As long as they can field 14 players, I'm indifferent to how many covid cases they get... (As long as nobody ends up hospitalised or worse of course)

I got the impression from articles at the time that we clung onto our youth players and wouldn't let them go until after the window was shut, in case we needed more bodies. Then sent them on these short-term non-league loans when the window was shut to League One and Two. I don't know about Pike specifically, but that appeared to be the general situation.

It's not legal to fly internationally on your own at 12?

What's to be surprised about though? The reservations aren't over any of that, they're over his back injury.

It was outdoor watching last time it got cancelled for a full season... Outdoors reduces risk of transmission. It does not negate it. If the spread gets bad enough again it will be very surprising if they don't cancel football attendance. Other, more important things will probably get cancelled too.

If that was your point, you shouldn't have quoted my post, as I wasn't saying any such thing. By quoting my post along with the other (which was talking about that), yes, I thought that was the implied argument you were making. As I said, at the time of us failing to extend BBD's contract, we didn't also have three valuable assets expiring imminently. It's an either/or scenario because we have a finite budget and the offers made to the three others don't appear to be enough to get them to sign. Ergo, put Gally's deal on the backburner and offer the difference between his existing deal cost and his new deal cost (even if same pay, it's extra years of cost) to bring the other deals up to what is being asked. As I said twice now, we are almost certain to have the money in the summer to extend Gally anyway. That's how you get both, not by refusing to add anything to the other deals and signing Gally up way ahead of time when there are more pressing contracts to sign. That's a calculated gamble, unlike what we appear to be doing. Tbh I'm confused that people keep arguing against this without actually refuting any of the points or logic I'm using. The only counterpoint I can see is maybe the players are close to signing, or maybe they won't sign even if we raise it by the described amount. Without that knowledge though, and being unwilling to credit the club with much nous behind the scenes after the last decade....

You're in the wrong thread if you don't want to talk about it until January. Merry Christmas

So your argument is we should rely on Gallagher having a fluke callup to another nation and go on a totally unforeseen one in a thousand adventure and upturn in form? Hope lightning strikes again? And let three players currently of more importance leave rather than making them a better offer with the money from Gally's extension (and as I said, still having the money to make Gally a good offer in the summer as we are either getting promoted or selling BBD)? Let's say I even buy that, why don't we extend that to Nyambe, Lenihan and Rothwell? If Ben Brereton can improve by that much, and Gallagher can improve by that much, they can improve by that much. I'm not even dissing Gallagher, I think he is fairly useful and people are harsh on him - some very harsh on him - but it's hard to argue that shoring up his contract way ahead of time instead of putting those funds into keeping three players who are all giving us more value on the pitch than he is, is the right call, especially when our financial situation will very likely improve in the summer and you would think allow us to extend his deal anyway. We also didn't have three valuable assets expiring when we failed to give BBD a new deal.

Not surprised. But if you'd rather lose Nyambe, Lenihan and Rothwell for nothing in the summer, or nominal fees now during a promotion charge, than lose Gallagher for free in 18 months (a situation that could likely be avoided easily anyway this summer once we have been promoted or sold BBD), then I've got nothing else to say to you on the subject either. I know where I stand though.

It's irrelevant that we signed Gally from a PL team on high wages. At the end of the day, he is less valuable to us right now than any of the other three, and we are presumably throwing more wages at him, than them, to keep him on. If we can do it for him, we could do it for them instead.

Rovers first. Always. England is more like a side hobby. I only even watch them at proper tournaments these days.

People are very quick to rush to accuse others of writing people off these days. Mani suggested what his best position is. He didn't 'write him off'.

Do you just have a ridiculously good memory or do you have a book or something with all the old games in?

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.