Armstrong's strength, in my opinion, is to make a yard, with his pace, and strike a fierce shot. He doesn't need to beat defenders and is confident having a strike. I would hesitantly and very generally compare Adam Armstrong to a young Shane Long, mostly, in terms of their somewhat stocky frame and burst of pace. A potential difference is that Armstrong has got a long-range strike in him, as evidenced by a couple of goal of the season awards in his career, which, I'm not sure Long has, so much. I'm sure others might correct me on this comparison, as it is based on very limited knowledge of Shane Long. The problem Armstrong may have is if he's asked to play as a wide forward, rather than the centre forward. He'll have to work a lot harder and won't have the luxury of waiting on the shoulder of defenders so much. I do wonder whether he'll struggle in that position given that Saints have Redmond, Djenepo, Walcott, Tella and, possibly, Diallo competing with him. Perhaps, Hassenhuttl does see him as centre forward. Regardless, I think Armstrong's an intelligent player and could adapt, with the right manager. PS. Saints memories - Marians Pahars' goal in our Roy Hodgson/Brian Kidd relegation season. From what I remember, it was a late goal that made relegation all but certain. Especially, painful as Pahars was one of my favourite non-Rovers players.

I strongly agree with this. If you look at the Swansea attack at the end of the highlights published by Rovers on Youtube, it is shockingly easy to cut Rovers open - once you by-pass the press of the front three. As the still below shows, the Swansea defensive player, No.2, puts the ball through into midfield, taking out five Rovers attackers. Brereton, Dolan and Buckley (?) can't get back (don't try), so the Rovers full backs and defenders are outnumbered and a Swansea attacker has a shot from the edge of the area.

Remember, we outplayed Newcastle with a similar team, last year. Gallagher on the wing and Dolan in the false 9 is not sustainable. Dolan has the energy and pace to cause team's problems on the counter, but, any team that plays cautiously, will crowd him out and our attack will disappear. He'll lose confidence and next thing you know, we're back to chopping and changing every game. One moment, we're the free-scoring team of the league, the next, a pitiful side without any shape. Play Dolan alongside a central striker and let him develop into the role. Imagine the young Damien Duff being expected to play as a central forward at the start of his career.

Ryan Nyambe and Darragh Lenihan are very valuable players at this level. The club should have been trying hard to commit them before March 2020, when the pandemic hit the UK. If the players weren't keen, then a sale should have been made. We can't sell all but nor can we afford to let all leave on Bosmans, either. Apparently, Kaminski and Brereton are in their last year too. Clearly, the finances are not all Mowbray's fault but the dealings described above, not to mention handing out appearance fees for Bennett, Evans and Holtby and the Brereton deal are his responsibility. I think Davenport has been a bad signing too and I don't hold much hope for him this season, though glad he's getting a chance. I would hope that Rovers are actively trying to sell someone like Rothwell or Chapman, alongside, Armstrong. Getting transfer fees for some players will be necessary - but it must be balanced against depleting us for certain relegation.

I suppose Armstrong could by a second-coming of Andy Johnson for Palace - only, I assume he would likely play in a three, as a wide player, beside Benteke, if he did sign? For Rovers, he's never convinced when played as a wide forward - as far as I know. I think he could be effective as a striker alongside Benteke but not sure Palace ever play with two forwards these days. Edit: Just looking at the Palace squad, of Conor Gallagher & Mateta signed on loan, joining Zaha, Eze, Schlupp and Jordan Ayew, I think it's fair to say that they don't need Armstrong and won't, I wager, sign him. If Palace have the next Matt Jansen coming through, would be glad to take him as part of the unlikely deal... However, do bear in mind that Rovers U23 finished 2nd in the U23 Premier League, whilst Palace's team were playing in the league below, last year. (Though, I'm sure Palace have got some good players coming through and no doubt the better ones were out on loan!). Edit 2: Just seen that Palace have a blue and white halves third kit...

It's not exactly relevant for the football but I think the casual equating of the UK and India's coronavirus experience, in the letter, is extremely ignorant. India's current death toll of over 400,000 suggests a relatively low per capita death rate. However, studies of excess deaths in India over the pandemic period suggest that the true number could be closer to 3-4 million. After a devastating second wave this year, with oxygen, medicine and beds in short supply, there is the possibility of a severe third wave, as around 12% of the population have been double vaccinated. As for the football, it's true we have some promising players coming through the academy but if they're not given chances and the right environment to perform, they won't develop. A case in point is John Buckley, who has a lot to prove, but he won't have a fair chance if not given a regular position and kept in the team when performing.

Swansea have lost Andre Ayew, Marc Guehi, Freddy Woodman and Conor Hourihane and a few others, so, perhaps, will be weaker this year, barring some major new signings. They have signed a £1m new striker from Holland, Joel Piroe, who looks like an Adam Armstrong type signing - with very good youth U20s international and lower league records but yet to prove himself higher up in the league. They've got a new head coach in Russell Martin, recently installed, and, apparently, he favours a back three with wing backs, which, I believe, they used last season anyway.

I wonder if the mixed experiences of Harwood-Bellis and Harvey Elliot at Rovers will discourage some players/teams from loan deals. Their valuations were hardly enhanced, despite glimpses of ability. Then, there was Jarrad Branthwaite, who struggled badly. If players can find a more stable team and club, they'll probably give Rovers a miss. Aside from adding a real star to the squad, I don't mind too much about missing out on youth loans and would prefer our own U23s given a chance. The position where I think we're desperate for anyone half-decent, be he inexperienced or not, is at CB. Magloire is yet to convince here or on loan and, the other CBs lack pace.

If this Ben Brereton highlights reel is reflective of his performance in the game, it goes to show with almost absolute certainty, that he should only play as a striker. When playing in midfield roles, he drives with the ball well at times, but he loses possession so much. But for the goals, these highlights (again, if reflective of the game, that I didn't see) suggest that he had a really poor game. Also, I find it notable that some Rovers players were strolling back to kick off after Brereton's goals - as if they had minimal interest in the scoreline. PS. Does Brereton have a Chilean PR agency producing these videos? I find it hard to believe that an average to below average Championship player has such keen fans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8AyS2_2qEY

I'm expecting a similar struggle to last year. Mowbray's still unsure about his formation and line-up and we may yet see Gallagher on the left wing. The loss of Elliot is partly compensated for by McBride, if he's used and develops, and a more confident Brereton - and Dolan may figure more. However, the issue remains that Mowbray has no effective plan as to how to set his team up. I expect to see frequent rotation, with Dolan, Bradley Johnson, Rankin-Costello, Davenport, Gallagher coming in and out of a disjointed team. The football league rule switch back to 3 subs in a game will, I think, affect Rovers, as, last year, Mowbray seemed to rely on drastic changes to chase games. And, the outcome from the season? An average to low finish and losing players, including, some of our better ones, on free transfers. --- 1) Not sure about Waggott 2) Mowbray may lose his job in November, after a string of defeats. 3) Player of the season - Armstrong, if he stays - otherwise, Kaminski 3.1) Young Player of the Season - McBride 4) 15th. 5) Fulham

It looks like a possible 5-4-1 / 3-4-2-1 with Armstrong the lone central forward. The centre backs have to be smart, otherwise they can all end up occupied by one forward, allowing opposition overloads occuring elsewhere.

Looking back at the goals and chances conceded in the highlights against Leeds, I think there do seem to be some pointers that last season's disorganisation may continue to haunt us. Admittedly, the highlights don't show much of the effective defensive work that must have taken place to keep Bielsa's free scoring team down to 1 goal. Presumably, also, we won't often play this experimental 5-4-1, ultra defensive formation, this season. Despite there being at least 6 Rovers players defending in our own penalty box, for the Leeds goal, there were two Leeds attackers free in the box - one of whom, Struijk, received the ball and scored, via a deflection. The Rovers player who made a last ditch effort to block the shot was Connor McBride, who, presumably, was meant to be in a wide role but found himself in DM. Pike's clearing header wasn't effective, in the lead up, but the Leeds goal was borne of team disorganisation, with supposed DMs, Garrett and Davenport pulled out of position, leaving the centre vacant, and the three centre backs, apparently, not spotting the danger of the pull back. It's reminiscent of some of the goals we conceded last season, with players out of position and inadequate shape - with forwards or strikers trying to stop attacks, in vain. Then, for the first major chance shown in the highlights, a long, accurate switch by Leeds eventually gets into the box and, as with the goal, two Leeds midfielders are free in the box - albeit, this time Davenport is in the vicinity and puts the attacker, Klich, off and the shot is saved well by Kaminski. The result was good but I think it might paper over ongoing inadequacies and simply putting 5 defenders in front of Kaminski, is not going to solve the problem.

Surprised to see the score, as I was expecting a hammering. It seems that Mowbray fielded three centre backs and, presumably, Nyambe and Pickering as wing backs. I feel much more confident with this formation than the 4-2-3-1 that Mowbray put out last season, as it provides some cover to the full backs - and means that Nyambe doesn't have to be right back and centre back at the same time. As mentioned before, some youngsters must be on the bench first game of the season, with a view to giving them a chance to stake a first team role. There should be no question that McBride and Whitehall or Garrett are there. Now is the time to give them experience having so negligently failed at the end of last and, instead, fielding Bennett, Downing, Evans and Co. who had no future at the club and playing Buckley as a false 9. As for Dan Pike, I do believe he needs to go out on loan. Some have strongly disagreed with me and I admit to having seen only glimpses of him at RB via streams last season - but he always looked a weak link both defensively and going forward to me. Albeit, he looks physically stronger than others his age. Leeds fan from one of their boards: "If Valencia are here looking at Costa they'll sign Blackburn's wee left wing sub." Think they're referring to Lenni Cirino.

If Leeds play a strong side, this one could be an entertaining hammering - 5-2 or the like. Harrison and others on the Leeds flanks will be a real threat if our midfield/forwards don't get back.

It's good to see the younger players involved after a good season last year, especially. McBride, Garrett and Gilsenan. I can only hope that more of them will be involved this season, after being overlooked a lot of the time by Mowbray. For me, these young players are the only glimmer of hope for this season because we know that the management team don't know how to field a 4-3-3 formation team that works. The team is physically deficient and Davenport as the holding midfielder, despite his technical ability and tenacity, doesn't fill me with confidence, if he doesn't have support. I really think serious consideration should be given to trying Isaac Whitehall in our central midfield to give some height and physical strength.

I mentioned it before, but I can only see him succeeding as a striker at Championship level, where he can make a nuisance of himself in the final third, without the responsibility of getting up and down the pitch. Armstrong and Brereton would be really good Championship partnership but, sadly, Mowbray favours 4-3-2-1, or some version of it. Brereton reminds me of Jon Stead in some of his play and attributes. Brereton is probably an inferior finisher (which is saying something, as Stead was not prolific) and runs more with the ball but I think, given the chance as a striker, he could have a similar sort of career.

Can only see Brereton progressing his career as a striker. He's not cut out to defend or gallop up and down the wing Granted, his shooting is not good, but, were he to improve, he could be very useful drifting from the left, as a forward. However, drifting from left back, not so much. It's a real shame for the game that the second striker has been all but abandoned. It means less opportunities for the creative forward whose limited defensive duties enables them to conserve energy and concentrate their work in the final third and on the counter attack. If Matt Jansen was playing in the modern era, presumably, he'd be used as a left or right forward and defend deep when out of possession. Not to compare Brereton and Jansen, of course.

Is he playing central? Makes sense if he is, rather than left forward wing back winger.

I don't know if I mind the terminology too much. I suppose some of it is influence from abroad, where, in some places, tactical analysis and strategy is taken very seriously. Part, is probably the application of science and data analysis into football and combine that with the sheer volume of football analysis we have now. I see some improvement in pundit analysis from the days of Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer earning lucrative sums for reclining in their chair and repeating the words, "passion, strength, desire, determination" and/or "absolute disgrace - no passion, no strength, no desire, no determination" and other abstract nouns ad nauseum, without any meaningful analysis. Punditry is still, often, a game of platitudes and tautology, but, it does seem that they try a little more these days. I think the breakthrough of female pundits will force the closed shop to up their game and, perhaps, fan channels too. Inclusion of football journalists in punditry is positive, in my opinion too, as they sometimes offer a different perspective. All in all, however, part of me does see the absurdity of men sitting around and getting paid lucratively for analysing what is a game. But we all have our follies... What I find problematic is the lack of fundamental criticism of the game by pundits - analysis of the economic inequality and the exploitation of fans and so on. I think that should be in every discussion. No serious discussion of Chelsea's Champions League success should pass without reference to the fact that that club's leaders literally sought a takeover of the European professional game. Thomas Tuchel, now being revered, hinted his acquiescence by saying that he wanted to compete in the best tournament/competition, whatever that might be, when asked about the Super League.

It's hard to compare them, especially, not knowing the full story behind the deals, but some Souness signings stick out for me. Signing Hakan Sukur, the legendary Turkish forward, and then letting him go after no time due to, allegedly, falling out, strikes me as a terrible signing. Clearly, Souness could not manage outspoken players and to sign someone as 'big' and raise and then dash hopes of fans of seeing a genuine international star play seems like a huge failure. (Caveat, that I don't know the full story as to why Sukur left.) I think if terrible research and due diligence is a factor then Ciccio Grabbi must be up there. I was shocked to discover that since a young age, the guy suffered from Ledderhose disease, causing the formation of hard lumps on the sole of the foot that affects mobility. Je has surgery at a young age and had some good seasons in Serie C and B, having started out as a Juve youngster. However, to my mind, you don't spend £6/7 million in 2001, on a lower league forward with that kind of history. Moreover, we appear to have overlooked his strike partner at Ternana, Miccoli, who moved to Juve the following summer and turned into a top striker. Edit: Remembered that Sukur broke his leg in training but came back to score two really good goals against, I think, Fulham. Souness talked of wanting to give him a contract and then, when the time came, Rovers claimed they couldn't afford him. Sukur, meanwhile, was reported in British press to have said that he had problems with Souness.

I suppose, in many ways, Brereton has been fortunate to find himself there but, I'd still give him some credit for getting into the squad. I really have no idea if it is on merit, not knowing the quality of players available to their manager but it's a huge moment for him - probably, something he'll tell people in years to come. I still don't expect him to be more than a lower league player but this might give him confidence and open up opportunities - as, it may do for Amari'i Bell too, with Jamaica.

Brereton watched from the Chile Men's National Team bench at the Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina, as the home team played out a 1-1 draw against Chile in a World Cup qualifier. Messi and Sanchez were the scorers in the first Argentina Men's National Team match since the death of Diego Maradona. Some achievement for Brereton. He must be the envy of the Rovers squad.

Need to go out on loan, I think, as Mowbray seems reluctant to give them a chance. We had no strikers for the bench at the end of the season and rather than feature McBride to gain experience and confidence for a few minutes, Mowbray had four or five central midfield options on the bench. I think Barnes, Garrett and Whitehall could make it at Rovers but Mowbray's tactics and reluctance are major obstacles. Unconvinced by Dan Pike, but, again, a loan move will be a good test. Given the dire showings from our first team, many of our U23 team should be backing themselves.

This compilation of goals by Andre-Pierre Gignac scoring spectacular goals in Mexico is a reminder of what football can be about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzUe5s30olY

Congratulations to Brereton. I'm sure this will be a boost to his career but, I still don't see him developing as a top player, unless somehow he drastically improves. However, if he can stay in the Chile squad, this might be the difference between him having a good Championship career and drifting down the leagues, as I had anticipated. I think it's no coincidence that we saw Bell play well with much more confidence in the final games of the season having been drafted into the Jamaica squad. I think there has been a campaign going on behind the scenes for Brereton. I saw on some Youtube videos compilations of him that there were a lot of Chilean fans commenting and, evidently, aware of him. As he has not had an astounding career, I speculate that Chile are really struggling for players and have sunk lower than in recent history and/or a PR agent has been doing an effective campaign on his behalf.