Hope Cantwell is alright, then it's been a terrific day

You would think Cantwell too, with Park's ties to Scottish football. Surely he'd be the one to hear a deal could be done cheaply enough. If our 3 biggest signings of the summer were all Gestede's choices, no wonder Park left, a Chief Scout with apparently no power over recruitment.

Real warning sign there, if we can get another chance we need to take it.

Unreal we haven't gone two up with one of those. Wish Cantwell had realised nobody was with him when he burst clear of the defence.

He didn't look knackered in that run a minute later. But I'd also take him off for ACD like another poster said. Had a great first half, doesn't look the same this half and I suspect the ref will send him off if he does anything else remotely bookable. Gueye...I mean, the pass from Travis was way too ambitious, he was never getting that, but the way he just half-arsed jogged when he has the freshest legs on the pitch isn't good. He needs to improve or he won't even be coming off the bench soon.

So we think one goal will be enough then.

My first instinct was yellow and bordering on a 50-50. Then I saw the replay and yeh it should be a red really. Very high foot.

Who doesn't rate Tronstad?

Then it's a free with add ons, I'm counting it 🤣

Pears back to his worrying tendency of palming the ball back into a danger area.

Gonna call it now, we'll need at least another goal today if we want 3 points.

Eh never heard that before but that's practically free. That's a symbolic payment.

He's been a superb one but don't be silly. Big Bad Brad Friedel.

Probably thought that because it's been about 2 years since we won one at Ewood.

Glad we won that penalty then, was about to say our near miss had woken them up. Really strong finish.

Great save after he made the stupid ballsup, but didn't need to happen. Then gestured at the defenders to come closer like it was their fault. If you're not comfortable playing the pass, lump it long ffs. Commentator said he hasn't really put a foot wrong this season. It's the second time he has this game.

Dugarry had been a proper prick that day. I think everyone in the stadium wanted to kick him up the arse, and in a way it was incredibly satisfying when he did it. But at the same time you knew it was stupid and he was gonna walk. Right decision...from both the referee and from Todd 🤣

He does, but would he get regular minutes? I thought for sure Garrett would, and I expected O'Riordan to get more than he has. Those deals have given me cold feet about loaning fringe players we might need, especially with an outside chance of a playoff run. Markanday has done well enough, but it's only League Two and he's a lot further in his development than Duru, with far more Championship games under his belt. With Brittain and JRC's injury proneness, there's a solid chance Duru gets opportunities and that if he does well enough or they're out long enough he can get an extended run here at a far more testing level. Maybe even establish himself as first choice given enough time and good enough performances. Alternatively some League One or Two side could have him sat on their bench every week and barely give him a sniff.

Nah, I meant 30 mill including add ons. Vs the 22 mill including add ons. A sizeable difference, but one Venkys would only swallow up anyway tbh. My pride would feel a bit more intact though. So what? I'm just encouraging accurate language. We sold him cheaply, at least relative to his ability and potential. We did not practically give him away. 18 million is a lot of money, especially to a Championship club, and especially to one who have sold absolute stars for less. Duff was sold from a position of being a Prem team who he'd won the League Cup with and he was one of the best wingers in the world at the time. Adam was playing in the Championship and had only just established himself as the regular. The season before, he was struggling (unfairly, mind) to dislodge Tyler fucking Morton. We got below market value thanks to our inept owners, but not by orders of magnitude.

We could only have benefitted from the big bucks if we got promoted. Probably we would have been in for about 25 million, with 30 million being the absolute ceiling I'd say given the league we play in. Assuming no injuries. It's also not 'practically given away' when it's a club record fee. I do think we'd have made more money keeping him though, but as you say, our idiot owners blundered us into trouble. They probably wouldn't have let us spend much of it in either scenario, mind. But at least we'd have had more time with Adam.

I was talking about their progression path rather than where they play at present. Hmm not sure how I'd feel about loaning out Duru. For one thing I think we could do with cover there. JRC has been poor and Brittain is always close to an injury.

They also have occasional appearances from Duru to compete with for potential u21 games I'd imagine, whilst he hopefully completes his transition into a first teamer. Plus whoever it is who usually plays there at u21. Didn't I read we played Bloxham there not so long ago?

I take it from your other post they all play the same position...which position?

It rankles, for sure, but just to play devil's advocate here... It's a year not a few months. £18 million not £16 million is what was widely reported, rising to £22 million dependent on clauses...I don't know how many of them will have been met by sale time, probably a little based on appearances as he wasn't expected to slot straight into the first team like he did, but most will go unmet unless there's a clause that if he's sold for a lot the other clauses are automatically met or something. Doubt we are that savvy with negotiations though. They took a financial risk of £18 million on him, whereas we will have spent far, far below £1 million on developing him, and probably less than that even with the new contract he signed. They've also been in the fortunate position of having the platform to make him into a £50+ million player, a fee we'd never have obtained in this league in a month of Sundays no matter how well he played. As I say, just devil's advocate...it certainly smarts to see them make such quick and easy money, and more than we'll have made.