We definitely need another central midfielder, although I dont think we will get one. Travis, Buckley and Morton supplemented by kids is not enough over a 46 game Championship season. At the moment Travis and Buckley have the shirts but he would really push the latter in particular and also offer an option of more experience.

Boro are being linked with a move for Alex Mowatt, likely on loan. We should definitely be in there asking questions, a good player in an area we are light in and one with good experience too.

I dont know for sure, hence regularly saying if. But the Ahmedhodzic interest was regularly reported in the LT, and Tomasson said in the press that Davies was a good player. If we actively chased those 2, if, then perhaps Van Hecke was never a primary active target this summer. Its just been assumed.

He may well not play every week (although Lingard is not very good) but why would he not take that opportunity if it comes? Even if he excels for a year or two longer at Championship level, there will still be huge doubts over his ability to play in the Prem until he actually gets a move there. Factor the money in and it is a no brainer.

Is it silly? There is the money thing that you touch on but also it is a great chance to have a go at being a Premier League player, most would take that chance when they can get it. Hardly an impossible task to get into the Forest side.

Not overly surprised that Van Hecke seemingly will not be coming. I did wonder if it was wishful thinking after obviously a great spell last year, with Tomasson seemingly pursuing his own targets if rumours are to be believed, he even commented on Ben Davies being a good player. I would be pleasantly surprised if he does as I fear a huge hole in our attack, currently we have a few chipping in but not prolifically with Brereton very much the main man, take him out and we would need a big replacement. But if I was advising him, its about risk and reward and there seems so much more potential reward from not signing a new deal yet. On the unlikely scenario that he gets a bad injury, it would be in our interests to offer him a new deal still rather than letting his deal expire so he wouldn't become unemployed.

I believe so but not 100% sure.

If he doesnt get sold then he can still enjoy his football here without needing to commit long term.

Dead rubber games winning promotion and winning 6 games in December? No doubting his cup history here was very poor but just dismissing the "no excitement in 5 years" line which clearly wasnt true.

Kaminski Rankin Costello Phillips Wharton Edun Morton A Wharton Markanday Dack Dolan Vale Subs: Pears, Buckley, Garrett, Leonard, Szmodics, Gallagher, Hedges, Ayala, Pickering I feel we need to rotate with the squad still very light, quite a few players come under the must not get injured category due to a lack of alternatives at the club. Kaminski, Ayala, Wharton, Brittain, Travis and Brereton the clear examples. That being said, I desperately want us to win and be in the next round and do not see a cup run as the burden others do. That team should be able to see off poor opposition. Wharton has to play and Kaminski can play without being a huge injury risk, maintaining a bit of continuity.

I have not seen that video but that is not a reliable source anyway and even if it was, it was specified that no bid has been put in. I stand by that we wont sign Bowler as good as he would be and we certainly wont sign a new front 3. I cant help but think that you are being characteristically naive on Brereton. It is in his best interests to hold off committing if he doesnt get fixed up before the end of the month.

Burnley are being linked with @chaddyrovers favourite player and YouTube extraordinaire Rhys Healey. I suspect if they got him, the predicted finish would go from 24th to 23rd.

No fun in winning promotion, battering Preston on their home ground, winning 5 nil at Hillsbrough, winning 6 games on the bounce last winter including a 2 nil win at Bournemouth etc?

Shows the total disregard and lack of care that Sky have towards fans that Watford have twice been plonked on a Monday night. Regarding our cup recent history, it is piss poor and it is often coupled with regular supporter suggestions that we are better off out of the cup with even the occasional remark that they would rather lose! Its something I have never been able to get my head around, I would make a number of changes on Wednesday night but still hoping and expecting that we can make the draw for the next round.

Pickering has started the season well and has been an important part of a very impressive back 4. Edun had a good cameo at the weekend but historically has been poor at left back. Not sure why there would be a decision to make.

There is absolutely no chance of us signing Bowler, Birmancevic and a number 9 in this window. This Bowler link seems to linger despite there being nothing but tenuous bits of historical gossip linking him. Why would he sign it? Him as a prospect to a top division club even reasonably priced is different to him as a free agent.

The owners should have zero involvement in transfers.

As much as Conte is a great manager, their team is not comparable to Liverpool.

I didnt say they were.

Just because he is a good player doesnt mean that it is a fair assumption that he is a primary target of ours. He may well be but as I said, seemingly was never first choice if there was truth in the rumours of the 2 other defenders that we tried to sign. Both.

They may get itchy but even if they do they will know that we are between a rock and a hard place.

I would think that Armstrong is perhaps one of the least popular players in a Rovers shirt in recent years considering his personal performances on the pitch. Unsure if maybe the fact that much of his goalscoring came when it was behind closed doors, and also if because we tend to (by luck or by judgement) tend to regularly have goalscorers, even Rhodes, Graham, Dack and now Brereton that the crazy goal tally that he scored is somewhat underappreciated. Not overly surprised that like Rhodes he was unable to make the step up, it is a huge step that most Championship players suffer with.

He could sign a pre-contractual agreement with a foreign club from January.

I am not totally convinced by the notion that we are even seriously interested in Van Hecke. We obviously have a new manager who will presumably have his own ideas and assuming that there was any truth in the Ahmedhodzic and Davies rumours, then Van Hecke clearly was at best not his first choice for that position. Not saying we aren't interested either but it seems a case of adding 2 and 2 and I am unsure whether people have got 4 or 5.

Very strange recruitment, they have gone for quite a lot of well known and British players, Tarkowski is a really good signing, not sure on Coady, McNeil was horrendous at Prem level last season and (obviously not British) but Gana Gueye was brilliant there first time but it was a long time ago. Amidst all that, they are close to signing Onana who is apparently a really good, young midfielder for big money. They still are horribly short in attack and the signing of Dele Alli is up there with the strangest you could find, no doubt a big earner, a player who could incur many more costs if he plays more games and just in general an unnecessary sideshow.