Lots to be positive about with the young lads etc. If we were going into this on day one with Ayala and Cunningham in the team I’d be DELIGHTED!

I regularly and openly disagree with Mowbrays decisions on here and have stated that I felt it was a time for Managerial change on two separate occasions. I start every factual point about Venkys with “they’ve been absolutely terrible but...” Ive actually been a pretty regular poster for 12 months outside of the transfer windows but Hey, don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story...? I have supported Rovers since I was 10. My then football manager took me to Ewood in 1991 for the first time and I fell in love with the place. As for perspective on owning / running businesses on a shoe string and with large budgets, I have done this at six, seven and eight figure turnovers and continue to do so. I do not believe that financial modelling from 30+ years ago holds much weight in today’s financial climate. The ‘plant’ notion is ridiculous. Because this minuscule community has absolutely no effect on Venkys or the club. We’re just not that important mate, suck it up. So why would anyone pay me to disagree with all the miserable sods on here? It makes no sense! ?? The fact of the matter is that we all have a different view on the same issues in here. I accept that, you can’t and look for ‘other’ reasons as to why anyone could see things differently to you. No matter how bad it gets, I will never whine, whinge and moan. I’m not built that way. I focus on what I can see and more importantly what I can control and I deal with it all from a positive base. That’s me. Paul Mani, RTID

And your role, is unfortunately, to hang around permanently spreading turgid drivel about stuff you know very little about. But as I said, we all see things differently hey? ?

If they were trying for Kipre and Ayala then it would suggest that we have higher aspirations than Sarr.

Fantastic point Stuart. If only we all saw it through your eyes. The key components you missed there were context and personal opinions as well as your stated outlooks (optimists vs pragmatists). So whilst you maybe don’t see the successes of the European scouting network, others may see the signing of Kaminski and the potential for more as “progress”. We all judge based on what WE see, in our own context based on our own opinions. We deal with information differently. For example - I think Mowbrays 2.5yr deal for Mulgrew was scandalous. Bordering on gross negligence because I genuinely think that extension was a little “wink wink” I’ll sort you one last big contract Charlie for staying with us and getting us up. This decision was terrible and is contributing to our financial pain. The manager should be taken to task for it. Whereas, I genuinely don’t think selling Raya was the wrong decision. Raya was SOOO inconsistent. He obv wanted to go and we got £3m for him. Him being linked with Arsenal is not a sure sign that he’s suddenly become world class! There’s lots of reasons why deals happen. In this case the keeper coach at Arsenal is his mentor. But so what if he goes to them? There’s literally thousands of shite players who’ve signed for top teams and done nothing (I’m not saying Raya is shite btw). So what if he develops into a top keeper? Lots of players develop late. It’s just the way things are....the issue last season wasn’t selling Raya it was not properly replacing him imo. The above shows how we can all see things completely differently. It’s not just about being eternally optimistic vs....you.

I can’t remember a single “Massively disappointing” summer window under Mowbray. January is usually horrific though...

I’ve noticed he’s commenting a lot on Rovers players posts etc recently...felt he was a shoe in anyway before the window opened.

The deals get agreed and then agents move the goalposts last minute thinking that both clubs and the player are too far down the road to squabble over ‘a measly £100k’....I’m actually glad they cancelled it

?

Mate, he’s Swag to me forever now. Just saying it whilst picturing his tubby little frame brings and immediate smirk to my face!

The best part of this post is that Waggots nickname is “Swag”...?????

Great insight....

It is odd and weirdly honourable that TM and SW will not overspend. Especially because as we all know by now, all you really have to do with Venkys is ask for more and you will receive it!

By the sounds of it it was completely unrealistic though...like double our current structure.

Good post, but if you have a wage structure then how do you propose navigating this market? Target lesser players? Continue to chance your arm with the better players?

My stance on any of this never changes. I’ve said categorically that the managers decision to give Mulgrew a 2,5year deal was wrong imo. But whatever is done is done and we’re discussing the merits of saving £120k against not saving it on a background of fans losing their jobs etc. There’s absolutely no discussion to be had in reality. Leave your Venkys baggage to one side and tell me that we don’t need to try and save £120k in the current financial climate? Every signing is taken on merit. E.g. Could I see their reasoning for signing BB? Yes. He’s young, English and highly rated. Has it worked out and therefore been a success, No. Can he still pull it around and be a success? Yes, but he needs to play.

Blah blah blah bleet...whatever! You’re drifting from whinge to whinge. For what it’s worth I absolutely would NOT have given Mulgrew a 2.5yr contract and I believe that it was done as a ‘reward’ from TM and one last pay day...but that’s not what we’re discussing here. We’re discussing whether it’s right or not today (08/09/20) to try to save £120k by getting rid of a player who is no longer good enough to play in our team. It’s a no brainer and you arguing against it is just weird. Dont tell me I’m talking rubbish because the point is as clear as day. Get rid and save as much cash as possible. I’m not callous enough to believe that £120k is not a lot of money when people / fans are losing their jobs, season ticket holders asked to leave their money in last season and accept a price increase whilst the country approaches its highest levels of unemployment in modern history.

You remember what you like. I was completely aghast that we had decided to extend Smallwood and Hart whilst pleading poverty. I didn’t have the same concern the year before with Gladwin as I understood why in terms of the injury and we weren’t being asked to sink the remainder of our ST money in to pay for it! But not to put a finer point on it. Why on EARTH are you arguing about this? Mulgrew is finished at Rovers. Young lads preferred to him and he recently aired his dirty laundry in public. Whatever we can do to get rid without costing us more is fine by me.

Absolutely! If the best we can do is save £120k then I’m all for it!

Cos Mulgrew’s on circa £15k? ??‍♂️

‘We’ aren’t looking for league 1 loans for him mate...that’s just the best he can get! I’m pretty sure if ‘we’ had the choice, we’d prefer City to offer £20m and have done with it!

And there lies the problem for managers and CEO’s. Mowbray and Waggot know that we don’t have a top 10 budget never mind a top 6 or top 2. That’s why they try to nick players like Kipre or Mawson to overachieve. Deep down they know that a Sarr is In our budget but unlikely to provide the momentum they need but to throw in the towel and let the young ones fail in the hope that they meet their potential would be professional suicide. Needs strong ownership to step forward and tell the fans whilst protecting the manager and ceo. The only time they spend Big money (rightly or wrongly) is when they believe they can develop players and get their money back. Think Dack (£750k in league 1), Arma, Brereton and Gally. Young forwards are most likely to turn a profit and of those four, they have a 50% strike rate!

@J*B prob hit the nail on the head. They’ve likely tried now to get Kipre and Mawson as top targets and been done financially on both deals...so they’re onto the ‘other’ names on the list. I also agree that if we can’t get into the top 6 in reality, which the Combined budget suggests it’s going to be tough then I would also pull this ‘mid level budget’ for all players other than those we can develop and increase In value. I would rather them play one of Carter or Wharton next to Lenihan than pay another loan fee plus wages for Tosin (who I love btw). Kipre was a no brainer at £900k. He’d have been worth £5m to us by next summer and will be worth at least that and prob more to West Brom in the PL. My friend who’s a first team coach in the Championship reckons Ayala wants £40k a week which corroborates with Crookes info. Whilst Ayala would be a fantastic signing, there’s no point putting a 30 odd year old on a 2/3 year contract on £40k per week with no resale value unless he’s the final piece of the jigsaw.

Fisher JRC Nyambe Wharton Bell Trav Holtby Johnson Brereton Armstrong Rothwell subs Eastwood, Carter, Williams, Davenport, Buckley, Dolan, Chapman, Vale,

Interesting. Certainly fits the ‘man’ category. Would bring leadership and some steel to that back line but also not great on the ball and has real shockers from time to time. The big question I guess is which version do we get back? i think overall a motivated Grant Hanley would be a real coupe. Has been promoted and lead promotions. Cares about the club. With the compromises needed I can’t see that being quick fix though Norwich may very well be motivated after their recent business. thanks mate...keep us updated.