https://www.google.com/amp/s/the72.co.uk/151927/blackburn-rovers-poised-to-snap-up-19-year-old-irish-starlet/amp/ Underwhelming and hardly a concrete source, but here it is anyway. Even for the youth team, a 19 year old with a single first team appearance for the mighty Waterford is less than exciting.

I think someone posted stats that they have done slightly better with him in the team than without though.

Doesn't really change anything I said if he is. All the more reason he can jump from conference (presumably when he was 17?) to Championship bench, whereas you're asking for Buckley to jump from Championship to conference north. I just can't see why we should or would do that. You obviously don't rate Buckley, and that's fine, I'm not at all bowled over yet. But if we are gonna send him to that level we might as well say to him 'you're not gonna make it' and terminate his contract.

18 is very different to 20 in terms of youth development. I'm certain a League Two manager would be interested. Sam Hart has been to League One on loan (twice?) and doesn't get near the team for our weakest position. There is this misconception that the lower down the leagues you go, the more the players automatically become big brutes. It's not true, they're just less technically talented so the games are more kick and rush. One player with more technique and the ability to thread a killer pass can make a real difference. All of this aside though, I'm amazed how thin we've let Buckley continue to be at 20. The sports science and nutrition should be all over bulking him up. Maybe his body just isn't taking to any of that until his metabolism slows.

History suggests this is the game the wheels fall off. A point from the playoffs, on an excellent run, playing one of the worst teams in the league at our own ground. In theory it should be a Mercer-style 'home banker'. But all the above plus it being a local game, I find it hard to ignore the weight of history since we got relegated. It all spells nosebleed time to me. If we do manage to win the next two games and not immediately start collapsing afterwards, I'll start to have real hope and belief that we have shaken off our historic issues and may make the playoffs. But like I say, it's hard to bring myself to predict any such thing. My head (or perhaps some combination of head and heart) thinks this one will be a draw.

Two, I'd say.

Glad you're not in charge of our loan policy. Conference North!! What an utter waste of time that would be. The lad has several Championship appearances now and is very highly rated by the senior staff. He might be lightweight, but if we can't get him at the very very least a League Two loan then serious questions need to be asked. I'd say a lower half League One side shouldn't be a problem. Players who drop from our level to Conference North at 20 years old are never seen again.

Dunno, but I don't like the part about him being error-prone.

The other thing with that is I fear it would mean we don't strengthen at LB in Jan. Which we need to do. Permanently signing a decent player who we know won't play again this season doesn't seem the best expenditure of 1.5 million. I'd absolutely pay that for the Cunningham we had before the injury though, if he was available to play.

It goes without saying that Dack will be back in for Brereton. He has earned it much more. After that, it's hard to predict what TM will do with the rest. I suspect Rothwell won't start though.

It's surely between Rhodes and Dack (with honourable mentions for the likes of Conway, Gestede, Mulgrew briefly). Has to be Dack for me, as he has a similarly impressive goals record but is an all-round better player. I don't think he has quite the same talent around him as Rhodes did either, with Cairney, Gestede, and a peak Conway. Just been him and Graham mostly.

With TM, I feel like a lot of options is almost a bad thing...

Huge test for Mowbray this, how he sets up without Dack. Given that is something we will have to start doing every week in the fairly near future (after this summer I think)

African Nations already happened this summer I think? They've moved it from January now. Unless something is very wrong with my memory.

Jesus christ. Just what we need. Someone worse than Walton!

Not how it works. I'll grant you he's not CL quality at this stage though, and I think the comments he is ready for City right now are a stretch.

Not heard of him before, but he's 21. You wouldn't think that would come under our current remit unless we are picking up two in light of Walton and Jayson being gone in the summer. If we do bring in someone so young for the position again, could be a bit of a 'fuck you' to Fisher and Hilton.

And TM in the mood to decide we really don't need new players after all...

Um yeh but when Abraham went to Bristol he only had 2 league appearances under his belt, which I assume were sub ones as they were for Chelsea. He scored 23 goals for them that season. Think we'd be more than happy with that kind of return.

Who?

Tosin is a Manc and has been with Man City since he was 5. I shouldn't think any future purchase is in the offing unless City decide they're not interested anymore.

You have way too much faith in Walton for that to only be priority 2 (3 essentially).

Promotion defence. For a conference side. Possibly.

They're also a lot of nobs though, so you can see the confusion.

Eh, it's not his position and he is still learning the ropes with his first taste of men's football. I'm not writing him off yet. But I absolutely don't want to see him wide.