13 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Agree with this, except for the million miles away part (although he seems to be regressing in his latest loan for sure). In some of his cameos at this level I've felt he is still a threat. But it's difficult when you're in and out of the side all the time and can't find your rhythm, plus it takes its toll mentally. Look how much Brereton struggled by only being played fleetingly off the bench a lot, and quite blatantly struggling with low confidence, yet look at him now when he's bursting with it.

I'd agree Harry doesn't seem to have that mental fortitude that makes players go all the way to the top no matter what setbacks they have, but I think a lot of comments on here about him are harsh. There is a lot of assumption that it's down to poor professionalism, but no apparent consideration that he could be struggling with mental health bringing down his motivation. Either for external, personal reasons, or because being jerked around by Mowbray has rocked his confidence (and I don't care what anyone says, he really has been...loaned, barely played, signed permanently and not played, loaned out, signed an extension and immediately sent off on loan for the duration of that extension...do you want the lad or not Tony? My confidence and assessment of my abilities and career prospects would be all over the place in his shoes). Brereton doesn't really have that fortitude either, he just finally caught some breaks and his newfound confidence has propelled him into the spotlight.

I do agree he isn't likely to make it at our club anymore, and it's a real shame. A free or nominal fee with a large sell on in January would probably be best for all concerned. I won't be surprised if he ends up on a hot streak in the Championship in 2 or 3 years time though - but nor will I be surprised if he sinks down to League Two or retires in that time. He's a mercurial talent and at this point it's all down to Harry to pull himself out of his rut and make the best of the hand he's got. A permanent move to a new club who hopefully value him is probably the best way to ignite that. I'd say Shrewsbury is probably best as he was on fire for them.

I do think its time to move on as its obviously not going to work here. 

However, put yourself into the mind of Chapman for his previous loan spell.  Sent out and done excellent at Shrewsbury, thought he might have a chance here when he returns, is given another year extension and that compounds that view. He is ready to make the most of it this time, but then gets a few fleeting appearences and is whacked out on loan again. I think his performances at Burton seems like he has had the stuffing knocked out of him again. 

He has had this sort of thing his whole time here, so I do think you have to look at both sides.

1 hour ago, riverholmes said:

In that article, Mowbray talks about the dilemma of taking a risk with offering big contracts or letting players run down their contracts and leave: “There’s the dilemma for the club and I feel for the men in suits at the club and let’s wait and see."

This presentation excuses Mowbray and the club by omitting the option of planning ahead and cashing in on players who aren't going to stay. A well-run and sustainable club identifies expiring contracts early, to utilise the transfer market to raise income. The manager and board must jointly identify players who are potentially replaceable and irreplaceable. Those who are considered potentially replaceable and have a relatively high value should be sold before entering their final year of their contract - ideally, well before. It is a fine balancing act, of course, as too many sales together might undermine the stability of the squad. It's a little more difficult with the potentially irreplaceables and you might cling on to them a little longer if it's the difference between a promotion run or of avoiding relegation.

To my mind, Rovers should have sold at least one of Lenihan, Rothwell or Nyambe last summer (assuming they would have had a buyer) and sought to replace them back then. Likewise, this coming year, the club have to cash in on some of the contract rebels/expirers - whilst, again, trying to maintain some stability. This includes squad players like Jacob Davenport, who the club should be seeking out buyers right now, if he's not going to stay on beyond 2022/23. Unless the owners are going to constantly inject money into the club, it's unsustainable to be letting so many first teamers leave on frees. 

Now that there's a possibility of a promotion run, it makes sense to keep the first team together until the end of the season - but, if we're not promoted, we will suffer a major loss by losing the players, that could have been minimised by planning.

 

 

 

Exactly, we should never be in a position where players can run down their contracts and walk for free. As you say, they should resolve the situation before they get into their final year. Its sign or get sold. Now, players not only have the potential improved wages to look forward to, but a larger signing on fee too. It makes it even more difficult to get them to sign. Kaminski and Diaz should have offers on the table now - not leaving it until their one year options are activated. 

12 hours ago, Upside Down said:

Simon Garner will be there twice! What a night!

Someone made a booboo on that flyer ha, sounds like a good night though.

36 minutes ago, lraC said:

Hibs manager search: Five possible candidates for Hibees (nottheoldfirm.com)

 

You just know its gonna happen.

5 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

You mean like Rothwell ?

Among the top assisters in the league this season now. If he could shoot properly he'd be in the PL. 

6 minutes ago, Uddersfelt Blue said:

You hit the nail on the head! Brighton are in the Premier League hence they can afford to attract the best young players from around the world. Unfortunately as a Championship club we can’t compete in the same markets. I don’t mind loaning their players if it helps us progress. 
 

 

I just mean, its Brighton! I cant get my head around such a small club being in the PL.

Wonder who they will go for, their fans are calling for Ainsworth.

Still baffles me that we're loaning teenagers from 'Brighton'. I mean wtf, they are in the PL and can hoover up young talent and loan them out to 'Small' clubs like Blackburn. 

3 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

I wonder is signing Van Hecke on a permanent realistic 

I would like it to be, and perhaps he was a City or Liverpool loanee, we might have a chance. It's a double-edge sword. The better he does here, the more likely they will keep him. They obviously have a plan for him. He is still young, went out last season at Heerenveen and did very well, and is now doing well (Fulham aside) for us. 

The beauty of having such a good academy (until they sell it off). Thiis lad has obviously benefitted from his loans, came back and look promising, got injured, and now looks better than ever. This guy will be an ever present soon enough. Either when lenihan goes or Ayala retires. Get the kid on a long term contract.

42 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

No Mowbray fan, but I think it's unfair to say he has 'stumbled' on this formation. He has been trying to force the 5 at the back in for years, never with any success before. I felt after the transfer window that his plan was probably 5 at the back (and I was dreading it) when enough CBs became available. He seems to stumble on certain things for sure, but this formation isn't one of them. He has been planning and trying this for a while.

To his credit, he has finally got it working too. I think having three tough no-mercy CBs, a couple of whom can pass pretty well, is probably the key. As well as a midfield and front line that are constantly harrying. It's making us very hard to break down.

If planning it, why didnt defenders come, when coming? oo-er

Weird, throw-ins seem to be the topic on the PNE forums too. How they just take throw-ins purely to get throwi-ns further up the pitch, so their top scorer can launch them into the box - of which has returned just a single goal in the campaign so far. 

1 hour ago, booth said:

It was good to see Preston fans condemn the actions of the idiot minority.

Apparently an elderly woman was threatened. I imagine that's who laid them out.

Yeah on their boards is massive condemnation, so fair play.

A draw would have been the best result for us in that game, i think. But hey-ho, just concentrate on our own form. 3 point gap now from 7th. 

Nice to be saying that rahter than we're just, 3, 5, 7 points from the playoffs.

1 hour ago, joey_big_nose said:

Getting way ahead of ourselves but if we did manage to sneak promotion we would be onto a hiding whoever we got as manager as while we now have a really strong set of 14 or so Championship level players probably few of them are Prem level. Only Kaminski, and maybe Wharton and Buckley if they keep developing. Diaz has been great but I struggle to see him making that big an impact on Prem defenders. Same with Dolan.

We'd need to sign a vast number of players to be competitive, or we just go in with a free hit mentality and see if we can grind out survival.

I hate to keep talking about Brentford, but they have got it right. Look at Norwich, West Brom, and Fulham, all been up and down for seasons yet Brentford look like consolidating. 

58 minutes ago, Paul Mellelieu said:

As much as I'm enjoying our time at the top, I can only believe that others will catch us up, Boro and Sheff United being the likeliest.

Yeah Sheff Utd on a charge. 

29 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Brereton's goal from a very different angle 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CXGZsqZAa5D/?utm_medium=copy_link

Sorry, but i already saw that angle long time ago. its not very different. 

2 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Those 2 Johansen and Chair would have a good chance of making our starting 11 

Talking of Chair, saw this very bizarre goal on the PNE forums the other day.

erves

30 minutes ago, damo100 said:

Any Rovers fans want a good laugh just head over to the Nobbers message boards. 

Makes you realise us Rovers fans ain't as salty and negative as some would believe. 

Best Post I saw was Rovers are a 'poor poor' side.

The conditions yesterday never came into it 

Yeah read those. Common consensous is they cannot believe we're 4th. Not much better than them apparantly despite 11 points and how many positions different in the league. They are not taking into account the conditions at all. It suited them more as we like to play rather than lump it forward at every opportunity. It stunted us in the first half but we got a little more clever second and had that one bit of magic needed.

In good conditions, they'd see why each club is in its respective position.

Im not saying we're brilliant, and it does point to a very average division this season, but they cannot somehow use last night as a barometer of the quality of both teams. That's what the table is for.

Not biting on the above, its been posting this kind of tripe in several threads tonight. Its a bit troll tbh.

Anyway

Without the points deductions handed out to Derby and Reading, PNE would be in a real struggle this season. Their fans not happy with Mcevoy and his tactics (or lack of them). Apparently they're sick of him wanting Riis to keep doing that long throw when it never works and also removes their top scorer from being in the box. Reminds me of Kane taking corners for England.

29 minutes ago, OsloRover said:

Who doesn't love Harry Pickering?

Who?

The Chileans will love his latest goal.

So, this Brereton lad? 

Cunningham playing as a CB in a back 3 for them - would be targeting that.