11th to 13th going as we are. An awful lot depends on the pool of 'forwards' whose positions change every few weeks getting a decent goals tally between them because we'll still concede plenty. A spate of injuries and key men not finding form will see us struggling very badly this season, beware. Flip side a few good additions and a manageable bill of health could see a place or two better than last season. Unlikely though imo. No doubt the facebook pages are awash with play off and promotion predictions.

Hopefully Bournemouth have a relegation hangover and we catch them cold. Cherries. 1 Rovers 3

If Ben Shepherd kept grabbing me i'd knock him right under the chin cameras or no cameras.

He's probably been told by this lot he can do that if he wants, remember Mowbrays tough ruthless words last summer ? That's why the likes of Smallwood weren't concerned about leaving the bleeding manager gave them his blessing to hang around despite being told they'd never be used.

Nope that's Rovers they should have loaned him out from here when it was clear he wasn't going to cut the mustard at that point. A season or half of one somewhere would have put some fire in his belly. Looked ok last pre season then didn't really get a sniff then injury did for him so yes agree now is the time for him to have a run. If he's playing well he shouldn't be dropped at all.

Point being he showed he had something straight away, pace if nothing else but he clearly had an eye for goal. He had cut his teeth in those leagues that's whats stood him in good stead when he stepped up. Yes he's been indifferent and struggled at times but only to be expected. Brereton has shown zip all until recently and he should have been cutting teeth lower down but now at Rovers he has to learn on the job.

To be right Armstrong looked the part quite quickly on loan here age about 21.

Decent effort good workout especially for the younger ones. Tactics spot on although Leicester style today seemed to suit. When the rough and tumble starts it'll be a far bigger test. Hope the new keeper works out because that lad today isn't ready. If only Williams and Bell could be relied on the play like that more often !

He's a bread and butter no nonsense defender at the end of the day, never shy in getting his nut on the ball at either end or putting a foot in. These types need blending in with a partnership so they can cover each others lapses a bit and i think that's always been a problem with him. Always seemed to play for himself by his own rules and certainly at Rovers whenever we conceded and his was at fault he blamed everybody else. I think that's why he'll never kick on at a higher level but midtable championship to upper end he should be comfortable enough.

This is where we are at and if we had a solid center defense most wouldn't have him near the place. Sadly needs must and he might be in the same boat. A loan might be best all round.

He gets linked every window.

A Dante's regular and used to hide out in the Ley Inn sometimes, Guiness and jagerbombs he was hardcore.

Me neither he played in a world of his own but i don't think there was anyone there to get a grip of him ti be honest. Player wise those there's a lot there to work with he should be a top defender at this level he's wasted on a bench. If he could actually form a partnership with someone then he's useful to have around but needs to stay out of the alehouses and concentrate on his job.

4 yrs @15k pwk with a massive promotion bonus and Robert is your fathers brother. Hanley is another who might have to be a bit more realistic with his wages can't see many clubs wanting him on their bench for 25 grand per week. Can TM handle a player like big Grant though ? Bowyer was a bit scared of him i think.

He's had years to sort it properly.

That was the way to go a few years ago, perfect for a club like us. Get them back, get them in then you can work on keeping them and maybe even squeezing them a bit. Price rises around here in this climate and situation will only ensure less newbies and less renewals then once the gates drop to 80's levels regularly it's damn near impossible to get them back. A wise man learns from history and it doesn't look like he's got to grips with ours. He's running it like one in a city of 500k or a densely populated London borough.

You'd be forgiven for thinking he's just worried about covering his own wages and justification. I was pleased when they got in a proper experienced CEO and of course he made all the right noises that the likes of Shaw, Shebby never did. Can't remember of the cuff when he first started and the present situation can't be helped but since he's been here more of the ground has been shut, the number of STs and hardcore attenders has shrunk. We've also spewed 12 million in the wrong areas of the team with very little return and the ground looks like nobody uses it from the outside. Add in two price rises for the most loyal section of customers and a Waggot tax for the casuals then it's not adding up to a great resume so far ! I now think apart from some admim duties what's the point in him ?

Was reading a Bolton News the other day and it was doing a flashback piece to this time of the year when Hill had no players and almost had to sign an entire team. I think loads came in at the last min so it looks like Wigan are in a similar boat and it's impossible to prosper like that. Coyle had to scrabble around here in a window that i think delivered Wes Brown, Gordon Greer, Stokes amongst others. No way to run any club.

Hence why he gave Venus the duel role probably and it strikes me that everything has to go through those 2 at Ewood. Similar to every big decision has to go through the family first. Like owning and running a football franchise funded by someone else. It's the power he has here that'll be as attractive and addictive as anything else.

I'd think better players would make his job a bit easier his main reluctance seems to be taking risks on more established players he doesn't already know. He's a risk averse manager on and off the park, that kind of thing keeps clubs stable for a while at least but it'll never propel you forwards. Eventually it will bite you right in the arse but talking the odd risk and pushing the odd boundary puts you in success or sacked territory. Not somewhere he'll ever venture.

He deserves a good run of fitness now after what he's been through to be fair to him.

Will it even be open in the forseeable ?

There was a lot of goodwill after promotion that they failed to cash in on they chose that moment to nudge prices up presuming there'd be a few more on and boost takings significantly. They chose the wrong path there it should have been all efforts to get missing and casual fans back on board regularly with something bold. It's just a fact of life that needs doing here every now and again. Paid the price since with gates slowly shrinking before covid.

London, enough said.

Even the one who left the board, declared himself bust then came back on when they got promoted ! People wonder why business men get involved in football.