You’re miles off with this point. During the last 10 days I’d hazard a guess that lots of teams have made 20 changes due to potential fatigue. Add to that injuries to Tosin, Nyambe, Holtby, Williams and Dack and you can leave your conspiracy theory. I agree that our problems go much further than than Dack. Our £12m strikers come into focus more than ever to replace the goals we’ve lost. Time will tell.

I agree, he’s well shielded. You have to ask yourself why? (I don’t know the answer btw) but I do know that no one ever breaks ranks on him...I think there were things in and out of his control leading to this weeks results. But the point I was making was more to do with the ridiculousness I’ve read elsewhere. Anyone would think the world had caved in on some. We’re 3pts off the playoffs at halfway. Sure, we could’ve done better here or worse there but either way we’d have taken our current position had we been asked in May. Ive already said that we’ll struggle now. The chances of us getting promotion were diminished as soon as he dropped to the floor against Wigan. The injuries to Tosin and now Nyambe haven’t helped either. Its a massive test of the manager to see how we do until the end of the season now. Over to you Tony.

I just wanted to say that after years of people saying the posters on here are negative whatever’s and the associated bad press it so often gets, the reaction to yesterday’s result has been the most measured Iv seen in comparison to other outlets and social media. Of course we’re all disappointed. Happy New year everyone!

Argh I can’t find us on Sky...

Which channel???

We on the red button on Sky?

No money issues at all. Venkys still paying whenever they ask for money. The pressure is external from ffp. But there’s no need to sell to buy in general. Dacks injury has opened a couple of opportunities for loan forwards but they do need to lose some wages to make it work. Im pretty sure we won’t sell any star players.

He isn’t going back pal. He’s injured.

Forest turned down our first three bids. Hence why we ended up having to do a loan to buy in the loan window. So again, they thought about it...which is sensible ??

I think if I were offered £10m for a player with very few first team appearances I’d probably have a think why they thought so highly of him before I agreed to anything...??‍♂️

I’m not sure he said that. What I think is obvious is that we don’t have £10m plus to replace him in Jan. In context, they will have allocated cash for the window. Targeting a keeper, lb and possibly a cb based on previous reports. So they will absolutely have to offload some wages to make space imo for a PL loan of a forward.

Is the Cunningham deal done? I’ve missed that one

If they decide they want him then £10m is a basically a free transfer for these boys. I hope they don’t. If they do, I hope we turn them down...

Touché ?

I disagree (shock). Dack is very much a one off as his stats prove. He doesn’t play as a 10 but more of a hybrid. When attacking, he has the instincts and positioning of a goal poacher, in transition he plays as a creative 10 and assists and when defending he drops into midfield closing down like an 8. Holtby and Buckley have the ability to be playmakers and close down but don’t have the same instinct in the box. Rothwells stats indicate that he neither assists nor scores goals. The player most likely to fill Dacks current role is Armstrong imo. Has the strikers instinct, but has spent the last couple of years playing wide midfield and tracking back. Which then leaves the right side attacking position free. It’s important to realise that the fullbacks create the width now and the wide midfielders tuck in (De Bruyne, Silva position). So Holtby and Buckley are perfect for these positions. I fully expect Holtby to be a regular now and Buckley to fight it out with Rothwell.

I’m not touting anyone Stu. I’m not involved in football and have zero influence. More importantly I’m a Rovers fan. But I know the club are aware of the interest and that there could be bids for him this Jan. I thought that was worthy of note to most Rovers fans. Obv not you pal. No problems.

Thankfully games aren’t won or lost in our minds. It’s such small margins. Both of the last two games could have been won easily which would’ve completely changed your / our mindset. I’m not saying we can’t go 8 without a win but come on pal. We’re 8 unbeaten, let’s have a bit of positivity! ?

He needs to grow into his body. He’s not going to be Adama Traore, he just hasn’t finished his physical change from boy to man. Similar to Foden.

I’d stick with the team / shape from Boxing Day and replace Bell with Downing and Bennet with Travis.

Preaching to the converted here buddy. Prob on a grand a week at the mo I reckon. Which is nowhere near first team level. Give him a new contract and play him. Then try to satisfy fFP some other way. The problem is if a Champions League club comes knocking...

Tbh I haven’t seen a lot of him as I don’t watch the 23’s. But everyone I speak to who is involved has been raving about him for 12 months. They’re all talking and now watching. From what I saw on Boxing Day alone (which I’m assured is about 70% of how good he is now). Once he physically becomes a man this lad will play every week in the PL.

Great post. The deft touch and half turn thing is bang on the money and what they’re always raving about him. Are you involved in football mate? His relationship with TM and DJ plus a new contract will be pivotal to keeping him. I’m not suggesting this is all about money but when the potential wages on offer are 20x what you’re currently on then your current employer needs to step up...

I’d love him to stay too Chaddy. But top teams are willing to pay 7 or 8 figures for potential. As well as big wages. I don’t think the club or Buckley could turn them down. I don’t have any transfer news. But I’m 100% sure that any WBA deal for Dack was not known or sanctioned by Rovers. And as far as they know there’s no pressure from Venky to sell our best players. Obviously ffp is a different matter but that’s an external pressure to generate money.

A bit inflammatory?

I agree with you. He needs to develop physically. But surprisingly (or not) top level football people can see past that. My guess is that we’ll never get to see him at his peak in a Rovers shirt.