Its not pretty but it's a very effective defensive performance atm

For what it's worth Wharton on for Buckley is going to happen as is clearly close to a red. Shame as his passing was coming into it at the end. Will be interesting to see Wharton as I've never watched him in the flesh. I suppose there is a chance Edun could get the nod. Think it will be Wharton though. Other than that I'd give Gallagher a proper shot through the middle and bring Markanday for Vale around 60 mins. Its been an okay performance, very even. We've probably been the better side on balance just about.

Its been standard 4231 imo with them switching round a bit but mostly Vale leading the line. It is weird having three big units in Hedges, BBD and Gallagher but it's Vale whose clearly a fair bit smaller playing the traditional number 9. Not just Mowbray!

JDT has said he likes the front 4 to interchange so expect to see a bit if all four everywhere.

Yeah Vale at 10. Not many would have said a start - or even bench - for him back in May but he's earned it in pre season.

Nah Buckley and Travis will run it from midfield!

If it's 4231 as suspected its an interesting one. Dacks not fit enough to start. So options are Buckley whose very good at it, but he's needed at CM. So really it's Dolan or Hedges both of whom are runners not passers which is not a great fit at number 10.... Left field choice could be Harloch, or starting one of Garett or A Wharton at CM and pushing Buckley up to number 10. Very hard to guess tbh. Edit - or of course Vale who seems to be a good all-round number 10

Sounds encouraging.

Reading gave him a game against Benfica as a trialist a week or two ago but let him go. Davenport should get a bottom half champ / top half League One team pretty easily imo. He didn't really get that fair a shake with us tbh, but with Garrett and A Wharton coming through, and Edun in the picture also, him moving on seems the right thing.

Five out really in terms of first team squad.

I'd find it interesting if we spent all that money but didn't replace Gallagher!

I suppose Dack could make a good impact as a super sub.

Sounds a lot like Mowbray... Though the phases above would need to be followed by a 2 month winless death spiral.

Is this hope or expectation based on info?

Inclined to agree. If he was 20 or even 22 theres an argument he could go away and come back and maybe step up. But at 24 it would be a real surprise if he comes back after a season in League 2 and looks good enough for the Championship.

He was first half of last season. I'm hopeful he can rediscover that form.

It's bizarre the Posh chairman is discussing active transfer discussions on twitter...

Wonder if we are bidding for both but only intend to sign one? Though they are reasonably different types of player I think?

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.