Dundalk played last night, Goddard was not included in the squad (no idea why not) Dundalk have put out this statement about finances, so it may be linked in some way

Bell having a good game

Its live on YouTube for anyone who isn't there

If I am not misreading things, it looks to me that from now on, if a club terminates a contract of a player, they cannot then try to ask for compensation (a transfer fee) if/when the player in question finds a new club. Which seems logical. If the above is correct then the issue is if a player fancies getting a move, he could potentially try to get himself sacked (not turning up to training/games, or doing a Duffy etc) so he can move on a free and pocket some or all of the the "dodged transfer fee" as a signing on bonus. It may also impact transfer window rules for players who have their contracts terminated whilst a window is closed (due to freedom of movement issues)

Saadi started last night in a 3-1 win

Starts tonight for Batty withdrawn with an injury whilst 1-0 up, they went on to lose 2-1 On the bench Garrett off the bench bench for the last 20 mins, won 3-2 O'Riordan lost 1-0 Not in squad Markanday apparently rested along with numerous others following a 3-0 win at the weekend, drew 2-2

Pickering and Batth were both unavailable for that game, which forced Eustace's hand, as Carter could not slide over to right back with Batth taking his place in the middle of defence

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/september/30/preview--preston-north-end-under-21s-v-rovers-under-21s/

Players loaned out at non league level are free to train with, and feature for Rovers U21 & U18 teams (Atcheson, Boggan and I think also Honor have featured for the U21s/U18s this season whilst being out on loan). so its a win-win in my book, I think the loan moves to lower levels especially benefit those who are physically bigger/stronger than players of their own age group, as the loan move means they cannot rely on being able to physically "bully" their opponents

It was David Dunns kid

If anyone is interested, I found these. Some are more enjoyable than others

Its the very definition of clickbait. Fabricated nonsense which I presume is funded by ad revenue (I use an adblocker so unsure if that is the case, but it makes sense)

I can indeed confirm that I am not watching full matches, there are not enough minutes in a day & I cannot confirm or deny that I have a Bond villainesc supercomputer with multiple monitors so that I can watch Bamber Bridge vs whoever at the same time as Alvchurch vs someone in the vain hope that a 17 year old midfielder may get the last 10 mins off the bench. 😉 Personally, I do not mind players being sent to teams that may struggle (especially defenders). I think it builds character, teaches them fight, and maybe makes them appreciate things more when they get back to Rovers (not saying that anyone is unappreciative for what its worth) But as a general update Chesterfield are happy with Markanday, creating and looking dangerous. Batty has also had a good loan so far in League 2. Their game yesterday was postponed due to Wimbledon's flooding issue Montgomery and Atcheson have also had good reviews in a team expected to struggle in the National League North (6th tier) Garrett is a strange one, was man of the match with their manager hailing him as the next coming of Gazza a few weeks ago, and then they got beaten by Barnsley and Wigan which were not unexpected results (and even in those games he was apparently one of the better performers), and he has been benched ever since, with Bristol Rovers fans scratching their heads. Bristol Rovers fans are calling for the manager to be sacked and find his team selections baffling, changing his approach/philosophy with each game. Fylde have 2 right backs, one more attacking, and Gamble as the more defensive option. And features more off the bench when they are on the back foot and trying to either hold on or keep the score down. He apparently did quite well yesterday in a full 90 against top of the table Barnet O'Riordans reports get worse with each passing week, seems to have a few lapses of concentration. Not sure if he was injured or completely dropped this weekend, but he didn't feature Wood seems to have dropped out of favour at Annan in recent weeks, Goddard was first choice but has dropped to the bench in the past couple of weeks. Dundalk's results have not improved with his change, they are rooted to the bottom of the table and going down I think Saadi seems to be getting the last 20 mins or so off the bench each game (very small sample size) but I have no idea how he is getting on Vale has had his injury and is unlikely to feature again until December I cannot really comment on how the others (Eastham, Mullarkey-Matthews, Shaw, Michalski etc) are doing/have done beyond the fact they either played, or didn't

Are those 2 strikers comprised of Jordan Rhodes & a big "Gestedesc" lump of a target man?

Not sure if this is the best place for this, but just noticed that Ben Gladwin, who featured sporadically (trying to be kind) for Rovers in League 1 is now the (caretaker) manager of Crawley

Wonder no more https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-broughton/ Spoiler, the answer is, "not a lot" He has spent time on his CV though Director of Football Blackburn Rovers Football Club · • Achieved highest League finish in 10 years and furthest progress in both EFL Cup and FA Cup for 15 years. • Reduced first team wage bill by 15% and achieved positive player trading income of over £35 million. • Delivered Club’s record sale (Adam Wharton), youngest ever player (Rory Finneran) and record win (8-0 vs Harrogate) in 149-year history. • Oversaw recruitment of the Head Coach (Jon Dahl Tomassson) to align with the club strategy - delivered 45%-win record. • Aligned practice across the first team and academy environments to ensure that internal player recruitment was core to how we operate. • Increased squad value by over 60% through contract management planning. • Rebuilt the recruitment department, with data at the centre of the process. • Increased budgeted income from broadcast, ticketing and prize money by over £3 million through on field success and playing style. • Increased player availability to over 91% (from 82%) for the 2022-23 season. Examples of players signed / developed with whilst in post at Blackburn Rovers: - Adam Wharton (England and Crystal Palace) - Sammie Szmodics (Ireland and Ipswich Town) - Sondre Tronstad (Norway and Blackburn Rovers)

Pickering is a serviceable Championship standard left back, who has good positional play, but is limited by a lack of pace. Both Beck and Carter are potential Premier League talents, and would be my first choice pairing in the full back positions in Eustaces system. However, a squad is needed over the course of a season, and Brittain and Pickering are as good or better a 2nd choice pair of full backs as 90% of teams in this division

No. Eustace has one full back who tucks in to make a back 3, and 1 who goes forward to overlap. both Carter and Pickering do the tucking in role, and therefore an overlapping option was required

Think it was more a case of just getting a more attacking player at left back against 10 men, Hedges basically doing Becks job of overlapping and allowing Cantwell to drift inside as a 2nd number 10 Given Brittain is injured, and Beck suspended, Eustace needed a different option in one of the full back areas to enable him to carry on with the same system he has been using all season. I am sure that when everyone is fit, if Brittain starts at right back, then Pickering will be the left back. and when Beck starts at left back, Carter will start as right back

Nope, a much more fluid 3 (Cantwell, Dolan, Weimann) behind the striker though, Hedges went to left back until JRC replaced him

Sky +