Our unbeaten run wasn't solely down to our defensive record either, as much as that was obviously critical. Brereton scored the goal to put us in front v Sheff Utd, he got us an equaliser at Bristol City, the only goal in an otherwise drab game v Preston to win that and the winner v Barnsley too. He also got 2 in both of the thrashings during that run and forced the opener away at Bournemouth. Our attack is massively depleted without him and merely having a solid defence isn't enough to win games. A solid defence is key to any successful team but there will also be games in which you are struggling to break down an opponent, and a clean sheet is impossible every single time. Without Brereton, it is hard to see many goals in our main 11, and then if we need an impact from the bench, there won't be much to go off. I don't think you have to watch Boro every time they play to appreciate the objective fact that they are in the best form in the whole league over the last 6 games, including 4 wins on the bounce. We know that our form has shown symptoms of slowing in the last 3 games, we have looked toothless aside from a moment of magic from Rothwell at Cardiff.

I don't think that Carroll would be a good addition, we often play on the counter attack therefore it would be difficult/impossible to ever start him. I doubt he would come to sit on our bench just on the off chance that we want a battering ram on for the last 15 minutes. We should get a striker that could slip into the starting 11 just as easily.

Lenihan AND Van Hecke (mainly the former though) have BOTH been key players though, without Lenihan, we would need someone else external, can you get someone as good as the captain to come in immediately? Nyambe and Rothwell have also been key, both (especially the latter in a new deeper position, you could also add Lenihan to this) have been far better this season than ever before and it seems a culmination of the progression over a number of years, so they simply wouldn't have been viewed externally as well in the summer as they will be now, having all played key roles in a side fighting for promotion displaying form never seen before.

All hypothetical, but had all of those players been sold, then we almost certainly wouldn't have been anything close to where we are in the table at the moment, with a genuine chance of a promotion.

Why is the only alternative to frugality a reckless spending spree?! It is a commonly repeated, strawman argument. No one has asked for wild, multi million pound spending! Why has there been no interest in him, according to the manager? He will surely be available right now at a cheaper value.

I know that it is cyclical, I mentioned as such. But with the current situation, I would be amazed if the addition of the 2022 year wouldn't IMPROVE the current cycle compared to the year that it knocks off, what with the factors that I mentioned, notably the considerable Armstrong sale. That is without considering the notable wage decrease expected. Therefore, that improvement gives a bit of flexibility for a bit of reinvestment. Out of interest, do you think that what you have perceived to be the current plan of actions shows genuine signs of bearing fruit? I personally think that the inflexibility to get key assets signed and the lack of consistency regarding its application means that it is not going to be successful any time soon.

Thats a totally hypothetical scenario. I don't think for one moment that a Premier League team would have Rothwell for 10m, I mean they could probably get him for much less right now yet no one seems keen to. But ultimately, being perhaps over stringent and not allowing the flexibility to tie him down ultimately throws to one side any potential income from a sale which is obviously the natural end to the "polishing" of an asset. So it becomes a case of if my aunty had bollocks she would be my aunty. I don't think that Kaminski and Wharton are at this moment in this market multi million pound players, especially the former due to his contract.

It's not about "ignoring the rules," and that is the part that those so keen to defend the owners don't seem to understand, the 2 choices are not stringent spending v wild, unplanned spending. I don't think that anyone has suggested wreckless spending that would see us go miles over FFP regulations, why would they. The thing is, the June 2021 year seemingly was particularly problematic, hence the training ground sale to get around the FFP rules. Even if it is cyclical, the June 2022 accounting year will surely be considerably healthier compared to the last few years. The wage bill will be much lower, the Armstrong sale will be in this year too, and we will have a full year of ticket sales for the first time in 3 years.

Im not having personally that we are still right on the brink of FFP regulations.

Does Balaji's son support/attend Rovers games? Which reminds me, Venkys promised to attend a game this season. I wonder if they will follow through on that promise.

It won't work unless its a continuous process, and Venkys have never shown signs that they have the willingness or competence to make it a continuous process.

Doesn't sound good at all. Acceptance that we may not strengthen, implications of very little money being available and that we are struggling to get deals done, and a reluctant mention of the loan market. I can't say that I expected Venkys to give it a go in such as strong opportunity, and if we bring in nobody there is a big danger of us getting into a rut as and when injuries really tighten their grip.

The squad as it will do at times without reinforcement is starting to creak, and we already have seen the dependence on the first 11. We need Venkys to get their cheque book out because we don't have enough quality. With Brereton also out of Luton, we could do with at least one attacker before then. No excuses now. It is not that straightforward, as it isn't a 2 horse race for second spot, it is far too simplistic to talk about chalking off our losses. QPR won who are really in form and could leap frog us if they win their game in hand, a big if I know. West Brom also won who will also fancy their chances for 2nd, and Huddersfield further established themselves as a top 6 contender. Forest and Sheffield United are also threats for the play offs and both won. Plus obviously Fulham have pushed further away even in the absence of Mitrovic. Conversely, Stoke and Coventry lost too. Ultimately there are probably 4 or 5 teams with a genuine chance of 2nd, and quite a few with a chance of the top 6. Until as and when a genuine 2 horse race materialises, it is just about us, every time we win, we will almost certainly gain on at least a couple of teams, every time we drop points, teams will make ground/push ahead of us. Win tomorrow and we have pushed ahead of Bournemouth, and added to the distance between Boro, Stoke and Coventry. Don't win and the likes of QPR, West Brom, Huddersfield and further back Forest and Sheffield United again will have made ground on us, plus potentially Boro if they beat us.

This talk about playing the EFL "at their own game" seems misguided. There are now specific rules in place, perhaps people can take issue with those rules, 14 available including 1 keeper. We presumably have more than that so we can't do anything, end of. The EFL isn't against Rovers either, you can question its competence and whether its rules etc are fit for purpose but they aren't against us.

Close to Brockhall as in someone that works for Rovers or just nearby?

Agreed, lets hope as it sounds that it is nonsense. It seems that much of the information that spills out is false; there was one day in the summer when it was announced on here that Rothwell was leaving that very day and Adam Reach was joining. Neither happened.

Surely in the absence of attackers, Chapman will be on the bench on Monday.

Why would the issue with Rothwell be getting his wages off the books? If there was financial motivation it would be surely to get value before his contract expires, his contract is the one he signed after signing from Oxford so I doubt it is hefty and Stephens will be on more in the Premier League.

Where did you hear it from? Makes no sense at all, seems a little far fetched.

Whilst the current rules are questionable to say the least, it isnt a case of just asking to call it off. I am unsure if it is the same rule across the EFL but isnt it that you need 14 players (including one keeper) to be fit and available, including anyone who has played a senior game? Obviously we do so we cant call it off, end of.

True. But I suppose neither does Markanday yet its assumed across the board that not having him available for selection weakens our options overall.

Of course but if you take a main goalscorer out of any team, you weaken them as a result. We would rather he was available and I don't think we have much goal threat.

I meant as in available. I acknowledged that we will be more solid again which is key but it is equally valid to question our attacking side which is massively depleted with our main goalscorer out (as well as a couple of other attacking players) and we are weaker as a result.

It is definitely a big worry going into Monday wondering where we will score goals without Brereton, especially with Markanday and Dolan out, not that either of them are proven goalscorers but it further reduces the options available. Gallagher is a donkey as we all know and Khadra is never a prolific scorer. You contrast that to Boro who have 2 new additions in forward areas ready to go. Nyambe and Travis should come straight back in which should make us more solid however. Boro have an excellent manager at this level who will make them more than the sum of their parts, that being said, it is probably partly indicative of a league of poor quality; I don't think that Boro's squad is anything remarkable. Crooks will be a huge physical danger from deep and they will play a lot through Jones down the right hand side. But it would be hasty to right off our chances at home even without our primary goal threat.

Huge blow, we now need 2 new attackers rather than just the one. Maybe one loan and one permanent.