On the New Order theme, If the budget stretches, you could have "Touched by the hand of God" with picture of Shearer with his hand aloft celebration?

Or failing that, MGP punching the ball into Newcastle's goal...

15 minutes ago, afootballfan said:

I do hope we play with 3 in the middle of the park after the second half on Tuesday, want to see more of Rothwell there!

Reading between the lines of Mowbray's interview, it's looking like we're probably not going to be risking Dack, so you'll probably get your wish with Graham, Palmer & Bennett as the front 3. 

Not a signing I would've wanted, but Mowbray's done enough to get the benefit of the doubt with something like this. Clearly there's ability, so optimisitically could be a blinding bit of business assuming his contract is a fraction of what it was.

Sunderland message board is (unsurprisingly) brutal. Should probably take it all with a pinch of salt, but one post caught my eye:

"Justice for selling us Steele"

6 minutes ago, S8 & Blue said:

50 consecutive league starts for Richie if he plays tonight.

Seems to be getting a few grumbles on here lately, but that's a decent achievement imo and testament to his reliability and importance in our overall turnaround over the last 12 months.

Like him to get another cracker tonight.

Agree. Whilst the criticism doesn't come from the same place as it did for Jason Lowe for instance, I still think it's been a little unfair.

Ultimately, we've been beating teams in the midfield battle, apart from maybe a spell against Millwall. The attack is flowing pretty freely & the defence is looking pretty solid. Usually a sign that the engine room is doing it's job!

Agree with others who've said that the first (especially early) goal is likely to make all the difference here.  Get three points here, and we can go into the international break saying that we've had a good start, even if we lose to Brentford beforehand.

With Dack, I think we win this fairly comfortably. Without, still going for a slightly nervy 2-1 win.

7 minutes ago, TruRover said:

We should be winning this imo and if we do it would cap a great start to the season and leave us with no pressure heading into the Brentford game which will be difficult, and will probably be the best indication so far to us fans of how far we can go this season. However we've got reading to get past first, I cant help but think this is one of those classic Rovers games which we get a disappointing result in. Hope I'm wrong.

Raya

Nyambe - Lenihan - Mulgrew - Bell

Travis - Evans

Palmer - Dack - Armstrong

Graham

That'd be my team as well, only with Smallwood keeping his place in front of Travis.

I know that Richie's never going to be the perfect midfielder, but there's a lot to be said for his role the platform that the attacking players have had to take the game to the opposition. Dack et al are getting all the plaudits and rightly so, but Smallwood and, even though I'm not his biggest fan, Evans must be playing their part in that too.

Obviously wish him well if we end up signing him, but he'll have to be some player for me to get past that ridiculous and completely unnecessary way of spelling his first name.

1 minute ago, Bepeja43 said:

He's scored 2 goals in 146 games for Columbus. Doesn't suggest an attacking midfielder.

Guessing he's a creative player who plays a bit deeper, in the Tugay/Carrick/Pirlo mould.

4 minutes ago, Darwen Rover 007 said:

If Boro get Bolasie could Chapman become available? 

Only guessing, but I expect that it's already down to valuations, rather than them really wanting to keep him necessarily. 

Clearly never been a Pulis-style winger, and didn't get off the bench on Saturday, even when they were chasing the game.

Sadly, I suspect that it's always been about how much Tony wants him, and I just don't think he's as willing to take a punt as a lot of fans are. 

Like most, I really don't like FFP in anything like it's current form, and it's never nice to see football clubs (apart from the odd exception!) suffer through off the field stuff like we have. 

That said, the fact that clubs are still being punished makes our embargo a few years ago seem a little fairer when it seemed like more than half the league was at it. 

Just now, JeffRover said:

Surely we must be offloading a couple of CM’s?

Looking increasingly like Whittingham isn't going to get a sniff. Other than that I'm not sure what else we can do. Smallwood is clearly staying, and first choice to begin with. Whilst I don't get the feeling that Mowbray is that enamoured with Evans, I can't see anyone offering the money which would make it worth our while getting rid. 

2 minutes ago, scotchrover said:

Joe Hart was in their goal apparently? Can anyone confirm this?

It was down as a trialist, but I'm not convinced!

1 minute ago, Swanson said:

What is the line up and who have got the goals so far ?

Annoyingly, there's nothing about the game on Rovers twitter. Luckily, the Dingles had the foresight to make sure that someone was documenting it, but haven't said anything about Rovers other than the score.

Right on cue, 5-0

For all those interested, Rovers under 23s are currently playing Burnley's kids at their place.

So far, the game is going as you'd expect. About 20 minutes in, Rovers are 4-0 up.

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

Were we ever actually interested in him or as with Madison was it a case of someone on here saying "I like him" and the rumour snowballing And gaining momentum from there? 

There were reports in the Daily Record that we were interested, so more than the Maddison thing, but nothing too concrete. 

Just now, tomphil said:

Good signing and some more very long overdue significant reinvestment, i'd love them to spend similar on a good solid centre half and a good centre midfielder !

Doubt there's anything in it, but will be interesting to see if the John McGinn rumours have anything in them.

Seems like there are some murmurings about a busy week at Ewood. Numbers don't necessarily equate to quality & investment, but if they include McGinn & a Maddison or Chapman then we can genuinely expect to surprise a few this year. 

Four year contract. Very happy with this, goes a long way from solving our chronic shortage of pace & numbers in attack.

Still think we're a little short on both to be 100% happy, but all of a sudden we look a lot more capable of doing well in this division. 

I thought Gally had some fairly serious weaknesses last time around. His first touch, especially, sticks in my memory as being a real flaw.

BUT, he managed to get 11 goals with dire service and no manager. Some of his goals were all of his own work. In the set up we have now he could be twice the player, and a real asset.

Just now, Scotland1 said:

We’ve had all summer to get this sorted, we’ve now lost a key player for the first 3 point battle.

Great signing but disappointing timing. Any news on his fitness ala Palmer?

He's been involved in some games, so should be in front of Palmer in that respect.

2 hours ago, JacknOry said:

Sign on the dotted line AA - we have a fondness for Geordie strikers.

Always liked Graham Fenton

21 minutes ago, JayDee said:

If you could choose either Armstrong or Maddison who would you pick. I'm pretty sure we couldn't afford both and I'm a little torn. Think I'd try get Maddison on a permanent and try loan a striker in the mould of Graham. Not a clue who that would be mind 

I'd be happy with either to be honest.

Really liked what I saw of Armstrong last year & think Mowbray is far more likely to get a tune out of him than was the case at Bolton. That said, I'd probably just go for Maddison because he looks like he can handle himself physically. 

Peterborough are pretty well known for getting top dollar for their players. If it is us that's in for him, then expect it to be done late.

Optimistic about the season, but less so about this fixture.

We never do well at Ipswich, and we've been slow starters for years.

Fully expect us to finish above them come May, but a point here is acceptable. 

14 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Zach Clough getting mention as this player who the tweet refer too..how true I have no idea

Definitely appears to be on his way out of Forest.

Interestingly, Bolton fans don't seem enormously keen on bring him back either. Can't have impressed much on loan if he's gone from their only real asset to not worth his place for relegation favourites in a couple of years.

Having said that, he strikes me as a player similar to Armstrong, in that he's clearly not going to get a kick for a Parkinson side, doesn't make him a bad player. Would be pretty happy if we could get him on the cheap. 

12 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Rich Sharpe tweeting that a story on Armstrong coming shortly.

Davenport likely to be out with injury for Ipswich 

Davenport thing is disappointing, but the indications are that he would be starting on the bench anyway I guess. Most likely Smallwood & Evans, with Travis an outside bet. 

Hopefully it's minor, and he'll get his chance to start against Carlisle, see what he can do from there.