I seem to be in a minority in thinking that Dolan was generally poor last night and below his usual performance levels. His negative traits were particularly prevalent, constantly over-doing stepovers, poor decision making and even a dive. He lost the ball on a number of occasions and was predictable when facing up the full back. That being said, his goal was a fantastic finish and it won us the game. That outweighs the rest and you would take that any day of the week.

Passion, effort and commitment should be a minimum expectation. Always been consistent in my stance that it is about points, but that doesn't mean that I can't also comment on performances. As I have put in the other thread but it is more relevant here: In isolation, I can say that Tomasson's style of football is terrible to watch. That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the recent run of 4 games, the general organisation of the team or the fact that Tomasson can clearly build a solid base, or that the home form is strong. It also doesn't mean that I have changed on my stance that it all comes down to results nor that I am anything other than happy that we are sat in 4th, I will happily watch a boring game as I have done twice within the last week at Ewood if I get the satisfaction of 3 points once that whistle goes and beyond. If you replaced Rovers with another random side and had watched the 2 games we have seen at Ewood, you would not have been remotely entertained.

Again, none of those impressive stats are relevant to my comment about the aesthetics of our performance. In isolation, I can say that Tomasson's style of football is terrible to watch. That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the recent run of 4 games, the general organisation of the team or the fact that Tomasson can clearly build a solid base, or that the home form is strong. It also doesn't mean that I have changed on my stance that it all comes down to results nor that I am anything other than happy that we are sat in 4th, I will happily watch a boring game as I have done twice within the last week at Ewood if I get the satisfaction of 3 points once that whistle goes and beyond. If you replaced Rovers with another random side and had watched the 2 games we have seen at Ewood, you would not have been remotely entertained.

That Gallagher shot was a half chance at best. Well drilled? Well organised? Effort on show? Wouldn't disagree with any of that. And all of these help to get us a win which is the most important thing. But Tomasson's football is so dull IMO, as I've said before I think it is as bad entertainment wise since Appleton. But result wise as it stands at the moment, it is effective.

Would have to disagree. A stark lack of quality on show and only the goal and Morton's poor finish were good chances. The entertainment of the game not helped by a truly dismal opposition. Its a poor quality league in general so tonight wasnt out of the ordinary. Don't get me wrong, I went home very happy as we won and you can't argue with a win or the league position so thats the main thing. But not an entertaining watch.

Dolan took his chance well but aside from the Morton chance there was nothing really close to being clear cut. Good result, very impressive league position, very impressive defensive solidity, as dull a style since the Appleton days and a total dearth of chances created and excitement. Still, tonight and Saturday were both snooze fests yet if we go home with a win im happy.

A strange reaction to instantly come for the "I told you so." I dont doubt that they will score occasionally but there arent enough goals there over time hence why we need the main 2 back in the team ASAP. A tough watch but built on solidity and organisation against a shocking side.

Cant argue with another win and somehow being 4th in the league. Performance wise, like watching paint dry. Doesnt seem to be any attacking plan and a dearth of attacking plan and quality with hardly any chances again created. Dolan with an excellent goal but otherwise was as bad as he has been for sometimes, constantly losing the ball, stupid repeated stepovers and an embarassing dive. Szmodics runs around with minimal quality and Thomas does offer us natural width but his end product is underwhelming and I think his assist was meant for Travis. The less said about Gallagher the better and Morton playing off Vale overtakes Varney and Brown in the worst attacking duo I can remember. Defensively excellent though, both full backs competing for man of the match, Pears could have sat next to me. All 3 centre backs dealt with a poor Blackpool side easily, Hyam the stand out and Travis is really performing well at the moment. Buckley is not a deep central midfielder, Adam Wharton needed for the weekend. Under Tomasson we are well organised to be fair.

Everyone has to consider money, and most people will be attracted to it, naturally. But not even that, if it comes to career ambition, there will be better options. Makes no sense to commit here at this stage for a year or two.

Can we stop again with the superfan routine please, I will be supporting the team tonight just as you will. On the clean sheet thing, my point was not a negative about our defensive record, I am just saying that you can't keep a clean sheet everytime and we need more than that. When anyones main 2 goalscorers are out, more often than not they will not score at the same rate, hence why strikers cost so much money. Why would I have loads of confidence in the likes of Dolan, Gallagher, Szmodics, Hedges and Thomas to score enough goals to offset Brereton and Dack? None have good goalscoring records.

Huge game, we have to beat bottom of the league, no excuses. Not looking forward to it as it will be another drab game I am sure but lets hope we can get over the line. We need one of the supporting cast to step up.

Can't argue with discussion about his lack of pace, deceptively slow is the perfect way of putting it. He also isn't a striker in a million years. There could be more of an onus on him now with Dack and maybe Brereton out, he and Gallagher failed to step up last season which is a worry.

I am still unclear on what his strengths are. He is slow, weak, doesn't put in much of a shift, can't win a header, doesn't get into goalscoring positions and his movement hinders other attacking players around him. What about Thomas could feasibly help him. I think he has been on a bad run of form so put him down for first scorer.

Dack. In the league aside from 2 own goals and Dack, we have scored 4 goals since the World Cup break. No one with more than 1.

Does a one year contract offer stability? If he wants to stay local, I am sure that a few local clubs who can offer more money could entice him on a free. Change that to for multi millions and those potential suitors may look elsewhere.

We won't keep clean sheets in every game so we need to start offering much more of an attacking threat, which isn't helped when the only player who has offered anything close to a consistent threat in recent weeks and months is now injured.

Barely anyone has stepped up to score in recent weeks. When key attackers are out, it isn't automatic that others will score at an equal rate.

It makes no sense to me without blue and white tinted glasses for him to tie himself down to any contract when he has a free market if he is a free agent, with clubs then able to give him a bit more personally as opposed to having to pay a fee. The 1 year offer if true (big if) would be a desperate attempt having ignored bids in the past. If we did add a year on, that would be particularly brainless of him to agree with the condition that we would look to instantly sell, as that really would hinder his chances of picking a move, therefore it would just be a short term thing, essentially an expensive wage bill shattering loan.

But signing a new deal means that teams do then have to part with cash. If his agent would even consider a year or two extra in the situation he is, then he isn't a very good agent.

Gallagher is not great but he is a lot better than Vale.

I think there is a very loose usage of the word "objectively" here! Couldn't be more subjective. We are too far past the "better than nowt" mentality having stupidly turned down money in the summer. I can't fathom how a 1 year deal is in anyway in Brereton's benefit. If the intention was to instantly sell, he would essentially be massively hindering any scope for him to get a decent deal elsewhere. Him as a free agent is miles more appealing to bigger clubs even if it is to have him as a squad player, with the lack of transfer fee allowing scope for a higher wage and signing on fee. To justify a fee on a Championship player and having to be part of an auction will deter many. That is not even considering how he already knows that Venkys aren't logical in accepting bids. The 2 year deal is not much more appealing from what I can see. Even if we can (not considering smashing apart the wage structure, the problem of Venkys intermittently popping up and removing any sense of order) offer £30k, again he would likely get more at Villarreal.

I'm sure he does, but he has done enough to generate concrete interest from a top La Liga club that plays regularly in European competition.

Doesnt sound particularly good to lose our only 2 goalscorers.

Of course, these are all opinions. He could jeopardise a big money move to Villarreal though if he does sign for another year here.

Exactly, why would Brereton himself do that? Makes zero sense at all. Villarreal wouldnt want him for £15m months after approaching him for free.