bluebruce

Yeh I didn't mean to imply he wasn't a fan, in name anyway, growing up. More that what he said gets his fan card revoked for me.

Yeh I really don't think he does. Described losing to us as his worst moment as a professional or something like that. Even though we needed the points desperately as we were in a relegation scrap. Even though he had been part of that team that got hammered by Manure (7-1 was it?) which should have been far more embarrassing, especially since he was supposedly a boyhood Rovers fan. I thought Jones was terrific when he was here, I could kinda understand him moving, even though it was to them, even though I thought he moved too soon, and even though we were shafted out of a few million by him not picking Liverpool. But after those comments he is eternally persona non gratis to me.

Doesn't seem to have been posted here (understandably) but we have signed a goalie... a 16 year old one released from City. Obviously for the under 18s, but after Dolan, who knows ? https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18754452.rovers-sign-teenage-goalkeeper-manchester-city-release/ (Apologies, hadn't read the bottom half of the previous page, it was mentioned)

If he isn't good at catching then yes it's understandable if he punches. It's not ideal though. Ideal is a keeper who can and does catch effectively. Punching the ball frequently will eventually lead to trouble.

He looks composed and confident, and so far has been solid. My main concern with him so far is I'm suspecting his catching may be poor. The type of saves he made on his show reel and the way he usually punches instead of catching...I feel like he might not be good at keeping the ball in his hands, and knows it, so doesn't tend to catch it. That said, he did pluck one decently enough out of the air against Derby at one point. Time will tell whether he is a little iffy at catching, but so far I'm happy with him overall. Of course, Walton was an easy act to follow!

Not like we didn't have defensive debacles, at our lower level, with him in the side though.

As much as I really want us to get the funds and spend, because we really can get the job done with a decent defence... It would actually be irresponsible to overspend on the assumption FFP will be lifted. And I suspect they're not going to announce any changes to it until after the window shuts, to scare clubs into avoiding spending in an uncertain climate. Personally I'd still want to take the gamble, we may fail FFP anyway and the riches on offer for the gamble succeeding are immense. This is on the assumption that Waggot's talk implying the club is on the edge of disaster if we don't be careful is just bluster. It isn't worth risking oblivion otherwise.

Is he a free agent at the mo?

Why is that? What they saying?

It's possible, I do agree he keeps saying different things (the picture might be changing though). Personally I suspect it's more down to him not really knowing/fully understanding the situation regarding the budget. He is a football man, not a finances man. With the changing picture due to grounds staying closed too, makes sense he would say wrong and contradictory things at times, as he does like to tall and talk. Some comments may be affected by his frustrations over the difficulties too. Waggott, however, should have a good grasp on the finances and he claims we are at a precarious point in the club's history. He, however, is a man I don't trust, so it certainly could be spin to sell tickets and get other clubs to drop prices. Which in the case of the latter, I can actually get behind. Sometimes you can't just be honest, sadly.

Mowbray has made it clear there won't be a pitch to them. 'Not the right time' to ask them for more funds apparently. Real shame as I think a leaky defence is the only thing that could derail us this year.

Where Dolan nearly ended up? Hope he wasn't anywhere near as good then. Imagine getting two stars off them for free and fixing our main problem position in the meantime ?

Remaining transfer window plans: see if Preston released a left back this summer and sign him up immediately

You'd have been hearing about 15,000 squeals if fans had been allowed in. I don't think the sounds I was making were entirely natural!

The fact it got so bad they've deleted the thread to hide their outrage from the world is actually even better than any moaning they could do ?

Tyrhys Dolan, henceforth to be referred to as Dolandinho

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/top-scorers Have a look at that top scorers list... 1. Adam Armstrong (5) 2. Bradley Johnson (3) Then Dolan tied with six others on 2! In fact, they've essentially put him in 4th, by virtue of the guy in 3rd having an assist, and Dolan having the best 'goals per 90' of them all (exactly 1)

It happened. I saw it. Stand by what I said. On top of that, JRC, who I think has looked distinctly slower in the last few games and had been suspecting was carrying some sort of strain, did his hamstring and came off. We didn't look any worse for Nyambe coming on, who played well as usual when given the chance. Obviously we were outstanding today and didn't give Derby time to breathe, terrorising them up top. That had very little to do with the choice of right back though. The choice of right back just ended up being immaterial. Think I could have played there today and we'd have still won 4-2 or something ?

The front row are looking in as many directions as a defence does when Dolan is running at it.

So we are in 4th, pending the games in hand. I know it's just 3 games in so it barely matters, but that would be our first time in the top 6 in how long?

If he can start putting chances away at even an average Championship striker's rate, he will actually be a pretty dangerous player I reckon. Well worth his spot in the team at the moment. He has also been unlucky at times with his finishes.

Cheeky from Lenihan there on Rooney

Surprised to not see Buckley come on today after his fine cameo last time out.

Perfect from Holtby and Chapman there.

Since the season restarted, undoubtedly. His individual brilliance and also as a catalyst. I doubt he would have been ready back in Jan though. I think the failure to get offered a deal by Preston has really focused him. If he had been this good back in January we wouldn't have got anywhere near him this summer.