I wonder if he will start the first game of the season. Mowbray doesn’t traditionally throw new players into the mix but it would be strange to bring him in to sit on the bench. Genuinely think that Mowbray will play him as a winger, as he did with Conway, who he also offered a new deal to. Would he have been switched inside because of his age? I doubt it. Mowbray teams don’t play with pace so I don’t think he will see it as a problem. It will be interesting to find out his wage. According to the “flex rule”, he should be on well over £20k per week, probably had a healthy signing on fee too. Let’s just hope this works out on the pitch. Another Whittingham is about as good as another Murphy. Although in L1 Whittingham at least suggested ambition and may even have helped to land other players.

Pretty obvious he is a like for like replacement of Conway. It remains to be seen if his legs have gone too. This isn’t the kind of signing I’m in favour of but I will throw in a potential positive: experience for the younger players. With a more dynamic manager than Mowbray (in terms of the playing style) he might even be a decent addition.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2019/june/rovers-seal-downing-deal/ Now a Rover

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2019/june/rovers-seal-downing-deal/ ?

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/17721829.blackburn-win-race-to-land-middlesbroughs-stewart-downing/

I agree with this. Mowbray’s handling of younger players has been a smudge on his record at Rovers IMHO. Then again, he thinks 24 is young so 19 is barely out of junior football. He also can’t sort out our defence so the thought of youngsters racing forward while a couple of agricultural centre halves keep guard seems a distant hope. I would love to see Johnson replace Lowe as first team coach and see if he can influence our approach. It seems oxymoronic for Mowbray to have him developing U23 players in a style of play that he doesn’t or can’t deploy in the first team.

Yep

Rovers v Oldham at Ewood Televised game already sorted though. See if you can spot it.

Are they making another Only Fools and Horses?

What about him?

Should be 90:10 in favour of the striker. No sympathy for the team conceding a (genuine) penalty.

A penalty should favour the striker. I’d sooner refs were strict with keepers - almost guaranteeing a goal - than sending players off in a double punishment that ruins the rest of the game. Of course, penalties given incorrectly undermine this logic!

The difference is that one group want us to strive for success and question when we look as though we are settling for mediocrity. The other just defend mediocrity like it in some way makes them better supporters. The interesting bit at the moment is when Mowbray says one thing and does another but is still defended. Right now we have a weaker squad than the one that finished the season. I just hope our signings this Summer aren’t made out of desperation and that we can look back at Bauer and laugh. (Just not at Mowbray for scouting him of course).

I think VAR technology is being badly exploited - in every sense of the word. Decisions need to be much faster. Offsides should be done by a form of Hawkeye and me ave the the officials to worry about handball or subjective fouls. If a fouls isn’t spotted in the build up, it’s tough, the ref should be marked accordingly by the assessor. Referees are using it as a crutch. What I strongly object to is every incident in the build up to every goal being re-refereed. Football will lose the excitement if it continues in the current vein.

Funny when people say this and I only really pick on your post because it’s so emphatic. People wouldn’t be saying he was shit if we’d signed him. And a heck of a lot of those “happy” that a long standing target has signed for a local rival would be hammering anyone who said he was. Surreal place this at times. Just for balance though, this time last year you rated Bauer at £1.2m. Now he’d be a shit freebie? Has he got worse despite promotion?

Sharpe is confirming that Bauer has signed for Preston. Appalling if it’s true that we were priced out and they weren’t. What day you now Mowbray?

Woah woah woah. Let me stop you there.

Maher Bauer Who’s next Tony?

Does she play a lot of snooker?

That would never happen. The football authorities would be all over it.

Looking forward to hearing how much of a gamble Bauer is once he signs for the nobbers. Not looking great for our recruitment strategy. Mowbray really needs to pull something out of the bag. “Hanging onto Dack and Lenihan” will not represent a good window.

Well done. Who did the artwork?

Not yet but I’ve been getting emails and texts. Just waiting for Mark Hughes to phone me up and I’ll be down there like a shot.

And tomorrow, boys and girls, we’ll be using most of these words again but in a sentence. ?