Portugal hammered Norway 5-0 and Italy beat Spain 3-2 so the 2 who qualified from Poland group are in the final. Portugal beat Italy 5-1 in the Group stage. The one outstanding team in the competition are also the reason why England aren't in Malta...

As of today, my gut feel.is this one won't happen. Sunderland will not play ball with Rovers.

So Rich Sharpe says Kaminsky is number 1 if he stays.

Tielemans on a free and now Pau Torres for £30m point to Villa strengthening for a CL push.

Anyone else offering a stab at answering my question? I genuinely cannot come up with any pairs in the Championship I would swap for. Here is the twist, if we do have the stand outs in both break through youngsters and off field football management, the rest of the outfit only needs to be equal to the rest of the Championship to be in with a top two chance. Yes I am sticking my neck out particularly because I am keeping to my minimum of an additional 5 in and 3 out by end of this window transfers/loans forecast.

Notwithstanding Devonian sensibilities and JDT speaking in his 4th language, I am pretty clear the message is Rovers have different physical demands and fitness standards. English could be JDT's 5th language thinking about it...

I am still amazed 5 own goals Scott Dann is not in the supporters' Duffy, Orr category. The first ten minutes at the Hawthorns watching Dann miss headers put him in my all time rogues gallery.

Two genuine questions. Rather than Adam and Ash, which pair of teenagers at a Championship club would we rather have? Given the freedom to do an exchange, which Championship DoF/coach combo would be an upgrade on GB/JDT?

Sticking with top 2

Are you putting a bet on Dack +Diaz > Sigurddson + Ennis? That could go either way. If you really insist on a bet, I will put a quid on Tronstad scoring at least as many as Morton. 😁

Many on this board commented last season that Rovers were markedly fitter than under Mowbray. If you had posted a comment like this on August 6th after the WBA game I would be really worried but after two 60 minute kick abouts against Stanley at the beginning of July...

Beginning to get excited about seeing this lad. Rumours of excessive boozing are just rumours so far as I am concerned but JDT just caught himself from besmirching Plymouth when explaining Ennis absence from the Austria tour. In essence, Rovers fitness regime is dramatically more demanding than Plymouth's. If Ennis achieved the goals and assists of last season, how good will he be when properly fit?

Yes there was a dismal season where Ewood didn't see one crowd of five figures and attendances of 4,000 weren't unusual.

Sticking my neck out, the Rovers squad right now today is stronger than the one which was goal difference away from the play-offs last season. Tronstad or Morton? Sigurddson or Diaz? Ennis or Dack? Potential full seasons of year older Ash and Adam. Carter and JRC now proven talents. Szmodics now fully Rovers acclimatised. 12 months of JDT as opposed to "hello, who are you?"

With that line-up, taking 50 to the Austrian training camp (not counting the three lads leaving the club and the not fit duo) is entirely credible. I wonder if trialists A, B and C etc are in the party and hence only the front line 31 being named? Fans going to the training session and the two games will no doubt confirm or otherwise...

It was still in its box which was why diagonally across the tube train I could see Aston Martin written on the end bit sticking out.

When Neil Warnock was manager at Palace, I remember he and his wife boarding a Northern line tube just before Christmas loaded down with presents in Hamley's wrapping. Warnock was wearing a shell suit - and there was a toy Aston Martin poking out of his pocket. Thanks for confirming what I suspected some 15 years ago!

I am going off memory but the shareholders were quite wide spread. Jack offered to buy them all out but some continued, happy to be massively diluted by Jack's injection and there continues to be a tiny minority interest to this day including I believe at least one share now owned by the Trust. Going back, the largest individual shareholder typically became Chairman so they included Bill Fox, Derek Keighley whom I believe was chairman for 19 days before his sudden death and Bill Bancroft.

You think that's hostile. You should have seen it in Keen/tantric time

Many years ago, it was definitely the case the Raos received summary reports of press coverage in the UK from their staff. Given the continuation of their financial injections I think it unlikely those reports are not prepared and read. For that matter this website and other Rovers fans' were similarly read and summarised. No doubt the Raos are trying butter pies and John Bulls knocked up by their chefs..

New deal signed!

If there is a hint of Mowbray preparing a plan B for Sunderland games, I will be concerned.

Amazed by the disrespect for Mowbray on here. Given what went before Mowbray was a welcome relief and breath of fresh air. That relegation with a close record high points was unfortunate but getting out of League 1 at the first time of asking literally saved the club. Of course he could and should have done better in his last two seasons with us and that is why he wasn't renewed. He probably learned from those blow ups but let's hope not too much. His biggest contribution yet hopefully is his limitations derailing Sunderland this season.

Rovers Academy have a big job to do when the Polish lads get back to Brockhall. I don't know whose bank manager the Polish coach is but he is clueless. I watched 270 minutes and I don't think I saw one Polish triangle. Extraordinary inept second half against an Italian defence and midfield full of mistakes if pressed. Biniek started with intelligent running making space but no ball because nobody was looking to the right and certainly not to the right touchline. Biniek had to go hunting the ball meaning receiving it back to goal but even so had a fantastic outside in run but nobody came short for a lay off and no intelligent off the ball runs to create space.. Nsangou is Gallageresque in going where the ball isn't. He looked totally dejected on the bench in the second half today.

Biniek unused sub. FT 1-1 so Italy progress. Poland horribly under coached.