Genuinely thought this game would be the one that bought us back down to earth. We were brilliant today. Not so much the free flowing football but the fight, the will to win and the sheer effort of all of them was something to behold today. Special mention to Ayala today. I moved from my usual Riverside seat to the near the top of the stand near the Darwen End to get out of the heat. The way he talked to the makeshift defence, marshalled the back line and dragged them all back into position was a defensive masterclass today, also the fact nothing was getting past him. Definitely my MOTM today. Great day.

As you very quickly point out to anyone "it's my opinion". I don't have to think that Rovers will win every game for the rest of eternity because we have made a great start. The championship has form for upsetting you when you least expect it, and I expect tomorrow to he one of those days. Absolutely. Be suprised if Ayala makes it through 2 games this week. I'd rather not throw Phillips into a championship game just get as it can be relentless. I'm baffled that folk can't see that we need a centre half as a matter of urgency.

Back down to earth with this one I think. Rovers 0 WBA 2 Certainly would have taken 6 points from the first 3 though. Think we desperately need a centre half before Wednesday.

He won't be going anywhere until the end of the season as thats when his scholarship ends.

FA Cup, no wins since 2017!

Everything seems to suggest we have a bit of money to spend back there, but with the fees Liverpool seem to command for there players i would be amazed if it was permanent.

I'm not one for sticking up for Mowbray, but in the 20 cup ties he was in charge of we only lost to lower league opposition 3 times.

Will it? Planner looks the same as usual, a bigger away support might nudge it a bit higher but i can't see it being more than the opening day.

Now the FA Cup is a different story, last time we made it past the third round was 2016-17, and the last time we won a game in that competition was December 2017 in the second round against Crewe.

Haha, it certainly feels like it. But believe it or not, we have only been knocked out at the first round stage once (last season) in the past 7 years.

Teams who finish 18th and 19th in the Prem always enter in the second round.

I'm pretty sure we would have done that. Getting him to sign it though is a different matter.

Really don't think we'll get Bowler.

I think you know the answer to this 🤣

Berkovic definitely was yeah, but I would have him down as someone who operates in behind the strikers rather than a Tugay/Cowans who sat deep and dictated play from there. Think we'll really see the best of Buckley playing deeper this season.

I don't think it's that. I think think it's simply pound signs and better career prospects. Sure he will get some first teams games here this season, but he could sign for Spurs, quadruple or more his money qnd end up on loan in this division anyway playing regular games.

Venkys will just plug that gap anyway. I wish it wasn't the case but here we are, I would rather keep him and go for it and see how we do.

End of the day if we were a normally run club with genuine financial issues, i'd be shipping out Diaz tomorrow for anything around £15m, doubling our money on someone who looked like he had never played the game for his first 2 years here is decent going i think. The fact is though we're not, venkys don't give a hoot about money here and never really have done. So on that basis I would rather keep him as I know he will get somewhere around 15 goals this season. Take him out and goal scoring looks very bleak in this side.

Scored 16 in the 18/19 season to be fair, one less than Dack.

I know Gallagher has his critics on here, and i have certainly been one of them, but I'm not sure I have seen enough of Vale for him to jump above Gally in the central striker role

If the past 11 years are anything to go by, that money won't be reinvested to that extreme. I imagine his wages will be freed up in the budget, but any cash of which would probably be minimal, will probably be in next summers budget.

Cantwell isn't a replacement for BBD for me.

Yeah I've thought the same. Folk think we're still playing behind closed doors if they only saw the goal from yesterday.

Vale didn't have a good game but there is something there to work with I think. Needs games, I probably wouldn't start him next week but wouldn't have an issue if we did.

The players we have been linked with will all play today, because we're not close on any of them.