Ha. I only ever put pence bets on things with daft odds or just to get bits out of my account! You can imagine my frustration having 50p on Rothwell to score two at 225/1 and then seeing him subbed immediately after scoring 😂

Masters on ITV starting tonight. Anyone got any tips? Ive put a few quid on chizzy at 20/1

I don’t share that level of cynicism.

Someone mentioned something about us being in a position to find the best upcoming candidates. Reminded me of an article on Southampton from a few years back. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717975-inside-the-southampton-black-box-informing-their-manager-carousel Talks about scouting, but interestingly how Les Reed and the clubs football structure side of things doesn’t change when the manager does - ie the “journey” or club outline is all about scouting young players that have the right character. From what I can gather - the club still implements this system, and Martyn Glover oversees the direction of football. For me they are an example of a similar club in size / revenues - a good example of what can be achieved, even losing good players and managers regularly. They even make mention of knowing potential management targets contract expiry - can anyone imagine our directors doing this? Nope.

@chaddyrovers Might answer some of your questions. For me - he sounds like someone who would make a good manager and he’s worked his way up specifically with our lads so - I wouldn’t be averse to him getting a shot. Also; https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53724502

How on earth should I know?

He’s called Damien Johnson 😃

A nearly full squad fit for those games... Travis in particular. Its our chance to get right back in the mix

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.