Exiled_Rover

Unless he did it last night (I wasn't at the match) he's done it once this season, but yes he played with 3 CBs at Malmo on occasion too. I think he likes the flexibility. He dropped to 3 at the back to shut down Swansea towards the end of that game.

The trick is not to engage with him - just follow. It's a source of information (however credible).

Let's hope Carter is your new Buckley.

Yes, it's built on marshland so the drainage is terrible.

Rugby League damages the pitch less than Football. Also the problem at Coventry was multiple, multiple matches on the pitch, not just two in a weekend.

If we've got Barnes, Phillips and Carter I don't think we need a permanent signing at CB unless it's a worldie. A loanee to supplement what we've got while we see whether Carter and Phillips especially can cut it at this level seems very sensible to me.

Loan cover with Wharton and Ayala as the starters is fine with me. Ayala will get injured eventually so you'll start plenty.

And he played CB on Saturday.

Brave that, 10 changes from the weekend. Batty on the bench... I thought he was miles off?

JDT sees something in Barnes, wants to extend his contract: https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/20609142.tomasson-wants-new-contract-injured-blackburn-rovers-prospect/

I'll bet he does. He hasn't shown anything yet.

Or they've tried to insert a clause into the loan that says he must start when fit.

I see a couple of you have taken this the wrong way. I'm not giving up my season ticket and taking up gardening - I'm just realistic. It's a squad game and we don't have a deep enough one at the moment. I'm delighted with how things are going under our new dynamic duo - but it's clear for anyone with eyes that a promotion campaign is going to be extremely difficult at present.

Just realistic. We'd need 3 First XI starting players to compete (replacing Ayala [inevitably], Pickering and Gallagher). It's a long season and we have a very small squad.

Phillips, Morton and Dack to start: https://twitter.com/Rovers/status/1557015437367558145?s=20&t=jkj0Xe-T-_5JE3A9OuGeJw

Ideally I'd like another CM, but funds are clearly tight and we're desperate for another attacking option, a LB and a CB - not to mention a backup RB. I assume Edun is pencilled in as cover at LB and CM. I watched the Watford v WBA game yesterday and we can simply give up on any promotion dreams - their squads are far deeper than ours, we simply can't compete.

He was very, very good against Swansea, albeit playing as a LWB in a 5. I'd give him a run at LB against Hartlepool - that position is going to be out Achilles heel all season I fear.

Have you just thrown names on a page there?

We have to keep to a wage structure - I've no problems with pushing the boat out for a player, but within reason. It's a shame we didn't get him, but I'm sure he's getting paid much more than we can afford.

He didn't just allow it, he made us put the towels back - the sod.

I think we have a core formation / system that we adapt to the opposition. Against QPR the front 4 pressed as a group in spurts, then sat back in a mid-block. Against Swansea the gameplan was clearly to sit deep and wait for the mistake. Not many teams play like Swansea, so I don't expect us to do that too often.

Not now, no. They've clearly moved on to other targets. I wonder if Southampton getting burned by Armstrong has made them look elsewhere - Brereton is a much better player though.

In the long run they've got way more depth and quality than we have. At the weekend - I think we'll give them a game. On an unrelated note, Steve Bruce does not look a well man.

I loved it when we moved the towels last time they were here. It's absolute bollocks - you shouldn't be allowed to do it at your own ground, but there's no way I'd stand for it at mine. I'd get into a fight if needs be.

Oh absolutely fingers crossed the PL comes and rips the heart out of their team - but right now, bloody hell that front 3 is terrifying. Also this random old bloke with a towel allowing Furlong to dry the ball before his long throw has to bugger off. That shouldn't be allowed.