I think that’s often sheer persistence, I agree that Bennett should be in the team because of what he brings but I don’t think final third efforts - shots, crosses and/or beating a man is his strong point personally. Fantastically versatile player though. Him and Rothwell allow us to start 4231 with two DMs, then hook either Smallwood/Evans if we need to chuck another attacker in. Ive also completely missed Davenport - who knows what his impact this season might be? Another signing for the future.

Just my take on our squad depth based on our most used formation with Tony. Perhaps missed a few up and coming youth players who deserve to be involved. GK - Decent (Always 1) Raya - deserves No1 Leutwiler - Able deputy Fisher (just signed a 3 year deal) CB - (Decent) (2 in formation, rarely 3) Mulgrew - Captain Lenihan - Worthy second Downing - able backup Rodwell - could go either way Williams - definitley in a 3, suspect second (5th choice) Grayson/Platt - 6th/7th Full backs; Decent (always 2) Nyambe - earned first choice Bell - done well with his chance Williams - strong backup Bennett - last season RB for Nyambe injury Travis - played RB for u23s Reed - played RB for Norwich Defensive midfield- Very strong (generally 2 sometimes 1) Smallwood - battler Evans - energy Bennett - not natural but immense effort Rothwell - looks a find Reed - could be better than the above Travis, Rodwell, 6th and 7th choices. Attacking midfield/wingers - So So (Generally 4) Dack - worldie Palmer - talented Bennett - workrate outweighs sometimes poor final ball Conway - aging but effort and set pieces Armstrong - more suited to the striker role for me. Rothwell - potentially central attacking mid but more useful deeper for me Brererton - has played out wide forward Samuel - injured Striker role - decent (always 1) Graham - cultured Armstrong - pace and finishing Nuttal - still Raw Samuel - injured Brererton - unknown yet. The conclusion I come to is that we are in much better position than when we started the summer. The reason for that hinges on 3/4 key signings in midfield and attack. We could be much stronger at attacking midfield too - however these positions are the hardest to fill. One flying winger off a 10/10 summer window. If I had a concern it would be Centreback, but I have this feeling we are going to rebuild Jack Rodwell’s career as long term replacement for Mulgrew. I know some will be stunned by that, but you don’t simply fluke to the kind of career he had at 23. Yes, it’s gone pear shaped for him and of course there are question marks - but just look at how he changes the summers business if he comes in during a Centreback injury crisis and plays superbly! If he comes in and flops - over to you Downing/Platt/Grayson and Rodwell drops out of existence next summer. It’s win/win - such a refreshing alternative to the Etuhu/Murphy 35k x 3 year conundrum!

Don’t start getting on me wick.

Maybe I’m twisted but that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.

We’ve got our rovers back..

That’s some re-writing history.

If there’s one thing we know about the Raos, they’ve a stupid amount of money. I mean who hires TWO accountants to do the same job? Let’s hope the main feedback from them was “you ever want to stop spending 10+m a year? You need EPL!”

@rovers twitter account

Exactly, it’s been the same from JHR all summer The caveat was “4 or 5” and now the goal posts are moved because Rodwell is “effectively a loan”...?! Mind boggling. We needed recruitment, it’s looking like this summer we will have added 6/7 and kept our best players. Despite what Tony may have “wanted”, l can’t see how even the most skeptical fan could be dissspointed

I can’t even bend my left arm into a position to type you cheeky sheet. One handed typing is a blag. Agree on resting players though. Wish my arm was as robust as Lincoln

On Tuesday night, Rovers take on the Imps. I had intended to do some more research and typing but I broke my arm last week so this will have to do; Lincoln facts; Lincoln is a cathedral city around 100 miles away in the midlands Our last competitive fixture was in the FA cup in 1974, our last league fixture in 1958 in Division two. 6 wins, 3 draws and 10 losses in total. Lincoln are top of league two, undefeated having beaten Notts county in their previous outing. Currently managed by Danny Cowley, one of two brothers making a name for themselves in lower league. Micheal Bostwick is an important player for Lincoln, who also have Scott Wharton currently on loan. As for Rovers; I hope we progress, but I also hope that TM rests a few key bodies to keep our league form going - Mulgrew/Lenihan/Evans/Graham. Its early days, but perhaps Rodwell would suit a debut in this type of game. Prediction - 3-1 Rovers.

You epitomise the 16000 empty seats at Ewood today. In attitude, and vacuous thought.

Marry me Evans.

Eh

I can understand a bit of frustration IF we don’t get that winger/striker we are obviously clambering for but I don’t think it’s fair until the window closes. In isolation, that would be a failure but this summer isn’t just about 1 aspect. Posters tried to blame the fans, for what exactly? Unrealistic drastic viewpoints? Aren’t we still owned by The Rao’s? See above- Dack/Lenihan could’ve been punted and replaced by u20 prem loans and league 1 frees. So far we’ve kept the lot, added first team potential in Davenport, some quality in Armstrong, Palmer and Rothwell with still a few others in or potentially joining Jack R. The bench on Wednesday also had 2 key players injured, and we had two enforced attacking substitutions. You can hardly turn that into an example of poor recruitment in my view.

Me neither. All of those things alone don’t equate to “poor”, “terrible” “stinker”... I personally would call it decent. We’ve spent a couple of million so I’m not even underwhelmed. I think people have got swept away with news/twitter stories and I’d like to see what those people would’ve said in May - I doubt many if any would’ve expected us to do much more than we have.

“Stinker” of a window when you potentially add quite a lot of quality, renew a few contracts key to our near future and keep our best players? Might not get all our choices, but “stinker”... I think the lady doth protest a little much personally. Still a week left too. I can never get my head round how you group people, fans and viewpoints together, but this one is quite concerning.. you suggesting you don’t “trust” Tony or his decisions? There’s no “happy clapping, tony trusting, unicorn believing” super fan group you know? It’s just a fan has an opinion and states it? Why do you always have to put people who disagree with you in a box, and then label them something? The blue and white glasses for example... We remember you thought he was a poor choice and you’ll post anything to justify that 18 months later, even after the success he’s been. Itll take a lot to forget how quickly you asked for the “gaze” to return on him after the Charlton game (less than a week after promotion).

Quite a few across some sites - the better ones being pre leaving for city, many seem to think he should’ve stayed as a Centreback. Everton 2012; http://www.nsno.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=22660.0 I think it’s also unfair to compare to Whittingham, Gladwin et al - different level and age, much younger and a more sensible deal than Murphy. His career up to the age 23 was never a fluke, no matter what people make of the last 4 years. Just for Stuart;

More opinions; https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/jack-rodwell.101603/

Raya is definitely higher up the “More likely to cock up” scale than Smallwood for me. Replacing him? That’s a bit far. Like driving to Chorley and ending up on the Isle of Man

Bolton is full of No-one’s