That’s because I think that JDT has reservations about Dack based on an earlier conversation I had with a coach at Rovers. The signing of Szmodics and the manager not bringing Dack on for Gally, BBD or Hedges when they were hanging out of their arses is further corroboration….I don’t believe JDT fancies him. That’s my opinion 👍🏼

I think the focus should always be on the needs of the team. If he’s not the right fit then HE must change to fit, NEVER the other way around. Relaxing team standards for any one individual, even a top performer results in the whole process collapsing. Stick to your guns JDT, let’s pray Dack changes for us!

I thought he looked ok, was pretty lost at times but I’d defo start him at Swansea. He deserves that.

Praying it’s JPvH, this week! What a buzz that would create! 🙏🏽

Of course!! Fry said that the bids they’d turned down were “over a million”. I reckon it’s still only a touch over a million now, probably half (£500-600k) upfront and the rest in appearance and promotion incentives to a max of £2.5m My guess is that unless Szmody is 100 appearances in having helped fire us into the PL, Posh will never even see £1.5m of Rovers money. With that in mind I pray we end up paying em the full £2.5m. Though I’m dubious of that figure as it looks like it’s been made up on Posh’s side to keep their fans happy…Overall, looks like a JDT type. Best of luck to him 👍🏼

TBF to the manager, he always tags on the importance to winning now, for the fans etc etc… I think we’re a project, like Liverpool were when they took Klopp and City when Sheik Mansoor took over, the same as Newcastle and the Saudi’s…it’s Mowbray who has created an aversion to words like Journey and project. Because he hid behind them during 15 game winless runs when all we wanted was the truth. I can’t ever see JDT doing that. I’m just relieved that there finally feels like there’s a plan.

I felt exactly the same (other than about Hedges who was 100% my mom)…. Gally and BBD were out on their feet for the last 15 mins, most of the front 6 (midfield and forwards) were. The fact JDT said in his interview about ‘nearly’ putting Adam Wharton on and yet didn’t put Dack on was a significant in context. It meant that he trusted half a team of shattered players over the subs. For Markanday, Wharton etc, that’s ok. They’re young, it’s normal for a coach not to fully trust them at 1-0 and fine to lack strength and a bit of stamina. For Dack, it’s catastrophic. Sure he’s not fit but he should in theory, as an experienced pro have been fit enough to go out there and run like crazy for 15 mins!? I just don’t think the trust is there. fwiw, I don’t think there’s been any fallout. Dack will just have been desperate to play and gutted he didn’t. From his point of view he’s seen an U23 start in front of him and Dolan come on as first sub for Vale, who had struggled for 60-70 mins. There’s no midweek match, he’ll feel embarrassed….he was the king of Ewood, the last time he played in games like these. I REALLY hope he proves JDT wrong and comes back fighting. What a player we’d have then!!

Encouraging start….very obvious way of playing with a narrow, rotating front four with width from the fullback areas. Standout performance for me was Hedges. Someone on here said he has a touch of the El Hadj Diouf’s about him and I fully agree. Could be a welcome surprise this season. Buckley, Wharton, Brittain, Ayala and Trav all very good. BBD and Vale fairly quiet whilst Pickering and Gally struggled all match. JPvH, Styles, Szmodics, Morton and Bowler asap please!…and that’s before we lose BBD. We’ll need another two forwards to replace him!

Kaminski Brittain Ayala Wharton Pickering Travis. Buckley Hedges. Dolan. BBD Gally Subs - Pears, Carter, Edun, Garrett or Wharton, Markanday, Dack, Vale 3-0

Me too…I do genuinely like Brittain and Styles who have stood out to me in every game I’ve seen them in. I have asked those around me on a couple of occasions, how on Earth those two haven’t had big moves!! Haven’t seen anything of Szmodics or Bowler for that matter. The really interesting point about the targeted players is their profile. Proof there is a desired style of play and that there’s a plan!! 🙌🏽

In comparison, Tony was much less focussed on a philosophy and tactics as such. He put trust in the players to find a way. Dack given a free role to ‘get caught up in the game’ etc… Different styles I guess…can’t see anyone getting a ‘free role’ in JDT’s Rovers though.

I haven’t seen him either, his profile is interesting… Champ experience ✅ Rarely injured ✅ High energy ✅ Tidy one and two touch ✅ Could put Brittain in those too…seems like a plan!

I think it’s exactly that mate. I was told by a member of the coaching team a week after JDT was appointed that he is VERY specific about how he wants to play. They’d been doing his pressing drill for days! The intimation at that point was that the players they would target would have to be tireless runners as well as being able to play fast, one and two touch football. Brittain and Szmodics appear to tick these boxes as does Styles. Not sure on Bowler re his running stats etc

I think it’s better to wait on what the fee is Matty, I can’t honestly see it being anywhere near £2.5m other than if he takes us up! Either way though, it’s hard to criticise the club / owners who seem to be putting their money where their mouth is! 👍🏼

The consensus of opinion by Posh fans on Szmodics is that he’s a high energy 10, who looks to get in behind and has a goal or two in him. Interesting profile…

Kaminski Brittain JPvH Wharton Styles Trav Bucko Bowler Szmodics/Dack BBD/Birmencevic Gally 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

Ayala and Dack highlighted early on as not having the physical attributes to play the way the manger wants. Both on borrowed time unless they can prove otherwise 👍🏼

Hope-xpectation 🤞🏽

Szmodics, Bowler, Styles, JPvH & Morton 👍🏼 Birmencevic plus another striker IF we / when sell BBD 👍🏼

Always makes me laugh (sometimes out loud) when posters come on here like “I’m sorry to tell you, but there’s NO chance of us signing him, we don’t have the money” Me in my head - “Thanks Barry, from Darwen, but I doubt very much that having just finished your shift at Frank Barnes this evening, there’s a cat in fuckin hells chance that you know that!” 🤣🤣

For most senior roles it’s 1-3 month notice period. This guys starting in just over a week…that’s rapid!

Add a CB 👍🏼👍🏼

RB / RWB - Brittain✅ cb cm - Styles forward - Bowler / Szmodics Also, read the article on Gus Williams - looks like we’ve bagged an absolute class act!

I think it’s Styles plus one of Bowler or Szmodics…

I must admit, I think we need 2x cm’s too! Intrresting that Nyambe’s deal was pulled. I thought as much…he’s just not great. His agent has probably cost him £3m in wages by not signing that 4yr deal he had on the table. The club bidding on Styles and Smozics tells me that Dack is on borrowed time. I mentioned shortly after JDT’s appointment that the coaching staff were particularly worried about Dack and Ayala ability to fit in to the high intensity game plan….