Totally agree - he plays football with a smile on his face, and despite all the transfer rumours still put in 100% - which is great to see. He could make himself a legend by signing a contract extension (even with a release clause), and protecting the clubs investment (and support when he was c***) - but I can't see it.

You are partly right about tackling - but when going shoulder to shoulder, or challenging in the air, size does matter. Also, when putting a team under pressure - physical presence does play a part - a block tackle from Bradley Johnson is going to disrupt most players more than one from Buckley. I think the other aspect is experience - more experienced players put in challenges that they get away with, little elbows here and there, little shirt tugs etc.

The obvious answer - don't come when it is snowing.

Though I agree - he is an injury away from it falling down like a house of cards. Look at Dack, lots of rumours of big money moves - and then he gets injured. At least he had a good contract to protect him.

Transfer news and education - what more could you want from a forum 😁

Carter and Travis - neither ideal, but both better than JRC has been recently

I don't think the club have messed up - only £5m more than what we paid for Diaz is an insult to the club and the player. He has developed so much after a decidedly dodgy start at Rovers - if he stays injury free I could see potential for top 6.

I do wonder how much Wharton's performance last night has influenced thinking. It was obviously only one game - but if he replicates that form over the next few matches we have a real bonus for JDT

Playing hard ball, or do they all want to go home early ?

JDT obviously didn't rate him. Such a shame, earlier in his career he looked decent

I can't see him signing a new contract - and why should when a free transfer will likely translate to a huge wage at his new club. However his agent is playing a risky game - Dack shows that an injury can ruin any footballers plans.

A good performance, but to balance things a little 1. A better team than Blackpool would have taken advantage of our occasional sloppiness at the back 2. For a match we dominated for large parts we could have easily drawn the match at the end. 3. Diaz was easily our stand out attacker - wonder how we will cope if he leaves. On the positive - a big improvement on the previous three league matches - scoring the first goal was key.

Don't get me wrong - I would prefer him to sign a new contract - but in the real world it isn't going to happen.

His attitude has been absolutely first class - I really hope he gets the move he deserves and goes from strength to strength. Of course we also get £20m plus a big sell on clause - and the club have a decent replacement or two lined up 😁

I don't know why - but somehow I get the impression you don't like/rate Dolan. It almost comes across as personal.

I think most on here are missing that (bar the centre halves) - this is the team that did so well in the second half against Stoke. A big night for Carter - after a season in league 1 he should be used to playing against centre forwards who try to rough you up. Lets see if his excellent spell at Portsmouth can translate into Rovers colours.

I don't think Gallagher is useless - just not a £5m player.

Up front - was this not the personnel we ended up with against Stoke ?

We suddenly have two Carters ?

But for injury, he would have made a fantastic partnership with Shearer for England.

Staying over night prior to his Thwaites brewery tour, and after his trip to ride the lights in Blackpool

If Carlsberg did transfer windows 😁

Carter or Travis at right back ? Hopefully not JRC, whose confidence must be rock bottom after some decidedly shaky performances

And yet after 3 matches people were saying how tactically he got it spot on - or are you saying he got it wrong in those matches ? If we had won today - people would be saying how good he was at adjusting his tactics. Mourinho has history of massive tactical and personnel changes even before half time. Let's give him a while before judging him.

Personally I would like to see a liitle more height and steel in midfield. A Nicky Marker like signing (who can also cover central defence) would be ideal.