“We need them gone”... I just don’t see it like that Gregg. I don’t drink baileys from a shoe either... Obviously the preference is additions, but as many say the budget is unknown, why would you bin off players you might struggle to replace? Id also argue Conway has had a positive impact too. Maybe his potential new deal involves some coaching/community stuff? I wish we’d done that with more ex players.

Most players contracts run June 30th annually, hence why some run their contracts to get 3/4 weeks severance and move late July/August. If there’s nobody coming in yet because (according to the general consensus) we don’t know budget - why burn the bridges of Conway, Rodwell et al? Edit - Gladwin a more weird one, but surely not expensive when he signed on league one terms + has no argument for a bonus, and if TM still thinks there’s a player, it’s hardly a massive decision.

You do what you want with your ticket money, but I’m glad that you agree it’s a bit early to feel mugged off.

Is it true, there are many who claim the owners poor running of the club means no budget has been agreed yet, but the same fans say the manager needs to be more ruthless? Id argue these deals show there is money but only for certain targets, so why cut Rodwell and Conway before you know if there’s replacements coming in? As for the other one, I’m not sure how Gladwin has or staying for 6 more months will stop the development of Butterworth, and I’m not sure how (as others point out) a short extension to his deal is going to cost the earth AND chances for lads in the academy. @Oldgregg86 - that’s aimed at you haha. It’s not a major call in anyway, imo - I’m not sure how anyone could be seemingly so frustrated and upset, just another forward like Samuel who could potentially add something to the squad and will cost us basically nothing to keep to fight for his place. If we’d already seen a poor team ethic/spirit because of these players - id be more concerned. As for the keeper situ - Raya is/was our ACADEMY keeper. So surely keeping the average backup makes more sense to keep Raya no1 - who will improve long term with games.. Thats if you’ve no intention of spending your limited budget in an area like GK - surely TM/Waggott knows most of our budget will probably be need to be spent on a centre back? Just my two cents. To be honest I don’t think anyone could say “he’s saying one thing and doing another” when the season (playoffs) haven’t even finished yet ffs. The retained list isn’t the final squad list for next season!

Nor should there be, since were trying to build a squad to go up. The window hasn’t even opened yet and your assumption that’s all we are going to do is a ridiculous overreaction. At least give it till end of July before you join the pitchfork brigade

People said the same about Conway 12 months ago, and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he’ll go on to do some coaching here - has always been an exemplary professional, I can only see it as a negative if we don’t add to the squad. As for Gladwin - it’s impossible to judge someone who’s had so little time un-injured. Once again this comes down to additions. If TM wants to keep for 6 more months, I trust his judgement. If these two stay, and we don’t add players - will be very depressing! Since it’s not August yet, I’ll stay in my pram.

Last two years apart, plus a few false dawns with GB and PL, it’s been largely dreadful. That said - league one was a successful season, fun at home and on the road. This after a poor start too. The squad has also been overhauled, most of the older/loans replaced by younger players from the u23s or signed by the current manager. In my opinion we have a real platform to go forward - and whilst I’d be the first person to remind anyone why we ended up here, it’s hard to ignore the advantage that keeping our academy going, and investing above the turnover is giving us. Only time will tell - much relies upon Mowbray, and despite your assumption he is well backed, a recent poll here only turned in favour of keeping after the season ended. For me though, TM will be remembered as a great manager, even if mid table championship is ultimately his pinnacle for us, and he is replaced. He’s seemingly changed the mindset of the club from top to bottom. If I’m only using my own perception, the club feels better - one example is the work rate on the pitch. Bennett is often criticised for his inclusion, but he sets a standard above any rovers team since Big Sam for sheer effort, grit and determination. It’s infectious, it comes from the manager and the team spirit they’ve created. It’s no coincidence the u23s like Travis, Nyambe and new signings like Armstrong and Rothwell are improving their efforts to match. Ofcourse things can turn sour quickly in football, and I’m sure we all know that (to partially quote Tony Mowbray) “if I can’t get this done or enough wins to get up, they’ll get someone else in”. Either way I’ll be grateful for the job he’s done in 26 months or so. If you’d rather get a proper catchup, check out the BRFCS podcast with Don Mackay and the Under the Cosh podcast with David Dunn to get two very well informed opinions on Mowbray and Rovers current position.

Whilst we’d all agree our process needs to continue the recent improvement, can I add that many deals like this come down to availability and situation at the time. For instance, if we wanted Reed ASAP - I’m sure this wouldn’t become an option (without going way above wage/asking price) until he’s had a holiday, recovered from injury and weighed up his options. Ive no concerns yet either - I’m quite sure the window is closed for another month anyway, not that you can’t line up deals. Precisely the type to replace the Leut as one of our two main GKs

Do you ever get bored of bringing up arguments from 6 months ago? - flex is wagott talking about signing bigger wages for less fees, so stop making arguments from absolutely nothing but your own vindictiveness

Or have top class set pieces and a barrel of experience on the bench and in the squad in several positions! Also proven good attitude. Not quite the same as having Stokes or Dixon on the books eh! As for the lineup - good to see Davenport, potentially another sign of the bubbling quality in the u23s!

Me too! This part is also welcomed; ”New for the 2019-20 season, the club have extended the previous young adult age-band to include all supporters aged 18-25. Not only that, all prices in this category have been REDUCED, with tickets available from only £149 - that’s less than £6.50 per game!”

Still haven’t seen anyone suggest forgiving and forgetting the cock ups? Anyone serious mind. I think the second part about gratitude for funding being tantamount to Stockholm syndrome is unfair De! I mean, I am grateful that they continued to fund the academy because (whilst an expectation I guess) that advantage will be important if it’s used correctly. Ofcourse it’s their responsibility - however there’s cheaper ways to do it. As for the final paragraph, I agree there are still steps to be taken on the pitch and off the pitch in terms of their impact - meetings in India, being absent from the box etc. However spending a lot on diligence and financial auditing suggests they may have learnt something, much like hiring Waggott suggests they’ve learnt we needed more than just a secretary and finance guy. Its still painful to accept they learnt these things the hard way, no dispute there.

You’ll have to point me to the praise for the owners, I’ve not seen any - I thought you were talking about the club overall and the general direction. Since it was mainly TM talking about expectation, aspiration etc - I assumed the replies to this thread centred on answers to questions by him and Steve. As for Waggott - id say it takes a long time to turn a ship round, and the major turns so far have been made. Theres legitimacy in all of @MCMC1875 ‘s comments but none of them are on the pitch - the key part of a football club. As I said also - TM/Waggott have overseen a big overhaul of the first team - that’s a major positive for the club, regardless of how you feel that reflects on the ownership. Sunderland fans are rightly unhappy, Portsmouth have been in the depths longer and in a different way granted, but both their individual situations (like us last year) require promotion. The requirement is/was a “worthwhile” achievement imo.

For me looking at last 2 years, as opposed to using 5+ to make a point; I’d call an overhaul of the squad from overblown contracts, short term loans and older frees - to a squad chock full of potential in several positions a major positive. Id call the hiring of an actual managing director at Ewood a major positive. Id call promotion from the third tier a major positive. I’d also ask Sunderland and Portsmouth fans if promotion from that tier is “worthwhile” too. Id call staying up this season as a respectable expectation matched too - with a better platform for further moves forward next season. Thus, so far - TM has set the expectations, and based on that (from him) the next potential major positives could be; a better transfer system of recruiting from abroad again, a stall set out from day one aiming for “top two, or at least playoffs” and hopefully another summer when our best players stay. Its difficult for me to ignore all that and simply reboot “stability ffs” 2.0 if I’m honest.

I doubt this is true.

Absolutely!

Do you reckon it’d be different if it wasn’t anonymous?

He’s not a standard winger, think we’d agree on that - wide forward maybe in my 433, or 442, definitely on the left cutting in. As for Dack - the standard argument for keeping rhodes (which I agreed with mind) was simply the impact in goals/points, it’s exactly the same as Brad- our most important player! 100%

My take of Dack vs Rothwell. 1. Complete different players. 2. Rothwell is so one footed, playing him at number 10 wouldnt work in my opinion. 3. Dack’s final ball, shot, decisions are (statistically and just from watching games) better, come off more, and lead to more attempts, goals ergo points. 4. There’s no legitimacy in saying Rothwell has a better passing range. If you’re talking legitimate things he has on Dack, speed and trickery is about it. Strength, consistency, final ball, finishing, movement, etc - all been shown by Dack more than Joe. 5. Dack isn’t lazy. This idea comes from peoples view of his private life, and his figure/shape imo (remember early days of Duff?) He works hard yet doesn’t have the fitness/defensive prowess of someone box to box. Could be fitter guaranteed. Rothwell isn’t lazy either, but in the few games he’s played, I’ve watched him let runners go, shrug when lose the ball, and not track properly. So to summarise. Rothwell could be a fantastic flying winger, and is a/will turn out to be brilliant signing (much like Dack) but to compare the two ignores lots, and when it’s used to further pad/justify the opinion we should sell Bradley- Im just glad those making the decisions wouldn’t think like that. Finally - question for anybody who thinks our recruitment is poor - do you think we will sign someone as good in their position as either Joe or Brad this summer?

I’d say his value has gone up since then. January is an inflated price market though, so I could see that as a potential reason. Crux for me though - his impact on games at this level over a season means his value will have only gone up since last summer, and considerably too! (As will his wages if we want to keep him)

Compared to when?

This one @Madon ? Think it would look good with a blue and white trim instead of yellow.

I think for his first season at this level he has done well, and has been managed effectively. His form tended to echo the team for me, in a rut - looked lethargic, trying to hard, to many touches. In the good runs, looks a real handful, poaches and sets up goals. Id definitely hope to keep hold of him.