A draw would be ideal, a Forest win would be the worst case scenario.

I definitely agree on the club, there seems to be a lack of accountability too which is only heightened when people just blame the fan base. Waggott has mentioned in the forum as you say that bundles don't work and are unfavoured, and this latest offering has more strings than ever and limits itself by quantity due to only being in one stand. I just don't get how people don't seem to/are unwilling to grasp the fact that not everyone is a fan who prioritises attending above most/all other things and has the lifestyle and finances to be able to do that. And not only that, they think its just a Rovers thing!

If Waggott etc become aware of these comments then they will be made up. For some reason, so many fans cannot fathom that not everyone shares the same mindset nor the same circumstances to want and be able to get to as many games as possible. Its not just a Rovers thing, every team has a mixture of fans, some prioritise attending, some not so much and it requires effective ticketing and marketing to coax them in. When people put such idiotic nonsense, it takes away from the fact that there may well be issues with the actual ticketing policies which will determine the attendance tomorrow. The strings attached bundle specific to one area of the ground has so many flaws, yet where is the accountability when people have the attitude of "bloody shit Rovers fans" naive to the fact that the fanbase of every club is a complex mix of people with different minds and different circumstances.

Those examples are not relevant though because they are blatantly well out of our price range hence why nobody had mentioned them, Moore wouldn't even fit into our style of play. Dike is a big signing for West Brom and his unfortunate injury caused them to get Carroll as a bit of a desperate alternative. I mentioned that it would be practically impossible to get anyone close to the goalscoring level of Brereton and indeed not an easy task to get someone who fit the criteria, ie a striker with pace who could play as a wide striker if required, who can score goals even if it is not 25/30 a season just more than Khadra/Dolan etc on a tight budget. Loans would be most likely, and there would be an element of risk and reward, and we can only really discuss the names we know. Maja has hit the ground running at Stoke with a couple of goals, although there was understandable doubt over his injury plus I am not sure if he could play as a wide striker, not sure I have seen enough of him. Connolly was one name Mowbray mentioned, went to Boro, not convinced he is particularly good anyway. I liked the look of Forss who certainly knows where the goal is, perhaps went to Hull for more regular gametime if we were in for him. So it isn't easy, but it was possible and it was a disappointment that it didn't happen.

No one has mentioned a 10m striker or anything of the like. I accept and agree with the idea that it was not a straightforward task, but no one mentioned anything extortionate.

It isn't a question of hindsight to be fair, many people raised the issue upon the closure of the transfer window that they felt that we were a striker short. I don't think it is as straightforward as it seems, in that firstly, any team would miss and struggle to replace their main striker, especially one on 20 goals. Also, we had a small budget further depleted by the sunk cost of the Markanday deal considering his injury. To find a striker that could offer anything close to a similar goal threat to Brereton on a small budget to fit our current formation was always going to be challenging, Dembele seemingly was bid for, a talented player but he isn't a regular goalscorer himself.

My point wasn't aimed at you, just a general point that it is naive to expect there to be always someone banging in goals amongst the top scorers in the league, the Brereton situation has been unexpected but I don't see a similar case from the current cast. Of course there is nothing to do other than hope, in reality the likes of Rothwell, Buckley, Dolan and Khadra need to chip in far more than they currently do, although none have a track record of scoring goals anything other than very occasionally. Gallagher is our biggest source of goals and he is far from prolific, Hedges doesn't have a particularly prolific record either. I don't hold much hope there based on logic, the key is to keep other teams out and hopefully we have enough to nick games. I did feel that we needed a forward extra in the window, for me we had 5 main options for 2 positions, Brereton, Gallagher, Dolan, Khadra and Hedges. The latter signed having initially been earmarked as one for the summer following the Markanday injury, so we knew of that prior to the window closing. I do get as I mentioned though that firstly any team is weaker without their main goalscorer, and on a small budget already depleted by signing someone who instantly got injured, and also someone with the qualities to fit into the current season.

This idea that someone will always step in unexpectedly when the key striker departs/is out is flawed, hopefully it will happen again but there is a reason that goalscorers cost so much.

I do think that it is very difficult for any team to be without their main man, if Fulham lost Mitrovic, they would be much less potent, if Bournemouth lost Solanke they would miss him etc. Undoubtedly I would have liked an extra forward in the window, on a tight budget I suppose it was difficult to find someone who could play as one of the wide forwards in a formation that has brought us the success we have, but I would have liked someone. A lot of onus on Gallagher now which worries me. Khadra is in his first proper season of football and has just the 3 goals, Dolan only scores occasionally, I am interested to see more of Hedges who for a winger had a reasonable goal and assist tally in Scotland but hes not going to make up what we lose without Brereton. Hopefully in a couple of weeks we have Dack and Brereton back involved.

Could be a critical, terminal blow to any promotion chances if our main goalscorer is injured for any period of time. Any team would miss their main striker, take Mitrovic out of Fulham and they wouldn't be half as good. Who will score the goals now?

Perhaps, I appreciate the need for accountability and totally understand that side of thing. Mind you, surely the pandemic creates a fair argument that the rules which were obviously created prior become a whole new ball game? But either way, it wouldnt sit right for the competition to be undermined by numerous teams being given points deductions before a ball is kicked based on a framework that isnt flexible to compensate for unforseen circumstances.

This season has been as productive as ever on that front, still not scoring many, but it suits him coming from deep rather than already being well up the pitch I think. Certainly not a natural goal threat but capable of occasional brilliance.

Obviously as someone who supports a club who would be potentially positively affected by such deductions, I still think it would make a mockery of the league should a series of teams start a season with a points deduction. I remain skeptical too until it happens.

Rothwell has thrived in that deeper role and the best season of a previously average career. And Gallagher is better running long distances than he is holding the ball up and playing with his back to goal, so it makes a bit of sense. He wouldnt be in my starting 11 though, thats for sure.

He was instrumental in our winning run, no one was calling him to be moved then, for me it allows his main strength to be maximised which is nicking the ball off people, and also playing through balls. Conversely, his main weakness is his shooting which is blatant when played there. Gallagher hasnt played as an orthodox striker for a long while barring maybe the odd cameo that doesnt immediately come to mind. I have never subscribed to the idea that he is a natural centre forward wasted, I just dont think he is very good full stop but he is probably no less effective as one of 2 wide strikers compared to as the main central striker.

Buckley has played as an attacking midfielder all season including throughout our winning run. Gallagher has played either wide of a 3 or as one of 2 wide strikers in basically every appearance too.

Correct. If you said that footballers are as versatile as theyve ever been or something along those lines, fair enough. To imply that formations and set positions dont exist is blatant nonsense.

Apparently positions in football are a thing of the past. All about dimensions.

*it's likely to be. Past performance (more this season specific to the 2 teams in general than over previous seasons at Ewood Park when both teams looked very different) is always a useful barometer but only up to a point.

Of course, its a game we should be expecting to win, at home v a mid table side, anything less than 3 points would be a huge source of frustration. We are third in the table so any dropped points should be a source of frustration, in our position we should feel capable of playing any team in our division and beat them, the table doesnt lie. This game coming up did stand out however amidst a block of 5 games as the easiest on paper and thus the one with perhaps the most pressure but it will not be easy.

A really important game in getting us a bit of confidence ahead of 3 tough games in which we certainly need to be continuing to pick points up. It might be a big banana skin, if Brereton is injured that could be a crucial blow and Millwall have won their last 2 having picked up since Jed Wallace returned to the team following doubt over his future.

Hes only played an hour of football in a Rovers shirt. We cant get rid of the 3 centre backs in the formation as they are not conceding goals. Just need to tweak ahead of that.

I would stick with the 5 at the back, our defence is ensuring that we gain points even when not scoring many. I would perhaps change things slightly and have 2 wide men either side of a striker but that would be Brereton if fit. Hedges and Dolan either side, see if we can get a bit more spark. I certainly wouldnt be desperate to give Gallagher a run of games in the middle, although Breretons injury may make this a necessity.

If you would play Brereton as the false 9, based on your recommendation, I don't get how Gallagher would be played in any different a position to where he plays now ie as one of the 2 wide forwards? The formation would need altering to bring in out and out strikers.

There is a common myth that Gallagher is a potentially effective forward being totally misused as a wide man. The current position is sort of a hybrid between wide man and striker, and in a counter attacking team, is probably not far off the best utilisation of a very limited player. I also feel like he performs better without Brereton as was the case when Gallagher was very good v Boro the other week from this current "wide striker" role, the balance of our team looks more natural playing this way when we have one of Brereton and Gallagher playing (always the former if fit and available) and then a winger as we saw with Khadra. Whenever he has played up front in the past, many of his primary weaknesses become magnified, he cannot hold the ball up, he cannot bring others into play, his touch is horrendous and as the main striker he will never be prolific enough.