think most managers would extend the more senior players if the squad was light on experience. But I think the big learning generally is experience isn't maybe as important as is sometimes thought, and you can do a lot with young players if you have a very strong academy as we luckily do. So in that model if Lenihan, Rothwell, Nyambe have been offered reasonable deals and they don't want to sign let them go and lets bring Wharton, Garrett etc through. \ I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of all this they do actually end up signing anyway whether we go up or not as our offer is probably pretty competitive unless a prem or parachute club come in. Edit - actually I will be surprised for Rothwell or Lenihan, they will definitely be offered by a prem or parachute club as Rothwell already has. Nyambe I think may not get quite as much interest.

I suppose a line has just been drawn in the sand on what we will accept. TBH - if not paying over the odds keeps the club on a better financial footing and we bring through young players who perform it can't be a bad thing. Having a lower wage budget is not necessarily an impediment to success. Teams with modest wages have done well (Brentford, Huddersfield a few years back etc), while teams with huge wage budgets (including us after our prem relegation, Sunderland etc) have not done that well. We've spent little but are currently having our best season in 10 years. Its not really spend more get more.

Gallagher was a youth player at Southampton who hardly played and spent his time on loan in the Championship. I doubt that he's on £15k, just my view.

If he wanted to go he'd just stop playing and wed sell him to get some cash. He's obviously enjoying playing the best football of his career, looking forward to a crack at the bonus, then will have a range of suitors in the summer. Lifes good for Joe at the moment, as he himself has said.

£700k is worth £15k a week over a year. Don't think anyone will be beating that. And if he stays he gets hopefully the bonus and a massive new contract. Time will tell but will be very surprised if he, Nyambe or Lenihan go. No incentive for them to not just wait. It's only four months.

Don't know where you got the idea we can pay that much. Doubt anyone is on that money. Probs more around £10k max I would say. Might have broken it for for Ayala as a one off. Think we are trying to limit ourselves to closer to £5k tops with new signings. @RoverCanada is all over the numbers. What would be your guess for top earner in £ p/w?

I think Rothwell doesn't want to go because of the bonus on the table. So doesn't really matter what people offer him unless it's worth more than the bonus.

Thought Bournemouth was a tiny place but apparently greater connurbation is about 500k. Not much local sporting competition either. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_East_Dorset_conurbation

Irrespective of what Rovers intentions are, I doubt Rothwell himself will want to leave. There's no incentive for him (or Nyambe, or Lenihan) to leave now. If they leave now : miss out on potentially c. £700k promotion bonus, and buying club has to pay a fee so could impact their contract offer. If they leave in the summer : have a chance to get a potentially c. £700k promotion bonus, they are on a total free so clubs likely to offer bigger contract. I doubt Rothwell or any of the other players will be going, even if we were trying to sell them (which we aren't it seems).

Im not 100% on Van Hecke - got completely owned by Eaves at Hull. Handled Crooks alright last night though. Like Edun at left back I think he will be targeted as the season moves forward. As other teams do their homework they will look at how Eaves pressured him and try and replicate it. Good player, would love him to become a Rover, but think he hasn't been fully tested yet.

Yes he looked massively off it today. We've got three options in BBD, Khadra and Gallagher. Need one more. Dolan coming back will help too.

I think we can safely say all the players are not going anywhere - all sticking around for the Venkys mega bonus.

Yes I think Wilder meant it in a very complimentary way.

Bloody hell, can't lose him.

Anyone know how Dack got on?

First time I've heard that in an interview!

Yeah I've had a real downer on him, but he was really effective in the air and physically today.

Sensational result. On balance just about deserved it. Defence is just so good.

Tasty from zeefuik!

Reminds me of the lad from the Inbetweeners. He had a really good debut, but he's never looked anything much since.

After a shaky period Eduns doing okay for me.

That's a really good shout.