I reckon we're going to go for a 442 with a classic little and large combo of Gueye and Ohashi up top (I know Ohashi isn't that small, but compared to Gueye he is). With crossing you dont need to get it to the by line if you have a dominant figure in the box. The full backs can swing it in from deeper positions.

Got a feeling he is going to do well... sort of player I wish we had for a long time, since Graham left really. Someone who is a proper focal point. After years of wide forwards will be a breath of fresh air.

I think it was more to show him - like Philips - he would get games if he stuck with us. I reckon if we had been safe mid table he would have got more minutes but obviously wasn't an option with the death spiral.

He's a striker who likes running the channels so much he never actually gets in the box and is not good on the ball or finishing. First season he was with us on loan he played more like a proper central striker and scored a few and did okay, but when we bought him we used him as a wide player and that's persisted. We've had years of Gallagher running down the wing to positions where he could cross but 1 - he can't cross, and 2 - there is no one in the box to cross to as our big striker is on the wing...... It's a strange thing to say about a forward but he gets picked because he is effective without the ball. You won't find a more willing runner, he's relentless at pressing, and he is very good defending free kicks (but rubbish at attacking them for some reason). He does give the opposition something to think about with his size and pace - until they realise if he does get the ball it's not that big of a problem as he can do so little with it. I'd say you might get a reasonable signing if you can get him to play more centrally again, but we've tried it from time to time and it has never worked.

Every situation has a tipping point where due to changing events what was sustainable no longer is.... in terms of Venkys owning Rovers that has happened over the last year in my opinion with the court case. There's lots of steps to get through but eventually Venkys will exit the club. Owning the club is just too onerous, the risks and expenses too high, the negative press, the lawyers, the attention from the Indian government, hopefully the entry of the UK regulator too. Not sure if there is a way to bet on it on the market, but I would take a bet that they will be gone in a year. They will just have to rip of the band aid at some point and write off the losses they have made on their balance sheet. One question I have is can they take any money out of the club? With all the player sales we must be in a rare positive cash flow situation. Presumably they would be able to call back some of their loans / cash some of their shares and take some of that money back? I guess if that happened it would be public knowledge like the share issues in the first place?

Its a horrible consultancy phrase... But there is truth to it. We get very good young players because they can see how they will get games.

The implementation of the football regulator was in the Kings Speech and should come into effect in this parliament... We need to make sure we are top of the in tray when it gets setup. If we can get the magnifying glass applied to Venkys it will hurry the end game we are surely in along, and stop any back sliding imo. Have any of the supporter groups got any plans on engaging with it?

Yes.... We seem to serially line up players then everything falls down when there is the final sign off from Venkys . We haven't managed to commit to a fee since the trouble in India kicked off (apart from O'Riodan?) so Im not counting on anything until we see them actually play a game...

So I reckon Gueye is straight swap for Gallagher and Ohashi for Sam Szmodics. So good we have found replacements but we are ultimately standing still at best. We still need 1 x CF, 1 x AM, 1x winger, 1 x CM, 1 x CB, 1 x GK....

Ha good point! Guess Oddschecker have a bug... looks like Rovers are 4th favorites for the drop.

He's scored 31 goals in 91 games in the Belgium top division so to be honest is actually got a better record than I was expecting.... Also his current club paid EUR 3mill for him a year ago apparently. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/makhtar-gueye/profil/spieler/606849

I think in previous years the thread has got kick off way too early, but I think most neutral onlookers do have us in the relegation battle this year. We're around 5th favourite for relegation.... So a very reasonable topic to raise. I don't think we have ever gone into a season in the Champioship in the relegation top 5 favourites? Even when under Coyle etc.

Hedges like JRC is a good player at this level.. Issue is between them we will be lucky to get 40 games a season. Sigurdsson also injured very frequently. If we go into the season relying on them to start regularly we will only have ourselves to blame when we free fall over Christmas.

We're definitely a midfielder light even with Buckley - we only have Travis, Tronstad, Buckley, JRC. Minimum we need is five. Unless we count Garret but I wouldnt include him in five starters at this stage as he really struggled last year. Also with Szmodics going we could well see JRC and/or Buckley moved up to number 10

Yeah, I think so.... If they are looking for an exit probably now is their best shot. Wharton, Szmodics, Raya money means maybe £30M in one summer. Only a small dent compared to what they put in. But could take that and just go. Hard to see when they would next be able to get such a good return.

Is Hyam definitely losing the captaincy? Would be a big move and one I am a bit surprised by as ex-Coventry I thought he was quite tight with Eustace? We don't really have any players who stand out as a captain. Probably the ones who would be the best fit personality wise either get injured too often (JRC) are about to be sold (Szmodics) or will not start enough game (McFadz if he signs). Could give it back to Travis but is his head in the right place after we told him we didn't want him? I am sure he will be looking for a move. And will he actually play every week - I think so now we with Eustace but not totally sure. Tronstad, Hyam etc are too quiet in my opinion. It's getting very precarious now.. our leaders are not really good leaders, but even they have contracts that are running down and probably their commitment to the cause is ebbing away.

Szmodics was 26 and had only scored 60 goals in 220 appearance's when he joined. So it's not that big a difference. I wouldn't say those stats are particularly worrying personally.

It must be something like this... Where they don't have to take a hit on their balance sheet until they sell us. Only thing that explains their bizarre zombie handling of the club (enough to keep the club alive so day of reckoning does not come, but trying to keep things at a minimum within it)

Such a random link that it sort of feels like it could be true.

Pretty good - Southgate got paid about 40% more than Deschamps which is mad if you consider what each have won...

He's too attacking for me... Great entertainment but doesnt set up teams to win in my view

I tend to be one of the more optimistic posters but this does feel particularly grim at the moment.

I agree that it will be Howe. Maybe small chance it will be Potter. But I don't think it will be anyone but those two.

Yeah statistically that we still haven't had an English manager win the premier league after 32 years is insane. I am actually struggling to think how many English managers have qualified for the Champions League? THis list from 2022 is pretty amazing. Over 30 years of CL only eight English managers have been in charge of a CL game... https://www.90min.com/posts/every-englishman-manage-the-champions-league I mean there is something really f***ed up about that? How has that happened? Probably the biggest factor is that we don't export managers to other countries, which then I guess links back to English people not being comfortable learning languages. And that you get paid more for lower down clubs in England so no need to move for money. And that English clubs have the resources to bring in the best global talent. But still it's an absolutely mad stat....

I'm not against a foreign manager, but I do also wonder if a short term club manager is a good idea. Most of the best international coaches over the last 20 years have tended not to be club managers dipping into a bit of international management. They tend to be people who are part of the international setup long term. Would Tuchel, Klopp etc commit long term to the England job? I have my doubts. Potter or Howe might. I think to be successful as an international manager it's a multi year building job shaping the team and the style.