I honestly think Birdy has conflated the Luton match with Burnley. I have been reliably informed that there will be around 900 tickets available for Luton and the first phase will be allocated to season ticket holders who have joined 1875 with a certain number of away matches. I really don't think any allocations for Burnley will have been discussed yet given that it's two and a half months away.

Is that not the Luton game?

He blew to indicate the goal as the ball had crossed the line before Kaminski stopped it with his legs. I saw him quickly glance at his watch for confirmation that the ball had crossed the line and he immediately whistled to signal the goal. Brereton's part in giving away the free kick that led to the goal infuriated me. It was the most stupid, irresponsible foul imaginable and we paid a heavy price for his idiocy. And the 'wall' consisted of Dolan, utterly pointless. There is one similarity between Mowbray and Thomasson which is irritating as both have/had everyone back for corners and don't offer an outlet to counter if we win the ball.

What a huge disappointment and anti climax today was. Perhaps I am naive but on the back of Wednesday night I expected us to win and play the style that had us all gushing about the performance. In actual fact I thought what was our strength at Blackpool was our main weakness today. The passing was slow, deliberate and in truth poor. Nobody was brave enough to try and play anything ambitious or adventurous. It was all safe passing invariably across the back line, occasionally into midfield and then back again. That is exactly the opposite of how Tomasson said he wanted to play. In fact is was more reminiscent of a Mowbray team and tactics. Hyam was good and apart from him I can't think of any other player who comes out with credit. Bristol were far better than us tactically and showed far more endeavour. Losing 3-2 flattered us. Hopefully Tomasson is learning on the job and realises this league is extremely difficult if the players aren't at it every game. Two successive home games have fallen well below the standard we expect and whilst fingers can be pointed at the players the buck stops with the manager.

I don't think it could in my opinion Mike. In theory VAR should negate the need for any retrospective action. There is still talk of a diluted version coming to the Championship next season.

Agreed. Leaving him out after such an outstanding performance sends out the wrong message to me. Personally I think he will start.

Another anomaly is that if the referee says he has seen it and is happy with the challenge nothing can be done retrospectively.

It's not something new and has been in operation for some years now. Firstly the referee has to submit a report post match advising the FA that he hasn't seen the incident but on reviewing it admits that had he seen it be would have sent the perpetrator off. It then goes to an independent panel of three randomly selected from a bigger pool. The vote has to go 3-0 in favour of the sending off and, as in Madine's case it was so a three game ban kicks in. My annoyance at this is that the justice isn't instant and is usually of no benefit to the team offended against. Had Madine scored the equaliser on Wednesday we would be angry when he shouldn't have been on the pitch.

Madine has been given a three match ban for his stamp on Travis. Leopards never change their spots.

I like Buckley who I think is a really talented player. Hopefully his horror show last Saturday and subsequent dropping for Blackpool on Wednesday will act as a kick up the backside. Tomasson and Broughton clearly rate him highly to give him such a lengthy deal.

Profit and sustainability formerly financial fair play.

Tackling is more about timing than brute strength. With the game changing so much and less physical contact allowed there are a lot less hard, physical challenges. Wharton put in two excellent tackles on Bowler with a second or two. He won both cleanly and fairly with very little contact on Bowler. That's the main reason I don't buy into the 'too small' thinking.

Although I'm happy that Brereton is staying I would have fully accepted had he been sold and the financial reasons behind it. With the omnipresent spectre of P&S around I just hope we don't come to regret not cashing in as his value diminishes. He seems to be the consummate professional and I have no worries that he might do a Rothwell and pretty much down tools.

I do remember him. Sometimes you see young players and almost know they are set for bigger things. Barker was very driven and ambitious. Hopefully Adam will be the same and the sky is limit for him.

Hopefully that puts the Birmingham myth to bed.

Ayala was having a scan on a calf injury on Wednesday but there has been nothing reported about the result of this. If I remember correctly it was a similar injury that kept him out for some time in the second half of last season.

He does things there that are uncoachable. Two examples are now he beats a man on the half-turn.

I have stolen this from the LT. On Rovers' projected 25-man squad that will need to be submitted to the EFL, they are up to 21. Players on loan, irrespective of their age, must be registered, but those 21 or under by the end of 2022 don't have to be. Those who would need to be registered: Thomas Kaminski, Aynsley Pears, Joe Hilton, Callum Brittain, Joe Rankin-Costello, Daniel Ayala, Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter, Dominic Hyam, Clinton Bola, Harry Pickering, Tayo Edun, John Buckley, Lewis Travis, Tyler Morton, Sam Szmodics, Bradley Dack, Ryan Hedges, Sam Gallagher, Ben Brereton, George Hirst Those not needing to be registered: Ash Phillips, Adam Wharton, Jake Garrett, Jack Vale, Tyrhys Dolan and Dilan Markanday

Fully agree on the veils of secrecy around our business which is how it should be. I have been critical of Broughton but this area is a huge improvement for me. And the knock-on effect is that the two bit hacks who actually earn a living guessing are effectively redundant as far as Rovers are concerned.

We would have to pay Butterworth up to terminate his contract. The folly of activating the extra year on his deal could bite us.

I agree about just getting them off the wage bill by any means but loaning Rankin-Costello is a big no from me. If he is loaned out for a season he will be 24 when he comes back and he will still have another year on his deal.

He was with West Brom and turned up at QPR's training ground, Did the usual interview outside the gate and then nothing. His name escapes me but I remember him going to Stoke then he nosedived.

Personally I would be looking to sell Rankin-Costello and Butterworth who I can't see contributing anything in the future as I don't believe either are good enough for Championship football. Both would benefit from a change of club. I got suckered into the Deadline Day hype on Sky earlier and lasted ten minutes. Such was the dearth of news about transfers the 'experts' in the studio were picking their best team of players who moved on deadline days in recent times. Right now hoovering, polishing and then Lidl seems more appealing. 😁😁

I thought that too. I think his lack of real work ethic wouldn't be acceptable for what Tomasson demands from his players.

Absolutely delighted with the result first and foremost but the team performance also delighted me. That is the best we have played this season with a great tempo, intensity and one/two touch play. Quite simply when we were at it they couldn't live with us. Although the start seemed a little slow I think it was part of the plan. Blackpool pressed to such a degree for twenty minutes it was almost as if they had run out of energy and they stood off us a lot more. That is when Wharton and Morton took control of the game and pretty much dictated everything. In such a great team performance it's almost unfair to pick one player out but Adam Wharton was terrific. His ball retention was sublime and a friend texted me after the game to say Don Goodman (who I think is the best pundit) said it was the best debut he has ever seen. High praise indeed. And the fans were really good which to be fair was acknowledged in the post match interviews with Tomasson, Wharton and Brereton. A good night to be a Rovers fan. Edit: I don't know how clear the chant for Adam was but it goes: Oh, oh, oh he's magic, You know, Wharton the Wilpshire Pirlo. Brilliant.