JHRover

I think I'd be a bit less angry had this been the first bizarre failure of a window we'd had. But this has become par for the course really. Certainly since last summer our transfer business has been very strange, but even before then it was neglectful of key areas. It always seems to follow the same sort of pattern too. We go into the window talking the talk and appearing to recognise the issues, publicly admit our weaknesses, promise big things which then don't materialise. For it to happen once is disappointing. 3 or 4 times in a row suggests incompetence. At Wigan he will have competition for a place at CB. More competition than he has ever had here. Add to that a more decisive/ruthless manager and that Mulgrew will be starting from scratch there rather than being well established as top dog here and I'm struggling to see how his chances of game time are going to increase. I could understand it if he had been gradually replaced or frozen out here and was struggling for minutes but he was starting as our captain 6 days ago! Given our lack of depth he would be certain of more game time here even if not 1st choice as we will get injuries. Something has happened. Personally I think the financial situation is heavily restricted on defensive players and the only way Mowbray was able to get Cunningham in was by offloading Mulgrew once Wigan took an interest. I wonder what would have happened had Wigan not come in. I'm sure Cunningham wouldnt be here and I'm sure we'd still be using Mulgrew in the team.

Barnsley showed last weekend how it is done. Of course that might have been a wake up call for Fulham and them being at home this time changes things but they are clearly beatable. Not interested in them really though, we need to get off the mark, if Barnsley can do it there's no reason we can't.

Wigan appear well equipped at CB, certainly more than we are, so it seems odd that they came in for Mulgrew and we let him go given the numbers. What happens if Mulgrew goes and sits on Wigan's bench whilst we have injuries and no fit CBs? To be honest I loathe Paul Cook but would trust him to sort a defence out before Mowbray.

You and Mowbray/Rovers might like to think that but the chances of it happening and working are slim. No room in the Championship for inexperienced young players. Mowbray, if he's still here by then, will be reluctant to gamble on throwing the youngsters in. But given we follow an unwritten rule of being unable to permanently sign an established CB chances are that they'll be desperate for someone to emerge from the academy to do the job.

I'd shake hands on survival right now. If Mowbray surprises me and manages to sort the defence out we might climb into mid-table. Likewise if the failings of last season continue or get worse we could easily drop. I think some forget just how bad we were in February and March. Can't be like that again.

Alternative theory - Mowbray couldn't sign anyone until he got someone off the wage bill. He comes to the conclusion that Mulgrew is one he's prepared to offload The fact he started Mulgrew on Saturday as captain v Charlton tells me that he was still very much in his.plans and developments yesterday were unexpected. Mowbray probably reaching desperation stage to bring in a new LB so agreed to sacrifice Mulgrew to do it. As I said last night we can try our best to rationalise decisions at this club but our antics on deadline day over the last two summers do not suggest there is any coherent plan.

Can anyone think of an away game this season where we wont be able to wear either the home or away shirt but will be able to wear the 3rd kit? What are we going to wear at Huddersfield or Sheffield Wednesday? Might just get away with grey but wouldn't surprise me if fussy refs said no. You have to wonder sometimes. Blue and white home shirt so a pale grey away shirt and blue 3rd kit. Beyond belief. The whole point of a 3rd kit seems to have been missed here.

Why?

We could sign Cristiano Ronaldo and I'd still be concerned about that defence.

Just trying to work out what happens when Lenihan picks up his inevitable injury. Williams no pre-season of any description. Presume the 'grand plan' is to make Nyambe into a backup CB. We'll be seeing Joe Grayson in the team, no doubt about it.

Quite clear there wasn't a plan or if there was it was flawed to the extent it achieved nothing, so in the end we've reverted back to what we know best which is rushing around for generous loans on the last day of the window to come and fill in for the season before clearing off elsewhere. All his talk of building, growing a squad, no evidence to back that up. IF we survive in the Championship season, which i would shake hands on now, we're facing a major task next summer in even putting a defence out. Hand to mouth reactive existence. Not going anywhere with it. Quite staggering to think how much of a drawn out farce this whole pantomime has been. Go back to last summer and Mowbray's talk of 3-4 windows to get where he wanted us to be, investment from the owners into the squad, European scouting, to be sat here 12 months on having padded out the squad with a few loans whilst taking a punt on Gallagher as the lottery ticket. Not what was promised at all. Then there's the mystery of the vanishing transfer kitty. Only two weeks ago Mowbray stated clearly that the Raya money hadn't been touched. He also said after January cash was left over, yet we couldn't find a single player to improve this defence with that cash? No, that's nonsense. Last two summer deadline days - committed £7 million on Ben Brereton and allowed club captain to go to Wigan - on loan! Not the behaviour of a club with a rational plan in place that is for sure.

End of the day we didn't get him because: a) We didn't really want him/try hard enough for him b) He didn't fancy playing on the wing for a side going nowhere c) We didn't offer enough money Excuses like he didn't fancy moving up north (2 hour train ride) are typical of the self pity blame deflection that we see at Rovers these days. I'm bored with it all to be honest. Nice guys who 'try hard' come last in this game.

Not really. All up north. He's a professional footballer, he'll go where's best for his career. Clearly that isnt us.

Lol. And he'll turn down Liverpool or Manchester City too?

Our manager has said on more than one occasion that he would rather avoid loans and get permanent additions in to build on. The only reason we go down the loan route is as a money saving sticking plaster temporary solution job.

Reed is better than anything we have hence he's joined Fulham, a decent side. He is genuinely versatile rather than 'can do a job' in more than one position. Sickening to see him join them but not surprising. Another one we wasted and ensured wouldnt come back.

Very good point. Just shows the utter chaos that is our transfer policy. You don't start him as captain if you're moving him on. Relegation battle ahead. Looking for 3 clubs worse than us now. Struggling.

Correction. Almost everyone wanted a better player who is actually a CB bringing in to improve the squad. Mulgrew out and nobody in at CB no.

Been quite clear for a while that the only way we were getting arrivals was by getting shut of someone first. Venkys wont add to the wage bill. Hey presto look what happens. What about the Raya money again?

I think technically he was released in June as his contract expired and the club still hasn't confirmed that he signed anything else. All we had was that he was talking to the club about a short term deal and then Sharpe announcing that he was still recuperating from injury at Brockhall. I've tried a couple of times to get Sharpe to confirm his contract situation and find out why the club hasn't announced it. Our website, whilst still featuring most players in last season's kit, makes no reference to Gladwin at all on the squad, which it should do if he's under contract. Very odd behaviour.

The myth of 'building' By next summer we are going to be even more short on numbers as contracts expire and loans return. It.will be another rebuilding job and thats before selling people to cover losses. It never ends here hence going through the players we have done. That's what happens when you shop in the loan and short term contract market and are reactive rather than proactive. You end up with people not good enough or just passing through to get games and 'do a job' for a season.

Perhaps shows how reliable some of these rumours from Sky are. Unless they just forgot to add 'former'.

Sorry I don't understand that. Sky just said we were in talks about a loan move but on the internet it says he left QPR last summer....

Sky claim we're after Idrissa Sylla on loan from QPR.

They'll just play it without fans. They'll stop at nothing to help Bolton out and get their games in so the fans will be the ones who miss out.