roversfan99

I am not a fan of repeatedly calling people negative or positive because its just a method of shutting down debate by making people seem unreasonable. Eddie has done the same previously about Rovers. People are capable of making their own opinions rather than it just echoing the media or mainstream opinion. I think there would be a more valid argument if people were saying the players we have are not very good etc but that is far from the case. We have what feels like a particulely high standard of players at the moment, hence the worry that these peak years will again pass by without something to show for it. We have always been quite a pragmatic team under Southgate but going back to say 2018 and to a much lesser extent 2021, our side lacked tbe quality it has now so it was more understandable. The question is whether Southgate can evolve with that and it doesnt really seem so. He also remains "loyal" to certain players despite prolonged periods of inactivity and/or poor performances, so we are left with a team mainly of really high standard players and then 2 or 3 blatant weaknesses. If we run with the idea that people are so impressionable based on the narrative around them. Say these Dutch or French fans, they wont watch all of our games to the same extent and will just see the names, Bellingham, Kane, Saka, Foden etc, we all agree that they are excellent players which is why we all seem to agree that England should be amongst the favourites. They also might have similar attitudes surely to their own teams as what you perceive England fans based in England do to their team, ie supposedly be more willing to pin point certain flaws within the team? So this idea of different attitudes based on where you are works both ways.

Dolan has proven over time that he is not an effective striker in general, barring one or two occasional exceptions. Telalovic looks miles away unfortunately and understandably given where he has come from. And it is such a big ask to keep expecting Leonard to play repeatedly which is why he broke down before the internationals. He had never started a senior game before this season. Ennis is the one who himself doesnt have a track record at this level but does look a level up but until he himself can prove to be durable then its of no use.

Gallagher is still at least a month away. Leonard is promising but he is a young lad. Ennis seems a case of a player who either always has the quote "needs to get fit" or "needs to get up to speed" around his name, can we rely on him? We needed to bring in a regular striker in the summer. Ennis looks a useful player but sadly is made of glass. We could do with Telalovic contributing now but he is clearly not ready. It's not on Broughton in that its just a desperate cheap late punt in the absence of a competitive budget.

Why would living abroad give any further perspective? Likewise with Rovers you seem keen to play the role of "having perspective." Ultimately it was a good win. I think on paper our squad is as good as you say. I think people are worried that there is a chance that such a gifted group, you look at the likes of Kane and Bellingham, very few if any players in their positions in the world who are better, then players like Saka and Foden etc, and there is a worry that under Southgate an exciting generation will pass by without winning a major tournament. His attitude seems to be to be particularly pragmatic and hope that our attacking talent can nick us a goal when we dont create that much. The question is, is that going to get the best of our squad. And you touched on some selections, can we carry players who have gone so long barely playing and not playing well when they do play.

I admit that central midfield (discounting Bellingham who plays further forward) is not a strong position for us, Rice is good at what he does but is average on the ball and then there is a big question mark, but I dont think Phillips was ever much more than functional even when he was playing regularly. Pep has seen through him hence why he doesnt get a kick even with Rodri out. Any of the 3 you mention would at least give us something else, Alexander Arnold is the best of the 3 but obviously the questions are about playing a position he doesnt play for his club, but he does move into there and with Walker it is definitely worth a go. Ward Prowse and Gallagher are also better players. Southgate has seemingly always had the attitude to let the front players get goals and just sit in otherwise and play as tight as possible. Our manager should look to be more proactive if he wants to really look to win a tournament. I would say the only 2 countries going into this tournament with squads as strong as ours are France and Portugal. I dont care about how we look but I think we have players that arent given the same freedom to flourish like they do at club level. Trippier is a good player but he is hindered on the wrong side and struggled at times. Colwill has played at left back for Chelsea all season and has done well. Guehi, Dunk and Tomori should be all miles ahead of Maguire.

How was Ennis in general, goals aside?

Easy win v an Italian side miles away from the very top sides internationally. Very dull game, but with a front 4 like that including the best striker and attacking midfield duo in the world, we will score from not that many chances. With some of the elite talent we have, we could and should be much more fluid than we are, against the big teams the central midfield 2 (especially Phillips obviously or Henderson if he gets the nod) and Maguire are the weak points. Dont like a right footer at left back either.

I definitely wouldnt put Travis back in but to drop him from the squad. I would agree that those 2 are the strongest choices. Wharton is hard to leave out though so its a tough one.

Nonsense that Travis should be dumped out of the squad too. He isnt awful at going box to box, problem this season is when he is played, he is instructed to go really high up and he is really good at winning the ball back but having him so far forward in an already attacking team leaves us exposed. Garrett is unproven and Wharton is best playing from deep as long as hes given a bit of help. It would be harsh to drop Dolan after scoring too. There is a space on the right so I would have him there but I expect the same side as v QPR but with Brittain over Markanday. Moran will presumably miss out with injury.

More self entitled bollocks making people seem like they know what they are talking about. Why is a number 6 now considered a midfielder? Always a centre back.

Mentioned on the Cardiff thread but he has been denied the chance of a senior call up as he has picked up an ankle injury.

Moran is injured.

I think he had mental and/or gambling issues.

They can, but its much more likely if they are playing additional and unnecessary games.

To be fair, minutes under their belt might hurt. The likes of Bowen, Watkins, Grealish, Tomori, Dunk, Alexander Arnold etc all have not only busy domestic schedules but European football too. Thankfully I didnt watch as it seems like I didnt miss anything.

Corry Evans.

It said on the highlights that Dolan hadnt scored prior in I think 26 games. Granted a chunk are sub appearances.

Im not sure the Italy game is too important, lose and we will still easily qualify. The Australia game is a waste of time. Some of the selections are predictable yet ridiculous. Southgate will not get the best from this crop of players. Maguire is a joke selection even amidst an average pool of centre backs. Phillips doesnt get a sniff at City even with Rodri out. Henderson is playing in Saudi Arabia. None should be near the squad, all will play minutes. In an ideal world, we would be able to put Stones in midfield next to Rice and try that behind Bellingham. And we still have to suffer yet another international break in a few weeks.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/20671027.blackburn-rovers-reject-ogc-nice-bid-ben-brereton-diaz/

I do get the fact that players need to settle in, and that over the top conclusions are unnecessary. It doesnt affect their confidence to speak on here though as if you are commenting at the games with your mates. Its the beauty of new signings, you watch them once or twice, wow he looks good or alternatively he looks crap. Then sometimes those who struggle initially might push on and like Szmodics get all the praise they deserve at that point. All part of being a football fan.

Neither are/were new signings which was what my point was relating to. For some reason when a new signing struggles in early games, rather than people countering with constructive points about what they think the player could offer, instead shutting conversation down suggesting that people shouldnt comment for a set period. That isnt the case with players who hit the ground running. Take Szmodics. People questioning his signing for the first 6 months werent wrong to do so based on what they had seen.

But it was Venkys that allowed money to fritter away by rejecting bids. Even since Broughton joined, we had bids for Brereton turned down above his head. Until they stop meddling, that risk is always there.

This repetitive "wait to judge" rhetoric seems unncessary to me, it only goes one way. No one says that we shouldnt judge Sigurdsson despite some really promising signs in his first 4 games because its early days. Its an internet messageboard, why cant we just have constructive debate as we go, especially when this rubbish is said when a player struggles early doors? He has gone on to prove an excellent signing, the work rate side should be a given, Bennett always gave 100% and was crap. Szmodics is far more than that. He is a real threat in the final third. But last season, questions were still valid. Cost a (relatively speaking) big sum when we didnt sign a striker. He had 2 spells prior in the Championship, once not even a guaranteed starter at Peterborough and he didnt make the grade at Bristol City, despite his goals in League 1. Peterborough fans seemed somewhat sad to see him leave but felt we overpaid. Then for half a season, he simply wasnt very good. He struggled to influence games, he even ended up with the kids. Questions about the signing were valid, not stupid. Thankfully hes kicked on and proved himself as an important player and a very good signing.

Why would anyone be annoyed at getting (Nice bid more reportedly but we will go with it) £6m for a player otherwise certain to leave for free the year after? Even if Sigurdsson does replace him well, and crucially stays beyond this season. That doesn't lessen the importance of such a sum to Rovers these days.

It is, but that is part of the problem. No consistency in always giving a % (not 100%) of any sales to continiously try and implement any sort of model. Thats when Broughton ever mentions a model, he is wasting his breath.