We were talking about him in the pub before the game last night. How is he doing for the U23s? Has anyone had the opportunity to go and watch him?

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24095744.tomasson-reveals-offered-leave-blackburn-last-summer/

As it stands the squad is undeniably weaker than last season. Over £40m incoming, and (being very generous) £1.5m outgoing, not to mention more of our top earners off the books. Whilst Ohashi and Gueye look like they will be useful additions, it's a huge risk to expect them to play a full season and score, say 15-20 each. Unless we see some substantial investment in the next two weeks (I'm talking £5m - 7m minimum), then the owners should hang their heads in shame. Successful clubs sell players at the right time before re-investing a portion of that income to ensure that their club is 1. competitive in the league, and 2. have saleable assets in 12 - 24 months' time. I expect us to stagnate and tread water, plugging the remaining gaps with cheap punts, old has-beens and loans. Whilst I acknowledge and am initially impressed by the signings of Ohashi and Gueye, they needed to be additions to an already depleted squad, not replacements for anyone who left this summer, let alone our talisman. We need 5 more, and a minimum of 3 should be cash purchases who improve our squad and have potential to be the next double figure sale. Anything else is inexcusable.

Dembele just been hooked at half time by Birmingham. The Twitter comments are less than complimentary about him.

It'll be amazing just how many fans swallow that right up and repeat it verbatim when defending the clubs appalling transfer activity in the last 18 months. I'm really intrigued as to whether BBC Lancs and Elliott Jackson have been invited for an interview... both have said on record that the request went in. If they haven't already done an interview with him, then they now have a copy of his pre-rehearsed script to pick apart and make any interview uncomfortable. As I said last night, these cosy interviews are akin to Putin speaking to Russian State TV. Never challenged, never disputed, never probed - just singing off a hymn sheet in the hope that the gullible masses will lap it up.

But surely you understand that simply gives Waggott and Co a completely free ride? Zero accountability, just a controlled platform for them to peddle their unchallenged version of events.

As soon as I realised the interview was an inside job I knew it was going to be entirely toothless. Not to trivialise a truly horrendous and barbaric situation, but it’s a little bit like watching Putin address the nation on Russian State TV. All this guff about the owners never refusing a transfer, what a load of shite. We already know they scuppered the Batth one last season, not to mention the very fishy O’Brien and Maguire fiascos. I wonder if Jackson and the BBC will get a go like last season? Perhaps Andy Bayes might be able to probe him a bit further on some of the drivel he’s coming out with.

Eustace, "He hasn't trained or played for the last 3 or 4 weeks"

All I can deduce from this scenario is that they have effectively ringfenced a large portion of the transfer fee as the next firefighting funds for when the August hearing inevitably goes against them. I can't think of another scenario (at Rovers or otherwise) where a club goes to such extraordinary lengths to avoid scuppering a potential windfall. He's our best player and we have 4 games before the end of August, including a game against our bitter rivals. He should have been preparing just like the rest of them to give us the best possible start to the season.

I can't recall any situation where the player has not played (never mind trained!!) during even the closing stages of a window, never mind with over 3-weeks to go. Brereton played against Blackpool 24 hours before the window closed a couple of years ago, and that was admist seemingly very serious interest from Fulham and other clubs. If he's still contracted to the club he should be playing. If, as you say, no club has even come close to his valuation then it's extraordinary that he is effectively on gardening leave. Looks more and more like Rovers are pinning their likely meagre transfer outlay on his departure - ridiculous given the amount of money already brought in since last summer.

Sorry if it’s already been asked, but does anyone know if existing ST holders just use the same card again, or are new ones being sent?

Nearly cried yesterday when I saw that the Rovers media team had taken it upon themselves to inform us that 17 years ago to the day we signed Roque Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich. Whilst none of this mess is their fault, and they're no doubt doing their best to portray an 'all is well' environment, at what point does anyone think... "better read the room here".

One being 37 year old McFadzean, who was part of the bare bones squad that limped over the line in May. I don't think any fan in their right mind is going to consider that a new signing, it just isn't. Couple that with the seemingly imminent departures of Szmodics and Gallagher and the squad, with 11 days until the new season is unquestionably weaker. It is depressing, you can't deny that.

Altrincham

Where has this been reported?