I'm scratching my head to work out what the structure of the team is supposed to be. All I've heard is about high press, lots of energy and possessing the ball. Last time I looked the most important bits in football was to score and not concede. We can't defend for 90 minutes (can't even make it to 5 minutes) and our attempts on goal tells the tale. Ismael also lacks any vestiges of empathy with the fans, I wonder if he is able to relate to the players. A coach loses the dressing room when his tactics/methods fail to show positively on the pitch. Jim Iley was absolute dross and Coyle should have been given a clown car to get to games. Strewth, I can't remember a coach who seems so out of step with the fans so soon into his career - apart from Steve Kean perhaps.

There will be plenty of applicants for the job. Eustace needed the job, he'd been sacked after a relatively short managerial career and like a lot of ex-managers getting another club from the unemployed pool is a lot harder than moving on from an existing job. Personally I'm in the 'if they don't want to be here then they can go' camp. Managers come and go, the next may be a dud or may not be, but there'll be plenty of takers for the Ewood job. I'm disappointed with Eustace leaving and I include him as a target for my disappointment as well as the Board. Fingers crossed we get a good one this time. What I do know is that for all the problems at Ewood there are a pile of other clubs who would swap places with us (and a lot who wouldn't). As a fanbase we have been poorly served by the current absentee landlords, wish they would sell up and jog on but in the meantime put on your tin hats, it's going to get bumpy!

Let's face it if Eustace goes a big pull would be a former club and the ability to be close to his family, that's before any of the grief he might have had here from the owners. The reality is Derby has been a basket case too so it's a risk for him to go there if it's only to enjoy a better set of owners. If we do lose him (I hope we don't) then at least we have a team at the top end of the table for a change as opposed to him being sacked because we were in a catastrophic situation. This isn't new, for us oldies I remember the same with Ken Furphy going to Sheffield, Gordon Lee to Newcastle, Jim Smith to Birmingham, Howard Kendall to Everton - the only consistent thing about a football club are the fans, even strips and grounds can change. Managers come and go, can't blame them, it's a fraught profession. The good news is that there are always applicants, what's Steve Kean doing nowadays? That last bit is only in jest, hopefully he is suffering from an itchy skin condition around his genitalia.

So far the signings look solid enough for me, the loan players are interesting. Baker will be looking to the end of his contract to become a free agent, so he's either looking to put himself in the shop window or a slot at Ewood, should motivate him hopefully. The others must surely be looking for first team action, I can't believe Liverpool will want Beck on the bench or with the U-21s so where does that leave Pickering? Cantwell (assuming Venky's agree the deal) will be a bit of a risk given how he seems to have walked on two clubs now (Norwich and Rangers). He has the ability but will he have the application?

Let's be realistic, Szmodics was always going, whether now or in January. He will have a huge personal pull to go to Ipswich beyond the chance to play in the Premiership as he is from that part of the country. Rovers (if the reports are to be believed) have got the fee they wanted, I guess the timing of the money coming and the believability of any of the add-ons being triggered are just as critical as the 'fee' suggested. The test will now be to bring players in to strengthen the squad, hopefully there are a number in train but who knows? What can be commented on is the additions so far and I think they've been above my expectations. Mind you that was against a Derby side that is tipped for relegation and a team of kids from Stockport so the tests will start against Norwich.

Whatever happens to GB the Director of Football model will continue at the club. So if he goes someone else will come in.

Interesting comment from Broughton at the end of his message to JDT "I hope we get to work together again in the future" - does that indicate he's the next one out? However as Eustace is not coming as manager but head coach that is probably not the case. Anyway, I hope there is a change of results on the pitch, I'd be happy with some solid defensive work as a start. Ironic that the next two games are against Eustace's former clubs and a reunion for us with Mowbray. Seems like we are in an alternative universe sometimes ......

Not a surprise if Johnson and Lowe are in the dugout, when managers change at short notice the new guy usually steps back (unless you are Brian Kidd) for the first game.

So JDT heads for Sweden as national coach, they want him without paying compensation so this is a perfect move for both parties. I wonder how long JDT has been putting together his exit? Absolute shambles on the admin front but wonder whether JDT was focused on Rovers. Eustace has had some experience (particularly in the Championship) but not a long track record. The plus is that he’s in quickly, that also makes me wonder how long this has been in the pipeline. I suspect JDT has continued to make noises since summer. As a long suffering Rovers fan we will need to grit our teeth and hope for the best. Eustace will need some luck on his side.

Its a brutal fact that for most of Rovers history post the removal of fixed wages we have been a selling club, pretty much the same as at least 80 others. If you're in the Premier you can suspend the need for sales because of the obscene amounts of money there but we aren't. Breaks my heart to see our young talent move on but my head tells me that this is the only sustainable business model we have. The Venkys have been a big disappointment but they are still underwriting the losses and more importantly the Academy is still in production. Players have a short life on the pitch so it is in their interests to go where they can earn the most money. I'm not certain about Palace but I guess there is a chance Wharton will play there rather than sit on the bench. We need some fresh bodies in and Financial rules in the EFL mean that our losses stop us getting anyone in without player trading.

Totally agree, hearing "Glad all over" gives me PTSD - I hate Palace. Also it would be an awful move for Wharton - there are better Premiership clubs than that.

Very good points, there are other things to factor in though. There's a sell-on clause (I believe) due to Forest which will suck up some of the money. Could we get a better player in that might carry us intro the top 6. Brereton Diaz is still playing his heart out so I don't see his attitude as an issue. Venky's play hardball on valuation so I can't see them dropping the price to £8m, bear in mind that January signings are usually overpriced. The reward of reaching the play-offs would also mean more income. Finally he may be looking for a pre-contract deal with a Spanish club. One reason to sell him, on top of the fee would be the wages savings, like you said, horrendous business.

So we get a solid defender in Hyam, assuming he replicates his Coventry form in Blue and White. Couldn't give a stuff whether he's bubbly and enthusiastic when he talks about joining. He's a professional footballer and I expect him to deliver. Maybe he was moved on not by his choice but that won't be the first time that it has happened and won't be the last. There seems to be a good dressing room spirit here and that should help him settle in.

So 6th June, D-Day, how appropriate 😉

Hoping and praying for a positive reaction - can't do more than that. Very glum at the moment.