Why are we signing a “project”? Perhaps the answer in that lies with the wage and cost of proven “second tier” strikers like Bamford and Assombolonga! 3.5m upfront is peanuts, practically one season of wages for a “squad level” premier league player. Equally what do we expect 3.5m to get us? Would we sell Lenihan and Nyambe for that? I personally think both would be costing a minimum of double that yet you think we’d be adding a Graham esq striker and an improvement on Darragh and Charlie for the same cost... it’s not realistic JHR from my perspective.

How come you believe we haven’t spent anywhere near 7m upfront on B.B. but then use that as an argument for the club being calamitously run? Football is broken JHR and whilst we both agree the “7m” could’ve been moved around the team, we’ve probably spent more than that sacking managers under the Raos thus the concernin reaction to actually “investing” in a player is baffling.

The better man? Haha. Now that’s funny. I stand by my ratings of the signings, which are based on more than my immediate reaction to a defeat, Boris. Im not Armstrong’s mum, but I’m certainly aghast to see him rated as a poor signing. “Lazy little tossers” don’t normally make runs though, thus I’m confused you’d say that. I’m taking all your comments on players with a pinch of salt from now on. You know.... we might end up playing a different system at some point, imagine signing a load of players that could only fit into one style! The square peg comments simply turn a decent discussion into a sweeping “I know best” argument. I personally would’ve been 9/10 but reigned myself in. I am very excited about his impact over the next few years, and he’s already starting to get into games. Remember, still hasn’t started one! I could criticise the transfer business for not bringing competition for the sole striker role - the “warrior” or “wily” style hold up striker that Danny is, but that doesn’t mean I’m not impressed and happy we’ve added other quality attackers for different roles! I expect we will see system changes throughout the season, and I also expect they’ll be trying to add more quality upfront. We’ve quite a luxurious amount of options for mixing between two/three attackers. The thread is about transfer business and the previous window overall, not the on pitch performance thus far - I’ve no idea how people can be so critical of the club-manager for adding potential and an actual investment - so much so that people are now saying the manager didn’t choose him... that’s far more confusing I feel, than me being excited that we’ve added an England u20 WC winner in an exciting position, only 3 months after being third tier.... Balance is a key issue but balance isn’t simple and it’s talked about as if we should simply expect it. If we’d signed two out and out target men forwards instead of AA and B.B, we would’ve likely been reading complaints about only having 1 position for 3 players. Swings and roundabouts.

10m? Who have we spent ten million on and sat on the bench?

Watched the game Saturday, Horror show of defending, and if we Nyambe/Lenihan start any more games like that, it won’t matter who is playing up front. Refreshing to see honestly from the manager/players because (despite our poor defending) we had enough chances to get something, created enough going forward. Lamenting bad luck would’ve been a bit much! Gutted for B.B. too - since that’s two goals that he’s scored marginally offside. Still hasn’t started a game yet. I expect TM will mix it up for Wednesday.

Just my own take; 1. Palmer - show pony, no best position, doesn’t work hard enough but has plenty of talent/technique and potential 5/10 2. Armstrong - looked great in a few matches, particularly leeds at home, versatile but maybe inconsistent at minute. Absolute bargain and only 22- 8/10 3. Rothwell - not had much time but has looked potentially a good winger, another versatile squad man - needs more minutes 6/10 4. Brererton - exciting signing that can play all along the front, only 19, started to make more impact, an assist, a penalty and a close offside goal. Long term investment looking fantastic for me - depends if you “believe” the fee- 8/10 5. Reed - looks like a clever Evans, definitley prem class, can hopefully make perm 8/10 6. Rodwell - risk but the reward is an ex England and prem player who has as good of first touch as anyone - Centreback or Centre mid quality 7/10 Conclusion - long term our squad is shaping o nicely.

Wtf kind of question is that?

This is easy, it’s called promotion.

It’s an attractive tie - local “derby”, 15 minute drive, easy transport links even after poor trains. Decent pubs, the team is in decent form. £24 quid, I think they would’ve sold them all at £34 quid. Compare that to Millwall and Rotherham at home, and it becomes obvious why those 2500 are only interested in more “appealing” games.

This is definitely true hence our ability to subsidise tickets for years during the 2000s with tv money. Again, our academy probably costs about our ST revenue alone.

Problem is history proves this is correct. What was the attendance average last prolonged period outside the top flight or our last third division average? Theres more to do but I have some sympathy with the current suits at the club since they’ve inherited a complete basket case. It’s not price people will take time to get over, it’s “Venkys!”

Oxymoronic again. Higher attendances = more cash.

If you make a change they’ll get used to it - even both of us agree on the Darwen end lower being moved back to other parts of the ground. Think the idea on Bburn end is exactly how to sell it to “new” fans because prices are hard to move considerably without that TV money of the league above.

Product on pitch is 95% of that for me. I agree though more creative work is needed. Someone brought the June thread up on the forum- talk of riverside development, I’d personally pay a bit more for a decent safe standing in future if it was offered.

I genuinely respect anyone who could do 5 days, AND A SATURDAY with school children! I’d be in serious trouble for language towards ref probably...!

£30 is too much for a standard ticket for any game in my opinion, but (perfect scenario presented aside) I still don’t buy that most people wouldn’t know to pre order or, to put it another way - I think it’s probably more useful to those preaching/criticising the club as “#ripoffrovers” rather than the club itself, converting last minute sales into registered customers!

Dominic Raab. Edit - it’s more the reaction that’s important. If you know who he is, merely a bonus

Look it’s the dismissive grouping stuff I find now funny. I may fall into your hardcore group but I would love to see more olive branches to past “hardcore” now “casual”.

You won’t hear me calling this board negative these days it’s as balanced as it’s ever been. If anything, I brought more negativity to it by being a bit of a **** towards the “excuse” of a 3 quid surcharge. Still - if I’m completely honest, it’s the price overall that could be more accessible, better tiered pricing for example, more local promotions, rewards for repeat custom etc. The idea that a 3 quid 1-3pm is the “over the edge pushing” thing is what irked me considerably.

Attendances top of the list...sounds familiar to this place eh.

Well I tend to use a few sources for that information and im well aware footballers wages are generally reported post tax so the club are paying 40% more on every contract + NI. That said, there’s no more “Rhodes contracts”.. (one of a few highs in terms of return) and the Lowes, the average squad guy on 20+ a week. Wasn’t Jake Kean on the same deal? Anyway- footballs broken Mercer. When someone is prepared to pay Andre Gray £5m a season, you are fortunate to get an Armstrong for 1/8th of the same cost. Lucky bag principle my arse.

Prices could come down but at the same time I just feel it’s been cheap for nearly 20 years, at one time ridiculously cheap - £199 for an adult season ticket in the premier league? I think promotion pledges are a good idea personally but I think a loyalty scheme would be even better. 1% off for every year you’ve bought an ST up to 40%. Reward those who’ve sat through Edinho Junior and co....

I don’t think there’s a single player at Ewood on 20k+ a week. Last year in league 1 - the top earners in the division; Powell, Mulgrew, Evans, Shaun McDonald and Danny Graham - and Charlie was on 14k on his last deal. I think 16/7k is probably in his new deal with a 30% promotion bonus or something but it’s a big step to even the most average premier league players. For instance, the eye watering figures Aston Villa paid last season to finish runners up in the play offs... There is a big step between “having money” and throwing literally 100s of millions at second division promotion. Football is completely F’d up

Definitely needs to be pushed to the FF that we need more creative and community work... Theyll probably point out they’ve been voted community club of the NW for about a hundred years in a row but the Accrington example is as strong evidence that more generous and modern techniques are required. We have a hell of a lot more capacity!

80million of cost between 89 and 2002? That doesn’t sound much even considering what we won and the exponential “football” inflation, especially compared to 150m for us now - 2009-2018. Dont need to get into our old discussion on intent - we both agree though on it being their (Raos) legacy; mismanagement costing millions. Maybe they’re a bit more encouraged recently, since their probable 150m loss 12 month ago, has been turned into probably a 100m loss now by simple value of playing staff. The thing I always find mind boggling with “Venkys” is the money they’ve always plunged into the academy. What better excuse was league 1 to bin it off? The factor of our team being chock full of graduates isn’t an accident. In fact, I’d argue the grade one cost alone plus staffing was probably more expensive than our total season ticket takings in league 1. They have kept that going - although I recall we filled it with Portuguese dross for a short time. Kinder and Bowyer sorted it out (allegedly!)