roversfan99

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.

David Brent levels of business speak.

Coady is not particularly good so I can see Evertonians having a right moan as and when he makes mistakes specifically because Coady is a big Liverpool fan.

Maatsen was outstanding v Huddersfield and seems to have got lots of praise again yesterday, and impressed at Coventry too. Think they have a good one there unfortunately.

The obsession continues with now solely Ronaldo now Pogba has moved on as if he is the sole problem. Their side is crap though, lets be honest. Rashford scored 4 last season and hasn't scored when starting for over 15 months, missed a few sitters today and generally looks half arsed. Sancho looks a real waste of money, every time I see him he looks out of shape, lacking pace and always choosing the safe pass back rather than beating his man, McTominay has to be one of the very worst starting central midfielders in the league and Fred is little better alongside him, why they have their best CB on the bench is beyond me, Shaw looks like he is towing a caravan, De Gea regularly makes big errors, the list goes on. I don't think that they can afford to let Ronaldo go simply because he is the only person who scores goals with any regularity. It's painted out that he is the egotistical bone idle prevention to a young, dynamic side playing energetic, pressing football. The rest of the players are more bone idle than him!

What is meant by being "fair enough?" I disagree with the concept of a strict playing style being dictated to by people above the manager, it is nonsensical. In this instance, Swansea fans got moany about playing style despite Cooper getting Swansea into the play offs in successive seasons. They let Cooper go, and have massively downgraded with a desire to pass it about (by the way, it is so boring to watch) yet throughout last season, it seems from afar that their fans were happy regardless of a sharp decline in results. Managers are the ones qualified to play a style how they see fit, and it should be based on results, not the principles of men in suits.

Vale struggled to get involved, so I am just saying not even specific to yesterday that Dack even as a sub could be a very useful tool to run down the clock. Swansea an example of how an obsession over "the right way of playing" and philosophies can be to the detriment of the club.

Surprised to see United playing so badly with neither of Ronaldo and Pogba playing for them, they were the 2 problems or so it was portrayed? Absolute shite, McTominay is stealing a living.

Since the PL days, Dack I think is by far the best player we have had at seeing games out, game management and using his brain to run the clock down. I think once we went to a back 5 though, his natural position was obviously no longer there, but I think there would have been merit to bring him on instead of Vale to use his know how. I don't think Martin is a very good manager. Shows even more how stupid they were not to do everything to keep Cooper who got them into the play offs twice. Hedges was very good v Stoke, Preston and Birmingham at the end of last season. He has not suddenly become a different player. He really did fit the tactics yesterday with his work off the ball.

The thing is, as a big money signing with a reluctant seller compared to a free agent, he becomes a totally different prospect. A second good year and there may be numerous clubs in the PL and in top leagues elsewhere who see Brereton as a very tasty free agent. The thing is too which is in his favour is even if he failed to replicate that form and attract Premier League interest, we would be cutting our noses off to spite our face if we withdrew that offer.

He quite clearly has proven himself as merely a "good" Championship CB, maybe debatable is whether he is top class at this level or even able to make the step up but he is at least good at this level. Has your view on Hedges changed at all?

Dele Alli has to be one of the strangest signings in recent history. No doubt on a decent wage too.

Brilliant result and what a start to the season so far with 2 wins from 2. The result was all built on defensive solidity with brilliant organisation throughout, excellent concentration and clinical when we did get chances. Ayala and Wharton were both outstanding, a shame that the former will drop down to injury at any moment as he really is a top defender at this level. Kaminski reliable when needed and the full backs both sound, Brittain was wasteful with his crosses but both are sound technically and I thought that Pickering was particularly good after some criticism lately. Travis a driving force in midfield and has taken to captaincy like a duck to water. Buckley more of a mixed bag, poor from set pieces and dawdled a couple of times which on one occasion in particular left us exposed, but the 2 were also key to our defensive shape. Going forward, I don't again actually think we were particularly great but we were clinical when we did get into the final third. Hedges was the stand out player and I think he could turn out to be a real bargain as a parting gift. Szmodics I actually thought looked off the pace in general and struggled to get involved but getting on the scoresheet with a composed finish was a very good contribution. Brereton very good and assuming he leaves, we have to get a good replacement as he brings so much both with his goals and his hold up, Gallagher worked hard but quite ineffective.

I thought he looked very clumsy and missed a number of simple chances but he certainly is a nuisance that naturally attracts the ball in the box.

The fact that these stats can differ noticeably dependant on the source shows how subjective they ultimately are, and of limited use.

No Markanday tomorrow, hes with the kids tonight.

I don't mean that as an insult to him or a criticism regarding his general ability/performances, I just mean that he hasn't played in a midfield 2 deeper so until he does, I am wary of making statements about him doing x y and z without seeing him play and hopefully thrive for a bit in central midfield first, rather than further forward. I would also agree that many aspects of his game do suit a potential change, he can pass a ball (the switch mentioned above to Brittain was excellent) and take it on the half turn so in theory giving him more of the ball is of benefit. But he is good at being in the opposition half and slipping people in so I do wonder if playing deeper will limit that ability. I also wonder if he is able to adapt in terms of reigning in his petulance and needless fouls which should really have seen him off half an hour into his first game there.

He was never expected or asked to be our main goal threat.

Not sure being a wing back suits him at all. Steady left back more than a flying wing back.

I thought Pickering was comparable to Brittain last week, I was surprised to see that the former was seen as one of our poorer performers.