I’m not saying I don’t want them to spend the money. Of course I do. I’m saying bearing in mind the tenure of Venky’s and how absolutely fuckin useless they are, it’s absolutely deluded to think that they’re going to suddenly start spending!

Agreed.

You would have to ask him. But basically, the clubs directors are paid to run the club and set the direction within agreed parameters. Then they present each decision to Suhail, who is the only one with a direct line into Venkys and basically does his Roman Emperor impression, whilst everyone awaits a thumbs up or down.

What tricks? Josh, you intimating somehow that Rovers should / could spend millions based on revenue from sales is the most deluded narrative on here. Schlupp and Kent do not represent the same profile of player we’ve signed in January before. They look very much like the type of player the manager may want. As for me, I’m not falling for anything. I know from the horses mouth that whatever JE, or Waggot for that matter think they can spend matters not. Suhail runs the whole show and those numbers and budgets can change by the minute. It’s a shit show.

The January window is all about getting players who make an impact. The option to buy players is already limited, you need to box clever. IF Schlupp and Kent are in the mix then I’d say that’s promising, based on the careers of them both.

Yes, I’d say they would both be great signings. Between them you’ve secured the LB and LW cover we need. Plenty of experience and look very much like the managers choice. Promising if true.

It’s not rocket science. He has the most goal contributions of all our strikers / forwards in less minutes, with less starts. Fact. You quite often try to debunk the notion of ‘football understanding’ because it doesn’t follow a 1+1+1 = X, narrative. You can’t research it, or make sense of it. It comes from years playing at differing standards, watching and it’s a feeling. In truth, I quickly googled our forwards to see if it were true and to prove the feeling that those hours of playing, watching, experience screams at me. This is not Messi vs Ronaldo. Neither SG or MG are world beaters. If either were prolific goal-scorers, with their considerable physical attributes, then they’d basically be Drogba, or at least a Kiefer Moore! But yes, 20 minutes into a 45 minute cameo at Edgeley Park in the summer, me and probably a good few others realised (after MG had missed at least two of the four sitters) that day, that he was better than SG based on the danger that he created, his ability to hold the ball up and his desire to be in a position to score (or miss) another chance. For me, that last chance saloon, lung busting run in the 90th minute vs Leeds was the epitome of the difference between him and SG who has forged a career out of working hard for the team and has the goal threat and mentality of Center half. For context - It’s that feeling when, you watch an attack build up, you know from experience where the striker needs to be, and you can see Gueye putting himself exactly there vs years of wondering wtf big Sammy wasn’t anywhere near that spot when the cross came in.

100% No one is saying Gueye is a top player. We’re saying that when he plays, stuff happens and he is central to it somehow. In FACT, when you look at the most common attacking metrics (goals and assists) aka goal contributions, he’s the highest scoring forward at the club.

Yes, and he will eclipse Gallaghers best contribution in less minutes, with less starts, in a team that creates less chances. The stats tell a story, but in honesty anyone who understands football and watched Gally for 4 seasons would’ve picked Gueye out as being better in his first 20 mins. As ungainly as he looks and as easy as it is to criticise him for the chances he misses, he has an effect on every game and SG simply would not have been in the position to miss them. He certainly wouldn’t have been flinging himself around the back post to head that ball back into play! I’ll take a striker who misses two sitters a week and leads our goal contributions on an individual basis, because as long as he’s missing them, he’s got a chance of scoring one. Final point - IF (and it’s a big IF), big Mak hits a purple patch and begins to get that bit of luck in front of goal, then he’ll score plenty because he always gets a chance. When you’ve seen Ben Brereton turn into Ben Brereton Diaz, we have to believe anything is possible, right?

If Gueye started as many games and played as many minutes as Gally did, he would out perform him in terms of goal involvements (Goals and Assists). The only reason Gueye misses so many is because he’s there to miss them! I’m not saying he’s a world beater but he’s clearly more dangerous than Gally. I remember watching SG play 5 games straight up top and not get a single half chance in a team with BBD, Szmodics etc behind him. I’d love to run a poll across our fan base to see if anyone would swap them back. Be a landslide.

Sounds like Cantwell won’t be well enough to start and Yuki will be out. So, assuming there’s no other niggles or illness, I’m going for the same team as started at Leeds, with Gueye in for Yuki. Subs - Toth, Mcfadz, Litherland, JRC, Buckley, OG Macken, ACD, Cantwell, Leonard Rovers 2 - 0 Burnley

Gueye is a lot better than Gallagher, because he actually affects the game. His problem is that he’s really ungainly. He doesn’t ‘look’ like a footballer so it’s easy to allow yourself to criticise him. Interesting - He has more goal involvements (Goals and Assists) than Cantwell, Yuki or Dolan this season, having played a fraction of the minutes they have. When he plays, stuff usually happens. It’s not always pretty or good…but he changes the dynamic and EFFECTS most games. He’s not a top class striker, and his history tells us he’s not prolific. He’s a big lump and he’s a handful. Gallagher started 90% of the matches when he was fit and generally stunk the place out with ineffective performances. Week after week of nothingness, never being n a position to miss a sitter…that won’t happen with Gueye. He keeps himself in the game, good or bad. I’ll take that all day and I’m glad he’s set to start vs the Dingles. Of the forwards we have, he’s the one they will least want to face.

Great review - I wouldn’t disagree with that. Defence and Sonny were top class. Leonard isn’t ready…. I would have given JE a 10/10, I think he’s the very best manager we could have. Seriously making wine out of water. But the change of Yuki for Leonard didn’t work and very nearly cost us. Gueye made a difference when he came on.

Both good points…the only difference this year is that the club is in profit. I’m not sure that changes anything but if they were to put the ‘usual’ £11m in, that would easily finance the window.

EVERYTHING about the next two games says we’ll lose. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if this manager and team pull something miraculous out of the hat and win both. I genuinely think we’re most dangerous in these moments Let’s see.

Agreed - could we drop Cantwell back into CM with Travis out. Get him playing from a little deeper and affecting the game more in order to play that second striker in home games? Cantwell Sonny Dolan. Yuki. ACD Gueye

In any other scenario, you probably ‘go again’ and JE might do, but we definitely have to manage the loads on full backs, Sonny and the front four. Heres what I’d do…. Pears JRC. Hyam. Batth. Beck Baker. Sonny ACD. Dolan. Weimann Gueye Subs - Toth, Litherland, Mcfadz, Brittain, Buckley, Hedges, Cantwell, Ohashi, Leonard. Beck and Sonny are the ones most at risk from overloading, ideally both come off around the 60 mins mark. Rovers 2 - 0 Hull

I think JE will cautiously play Leonard and integrate him to manage his fitness and make an impact. But I don’t see him starting games necessarily and bearing in mind we’re publicly in the market for a striker, IF we get one, I think we’ll loan Leonard. I think there’s a good player in Gueye. He’s isn’t getting much in terms of opportunities but he feels like a player who could hit a purple patch. Plus, he is real handful. I think there’s an argument to go to a 433 and play Sonny at the base with Cantwell and Baker either side of him. Cantwell is class but he doesn’t get enough assists or goals. I think he’s better a bit deeper.

A brilliant game of football and end to end, entertainment. We were well worth the point… Positives - Overall, a sea of 7/10’s. Dolan, was his mercurial self in the first half going from the sublime (In his build up), to the ridiculous (in his finishing). Ohashi, as industrious as ever and got his goal. Negatives - I don’t think Baker is the answer at CM. Buckley (also not good enough) looked better when he came on but we will have to see if either stake a meaningful claim in Travis’ absence l. Hedges and Cantwell were largely ineffective across the game, the latter showing flashes early in the first half but both completely passive in the second, and we looked much more dangerous when ACD came on. Final special mention to Harry Leonard. Happy he took his goal. I think there’s a 15-20 goal a year striker in him. He needs to stay for and get some game time. If we can get a Striker on loan, I’d love to see Leonard go on loan into League 1, and play regularly. Same team again on Sunday, other than ACD for Hedges. At what point do we give Ohashi a run as the second striker with Gueye or Leonard leading the line, and what does that mean for Cantwell?

Pears Brittain Hyam. Batth. Beck Baker. Sonny ACD. Cantwell. Dolan Ohashi Subs - Toth, JRC, Mcfadz, Buckley, Weimann, Hedges, Leonard, Gueye I don’t think Baker or Buckley are upto replacing Trav for 6 weeks and I said so in the transfer thread two weeks ago when suggesting that CM and CB were potentially more pressing areas than Forwards. We shall see. That said, the back seven looks pretty well set. The front four, in truth could be any combination. The only one guaranteed to start is Cantwell, (who I think is due a blinder). The rest is anyone’s guess. I chose to keep ACD and bring in Dolan on the left, who will invert when Beck surges forward. Rovers 2 - 1 Sunderland Ohashi and Cantwell with the goals.

Could’ve said the same about Cantwell. It only happens if it’s a loan. It seems unlikely but there’s a few reasons that he might want to come back. Family haven’t settled? Not adjusting?

Mcburnie would be a good addition. Seems to have the right character too.

I think people are reading too much into Hedges. He’s 100% the easiest one to do…that doesn’t make him the priority, just the first one to get over the line. Think about signings when the transfer window opens. The east ones get done first and the hardest (best) usually get done late! I would let Dolan slope off and take a nominal fee. He owes us nothing. Trav, Sonny, Brittain and Hyam are hugely important.

I didn’t read it like that. Though I think it’s always prudent not to read too much into articles which quote interviews as the way written form is constructed, including the words used to contextualise quotes can often be read 10x different ways. FYI - I read it as - the club know what they need, quality over quantity to improve a couple of key positions, rabbits outta the hat stuff (think Cantwell) it’s upto them whether they do loans, or buy and that will come down to budget. Then it looks like JE was asked about Park, his job role and replacement, to which he’s answered honestly. When you put ot all together into a few hundred words, it sounds anxious.. I would like to watch the full interview.

I think Bamford is the type of player who could do great at Rovers. Has obvious talent, and pedigree. Has scored lots of goals in the past and at 31, still has a couple of good years in him if he gets back on track. If JE can put an arm round him then who knows…