Can you not? I’m sensitive about my steroid use.

I think the deal makes a lot of sense on this basis alone. You could extend that list to many of our younger players, and the ones with ambitions of reaching the top will most certainly benefit from having someone around who has been there, who is a positive influence in the dressing room. In terms of his place in the squad, I’d see him as offering a different set of skills, potentially a clear head next to Travis in our current 4231 style. “One Artist, one Soldier”..

I must’ve dreamt the last two years then, I’m assuming based on this comment we’re in the conference next season?

What, like Rothwell and Dack?

I thought we refused to match the 1m+ asking price 12 months ago?

Rothwell plays better centrally? Apologies for my ignorance but you’ll have to point out when and who far. I can agree that AA is definitely a more “off the last man” style striker, however it’s hardly going to be a detriment having someone around who has experience in a position he’s often utilised in!

I’m not overly enamoured with signing Downing, however when you factor in that we have three wingers (Rothwell, Chapman, Armstrong) , who are all nowhere near their peak, it’s an obvious move to get one who’s been there, done it and got the T-shirt!

I thought the same “bluster”, “turned out to be a load of b0llocks last season”?

Just a quick question for anyone who had convinced themselves the trip to India has curtailed ambitions; Did you expect them to come back talking about big budgets? Even if they had one?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48600029

You may be right in some ways, but they’ve nowhere near the funding or facilities we have. The quotes of their chairman online last summer, about the Armstrong transfer and us “blowing them out the water” would point me to think that anyone we wanted “as much” as Preston, we’d get before them.

Well I’m just thinking, since he told us all our manager wasn’t that interested in this lad, you’d have to be assuming he is talking rubbish if you’re using the argument that this happened because Preston are a more “normal” club aka run better...

Mate you could’ve posted that after I replied. @JacknOry - ah harsh to hear mate, I hope for good news too.

So @Miller11 is a liar then?

Hold on... That’s not a straw man is it? Who’s the official BRFCS judge on such matters?.. Being serious for a second though, I too have concern that money needs to be spent on defence, but my first assumption or expectation isn’t “Oh well, we didn’t get Bauer so that’s definitely a cockup by us, definitely because of TM being a poor manager and/or the owners messing us up, and/or a result of Waggott’s incompetence” There is no need assume the worst. As @DaveyB put “It’s almost as though people have entrenched views and use every action, inaction, rumour and whatever else as confirmation of those views”.. We all know the club turned its nose up at paying a million for this lad 12 months ago, isn’t it just as feasible to argue we’ve moved on. Then one of the most vocal and active Rovers fans mentions TM’s direct words about not being that interested in this lad, yet he is ignored for the sake of assumption that this is down the Rao’s making our staff travel to India or because TM isn’t “modern or forward thinking” like Alex Neil...! Theres no need for any of us to be upset, or get out our pram on the internet about different opinions, but even you can’t argue that the “defending mediocrity” comments are just pathetic wummery! Especially since you’d be an expert on such matters

1. I don’t think being unwilling to cry about Preston signing someone we wouldn’t pay 1m for last year is “defending mediocrity” personally (buzzwords of the constant moaner btw) 2. Again, being currently unwilling to be critical based on rumours, Sharpe’s assumptions, Daily Fail articles or Nixon isn’t a crusade to be “a better supporter” it’s just an opinion. 3. Read @Miller11 ‘s post, and remember the LET surmising isn’t TM’s words. 4. We do have a weaker squad, losing Reed and Conway - however there’s no way anyone could judge this window yet, and as you say - the signings we will probably make need to be probably a step up from Bauer ilk, especially if we want the club to “strive for success..!”

BRFCS summer transfer thread reading tip; use http://www.gizoogle.net/ @gumboots

I’m not sure, but if 24 clubs have so far only mustered 4 transfers in total, it’s difficult for me to be too to “antsy” about our perceived hindrance in getting started. Equally, who we are linked too is of little importance until they’re announced. Most clubs tend to start pre-season at the end of June/July - I would anticipate the transfer market is going to hot up over the next fortnight.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/transfers/wettbewerb/GB2/plus/?saison_id=1919&s_w=&leihe=0&leihe=1&intern=0&intern=1 I’m not sure if this is up to date, but there must be a fair few clubs hamstrung by foreign owners agreeing budgets too late if transfers are anything to go by.

Agree. Would love to see ol Big head back at Ewood personally.

Yea, the most you can get for less is obviously the better way but there’s other factors, for example; a new lad on say 20k + PW is going to cost you a lot in wage rises for the other key players. Particularly last summer - having shed most silly wages by the time we had returned from league one, I’m quite sure the likes of Dack, Graham, Mulgrew, Evans et al would’ve been our top earners below 20k PW. Stick a Bamford in there for 5m and 25k pw (remember the average pl wage is now +50k pw) and you can guarantee the better players would want parity.

We’re all on the same side aren’t we? This is a Blackburn Rovers forum after all! I must be Brereton over-sensitive because I was convinced the “he can head a ball” was a thinly veiled Ben dig...

Another reference to Brereton in reply to me (do you have anything else to say btw?), Since you’re obv desperate for Big Ben chat, I am genuinely excited (oo er) about the potential through the squad; even if one of those lads might cost 7m one day. If that’s the summer plan from now on, Im far more encouraged than days of Murphy/Etuhu, to summers of Browns, Varneys and Koitas! Also to add to people’s criticism of the article earlier from TM, he talked about “other clubs offering 5k a week more” aka Cellina/Bamford et al - I’ve seen nobody mention how much a 5k per week raise costs a club if it goes above your previous wage limit/average in renewals.