Depends how you want to set up your "all time Rovers" lineup. If you just want the best players in there, I think Bellamy is very close if not in it. A fantastic player who had everything. If you're trying to set up what you think would be the best "team" then Chris Sutton probably goes in alongside Shearer, although Newell worked superbly with him too, and I think Santa Cruz and Shearer would have worked great together as well. Shearer was obviously the best either way, but during his time here and at Newcastle, I think he worked best with a "target man" style forward, Newell, Sutton, Ferdinand, Ferguson etc.

I don't think we'll see a play off push this season, but if Brittain, Travis & Tronstad are here past September 1st then I'm pretty comfortable that we won't be dragged into any danger either. I think as thing stand we'll finish somewhere between 12th & 18th.

My main memory of Derek Williams was putting a header wide from a yard out away at Bristol Rovers back in 2018. A really poor to average player. Shows you the quality we had in the side in the 16-17 season when he won player of the year!

It doesn't matter if Tyjon plays 4 games or 40 games, he won't be signing a new contract here, because nobody does. As proven for the past 19/20 months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19136740

Nobody knows. Not even sure he does. He is tying himself in knots about it over on Bluesky.

Could be something to do with the last time we tried to play there https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19136740 Called off because of fan trouble.

Final friendly confirmed https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/july/21/rovers-go-dutch-for-final-friendly/ No Rovers fans allowed!

Haha good one! As we have seen numerous times over the past few years, if that is on the cards then somebody, somewhere will see that it doesn't happen.

I think Tyjon leaves next summer whether he plays 4 minutes or 4000 minutes to be honest.

Kargbo played most of his games at his former club as a "10" so they could probably use him there if needed.

Well apparantely he got injured in the first training session with balls, and that ruled him out for four weeks, which takes us to tomorrow. So maybe they could give him 10 or so off the bench in the second game?

I read it as 2 or 3 in total. Imagine one will be another CB who can also cover at RB like that Miller from Hibs. A right winger and a centre forward would be my other two, but Baradji is still there lingering in the back ground. Obviously we will need more when Brittain or Trav or even both leave. I just don't see at least one of them being here by the time the window closes. But lets say nobody else leaves, and we don't include Garrett/Leonard as they haven't featured yet, then I make it that there is currently 3 squad places left of the 25 that need to be registered. That's presuming we use Michelski as third choice keeper.

Only other time I remember Rovers playing in Spain was a mid season friendly against Barcelona in 94-95. I imagine we will go with our "second 11" to start this game, saving our stronger team to start against Elche, but imagine most will probably come off the bench in both games due to the heat. Pears/Michelski Alebiousu Atcheson McLoughlin Pickering Mullarkey-Matthews Buckley Montgomery Karbo Tyjon Gueye

Probably because it's just hearsay. Until either club confirms it, we'll just presume there is no game that weekend.

So is Baradji actually injured right now? Or is it a case that the medical has picked up something that could/will cause a problem at some point in the future?

Ideal world yes but I think it's fanciful to think that Brittain, Travis and Tronstad will all be here come end of the window.

Last pre season we played Tranmere behind closed doors at Brockhall on a Saturday afternoon and that was well publicised by the club. I think this summers effort is just down to rotten planning, and being caught out that league one/two start a week earlier than us.

Under Eustace Bamford was a plausible link. Can't see any qualities in him whatsoever that Val would like though. Plus like you say we wouldn't entertain those wages anyway.

The deal with the club is done so i imagine it will be a renegotiation of the players contract.

@K-Hod was anything mentioned in the FF about the poor planning of pre season this year? Ridiculous to not have a game for two weeks before the season starts

It was a good performance and really encouraging yesterday. That 11 plus a few more signings keeps us competitive for another year at this level easily. However, the old age problem is that 5 of that starting 11 are out of contract in less than a year, along with promising youngsters Montgomery and Mullarkey-Matthews. The rest who featured apart from Atcheson and De Neve are out of contract a year later.

When asked if it was about an incoming or a new target, he replied with "not really".

Out if contract next summer though.

That's what I thought. Think they see Kargbo as a 20ish minute player, to be a threat when we need a goal and to be a outlet when we're hanging on.