I'm not just gutted - I think it's a joke.

An 8-minute brace from Ben Thirkill according to google. A new name for me. Any good? Looking at the table too, seems we really needed that. Second from bottom, ahead of Derby, who also won and are 2 points behind with 3 games in hand. Am I right in thinking there's no relegation from the U18s league?

"I know you say you're interested in me love, but I just find it hard to believe - I never score."

Anybody know if this is also the case on Coral, Betfred or Skybet?

Seen him show ability in some u23 highlights. Can't say the same at senior level.

Would be an odd lineup choice if so. If I could pick three players who would be best having a rest, they'd be JRC, Dack, Brereton and Ayala, and all but the last are in that lineup. If one of them gets injured we will only have ourselves to blame. Before anyone starts, I've said those on the basis of injury records, number of games played lately (and for some, how much they've looked like they're flagging), and current importance to the team. I'm not getting into another debate with anyone about whether players need a rest, or the importance of the cup etc, so please don't quote me giving it that. For me, if we aren't resting those ones, we might as well go full strength.

Yeh, imagine if men went over the top when goals are scored....

I disagree, but if it were true, I would wonder how much of that would be them feeling pressure from loads of judgemental men listening. Kind of like how I'd feel if I were asked to talk about sex at an Anne Summers party.

It's probably that too, but it's all the senseless inane passing around at the back.

In no particular order... The ludicrous wages and ludicrous ticket & shirt prices. Agents. Terrible referees. Diving and other cheating. Venkys ruining my beloved club. The obsession with 'bigger' clubs, especially since it's primarily predicated on what attendance figures happen to be, which there is also a sad obsession over. Glory hunting fans. Awarding of handballs for people smashing the ball at someone's hand from 5 ft away. The pandemic of Dutch Disease. Slightly tangential, but any time somebody calls Alex Ferguson 'Sir'. His prefix should be 'That Cunt'.

I'm confused, why would this benefit any of the parties more than just buying him now for the same price? I'm sure we could be creative with our accounting too and just have the payments begin in the summer. If we did what you suggest, I would think that a foreign club could offer him a pre-contract even if we had an obligation to buy clause.

Armstrong was another who was tiny, but he was lethal up top. The way we play doesn't need a big lad at the tip of the spear, pace is probably more important.

That's only really true of recent Wharton. Just out of form as far as I'm concerned, until it goes on for a lot longer.

Strangely includes a couple of very obviously computer generated goals, but otherwise an illuminating reel for anyone who, like me, is far too young to have seen him play on TV or live.

Yeh there was nothing wrong with the Giles signing, it was all about his misuse. I'd even say it was reasonably ambitious for a promotion chasing side, as he was the top assist maker in the league at the time despite being a wing back. Ol' Tony thought he knew better though, as usual.

He nearly died in a motorbike accident and suffered head injuries. I already said in the post you quoted, 'unless he has had a serious injury reducing his capability, which he hasn't'. Even if his late-ish goal glut there was a fluke purple patch, I'd be astonished if no League One outfit at all, not even a newly promoted relegation battler, is interested in him. Doesn't mean such a move will happen - Leicester might not like the finances, as they'll want a bigger wage contribution since he signed a new, presumably better deal this summer. I'd certainly be surprised if he pops up in the Championship again this season for another club though. Hasn't shown a damned thing at this level in two loan spells. Scored 0 in 32 for Rotherham in this league, and now piss poor for us. But we shouldn't fall into the trap of thinking that because someone is gash at this level (or disinterested at U21s) they can't hack it in the one below, football history is chock full of examples of players who couldn't make that step up but were fine one rung below. It's why Prem teams are sometimes reluctant to take gambles on your Armstrongs and Breretons.

We won't have to wait and see though, as he has already demonstrated quite sufficiently that he is fine at League One level. 14 goals in League One simply isn't 'not up to professional football at any level' unless he has had a serious injury reducing his capability, which he hasn't. It's not really an opinion thing, you're simply empirically wrong. He may be out of form, out of shape, struggling to adjust here or whatever, but the cast iron fact is he has shown he has the capability at that level.

Again, a Championship failure vs a League One success. A deterrent for Championship sides for sure, will barely bother League One sides. League One is clearly his level. Not sure why you can't just concede this point.

And Hedges plays on the right. Was an odd post.

Like Portsmouth were when he notched 14 goals for them?

League One teams are going to go off what he actually did already in League One though, not what he has been up to in the ressies.

This article seems to imply that Mola can't be sent back by us under the conditions of the loan, and overtly states that Hirst can't, meaning we are reliant on the parent clubs recalling them. Those seem like bad terms to agree to unless the players are costing almost nothing. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/23225349.george-hirst-update-blackburn-rovers-eye-attacking-move/

He has already proven himself in League One. He has twice shown he doesn't have it yet at Championship level. Whichever way you meant this comment, I struggle to see why you say it with such confidence.

Norwich hoping to appoint a new manager by this match. I've read that script before, doesn't end well for us.

Breaks?? It might feel otherwise with the intensity of the schedule lately, but a week between matches isn't a 'break'. For me, Brereton is clearly in need of a rest, arguably one or two others too. I'd field a strong, but not full-strength side. Pears wouldn't be in it but probably will be.