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?

I'd turn it down in January if we are perched in the top 6. A chance at the Prem is what we can't turn down, it's been a long wait for a true opportunity to do it. We can still get most of that fee in the summer if it doesn't work out in the league.

One thing about BBD's season that isn't getting much mention though is that he isn't the main man in the middle. He rarely plays centrally, yet has scored a hatful. Any club who already has a good central striker will be thinking how they can do if they can add a bunch of goals from the flank too. It doesn't need to be 15 goals, 10 from the flank in the Prem would be a very nice return.

I've had this one written off in my mind for a while now. We are on a great run of form, but I feel a defeat is overdue and away to one of the best sides in the league is probably when it happens. I'd be happy with a draw (unless it happened in ridiculous circumstances like giving away a 2 goal lead again).

Christ that's abysmal! I didn't think there was another club that would stand for that sort of run, not unless a relegation battle was always on the cards. But do it in League One and apparently you get to jump up a league not long later...

It's fairly easy to explain contract offers for those players but not for TM. They are all players who are good enough for this club. Until this recent run there were serious question marks over whether TM was. Even Venkys must have been contemplating a change next summer. If I were them I wouldn't be rushing to a new deal now either just because we have hit form, wouldn't be our first false dawn. I'd watch how December, Jan, or maybe the rest of the season goes. He is also a deal much likelier to get over the line easy. I doubt he wants a significant pay rise and he knows he is on a cushy number here. He isn't coveted by other clubs like I should think those players are. Nobody will be stepping in to give us compo in the way that we can likely get fees for the players in Jan (not that I think we should go that route if we are well positioned). Finally, if you have a player on a long deal and decide you don't want them, you can try to sell them. If that fails you can loan them out and get some of the wage off your bill. Even if you're struggling for suitors for a bit you'll usually shift them eventually. And most of all, you're not forced to play them. But your manager stays in charge until you pay off most of the rest of their contract, and you need to ditch them as soon as you've decided they're not good enough or your club will likely continue to rot. They need to be fired, paid off and replaced (possibly for a compensation fee), all quickly. Basically it's a very different type of decision to renew your manager's deal to renewing your players'. He is the most important role at the club and isn't a tradable asset in the way the players are.

Normally I want a good cup run. But this season, if we actually have a shot at promotion at last, with our thin squad it would probably be best if we bow out early. Therefore, a tough tie suits, probably a money spinner like others have said, away to a giant. Slight downside is the players might then knacker themselves out trying to prove a point about their abilities, affecting the league game after, but at least it would only be one game getting in the way presumably. Actually beating a team like that could be a huge confidence boost, so win win.

I understand scepticism about anything the Coventrio say, but it wouldn't make any sense to be lying about this. It would be simpler for all if you either accept there's a clause, or if you can't do that, just stop saying 'if this option exists' or you'll only end up in repeated circular discussions about it. Oh and if we can't get him to extend, I'd look to sell this summer. We might not see much returned to the playing squad but at least it would keep the lights on and FFP at bay.

The club have confirmed it and you're still suggesting it doesn't exist? Alright there was the Chapman debacle but that was surely an aberration - even the player thought that was true. He was also a much less valuable fringe player, and reading between the lines there was probably a misinterpretation of his contract due to complacency checking the terms. I'd imagine after that, and with BB's status now, his contract has been pored over with a fine toothed comb. You're absolutely fabricating that his extension comes with a massive pay rise, we have no idea if that is in the terms. But even if that's the case, are you seriously suggesting triggering it would be a bad thing? Compared to letting an asset worth 15 million plus go for free? Again his contract terms may prevent the clause being triggered until a certain point, and even if they don't, there is nothing to be gained by activating it before 31st December. Players can suffer horrendous injuries or even die in freak instances, and it makes zero difference to negotiations when the agent knows the clause is there and will obviously be triggered. As for Dack, under contract long term still, getting older, and after his two crippling injuries probably thankful for the contract he does have! Remains to be seen what player will come back and how long he will last before further injury.

It's not that simple. They have been proven right that in the long run 7 million was a fair price instead of the daylight robbery it felt like, yes. However, it took 2 years for that shift to happen. For a Prem team this would have been a great investment they could wait to pay out. But we aren't a club that can put that much into potential, or wait 2 years to get a player worth that price tag. If this summer you told me we (still in the Championship) could spend 7 million on a new striker and they will be crap for about 18 months, ok for the next 6 and then fantastic after that (well, for a few months so far), I'd turn it down. That's before we factor in that Forest supposedly have a sell on. It's brilliant to have the Ben Brereton we have now, I'm absolutely loving it, we all are, but we spent a lot and waited a long time for it to become reality. Meanwhile Armstrong showed the same thing (but with quicker results) can be done for 1.5 - 3 million.

Could even mean BB wants out. But ultimately he doesn't have a clue, he is just over-interpreting. The most likely explanation is just that the manager meant literally what he said. That he wants to strengthen and doesn't want to lose Diaz to fund it. But that wouldn't make good clickbait journalism.

Incompetence from all involved. Since then though, we have brought in Ayala, Pickering, Edun on permanents, Van Hecke on loan and Wharton has broken through (I mention that as his development may be why we didn't bring another CB in this summer). Plus the loans we had inbetween (Cunningham, THB, Branthwaite, Douglas).