Will he even qualify for a work permit?

This is where any reasonable model or strategy breaks down. Szmodics had the season of his life in 2023/24. Will he be able to repeat that next season? The odds of doing so are unlikely, not impossible, but improbable. Similarly as we saw with Dack, injuries can strike at any point. How much did Sammie play through the pain barrier last season (heavily strapped knee for much of the run in)? If an offer of £10m came in, you'd be crazy not to sell. BUT and it is a big BUT This money HAS to be reinvested! I see Birmingham are linked with Stansfield, he'd be a perfect punt with the money from SS. Likewise someone in a similar situation to what Adam Armstrong found himself in, at a big club without a clear pathway, but desperate to get a chance somewhere. A Charlie Patino or Tom Cannon spring to mind. The overwhelming and developing fear is that Sammie will go and no one will come in as a replacement. If that's the case, its a deal which further cements the impending doom.

I know on here we’re biased being Rovers fans, but I think we’re a top 10 team in English football when it comes to youth development and youth players being given an opportunity to showcase their talents. If Finneran has gone, good luck to him. But I can’t help feel another 18 months here would have given him a chance to play first team football and grow in an environment without unrealistic expectations. I felt the same about Phillips, always feels like he left a year too soon. Rovers won’t stand in your way if it’s good for you (and them) always have done and no doubt always will.

Was about to come on and say the same thing 🤣 Will be renewing though, fortunately I can separate the enjoyment pre-match, the company during and the context post match to keep me coming back for more.

Rovers ticket prices 10 years ago for the 2014/15 season. Italic prices are those adjusted for inflation (using the Bank of England inflation calculator) https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator https://web.archive.org/web/20140528010047/http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/another-winning-rovers-deal-1571638.aspx Prices down against inflation in almost every area, large drops in Jack Walker, Riverside ironically worse value for money in 2024/25 if you don't "Win the raffle"

I get the sentiment and not wanting to put something like this on a credit card, but most people probably get two chances if paying by credit card? June bill if purchased straight away and July bill if purchased closer to the deadline?

Amazing how much turnover in the squad/team in just three years. Euro 2020 Final vs. Italy (played 11th July 2021) Kalvin Phillips, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount all started, all miss the squad completely this time. Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho all came off the bench, all miss the squad completely this time. 6/16 or 37.5% of Englands players in the match miss the 26 man squad entirely, just three years on. Non playing substitues that also miss out on the squad this time include. Tyrone Mings, Conor Coady, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Reece James. Other members of the squad to miss out, Ben Chilwell, Ben White, Sam Johnstone. An incredible 13/26 or half the entire squad miss out on Euro 2024, just three years later.

Both a reduction from this year, but I get the point. Rovers are so skewed by the supply and demand model. Supply is almost always going to outweigh demand. What I'd love personally was for the club to almost call out the fans and say "Season tickets are £250 anywhere in the ground, lets see what you're made of. Whats the excuse for not coming now?"

With the 30th Anniversary of 1994/95 at the top of their agenda (or so it seems) I was thinking of a strategy that could include a reference to that, whilst dropping the prices a bit and introducing a Flexible Ticketing strategy for out of town supporters. Adults £394.95 (works out at c.£17 a game) OAPs £294.95 Young Adults £194.95 Under 18s £94.95 Under 12s £30.00 (with Adult ticket) Adult Flexi Ticket - Any 10 games (non Burnley/Preston/Bolton) in JW Upper towards Darwen End) - £194.95 Any 5 games (non Burnley/Preston/Bolton - in JW Upper towards Darwen End) - £94.95 Something along those lines would be fair and also a nod to the 94/95 campaign.

@superniko with some stellar forum work. Checked the odds on Leicester win, Plymouth win, Birmingham win and Sheffield Wednesday to draw or win (Covering both permutations that send us down) The odds have shifted on Bet365 slightly, now out at 19.8/1 from 18/1 If you do think we'll go down, then thats better odds than the 12/1 on us to be relegated in the 'Outright' betting

Some subplots to file under ''Well I didn't see that coming.'' Bradley Dack winner for Sunderland against Sheffield Wednesday Tyler Morton/Ryan Giles winner for Hull against Plymouth Inspired performance from Grant Hanley and/or Danny Batth keeps Blues at bay and dare I even think it.... Ashley Barnes or Shane Duffy winner for Norwich against Birmingham.

Leicester winning the title tonight also helps IMHO. 100 points would still be achievable for them, but they got 102 points in 2013/14, so even two wins doesn't clinch any records for them. The most successful Championship team (last 30 years) was Reading at 106 points so not a chance on breaking that record either. A win tonight for them, title wrapped up and a jovial, laissez faire, party atmosphere on Saturday where they're lifting the trophy come what may, would be the best case scenario for us.

If my maths are correct (see GCSE level- Raise 3 to the Power of 4 or 3^4 ) there are 81 different combinations of possibilities for Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Birmingham. Only 2/81 would see Rovers relegated. 1. Rovers loss, Sheffield Wednesday win, Plymouth win and Birmingham win 2. Rovers loss, Sheffield Wednesday draw, Plymouth win and Birmingham win Any other combination sees us safe to fight on in the Championship next season.

Thinking about season tickets for next season and the tough sell to the fans that 2024/25 will bring (no matter which division) got me thinking about Rovers' poor home record this campaign. I also felt as though we've not scored too many at the Blackburn End this season, so looked into it further and we've scored 13 goals in front of our end! And only four Blackburn End goals in the 10 home games in 2024. Rovers (League) Goals in front of the Blackburn End in 2023/24 1. 19/8/23 - Hull City - Gallagher goal to give Rovers the lead (lost 1-2) 2. 21/10/23 - Cardiff City - Rankin-Costello goal to give Rovers the lead (won 1-0) 3. 10/11/23 - Preston North End - Szmodics equalizer (lost 1-2) 4,5,6,7. 29/11/23 - Birmingham - Szmodics double, Hill and Leonard (won 4-2) 8. 12/12/23 - Bristol City - Scott Wharton header to give Rovers two goal lead (won 2-1) 9. 23/12/23 - Watford - Adam Wharton goal to give Rovers the lead (lost 1-2) 10. 1/1/24 - Rotherham - Szmodics goal to give Rovers the lead (drew 2-2) 11. 3/2/24 - QPR - Gallagher goal to make it 1-2 (lost 1-2) 12. 24/2/24 - Norwich - Hyam goal to equalise (drew 1-1) 13. 5/3/24 - Millwall - Szmodics goal to equalise (drew 1-1)

Rovers win (52pts) Survive if: Birmingham don’t win or Sheffield Wednesday don’t win or Plymouth don’t win Rovers draw (50pts) Survive if: Huddersfield win Huddersfield draw and Sheffield Wednesday lose. Rovers lose (49pts) Goes to last day. Best case scenario is a Huddersfield v Birmingham draw. Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth to lose. Worst case scenario is Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth victories. Would leave Rovers in the bottom three going to Leicester.