Both Gestede and Wagggot mentioned we've signed 5 players. This may be just me being incredibly pedantic but it's 4 signing and essentially a Contract renewal that should have been sorted at the end of last season. It really winds me up. I don't know if it's just me but it feels like spin.

Agreed on this. One or two that go into the first 11 is preferable to 5 squad players. Look at last seasons crop: Chrisene - used as back up left back Ayari - used as cover Billy the kid - emergency cover Moran - used a lot earlier in the season but wasn't up to it. barely featured 2nd half of the season. Siggy - was clearly loaned till it could be made permanent. Fell out of favour under eustace. A lot will depend on what is available and where we have holes that need filling. A JpVH, an elliot or an Armstrong would go down a treat. Quality first then quantity.

Pears Brittain Carter. Hyam. Pickering JRC. Travis. Tronstad. Dolan Ohashi Gueye Subs: Hilton Duru Fadz Batth Buckley Siggy Hedges Weimann Vale

Any ideas on what the team was?

Yeah short term if szmodics isn't sold I think we could have a reasonable start to the season. Could potentially get a few wins going. Immediate issue with the first 11 is a lack of pace out wide to play on the counter. Problem is besides that first 11 there's feck all depth. Couple of injuries in most areas and we are scrapping the bottom of the barrel. Remove szmodics and there's no goals at all. Gallagher and pears can do it for you in an isolated 3 game period for example. Take them over the course of a season they are going to let you down either with injuries, performances or both. Behind them there is nothing. Screams a valiant but unsuccesgul effort against relegation.

I must disagree on walker. 2nd goal is his fault as he was miles out of position for no reason. Walker generally looked better as right sided cb rather than a proper right back for whatever reason. I wouldn't retire him but would be looking at different options.

I mean I'd bite your hand off for ayari and chrisene back on loan right about now.

Has finneran gone or not?

Scored more goals for us than I remembered.

This is a good point on Broughton. The opposite example is why didn't we offer Brereton a new contract early on in the 21/22 season when he was on a good run or at the back end of the previous season when he'd made progress. The joys of having Waggott back in charge of contract renewals.

He brought in JDT who for me was the best manager we've had since relagtion from the prem and signed szmodics. He's also being replaced by either waggott or nobody.

If its Ryan Gauld then that would be a great signing

I wonder why you keep suggesting McGuire. It ain't happening... he'll have other offers and he sure ain't going to pick us now is he.

I'd say the chances of McGuire coming are 0%. Not happening. More chance of Lewandowski coming.

Trigger the extension on Gallaghers contract. Then try to sell him. He doesn't justify his wage but we can't be left short in that area especially with questionable funds available. McFadzean, renew as back up , but only if we are committing to a back 5 which I wouldn't be doing. Fleck - shouldn't go anywhere near Dolan - trigger the extension. Guarantees us some money in a year if he doesn't renew. He's currently a pretty cheap back up. Chrisene - I'd try to get back. Ayari - not a priority but I wouldn't be against him coming back either. Vale can go. Gent could be a useful back up to a new left wing back Pickering playing lcb in a 5 makes him more useful. Hyam if he's only got 1 more year then sell. Szmodics. I'm resigned to him going, just about getting the correct amount of money.

I think there was a lot of interest. But because of ffp restrictions nobody really had the money available to make move with the exception of the top drawer clubs who don't have as much need for him. So palace swooped in.

Wing and prayer on Saturday: Pears (hopefully for the last time) Carter. Fadz. Hyam Brittain. Tronstad. Chrisene Ayari. Jrc Dolan. Szmodics Subs: Walhsted, o'riorden, Pickering, Duru, garrett, Buckley, moran, markanday, Gallagher

Looks to have the physical attitudes to compete and his hold up play improved after his first few outings. But he hasn't got it between the ears, his positioning may be worse than gally. The lad is so far off the pace of the game and his technical ability is limited. I'd have chucked markanday on before him on Saturday.

For me the 3 cbs worked quite well after their red card. As they played wright and simms up top, our cbs swarmed them nullifying any counter threat and allowing our wing backs to pay high and wide. Last 10 is where he should've changed it and sacrificed a cb. Once wright, simms, palmer and o'hare were off they offered next to threat going forward. Could've even chucked one of them up front to potentially win a header.

This is a wind up right?

Funny you say that. I was saying today that this was my least favourite rovers side of the last 30 years. With the exception of a few (szmodics for example) I find them a tough bunch to root for, and it's not down to ability for a lot of them. The relegation side of 16/17 wasn't great but I certainly felt more connected with them by the end of the season then I do to this lot now.

Good reminder that Hyam is still our captain. No wonder we are as weak mentally as we are with him as our leader. Also a good reminder that the manager choses to pick him He also chooses to play with a back 5

So assuming the squad is everyone under contract with dolan and gally retained with none of the loans extended. I think the priority would be A starting centre forward A starting goalkeeper A starting winger A left back to challenge Pickering Once you've got those then you can look at other areas and moving people out. If you've got a starting striker then you can look to move gally on for example or cash in on dolan. Youd sell whichever keeper you got a bid for. You've also got the potential exit of szmodics which could cause a rethink. From that your then looking to Potentially replace szmodics A backup striker Another body in cm Either a rb or a cb

Personally would to see us go back to a 4-2-3-1. The back 5 hasn't really worked for us except at Leeds where we've had to play very deep. This will be a much different game and I predict a similar situation to the Millwall game if we stick to the same shape, where we are allowed the ball and countered on.

He bottled one at the back post where there was a goal for a lad his size if he was brave enough. He wasn't. Doesn't have the desire or the instinct.