Players do get injured though? In an ideal world you want a decent backup for those positions. I agree though in terms of priority good backup for CB and CM is more important. That we are one long term injury to Brittain, Kaminski or Pickering to literally having no experienced cover is a significant risk.

I guess it's all about injuries. We don't have a single established backup player (ie. a player who has played more than 30 games at Championship level) for GK, LB, RB, CB, CM. We only really have established cover for the forward positions, but even then it is only one man deep.. We have five players (BBD, Gallagher, Dolan, Dack, Hedges - I am saying SPL is Champ level which is a bit of a stretch but hey...) with at least 30+ games at Championship level covering the front four positions (CF, LW, RW, AM). So we are really inches away from relying on the kids. Over the course of a season there will be spells where five or six first team players will be out. As it stands we are hoping at least five or six pretty untested kids come out this season and prove they are Championship level, as we will need them. Not saying Markanday, Carter, Phillips, Harlock, Burns, Vale, A Wharton, Garrett, Edun, JRC (included the last two as both are yet to reach 30 Championship games) can't do it. But it's a big ask for 70% to step up no issue, which is what we are currently looking at.

Goal keeping is an issue, and the game is a bit slower. But the technique, passing, tactical play has really come on imo. Some really great moves that any men's team would be proud of.

Have to say Im really impressed by how much women's footy has improved over the last ten / fifteen years.

Yeah, exactly why he reminds me of pre-Diaz Brereton. Wonder if we can sneak Hedges over to Chile for the next international break to pick up some tips...?

Probs this team will play with the one caveat that maybe Markanday will get the nod ahead of Dolan. Dolan's been struggling a bit recently. Also would Adam Wharton not get ahead of Garrett on the bench? He seems slightly closer to a first team start? While our bench is not great, if you step back and look at that starting XI it is pretty solid. It's just Pickering, Hedges and Dolan who I would prefer to not be starting at the moment. I'd hope we can win this one. Also I've moved up north so this is my first opening day game at Ewood ever!

I've got a feeling Hedges will be one who surprises everyone in this season. He's frustrating but you can see with a few tweaks how he will be able to create a lot of problems for oppositions. Sort of reminiscent of how Diaz was around late 2020.

I agree. If we are confident in the quality of Carter and Phllips three seniors and two rookies to cover two or three CB roles seems okay. SENIOR : Van Hecke, Wharton, Ayala ROOKIE : Carter, Phillips....

Now you mention it I think I read an article about them being bought by a Turkish Oligarch with huge backing? Have to say though since Rovers got relegated I have ended up following very little football outside of Rovers games and international tournaments. Theres just too much footy.

Is this out of character compared to his activity on insta since he left?

Looking at the Turkish League I was surprised to see Beskitas finish 6th last year.... Thought it was a closed shop between Gala, Beskitas and Fenebache but actually looks quite competitive with Trabzonspor winning last season, Gala finishing all the way down in 15th. Theres a club called Istannbul Basaksehir who have won the league recently also and regularly finish in the European places. Seems quite topsy turvy. It's a straw to cling to that Beskitas do not currently have european football, and is not guaranteed to get it in future (even if they won the league year before last)... but it's hard to see - even putting money to one side - how Championship football is really going to compete with one of the Turkish giants. Edit - for what it's worth that his ex-manager is there at Beskitas, obviously he highly rates him, and he will be very cheap I will be surprised if they don't bid for him. And if they bid for him they will defo get him over us imo.

Ah interesting. Thanks! JDT seems to be broadly sticking with what Mowbray wa doing last season then. So presumably we will start 343 next weekend. My guess at the team ; Kaminski Carter. Ayala. Wharton Brittain. Travis. . Buckley. Pickering Markanday. Gallagher BBD Subs : Pears, Phillips, A Wharton, Dack, Dolan, Hedges, Vale Im pretty okay with that except very light if injuries in defence of midfield.

Did we play 4231 or 343 in this game. I was only half watching bits of it so never quite figured it out!

Even if we sign them they won't go straight in I think.

I think coming back from injury it is. If players have had a bad one around the hamstring, Achilles etc they might only go 70%-80% to protect themselves. Pickering was out with a Hamstring so could be that. It's weird he still seems struggling for pace since he came back in March though. One to watch. We do need another left back, and would be very happy if styles joined, but I'm not writing Pickering off yet.

IMO Pickering he was very good first half of last season before he got injured. He was a key part of our run up to 2nd, and when he got injured at start of Jan it coincided with our collapse of form. Since he came back he's been poor. I'm hoping his struggles are temporary as he gets back to fitness and finds a bit of pace.

Usually last preseason game is the starting team for the first game. Players you would expect to be in there that aren't are Ayala, Buckley, Gallagher - what's up with them? Brittain not starting understandable.

Absolutely - I think we are over rating how much he is valued by Brighton. Their manager has indicated that if he gets any game time for Brighton it will be minimal and he is open to loaning him out. It's not looking good for him. As said I can't see much top league interest in him around Europe in terms of transfer rumours. If he was valued - especially as he is in last year in his contract - clubs would be going after him. I think we have a good chance to get him.

It'll come down to if anyone else fancies him who will pay more. Quick search on google news doesn't suggest anyone with more cash than us is sniffing. If there isn't prem/serie A/La Liga interest he's going to go for £2M-£4M imo.

Well we could have said the same about JPvH last season - he effectively blocked Carter. But he was dead good. I guess it's about whether Morton is a JPvH/Harvey Elliott or a Clarkson.

Good press release from GB. Have to say I like his style, very professional.

If we can't get him to sign a new deal, and it's clear that isn't happening, then we have to sell him.

No other clubs were linked to him despite being free, and he's only secured a one year deal with Wigan. It's hard to come to any other conclusion other than he is rated poorly by scouts and managers across the Championship. It's strange as we as fans have generally rated him highly. Never really seen so much of a disconnect between fans assessment and the market's.

Nice video... and yes very forthright to claim to 4 more signings. Hope that's an indicator that the poster saying that there's a load incoming over the last few days is correct.

Great - just need 1LB, 2CB, 1CM, 1 winger now! Maybe a striker too...? Though arguably if we have BBD, Gally and Vale for one striker slot in a 4231 is okay.