Think his rehab in the eyes of the rest of the game may take some time longer than that, even if he keeps up his current form.

Assombalonga and Abraham in the same side. Not sure exactly how that works, but that's one lethal partnership at this level

I do like the way that we've being doing our business in recent windows. Much cannier than we have been. Not quite the "we've just signed Craig Bellamy. Surprise!", approach of Williams et al, but still impressive in this day and age.

Don't think I've ever agreed with a statement on this forum more than this one. Would like it 100 times if I could. Another instance of football being changed by people who either don't like or don't understand football as match-attending fans do.

Last couple of minutes showing why VAR can both lead to more correct decisions, and at the same time be a backward step for the game. Chelsea fans singing 'VAR, VAR, VAR'. Abysmal.

If we're assuming that down south is somewhere in the Southampton, Hampshire area, then his options for commuting might be limited. London clubs, Reading and probably Bristol City in the championship. Maybe pompey too, but can't see that happening! If the lad gets his chance at the Saints, then fair play, but if he gets the green light to leave, I can see us being at the front of the queue of any second tier clubs that are in for him.

He would cost a few quid, no doubt, but there's no way they'd expect to get their 15 million back. Square peg in a round hole, and they're looking to offload. Would be surprised if his price tag was 8 figures, although agree that it'd be expensive for us.

Away from Assombalonga chat, Brad Lyons has just played for St Mirren against Hibs. Faded with the team in the second half, but played well in the first, good run and cross to set uo their goal. Good showing for (I think) his first league game at professional level.

Just had a quick scout on Boro forums. Sounds as though they'd be surprisingly alright with him leaving the club, although that seems mainly due to him being one of several players unable to get anywhere near their best under Pulis. Played on the wing quite a lot, Have to admit, beyond his being a proven goalscorer, I'm not that aware what his all round game is like. I know he's an absolute unit, so presumably can hold it up, but how well can he fit into our system? He's someone Tony will know well, especially being a Boro fan, but it's a surprising one in a number of ways.

Liked Gally when he was here. Loose player, but scored a few, and some good ones at that. If we're using that players who looked decent under Coyle would look 50% better under a decent manager, he'll do for me.

Think he'd potentially be a very astute signing for a lower-half top flight club. Even so, I'd expect in the end that he'll have to settle for a Championship club. It's good that it looks like he's enjoying it here, beause next time they'll be queueing up for him.

I said in the summer that Chapman would be a low risk/high reward option. This was before the injury, but even so I don't see any reason to change my mind. He'll be as likely as not be on buttons, and as unlikely as it seems now, we know how good he can be if he stays fit and can progress. Totally get why people wouldn't take him, but I still think it makes sense as a low risk investment.

To be fair, Corry Evans but with a better range of passing could prove to be a very useful player imo. Excited about the what a future pairing with Travis could look like in a couple of years.

Agree with the Rothwell point, for this week at least. I would still want the option of him off the bench anyway, seeing as he was so effective last weekend. Think Armstrong's a shoe in, as is Travis now. Nyambe being back fit throws a spanner in the works. I'd rather have him playing RB and Bennett moved forward, but who gets dropped? Reed, probably, if we're thinking that Reed and Travis in the middle might be a little too green, but it's not an easy one. Suspect that Tony will go with as you say though, with Bennett at RB and Nyambe on the bench.

I'm still really grateful to Bowyer for giving pride back to the club after 2012-2013, so I don't want to badmouth him too much, but looking back on the talent of some of those players that we had, it's clear that we should have troubled the promotion places more than we did. Back to King, another strength that he had was that, even if he wasn't on it with his final ball (frequently!) he still occupied the attention of defenders because of how quick & stron he was, and how well he travelled with the ball. Equally, when we had Rhodes & Rudy, both were goal scorers rather than target men, but they both needed constantly looking after. We had so many attacking threats that it seemed impossible for teams to deal with everyone all at once. No co-incidence that it coincided with Conway's best form in Rovers shirt, having so much extra space & then Rhodes & Rudy to hit in the box.

That's a relief. Suppose the other obvious candidate is Nuttall. Wouldn't mind that quite so much, more important that he's playing somewhere.

More away from home in fairness, but I can remember a couple in the 'almost got in the play offs year'. Birmingham away, when Rudy got 3. I genuinely think that was as dominant a performance from a Rovers attacking player that I've seen in years, probably should have put it in the best performances thread actually. They were dire, but he absolutely tore them a new one. Not to the same extent, but he did well against Charlton away later in that run. There were plenty of other games when he would torture the opposition full back but with no end product, no disputing that, but I think it retrospect, persevering with King would have probably paid more dividends than persevering with Marshall, even if his final ball was light-years ahead.

Water under the bridge now, but on the wing. The only time we ever really looked in any danger of going up under GB was when we played: Conway Cairney Evans/Lowe King Rhodes Rudy

Top player a few years ago, not sure about where he's at now. We've already plenty central midfielders. If we're to sign a 33 year old, I'd want him to be easily better than we already have. If he is, why are Middlesbrough letting him go?

Probably right, although the gap isn't insurmountable. Wouldn't totally write us off, but I'd expect us to finish about 7th-10th if I'm being truthful, even if that happens to be above 'Boro. Think the GB comparison is about right too. The only difference for me is that then, the squad was good enough, just that GB probably was't the man to take us to the next level in retrospect. I think this time the roles are reversed; Mowbray is that bit cannier and more ruthless, but the squad as things stand probably falls a little short. Next season is more likely to be the big one for this squad.

Conflicted. A little bit to those who have revelled in our struggles in previous years, but then again I never really got the impression that was more than a few idiots on the internet. It's looking like the damage has probably been done in terms of getting them relegated and skinting them, bar extreme fortune with new owners. I'll take that as my schadenfreude and hope it doesn't go much further. Wouldn't wish losing a football club on anyone. Except MK Dons.

Looking at Sunderland, Rovers and Rodwell, I think some of this shows how when the culture and environment of a club is on it's backside, it's really hard for any individual to cut through and not seem like they're part of the problem. You get the odd one like Bennett, but by and large perceptions of individual players are viewed through a lens of the whole set-up being toxic. Throw in a big contract, injury problems and maybe some half true stories about wanting to play, and it's not hard to see where the animosity comes from. All of a sudden, in a club no longer on a downward spiral, with a proper manager and a healthy culture in the dressing room, Rodwell looks as good as gold. I expect a large majority of players would behave no differently in his position, at either club. Cultures are set by managers, maybe a handful of players and the club going in the right direction. Most players would just get their head down and fit in, be that good or bad.

Loan til the end of the season will do him good. Unless he shows him training that he's streets ahead of all of them, he's not getting ahead of Evans, Smallwood, Reed and now Travis. Quickest way he can force his way in will be through going to a league 1 side and stand out.

That was my first thought too. One way of gettinga couple of hundred grand in the summer, maybe free with a sell on clause. Doesn't look like he'll ever cut the mustard for a championship club with aspirations, but the boy will be on buttons. Could be a way of turning a small profit.

Not got round to watching this one yet, but if it's as good as Premier Passions, Sunderland's last documentary in the mid 90s, then I'm in for a treat. A particular highlight was one of their coaches, I believe Bobby Saxton, describing at length how he hates short passing. Not aged well that one.