Blackburn talking points including transfers and Eustace frustration

Back-to-back 1-1 draws with Morecambe and Wigan Athletic were a sideshow as transfer speculation took centre stage. The pre-game absences at The DW Stadium overshadowed anything that would happen on the pitch.

John Eustace will focus on the next phase of his team's preparations. It was the first time his players stepped up to 90 minutes, having played hour-long games in their previous two friendlies.

There were some good performances and also plenty of typical pre-season fare. Fitness was the priority for Eustace and the team came through unscathed injury-wise.

READ MORE: ROVERS ABSENTEES EXPLAINED AS TRANSFER INTEREST RISES

Here's a round-up of all the key talking points from the weekend.

Biggest headlines were away from the pitch

Undoubtedly, Saturday's absentees created the biggest headline. It was no surprise that Sam Szmodics wasn't involved after interest from Ipswich Town this week.

A bid had been rejected and Rovers will stand firm on their valuation. But what's also clear is Szmodics wants to pursue the move, as he stated he would if a Premier League team came knocking.

My growing feeling is that a deal will be struck. That will require Ipswich to up their offer but noises are suggesting they will return with another proposal. It's just how much probing Rovers will need before they give in as it seems the Tractor Boys won't give in.

What came out of the blue was the absence of Sam Gallagher, again because of interest elsewhere, understood to be Stoke City.

This was always a possible situation. There was interest in January from Ipswich and the striker has one year left on his deal and is a top earner.

My concern is not with Gallagher leaving, per se, but whether Rovers can/will recruit an appropriate replacement. After the lack of investment following Adam Wharton's exit, fans have every right to be sceptical.

Squad looks threadbare

Looking at the starting XI on Saturday, it highlighted again how thin the squad is. Rovers are in serious need of some fresh blood.

A couple of injuries, or absentees, and they're down the bare bones. A lot of the players currently in the squad have not proven they can withstand the rigours of a 46-game Championship season. For a lot, it would be unfair to expect them too.

Obviously, the squad was split in two but Rovers need numbers as well as quality. I'm expecting Yuki Ohashi and Kyle McFadzean to be confirmed as Rovers players early next week and that will help, at least.

Tom Bloxham played 120 minutes over the weekend, through necessity more than anything else. I doubt that was in the initial plans when the squads were laid out.

Igor Tyjon was a particularly bright spark. He played with far maturity than a 16-year-old and his talent is obvious.

It's great that these young lads are getting a taste, particularly in pre-season, but too much can't be asked too soon as it was last year.

Pace injection needed

Watching Rovers, it's still very obvious that they lack the profile of winger that has blistering pace. They have plenty of good, technical players but they miss a real outlet.

Particularly in the match against Wigan, it was obvious. The Latics had a couple of really dynamic and tricky wingers, who had pace and could run at their man. Rovers, by contrast, don't have that natural one-vs-one dribbler in the squad.

It's something they have lacked since Reda Khadra and they'd really benefit from signing someone this summer who can stretch defences. It would give them a more potent weapon on the counter-attack as well as when trying to break down deep defences.

A forward with speed has to be on the shopping list. Eustace has already referenced a desire to sign that profile earlier in the summer. I hope it comes to fruition.

Patterns are emerging

You can see what Rovers have been working at on the training ground. There were some clear pattern of play.

In build-up, they play with a back-three. The left-back tucks in as the third-centre-back, with the right-back pushing high and wide. That then allows the right winger to move inside into more number 10 roles. Basically, a 3-4-3 shape when they have the ball.

It suits Rovers' main team. Harry Pickering is a clever ball-progressor and better with it at his feet. Callum Brittain is the opposite, he can provide width and an attacking threat.

That then allows Joe Rankin-Costello, or Ryan Hedges, to move into central zones to link play. The former has been Rovers' best player in pre-season from the bits I've seen.

If anyone was going to create a goal at Wigan, it was him. He is a genuine goal threat too and so getting him into the right areas is really important.

Frustrated John Eustace

Speaking to The Lancashire Telegraph after the Wigan match, Eustace cut a frustrated figure. He seemed agitated and it's easy to understand why.

There are a lot of similarities as to last summer under Jon Dahl Tomasson, albeit far more subtle. Unlike the Dane, Eustace didn't throw the hierarchy under the bus, but some of the messaging was similar.

'It's nothing to do with me, I'm coaching the team', was his response when grilled on the future of Szmodics. 'The club knows best' when asked about potentially losing players he wants to keep.

I'm not for one second suggesting that Eustace is about to implode or walk away as Tomasson did, but the frustration is evident. I'm sure the Rovers head coach knew, deep down, what he was signing up for but if not, it's plainly obvious now.

I feel sorry for him. He can't do the job he's asked without the correct tools. There are six weeks of the window left, 10 days until the season starts, and Rovers are in desperate need of some signings.