I've not seen nearly as much of him as yourself. I was always under the impression dribbling was one of his strengths. You are one of the u21s gurus on here though so I'll be taking your word for it. I'm not hopeful he'll turn things around. Even if he was technically excellent then he needs the physicality and engine. Fingers crossed that he does improve as I seem to remember us spending around 500k on him.

He's a top bloke is Souness and this shows it. He's got a good heart, he's passionate and I could listen to him talk about football all day long. The wheels may have come off at the end but he's by far my favourite Rovers manager.

Juventus have been docked points again. Makes a mockery of the Serie A. So far this season, docked 15 points, overturned on appeal, now docked 10 points. It wouldn't surprise me to see this punishment overturned too. It affects the validity of the competition by changing the amount of pressure clubs are under in certain games. I'm really not a fan of the club and think Serie A is a much better spectacle without their ongoing dominance. Looking at the current squad, they've burnt money for a pretty poor set of players. The worst of which is Pogba who's started 1 game all season.

He came back and trained with us at some point last season, so we were definitely still in touch. I'm not sure what the best course of action is for him. He's clearly a great dribbler but he looks too slow to play on the wing, which then reduces his options to only playing as a number 10, which in modern day football is the ultimate luxury position. Even some of the world's best 10's have struggled over the past decade (Coutinho, Rodriguez etc) because of this. Szmodics is quite a rarity for a number 10, in that he's an asset off the ball as well as on it. The only way I can see a future for Markanday is by him treating the physical side of the game as his number 1 focus. He needs to become an athlete.

If we get some decent reinforcements, I'd be looking at loaning Garrett out. He doesn't look ready to me yet and a League 1 move could do him the world of good. Put an option of a January recall into the deal incase he progresses quicker than expected.

Rumours linking Leicester with Potter whilst Nagalsmann could be back in the frame for the Spurs role gives me some hope that there might be no approach made for JDT. It only leaves Leeds being linked. My biggest concern is the utter mess that is Spurs. With their sporting director Patricio having his world wide ban upheld they're reportedly looking to fill this position prior to bringing in a manager. If I were a Spurs fan I'd be furious that this is dragging out as long as it has. They've known for some time they would potentially be needing a sporting director, yet they appear no closer to a resolution. It could spell out a worst case scenario for Rovers, that Spurs are very slow getting their house in order and don't make an approach for Arne Slot for another 1-2 months, with JDT being his replacement later in the summer. On the other hand a new sporting director could mean Slot is no longer on their list. It's a merry-go-round at the moment and whichever way you slice it, we're close to the bottom of the pile and very vulnerable.

Does anybody have any idea what kind of compensation we'd be entitled too should JDT leave? It could be important in sourcing a replacement. I wouldn't see it as income which would boost the transfer kitty, but income which gives us more flexibility when recruiting a replacement head coach.

Fans advocating for a manager who plays a similar style to JDT aren't necessarily obsessed with possession based football. There's various ways to skin a cat. Jones achieved success at Luton playing a certain way. I think most fans agree Rovers looked more and more comfortable with the style JDT adopted as the season went on. I'm personally advocating for a more possession based coach because I don't want to see the hard work the squad have put in scrapped. I want to see continuity. If JDT were to stay I think we'd be a real threat next year. If he doesn't, then I want to see his ideas built upon. That's not because I think possession football is the only way to go, I just think its foolish to throw away what we've been working towards by appointing someone with totally different ideas. You see it time and again in football, where a successful manager isn't the right fit for a new club. This is why I wouldn't want Nathan Jones.

JDT was brought in very quickly once Broughton was appointed. If we had Waggott in charge of the process I'd agree with you. But if we look at the evidence since GB arrived. We appointed a good manager and did it efficiently. It's the biggest thing he's got right in his job so far. And this will be one of his biggest tests, to repeat what he managed again.

Absolutely not. I'm not doubting what Jones has achieved, but we've worked for a year on a style of play. You look for someone to continue the good work JDT has done rather than throwing it all out the window. Same would apply if Ainsworth was still available. As an example, just look at how badly Jones did at Southampton. It was a complete change in style for the squad. There needs to be an element of consistency in replacement managers. The core idea is the same but with a few fresh ways of implementing them.

There's nothing in Nixons JDT article that we don't already know. There have been too many rumours linking him to Leeds, Leicester and Feyernoord. No smoke without fire. It all just depends how high he is on their 'lists'. If he's number 1 and an approach is made, he'll be off. Even if GB came back from India with a 'war chest'. The only positive is that these rumours have been persisting for a while now. For all his mistakes in January, GB did bring JDT in. Sourcing a list of possible replacements will be his top priority right now. I absolutely don't want JDT to leave but in theory, we're better placed than we ever have been to efficiently bring in a new manager. None of this stage 1, 2, 3 interviews whilst potential replacements lose interest and are put off by our indecision.

And if you're dead set on selling, you negotiate a very healthy sell on fee. For me the minimum should have been 25%. Even more infuriating is the actual sell on fee we negotiated (12.5%) was only one season after we agreed to a 40% sell on when buying Arma from Newcastle. It's baffling how awful those negotiations were.

Dacky is a legend and I won't have a bad word said about him. Be the arguments rational or not 😂

There's no player we've had in recent times that deserves a thank you as much as Bradley Dack. Rovers have been a lifelong obsession for me and pre-Venkys, if you'd ever told me I could fall out of love with Rovers I wouldn't believe it. It didn't happen, but through the years of Kean, Jerome Anderson, the Bradley Orrs and just a long, long line of people who clearly didn't have the clubs best interests at heart, I was being worn down. It had come to the point where I wanted us to win every game but it was always through gritted teeth. I couldn't see any hope for the future. There were a few people who contributed towards turning that around. Mulgrew, Graham staying on. Even Mowbray in his early days. They actually wanted to do well for the club. Above all of them though, was Dacky. It wasn't just his goals, but the fact he played with a smile on his face, the energy he brought into the club and the fact you could see he really cared about Rovers. On the pitch, the fact he played such a big part in getting us out of League 1 at the first attempt in my eyes, is one of the most pivotal points in our history. The club was truly dying before that season. I was devastated when he picked up his first injury, and then his second. We've had wonderful players at the club in the past. Ones with more talent, but for me Dack goes down as a legend. Some will debate that and that's ok. But for a player to come along and help me fall back in love with Rovers cements his place there for me. I truly hope he gets regular minutes and stays injury free. He deserves it and you can see he's a player that just loves playing football. So thank you from the bottom of my heart, for bringing the joy back and all the best Dacky. I've been a Rovers fan a long time now and you'll always be up there as an all time favourite.

Pop my tin hat on. We've got a Director of Football who seems to have authority within the club. He may not be perfect but he is a footballing person. We have a strategy/direction even if some people don't agree with it. Broughton also hired a competent manager. I'd certainly hope he'd be able to do the same if and when JDT leaves. And the owners plug the financial shortfall. This is by no means forgiveness. They destroyed our club. Yes it was nativity, but it was also wilfull neglect of something very important to a lot of people. There are no excuses at all! Objectively though. Most the things I would want to see in place were done last summer. I want to see how this pans out. If they sold us, we could easily see a similar situation happening again, so for me, it's better the devil you know. If they visited, I wouldn't clap, but I wouldn't boo.

Hahaha. Sunderland didn't lay a glove on Luton. With all those talented players that was an absolute no show of a second leg by Sunderland. Thought Roberts was their only good attacking players. But Mowbray had him playing at right back for a game and three quarters.

Absolute bullies. I hope they go up. I don't want us to have to play them again next year. Think Sunderland have done a poor job at stopping the delivery. They need to stick like glue to the Luton wing backs. As soon as they get a cross in there's literally nothing Sunderland can do.

I agree with all of this. Especially Keane and Souness. Keane is the best pundit going by a country mile for me. Redknapp is simply there because he's a pretty boy and sky need a bit of eye candy when you've got Neville and Carragher front and centre. The only time my Mrs used to watch is when Redknapp was talking. Micah Richards has managed to make an entire career out of having a big laugh. I quite like the bloke, but he is by far and away the worst pundit going. Although, I do love it when he tries to contribute, says something stupid, and Keane, Souey, Neville and Carragher turn on him. I've seen them incredulous before. "What the hell are you even talking about Micah" in Irish, Scottish, Manc or Scouse.

Couldn't disagree more. The last time I bought a Rovers shirt is when we had no logo as it had a real retro feel to it without a tacky sponsor. One of my favorite shirts.

You sometimes see teams having a pretty hot season, a few players being plucked away by the big boys and then fading away. The way Brighton are set up makes me think this isn't just a flash in the pan. The young players they sign and bring through. The future planning is outstanding. Bringing in De Zerbi showed they had a set plan for the time Potter was poached. I'm sure they've got someone lined up as a De Zerbi replacement already should he be poached. I can see them being a fixture towards the top of the league for a sustained period of time. Outstandingly run club and impossible not to like and admire.

I was surprised how poor Luton were once Sunderland equalised. They needed to push up the pitch. All their direct, percentage balls in the second half were being launched into players around 30 yards from goal, where they could do no damage. Sunderland managed them well and really came back into the game. The second leg will be a tough game though.

Thought Luton were doing an absolute number on Sunderland in thar first half. Completely bailed out by Amad Diallo. Agree with @Exiled_Rover, it's almost a cheat code having a player of his quality at this level.

Although not an unreasonable assumption, we don't know that Kaminski is being sold. I'd like to see them both pushing each other for that number 1 spot. If one does go I hope the fee is reflective of their ability. 1.5m for Pears, 2.5m + for Kaminski.

I think the original Duff comparison was tongue in cheek when a poster pointed out it was unfair to compare Brereton to other strikers, considering he plays wide left. My thoughts on Ben are the highs were as high as the lows were low. I'll remember him very fondly mainly from 'that' 6 months. It was magic and had me rubbing my eyes in disbelief. The journey to Chile International was quite unbelievable and I wish him the best in his future career. I'll always keep an eye out. I've been of the opinion for a while the step up will be too much for him, however he's made me look stupid before, as I was one of those wondering how he was a professional footballer when he first joined. He's a determined lad, and I hope he takes the Spanish bull by the horns and keeps writing his own peculiar story.

A link to what is going on at West Brom TLDR (to long didn't read) - owner purchased the club in 2016 - relationship broken down with the fans - parachute payments now ended - owner 'loaned' £5million out of the club during covid to support one of his other businesses which was failing - has repeatedly missed deadlines to pay this money back - club have taken out an external loan of £20million to keep them running All in all I think we can expect to see a firesale there and no investment. Expect to see them battling relegation soon and Corberan will be far from happy. https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/west-brom-desparate-premier-league-promotion-avoid-financial-freefall-derby-2109463