"We want some power up front to challenge the two strikers we have, we will do some business." Rudy Gestede, 2nd April 2025

I remain very unconvinced that we will bring in a striker but I desperately hope to be wrong as we really need one. This seems like a busy agent.

Swansea have put a bid in for that Lorient Striker according to Nixon

I'm not sure about that. He's being sold for a bargain price and clubs aren't exactly breaking down the door to get to him...

Bottom half.

Who are his parents?

Will take anything that helps us!

That is what you call a great post.

He chose to rotate the team, including picking a kid in net when we have 2 senior keepers, did he not? Not as important as the league results, but overall they have been poor too. Like I said, its not all been bad but I am unconvinced so far.

The sky won't fall in! We've sold better players in the past. Equally we shouldn't do what it is always tempting to do and pretend that they were never that great to begin with. I seem to remember one or two doing the same about Cairney who left to a similarly middling club for a similar fee. (Not that I'm saying that Trav is as good as Cairney! But most clubs in the league would love to have him, and hardly any non-parachute clubs will spend more this summer than what Derby are offering for a central midfielder).

As the title says... where is David Lowe? He seemed to play a key role in Mowbray's backroom team, it looked like the players enjoyed working with him. It appears that under Eustace he was 'demoted' to be a glorified opposition analyst but was then trusted with the reins between him leaving and Ismael coming in. During those matches it actually looked like a weight had been lifted off the players and they were enjoying their football again. Ismael came in and he continued to be part of the coaching team. Fast forward to this season... In July - David Lowe isn't at pre season training and Ismael speaks to the Lancashire Telegraph saying that David Lowe will be moving on In the Fans Forum - Suhail doesn't seem to know that David Lowe hasn't been at work, or if he is still employed Even today - He is still listed on the Rovers club staff as First Team Coach I don't know how good of a coach he is. I don't know what he is like to work with. It just seems a bit strange that nobody is able to confirm if he is still employed or not. Will he turn up randomly at Ewood in a few weeks and start giving set piece instructions instead of Ben Benson?

They didnt have a competent left back, they were short there. I think he is a good signing like I said, but obviously if we are witholding opinion on some (which i dont think we should, as long as there is a caveat that it is very early) that havent started well then surely it becomes a widespread rule. I mean theres a lot of mental gymnastics there. Discounting cup games, putting games lost into a "should have won category" etc. I am unconvinced but equally I certainly havent written him off and there have been glimpses, there have been mitigating circumstances and there are new signings to consider. But results across his tenure overall, especially this season, are poor.

I get both sides of this argument with the off season we have had and the negative noise surrounding the club and how it’s being run etc for me the Bradford game after losing the opening game was a chance to relieve some of the pressure I wasn’t expecting so many changes and it told in the end (see Stoke last night) but yes we pretty much changed our whole team and the early stages of efl cup matches plenty of championship teams bow out so it’s not a real fair reflection

Without wanting to turn it into another Stokegate, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have included the Bradford game if we'd won. Changed how many, 8? Including a complete back 5 with an 18 year old keeper . Come on, keep it real.

Think the replacement was chosen by Suhail and apparently players were angry by it? Suhail strikes me as someone who gets under people’s skin

Due to his loans out, I have not seen him in about a year, but I am pretty sure he was 6ft at most at that when I saw him last He may well have had a mini grow spurt over the last year. Maybe that's part of the reason why Rovers gave him an extension during the summer?

I might be wide of the mark here, but based on what I have heard and how certain players have fallen out of favour, I think a some of the players have had a real go, over the situation with the players liaison officer, Lesley Fielding being forced out. I understand that she was very popular with some of the players, especially those that have been there for a while and in particular, Travis, Buckley and Harry Leonard. It is a coincidence that all 3 have now been side lined and as we say with the Buckley Video yesterday, he appeared to be quite emotional about leaving Rovers. It appears that Lesley left under the guise of taking voluntary redundancy, which on it's own looks a bit suspect, as there may well have been a replacement appointed, looking at yesterdays videos.

Alfie jones and Charlie Hughes in front of him two pretty good centre halves Id actually say it’s a compliment that hull continued to play McLaughlin at left back they obviously knew his worth to the team

The striker was in the original plan though - when Gestede outlined the areas that needed improving at the back rnd of last season. It only disappeared from the narrative once we started signing loads of midfielders.

Herbie is right: reduce running costs, stay in the league and maintain income streams. Sustainable (until you get caught out) / unambitious.

Footballers are fickle beasts - some are anyway. Think of some of the hotshots that have left Ewood to do bugger all and some of the people we've picked up and been great.

I might have missed it but, "good enough" for what? Avoiding relegation, pootling around middle table, or pushing for playoffs/promotion? The lists of players considered good enough, or not, would, I assume, change based on the aspirations.

If that is the logic, doesnt that make Dolan the best of all of the players that have left? I think McLoughlin will be a good signing, but he struggled to nail down a starting place as a centre back at Hull.

Anf Faz

Especially in defence, with attackers trying to twist you this way and that. Your balance and ability to shift direction quickly if you've been sent the wrong way are key. Hard to do that at such a gargantuan height. Still, if he somehow has a bit of that going on too then might be a promising one to watch. Otherwise he'll just be an exposable lummox.