I can tell you 100% that it was Uncle Tony who persuaded them to have a ‘special player’ budget - so if he, or the recruitment team identified a player of considerable talent , that could potentially grow in value and make them a few quid, they could buy them. So, BB may not have been Mowbrays choice, but he was brought in on his initiative and his watch. In a time where he (the manager) had direct access to the Venkys. Didnt work out re making them any money, mind! 🙈🤣

From my understanding, the owners don’t have any specific, direct involvement. Rovers are essentially a P&L on a spreadsheet and Suhail is their representative. He’s the only one with direct access and is the one and only person with power. The directors fulfil their roles in line with the legal and vocational requirement and present it to him. One point of contact and then a yes or a no. This explains why none of the managers ever go out to see them anymore. Uncle Tony managed to woo them into the AA and in particular the BBD signing. Suhail, by all accounts is extremely un-emotive in his role. There’s no one getting excited in December because we’re 5th, and deciding to rip up the budget and spend to get us up. It’s cold and robotic. You’re unlikely to ever get sacked on the staff, but you won’t get a pay rise or progression opportunity either - hence why all the best staff are leaving. We need a change. 100%

There’s no sane justification for not prioritising the ‘right ones’ based on the fact that the signing will see them play / have the opportunity to play 20 odd games, minimum. Do I think a couple of forwards might’ve put a few of those chances we missed vs Oxford and Cov away? Maybe nicked us a point vs Burnley? Yes. But weirdly, even with the new signings we’re expecting to make, we’d still be short of numbers going into the Bristol City game.

It’s a real head scratcher with the injuries. Fwiw, even had we signed a winger and a striker, we’d still be short. I’d go… Pears Sanderson Hyam. Beck Dolan. Forshaw. Bucko. Hedges Weimann. Cantwell Gueye Subs - Toth, Litherland, Travis, OG Macken, ACD, Leonard Bristol City 0 - 1 Rovers - a fighting win

Kargbo, looks like the LW. I’m gonna take a punt on us getting him for £1m+ and then Bamford and Danns on loan. hmmmm 🤯

It’s true about Suhail. He effectively is Venkys. Signs off everything.

It’s not a top 6 squad, but bearing in mind we started the game with Sonny and Travis and finished it without Brittain and Batth (Arguably our best 4 players this season) we were the better team tonight. We had no luck in front of goal, whatsoever and they did. We haven’t been played off the park tonight, far from it.

We were the better team, similar to the Hull City game. But if you don’t take your chances, you’re at risk of getting done. Cantwell was much better in a deeper role. He’s not a 10. I thought Forshaw was near and tidy when he came on. The big problem is that we just can’t cope with the injuries to Travis and Trondstadt. Now you can add Brittain and Batth to that and that’s before you consider that Dolan and Hedges aren’t good enough and we need a striker. But at least Big Mak put a proper shift in! Its a mess.

The ONLY thing that matters is that we get the right ones. When we get then is going to be a bone of contention amongst the fan base, but ultimately, IF they get it right, then they’ll be forgiven-ish. The big question is can they get it right. History says not, I hope history is wrong.

Good players are available all window, as long as you have the money and the inclination to spend it. When you have neither, you’re waiting (like most) for selling clubs to give you that discount or become desperate for some cash.

I do think we need an extra body in midfield with the players we’ve got left, but we can’t go 5 at the back at home for me. Here’s what I’d do… Pears Brittain. Hyam Batth. Beck JRC Forshaw Buckley Dolan. Gueye Cantwell Subs - Toth, Sanderson, Litherland, Garrett, ACD, Hedges, Weimann, Leonard Thats a 451 when we’re defending and a 4123 when attacking. Gives JRC and Buckley licence to get forwards. Rovers 2 - 1 Coventry

I think as Rovers supporters, we would both (all) be disappointed if they messed this window up. But let’s wait and see.

For me, the brief hasn’t changed. We still need the ‘Right’ ones. Sure, I’d have preferred them all holding the shirt up on Jan 1st, but that’s not realistic. I think @callumrovers posted if we’d be happy with O’brien, Dennis and BTA earlier in the thread. Well, it’s a yes from me, and if you said we could have them all signed on Deadline day, or spin the wheel to get whoever we could do, earlier, I would rather wait. Woe betide them if they fuck this up though!! 🙈🤯

I thought the Forshaw transfer might catch us out. Sanderson as a 4th / 5th choice cb seemed a calculated risk. But to bring in Forshaw as ‘first sub’ to Trav/Tron was not great planning. On a positive note, Buckley played well yesterday, and if the defence and Keeper continue doing their job, then it’s back to the forwards to start doing theirs! Fingers cross we get the right signings, sooner than later.

Not true. But those great players who do get snapped up early in the window are bought by teams with lots of money. We wouldn’t have signed Todd Cantwell at the start of last summer. At that point he would’ve bet assessing his options. In truth, most of the signings (Good or bad) in any window happen in the last few days. That’s not a Rovers thing, it’s a football thing.