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

After the last few years, I was dreading the January window and its annual embarrassment. But after the past few days of the Hedges thread, I think I may actually welcome it 😉

It could be argued that Rovers under Eustace do not play any wingers. At least not in the traditional sense. When in possession one of the "wingers" moves inside to effectively make two 10s behind a lone striker, and the other "winger" essentially plays more as a wing back, which is much more suited to Hedges (although Beck for me seems to offer more in that role as a starter). Whether that is because it is Eustace's favoured way of setting up, or if he is setting up that way because of the limitations of those available to him, is obviously up for debate

Apparently this is him, no idea who the guy in the picture in the article is

Tonight's games O'Riordan on the bench for Cambridge - lost 4-0 Vale still injured so not involved for Motherwell - drew 1-1

Joe Bryan? I seem to recall a few on here fancying him when he left Fulham a couple of years ago

If it was me offering the extension, it would be an attempt to reduce his basic salary, but bump his performance related clauses for appearances/goals/assists etc, to try to coax more consistency from him in regard to goal contributions whilst also negating any potential fall off in availability due to age/future injuries

So long as Hedges basic wage isn't too high, I have no issue with renewing his contract and having him as a squad player. Beck will not be here next season (unless Rovers manage promotion in which case we may be able to have him back on loan), which already leaves us needing to find someone to play on the left side (at either left wing or left back, I personally like Pickering at left back and Beck further forwards), so re-signing Hedges allows us to theoretically concentrate our search on someone who will go into the first 11. For all the talk of injury issues, he has played 98 first team games for Rovers in under 3 years since he signed (albeit boosted by a near ever present season in JDTs first year). But he has also been near ever present this year so far too. His injury issues were confined to last season) As a squad player, Hedges is useful, he is versatile, does not shirk defensive duties, puts in a shift, and is capable of temporarily plugging a gap in the side in case of injury/suspension/late in the game when we are trying to keep things tight.

Off the top of my head League - Premier League 2 - Next game v Wolves Jan 10th Cups - Premier League Cup - Next Game is against PNE Jan 7th Premier League International Cup - Next Game v Athletic Club 5th Feb National League Cup - Next Game v Forrest Green 21st Jan Lancashire Seniors Cup - Next Game v Bolton 18th Feb Central League Cup - Not sure on this one Having a quick google (which is were the dates have come from), It looks as though they haven't been knocked out of any yet (many are mini leagues like World Cup groups) U18s, U17s, U16s etc also have their own competitions too

Disappointing result as U21s lost 2-1 away to QPR in the Premier League Cup Leonard scored in the first half from the spot, but hit the bar from a 2nd penalty at the start of the second half before QPR equalised, and then hit the bar again later on from open play just before QPR scored their winner

Possibly, maybe even probably, but now that Southampton will have a new manager in place, it is not certain