Also ex Brighton top target now Chelsea loanee army striker Datro Fofana (FM legend) recalled from loan in Germany. Wonder if the Scandinavian connection, links to Brighton and desperation for a striker may connect dots

The impressive bit of this championship 11 years squads is not one has a hard case unit of a central midfielder - Mokoena our last one? N'Zonzi was tall but petulant. We must be one of a tiny handful of clubs who have been relegated and ended up with more technical lightweight players rather than vice versa

Think he's at Afcon isn't he?

Just some stats for the keeper discussion 2nd most goals conceded Most shots faced, 2nd most for shots on target 7th worst for goals per shot on target (Southampton, Boro and Hull all worse) Stats wise you can see the justification for another centre back rather than keeper. From the 'eye test' though the keepers do look the weak point.

For the ever optimists, here is some comments from Killie and Villa fans ref Chrisene. Surprised he's a centre mid in their view Blackburn Rovers fans having a meltdown over this signing, in a negative way, as seem to think they're signing too many youngsters, that might be case, but judging from some of the comments I think they might be surprised at how good he is, they should also note he's probably just as good if not better in central midfield and can also play on the wing. A lot will depend on how his injuries have affected him, but if he's as good as he was then he should be okay in the Championship, was rated in the same class as our very best academy players at one point, and that still might be the case, again will come down to how much his injuries have affected him. Centre mid is where i think he is best. Could have been a Gareth Barry mk 2 but has suffered from so many injuries since the FA Youth Cup win. Good luck to him and i hope he can get a run of games. Chrisene getting a loan to the Championship shouldn't be a shock, he's already proven himself at Scottish Premier League level, if it wasn't for injuries it would have already happened before now, he's one of our more highly rated academy players of recent times should be physically well able for it

If Waggot is on 300k as people on here say, that equates to 5.7k per week. Of the 28 man squad listed on the website, what proportion earn more a week than our failing CEO? https://www.rovers.co.uk/teams/

Thoughts so far 2 at the back doesn't work (shock) Telalovic has gained a yard of pace but has lost a control of the ball Given Travis was shipped out as a high earner, how many of the 11 on the pitch earn less than Waggots reported 300k a year? Inevitable at some point Sammy or Garratt get injured today Back to you in the studio

Very strong lineup Is this shown anywhere or over radio outside of Lancashire or Cambridgeshire

In unrelated news, and what feels like word bingo. Ex Rover Pascal Chimbonda now managing Skelmersdale has been handed a 5 match touchline ban seeing him out of his next game Vs Bury. In response he's signed himself as a player and plans to warm the bench. When JDT had his game out, and given the striking options at the club - wouldn't we have been better lobbing him up top?

Wonder if the view is a drop to a back 5 with Pickering left of, this presumably fast overlapping left wing back doubling up with sigurdson and brittain doing the same on the side with whoever else comes in? This is my glass is 3/4s full interpretation

Normally you'd think getting all your business done on January 1st is proactive and good business but today it feels like managed decline and irrelevant to the pitch

Scroll up, the past 2 pages are arguing about whether we could make demands about Hill's deal to Bournemouth

I wonder if Sam Curtis is one of them following the Ferizaj debacle in summer. Seems Sheff UTD are after him though Also hasn't their season finished?

Joe Wildsmith is pick of the bunch at derby looking at clean sheets

League one players who's deals are up in summer, in positions we may need and may be worth a nominal fee before clubs lose them on frees? Louis Sibley (centre mid) Herbie Lane (centre mid) Jordan Williams (right back) Clarke Harris (striker) Devante Cole (striker) James Wilson (striker) Josh Murphy (winger) Mendez Laing (winger) Owen Dale (winger) Elliot List (winger)

Couldn't entice the stepovers so settled for Waggot and his team of pushovers

Any calls for a loanee keeper are just as risky as working on set pieces and preventing crosses in and sticking with the Swede or Pears. Can't see us paying what you need to these days (monthly fee, prem wages) for a significantly better keeper (Hovrath) and can't see the benefit of gambling on a youngster who no doubt we'd have to play every game

Rooney gone at Birmingham. They've got some money behind them and clearly want a big name and nice style of football. Only 2 hours or so commute from Whalley

I stand by that sigurdson cutting on the left doesn't suit Pickering as he will never have the pace to consistently overlap. On the other side we play Moran who is not a winger and is extremely central. The outcome being most full backs in the league know they won't get doubled up on. Also Markanday at 5ft 6(?) out wide to see out a game Vs Rotherham is nonsensical even with the limitations on the bench

It was exaggerated but wasn't he on 30 in league 1?

I know it's down to the owners and I know Barry Bannan is on 90k a week at Sheff Weds but who else are they paying big money to to be 9tha Nd above Boro and Hull

Is there any 'units' in the academy? Bar Phillips now at Spurs is there any 6ft 2+ 15 stone 17 year olds down at brockhall

Nothing we don't know but still bleak.

Big nasty team and we're in a spiral. Going for a very sad 2-1 loss

Isn't Szmod refusing to travel for Ireland due to some unknown personal reason. Presume he doesn't want to uproot his life for that same reason hence contract renewal? In which case can only see local clubs (<2 hrs) being of interest and so it's West Brom at Christmas again, watch your knee Sammie