8 assists his first season, 7 last season. 1 so far this season but plenty of time to fix that. Not counting his League Cup assists (3 last season, 2 this). 16 league assists in two-and-a-bit years. I think that's an acceptable amount of creating for a lad who also notched 42 league goals in that time. You're also right about our shots on target being poor. Not Dack's fault if players can't finish what he sets them up for.

I wasn't saying he should be one of the top players in the world still. Just that he shouldn't be turning out in the Championship at 34 with his ability. You make a fair point about playing a lot of career games but I stand by that. Loads of players have managed up to and past his age and still played in the Prem, plenty of them with less footballing skill. He also has considerable star power which should sweeten any deal.

Very skillful. Any idea why they've let him go? Sounds like Rooney wants him to go to Derby. Argentinian so potential work permit issues. At 5 ft 3 he makes Arma look like a giant. And yet there was still a headed goal on his reel.

Wow, didn't realise they were signing him in January. The fact he is turning out in the Championship at 34, an age at which Ronaldo is still one of the two best players on the planet, goes to show he hasn't looked after himself enough. Not surprising really.

Friedel and Nelsen were both freebies. Which is astonishing when you think about it. Meanwhile, in the present day, we have Brereton for 7 million. And the jury is out on Gallagher at 5 million. So yeh, not sold on TM's scouting network either!

Interesting how many people are picking entirely midfielders and attackers. Not what we need if we were only getting three players.

Just seen the other results...the Brentford team we beat deservedly, showed exactly what you're supposed to do to Luton at home.

He is a prick. But plenty of people would say I am too! Plus I'm nearly 35 and injury-prone. I'll take a grand a week though, so I'm cheap as chips...

I lived down there too, in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Have to say, all the kids were wearing United, Liverpool, Chelsea jerseys etc when they were second tier, then suddenly they got promoted and everyone was a Stoke fan! Was some very clear fair-weathering/glory-hunting behaviour, but to be fair their attendances seem to have held up reasonably so far after returning to the second tier. Yeh generally pretty nice people though, even if my first time being called 'duck' by a fully-grown man was a little unsettling.

The last time I saw Vokes and Ince they were just too good for this level. Last time I saw Powell he'd be good backup for Dack. Diouf was rubbish for us but had that season where he hit 11 in the Prem. Looking at his career stats though, it seems that was a bit of an aberration in England (three good Bundesliga seasons before that though). On paper it doesn't seem like they should be doing as badly as all that, but reading what their fans are saying it seems they have a porous defence (sounds familiar) and don't work hard enough off the ball.

A few other choice comments from that thread... 'They passed it around nicely. Had good movement and generally looked like a side that had a plan. It is ott but to me it looked like they were playing a different sport. Streets ahead of us.' 'They were awful yet still passed it through our poor excuse of a midfield. They actually moved off the ball unlike our useless twats who stand next to the opposition in the vain hope they won’t get the ball.' On Dack: 'Dack was the best player I’ve seen this season but we put him under no pressure.' 'Didn’t even think he was their best player. Thought Lenihan and their right back were superb.' 'He completely controlled the game. Started just off the forward and when they went a goal ahead sat in midfield. Totally dominant against our static 'midfielders'.' 'Didn’t think he did much really. Neat and tidy on the ball but they have to carry him as he’s not one for doing much work off the ball. Would be very surprised if a Premier League club took a gamble on him.' 'Dack was a constant threat here too last season. Sadly, he is way above our midfielders, even though we have spent many millions.' 'Far and away the best player on show today, as a striker he kept coming deep, extra midfielder if you like, can’t remember him giving a ball away, always found space ( not difficult against us I suppose), scored of course and generally telling his team mates where to play the ball next after he laid ball off to them, all round fantastic display by him and he doesn’t even look like a footballer!!' 'Another reason why not playing a proper DM was a dreadful mistake.' Always interesting to see what fans of other teams think of your players, as they're looking for different things to what we are, and aren't emotionally invested or previously frustrated/enamoured by our players. The usual spectrum too, of some thinking Dack is nothing special whilst others think he looked fantastic and dominated the game, as well as one saying we were awful but others being steadily impressed with us. The bloke who said not playing a proper DM was a mistake is spot on. Every team in the league figured out last season that the best way to stop Dack is to put someone on him fairly tight and not give him any room. If you don't do that he'll wreak havoc between the lines. I don't know why Stoke forgot this lesson.

And Sky were saying it was Walton...

Just taking a look at Stoke's squad from today, and without having particularly followed the fates and form of some of these players in the last couple of years, it seems astonishing that they're second from bottom. Sam Vokes, Butland, Tom Ince, Joe Allen...Diouf and Nick Powell coming on as subs. What has gone wrong?

That's exactly when Rovers fans should expect zero points.

He looked like he was carrying a bit of an injury. Was holding his hip at one point and his running wasn't as strong as usual. He was playing more conservatively, which was either an instruction or due to knowing he didn't have it in him to do barnstorming runs today without losing the ball, due to whatever knock he seems to have.

So this win makes us the form team of the league, outside the top 3. 4 wins and a loss from 5 games. Same as Fulham. Leeds have 5 wins from 5, WBA have 4 wins and a draw. Keeping it going will be the challenge, of course, but been a while since we had such a good run so happy days! If TM has finally learnt that Nyambe is our best right back, that today's team is pretty much the best we can field right now, and to stop tinkering every week, then who knows.

By yet again finally fielding the sort of team we've all been asking for. Don't give a toss though as long as he keeps doing it!

Well turns out I was half right, just not about it being two or an absolute scorcher!

I had a dream that Gallagher scored two, including an absolute scorched from far out. Since my dreams never come true (literally or figuratively) and he isn't starting, and he's Sam Gallagher, we can safely assume this won't happen.

Without meaning to get into an argument with you or anything, you seem to be suspicious of almost every injury that happens. I only find injuries suspicious when the player is being linked with a move away, as cover for them being unsettled. But I can't envision a convo where Nyambe agrees with TM to pretend he is injured so he can play Bennett again. I just don't see it, sorry. He's more likely to just wax lyrical about his Captain Fantastic again, to the fans and other players. I don't think he feels he needs to make any excuse to play Benno.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18069191.rovers-fitness-latest-ryan-nyambe-ahead-stoke-city-trip/ Currently has his thigh and hamstring protected apparently. I don't know if that's been the case for a while or a result of Wednesday.

Nyambe trained today but they still seem to have question marks over his fitness. Williams isn't playing. I expect we will see Bennett back in if there's any doubt over Nyambe. For once, I don't necessarily disagree with that, as I really don't want to risk Ryan getting another big injury. As long as he's back in for the game after. I think we might see Graham dropped for Gallagher. And again, although Graham is definitely the better striker, I'm not sure if I disagree with that. He looks like it's starting to get to his legs, and the games might be too close for him. I feel like I'd rather see him in the last 30 minutes, when he'll be fresher compared to the other players on the pitch and able to deliver more for us. Won't be much good if we've already pissed the game away by then though of course. Just think if he starts he might look leggy and come off after 50-60 anyway.

Beat Burnley 2-1. Samuel screamer and Davenport.

Him and Benson? Interesting, but yeh I'm not suggesting he disliked him personally or even thought he was shit. Just seems likely to me that he thought the other coach could take him further. They might be really good friends on a personal level. You know when someone isn't taking you forward anymore though *cough*mowbray*cough*

Reading between the lines from this interview and Raya's, I suspect the reason Raya wanted out was that we had Ben Benson coaching him, and the Spanish goalie coach Brentford have was one he thought could develop him as a player.