I do wonder if a back 3 has been "figured out" for the time being, with many managers opting for doing something similar to what Eustace has done with his full backs (one tucking inside and the other overlapping), there are only Luton (who have been terrible all season) and Watford (who started well but have lost the last few) who now play with a strict back 3 in the Championship. A similar thing happened when 4-4-2 was phased out fifteen (ish) years ago, with the curious thing being that the new in vogue thing for managers to do is something close to a 4-4-2 when defending, and 3 at the back (almost the old WM) when attacking

Would argue Rovers had the better of that game, but they just couldn't find a final ball/finish on numerous occasions. Tyjon or Leonard might have made all the difference. Surely they cant both be with the first team tomorrow? Sloppy at the back on more than a few occasions though

Goddard on the bench again for Dundalk vs Bohemians

U21s play Newcastle at 7pm. Game is free to view on the Newcastle site/ap from 6:45pm (you have to sign up) https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/live/271658 https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/matches/U21/newcastle-united-u21-v-blackburn-rovers-u21-english-premier-league-2-20240927?tab=live Rovers team (Atcheson presumably playing as Marine do not play again for anther week), Surprised not to see either Leonard or Tyjon. Maybe they are being saved for Preston U21s on Monday? Barrett Murphy-Worrell Olsen Atcheson R.Doherty O'Grady-Macken J.Edmondson A.Doherty Biniek Bloxham Mafoumbi Subs Honor, Powell, Caddick, Bell, Strich, No Finneran for Newcastle

Assuming that Eustace sticks with the team shape that he has used so far, and there is so far nothing to suggest that he wont, I think that once everyone is fit & bedded in (as in not for the QPR game, and probably not until after the international break), we will see Cantwell as the 10, Dolan as the wide player in the 3 who defends as a wide player but becomes a second 10 when Rovers have possession, and Cozier-Duberry as the player who holds the width/offers pace. If so, Dolan and Cozier-Duberry could both play right or left, and be switched around depending upon which fullback options are chosen and whether it is Brittain on the right, or Beck on the left overlapping Dolan. Pears/Toth Brittain Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Tronstad Dolan Cantwell ACD Gueye or Pears/Toth Carter Batth Hyam Beck Travis Tronstad ACD Cantwell Dolan Gueye

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/september/27/show-your-support-for-our-japanese-star-/

Jared Harlock, who was often training with the first team a couple of years ago has joined Missouri State College at the age of 22 , after being released by Rovers over the summer Ben Fyles, who is another who was training with the first team before his last big injury is still without a club since the summer.

Honesty (or lack thereof), or "mind games", call it what you will. I am all for it I think you are reading my comments as a negative thing. They are not. I think it is good that Eustace clouds some issues about player fitness in interviews

He said Brittain and Siggy were fit for the PNE game in the article I linked, They were not, and are are still not fit. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/september/26/brittain-touch-and-go-for-hoops-meeting/ I don't mind it at all... Keep the opposition guessing about what team we can/will put out. But it certainly isn't honest, and given his comments last week, I would not be surprised at all to see both start on Saturday after effectively ruling them out of contention this week

If he had stayed (and signed a long term deal) at Arsenal, he would be behind Saka (who is only a couple of years older than him) for years. He probably fancies his chances of displacing Solly March to be a first team Prem player in a year or 2 after a successful loan

Missed the last league game vs Hull due to concussion protocol., Would suspect after they capitulated in the second half of that game that he will be straight back into the 11 when he can be. https://hotspurhq.com/posts/spurs-loan-watch-tottenham-defender-misses-managers-first-game-in-charge "Phillips was forced off with a concussion in Stoke City's third round Carabao Cup win on penalties over League Two Fleetwood Town, and in cooperation with the concussion protocols that require a player to wait a week before taking to the field again."

Apparently was taken off for tactical reasons, and only partially as a precaution. But Eustace was not exactly honest about how injured/ill Sigurdsson and Brittain were before the Preston game, so make of that what you will Both Travis (3) and Tronstad (2) are picking up a few yellows, so maybe soon

I think Higgins is a Rovers fan, so this may be another Adam Wharton situation * rather than a Finneran/Phillips * As in, he signs a scholarship deal, and then maybe a couple of full time contracts and features for the first team for a couple of years rather than jumps ship at the first opportunity

Bamber Bridge did bring in a keeper from PNE last week (who was also on loan at Bamber Bridge last season and the season before) It is not clear if Rovers have recalled Michalski because of this, or if Bamber Bridge brought in the guy from PNE because Rovers were about to recall Michalski,

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/september/25/national-league-cup-fixtures-confirmed/ Altrincham v Rovers Under-21s J Davidson Stadium Tuesday October 8th Kick-off 7.30pm Rochdale v Rovers Under-21s The Crown Oil Arena Tuesday November 5th Kick-off 7pm Oldham Athletic v Rovers Under-21s Boundary Park Tuesday December 10th Kick-off 7pm Forest Green Rovers v Rovers Under-21s The Innocent New Lawn Tuesday January 21st Kick-off 7pm

He did win the awards for save of the season and most clean sheets in the Hungarian top division. But I have no idea what sort of level of competition that is

Has has not featured for the U21s. Might have possibly played behind closed doors, but we (fans on a forum) wouldn't know how he had done if he had 😉

Assume they have seen Russell Martin (MK Dons to Swansea to Southampton) and Kompany (Dingles to Bayern) fail upwards in recent years and fancy the same happening to them. In short, looking after themselves first and foremost, rather than the team they are currently managing. Maybe this is justified given how quickly clubs dispense with managers who are not doing well? What I do question though is why those who employ these managers seem happy with this situation. There is no real short term benefit to these clubs, especially in League 1 & 2, and it seems to result in the manager being poached by a club higher up the ladder. Maybe the compensation fees are enough of a benefit? Both in terms of clubs higher up the ladder paying compensation fee to bring the manager to them, and also in terms of transfer fees received for players who are more acclimatized to this style of football. It does make you wonder if a truly ambitious lower league club (and presumably one with an owner able to financially sustain the club) should be as "anti football" as possible in order to discourage clubs in higher divisions from taking players & managers off them, and as such, keep a team together to grow and develop.

Saadi on the bench It finished 2-2

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/september/22/team-news--preston-north-end-v-rovers/ Seems to indicate that whilst Brittain & Sigurdsson are back in training (as per Eustace earlier this week), they were not fit enough for today. To be honest, if they are only at say 80-90%, why bring them back early when we can already name that bench?

On the bright side, they at least now have the U21 and U18 squad pictures on the website, only taken them 3-4 months, lol https://www.rovers.co.uk/Teams/u21 https://www.rovers.co.uk/Teams/u18