sharpysharps86

Yeah there's that too 😂

Not overly concerned by Gestede saying 2-3 players. I remember Eustace said in the early close season that we didn't need many new recruits, which had us all up in arms for a little while, he's changed his tune now of course. I suspect he's said 2-3 more players simply because saying 'we want 5 or 6+ more players' increases expectations, which naturally puts us all on a downer if (when) it doesn't happen.

Where is O'Riordan going out on loan too?

Since when is he showing shades of Semir? He's had 45 mins in a friendly and by the sounds of it did well. Granted the proof will be in how he fares against Championship sides, but lets not forget that our current (for now) talisman looked completely out of his depth for half a season after joining from a League One club, and having had plenty of previous Championship experience where he'd also flattered to deceive at Posh and Bristol City. Let's give Ohashi some support instead of bashing him before a league ball has even been kicked.

Hogan scored 1 league goal last season, although he did manage 10 in 21/22 and 22/23. Surely only an option as backup to Gueye and Ohashi. If they're looking to move Vale on then as a replacement for him it's fine.

Is it just me or did Barkhuizen have a habit of scoring against us when he was at Preston. He's nailed on to score I reckon 😂.

Supposedly Ewood is going to be in EAFC25 according to recent leaks of new stadiums added to the game. Hopefully will look a bit cleaner in the game than in reality!

Never suggested it would be those two, but yes you're correct on that. More likely 1 of those two and Ruddy on loan.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if we do want 2 GK's. For all we know JE doesn't rate Pears, but he simply has to play him because Hilton is nowhere near the required ability.

Yep, went down to Ewood on Friday to pick up the away shirt. Checked the third shirt and they only had kids sizes or 5XL left in adults. Seems to be very popular!

1. Winners of the Championship Leeds 2. Runners-up in the Championship Luton 3. Championship Play-off final winners Burnley 4. Where will Rovers finish the season? 17th 5. Which 3 clubs will be relegated from the Championship? Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth 6. Who will be the first club in the Championship to change manager? (For whatever reason) Preston 7. Who will be the BRFCS Player of the Season? (As voted for in the Match Centre on BRFCS) JRC 8. A wildcard prediction for something (possibly quite mad) that will happen to or at Rovers during this coming season Waggott will leave

If Eustace wants 3-4 more players they've gotta be a GK, LB, CM, and a proper winger. If Szmodics goes then we need a replacement for him too, likewise if anyone else leaves. Obviously it depends on who the players are that come in and how good they are, but I'm quite happy with business done so far given the circumstances at the club, and I feel JE is going to make is difficult to beat first and foremost. Some actual experience added to the ranks gives the squad a much more balanced look to it. Obviously very early days in regard to Ohashi and Gueye, but both sounded promising from last nights game and will each add something different.

Don't know anything about de Lange, but playing as a number 1 in a side that finished mid table in the Eredivisie....he must be good enough for the Championship and surely an upgrade on Pears. Hopefully this is a deal that gets done.

Anyone's guess who starts for Rovers in this game. If Szmodics is still here then he should start IMO. Tonight's friendly may be quite telling as to who gets the nod, particularly in the attacking positions given we've brought in 3 that definitely go into contention. I'm going to go for a 1-1 draw. Derby look like they've done some respectable business for a newly promoted side, but they do have a manager who's an expert in getting relegated from the Championship. I don't think this is the team that starts, but it's the one I'd like to see providing there are no new incomings before the game: Pears (no other options) Brittain Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Tronstad Wiemann Szmodics JRC Gueye If there's no Szmodics then either Markanday or Ohashi to come into that role. Take Wiemann off for Hedges after an hour.

Garrett definitely needs a full season on loan somewhere, we'll see more of what he's made of and will probably be make or break for him at Rovers. Hopefully we are bringing in a midfielder to strengthen us now.

Gentleman's agreement and Steve Waggott are two things that simply don't go together 😂. Sammie will go. He'll probably force it in the end, which will be a sad way to end things but I just hope that some of the money coming in for him allows us to bring in an actual replacement, although I fully expect Wiemann to end up coming in to be that player.

Gallagher is a good lad and I thank him for his efforts at Rovers, but it was definitely time to part ways, and it has been time for a while. He has regressed as a player in the last couple of years so hopefully for his sake a fresh start will reignite his career...just not when it comes to playing us. All that being said, he simply wasn't good enough at scoring goals and has never built on the double figures he hit back in the Owen Coyle days. It might click for him at Stoke, but it didn't at Rovers, and he was deeply frustrating to watch for the most part. Hopefully the new attackers prove to be more of a goal threat.

Probably because Wharton is injured long term and O' Riordan is untested at Championship level, leaving us with just Hyam and Carter at the moment as the clubs only proven championship CB's.

Nixon just tweeted that Danny Batth is not training at Wolves today and that its 'game on' in regards to a move (presumably that's where he's been doing his pre-season as a free agent). I'm fine with Batth and Fadz both coming in, as long as we don't ever find ourselves in a situation where they're starting together 😂. If O Riordan isn't good enough and with Wharton out for a long time, we need the extra cover for Carter and Hyam.

Not Liam Millar is it? The lad who was on loan at PNE last season...or is he still with Basel?

My favourite Shearer goal will always be his third against QPR in 1994/95 at Ewood. It was a fantastic strike, but what made it extra special for me was that it was also my first ever game going to watch Rovers.

I imagine that the 3 booked in for medicals are the young French lad (although surely he did a medical already if he's been over for a week...?), Ohashi and McFadzean. Its something, but its nowhere near enough at this stage, especially with Sammie and Gallagher on their way. Not arsed about the latter, he's be awful and injury prone for the last 18 months or so, so it doesn't really feel like much of a loss.

Gallagher needs to be moved on, but only if we're actually going to sign some adequate replacements. A forward line of Hedges, Dolan, Vale and Markanday isn't going to keep Rovers in the league. Granted Ohashi might be decent and the French lad might be a gem, but its looking extremely bleak in that area. Szmodics deserves his chance in the prem and I wish him all the very best for his efforts.

If somehow Szmodics is still a rovers player in September then he MUST be made captain. There is no other candidate that comes close to him IMO. The club is seriously lacking leaders on the pitch.

Completely agree. There is always plenty of decent Championship level players available on a free every summer, and yet Rovers never seem to do much in that area...or maybe they can't compete with other clubs in offering contracts, not sure. Tronstad was on a free last summer wasn't he? I'd call that one a win.