Could’ve said the same about Cantwell. It only happens if it’s a loan. It seems unlikely but there’s a few reasons that he might want to come back. Family haven’t settled? Not adjusting?

Mcburnie would be a good addition. Seems to have the right character too.

I think people are reading too much into Hedges. He’s 100% the easiest one to do…that doesn’t make him the priority, just the first one to get over the line. Think about signings when the transfer window opens. The east ones get done first and the hardest (best) usually get done late! I would let Dolan slope off and take a nominal fee. He owes us nothing. Trav, Sonny, Brittain and Hyam are hugely important.

I didn’t read it like that. Though I think it’s always prudent not to read too much into articles which quote interviews as the way written form is constructed, including the words used to contextualise quotes can often be read 10x different ways. FYI - I read it as - the club know what they need, quality over quantity to improve a couple of key positions, rabbits outta the hat stuff (think Cantwell) it’s upto them whether they do loans, or buy and that will come down to budget. Then it looks like JE was asked about Park, his job role and replacement, to which he’s answered honestly. When you put ot all together into a few hundred words, it sounds anxious.. I would like to watch the full interview.

I think Bamford is the type of player who could do great at Rovers. Has obvious talent, and pedigree. Has scored lots of goals in the past and at 31, still has a couple of good years in him if he gets back on track. If JE can put an arm round him then who knows…

Patrick Bamford looking for a new challenge. 31yrs old, PL and Championship goals…6 month loan to supplement Gueye, Ohashi and Leonard? I would…👍🏼

Cantwell and Brittain (both undoubtedly the best in their respective poitions) back in. 👍🏼 I don’t see any reason why that team would lose at the Den, other than a severely off day, and I’m not expecting an off day, in spite of the fact we’re probably due one!

Millwall 0 - 2 Rovers - Gueye and Cantwell Brittain back in for JRC, and Cantwell in for Ohashi. Gueye keeps his place with assists and a goal in his last two games. Plenty of options off the bench. Pears Brittain. Hyam. Batth. Pickering Trav. Sonny ACD. Cantwell. Beck Gueye Subs - Hilton, Mcfadz, JRC, Buckley, Baker, Hedges, Dolan, Weimann, Ohashi, Leonard Attack as a 3421 Pears Hyam. Batth. Pickering Brittain Trav. Sonny. Beck ACD. Cantwell Gueye Come on lads!!!

Really? You think Baker can do what Trav and Sonny do?

And if Travis or Sonny are out for a month, who out of Baker and Buckley do you see being able to do 50% of what they do?

Yeah…maybe I didn’t articulate my point well enough. I understand and agree with the current narrative that forward reinforcements ‘could’ fire us to promotion. I hope we sign forwards too. My point is that the team is built on being resolute and together, with the sum of the parts being greater than the individuals. The greatest threat to THAT, is injuries to Hyam, Batth, Trav and Sonny for any prolonged length of time. The players who would replace them, Baker, Buckley, Litherland and Mcfadz imo would weaken that part of the team (our foundation) considerably. Oppositely, we seem to be able to rotate and cope with injuries and suspensions across those forward positions and at fullback.

Mate, you get a lot of grief on here at times, but genuinely, this is brilliant. Absolutely bang on re the tactical set up of JE and a solution for Luton. Re our situation, I am beginning to think we need CB and CM cover even more than forwards. (Reaches for tin hat)….hear me out. If you look at our squad, the positions we are most vulnerable in are those at the back and Midfield. If we lost one of Batth, Hyam, Trav or Sonny to anything long term, it would have the potential to derail us. If we could loan, for example James Hill and someone in midfield (think back to Ipswich loaning Trav off us), then I think O’hashi, Gueye, Cantwell, ACD, Dolan, Weimann, Hedges, Leonard, Gilsenan and Baker provide good forward options… Dont get me wrong, I would love Hill, Trav mk2, a young winger and a PL striker on loan but I’m beginning to think the first two are more important than the latter. Plus, we’ve won all these games without our two main strikers firing. IF JE can get Gueye and O’hashi firing in the new year, we will be flying! 🤞🏽

Never in doubt. We look completely in control. What I love about this team is that we don’t need to be playing well to score a great goal, and / or win. For long periods in that first half, we weren’t great. Then, it seems he has the ability to flick a switch, he tells them to jump and they all ask, “How high, gaffa!?” It feels like he warned them that Luton would come at them in the 2nd half and we came out of 100% confident of stifling any attack. I believe that even if Luton scored, we could’ve just gone up a gear and got another goal or two. This is a better equipped team than Mowbrays was, or JDT’s because honestly of the manager. JE has them all eating out of the palm of his hand. 7 or 8/10 across the board. Stand outs, ACD, Trav and Sonny. Special mention for Gueye who his best game for us and Yuki who played well as the second striker. 10/10 to the manager and coaching staff.

Potential banana skin - An interesting game as it’s the first in a while where the onus will be on us to attack them and win. So, Luton could come and sit with a ‘Low block’. I’d be tempted to start with a 442, put Dolan on the right, and play Yuki and Gueye as a two up against their three cb’s. Get on the front foot and in attack, we could match them up as a 343, with Brittain pushing on down the right and Dolan drifting in. Lets see if Yuki and Gueye can play together!!! Pears . Hyam. Bath. Pickering Brittain. Trav. Sonny. Beck . Dolan . Gueye. Yuki Subs - Hilton, Mcfadz, Litherland, JRC, Buckley, Baker, ACD, Hedges, Leonard

Great post - my feeling is that he will keep it simple and play Buckley, who has been first change in that position. If he doesn’t trust him to play on Saturday then JB is done with us. Baker has to be next in line and I wouldn’t be against him starting. He probably deserves a chance. JRC is a weird one. He’s a top player but can’t seem to nail down a position, and worryingly for him, he has now become capable of having absolute howlers.