Ajayi stood out in that Rotherham side. Would have been a great purchase for sensible money. Just like Kipre would be this year. I just don't get the penny pinching with defenders.

Agreed. Needs to go on Twitter first.

Any whispers of a possible left back?

Agree. He needs to be pragmatic. Ditching the wide forwards for natural wide players would help. Then the full backs dont need to push up as much.

If we do a proper job with the defence, we won't need to score three every week to win. Less pressure on the strikers.

Nearest player stature wise for me would be Scott Sellars. He did ok but played wide. It might be that Buckley remains a slight player - in which case he needs to learn the dark arts of buying free kicks - watch plenty of old videos of Xavi in his Barca days.

I would say Buckley is quite happy to get stuck in and put a tackle in despite his stature. But..he often gets physically dominated when in possession of the ball. He was eased off it numerous times last season by more robust players.

Twas a little tongue in cheek. It made me chuckle that you decided the bid would be for Dack because you'd rather lose him than Armstrong. If we get to choose someone....

I'd choose Williams. I'd prefer to lose him over Dack or Armstrong. We have witnessed life without Williams.

That doesn't seem like value. Type of player you'd may be take a punt on at £1-£2 mil - given his age and failure at Brentford.

Really? On the evidence of what?

Not sure he has to play Gally/BB more - he has to play them more effectively. We could play with Armstrong up top and Rothwell (although that lad Dolan looks more effective out wide than Rothwell from today's cameo) Dack as a '10' Chapman wide. Two wide players who have the feet to go outside or inside. As long as balls are played into feet or down the sides of the CBs - those players could cause all types of problems. Alternatively you put Gallagher up top and 3 play off him. Allowing the use of higher balls centrally. Again, it needs TM to decide on the approach he wants and preferably not piss about with it each week. These long diagonal balls to wide centre forwards don't work and Gallagher really struggled out there. What shouldn't happen is Gallagher and Brereton get shoe horned into the 11 because if what they cost - only if they complement the system. We've got an abundance of 'attacking players', Holtby, Rothwell, Chapman, JRC, Buckley, Vale, Butterworth, Dolan - who could be utilisedas well as the more reliable goal threat of Armstrong/Dack. It only needs one of those other players to make the break through and add goals to make Gallagher and Brereton irrelevant. That depth of under 23 players up front is in complete contrast to the defensive options available. Hence why all efforts should be made to strengthen the whole back line. It will have been a great window if the likes of Williams and Bennett don't appear in the back 4 next season. Apologies for the waffly post ?

Best football Rovers played after 2001 IMO, was the season we had Bellamy and Pongolle. Playing down the sides of teams with their pace was great to watch. We potentially have the options of some real genuine pace up front with Armstrong, Chapman, Rothwell and now Dolan. Dack brings a different dynamic to that mix with his touch and dribbling. Gallagher (and potentially Brereton *not convinced) bring height and hopefully some physicality. If we are looking a 1 up top and 3 behind ....or 3 up top, there is a lot of scope there. But not if the Gallagher/Brereton are stuck out wide. Time for Tony to tinker less.

I'd be happy with that. Not convinced we we will address the left back position though. I'd ideally want 2 CB coming as well with Mulgrew a non starter and Williams a liability.

If we lose them in a transfer then yes, you would expect a striker. If it's injury - to both- I think that's just cest la vie. Really TM has to back his judgement on Gally and Brereton.

Any striker signing should be well down the pecking order. In terms of goals Samuel and Graham contributed little to our tally last year. I'd be confident that the likes of Vale and Butterworth could match that contribution from the bench - on a fraction of their combined salaries. Get the money spent on the defence.

Have to agree with that. I do feel Gallagher would get goals playing centrally if we had wingers. Gallagher central with 3 behind of Armstrong, Dack, Chapman. We need proper width this year. Our full backs can't provide it. Maybe it's just me but having grown up watching some great wingers at Ewood, that is what I want to see. Attacking players getting to the line.

So our better players today were natural wingers...that won't sit well with our Tony.

Bennett has been shocking again at leftback. Hopefully last time he plays there.

4-1

Oh dear

Still persisting with this pissy passy sideways and back and getting caught in possession.

No need to announce whether any budget big or low. But as you say we are a bit of a basket club with unpredictable owners so... if you publically go on record as 'not knowing your budget.' A simple public acknowledgement that a budget is now in place wouldn't seem too much to ask. It doesn't need any further clarification than that.

Shame. He would have been an ideal signing. Good age and proven in champ. If £1.5mil is the price - it's a great deal for someone

I find it strange how quiet they've been. Also odd that the LET reporter Sharp doesn't seem to be getting access. Any quotes seem to be lifted from the club website.