We thought that with Armstrong, nobody imagined we would bring in Diaz (wonder what happened to Brereton 🤣)

Annesley is an, international Morton has played for one of the countries biggest clubs in Europe. Keep the faith COYB

How much is down to him, and how much is the constraint of our wage budget ? Every year we have gone to the wire with transfers - as teams and players demands go down as the end of the window approaches. This year is worse because under the previous management we not only ended up with three players out of contract (not necessarily TM's fault), but a number of other squad players at the end of their shelf life.

Amazing isn't it - 2 matches ago many were talking of automatic promotion.

Definitely not a nice bid 🤣

Though I agree we have an urgent need - which is better, get someone in now who potentially isn't as good, or wait two or three matches for the better player to become available?

It is interesting isn't it - I do wonder what BBD's agent has been telling interested clubs. His agent could be telling BBD to sit tight for 12 months and then leave on a free. Come Christmas he can sign a pre-contract with a foreign club. IF this is his agents strategy he is playing a risky game - ask Dack, all it takes is one bad injury and that big move can disappear. Also, I can understand Premiership clubs being wary considering his poor form prior to last season. Personally I feel he has turned a corner in his career - and will now go from strength to strength.

I think last season showed that - but who in our price bracket ?

I hope not - there has to be some deterrent to the Premiership clubs who can afford to pay wages way over the odds for youngsters - then just wait and see whether they develop. It is a tough one for him and his family - he will undoubtedly get more money at Tottenham, but could end up stuck behind a host of expensive recruits. Or he could play for Rovers - in the first team squad - short term less money - but long term who knows.

I wonder how many people saying keep Diaz, complained we didn't sell Rothwell ? (not a dig, but shows the difficult balancing act of when to sell players) Personally I would leave to GB and JDT. Replacing BBD goals won't be straightforward - especially doing it on a limited wage budget. But if they feel they could balance the books and make us overall stronger ? At the end of the day - by writing off his transfer fee - we would be gambling £20m on promotion - all with a new unproven manager (early signs are good, but it is still early).

Be an interesting barometer of progress under JDT. I do think people are getting a little expectant too early. We have only played 3 competitive matches under JDT - and there is a long way to go. Interesting nobody complaining about JDT switching formations, tactics etc. And yet TM was tinkerman. I suppose JDT can tinker as long as we win - but that won't go on for ever. Anyhow, let's hope the bubble isn't burst - would settle for an entertaining draw, with no injuries.

I remember Wilcox giving away a penalty for similar, but far less blatant. Can't remember against who (was Darwen end - possibly Leeds) - I am sure someone can remind me.

I wonder if last night will persuade Phillips to sign a contract with us ? Amazing MOM in his outing - not that he had much to do until the last minute.

I prefer Susanna Reid - but each to their own 🤣

I fear that the so called cost of living crisis will hit attendances - irrespective of pricing.

To be fair we did have the Premiership cash cow to help fund it. Unfortunately this initiative, was a little late, as soon as the ground was finished we should have done something similar. The one thing that will always hold Rovers back is the size of the town - and the number of competing clubs in the area. On the back of winning the Premiership was the opportunity to give cheap season tickets to fill the ground and convert fans from the surrounding area. Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing.

TBH - not certain what our style actually is. Lots of talk of high press - against QPR, didn't see a lot of it (though first game). Against Swansea tactic seemed to be to let them come onto us, then press when they got in our half. In pre-season he played 4 and 5 at the back. His preference seems to be 4 attackers in a 3-1 formation - but that is very fluid. It is going to be an interesting season 😁

I agree, I think we have to temper the enthusiasm a little. If Swansea had made better of some half chances it could easily have been a different game - which seems to sum up the Championship.

I thought he was superb on Saturday - interesting season for him coming up.

I agree that Rothwell was like a Rolls Royce when running through the midfield, and I struggle to think of any central midfield player playing in this country who is as good. However, the end product from these runs is often lacking - getting tackled by the centre half after gliding through midfield - at which point the midfield can be exposed in transition. His passing is at best average, often giving the ball away in bad positions. Having said all that, he had a real purple patch at the first half of last season - and then dropped away in the second half of the season. He is a player who will always get people off their seats, and it will be interesting to see if he develops in the Premiership under a different manager.

Insider info - or just hope ?

With our lack of centre halves I think we might miss our emergency centre half - not advocating keeping Johnson, but we possibly need a utility player to help cover some positions (especially as we have also lost Nyambe who could also cover central defence.

When you look at our squad - with Carter already our for a month - we are now looking very threadbare. The Hartlepool match will be interesting - wouldnt be surprised to see another early exit as we will have to protect the few centre halves we have - unless we get someone in prior to the match.

It struck me when he was appointed. Not saying JDT is at the level yet - but the top managers adapt to the league they are playing in. Time will tell whether JDT has that level of ability (aka Mourinho winning leagues in different countries), but better than plodding along 😉

I think we dropped lucky with Diaz - for the first two years he didn't look like he was worth £20 let alone £20m. There was no apparent improvement in his game - if anything he seemed to go backwards as he lost confidence. Then the pandemic hit - games behind closed doors and his confidence rose. Then the call up for Chile - and his confidence went up another notch. He showed enough in the match at the weekend to think that last season wasn't a flash in the pan. Personally I don't think he left us in a weaker position (possibly just above when he joined originally) - we now have a younger squad than when he joined - but he did leave at a time when we had massive holes in our squad due to players leaving at the end of their contracts. The contract position is possibly not his fault, but similarly I don't think a young squad is entirely down to his master plan - you only have to look at his handling of Travis.