Uh nope, I didn't. In fact I wrote that post pretty much exactly because I had seen the tweet from Sharpe saying he hadn't trained for two weeks. That's why I said the question that needed to be asked WASNT why Graham hadn't started.

So, Palmer did well up front today?

The only way I see him as being 'protected' is the fact he isn't being started. Guess we will have to just agree to differ on this one.

Is Palmer more ready to play up front than a natural striker who has experience in this league?

The question that needs to be asked isn't about why Graham gets dropped, which is what I suspect Sharpe will ask or accept for an answer...what needs asking is the thinking behind who he brings in to replace him. Why Dack or Palmer and not Armstrong or Brereton?

Wow, can't agree at all. Nuttall hasn't played at all for ages. I don't necessarily object to him being a bench option, but it should start with cameos from there. Brereton offered bugger all until the last three games, when he has been our best substitute. Last person who needs dropping from the bench (especially with him being our 7 million pound investment, he's never going to realise his potential if he is dropped altogether). Can't see where you're coming from on that one, sorry. For me, he's in form and deserves a chance to finally start or his confidence will go. Granted, I didn't see today's game (work) so don't know about his overall performance, but from the disallowed goal he is clearly consistently having an impact at last.

This really, really needs to be asked. Mowbray is a man who will openly talk football, as honestly as he can, whenever asked. I haven't seen a single article in the LT that had a quote from TM with an answer to this question, or any explanation about why he has been playing Dack up front in other games, which leads me to conclude they haven't asked him. Unless they've asked him and the answer is so bizarre that they don't want to embarrass Tony and print it.

Far from a key player, but saw this in the LT and it seems strange... Meanwhile, Rovers youngster Lewis Thompson has been recalled from his loan spell with FC United of Manchester. The teenager has spent the last three months with the National League North side, playing 14 times in all. But injury to Jack Doyle during a loan spell with Maidstone United has seen Thompson recalled by Rovers. Why would an injury to a different player, on loan at a different club, cause us to recall him? Has Doyle's injury just made us decide we are terrified of people getting injured if they play below the EFL? Odd.

Eh? Brereton is 'taking up bench space and getting on every game in front of others' because in his last three games when doing so, he has created two goals and had one disallowed (possibly wrongly) for offside. He should be starting (especially when Graham is dropped), not dropped from the bench as I think you were implying? Not sure if I've misunderstood you.

For god sakes man, don't ask him to make any predictions! Please!

Cheers, I hadn't read that one, as it said it was a live thing so I figured there'd be too much for me to be arsed reading through. Interesting they didn't add that to the Dack article.

Not really possible to hide that you're going for a Dack replacement though. You'd probably be looking to spend 4 million upwards to get someone even remotely filling the gap (not that they'd be as good), and if we started looking for someone in his position at that money, it'd be obvious what was happening. Other positions though, sure.

LT article mentions the first part, no sign of the second part. Mentioned in the meeting was it?

I (think) I more or less admitted in an earlier post I'd possibly feel different if the shoe were on the other foot, but it ain't. We've lost a half season (if we recall him) of development for a lad we fully expected, and were probably told, would be a regular starter and had the option of this bit part role (or better) at a higher level. Not saying they should be obliged to play him if he isn't one of the best two centre halves they have, but I feel we and Scott have been missold on this. Chelsea probably do have the same complaints, and rightly so. They will probably recall him. We have given Kasey opportunities in a fair few more games though.

I wouldn't start thinking about plans involving Dack for next season. I'd be astonished if he is still with us by then (past the summer windows anyway) unless we get promoted.

Absolutely. Kray twins.

Was more referring to Tom's comments earlier, where he tried to contain my angry ramblings, girlfriend.

Yeh so they went and signed a player afterwards that they knew would be ahead of him in the pecking order when it was too late for us to back out. They're also shoving a centre mid in there. I stand by my earlier comments.

Just had a quick look for news articles about Scott Wharton's time there to see if I could get more insight, and found this interesting little nugget in an article: The transfer rumour mill is already in full swing, with the Imps being linked with Dundalk midfielder Robbie Benson, while winger Harry Anderson is reportedly attracting interest from Championship trio Norwich City, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers. From this: https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/danny-cowley-discusses-plans-january-2223690 First I've heard of it personally.

Depends how crap their manager's judgement is! Or whether they have decided they'd rather focus on bringing their own through and use him as backup (understandable, but I reserve my right to be frustrated they didn't do it with someone else's youngster, especially when we had League One offers if I remember rightly). However you slice it, it's looking like a wasted year of development for one of our most promising youngsters who has even played for our first team a bit. It looks to me like they loaned him under false pretences if they were willing to drop him so easily (I think it was the first two games he played, then dropped for ages, back in for three where he scored and got an assist, and dropped again...admittedly in that second run of games they did ship a boatload of goals). It's frustrating to see, even though yes it might be down to the lad's own performances. As to how good he is, they knew that from last season. Anyway maybe it will be a great test of his character that will make him stronger, we will see. Annoying though...I seem to remember their manager almost describing it as a favour to them, and that's certainly how I saw it, as I thought he'd be ready to play this fringe kind of role, or better, in League One after last year.

I'm just not sure it's our place to be arranging Graham's relationships, long term or otherwise. Additionally, I'm not even convinced he swings that way. If he does, he might not be looking for commitment anyway and prefer to screw around. We don't know his type either, he might not like other target men such as himself and prefer someone a bit smaller.

Congratulations, to the winner of the most bizarre post of the year!! It took some doing, against some seriously tough opposition, but you did it with over a month to spare!

Has Wharton hardly played?? Bloody hell, thought he had been sent to a league lower than he was capable of but maybe not! Edit - just gone to check on his playing time there, that's pretty shocking from Lincoln to give him so little playing time after being lucky to get him from us again. He even has a goal and an assist, in I think it was 5 games. Thanks for stunting our player's development at a key time for him! I'd recall him in January.

Oh I wasn't saying you're wrong. Just that he's done extremely well to be an unrealistic move for us at this stage of his career.

Interesting comments from Mick Rathbone, who has worked with Brereton for England U-19s and Forest. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/17234278.brereton-has-the-potential-to-be-a-30m-player-ex-rover-rathbone/?ref=mac