The squad

[Sparky]

Darren Stephenson joins Fylde on loan until 7th Jan.

Not a total surprise I guess and hopefully he'll go there, score some goals, and come back full of confidence. Assume we can recall him if someone gets injured.

 

[Boz]

At the moment we are well off for forwards so can understand this to a degree. However we lack pace in the side, which isn't something any of the current squad aside from Darren offer. Unsure about this, but if there's a recall clause as Sparky suggests, may work to everyone's benefit

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Clearly Micky has taken a good look at him and feels he's not yet in contention, so there's no point keeping him when we now have so many forwards available. He wouldn't even make the bench unless we had a flurry of suspensions or a flu epidemic.

 

[frenchrover]

I think this is a good move for Stephenson, and the club. We have plenty of pace in Tollitt who is currently on loan with us for most of Darren's period at Fylde. If Tollitt goes back to Portsmouth, and personally I hope his loan is extended, then Darren is more likely to have benefited more from his time away and hopefully more able to step into Tollitts boots.

 

[Boz]

Tollit is undoubtebdly the better player, but his loan runs out mid-December and I'm unsure what our prospects are to extend it further.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

I was glad to see Evan Gumbs on the bench tonight, although I expect Lee Vaughan to replace him on Saturday.

 

[Sparky]

As well as Ihikwe did in the 2nd half last night I expect Vaughan to return at RB, especially for a home game we should be looking to win, with Ihikwe possibly replacing Gumbs on the bench.

Like BBTC though I was pleased Gumbs was in the squad (as I'm sure Boz would have been !)

 

[Boz]

Like BBTC though I was pleased Gumbs was in the squad (as I'm sure Boz would have been !)

You know me too well

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Rumours that we are signing somebody tomorrow and Wallace's name has been mentioned.......

 

[Boz]

I hope not.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Rumours that we are signing somebody tomorrow and Wallace's name has been mentioned.......

It would not surprise me. He was seen at PP recently and didn't rule out a return when asked by a fan. He was on loan to Shrewsbury earlier in the season, so is known to Micky. And finally, his uncle is our physio (Gregg Blundell).

I can see why some of us would not welcome him back - and I was uncomfortable with the way he left us. However, none of his teammates are with us now - apart from Steve Jennings, who left at the same time when his contract also ran out.

I'm sure Micky will have been made aware of any residual feelings within the club, so I'll back whatever choice he makes. Given his injury record and lack of match fitness, I would hope that any deal would be a loan. We don't want any more expense hospital bills and another six months sick pay.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

And finally, his uncle is our physio (Gregg Blundell).

BBTC, Greg Blundell left some time ago. David Spendiff is our physio.

Regarding Wallace, my concerns all relate to his fitness, not comments he made on his departure.

 

[Ian]

Fitness is a big issue here. He'll be in and out of the side.

 

[Mal]

feed him CHEESE. That should do the trick.

 

[bigmart]

Fitness is a big issue here. He'll be in and out of the side.

He has played 21 times since hes left us so for me would not be worth signing as unlikely to be fit enough to play

 

[Ian]

He has played 21 times since hes left us

That is atrocious. With that record it's no wonder he's without a club.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I think it would be worth bringing him in, provided we effectively don't pay him anything, ie. either on a loan deal or a pay-as-you play arrangement. What would we have to lose ? On the off chance that he did stay fit, we would have a very good player on our hands.

 

[Ian]

I agree he can be a very good player at this level, but lets face it, he won't stay fit and will then only cause disruption to the squad taking someone else's place until he gets injured. I think we need consistency. Financially a low risk but just not sure what effect he would have on the squad.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Yes, probably. He was supposed to be a good influence in the dressing room the last time he was here, but I don't know whether that would still be the case with all the problems he has had. Interestingly, he did play six or seven consecutive games for Mellon when he was on loan at Shrewsbury last season, so he was fit enough for that period at least.

 

[Boz]

One of the strength's of Wallace during his time with Rovers was that he was physically robust and strong (sometimes too much) in the challenge. If that element of his game is diminished, then a significant loss. I don't recall him being a particularly creative player during his previous spell. With Connor Jennings pending return, we are looking stronger in the midfield department anyway. It doesn't seem the area where we need reinforcements most.