I don’t mind him wanting to know the character of the player before signing them. He seems to really want that connection. Which makes it even more odd that he signed off the Brereton transfer with no prior interaction based on a growing reputation and a good game against us...will come back to bite him that one.

Yes, that would probably do the trick.

You don’t know him then. The money is of no relevance to Tony. 40 years in the game on good money, living a simple life. More importantly, one of the most honourable men you will ever meet. If HE feels his race is run, he’ll walk.

I don’t think he’ll walk. My point was that he’s more likely to walk than get sacked.

It maybe that Dack had spoken to WBA unofficially and agreed his side in principle. But it wasn’t going to happen. I’m certain of that....fairly irrelevant now anyway. Other than it puts to bed that the club wanted to sell him and / or were desperate for the cash. They didn’t and they’re not.

That makes more sense. As far as the club we’re concerned, it wasn’t happening. I don’t know anything from the players side tbf.

Dack wasn’t going anywhere in Jan mate. The summer maybe. But not Jan. Certainly not as far as the club were concerned.

Not a clue. I can only go off what I hear. No pressure. Zilch.

Unless it was agreed without the first team coaching staff knowing. Then I’m pretty sure, I know. Now you do too...??

The only limiting factor here is ffp. Venkys seemingly happy to keep paying and the club bought into the long term plan with TM. As I said, he will walk before he’s pushed.

There’s a big difference between ‘not having a treasure chest’ and being skint. There’s no pressure to sell anyone and contrary to what some have said on here the club had no knowledge / intention to sell Dack to WBA this Jan.

Yeah of course it’s an issue. Absolutely it is. We have to be careful not to overspend. But there’s a big difference between being careful and being skint.

We’re not skint. Tony isn’t getting the sack anytime soon and is much more likely to walk if anything. Hope this helps because unlike the current noise (in here) this is the truth.

No, it’s the one I remember playing well against us. I bow to your superior knowledge. After all you gave us “Ben Whiteman” who’s absolutely smashing it I see!!...oh, wait ?

Ben Williams...he actually started at Rovers academy.

I singled him out on the day we played them. He was very good!

This is fabulous!

I think he might rest Lenihan. But I fully expect us to go with a formation and in particular forward line that he intends to play against Preston. He needs something to click and some confidence before the league games start.

Marshall isn’t the answer. 100%

I haven’t heard anything about BB other than what’s in the media. Ultimately he still has time. Same age as Buckley so has plenty of time to develop. But I know they’ve been worried about Gally who has definitely been hindered by 2yrs of not really playing and hasn’t developed since they last had him. Have to persevere. Gally definitely has the tools.

I agree re the squad. It is simply not a top 6 one. The issue is spending £12m on Two strikers who don’t score. They still hold out hope for both but are particularly worried about Gally who has come back a lesser player than the one who left them.

I don’t get the ‘they’re not trying’ tribe on here. Imo they literally give everything they have in every game. Sure they’re not good enough at times. The manager gets things wrong and players make inexcusable mistakes but I see a team who run, tackle and try very hard.

Ah because Mane is left footed and Salah, right footed? ?

Do you think this squad is a top 6 squad? Genuinely? Never! We have a couple of good players and a team which works as hard as they can. If we get into the top 6 then we will have overachieved. That doesn’t absolve the manager. He’s had some money to spend and whilst he’s spent well on a few, his two major signings have so far fluffed their lines and he will live and die by that. The points total absolutely does count though mate. Because that is the true measurement of any progress.

That’s fair.