joey_big_nose

I sounded a bit harsh there on Szmodics. For me Szmodics and Dolan are effective and reasonably happy with them in their wider roles. But they are not proper strikers. Vake and Gallagher are supposed to be proper strikers but they seem, in my view have a bit of an identity crisis where they spend time running the channels or running around in front of the oppo defenders. From my perspective Vale doesnt seem too bad in terms of getting around the pitch. Its - like Gallagher - he just doesn't seem to get into goal scoring positions.

Wow - really? Who was that from? I guess with Vale the issue is he hasn't even taken any decent shots, let alone scored goals. He's played a good amount of minutes. If he was at least getting the chances there would be some hope, but it isn't happening. He goes through games and barely threatens the goal. We were also actively trying to sign an established striker in Undav and Kone so it's seems to me the manager doesn't fancy Vale or Gallagher either (which based on the evidence seems entirely reasonable!) at least for now. So now we find ourselves in the position where we have three options really 1 - Vale up front 2 - Gallagher up front 3 - Go back to false 9 with Dack or Dolan in there For me all of them are really really unsatisfactory. It's such a shame as if we had a really decent central striker I could see the team push on. Would create opportunities for all the other players if the opposition worried about who we had through the middle.

Crikey... "runs around a lot all over the pitch and doesn't score goals". I mean we've got Gallagher, Szmodics, Dolan and Vale all in that role... I would quite like a striker who "doesn't run around a lot, hangs in the box, scores goals" please.

Sorry, yes I knew that - should have put in my post

Will be really really surprised if Morton doesnt come back in as hes nailed to the team sheet and Travis has hardly been better. Would prefer Wharton to get a crack. Also cant understand why anyone would want Vale ahead of Gallagher, as limited as Gallagher is.

It does feel like JDT "pulling a Lambert" is possible. Nothing explicit yet, but all the pre-conditions are there. He's got a pretty good story if he walks "I got Rovers to third but the dysfunction of the club meant I could see there was no real long term ambition. I am looking for a club who has that ambition." Hopefully won't happen, but feels plausible.

Wow didn't realize that. I had assumed the crowds were declining through 2007 to 2010. Amazed that we had better crowds in 2010 than say 2001 or 2006, Here's an interesting page : https://ewoodpark.jimdofree.com/attendances-average-attendances-1888-2013/

Quite a few on here think much the same thing.... Ive gone from quite enthusiastic to a bit worried but still behind JDT.

Not to be too much of a downer, but Giles last season was very similar to Thomas. Proven Championship quality winger, but we couldn't use him as we didn't have the right forwards to get on his crosses. O'brien does look a very good signing. But would have much preferred a top quality striker compared to a top quality centre mid. We have decent if imperfect centre mids, but no acceptable central strikers at all.

He has 41 caps for Denmark - surely he would?

One thing against him according to that is he hasn't played any competitive football since May... so probably a long way away from fitness.

Absolute mental we haven't signed a striker. Hope there is someone decent out there out of contract.

Yeah really bemused that we would blow presumably a significant amount of money on a 31 year old defender when we've already got two strong (and presumably expensive) experienced CBs in Ayala and Hyam, and three decent young ones in Wharton, Carter and Phillips.

Apparently Markanday hasn't even travelled, but Leonard is in squad. What sort of striker is Leonard?

Even if we signed O'Brien and Cook I'd still be absolutely furious that we didn't get a striker. Genuinely don't understand Cook btw.... he's 31? Has Ayala got a long term injury?

That's a huge statement in bold? Where's that info come from?

I think the way out of our dire situation is clear. Get on the phone to Lucas Joao pronto!

Surprised that name of the player (hopefully) over from France hasn't leaked out yet. Anyone got a scooby?

Then how have we been in the top six for most of the season?

I would take issue with us not being a top six squad. In this season and last weve spent huge swathes of the season in top six, and teams with less resources than us made the top six last two seasons (Luton, Barnsley) it seems bizarre to say we dont have top six capability. In terms of financial constraints what would be interesting is to see what the disposable cash Rovers have under FPP versus other non parachute teams. Us versus say Reading, Sunderland, Bristol City, Blackpool, Millwall would be interesting reading. At the moment it isnt clear to me how the disposable income for salaries and transfers varies.

Yeah - has scored 1 in 2 this season (though 4 of the 9 goals he scored were in one match). Prior to this season he's been a 1 in 4ish. So not prolific like Undav at all.

Seems more of a BBD run at the defence type forward than a box finisher based on the You tube vids I've seen. Good feet, not much of him competing in the air though. Does seem an achievable signing - St Etienne are League 2 which has a much lower profile than the English Championship, and his contract is expiring as others say. Could be the one?

Vale seems a likable guy, nothing against him, but I haven't seen him do a single thing in any game that worried the oppositions defence. Maybe a bit of pressing off the ball. But certainly nothing with the ball. Dolan on the other hand can scare defenders when he's running at them and has created and scored quite a few goals, while Markanday in his few appearances has shown real pace. I don't really understand why Vale is getting regular starts ahead of them. I hate having a go at young players coming through, but genuinely flummoxed with Vale. I have a feeling even if he drops a division or two he will struggle to score many. Hope I am wrong.

Well theres a replay Tuesday.... Whats frustrating about Rovers we can either play a big athletic centre forward who cant trap a ball (he must have mis controlled 4 or 5 good through balls on Saturday) or two or three various tidy players who can trap a ball (Vale, Dolan, Markanday) but who can't physically compete with centre backs. Either way the opposition is not quaking. It would be ideal if we signed someone by Tuesday who can trap, head a ball, and go toe to toe with a championship centre back. For what its worth lets try something different. If we havent signed anyone give Markanday a crack through the middle. May as well. At least he will offer a bit of pace in behind.

To be honest if I was a Brum fan the obvious question is "why didnt we just launch it all game" as we obviously couldnt handle it. When they tried to pass it were very very comfortable. But soon as they went direct we were buggered. Wouldnt be surprised if on Tuesday they just play long. If their managers got any sense that will be it.