Bradley Dack - Twist or Stick?

[Sweaty Gussets]

42 minutes ago, arbitro said:

I honestly can't see Ayala being offered a new deal (and will be disappointed too) for a few reasons primarily his injury record and wages but one big consideration for Tomasson is that Sam Barnes will be fit by then. Tomasson talked highly of him in pre season and I saw him a couple of times in friendlies and he looked comfortable.

I think the fact they tried to sign a CB in Jan suggests Ayala is on his way. Like you say, the wages could be better spent elsewhere...like a good striker. 

[Sweaty Gussets]

4 minutes ago, tomphil said:

Stick

He was largely written off not long ago but proved people wrong again and losing him and BBD out of the squad at once is losing too much quality.

Still the best finisher in the club, and Rhodes aside, the best of the last 10 years or so. But if he's not first choice in the 10 role are his wages worth it? And will he want to play back-up to Szmodics? 

Edited March 31, 2023 by Sweaty Gussets

[DE.]

I'd keep Dack for an extra year if possible, as he has that special something - even after his injuries - which can turn a game out of nowhere. Obviously a lot depends on where JDT sees Dack fitting in, and where Dack sees himself fitting in. There would obviously be some risk in triggering the extension if Dack wasn't happy with what our plans were for him next season. Imagine what could end up on Twitter 😨

As far as Ayala is concerned, we'll be fine without him. Big wage, spends at least half of every season injured or otherwise unavailable. He's been decent for a free transfer, but best for all parties to move on.

[roversfan99]

We have to keep Dack with Brereton about to leave. It is already going to be a huge issue replacing Brereton with no money to reinvest. Dack is otherwise our best chance of a goal and the fact that we have Szmodics shouldn't be an issue, it just means that it is a position we don't need to worry about if still at this level.

[Mike E]

Dack is well worth keeping IF we're intending on getting a brute striker that knocks balls down (as well as scoring) for players like Dack/Szmodics/Dolan to latch on to.

[des]

Keep him

[chaddyrovers]

What does Dack want and if it regular first team football then it could be elsewhere then but if he wants to stay and fight for his place and achieve another promotion here then activate the 1 year extension. Szmodics should be first choice on form. 

Ayala I would let go in the summer.

[Paul Mani]

I’d stick and have Dack fight it out with Szmodics for another season. Especially with Ayala and Brereton gone.

But I’ve a feeling that JDT&GB will twist and back themselves to use cash from the departures of Ayala, Brereton and Dack to better effect. £4m a year in wages, combined? 

[roversfan99]

There is no way that them 3 take £80k a week combined!

And we would be losing our main goalscorer, our second biggest goal threat and also two huge bits of experience and quality in a young squad, all for nothing.

[J*B]

50K a week maximum!! 
 

Regardless, from what I hear (I know, I know) JDT is happy to see Mowbray’s men move on and backs the club to replace them. 

[Ghost7]

I'd keep Dack if he's willing to take a pay cut, if not.. move him on.

We know the answer to that and I'm sure the club are thinking similarly. He'll be gone in summer IMO.

[roversfan99]

Mowbray's men? I very much doubt that Tomasson has such a petty attitude.

[Hasta]

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn, I dream of what I need

[JBiz]

😭 

[Adam C]

Very sad day. Dack was genuinely top class before the awful injuries and a beacon of light amidst the darkness and depression of our descent into league one. Seems like he was probably premier league bound at one stage and you never know where he might have ended up if he hadn’t suffered those two injuries. All the best to him, I’ll keep an eye out to see how his career goes from here. He’ll never know how much he meant to this Rovers fan 💙

[DE.]

A shame, but JDT never really seemed keen on him and I assume wants to put those wages to better use. 

Worth noting despite his lack of general playing time he was our joint-third top scorer this season, along with Szmodics and only one goal behind the illustrious Sam Gallagher - who is now the highest scoring player from last season still under contract. Scary times if our recruitment team don't get their act together this summer. 

Edited May 17, 2023 by DE.

[Hi Mack]

We needed a striker before Dack and Diaz left now we are ridiculously short on fire power.

Gallagher, Vale, Dolan and Leonard 😳

[Displaced Rover]

I actually feel a bit gutted by this. Correct decision for all concerned I think but still sad to see him go.

Ultimately his injuries meant he stayed here a lot longer than he would have - think he was almost certainly leaving for the PL in January 2020 but for Sam Morsy.

[Mattyblue]

End of the day of the manager doesn’t fancy him and wants to take the team in a different direction, then fair enough… so let’s just hope we aren’t seeing another statement re his own position in the coming weeks. 

[Giant]

The bonus of Dacky leaving is that it’s a sign that JDT doesn’t rate him good enough for Championship football post the injuries and is staying at Rovers. Sad that he doesn’t seem to have recovered to anything like his previous level, but the club have to be ruthless in what is a cutthroat business. No room for sentiment. 

Edited May 17, 2023 by Giant
Missing word

[G Somerset Rover]

Interesting that his ‘goodbye message’ on the official rovers site thanks JDT, but in his Instagram post he says he felt he didn’t get enough chances, with no mention of JDT (TM gets a big thanks).

All the best Dacky, thanks for some great memories.

[Bbrovers2288]

Inevitable with his wages and lack of playing time, still a rather sad end , one of my favourite rovers plays of the last decade , it was pretty much him and dg that dragged us out of league 1 , thanks for the memories 

[Sweaty Gussets]

Wonderful footballer who probably had his best years stolen from him with those two awful injuries. 

I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up back in the Championship next season. He'll still score goals if he can stay fit. I think Sunderland would be a good move for him if Mowbray stays. 

Without doubt my favourite player of the Venky era. 

All the best Dacky!

[Sweaty Gussets]

From the LT:

While finances have played a part, there is a case of doing right by a player who has given the club so much.  Dack finds himself at a stage of his career where he both needs, and deserves, to be playing regularly, of which Rovers couldn’t guarantee.  There will now be a new chapter for Dack, and one that everyone of a Rovers persuasion will be wishing him well with as Rovers go in a different direction.  

[ben_the_beast]

There's no player we've had in recent times that deserves a thank you as much as Bradley Dack. 

Rovers have been a lifelong obsession for me and pre-Venkys, if you'd ever told me I could fall out of love with Rovers I wouldn't believe it. It didn't happen, but through the years of Kean, Jerome Anderson, the Bradley Orrs and just a long, long line of people who clearly didn't have the clubs best interests at heart, I was being worn down. It had come to the point where I wanted us to win every game but it was always through gritted teeth. I couldn't see any hope for the future. 

There were a few people who contributed towards turning that around. Mulgrew, Graham staying on. Even Mowbray in his early days. They actually wanted to do well for the club.

Above all of them though, was Dacky. It wasn't just his goals, but the fact he played with a smile on his face, the energy he brought into the club and the fact you could see he really cared about Rovers. On the pitch, the fact he played such a big part in getting us out of League 1 at the first attempt in my eyes, is one of the most pivotal points in our history. The club was truly dying before that season. 

I was devastated when he picked up his first injury, and then his second. We've had wonderful players at the club in the past. Ones with more talent, but for me Dack goes down as a legend. Some will debate that and that's ok. But for a player to come along and help me fall back in love with Rovers cements his place there for me. 

I truly hope he gets regular minutes and stays injury free. He deserves it and you can see he's a player that just loves playing football. So thank you from the bottom of my heart, for bringing the joy back and all the best Dacky. I've been a Rovers fan a long time now and you'll always be up there as an all time favourite.