So what you are saying is that there is not one of the clubs in the premiership or the top 10 of the championship (who are more likely for promotion than us) who would want him??? Now I find that hard to believe and somewhat impausible to say the least. The idea that none of these clubs play with someone in the hole either in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 or any other system with someone in the hole is a little far fetched. Not to mention that these clubs may want a plan B in order to change their shape. Oh and there's the fact that it has been known to buy talented players and convert/alter their positions and for clubs to buy players because they are doing well with no thought as to how they fit in the team! So on no level can it be said that Rovers are the pinnacle that Dack can and should aim for, and it's especially inaccurate to suggest no club will want him. That's wishful thinking I'm afraid.

Neither of which suggests he won't move on. The deal isn't done and even if it was when a bigger club comes calling contracts mean very little.

Chaddy, we haven't looked like getting promoted since we came down however many years ago. TM has taken us on 2 shocking runs. It's wildly optimistic to think we'll go up, and this is Dack's best chance. Whether it is one of the clubs mentioned, or say, West Brom, Leeds, or Fulham for example, are much more likely to go up and may want Dack. Heck a lot of lower prem teams might. Appreciate these aren't all south, but the issue I'm raising is the idea that his best chance of PL football is here. Clearly not the case given we get a nosebleed when we go near the playoffs.

Whilst I'm imagining that Pedro hasn't spoken to Olivia it's a distinct possibility and you'd have to be very naive not to see it. They've already spoken on record about how much time they spend down south and so it's far from a stretch to suggest they may want to settle there especially as that is where her "career" is based.

Yes, when you think that there's issues with 4 strikers we see we need some work done up top as soon as we get our defence sorted. Armstrong doesn't really cut it up front and is much better on the wing, Bereton is not good enough, Graham is 34 and the jury is out on Gally (it's only been recently he's shown glimpses of promo and so far they are glimpses welcome as they are). In short we look a bit shaky up top too. The defence and especially the keeper is a more important area as we leak goals and are very short there, but it's not a strong situation up top either.

Oh I agree they are a law unto themselves, however once a precedent has been set, clubs can fight back a bit. For example now the Bolton situation has a decision, it makes it very comparable with other situations. Like Sheff Weds are challenging because the Derby dodgy ground dealings got through, once a precedent has been made, it makes it harder for the FL to defend their position. I'd say it also shows their incompetence and poor moral character but both of these things were well established.

So with Macclesfield players threatening to boycott the game as they're not in a fit place to play and they haven't been paid the Football League are warning them they could face disciplinary action for threatening the integrity of the game. Given the Bolton fiasco though I feel this will be hard for them to enforce.

Apart from dropping Bennett. And playing Rothwell. And dropping Gally. And playing Graham. And having Downing at left back. Armstrong actually being on the right wing. And having Evans instead of Holtby. Apart from that nothing changed. Also it sounds a bit of an antagonistic interview and not very endearing by TM whatsoever.

Again this is what throws me. How can it be ok for one club but not another? One of the most frustrating things in football is the inconsistencies shown by the governing bodies. Along with the Bolton fiasco the game is losing what lite credibility remains.

Could the City lad be adequate cover for Nayambe if we bring in a centre back and Lenihen stays fit? Not ideal but doing ok with Nayambe there and with another centre back perhaps we can limp along to the summer. Certainly left back is more pressing as we only have a 35 year old midfielder who is any good there! Edit: Oh and a keeper. We don't even have someone who is arguably ok in this position.

Horrible club. Only thing Derby could win is being the most dislikeable club in the championship. From the dodgy Rooney deal (3rd party ownership, promoting gambling via kids) to the handling of the drink driving crash the club is a sewer and I hope they go down. Same team as the last few games please. On paper an easier game than Stoke or Brentford so expect us not to win. Can't stomach a loss to this lot so a draw it is.

Agree in general although don't think Luton have been great all season and criminal we lost whenever it was. Wonder if it is takeover issues that are causing problems at Charlton and their poor form?

The difference between TM and good managers is how many make the change. Emerton under Hughes was good at both right back and centre mid - neither of which were his main position. Similarly Warnock looked ok in centre mid under Big Sam. Thing is very few players change position under a good manager. Whilst there may always be one or two there's not the wholesale moving about of players that we see at Ewood. We've played virtually every striker on the wing, Bennett at right back, Dack in a few odd places, Downing on the wrong wing and that's just off the top of my head. That's far more than any other manager I can recall. Perhaps equally pertenant is that I can't recall many managers sticking with players for more than a game or two when it doesn't work yet in TM we have seen this persisted with even when it isn't working. Its no surprise we have started to do a bit better with more players in their correct position. TM had gained himself a bit of breathing space with a good run over the last 3 games but let's not pretend that the overplaying of players out of position was normal or a strength. There'll always be players who adapt to new positions but they are far from in the majority.

Goal keeper - fist and foremost as we have not got a single decent one. Centre back 2nd, as this massively strengthens the defence for when Lenihen is injured. Also needed as we have no other first choice suitable centre half alongside Lenihen for next season. Left back, similar situation - cover for Downing and at 35 we need a good one for next season anyway. Striker - as above but with Graham. Gallagher might, just might, grow into it if properly coached and not thrust in too quickly (like today's role) and goals can also come from the midfield, so a bit less of a priority then the defenders.

Agree, but I'd add another hard nut leader centre back (a la Andy Todd) as Lenihen will miss half a season with injury.

A host of exciting Championship results today (the most exciting being ours but then I'm biased) but a lot of other interesting ones too. Brentford bounced back with a 7-0 win suggesting they're a pretty decent team, and that Luton really aren't. Along with another loss for Wigan, I think both clubs are looking in serious trouble. Barnsley, my third pick for the drop managed a second win of the season, which is a tad surprising. Boro lost again too, and heavily to Leeds, making me wonder how long Woodgate will last there, and a heavy loss for Huddersfield suggests there is still work to be done there as well. Cardiff seem to be taking to Harris as a manager, albeit early days, with another win, As for our win, an 11 point gap with relegation suggests that it will take a heck of a bad run on a par with last seasons for us to get anywhere near relegation. Funny the difference a few weeks can make!

It's that simple. Interestingly, although in this instance I am pleased, TM has again gone against what he said: keeping everyone happy and picking the team for the game - after hearing those comments I feared the worst, but he did the opposite, kept the same team and it had a result. The big question is, as the pressure and frustration rescinds, does TM go back to the old ways or keep with this correct team selection and style. Will be very interesting to see what he does. If he needed any more evidence to keep it simple, the last 2 games really should have shown him that's the case. Here's hoping he has learned his lesson and continues in a similar manner.

Agree. Along with starting our better players like Graham and Rothwell, and dropping weaker ones like Bennett at right back and Williams anywhere, it makes a huge difference. Two defensive mids so Travis isn't doing all the work also makes a huge difference too.

It's like a completely different team to a few weeks ago! Great result. It was being discussed how good actually are we, and when we keep it simple with the right team in the right positions we're a rather solid outfit. Yes, the squad may need some work, and a couple of first team positions need sorting too, but overall we're not a bad side and can get a result or two. Really pleased that we kept the same team and shape, and the subs responded to being on the bench for the second game running with a positive contribution when they came on. It all seems obvious stuff, but when we start doing it, it has made a massive difference. Stoke aren't a bad side despite their league position, they've got some good quality and a good manager. So to get the win that we did, especially after conceding a late equaliser is fantastic. Well done TM and the team.

Good post and agree with all this although your we don't have like for like cover is a diplomatic way of saying the cover is appalling! Some aren't like for like stylistically, eg Gally for Graham, some aren't that position - Bennett and Williams as full back - and all of the replacements collectively bar perhaps the front 3 midfielders are a massive downgrade in quality before we even consider style! Agree that we have defensive mids coming out of our ears and whilst depressing that in 3 years we haven't improved on Evans, I agree Bennett and Johnson there are much of a muchness and we have cover there. If Travis is injured however it is a different and depressing story as he is a cut above the rest. Agree too we are ultra reliant on Dack. Perhaps though with said consistent formation and Holtby and Rothwell playing alongside him, and possibly Armstrong in his purple patch, could perhaps see us realistically getting more goals then we have been. Also with a tighter defence we wouldn't need 3 goals to win a game. All that said a striker who knows where the back of the net is, at least a bit, and can link up play is essential. Even if Graham keeps going for the season he won't be around for ever, and more to the point we're a Graham injury away from having no one to lead the line. Overall as I suggested a bit back if we keep it simple we will improve significantly even if the squad is still somewhat threadbare, actually plain out threadbare, in places. As we saw last night keeping it simple makes a heck of a difference regardless of the quality of the players.

We rotate far too much although the question is even with a winning formula like last night - how long can it realistically be sustained? Evans and Lenihen are both rediculously injury prone and Graham and Downing are getting on, so even without Tony's tinkering how often can that line up be sustained? And when the afformentioned players are out the quality of the replacement (bar Evans) drops dramatically.

Great wibn. Very critical of TM of late but that was a big step in the right performance and a good balanced team. Whilst I personally perhaps wouldn't put Evans or Armstrong in the team, tonight showed that we can do well even with more limited players if they have the right roles and the team has a good balance. They might even, like tonight, make a good account of themselves. For me 3 selection choices made a huge difference: no Bennett, Williams and Gally all of whom aren't really good enough in their preferred positions and don't offer much. Get them out and other players in their position who can do a job and no surprise we improve. I also think 2 defensive mids makes a huge difference. It frees up Travis a bit to rampage forwards plus takes some of the defensive duties off him. Along with full backs who can defend and link up players who can actually do their roles makes a massive difference to the team. Long term there are still a load of questions - not least how come it has taken so long to get here - but for today we can celebrate our first proper step forward in what seems like ages.

Must be feeling the pressure to play Graham and Rothwell and drop Bennett. Bit worried about Downing at lb as feel that's not one of his best positions. Still makes sure we have our quota of midfielders in defence.

And it's obvious Raya wanted to go when he was scapegoated and dropped for the reserve keeper. With treatment like that no wonder he went. Again this sounds like another "don't blame me for the situation" article from TM in the Pune Telegraph. Man of integrity - as if!

And this is why there is debate. 1) because we didn't do that and 2) because the replacement is on loan and worse. Now you might argue he is not worse - although this season's performances beg to differ - but the fact it is clearly debatable and he is on loan shows we at the very least are in a weaker position than last season. And if I'm honest I can't see the argument that he is better at all. A terrible lummox of a keeper.