Lancaster Rover

It has been forwarded on to Yasir, I wait with baited breath

I'd say on viewings so far we are weaker. The only player we've signed that I believe would get in last years starting 11 would be Gudjohnssen, and that is based purely on his Iceland games and the fact that we're so light at centre froward. From a lively cameo (in a dreadful game) and a start you'd maybe say Morisihito would interchange with Dolan. Other than that I don't think of the new players get in ahead of what we had last season. Alebiosu looks like he will be a solid and athletic right back, but he doesn't possess Britain's technical quality. Tavares, less said about him the better IMO, I've seen milk turn quicker. I'm 40 and would still be able to play sideways and backward 3 yard passes and jog alongside my opposing CM. De Neve, doesnt seem to be anywhere near the team. Baradji, there is a lot of hype about him being the man to galvanise midfield. When will he be ready, November? Miller, not a starter by the looks of it, as said before looks a walking red card to me. McLoughlin, solid enough but turned like an oil tanker for the sending off against Norwich. TGH - Stinks of being an extra body to cover the cracks of letting Travis go, can cover a few positions which could be a blessing. Although you know what they say about a jack of all trades.

My lad won the spin the wheel thing from the fanzone where you go on the pitch at half time and pass into the target. I gave all my details, etc and was told I'd receive an email the following week. 2 weeks later and still nothing. I'm going to call tomorrow but wondered if anyone had experience of the match day team who run these things and who I'd contact. Saves me wading through the switchboard

Tavares in midfield giving them license to do whatever they like through the middle of the pitch.

I think the lack of reacting to pressing triggers are the main reason Gueye is out in the cold with VI, Ohashi is incredibly diligent when it comes to his off the ball duties which is one of the main reasons I think he's been preferred thus far, that and Gueye couldn't hit a barn door

If we had kept Travis I thought 3 - box - 3 would work quite well, getting 2 10's on the pitch and using the full backs for width as we've not got much quality out wide. With the sales we've made and the personnel we have 4-2-3-1 is the most obvious choice to persevere with, although with Cantwell often dropping deep it's more of a 4-2-1-2-1

Wharton's injury problems look very similar to the problems Pedri had after playing so many games whilst his body was still maturing. It's taken Pedri several years to have a consistent season form and injury wise.

Biggest shock in all of this is the realistation we paid 1.5 million for Gueye. In my head we'd got him for 500k or something

Don't feel this got enough credit, very subtle

most clubs will loan players within a 50 mile radius then they can still have the player train with them 1 day a week, not sure if it applies at Rovers but a lot of the other local clubs operated that way for a long time. Although saying that we've sent a few players to the SPL in recent times, but I think the ones who went up were going at a point in their youth careers when it looked as if they were off. Thinking of Vale and the left back we sent to Motherwell

They tend to not have anything to do with negotiations, they are the go between when the loan is active. They go and watch the players, deal with the analysts from host club, liaise with physio's and medical staff on physical development and work with the coaching staff.

Charlie Adam was loans manager at Burnley for a good while. I'd be very surprised if Rhodes hasn't done several badges already, the PFA offer fully funded B license courses to all senior players, most are able to undertake the practicals, etc at their own clubs. All scholars complete C license as part of their EFL/PL education package.

I'd argue that any player with an ounce of football intelligence/quality would do as I've said above. Nobody coaches you to clamp someone on the halfway line to stop a last minute breakaway, a winners mentality and professional intelligence makes you do it. Did anyone tell Lee Williamson to whollop Ings in the dying moments, no he knew to do it

The Brum game is a brilliant example of the difference between top players at this level and what we've got. With top players/winners that corner get's played short in a corner and we aim to win endless throw in's, draw a foul, etc ending any momentum that Brum had built with a late equaliser. If for some unfathomable reason you insist on crossing it in, prepare for a transition. Thirdly if all those options fail then someone takes responsibility and clamps their player on the half way line and takes a booking. We did none of the above, Hyam (formerly of this parish) makes an awful attempt at bringing their man down and Tavares proceeds to jog alongside their man into the corner and inexplicably lets him cross.

The key is going to be getting players around Gudjohnssen if he is playing the hold up man role, whilst I think Cantwell has improved his performances considerably so far he spends a lot of time in deeper positions so unlikely to be immediately around Gudjohnssen. Same goes for the two wide players in Hedges and Kargbo, Hedges drifts in and plays in the 10 more than Kargbo for sure but he's not a natural finisher. Kargbo looks to get behind but again we need someone off Gudjohnssen to play the up-back and through ball to an on rushing Kargbo. Can only hope that Morishita is good at playing off a target man.