Ohhh jeez - They offered him a contract and he didn’t sign it. He wasn’t worth a wank until last Christmas and even then no one wanted to stump up the cash for him! Hindsight is a wonderful thing and if Venkys had known we were going to implode last Christmas then selling BBD and Rothwell for £15m combined would’ve been a solid call. Truth be known, they woulda been lynched for it back then. It’s very very unfortunate how this has turned out. But as early as Sep 2021 most of wouldn’t have given a shit if Brereton had gone on loan and never come back…that’s 18 months ago and we’d have been perplexed had he been offered a new contract. It is what it is. The club don’t have a crystal ball and can’t even pay the wages of the likes of Boro and Bournemouth - we must move on.

He doesn’t have a plan, it’s just big, brash, cliche ridden hot air! It’s Nigel Farage talking to the right wing idiots, or Boris promising to give the NHS £200m if we voted for brexit. They’re just words playing to ego’s… We’d all love to beat our chests like William Wallace and charge to promotion, but with a budget in the bottom Q of the championship and a club rooted in a financially challenged area, we simply do not have the muscle or muster to make that charge….YET. Mercer (assuming he has been around the block) must know that too, as I’m sure do those ‘liking’ his narrative!! But in reality, we’re going to have to try and do it a different way… I’m not saying what they’re doing will work, but the ‘plan’ (if you can call it that) as described by Mercer takes us back to the stone ages.

I think the point being made, and correctly so. Is that this incessant whinging about players leaving on a free is irritating. People somehow think that we have these players under lock and key and can tell them what to do…we can’t - it’s a simple supply and demand scenario…. Rovers have offered every one of those leavers a contract over the last 2+ years. The players have rejected the contracts because the demand for their services is sufficiently high enough for them to realise they can get a better deal elsewhere. Others have signed contracts, because it’s suited THEM. The likes of A Wharton and Phillips signed because they see a pathway to first team football. Make no bones about it, should they both kick on as is expected then neither will be rushing to sign a new £20k per week contract in 3yrs when their agents being told they can get £120k!! This ‘let them rot in the ressies’ crap is boring too! Who even says that, these days? Why would you let your best assets rot when they could be winning you games!? It’s archaic. Where we can and must be better is in long term planning and looking to engineer moves for players who indicate they won’t sign extensions in good time (2yrs)….but if they won’t sign, and won’t move then you’re stuck. There’s nothing you can do! This regime will be judged on that planning over the next 12-24 months. With the extensions they’ve secured, I’d say they’ve made a decent start.

Finally, some sense. Excellent 👏🏼

I think the keeper has been linked because Pears wants some first team football and our 3rd & 4th choices are likely getting released in the summer. Start next season with TK, Haikan and Pears - that’s what having a plan is all about 👍🏼

Quite…let’s write copious amounts of non transfer content and then blame Greg Broughton for getting to “200 pages without a signing”

Whatever has gone before, in Greg Broughton we have a strong leader with a clear strategy based on the owners vision of being a sustainable Premier League club. His in depth articulation of the role and objectives he has gives me confidence in the process. Reading between the lines also helps us to second guess what they might do, too…eg based on his analogy of the midfield scenario, we won’t be signing an experienced midfielder UNLESS they’ve lost long term confidence in Travis and Buckley because to do so would block pathways of Garrett and Wharton. Really interesting and encouraging insight. Whether you like it or not, there is a plan.

If you’re watching the games, you’ll see that out of possession, Dack is deeper and helping the midfield by closing spaces down etc. So the two becomes a three in midfield, out of possession, which makes you both right!?

I’d go one further and say JDT will be gone by the end of next season if we are not promoted or seriously pushing. The guy was a winner as a player, has been a winner in his short managerial career and will undoubtedly be in a rush to get into the Premier League asap. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has designs on managing one of the super clubs and sees us as a stepping stone! ”Get Rovers promoted asap, make a statement in the PL by keeping them up / mid table and then get a move…” Sure I remember an interview with GB where he described JDT as ‘very ambitious’ whilst saying he ‘hoped’ we could keep him (JDT) happy over the longer term (by meeting his ambitious plans) Hes in a hurry, which is all good for us!

I’ve felt like this about JDT, but have now come to the opinion that he genuinely plays lads who are doing what he demands in training. It’s been described as a meritocracy…I know from a couple of chats with those around the training ground that he’s VERY demanding and VERY specific on what he wants. You get in line or you don’t play…Dack, Buckley, Scott Wharton and now our club captain Travis have all fallen foul. Not a chance any of those would’ve been dropped by Mowbray. The games at Burnley and Preston were baffling from the outside, but maybe he was making a point to the players as ETH and Arteta have done in certain circumstances. Whatever our opinion on JDT, he is the boss down there and in half a season he’s shown to the players that he’s not to be crossed. I think one of the benefits of this style is that it keeps the wider group permanently interested because no one is untouchable. So you get good cup performances when you rotate the team because everyone feels they have a genuine chance!

I think, on the face of it you can probably add Ash Phillips to Markanday and Adam Wharton in the group that appears to have been hard done to…but in context, have they really? Would they have played the games they have under Mowbray, or any other manager this season? The only one of that age group who has broken through is Garrett and that appears to be partially down to necessity, due to Travis poor form, and partially because he seems to be the one who is doing most of the stuff that JDT demands, as per the meritocracy you mentioned. I really wish Vale would prove me wrong and go on a scoring run in the team. Either way, with the lads above, plus Leonard and Batty, our future is bright. Add a forward and CM this window and we’re going nicely. Fwiw, I have no problem with the owners valuation or stance on BBD. As fans, we know we’re better with him…so IF someone takes him then we know we’ve had top dollar. If not then the owners are willing to take the hit. Their money, their prerogative.

I don’t think JDT suffers anything or anyone. Everyone seems to be falling in line… My bet is that he’s had a VERY straight but respectful chat with Hirst and GB. Basically said he wants rid and we’ve gone back to Leicester, told them the craic so they’ve gone out and found him another club.

Looks fine to me. No game since last weekend and no other game until next weekend. Obv wants to give the likes of the whartons, Trav, Markanday and Vale a run out. All lads who need to be ready to play at any time. We’re so light in those forward areas 🙈

Reading the LT article on Dack this morning and hadn’t realised his contract was up in the summer. I think there’s an option to extend it but it’ll be interesting to see if we do…

3 days be reet! Train Thursday, Fri, travel with the lads / rest on Sat and Sunday and then a full week before the Rotherham game. 💪🏽

This would be my team though I’d even be tempted to play Mola for Garrett who will likely have to start the league match the week after with Bucko still suspended. Unless we’ve signed one 👀🤞🏽

Buckley has had a slow start to the season but is without doubt the best midfielder at the club. Buy an experienced CDM who is an 8/10 minimum every week (Think, a CDM version of Hyam) and Buckley would flourish. He needs something me like that in his ear. I actually like Morton and I think he’ll end up a top player in Liverpools first team squad, but not next season. Don’t forget, he’s only just turned 20 and this is his first loan, he’s nowhere near the finished articles but is a mainstay of a team ranked 3rd in the Championship. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s shipped off to Europe to enhance his development next season. I really hope Travis isn’t finished. He looks a yard off the pace In every game and technically seems to have regressed. He will be better suited to our change towards playing a little more direct, looks all at sea taking the ball on the half turn from a cb. A Wharton and Garrett aren’t ready to play week in, week out yet. Get Travis back to his best and we don’t need any more….

Agreed….never go back! In life, love or football!!

Agreed - wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of ex players like Rakip and Berget turn up. Both out of contract in their league, have played for and done well for JDT before so will tow the line and help to flush the old regime out…🤷🏽‍♂️ If they can find a couple more players as good as Hyam and Brittain I’d be delighted 😀

…upwards of £20,000. - Try £60k!!!!! 🙈

You were absolutely bang on the the money. Confirmed by quite a few….for JDT to bring back he’d have to go against the coaches and most influential players wishes.

Rothwell pissed on his chips before he left. Common knowledge that he doesn’t believe that he has any developing to do…but also accepted in the training ground that he completely downed tools after his move broke down in Jan. Mowbray tried publicly to protect him but everyone knew….Prob the reason he hasn’t had a sniff yet this season either. I just can’t see a point where anyone would want him back.

Urgh 🤦🏽‍♂️

Yeah, sorry….I meant we need to find a combination in midfield that works consistently. But the big challenge is to get the front players firing!! 💪🏽

All the forwards are out of touch. Iv watched a couple of games on the Tv over the last week or two and it’s less obvious until you see them live. Today I say the front four trying desperately to spark…Dack was slightly off the pace at times but played some nice passes which weren’t picked up by Gally and BBD who are not making the movement at the right times. The decision making in the final third is absolutely atrocious. They need to play themselves back into form asap and get some fresh blood in there. Dack at full flow would really help as he is the glue and can feed team with assists too…🙏🏽