The reason I wouldn't be looking to take the risk on Cantwell is that it feels like a middle ground is unlikely. Given just how good he looked a couple of years back, his drop in form has been enormous. I think he'd either do absolutely nothing and be a burden, or he'd be a wonder signing. Really we need players who we know are going to offer something regardless, but also have the potential to become a huge asset. Yes there is a high reward with him, put the potential for it to be money burned are also higher. For context, people way Szmodics was a waste for a similar fee. Personally I think we've overpaid for him but he's always going to bring something.

If we sign Killkenny I'll wait to see him play before passing judgement. However.. if he doesn't have a purchase option in his deal it'll be a little disappointing. What we really need is someone with know-how and a bit of experience to guide our midfield. Not sure I see the point in a young lad with potential on a temporary deal. A young lad with potential and the option to make it permanent is a different story.

Regarding Szmodics, people saying he's awful is a little much. I do think we overpaid for him, but he does have something to offer. My personal belief is that he's pretty woeful in a 10 position when we're defending deep. He can't keep possession and the resurgence of Dack shows the gulf in technical quality between the two. I think Szmodics has a role to play as a box to box midfielder. We've overpaid for him but he's not a complete waste of money. Considering the cost I'd rate him as a 4/10. Hopefully with better technical quality in the midfield (mainly Dack), Szmodics can forge his own position and show more value over time.

Edun would be a cracking 5 a side player. A lot of energy, pace, ok technique. He just doesn't seem to understand the game and roams around in a clueless fashion. Always caught out of position.

I'm not sure how nobody has mentioned time wasting. I read a stat the other day that the average time the ball is in play for a Premier League match is 57 minutes. With one or two games falling into the 40's. I've no idea how it's not been stamped out. From a commercial point of view, whether on TV or at the ground, fans have paid to watch a game of football. It's tainting the product. I'm in favour of the clock stopping when the ball is dead. However the talk of reducing the allocated time isn't something that sits right with me. At least to the levels I've recently seen suggested. Have 40 minute halves and the clock stops when the ball is out of play. We'd get to see so much more football.

On the surface Hirst has the profile of the type of player we should be looking at. Did well in the second half of last season, scoring a lot of goals. I was pleased there was a purchase option in the deal. When I say profile of player, I mean young, a purchase option so its not just a temporary fix, and players who given their age have potential high resale value. The problem is that it's just as easy to pick up a dud as it is a diamond. Our scouting needs to be better as he clearly wasn't up to it. He's been a big disappointment and I'm sure Jdt & GB are disappointed at how it's turned out. Hopefully the beefed out scouting department can show their worth moving forwards with better due diligence on that profile of player, reducing the chance of more outcomes like we've seen with Hirst. Very happy for them to have the time to increase the % of diamonds we bring in rather than duds.

Watched a video of him and he looks superb. One year left on his contract could put him in the £2.5 million range. We'd have to have been telling porkies about what we have to spend if we are interested. If there is any truth at all in the rumour, it strikes me the same as the Bosnian defender we were after in the summer. Its a long shot and unlikely. But you might as well try so long as you don't miss out on other targets if it becomes unrealistic.

I think this is the plan. But Mowbray and Waggot have a fair bit to answer for as well in terms of those players walking on frees. The previous regime has a lot to answer for. It strikes me that the plan was following that model, but like in any business or walk of life, words are cheap without a plan with tangible actions. Under the previous regime we wasted a lot of money on a bloated, unbalanced squad (Holtby, Downing etc) at the exact time that those assets should have seen their contracts renewed. The philosophy was not backed up by the people at Ewood, and the owners are too distant to question what was happening. We've already seen many younger players with potential resale value given longer contracts and that's the evidence to me that JDT and GB are doing things properly. Brereton is the exception to this because of his contract situation which is in part down to a hangover from poor planning under Mowbray.

There have been some encouraging signs lately. I thought our season was about to fall off a cliff after the Burnley and Preston performances. We were decent against Boro until Buckley red. Then a couple of gritty wins against Cardiff and Norwich. JDT seems to have given the team a degree of flexibility in his philosophy and its showing. I'm not saying we're blowing teams away but I've been programmed to expect Mowbray death spirals. When it felt like we were about to enter one gritty wins are exactly what the doctor ordered.

From the parts of the game I saw Bradley Dack looked like our best player by a country mile. Almost another full 90 for him too.

Ayala is also our top earner. Not only is JpvH an upgrade but there would some savings in terms of Salary moving forwards offsetting some of the initial cost. It's a no brainer if he's available. It would require some flex from Brighton but I'd look at being a tad creative. A six month loan with an obligation to buy, just prior to his Brighton contract expiring. Gives us the ability to bring in others this window.

Can't be bothered watching this as I too have no time for Talk Sh*te. I think the argument you're benefiting from a rigged system, one that has become gradually more and more bent over time is a valid one. Burnley have however done well. Some smart purchases, clearing out of average players on high wages. The rigged system enables this but there is credit due. There's even an argument relegation has been a good thing as its allowed the club to hit reset. Prior to the season I had some raised eyebrows around how the club would faire, mainly due to the change in ownership. But they'd obviously done their homework in the recruitment department as by and large the money has been well spent and you now have a number of players with the potential to increase in value. As well as Dyche did for you the change in style must be refreshing. So credit where its due. But you're still buying the league 😉

@Dreams of 1995 Just chirping in to commend you on a superbly articulated argument. We all know it's a rigged system but I really enjoyed reading the additional info you included around the comparative growth levels of the Championship vs the Premier League and how closely those dates coincided with FFP. Reading that discussion was a throwback to what brfcs used to be (no dig intended at the current overlords. You're all doing a great job). The only one bit I can add..... Burnley have definitely bought the league

The funny thing about Giles is that Tony insisted on playing Gallagher wide right for years. A bit of work on the training ground and I'm sure he could have made a nuisance of himself coming in from the right with quality balls in from Giles from the left. Tony knew better though...

Ben Pearson would be an excellent signing. Exactly what is needed. Him and an adequate Hirst replacement and I'd be very happy. I highly doubt we have the funds for this though

Van Hecke doesn't play in a priority position, however we know he's quality, has a fondness for the club, will be available at a reasonable price and is young. It's a no brainer. Him and Hyam would be mainstays of our side for years to come. Good resale value too. If Brittain could stay fit I'd argue that Kaminski, Brittain, Hyam and JpvH are all promotion quality players.

You'd like to think with the new scouting set up and a better structure in general we'll be in a place to act proactively, rather than the reactive nature of our past dealings which always felt like a case of camp out in the office on deadline day and see what's available.

I agree with this. Foden has the potential to be an Iniesta. He can play as a wide forward, as Iniesta did for parts of his career because he has the ability to play anywhere. However if England want to see a generational talent hit his potential, he needs to learn how to run a game which would only happen with regular playing time in a central position.

I see Gyokeres as a peak possible signing. I don't think a Premier League club would be in for him quite yet. A parachute payment club certainly could be. He's the type of player whom we should be monitoring and if circumstances align push the boat out for. He's not totally unrealistic, however if a club with more money than us decide they want him, we'll have no chance.

They still won though didn't they 😉 Name is on the trophy. History is written

Lionel Messi. The best there is, the best there ever was, the best there will ever be. The complaints about the Argentines... they do what I'd love England to do. Absolute commitment and would kick their own granny just to get that extra 1% in a game. It's why they're winners and we are losers. Nice guys never win. I'm elated. They deserved this victory completely. And as for Messi. We've just witnessed history.

I'm so disillusioned after Rovers recent performances that this weekend I could barely care about our game vs Norwich. All I care about is Argentina vs France. If Rovers performances dont improve, its gonna be one hell of come down once the world cup ends

Luck has really favoured France the last two games. Deflections/scrambles to score, whilst at the other end the ball just didn't bounce right for Morocco. In saying that Morocco did lack punch in the final third.

Don't think it was a pen. But how on earth the ref deemed the Morocco player to get a yellow I don't know