From what I have seen, Aberdeen are also playing something of a 5-3-2 system under the new manager, which leaves very little space for wide players apart from the wing backs, so he doesn't fit into the side until they are chasing a game and need to change shape

If you have access to people who may have additional/inside information, you may as well ask... you don't have to take their advice, (indeed we don't know what MGP recommended to them)

You are concerned about Rovers asking someone who obviously has Rovers best interests at heart, and is involved in football in Scandinavia about his opinion about at least two potential staff recruitments (we don't know if more than just JDT and Broughton were being interviewed for their respective roles) who have operated in Scandinavia? I'm no fan of what the Venkys have done to Rovers, but this is a strange stick to bash them with

He has had a terrible season with injuries and might have fallen behind both Batty and Gent now for the LB spot, I hope he gets back to were he was a couple of years back

He signed a 2 year contract last summer. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2022/june/22/pratt-pens-pro-deal/

Will Norris, on loan from our six fingered neighbours

Premier League U21 teams are given first pick at entry to the Papa Johns trophy, Rovers U21 only get invited to take part if enough Premier League teams turn it down

As Spurs still have to play West Ham, and only 2 teams get relegated, Rovers are safe with a win today

Looks like Palace are showing it, but from what I can see, you would need to subscribe (and pay) for a subscription from them https://www.cpfc.co.uk/palace-tv/video/stream/?id=0_gcj34xci&title=Palace U21s v Blackburn U21s&matchId=2321431

Turkish window doesn't close until next week, that is is the biggest European one that is still open I think. This link has the full run down of European transfer windows https://europeanleagues.com/transfer-windows/

A lot of that is down to the post Brexit work permit criteria, Belgium's top division appearances count much more to work permit points than any Scandinavian division. So 'unknown' players in Belgium qualify for work permits whilst players based in Scandinavian divisions have to be full (and regular) internationals in order to qualify, and therefore Scandinavian based players (who would qualify for a work permit) are already known to other clubs (and more expensive) Simplistic explanation, but that's basically it

We tried for John Souttar who chose Rangers over us (Harry Souttar of Stoke is is brother)

That's before my time, I'm a child of the 80s, so I will take your word for it 🙂

You may be right there, and if that was the case, I would still give him a new contract

Transfrmkt is like Wikipedia in that it can be edited by its users. I'm not saying that the information is incorrect, just that it should be treated with caution. Rigger is correct in that if that clause was in the contract, it would mean that either Dack or the Rovers could extend the contract till June 2024. Even if the other party did not want to. However I cant see verifiable confirmation anywhere that there is anything other than a standard 1 year option. Fingers crossed that this discussion is academic and he starts banging them in like the Dack of old, and signs a new contract

Possibly... The link from when the contract was signed doesn't mention anything about both parties having a one year option, but I don't know the full ins and outs of his contract

His contract is until 2023 with a 1 year option https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/december/dacks-back--and-hes-here-to-stay/ It means that if Rovers want to keep Dack after the end of this season (and he doesn't agree a new deal), then they can trigger a 1 year extension. Exactly the same as what they did with Brereton-Diaz this season and Rothewll & Nyambe the season before I would hope that the preference would be that if he gets fully fit and back up to speed (as he is looking like he is doing), then a new deal will be offered and signed before xmas

If he is English, then he doesn't need a work permit

Looks like he has just had his contract with Schalke cancelled https://news.trenddetail.com/today/57722.html

Williams and Tuanzebe are both on circa 50K a week at Man Utd, Jones on over 100K/week. All well out of our price range unless Man Utd decide they are better off footing most of their wages for the season. Laird (right back who can play left back) and Mengi (centre back) both have much more affordable wages for a loan Although Jones is out of contract at the end of the season and he wont get anything like the same in terms of wages when he moves. So maybe then he might fancy returning home at a level which is within our wage structure?

Bowler had a pretty unimpressive season on loan at Hull when they were relegated in 19/20, and then he was released by Everton the season later, His stock was pretty low and Blackpool took a gamble on him which paid off

Thanks Mike, As I said, its marginal gains, it wont generally ruin a player/defence, but at top level sport, marginal gains can be the difference maker in a tight game

The whole 2 left footed centre backs being unbalanced is in marginal gains. There are many right footers than left footers... so there are more right footed centre backs. As such, at some/several points during a right footed centre backs career, he will be asked to play as a left sided centre back (as his partner/s are also right footed) Left footed centre backs (being rarer) will rarely be asked to play on the right, as it is probable that their partner/s throughout most of their career will be right footed. So, in much the same way that right backs often look lost when played as conventional left backs (because they are not familiar with playing there), left footed centre backs playing as right sided centre backs is almost like learning a new position, as silly as that might sound, and can in theory lead to a decline/drop in their performance compared to when they play on the left Hope that waffle made some sort of sense, lol TLDR - if you are less familiar with playing in a certain position, then if you are played tehre, then your performance may drop (albeit slightly)

rolling basis

Quite possible