He will only have been 20 when he left Ajax, and only played 6 times for them. Who knows how much of him he saw at Groningen, and probably hasn't seen him for Hertha at all. 3 years of development between 20-23, a player can change a lot. Besides, whilst the Dutch league isn't outstanding, Ajax fans, used to European competition, probably have a higher standard than we're looking for. Cheers for passing it on though.

Apparently Bild reported that Hertha are willing to entertain bids of 3.5 million Euros for Zeefuik. If that's the cost of buying him in the summer, we had better think he is a LOT better than Nyambe. Because that cost, likely with high wages, versus the likely wage cost of giving Nyambe a deal he will sign, factoring the loss of asset value for him leaving for free...there's a huge difference there. Unless we intend to sell Nyambe now for a similar price.

That was the only part I needed to read. Don't go on about it if you're not willing to back it up.

So go on, what kind of money is he allegedly seeking on the advice of his agent?

I guess this is where 1 million was mentioned. Yes I should bloody well hope we do value him at 'more than 1 million'.

I was mostly pointing out I couldn't see that figure mentioned anywhere outside the poster I was quoting. I wondered if I was missing something. But I'd want a lot more than a million to contemplate it. The Rothwell of last season, playing for the midtable Rovers of last season, I'd probably expect about a million with 6 months left yes. The Rothwell of this season, in the promotion-chasing Rovers of this season, to a promotion rival? I'd dismiss it out of hand and tell them not to make another insulting bid.

Where's the 1 million mentioned? That would surely be considered derisory.

Hopefully bollocks. A good way to unsettle us though, potentially even if they don't actually sign him in January.

There are championship officiating standards? I thought they just flipped a coin in their heads for every decision.

Has played in their last 3 matches apparently. Although that raises the question why they're willing to loan him out? No such thing as a perfect-looking transfer lol

A very good point that I hadn't considered. However I do feel the extreme of that defeat drew something out of the players and manager. It may be that resilience will be easy to tap back into after a drab cup exit, or it may be that it doesn't evoke as much emotion and just lets us wobble back towards mediocrity. Winning is a habit. Hopefully you're right though (or better yet, our fringe players take them to pieces and there's confidence right through the squad).

That squad was bigger, better. We were actually a fancied side in the promotion chase. What we have now is a thin squad who time will tell but may well be performing a fair bit above themselves at the moment, with a manager prone to an extended death spiral. I feel our momentum is much more vulnerable than it was back then.

Got to be playing Ayala really. Needs a bit of sharpness for when he's called on in the league. Wharton I'd rest, don't want him getting injured. I know that seems ironic when I'm saying play Ayala, but Wharton is part of our winning run and Ayala isn't. He has also been playing whilst Ayala hasn't...Ayala should be fine to play a game at this point. Brown won't play, I'd put money on it, and I probably wouldn't start him yet if it was up to me either. Apart from that I'd go for something more or less as you've suggested. Maybe swap Dolan and Butterworth around, as Dolan is better at nicking the ball like Buckley has been doing in that role. I do worry the midfield two might be too pedestrian without a Rothwell, but we don't really have a like-for-like and he's probably best rested. In reality, I think Tony will play 2-3 more of the first team than this though.

Lol very similar impressions to myself but posted just before I was finished! Another thing the video revealed that I meant to mention - you pronounce it Zay-fuck. Ample opportunity for chants... I also found myself wondering what has caused him to struggle breaking into the Hertha side. I think the clips were from his Groningen days.

Interesting video. Seems to be as fast and strong as Nyambe, whilst having a few things in his locker that Ryan doesn't. Most notably some ability and conviction with crossing and shooting. 6 assists (just one goal though) in I think it said 73 appearances for them. I know it's just a highlight reel but I'm not sure you could find that many decent crosses from Nyambe over that length of games. He is also ruthless in the challenge. Sometimes to the point of rash. Not many highlight vids would show you a couple of fouls too. 2 red cards and I think it was 19 yellows in that 70ish spell shows he doesn't always get it right. Some of his successful tackles on there, I thought the player was dawdling on the ball a bit too much, and quicker thinking players in our league might draw the foul. So seems fast, strong, uncompromising but possibly rash. Probably as capable as RN defensively but prone to giving away fouls. With a bit more to offer in the final third. No signs of what his aerial ability is like, which suggests it won't be great (not a strength of Nyambe's either tbf). First impressions from that video anyway.

For anyone who wants to see it in an actual article (albeit a short one) this was posted about 2 hours ago. https://bulinews.com/news/11141/report-blackburn-closing-on-hertha-defender 23, good age.

About 3 times for me (from Chesire Rover's post) before I said 'I don't get it' and scrolled down to see if it was real or someone else got it. Loan with a buy is a good way to make sure we have quality cover this season for Nyambe, which we needed anyway, and that if he leaves in the summer we are already covered. Although questions remain over whether we could agree terms with this lad at that point, especially if he does really well. Hopefully we have an idea of wage demands. I suspect it's also being done as a buffer against someone making a Nyambe bid this Jan that we feel we have to take. That could be where the problems kick in, as I would then still feel we needed experienced RB cover. We would be essentially replacing the known with the unknown, and a player who hasn't adjusted yet (anyone know if he is in match shape?). That could damage our promotion charge. From the 4m euros move he has made before, I'm going to assume he wants more wages than Nyambe does, and comes with a fee, so presumably we think he is better. Unless the fabled wage structure involves never paying past a certain amount for graduates and we are cutting off our nose to spite our face. (I'm not assuming this deal is actually happening btw, although I do get the vibe it's real)

I don't see a dilemma. Not this season - it has to be fringe players in the cup. Unlike previous seasons we are clearly going to play our best side in the league as often as possible. This means a few fringe players will likely be in need of minutes, and even if injuries squeeze the squad I'd prefer to see youth players given games. Ordinarily I'm all for a good cup run. Some look down on them but I love both cups. However this season is looking far too big and the squad too small, to get bogged down in a side quest. Obviously I want us to win every game and go as far as we can, but with fringe players as much as possible. If we somehow get to the later stages, then there is a dilemma. One we can weigh against how the league campaign is going at that time. Tbh though TM has always shown himself to be a terrible cup manager for us, who has bowed out at the first or second opportunity on nearly, or perhaps all, occasions. Even when he plays a strong side, so even less reason to risk a lot of first teamers. The worry for me is if we lose this one I fear it could hamper the momentum, especially on the back of the Hudds draw. The side will inevitably feature some first teamers, perhaps quite a few, and their confidence could take a knock if they bow out to a lower league side. Hopefully they're mentally stronger than that, but a lot of it can be subconscious. The ideal scenario is, of course, as many fringe players fielded as possible, with a win by hook or by crook. Keeping momentum going and allowing the fringe players to show the first teamers their spot isn't safe and they can't relax. If I'm honest, my prediction is a weakened side under a manager with no nous in the cup gets knocked out in this one. I expect Wigan to be up for it, to prove their Championship credentials against a local side. Hopefully I'm totally wrong 🙂

I don't see it. The Irish season ended in November I believe. He hasn't played since, and will have only started training recently. He effectively hasn't had a preseason...we all know how Tony feels about that, and how long he likes people to bed in in general. That's before factoring that he has never played at anything like this level and the manager has said he won't be playing. Add all that together and I think it will take an injury, maybe two, for there to be any chance of it at all.

Dack won't play against City, according to LT, too soon. JRC expected to.

That would be a very fair offer. And one we should reject.

It wouldn't be the first time he has pushed someone back into the team before they're ready...or even the first time he has done it to JRC.

Or, it was punching below its weight previously.

If by catch your drift, you mean he spotted your exaggeration, then yes, you are correct.

In the running for league player of the month. As in, officially.