I didn't dispute that they were woeful, did nowt etc. I didn't watch it so I have only opinions on here to go off. It being the only game they're getting is why they need these games for fitness. Over the years I've seen and heard of loads of accounts of first team players, including multimillion pound purchase Prem players and supposed mega prospects, do poorly in youth games. Players who have already played at a higher level are less enthused about playing at u23 is my point. They're also not match sharp as they haven't been playing much.

Seems often players dropping down to the u23s from first team are mostly looking for fitness, whereas the other young lads are still hungry and trying to make it, and it's their main football so they put more into it.

Tbf, Clarkson supposedly looked good for their u23s too. It's not always easy to tell if someone is good enough for our first team based on how they play against our kids.

It's the option being hypothetically discussed.

Nevermind JacknOry, now I see where you heard it. Gav, where do you get nearly 20 million from? 15 is the most I've heard.

With respect, you should have made that point then, instead of saying we sold him for 10 million. If you wanted to say we ended up with 10 million, say that instead. We sold him for about 15, we ended up with about 10, as best we know anyway. Just hovered up into the debt black hole of course. Again I've not heard anyone say 20, where have you heard that?

A winning team in a shit league over a struggling or mildly competitive team in a great league though? To me, a player who picks that is unambitious or has a very tender ego. If you impress in a great league, then even if your team goes down you could get a move to a better one. Hell you can go find a winning team to play for in the Sunday pub leagues, but why the fuck would you want to do that if you can play at the top level?

15 million was the reported fee. Officially undisclosed though. I've seen absolutely no mention anywhere of 10 or of 20, personally.

Disagree on the first paragraph. Some are that fairweather, but most of the fans boycotting Mowbray's reign now didn't do so the second he lost a game. They've been worn down by years of his bizarre selections and strategies, as well as the infuriating stuff he comes out with at times, and the club's apparent nonchalance in the face of it all. His not having been sacked yet is symptomatic of how badly ran we are, which is highly dispiriting and keeps as many or more fans away than the lack of top flight football. The club feels like it is on autopilot, with no destination set. The second paragraph is right, but literally any club in the EFL would get more fans for the playoffs.

It basically was that question though. The future may change, and no decision will be made until at least January, but as things stand Bournemouth look odds on to go back up and Brentford are comfortably midtable. So if it's the same picture by then, it's Premiership vs Rangers and I think that's a no brainer. Although even in January and several points clear, Bournemouth would be a gamble. Brentford could put themselves clear enough to be more or less safe by then though, but if they sink a bit then that's a gamble too. Sorry but no argument on earth is going to make me see Rangers as a 'huge' club for as long as they stay stuck in that league. Big yes but not huge. I don't care if they get gates of a million each game. It's a league of third rate football sprinkled with a few European games for the big boys. In terms of ambition, I don't think going there shows more than going to the Prem. And again it's likely to pay less, which dictates 90% of transfers.

At his scintillating best, he fits that description. On average, nope, not even our best player this season. He's starting to threaten to get there though. Typical that it would happen now we might get nothing for him.

Personally I'd ask why on earth anyone would choose Rangers over a Premiership team (unless looking likely to go down). Absolute pauper's league next to the Prem, I'd never opt for a handful of European games and the SPL over no European football and the Prem. That's before we consider the wages.

Brereton has had a very quiet game

We are terrible at that holding the ball up in the corner business, we just shouldn't bother.

Miss of the season so far

Did you bet against Blackpool at home when we went there?

If I was trying to kick that half chance as high as Gally just did I would struggle.

Hope that isn't Ayala back on the injury train, he has been important for us.

Sounds like a good time to play him anyway and see if he can get injured.

Back to 4-3-3, thank fuck

It might have left Venkys unmoved, but fan pressure is why Kean resigned.

So sick of this guy. He really is risking Kean levels now with this shit. I really struggle to rack my brain for a time where he took responsibility rather than just talking about how he would if the time came, or blaming players, referees, covid, the schedule, injuries, or fan expectations. Nothing is ever Tony's fault. Even on the very rare occasion he implies the tactics weren't right, he just brushes it off as 'that's hindsight though' as if he isn't paid handsomely to have foresight. He even has the cheek to get defensive when asked any tough questions, even though any normal club would have fired him an eon ago.

It's often said that the LT doesn't criticise the manager or the club for fear of losing its direct contacts and interviews at Rovers. I agree but I've come to realise there's a secondary reason though - they don't want to lose some of their readers. This is one of the comments under the article about how they're going to start charging to read the Premium articles: 'I'll not be subscribing again whilst Rich Sharpe writes his garbage and incessant criticism of an extremely young and club team facing a mammoth task with their hands tied due to having a really poor support base to draw financially from.'

It seems to be getting missed that the 85k rumour didn't just pertain to the flight anyway, but to the rented accommodation, rented private car and 'security' (whatever the fuck that means, it makes no sense so I've assumed it means the security of covid precautions in the car and maybe training ground). Of course, it's just a rumour. If it's true though it's frankly scandalous when we are pleading poverty.

Van Hecke may have some experience of playing LB, not that I've heard of though, but he's definitely primarily a CB. Agreed, its deja vu time. We had started the season pretty well with a system that was working for us. So Tony conspired to piss it away with another experiment and we haven't won since. He won't realise what's wrong either. Just hard luck I bet. Or blame some young, confused players.