I can’t work out if he’s quietly confident of us spending some proper money in those forward areas, or worried we might not…

Fair enough. I see it as, it’s a game I’d like to win, but I’d much rather give a few of the squad some minutes with the hope we can play the likes of JRC, Weimann, ACD and in particular Gueye into some form! Most importantly, we need to protect Sonny and Beck who we cannot replace on Tuesday night vs Pompey.

Looking at those who’ve been on the bench in the last 10 games, JE probably owes this lot a game. For me, he can’t risk Beck or Sonny. The signing of Sanderson eases the worry at cb. Toth Hyam. McFadz. Batth JRC Garrett Bucko Hedges ACD Gueye Weimann Subs - Pears, Litherland, Beck, Sonny, OG Macken, Dolan, Cantwell, Leonard.

Here’s my take… Sanderson - JE’s captain and played all last season. The manager likes and trusts him. Importantly, he’s 4th or 5th choice when Carter comes back. (Thumbs up 👍🏼) Forshaw - Lots of pedigree, but widely accepted that he’s struggling at 33. Hope he’s the managers choice and not SW calling a favour in like he did with Fleck. Importantly, he’s coming in as 3rd choice, back up for Trav and Sonny. For me, that’s not good enough. (Thumbs down 👎)

Honestly, I’m happy with that…100% the managers choice and so that must mean he’s happy with him! Get him and Forshaw done as bodies in the door. THEN let’s get to business on a winger and a striker!

All I’ll say is, if Adam Forshaw is the answer to the midfield cover question, then I fuckin hope we’re doing it to keep a boat load of cash spare for a striker and winger! Dearie me! 🙈🤣

It’s known amongst the staff, coaches internal team. People offer to leave on a daily basis in companies. It’s not sensational and in footballing context, information like that is only ‘reported’ on when one or both sides wants it to be. So if JE was looking for a way out, (like JDT) then it gets leaked. Or if the club are looking to pot the manager, it will get leaked. Ergo, the positive here is that neither side actually wanted it to happen. I don’t think JE wants to leave. I only passed on what I heard to provide context that he won’t be pushed around.

That’s your opinion. Being backed is subjective. I would suggest, based on the comments narrative from JE around the standard of player recruited in the summer that it’s satisfied his expectations. He’s certainly not intimated any unhappiness with the business, and simply stressed that they must “continue” to strengthen in the January window.

Yeah, because people NEVER offer to resign, 6 months into a job when their employer backs out of a fundamental part of the reason they took the job. Sound 👍🏼 #headinthesand

I get it, we’ve fucked up the last 3 January transfer windows. I’m as anxious as you. BUT, the only thing that matters is that we get the right players. That we get the players that the manager wants. If that takes a few more days, then so be it…Right? The fact of it is that we (the fans) don’t have a clue what is happening so what’s the point in losing our shit every 30 mins when we check X and BRFC’s?? Fwiw, I think Kitching on loan (a £4m signing for Coventry) to cover Pickering, on paper looks like a very clever and encouraging signing. Lots of experience, just drops in, like Baker did and Travis did at Ipswich. This came out of nowhere and looks like one that JE could be behind.

Mate, from as close to the horses mouth as you get, I know JE offered his resignation in the summer as we meandered through the transfer window refusing to spend the money he had been promised on joining the club. In fairness, Rovers turned it round with some good signings and backed him, with the Cantwell signing the ‘Cherry on the top’. JE doesn’t sound petulant or erratic, but he is apparently VERY direct and clear in what he wants. I think he’s a realist, and doesn’t expect us to spend millions, but IF we have a terrible window this January, then I don’t doubt that he will do his job well until the end of the season and be gone in the summer. He won’t be short of offers.

I think your point about it being sarcastic, or playful is likely. Either way, we can’t be getting our knickers in a twist about it without the full context (Not saying you are btw). I think it’s still pretty early in the window. The names linked aren’t overly exciting, but the first ones out of the hat are rarely the ones you get anyway.

Kinel guys….relax. There’s so much context that can’t be seen in written text. But when you add in the fact that the report is paraphrasing a full conversation, it makes full understanding impossible. Maybe he was referring to others who had said they were “Too good”, maybe they’d just had a joke about Ronaldo coming to Rovers off camera and that was the context?? There’s many many ways this could be read. In the main, the message is REALLY clear from JE. The most pertinent word in the interview is ‘ambitious’ for me. That is laying the gauntlet down to Suhail and The V’s.

I think it’s fair to say we don’t know who or what is going on. The ‘links’ before Kitching have been tenuous to say the least!? Let’s see how things unfold.

I hate to state the obvious here, but seeing as it’s you. Here goes… At £200m in the red, I reckon Venkys probably understand the concept of having to spend more than they generate. 🤷🏽‍♂️ Whilst I wish they hadn’t decided to take a hiatus from pumping £20m a year in, your point is pretty odd considering the money already spent. Disclaimer - I DO NOT LIKE THE VENKYS, THEY ARE TERRIBLE OWNERS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED ASAP.

Baker is average. He’s very replaceable. Whether we do that or not, is another question. Interesting that the Stoke fans don’t rate Moran either. Absolute nothing of a footballer.

Garrett was recalled because he’s not wanted by the new manager there.

This is brilliant. Brutal but brilliant, because it perfectly encapsulates what is happening. We never spent well at Christmas because it’s seen by the board as a continuation of the summer budget and there’s no ‘reaction’ to changing situation. The owners are absent and their representative (Suhail) is a non emotive employee. Venkys can fund Rovers whenever they like. The directorate about giving a guarantee on the money doesn’t mean they pay twice, it means they’re personal on the hook for the cash. The reason why several Rovers employees over the years have coined the phrase “they never refuse to sign a cheque” is because those who have had direct access to them have experienced exactly that. IF you can get in front of them, and you ask, it’s granted. They flirted with ‘advisors’ like Shebby, and historically some managers had a direct line into them and those managers had the biggest budgets etc. All of the instances you referred to, I believe unfolded in the current regime. One where the decision is taken by the board and Venkys representative.

Argh, I appreciate you trying but you genuinely don’t need to defend me to him mate. He doesn’t understand football, full stop. Keeps trying to goad me by misquoting shit which only proves that I live rent free in his mind.

The most important thing is that JE gets the players he wants. The time to buy ‘saleable assets’ is never in January. We all know there’s no value in the market. The board and Venky’s just need to go and get the 2/3 players who JE wants, asap and leave him to it. January transfers are all about what impact they can have…

From what I heard, at the time the board had serious misgivings about the direction being taken by GB / JDT. No idea why they didn’t do the loan…maybe there was a fee they didn’t like? In terms of the money, that’s just how it works apparently. Regardless of what’s been agreed across the ‘leadership team’ or whatever, the final say is Suhails and that is the end of it. He has full autonomy. I think the situ with JE is interesting. I have no doubts that he did offer his resignation over the summer as the club stubbornly refused to spend the previously agreed cash. However, them relenting and spending a bit on Gueye and Ohashi, agreeing to Batth, Baker, Beck and Weimann and then sanctioning Cantwell who id imagine is costing a few quid, will have relaxed things. On a personal level, I also think JE needs some continuity…one thing is for sure. At Rovers, under Venkys, if you keep us up, you keep your job! Either way, I see this window as being important to the relationship between JE and the club. Give him what he wants (he refers to a list) and everything will be fine. But if we mess it up then I think it could see him leave. My feeling is that he’ll stay until the summer at least.

JE doesn’t take any shit by the sounds of it. His stock is high and he can call the shots to an extent. But he’s not stupid enough to go toe to toe with his employers like JDT. His messaging is much more subtle and controlled. Schlupp and Kent are JE picks if ever I’ve seen them. I’d give him what he wants, one things for sure, he won’t be short of job offers now, if we do completely mess up the window again!

The board prepare everything in line with a standard directorship. But SW is only the CEO in name. EVERY decision goes past Suhail and this 100% explains some of those crazy scenarios. The incident you’re talking about however was SW and Suhail pulling the plug on GB spending £5m on an MLS Striker as they had run out of confidence in the GB / JDT regime. JE was being lined up by SW, and his appt along with GB/JDT removal had been agreed with Suhail. The most notable U-turn is that, SW offered JE the £5m (From the American) to spend in the summer, if he took the job and kept us up. JE agreed, kept us up and then ‘the club’ (Suhail) decided against that spend in the summer and the manager subsequently offered his resignation on two occasions. All resolved in the end with a mid ground met, plus the Cantwell sweetener ar the end of the window.

Actually, the quote came from several people who worked for them. I just passed on what had been said…but don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story, hey?

Exactly, they’re never gonna spend any serious money.