Andy Lonergan would be an unusual case because it is rare that a player as a free agent would have the options at the bottom of the football league or for the European Champions, obviously as a tick box exercise to fill a quota. Loans can obviously be expensive and require a level of compromise with the parent club which is why, whilst I think that 1 or 2 shrewd loan signings can really push a team over the line, I was not comfortable with Mowbray mentioning "5 or 6 loans" recently because I think its very difficult to do, especially successfully. Gallagher will be right at the top of our wage structure because he even said in his interview that he took a pay cut to join. But the 12 million spent in fees would be the equivalent of 60k a week over a 4 year period before you consider their wages. As you pointed out with Adarabioyo, if we ever get players on loans, they wouldnt be being paid wage structure breaking wages by us, much would be made up by the parent club. @K-Hod is totally correct, blowing so much money on poor players does definitely then restrict us by removing such a large proportion of our budget. I think that at times our supporters can make out that we are a little less financially competitive than we probably are too, ie there is a bit of an inferiority complex going on.

I would say that the main problem is even assuming transfer fees are out of the question, the free agent and even loan market will be overpopulated with many teams swimming in the same pond. The delays will only mean we miss out. They cant have the virus as an excuse. It wouldnt take much of their time to assure the manager of his budget. But they do the same every year so I dont have any sympathy at all. Regarding season tickets, its a perfect way to claw back some cash flow and get some income in. Thats too logical. See below a couple of examples of fans who are willing and able to buy season tickets even with the uncertainty and also offering alternatives.

Imagine getting your kicks from amending footballers wikipedia pages to change their team on it.

Chester has a dodgy knee or knees, might be a risky one. Seems more of a recommendation than a link anyway. Phillips would be a good keeper to bring in but I am skeptical about him being affordable and also us being first in any queue. But would be a good signing.

I think you are looking for an agenda or bias that isnt there to correlate your own personal opinions. If anything, as a regular goer of the Under 23 games, maybe you have a bit more of soft spot towards Rankin Costello who ultimately has been playing kids football whilst Wharton has been playing League 2 football, which you are dismissive of. He is an attacking player but he hasnt shown that for the first team, with mitigating circumstances. Just trying to figure him out, not the paciest, crossing has been a bit wayward, on the ball he is ok. Travis came into the first team and stood out straight away. Carter and Magloire looked a bit off, especially the former. Rankin Costello has been in the middle, even considering he is playing out of position, he has not stood out like a sore thumb as a weakness either. Also, for the third goal v Reading he was sliding all over the place diving in, but I just wrote that off owed to playing out of position. If a senior full back had done that, it would have been correctly picked apart as was the mistake earlier by Travis. Who has written them off? How could they be as harsh on Wharton, hes not been at the club for years! Nothing to judge on really. And who is being harsh on Rankin Costello? I dont think I have seen one person suggest that he isnt worth persevering with, or that he doesnt deserve another chance. My personal opinion on Wharton is, very impressive feedback from the loan spells, of course question marks regarding the standard hes been at, but worth having as 3rd or 4th choice potentially, certainly over Carter who I thought looked quite a bit away at the moment and probably needs a loan spell similar. My personal opinion on Rankin Costello is, has not really stood out much, but has played almost all of his football out of position in the first team. Again, like Wharton, wouldnt be in my starting 11 on the opening day next season I dont think, but adds an option in the wider roles.

Of course but we obviously know with senior players that Mowbray likes a player who can play in different positions but especially given our troubles in wide areas, I would like to see him played there next to see how he is capable of impacting games with goals and assists.

But some people seem to genuinely want to "help" the club. It doesnt have to even be marketed as a season ticket but as long as the terms of any purchase are clearly outlined then I dont think it can be considered "exploitative." You mention the prospect of potentially having to pay that money back but that doesnt need to be the case. They have the leverage of ifollow links to be used assuming that only a proportion of the season is behind closed doors. They also have the potential to defer the season ticket until the following season in a worst case scenario which is still beneficial to cash flow.

If I had said these things and concluded that hes no good and has no hope then it would be fair to say that i was being overly critical. I dont think he is that fast but then again i have never seen anyone claim that he is. Technically, competent enough but has he stood out? No. Will playing at left back help? No. And there have been a few occasions where he has dithered when he has had the ball in the final third, in particular v Fulham which might have been a bit of home debut stage fright, and v Luton in the first half when we had them pinned in for a bit. Can only base on what I have seen in the first team. Maybe he was initially a little overawed as he has grown into it a little but hes definitely not a left back. Ive also acknowledged his best performance at Cardiff when he went on a good run at the start and also his pass for the goal at Hillsbrough. Not ruling him out, not dismissing playing out of position, equally not going to exaggerate to make out that hes stood out. Hope to see him on the left wing where Mowbray thinks he is best.

How is he being criticised? Jesus christ. Ability shown in the under 23s is reason to be excited to an extent but also it doesnt always equate to players making the step up. i Look at Nuttall as an example, scoring every week for the u23s, not up to it for the first team. I am not saying that will happen to Rankin Costello. Am I the "resident expert" you mention? If not, apologies but if so you can shove your insults up your arse. If so, I have based my analysis on first team football ie where it matters. I dont think hes stood out, equally he has not looked out of place and I have acknowledged repeatedly that he has not been played in his correct position and indeed asked for him to be played in his correct position where I am hopeful that he would really impress as I am fearful that he will be seen by the manager as a utility player. In his first team games when he approached the penalty box he at times was a little indecisive and his crosses in the main were overhit. Theres no point pretending otherwise just because he is a young lad but equally I repeatedly acknowledge that id like to see him play in his correct position and that he did ok. Is that an unfair witchhunt or indeed constructive criticism. Why would one being local and one being from United matter?! Conspiracy theory. Lowe was local, Travis came from elsewhere, look how they were rated. I dont know if it is because you attend the u23 games but you seem to consider performances for them as more important than League performances. Wharton hasnt from the sound of it been competent at League 2 level, he has stood out. That doesnt seem to mean anything at all. Rankin Costello has impressed playing with and against other kids and done ok in an unfamiliar position so far in the Championship. People at most are asking Wharton to be in an around the squad in a weak area. Exactly where Rankin Costello is.

But you also must appreciate that as any other business they will be struggling for cash flow and have the rare commodity of a fan base some of whom would be willing to pay for a season ticket even without the certainty of a return date. Even if it meant taking a couple of staf back off furlough, the income of season tickets sold would pale those costs into insignificance. They cant pleas poverty if they are just typically sitting on their hands.

Until he does it for the first team it is pretty irrelevant, although as you said playing him at full back wont help. I havent seen much in his appearances to make me excited, seems quite slow, at times fairly hesitant and nothing special technically. But he needs to play out wide more. My fear for him is that Mowbray sees him as a utility player rather than playing him in his natural position. With no one nailing down the wide spot he needs to be played there more often.

Absolutely agree. Shoehorn is the key word. Armstrong and Dack would be our main 2, Gallagher and Brereton pushing them. The only way that 3 of them could play at once would be with Armstrong wide I suspect.

Would you buy under the scenario that I mentioned? I dont see how you can guarantee seats at the moment and certainly it wont be a priority.

Why do you think that Nyambe wont?

Firstly, its my opinion on what we need. I went into detail as to how I feel that Mowbrays use of wide players throughout his time here. But even if they arent out and out wingers brought in, we dont have players who can be effective from wide roles. We have Armstrong as a very effective striker and Gallagher should only be played there and not wide.

Doesnt Rankin Costello and also Rothwell have 12 months on their deals left? If so, should we sell as with Nyambe if they wont renew?

The club at a time when they need cash flow should be doing all it can. But as ever, its not. People like yourself would seemingly take up the offer of a season ticket despite the uncertainty. I personally dont think I would but whether its 200, 500, 1k, 2k that took them up on their offer, its crucial cash flow for the club. It requires a bit of proactivity present at other clubs and sadly lacking in ours All of the hygeine and Coronavirus issues can be dealt with as and when and obviously the situation is a fluid one. If they said now, season tickets for sale. Apply with any other people you would like to attend with. No guaranteed seats obviously. You get ifollow links until the point when you can attend, and if you are unable to attend all season your season ticket for the year after is free. So bit of a gamble in terms of not knowing what youll get but thats been agreed beforehand. Im guessing you would instantly get a season ticket sorted? We are in a favourable position (in this instance) whereby we arent in danger of having too much demand anyway.

Wide men are more of a priority than strikers too.

I agree. There is the added aspect which other clubs have whereby demand wont exceed supply.

If the club is struggling for cash flow and there are people like yourself willing to give their money knowing the situation is how it is then they are idiots for not getting them on the market as soon as was possible.

I have never said that I would. I just know that some people will even amidst the uncertainty and the club is stupid for not taking them up on that. Receiving a season ticket with conditions, maybe a proportion of the season via ifollow subscriptions or worst case scenario, a deferred season ticket, for people willing to buy that, isnt the same as you sarcastically put "dropping your money through the letterbox at Ewood.'

The thing is, if ANYONE would be willing to buy a season ticket under the current uncertainty, surely it is worthwhile? Even if its a fraction of the current STH base, its still an improvement to the cash flow. The difference with last season is that it happened unexpectedly and people felt the club went about it wrong not offering an alternative to ifollow. Again its the same if you book a holiday and circumstances prevent it from happening after youve agreed it. People would know the uncertainty before buying. The club would need to explain what will happen depending on how the situation unfolds as I mentioned. I find it bizarre the mindset from which you are looking at it. Obviously it would take a bit of thinking outside the box before deciding exactly how to do it and uptake wouldnt be 100% but it is only an option, no one is obliged to do it. Bit some would buy it and help cash flow at a crucial time and get something in return. Surely the attitude should be from the club to get in what they can, not to not do it because they wont get as much as they would in a normal situation! Do you think ANYONE would buy a season ticket under the circumstances that I have outlined? I definitely do.

You say "should fans pay for something up front that may not happen" as if they are being forced into it. If there are people who will willingly pay regardless of the uncertainty, it isnt because they feel forced into it. I did mention the worst case scenario that no games are attendable. I am not suggesting that if that was to happen, that people would get nothing for their money. The most sensible option for me then would be to defer the season ticket until the following season. If as is likely that some of the season is behind closed doors and some isnt, potentially offer ifollow or similar to the games that cant be attended. The holiday comparison isnt fair because as you know supporting a football club is a little different with the element of loyalty and tribalism and even if it is a small proportion of season ticket holders and it would require proactivity and thinking outside the box as shown by other clubs, when cash flow is suffering, it is crazy to ignore it.

I dont understand the sarcasm. Obviously many people may not be in a position or of a desire to pay money for a season ticket at the moment. But some wil be happy to pay, whether it is out of habit (something more likely to be lost the longer the gap is) or out of loyalty. If there is SOME demand, I cant comprehend the logic of "yes but lots of people wont buy one." Surely it makes sense to at least take advantage of that demand that is there and claw in whatever the club can at supposedly such a difficult time. Even if it is say 1k people at 300 quid a pop, its 300k into the club coffers. It would also require a bit of thinking outside the box in terms of ticketing. The concept of designated seats would have to be temporarily abandoned. Presumably fans wishing to go together (ie family) could apply together, and it could be left flexible to allow further people to join should they choose to before it starts. There could be terms thought out in terms of contingencies. If say no games are attendable next season, worst case scenario, then the season ticket is deferred until the season after. Cash flow is still improved. If as I hope is more likely that only a few games cannot be attended, offer ifollow links. We have the added advantage logistically of not having demand exceeding supply so its more manageable. Other teams have managed to do it and we cant complain about cash flow when we are choosing not to take up a very obvious way to improve it. It requires proactivity which is why we havent done it.

Some people clearly are so it makes no sense not to let them like other teams have.