Norbert Rassragr

I'm in the don't agree to the loan camp. Sure, you don't have to play Van Der Berg, but anything like a fine if they're not playing, or a clause saying he MUST play X number of games is outrageous. It strikes me as a bullying, strong arm tactic, and would lead other loans to have similar clauses.

Man Utd are rotten from the board room to the youth team. Ten Haag will need at least 3 years to have a chance of a top 4 finish. You could sell all the 1st team squad to whoever wants them and not lose much sleep as they have no on the pitch intelligence, desire or ability to improve. However, doing that will expose for of the youngsters to the 1st team, and the famed youth set up has not really produced much great talent. Some reasonable Premier league players, but no amazing stars that would feature in a top team.

That sounds a bit like Nadine Dorries' sideline. When she's not being mental in Parliament or on TV she writes novels.

Something just feels right with this set up. I know the last couple of seasons we've been brilliant up until winter and then we've gone into relegation form, but it feels like something has changed. We probably won't be top six with our current squad, but there won't be the usual 16 game death spiral to crush all confidence and hope.

Just seen the 2 minute highlights after work. Sure, it's only a League 2 team, but how many times in the 10 years has the attitude been 'oh well, I suppose we have to play this game' instead of 'lets go out there and batter them'? In the 3 games under JDT and Broughton it seems to be more the latter. Hopefully the confidence and spirit does not evaporate as soon as we lose 2 in a row.

Only 2 games in, and already it feels like a much more positive, purposeful scene at Rovers. There looks to be a structure on the pitch, and a manager/Head Coach who has a desire to improve and succeed.

Benni must be Steve Evans' size by now. Interesting to see him in a coaching role to be honest.

Sounds like we have a lot to improve on, but it is a win. I hope we get some players in now.

Maybe so, but Jones' career has really faltered, and he has long been a meme. Constant injury problems too. But to go on topic, does it look like there is a change in the team in terms of formation, style etc.?

Phillips needs to remember what happened to the last super young defender who got too big for his boots (Jones), or David May before that.

Has it been confirmed that Phillips has gone to Spurs?

I seem to remember seeing Szmodics' namepop up on Final Score a fair amount of times as a goal scorer, though I couldn't say in which division. Who knows, he may play better outside of a team that yo-yos between the first and second division, and has a bit more talent.

We definitely need more players before the window closes. There is no depth before the untested 18 year olds come in. It's a long season, and who knows, we may need to play some games in a short space of time due to postponements, and/or a cup run. You need depth in quality and we don't have that.

I think Burnley may start off pretty slowly, but then pick up a few months in.

Wait......there might actually be a player in the process of being signed? In a position that needs filling?

From what little I understand of it, NFTs are like those certificates you can buy to 'own' a star and name it. You can claim to have it, name it after your dog and all that, but you can't really do anything with it, or say any life found near it should pay you rent. You own the web address of the badly drawn computer generated picture, but not the actual picture, which can be copied, printed out, turned into a screenshot by anyone without any legal ramifications. It's all a big con that sucks in the stupid people like Seth Green (the actor who does a voice or two on family guy), or another way to launder money.

So do I, but I am a natural pessimist, and expect another Lambert situation with the current coaching set up being frustrated and disillusioned.

The simple, basic thing is we need a centre back, a right back, a central midfielder and a striker in before the window closes. Otherwise it will be a pretty stressful season as we have no squad depth. We do not have that magical crop of players Man Utd had in 1992 at championship level, let alone higher.

Not asked to join, but I bet it's been lively the past few days!

I'm used to the England batting collapsing in embarrassing circumstances, looking utterly feeble and stupid [it's happening somewhere else this week, but that's for another thread]. If this all out attack works for the current players, then keep doing it, and hopefully we can find someone to stick around for long periods in an innings.

The last 12 or so laps when the safety car went in was absolute madness. It was like touring cars or Moto GP with the constant position changes. Even without it, the end would have been good since the three cars had different stages of wear on their tyres.

Was Broad doing his usual brainless short bowling against tail enders?

I dislike Ferrari but I want Leclerc to win to keep the title race interesting. Hamilton......... don't really care about him.

Brum is a poisoned chalice. The ownership is always in chaos, the squad is pretty poor and managers come and go almost as quickly as Watford. Any ambitious coach wanting to take their first steps in the top seat would be wise to wait for a more stable club, even one at the business end of League 1.

Lewis may have one kind of Ivanisovich moment and win that 8th title, but it is looking like he is one the downhill slope. There are too many other young drivers on the grid gobbling up the points as well as Verstappen and Leclerc right now for him to be up there with consistent podiums. Maybe he can flounce around the Met Gala once his contract is up, but I feel he has one more fight in him.