We’re all welcome to an opinion but I’ll sit on the fence till I see more. Same with many players before. Davenport one particular who seems to be enjoying more prominence recently. In the interview with Downing - he mentions how good he thinks he is and the injuries he’s suffered. I’d rather take stock from those insights as opposed to what I’ve seen in 3 starts? I mean that for any young player.

This is a 22 year old GK.

Stewie Downing on BBC Radio lancs tonight on sport - mentions TM calling the team soft and a pushover, and mentions the reaction for the Boro game. Some Good bits on the game, the reason for his anger against Donnie, Harvey Elliott etc https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0922wyh

1. Reserve keepers are a strange scenario - we signed 2 backups to TK last summer after being in a situation where Fisher was our only “senior” choice. I think it’s been a successful refit - the other lad (greek?) has no experience of English second flight football so a relatively cheap long term second choice makes a lot of sense. Fair enough that you’ve been given info on him, but I don’t see Pears as “favour for a mate” or a lazy signing, just a small cog in our first team. The main job of finding a proper keeper has been nailed by our restructured scouting network - something Tony was very vocal about developing! 2. Wharton injury prone? Also I don’t think being “injury prone” is an exact science either - but I would suggest a common decision in football to compliment “young” defenders is a lad who’s been round the block a few times. As it happens - so far, the jury probably suggests DA has been a waste of money - but I’ll suggest again that this is an easy criticism in hindsight. I’m not Au Fait with DAs history but I do remember a Boro fan saying he will have a “strain” in time for a week at home at Christmas....! An apt “quip” maybe? 3. As I mentioned - Greek lad had no real elite senior experience as far as I was aware, but the main response to three is; how much do you think he cost out of the budget to be concerned? In terms of sorting the defence and goalkeeping scenario out - I agree with you that these areas seemed to be less important to TM, however I also would suggest there was a definite lack attacking “potential” coming from the academy before AA and BB came on permanent deals, whereas the u23s seemed full of defenders and midfielders. Wharton for example - someone who looked the part prior to injury, and any development of his credentials would be a better route to improving the team than spending more money. Carter and Magliore might step up with a similar path of loans to Scott. 4. Last bit on contracts is a bit based on assumption and to some extent I agree - however a pertinent example, we’ve plenty of good players on 6/18 months left, if Ayala came in with 12 and did well - the criticism from the fans would’ve been “why 1 year” All contracts are a risk. Some even questioned resigning Dack after 12 months off - and whilst I get that, I don’t agree with the assumed simplicity of running this aspect of the club!

Hindsight? 1) only in message board world does a player make it through an youth system, academy, and then play at a professional level - to be described as shit after 3 starts. 2) Ayala has been out too much - but you failed to mention the fact two other centrebacks have also been injured, compounding the issue, regardless of if we’d signed DA. 3) Bell was 250k - and we had two homegrown first team ready defensive players and another on the fringe(scotty). We had no permanent senior keeper last season either - an area that needed investment. Goalposts being moved to complain about this - remember last years goalkeeping department? 4) Ayala I agree but that’s football - if you remember he wanted / was potentially off abroad so maybe that was the key to us signing him? Moaning about pears contract is just a waste of time though.

TM yesterday; “He’s a brilliant human being as well, the calmest man in the building. “I’m just delighted that the recruitment department came up with Thomas Kaminski because he is a joy to work with every day. “Him making saves like he does really doesn’t surprise me." To me it just seems like a normal club finally - a recruitment department for the management to utilise if they see fit. Signing Ayala and Pears - again, like any normal manager using old experience / contacts/ relationships to develop his team, not “sorting his mates out” If he is being criticised for signing players from clubs he knew - why isn’t Armstrong included since he took him to Cov twice before bringing him here?

Birmingham at home last (or the year before) Christmas was a horrible one but the only thing I remember from that away trip (besides going past scotch corner and the angel of the north in a Nissan sunny) was the biting cold.. I was 6 😂

Pretty sure I watched on Sky at my grandads - I went to the Newcastle away game in 91 and I’ve never been as cold 🥶!

Remember him scoring as a sub vs Newcastle in 93(?) - they put on a load of reserve games too, I remember.

I think anyone who understands elite sport in the most basic terms would understand the days, weeks and months it’ll take to get over a full year off. I did think he looked sharper last night too - I liked the way that the whole sale changes upfront gave us a completely different attack at an important juncture of the game. Travis and Dack being fit are a huge part of our team and hopefully there is more to come.

This guy is turning out to be a good investment!

Yea but John Bu... 😂 Steering the topic back on thread:. Time is running out for Tony. I said earlier this season that we need to see a proper improvement in final position and I just can’t see us ever breaking the consistency barrier to achieve it. That said, the change for me comes when it’s mathematically certain / the summer. I certainly wouldn’t have any negative or bad memories towards TM for his job done, I’m sure even he would agree that a step backwards this season, regardless of injuries or pandemic issues, is simply not good enough. I don’t “get” the reactive stuff to his interviews, I am however increasingly concerned by his body language next to the pitch - but I guess this may be a sign his frustration echoes our own. Faith in those behind the scenes to make positive proactive decisions is obviously a concern, out of interest; does anyone know when Tony’s contract runs out?

The decision to train on the pitch is baffling without knowing why the decision was taken - one would assume that all options at Brockhall must’ve been out of the question. It is higher up and more open to the elements too.

Maybe he has always felt Wharton and Lenihan is the long term solution? Also - Ayala is an “old” head and I’m not sure he’s the sort of character at this point. Anyway - I’m happy we have a more options than Bradley Johnson at least!

Another token gesture worth nothing to me. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2021/january/season-pass-holders-receive-a-complimentary-discount-at-the-roverstore.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR2bBGf8TOgnx9TjMmjJ3LVsdKqEpHm-2MTqbQubJAoWp4RyAtJEO-8YLPY How’s about £10 towards watching online or something that doesn’t include me needing to buy something I can’t afford or don’t need.

Someone mentioned pointless negative speculation with no basis shouldn’t be posted here.... That’s basically the role of Lancashire Live these days.

Actions speak louder than words. I can’t criticise him and the club for the way we’ve developed a competitive squad with a decent budget, but I don’t see how giving 1000 ST holders a free £10 for Christmas to watch a game would stop us resigning Dacks contract!

It’s a complete different proposition to our other lads in terms of skill and pace. Agree he has lots to learn but I think he is more than ready for more substitute appearances against tired legs, our wide or up top.

I was massively pissed off with the club over the efl “weekend game” call for one of the Christmas fixtures (can’t remember which off top of head) They wanted the extra tenner and blamed efl for calling it a weekend away game midweek. The club could of covered all season ticket holders as a gesture for 20/30k. Instead they gave me another £10 off next seasons total pass that I have to redeem. Empty gesture. I appreciate some aspects of our financial day to day must be precarious at present but I think the club could do a lot more for fans who’ve shelled out nearly 500 to only dream about ever sitting in a stadium again.

18 year old lad on a free from preston waltzing through tired defences has created a few this season, and hopefully more now our main match winner is back.

Just about to kick off against Paul Lim, who amazingly came back from 2-0 in the first game to beat Luke Humphries Also Dirk Duijvenbode just put in a brilliant performance to beat Rob cross - who performed well to be fair, a twelve dart leg against the throw at 2-2 and 2-2 in legs was an exhilarating finish!

Have you contacted HRMC

One thing I do enjoy is sarcasm 😆