It was before Christmas, and 19 as BBD has done, but I'm guessing Andy McEvoy is still the answer?

Bonuses for it, I'd imagine yes. Huge ones? Nah, just for the best players. Whatever we are offering in that area, increase it. If we go up, we can more than afford it. If we don't, it didn't cost us anything.

Jesus christ he got injured again? Only came on as sub. This is my main worry with him, I think he has loads of ability and I reckon the flaws in his game could be ironed out with game time. But I fear the perpetual injury issues will stop him getting that game time.

Shearer scored 16 that whole season, 14 before Christmas. He got that terrible injury after all. He had 16 before Christmas the next season, and again the season after. 17 by Christmas in his final season with us. Armstrong had 15 before Christmas last season. Think you'd have to look back to before the Prem era. Someone's shout of Tommy Briggs might be on the money. I don't know how to find out whether he did. If not him, I'd have to wonder if it's the first time in the club's history...which would really be something!

Not in the squad. Maybe he was there in case of somebody pulling out.

LT article said it was due to covid in the Foxes camp.

Anyone else wondering about the decision to recall Dowling early from his loan at Lancaster, where he was getting games? It's made me wonder whether one of the infected/isolated players is Kaminski/Pears. Although I don't know when the positive test was done and I notice the LT said Dowling was on the bench on Monday for the u23s (Goddard started, so it could be Eastham who is one of the players in question). If the test was after Monday, it kills that theory.

How many players have been counted out of those games due to covid?

This edition of the World Cup is a tragic farce.

Think we were linked to him before he moved there.

I didn't realise I forgot to say it may just be speculation. Oh wait a minute, I didn't.

I haven't heard anything about this lad, other than 'out of contract in the summer' that helps me understand why we are so keen tbh. Additionally, I can't recall a time we ever signed someone on a pre-contract in Jan, and we are doing it the one time we have a shot at promotion? Very odd. I can only imagine it would be a useless signing for the Prem. And he doesn't play in the same position of any of our out of contract lads. Granted, it may just be speculation anyway, but it's been reported enough, including with confidence by the LT, to feel fairly sure we are interested at least.

Got to say, there has been a lot of triumphalism about Pears lately, even though I don't recall anyone really defending him before (heck some of my comments were probably the closest I can think of). But the truth is, he has been steady but well protected. None of his saves have really been ones where I'd have been ok with it going in. Even the Bournemouth one on one was hit straight at him. He has done everything asked of him, and done it well, and you can't ask any more than that. But people talking, especially on FB, like he is as good as Kaminski need to calm down and assess him rationally as he gets more games (if he does). It's just been a few games, and he hasn't done anything spectacular unless I missed it when a stream went off or something. His best save so far was in his first game, and he only had to make it so well because he was out of position. I think TM may still plan to loan him out in Jan for experience and loan in someone else. For once I think that plan works as long as the finances make sense and it costs us nothing or almost nothing overall.

Christ, you must be dizzy after all that spin. Some 'dare' to criticise terrible stock management resulting in lost revenue indeed. I wonder why...must be impertinence and negativity. They should just take a trip in your spin machine and all will be well.

A year ago, we didn't have players like Nyambe, Lenihan and Rothwell coming to the end of their deals. We just had older players or players who weren't good enough coming to the end of deals. And actually I'd have been fine with it a year ago. He wasn't what he is now, but he was starting to look a useful player who could chip in with goals.

Exactly what I thought. If we didn't have three key assets expiring in the summer and a mega asset with only a year left in the summer, I wouldn't complain about Gally getting an extension. He is limited but has his uses and isn't as bad as people make out. But he is secured under contract on a decent wedge already. I'd rather take money from an offer to him and tack some more on the other three.

Depends who buys. But wouldn't be our problem whether they're willing to or not if that was our stance.

I don't care. Either sale with a loan back, or no sale, would be my stance on this one. Besides, we did the same thing with Pickering, which seemed silly from our end. We don't know what a buying club will or won't be willing to do, depends on their situation and how they see the player. Do they think he walks into their top flight team or do they want him for the future?

I can accept BBD being sold for big money in January- but only if he is loaned back for the rest of the season. Probably not likely to get that offer unless a club isn't in a rush and wants to ensure they get him in the summer ahead of others. But if nobody wants to do that, we can't sell if our league position is the same or anything like it.

Bournemouth commentary shows how Mickey mouse football is in that area of the country. They broke off to get an update on the Dorchester vs Gosport game...

Hope Wharton is ok, he has been tremendous for us. He didn't look happy going down the tunnel.

You can see on the replay he was actually diving the other way. We got a little lucky there tbh

Agree with this, except for the million miles away part (although he seems to be regressing in his latest loan for sure). In some of his cameos at this level I've felt he is still a threat. But it's difficult when you're in and out of the side all the time and can't find your rhythm, plus it takes its toll mentally. Look how much Brereton struggled by only being played fleetingly off the bench a lot, and quite blatantly struggling with low confidence, yet look at him now when he's bursting with it. I'd agree Harry doesn't seem to have that mental fortitude that makes players go all the way to the top no matter what setbacks they have, but I think a lot of comments on here about him are harsh. There is a lot of assumption that it's down to poor professionalism, but no apparent consideration that he could be struggling with mental health bringing down his motivation. Either for external, personal reasons, or because being jerked around by Mowbray has rocked his confidence (and I don't care what anyone says, he really has been...loaned, barely played, signed permanently and not played, loaned out, signed an extension and immediately sent off on loan for the duration of that extension...do you want the lad or not Tony? My confidence and assessment of my abilities and career prospects would be all over the place in his shoes). Brereton doesn't really have that fortitude either, he just finally caught some breaks and his newfound confidence has propelled him into the spotlight. I do agree he isn't likely to make it at our club anymore, and it's a real shame. A free or nominal fee with a large sell on in January would probably be best for all concerned. I won't be surprised if he ends up on a hot streak in the Championship in 2 or 3 years time though - but nor will I be surprised if he sinks down to League Two or retires in that time. He's a mercurial talent and at this point it's all down to Harry to pull himself out of his rut and make the best of the hand he's got. A permanent move to a new club who hopefully value him is probably the best way to ignite that. I'd say Shrewsbury is probably best as he was on fire for them.

I remember he said it as if we qualified for Europe that season. Which we did.

They would be insane not to give a stuff about that (admittedly they might be insane). Finishing in 6th gives us what you could call a 1 in 4 chance of getting the greatest prize in this league. Which is worth what is it these days, at least 130 million? As outlined above you're probably only looking at about a 5 million quid gamble on BB's price reduction by the summer. 5 million extra guaranteed, or 1 in 4 shot at 130 million?