£10m is almost certainly better than one solitary extra season with Brereton.

He wont sign a new contract so we have essentially paid at least 10 million euros to loan him for a season in which many dont seem to have genuine ambitions of promotion.

Its irrelevant what random figure we deemed to be fair and its cutting off our nose to spite our face to hold that attitude. We have loaned Brereton for a minimum of £8.4m, most likely more. That cant be justified. There should have been a target lined up ready to instantly get a deal done once he left, regardless of how late, although the Nice offer was weeks before the deadline. The other replacements for other players had already been sourced.

Even if you assume that we couldnt have possibly got a bid of over 10 million euros, then even that makes sense to take and reinvest. Would you pay that amount to loan a goalscorer for a season?

You implied that the "penny has dropped" with Broughton. Whilst new deals for Wharton and Phillips would be welcomed, ultimately the biggest decision this summer was the Brereton one and we have chosen not to cash in, similarly to last season with the 3 that left, all of whom combined werent as valuable as Brereton. Until we stop allowing this to happen then I dont see how the penny has dropped. Last season we chose to cash in on Armstrong rather than letting him running his contract down as well as giving new deals to Travis, Kaminski and Gallagher so even prior to Broughton contractually it wasnt a total disaster.

Of course Brereton should have had a contract agreed earlier, but this summer we was dealt with a situation of either selling or keeping and losing any fee. Nice offered 10 million euros but I have little doubt that had our stance been less rigid (high asking price, meet it exactly or he stays) that we could have got more. We have essentially paid a big fee in an opportunity cost to loan Brereton for a season, a season in which many have written off as a transitional one. Its bonkers. The owners should never overrule the manager. Tomasson is never going to say that he wants Brereton out and he also regularly mentioned understanding if he did go. Whoever has had the final decision to keep/set a high asking price has made a stupid decision.

Such a major decision goes against the idea that the introduction of Broughton has created a significant change in tying down assets effectively.

Yet Brereton was kept at the cost of potentially a 8 figure fee.

Big game against very tough opposition. 3 home losses on the bounce and 5 losses in 6 wouldn't be a good look.

One thing that definitely should happen is a cancellation of the totally pointless nations league games that nobody gives a shit about. I know that other countries aren't in mourning but it would be good for players in our leagues to collectively agree to miss those internationals (just cancel England) and play the rearranged games then rather than further cramming.

Burnley has been called off tomorrow.

There will be no games at club level this month now it seems, mourning for at least 10 until the funeral which is the start of an international break.

Our squad is balanced to playing 4-2-3-1, I think the issues we are having are not necessarily down to the formation.

My point is that the amount of time he deserves depends on the results and to a lesser extent the performances as we go. If we won 7 games then obviously he would have shown plenty to continue. My point was that he doesn't just deserve patience for the sake of it. I think that the start has been pretty solid, I think the performances as a whole and signs of a style developing have been quite low really but its about results so we carry on.

I don't agree with a change to that formation to be honest because it massively dilutes an attack that has struggled to begin with. I think Dack has to play at the moment, we definitely need a number 10 so I would s Morton offers little, I would play Carter at right back and Mola at CB if neither of the injured two are back, if they are, then Mola with Travis in midfield.

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/tomasson-blackburn-rovers-nyambe-talks-24965247 Tomasson did want Nyambe to stay, although not the case according to a few on here.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/21224014.blackburn-rovers-injury-latest-ahead-wigan-athletic-trip/ Doesn't sound overly confident regarding Ayala or Wharton. If Ayala is ever a doubt, safe to say he won't play. Surely stick in Mola, he is a new signing earmarked for that position. Would raise questions over the signing if we left him out assuming Ayala and Wharton don't play. If Travis is at right back, we may aswell not bother.

Lambert, although it was a forgettable spell.

They can bang on about long term projects, philosophies, styles etc but its easy to obsess over stuff like that, as important as they are. If Chelsea struggle and finish 6th or 7th this season, will Potter be allowed to continue that plan if the signs on the pitch aren't showing that plan starting to come together? No.

Seems like the common theme and can't disagree with most. Any central defender would struggle to dislodge those 2 when fit, perhaps only a signing like Ahmedhodzic would stand out amidst those 2. Hyam is one of the signings that I am happier with though and am happy with 2 of those 3 at any point if possible. Don't agree with a 3 because we have Dack as a number 10, as well as our biggest summer signing. With him and Brittain, they tick the boxes 100% of what we needed and the justification of spending money. We did need an out and out striker and another attacking player albeit I would have gone for someone with more flexibility than Szmodics.

I love that you keep saying that he has said that he is happy and taking it as gospel. Can you possibly imagine him coming out and saying "well I didn't want these players particularly but they will have to do?!" I'm not saying that he isn't happy with the signings but come on, don't be naive, we will never know either way. Regarding a plan, it was a general point. As it happens, lately I have seen very little signs of a plan starting to piece together, with regularly changing teams, a worrying focus on playing it out from the back, a clear lack of experience and physicality, no real signs of the "front 4 fluidity" or even pressing and us looking dodgy at the back and not posing much threat up front. But across the 8 games, with 12 points on the board, definitely enough thus far to crack on. Point being, if say (we won't) in the next 10 games we win 1, draw 2, lose 7 and performance levels remain poor, would you expect everyone to still say, right, don't judge until next season, time and patience etc? I'm not saying that he isn't happy with Hyam and I think he seems one of the better bits of business at this early stage but he will always make him see I am sure that he has had an impact but I think that he would much prefer his first choice for example in Ahmedhodzic. After signing Szmodics, he mentioned his experience in the media. Szmodics has had one season at Championship level where he played with any regularity.

A problem with the manager not picking the players or at least having full control of recruitment is that it is harder to attach responsibility. I suppose Tomasson could have requested more experience but he hasnt got it.

Aubameyang was surely his at least. A manager should always have the main say on recruitment.

I think it is impossible to put a time on it, no matter what any manager it says it should be just an ongoing thing. Patience and time awarded should performances and results show signs of improvement and encouragement, rather than give it until x date then judge.