Not to get too excited given everything that's yet to be resolved, but Ash Phillips looked superb vs WBA. For a lad who turned 17 years old 7 weeks ago, he was as good as Ayala and far better than (the usually impressive)  Ajayi.

If he's genuinely already at that level, you can see why Spurs etc want him. Nailed on England International if he progresses.

He could and should be 3rd choice in this squad and would like to see him get plenty of game time to rest Ayala where possible.

Phil Jones on a 2018 Jack Rodwell contract? Sure.

If not, not interested. And he won't be interested in a prove it/Pay as you Play deal.

It's no wonder this competition is on its arse, you get more coverage for a pre season friendly.

Just saw the goals (again) on SSN, does the Brereton-Diaz control have a hint of right arm about it.

Not complaining 1 bit, but we may have had a touch there like we did last week with Buckley surviving a 2nd yellow inside 25 mins.

Such small margins in football. Semi tempted to get down to the  Hartlepool game now.

15 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Nope, he definitely wasn't better than Smallwood. Nothing will change my mind either.

Guess we all have a preference to how we prefer shit to smell! 🤣

Ramdon input RE: Lowe.

Jason Lowe was better than Richie Smallwood, nothing will change my mind.

Interesting to see both are now Captains of L2 promotion hopeful clubs in Salford and Bradford.

Lowe has captained Rovers, Bolton and Salford and amassed 186 games in the CH (140+ here), and played 120 since dropping down since 2020.

Smallwood, whilst playing in 232 Championship games, with a near perfect injury history, managed only 32 for us, and many couldn't wait to see the back of him for Travis/Reed. Probably 25 games too many.

Smallwood has played 61 CH for Middlesbrough (as a young/squad option), 108 at a piss poor Rotherham (21st, 21st, 24th) and 42 at 19th placed promoted Hull last season.

Buckley is miles better than both.

3 minutes ago, BRFC_Polky said:

He ripped us apart at Ewood last season…he’s a beast!

Was Davis the lad on loan at Forest, then yes I'd have him in a heartbeat - one of the best #9's I've seen at Ewood in years.

Not sure he'd get you 20 goals himself, but he'd certainly upgrade the front line - 2022 Jason Roberts?

I hope that by the end of the window Buckley is not our best player.

Ps. It's late, but I'm almost certain he isn't.

1 hour ago, TruRover said:

This something you’ve heard ?

Unfortunately not. Not been around my "ITK" sources all summer. 

But it's wishful thinking that anytime a "good player" passes us by, to hope it's because they're waiting on an even better one?

If Rovers turn Lenihan, Nyambe and Rothwell into Van Hecke, Brittain and Szmodics that would be a solid enough transition (if for one second you ignore the massive financial defect of the 3 leaving for £0 instead of £10m+ their contacted value)

Maybe Helik is on the list but is the "B" option, with Van Hecke being the "A" target.

Scenario 1: Helik goes to Poland for £1.5m (outrage from some), Van Hecke signs for Rovers for £3m in 2 weeks (delirium).

Scenario 2: Rovers sign Helik £1.5m (good signing), Van Hecke signs for another CH team for less than £3m in 4 weeks as Rovers "can't" afford him, and already have Wharton, Ayala, Carter, Helik, Barnes and Phillips (outrage by the many).

Scenario 3: Rovers sign neither (Or any quality CB) (mass outrage by all).

That's always the gamble when option "B" gets transferred first.

Able to play #9: Vale, Dack, Gallagher, Brereton, (Dolan?)

Able to play #10: Dolan, Dack, Szmodics, Hedges, Buckley, 

Able to play wide: Gallagher, Brereton, Hedges, Dolan, Markanday, Szmodics, Vale

That's a lot of fluidity in those front 4 positions, with around 5 players able to play anywhere.

If I made the list saying "proven to play" and not "able to play", dare I say I'd say the #9 is clearly the biggest stretch, as for me I'd only count Vale and Gallagher as actual proven #9's.

Not short of options. But is the quality there IF Brereton leaves?

Morton has me very underwhelmed to be honest, but then so did van Hecke and Khadra.

But it really felt like Wharton and Garrett were close to proving themselves, now we get to develop another teams player once again.

12 minutes ago, Spartakfenni said:

I think most of our bought players live around the Manchester area. You’ll not find them in the Postal Order on a Saturday night.

I heard Dacky and Liv love a bit of Spitfire on a Saturday night.

CM is still a huge need, for as impressive as Travis and Buckley were/are, they are not going to play 46 games each, both will likely be suspended for one reason or another - and Buckley especially looks questionable once booked with his decision making.

Potentially need that creative and energetic player available to come on for Buckley late in games (if were not chasing a goal) if he's on a yellow. Is Wharton that player?

Whilst I understand those saying Ash Phillips should rot, and be nowhere near the 1st team, if he is our 3rd best CB (that's fit) then he should be on the bench, ready to play.

Also, the more appearances and bench time he gets, the greater the eventual tribunal will be if he leaves. Significantly.

Also, maybe treating him like the 3rd best CB (if he already is) might actually encourage him and his people to sign a contract till 2027.

Maybe.

Pretty woeful first 30 minutes. Passing for passing sake and poor passing from many.

Played well after the goal, and controlled the game I thought, shame we still don't seem ruthless when winning.

Buckley lucky to be on the pitch maybe. Should really be smarter if he's to play CM all season as he's 30 yellow cards and about 5 reds waiting to happen. love him in that position though.

Concerned we didn't make any further subs as Gallagher, Hedges and Brereton especially looked out on their feet. Perhaps it was a conscious idea to improve fitness.

Cautiously optimistic after 1 game.

So basically, "Blackpool met the release clause, but I'd rather stay at Oxford than go to Blackpool. I've doubled my wage in exchange for an extra £1m on the release clause and an extra year on my contract. Might still leave this window"

Ps. EXACTLY what Rovers should do with Brereton-Diaz.

Call me a traditionalist, but would it have killed Wharton, Buckley, Markanday and Travis to take numbers in the first XI. 

I get Brereton-Diaz and Dack have "brand worth" with 22 and 23. But Markanday could be #7, Buckley #8, Wharton #5 or #6, and our captain not "down" at #27.

Edun, JRC and Dolan rocking top XI numbers is vomit worthy (if numbers meant anything!)

Maybe we have 3 more of these quality signings to come in and take the remaining 3.

See Khadra is off to Sheffield United on a permanent transfer. I know we were not in for him after how he downed tools in April/May, but I'll be curious to see how much the fee will be. 

Might likely be unrelated to any potential van Hecke fee, but if Khadra's deal seems "low" perhaps van Hecke would be cheaper than we imagine.

Does anyone know the terms of the deal, and what would we think Khadra's market value would be?

4 minutes ago, Andy said:

So, hang on, Brighton have JPvH available to them and they play Shane Duffy ahead of him?

IF Shane Duffy hadn't of gone on an OG rampage, had a father who called out supporters and wasn't a general tool the summer before his exit - would people be happy with Shane Duffy (the player) back?

I met Guus and a few others from the van Hecke family before a game last Xmas. Top fella.

3 hours ago, joey_big_nose said:

Theres a club called Istannbul Basaksehir who have won the league recently also and regularly finish in the European places.

Off topic, but they're a fun up and coming team, think they've played United and Liverpool recently in the UCL.

I saw them a few years back (no other Istanbul team was playing) in a UCL game vs Club Brugge. Arsenal "legends" Gael Clichy and Emmanual Adebayor combined for the winner (IRRC). I think Robinho, Emre, Kerim Frei, Irfan Kahveci, Rafael and Martin Skrtel also played that night.

Believe they signed Mesut Ozil last week? Seem to sign some quality (older) players, like Anzhi did in Russia back in the day with Eto'o, Samba etc.

The Turkish SuperLig is actually pretty competitive and enjoyable.

9 minutes ago, rigger said:

I doubt that the best eleven we have today, would include Dack. 

Crazy isn't it? If you'd have said back in December 2019 that Dack would still be here and wouldn't get in our first XI, wonder how many people would think we'd be in the EPL.

Next in the line of promising Rovers career lost due to injury? Jansen, Thompson, Dahlin, Grella (🤣👀)