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

Has experience with loony owners. Just a shame their heroin flogging owner invests!

Another sad and slightly upsetting performance. Enjoyed the Telalovic cameo - looks to have some desire and mobility. At what point will we play a 4 3 3 with Hill as an anchor and Szmod and Sigurdson central. Seems like it would help the leaky defence tenfold.

Box full of rovers shirts and they all watched that happen

I know we signed him from a German Tuesday night 5 a side game but you can't knock his effort. Heads up and running at spaces so far

Samir is 250/1 for a hat trick... Who's bold and needs to top up before new year's (Please remember to gamble responsibly)

The QPR striker is out of contact end of year. Sinclair? Big lad put himself about. Think he's been out injured but could be enticed. 20 years old, big and strong - fits the model and backfills Gally?

Can't afford technically rounded players and in fairness I'd argue part of our detriment is we have too much of the same. There must be 1 or 2 one trick ponies available who have a yard of pace, or some real size in the centre of the park. Who they are? Unsure.

4 shots and 0 saves forced against a 23 year old 3rd string goal keeper