following an internal investigation into claims that items belonging to his team-mates had gone missing from the training ground dressing room, he has since been suspended by the club and told he will never play for Rovers again. I would assume that those team mates were from the Rovers U21 team at the time, so not even the expensive gear that the first teamers may have had, kind of makes it even worse to me

If Stoke were relegated, it would enable them to reset and rebuild without Championship FFP rules in the same way that Ipswich and Birmingham have done. FFP rules in League one are based on income, not profit and loss, so relegation can be the best option now for any medium or large sized club who have owners who are willing and able to pump money into player purchases

Starts today for Markanday lost 2-0 Olson drew 0-0 Powell game abandoned at half time whilst losing 1-0 Atcheson lost 3-2 Edmondson lost 2-1 Eastham game abandoned whilst winning 3-0 Honor lost 2-1 On the bench Garrett lost 3-1 Gamble lost 3-1 Not involved in matchday squad Vale lost 4-0 O'Riordan lost 2-1 Montgomery lost 3-2 Mullarkey-Matthews lost 3-2 Ramwell lost 5-1 Game postponed Batty Saturday 28th Dec Wood not involved for Annan who drew 1-1 Woods loan has been a strange one. Appeared in the first 6 games of the season in league and cup, scoring his first senior goal, then had 2 games as an unused sub, and I do not think he has not been seen or heard from since early October. Maybe an injury, maybe frozen out/completely out of favour, I think his loan expires after this game.

Interesting that Honor seems to be doing well at that level whilst Michalski, despite being the more highly rated of the two, was recalled from his loan at the team at bottom of the table in the same division after they brought in someone to replace him,. From memory, Atherton were second bottom when Honor joined them, and they have since moved up into mid table

Powell loan at Chorley extended for another month & Michalski's loan ended at City of Liverpool https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/december/24/powell-extends-magpies-stay/

Last one of these before Christmas Saadi started this evening in Cyprus and played the full game in a 2-2 draw Random bit of trivia - Blackburn born Greek International & son of former Rovers player George, Anastasios Donis was on the opposing side

Ryo Germain, see below

He cannot be recalled until the window opens next week. When it does open, I am sure that Garrett (and O'Riordan) will both be recalled due to lack of game time, but will probably be loaned out elsewhere, rather than used by Rovers this term (I am pretty sure, that having played for one loan club already this term, if they do play for Rovers, then they cannot then be loaned out elsewhere this season)

Giles did well as a left back for Middlesbrough, and well as a left winger for Cardiff. Gent is doing well at the level he is at, but he is not a Championship level player at this time (if ever). I was just using former Rovers players as examples we would be at least familiar with, rather than saying that they are wonderful players Another traditional winger who was converted into a full back was Le Saux

Also, a lot of players who would have in the past been considered as a winger, are now played as wing backs or full backs, Giles, Gent etc

Not the position, the role. Salah & David Beckham play/played wide on the right. Both however, played completely different roles requiring completely different skillsets. Personally feel Markanday could play as a 10, or a wide forward (not as a winger) on the right at at least League 1 level. But I will leave that there. Merry Christmas all x

Maybe I am being pedantic with this statement, but for clarity, when he starts on the right, Markanday is played as a wide forward rather than a "winger" in the same way that Salah is used for Liverpool (I am not comparing their abilities, just their role)

Markanday started the season on the right for Chesterfield, had a short spell as a 10, but has played the last 5 or 6 back on the right. This could be for numerous different reasons. I've just created a profile on the Chesterfield board to ask them what they think of him (aside from him being one of their best players which I always thought was a given considering he is probably playing at a lower level than his ability) & his best position, they have probably seen him more in half a season than we have during his time here. (but apparently I cannot post topics until I am approved, lol) https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dilan-markanday/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/530807/plus/0?saison=2024&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id= He did (from memory) play as a 10 with some success for Rovers during this pre season

Majority of his goals scored before a head injury in the summer. 12 in 12 (which may well have been a purple patch) before the injury . 7 in 20 afterwards https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ryo-germain/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/511448/plus/0?saison=2023&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id= However, He is out of contract in January, so he is Waggotts favourite price

Shush, don't tell everyone, Some guy in Pune gave Waggott some magic beans, and Rovers will have a war chest just as soon as the beanstalk grows and Yuki come back down from slaying a giant or 2

Nope, signed a 3 year contract with them in the summer

I am not sure if it is that Hedges is seen as "a priority" for contract talks. It is likely just that his is just a contract that can be agreed. There is after all, no rule that says clubs cannot talk to numerous players at once If we are to assume that Rovers have a pay scale, with a maximum basic wage that can be offered to any given player (probably £15K-£20K/week max). the other players who will soon be out of contract soon (Travis, Tronstad, Dolan, Hyam) will quite possibly want wages that would stretch or break that pay scale, as they will be very well aware that they could get at least that amount elsewhere. I have seen numerous posters state that "x player should not be paid £15K/week+", which is fine, but if that is the case, and if that is where Rovers draw the line in the sand with regards contract offers, then we cannot be surprised if negotiations reach an impasse, and the players decide to move on to a club which has a higher maximum wage threshold.

He has a year option which will be triggered regardless, as even if Rovers do not plan on keeping him, they will be able to get a fee (with add ons & a sell on which will be the main concern)

Batty was having a good spell, been injured for the past month, and Accrington's form has dropped off a cliff since he has been missing. 1 win in the 7 he has missed https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jake-batty/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/866669/wettbewerb/GB4/saison/2024 Garrett and O'Riordan, I agree, have had a wasted 6 months

Markanday assist/Chesterfield highlights https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/13278149/chesterfield-1-0-afc-wimbledon-league-two-highlights

which was offside

all of which should have been disallowed (but are not) for increasingly ridiculous reasons... just to annoy them

He messed with the set up, both wide players coming inside rather than one holding the width. Should have started with either Hedges or Beck wide left, and left out one of Ohashi, ACD or Cantwell so that we could play the usual shape

Well, as we all know, in Andy Moran they definitely have the right player for a relegation scrap. I am sure he will not go hiding at all! 😉

In the early kick off, despite the sacking of the Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor, Jake Garrett is still not selected in the squad - drew 1-1 In the 3pm kick offs Starts today for Markanday won 1-0, Markanday with the assist for the goal Olson lost 2-1 Edmondson drew 2-2 Eastham drew 1-1 Honor won 2-0 On the bench Gamble lost 4-1 Powell won 2-1 Powell came on for the last 15 Atcheson lost 2-0 Not involved in match day squad Batty lost 2-0 Montgomery lost 2-0 Wood lost 4-0 Mullarkey-Matthews drew 1-1 Michalski & Ramwell lost 2-1 Cypriot teams (Saadi) play on Monday