Pre the sale I would have agreed. We had cash in the bank and parachute payments we could use. Not so much the case now. 10 players (I think) out of contract. Many are older but it would still be a big rebuild, Keeping Dyche would for me be vital, we have some decent defenders but would surely lose: Tarkowski and Mee who are out of contract - and Tarky has already more or less said he's off even if we stay up. Mee will only stay if we stay up I think Weghorst, Cornet, McNeill because they will get offers at top flight clubs, here and abroad. I'd be surprised if no one came in for Taylor and possibly Pope - though his poor distribution may make him less sought after. Leaves us with potentially Pope, Roberts, Collins, Pieters, Brownhill, Westwood, Barnes - basically we are talking at least 1 starting centre half, 2 starting wide players or centre mids and one or two starting strikers if we go down. I don't think we will be bouncing back anywhere.

Agreed - 1 in 21 tells its own tale. We are relying on some sort of form about face where we suddenly start scoring regularly. Impossible? No but likely ... hardly. Mind you we do still have to play Everton, Brentford, Watford, Leeds, Newcastle and Norwich so it remains "in our hands". It really is the hope the kills you.

Actually looks good so far, the classic good feet for a big man. Seems to have decent football intelligence, has a decent strike on him, links well with midfield and strike partners etc. Trouble is McNeil isn't creating anything, Cornet looks off the pace since coming back and the centre mids do a decent holding and break up job but don't really create.

Ah but you are at the right end of the table at least - plus you have scored in spells this season, something we haven't done.

It isn't true that if we were to win our games in hand we'd be bottom three - we would go above Watford, Norwich and Brentford. That said the simple reality is this, we probably need to win 8 from 17 having only won 1 from 21. So whilst still in our hands it is going to take something that just doesn't seem at all likely - we simply don't really look like scoring. We won't lose many but also won't win many either.

To be fair Sancho and Shaw caused us no end of problems in the first half, various prima donnas had good individual spells and the second goal that was ruled out was on the soft side but you are right, a whole host of egos on the display last night. I’m not sure how United play, or want to play. To some degree it’s reminiscent of the last days of the ‘galcticos’ at Real. Quite a clear out needed and they need a manager with a vision who is allowed to keep those that fit his ideas, bring in new and clear out any that don’t fit.

And it really is that simple. We have plenty of games to play - including against those around us - however we need to pick up wins somewhere. It remains very firmly in our hands and that is literally all you can ask for. It is interesting that we have 3 points from our last three games, which is all I expected. The trouble is we would have been better served by getting those three in the Watford game and losing against Arsenal and United. Still a lot of football to be played. butiIf I'm honest I do struggle to see us getting out of the bottom three. I exepct us to scrap to the very last kick though. Same for you guys, a lot of games still to go - plus even if you do slip out of the top 2 with QPR and Bournemouth on your heels with games in hand, you have the chance to go up through the play offs.

Even allowing for the conditions we were woeful on Saturday - play anything like that tonight and even in disarray United will win at a canter.

I'm not sure who to believe but I'm leaning to the manager - players not used to getting called out suddenly doing an about face seems most likely to me.

Deleted this as I realise it’s the wrong place for such a rant, my apologies if you saw the original.

Oh I will. Like I said, we wouldn't have you 😉

With over half our games still to play and between 2 and 5 games in hand on teams around us? Not only has the fat lady not sung yet, she hasn’t even arrived at the opera house. Bloody hell, much like Ramsey, I wouldn’t want you alongside me in the trenches.

He gets a chance to put himself in the Premier League shop window for 20 games - or more if we stay up and no one move for him in summer. He's got a relegation clause so can move on if we go down. We need more than him to survive but having watched some of his goal reels there might be a few nervous PL defenders around. Not sure why no other teams were looking - or indeed why Newcastle didn't go for him ahead of Wood. Maybe it's that good old English exceptionalism at play, exceptionalism that feeds that foundationless belief that the premier league is the 'hardest in the world' and he hasn't proved himself here? Whatever it is this is a signing I'm absolutely happy with - though I hear he can be a handful off the pitch as well as on it.

Weghorst has signed - definitely looks like an upgrade on Wood and for half the price. Ramsey keeps being linked - personally would prefer not to sign him as he clearly (and understanably) doesn't want to come so I'm not sure he's what we need in the trenches.

The stuff on this is disgraceful. The recording is damning to say the least.

More positive sounds on Weghorst. Having a read around the web he represents an upgrade on Wood. We still need a midfielder though, looking unlikely that will happen.

the reports I’ve read are Zagreb have rejected the deal, not the player.

I was thinking more a tweak, but I take your point. I guess we first need to actually sign the players because right now we are weaker than we were on Jan 1st. So whilst it is always exciting being linked with new players we so often seem to fail to get deals over the line.

If you listen carefully I think you’ll hear the sound of a stable door slamming.

If these 2 deals come off I’d be happy, surprised but happy. I’d argue we’ve at least matched Wood and arguably improved. Orsic would addpace and skill - and Dyche ‘could’ try a different tactical set up - and of course if we survive at the expense of Wood and his new team all the better. Not sure how much you’ve seen of Wood the last few years but he’s got double figures each season in a team that notoriously doesn’t create a lot. He has been largely poor for a year though, a purple patch at the start of 2021 aside.

Saw a quote yesterday, Watford sacked Dyche in 2012 when the new owners took over. Since then they have had 15 managers - so basically an average of 1 1/2 managers per year. That said they have had relative success so the model clearly works for them.

The noise is still quite a way to go - I’d be happy with this though if it happens.

Good manager but our fate is in our hands, not Watfords or anyone else’s. We win a few games we stay up, we don’t and we go down.

I can’t be sure but I think Rovers fans may have been playing on Wikipedia

Obviously for me to see us claw our way back from oblivion, to see the club finally out on a solid financial footing only for it to be wrecked by the greed of the owners as were and some foreign speculators is a hard one to watch - but we aren’t the first and won’t I guess be the last. Sure for you guys - and I can’t say I didn’t get some fun out of seeing the Venkys experiment but, at the same time, could also find it a bit worrying that a club whose business model I admired, however grudgingly, could be turned from so well run to what it became within a season or two. Sadly there isn’t the appetite in government or even the fans it feels, for change.