Yes, he's cheap.

Ah I thought the purpose of last month's case was purely to be allowed to send over £4.85m. With a by product of the hearing being that the "bond" was reduced to 50% on the basis that there'd previously been argument that 100% was too onerous etc.

https://rovers.co.uk/news/2025/june/12/val--ddn-fits-the-profile-we-want-/

I hope not I think he could potentially embed himself in the squad. He's new to the championship still I think he can scare some defenders if he applies himself better

The other hearing currently pending (5th August) is a continuation of the original case - this is Venkys wanting to be able to send funds with no conditions whatsoever* Last month’s case was a separate (albeit clearly linked) appeal looking for the removal of the guarantee condition only. * other conditions are such things as the club’s auditors providing an end use certificate within three days of the remittance being received (ie confirming the monies will be used for the requested purpose only).

Whoosh. Sorry my feeble attempt at humour. Not a reference for the teenagers. (The Enigma machine)

Yea they use a banana

Bad understanding of the English dictionary. He's not going to hit the ground running is he.

Agreed. Aren't the further hearings that are scheduled if they ever get heard) to discuss whether the need for a guarantee can be removed altogether?

No, it’s definitely been implemented - the hearing you’re referring to was 20th May, the hearing when the reduction was applied was 26th May.

And there’s the guesswork - how do you know that hasn’t been offered? How do you know batth just point blank wants 2 guaranteed years of financial security before he retires? Not just possibility with options etc guessing…now I fully agree this ownership and club are a shambles but I’m certainly not overly mad at the fact they are holding tight on offering a soon to be 35 year old a two year contract now if it comes out that he accepts a derby deal one year rolling with options then yes il retract but it’s all guesswork at the moment all we know from any source is he wants two more years

Batth will be a colossal miss. Hyam is useless without someone extremely steady alongside him. Not too bothered about Weimann but of course if we lose him and Dolan then that's 14 goals missing from a forward line that was never exactly prolific in the first place. Grim times.

Perhaps he means he's a machine.

I'm not convinced the reduction to 50 per cent has been implemented by the Court. It's my belief this was proposed by the judge and he sent both parties legal representatives away to discuss with their instructing parties with a view to considering this a few days later. The subsequent hearing never happened and is still awaited.

What Southgate achieved given he didnt really had any proven world class players except Kane and Walker is really impressive... Others like Saka, Bellingham, Stirling, Foden etc are all good at various times but have not stepped up to look really top level. Most of his teams had many very modest players like Pickford, Rose, Lingard, Alli, Henderson, Delph. He did it by having a clear strategy and plan, and luck in the draw. Rarely pretty but got us far in four successive tournaments. Southgate is undoubtedly the second best ever england manager. We are starting to look really confused again, not really sure what Tuchal is aiming for. Very hard to look at english players now and see who the definitive players to build the team around are, and what system will get the best out of them. We are as always suffering from the "English disease" of too many similar attacking players who fail to work together which has plagued us for decades. I would say though Wharton looks like exactly what we need. He is the sort of player who improves everyone around him and is decidedly different from the standard box to box engine rooms we tend to play in midfield. Surely cant be long till he gets a crack?

Just what am I guessing? iMO, Rovers p1ss about with negotiations and show little nous or imagination. With Batth, he's had an outstanding season, been a huge influence on the team and played almost 40 games. He's still only 34 (Kevin Moran played in the PL with us till he was 38 and Tony Gale won a PL medal with us at the age of 35/36 - both centre backs). For me, starting point should have been a substantial increase in basic given he joined on relatively low wages, a heavily linked appearance based bonus and a 2nd year option. Think there's a very good chance he would have snapped that up if put on the table early doors. Not as precious about Weimann but a similar type of deal to Batth's without the 2nd year option . IMO, there is neither nous nor gravitas at Ewood Park, just a clueless, amateurish shamble Do you do anything other than parrotting the club line!?

1 Year for Batth, with the option of an extra year. Be crazy if we haven't thought about or even done that. So, I suspect we haven't.

Did he say that actually? Not sure he did. Not my mate, never met the guy ever. So If Derby have offered Batth a 2 years contract, why 3 days later no deal sign or even rumours terms have been agreed. Plus they been linked with Dion Sanderson and Paudie O'connor also

Him and Samba were our best ever defensive pairing for me... Watching since 1992. My best team from that tome till now : Shearer. Bellamy Duff. Tugay. Sherwood. Ripley. Le Saux Nelsen. Samba. Berg. Friedel Seems strange to have so few players from the prem winning season but Id put it down to the general quality of the league improving so much from the 1990s to the 2000s. More players played under souness/hughes (7) than Kenny (5). Adds up to 12 as Berg played in both periods.

We defended better with Batth in the set up. 2 year deal is a must. Weimann on the other hand would be a gamble. Might not be the same player after latest surgery. Another setback and that’s a wasted squad spot and wages

I don't think they put that much effort in

Nelsen, Samba and Big Brad for a combined £450,000 is bonkers

According to your mate Nixon they were willing to meet that criteria. Sounds like Rovers have offered good money but only 1 year which again is a bit stupid considering he wants to stay here. His dilemma might be more money here for another year or less at Derby but a 2 year deal. If our lot can't find some middle ground to keep last seasons best defender they've weakened the team again before even losing anyone else. He is a priority signing not an afterthought just because he's 34.

I have to agree that whilst our approach always seems to lack long term planning I think 1 year is right for the likes of Batth and Weimann, sure the former would be a big loss but at the same time a guaranteed 2 year deal could be foolhardy. One year plus and option with some incentives for him would be where I’d pitch it. Weimann has been good but I wouldn’t be held to ransom there

An immediate enigma? He may well be an immediate enigma but that wouldnt be good.