He's irreplaceable when he doesn't get replaced.

I know they should be able to answer the questions, but it leaves them with the out of : We haven't got the answers to hand, but we will look into it.

You are being particularly pedantic at the moment. What has how I rate both players got to do with anything? I had never heard of one until last week, I dont hold an opinion of him. We wanted a right back to cover Brittain coming into the summer, we got one, now Brittain is going. Naturally, you would think a new first choice right back would come in. You even agree with that. If we dont directly replace Brittain, I will presume it is due to budgetary reasons. You don't possess the ability to adopt critical thinking. If we dont sign someone, you think its because thats what Ismael must have wanted. You cant fathom that he might not get everything he wants. You have totally missed my point about Gestede and gone off down your usual rabbit hole of parroting lines about players fitting Ismael's style and naming various members of the recruitment team. These contract situations are of critical importance but Gestede has not treated them as such, he keeps kicking the can down the road. Now our whole window is still in limbo as we are nonethewiser about what is happening with 2 of the 3, and with Brittain we only know due to other team's interest. He seems solely focused on playing real life football manager trying to sign players from across Europe without seemingly enough awareness as to the importance to balance that off. If we end this window with no Dolan, Batth, Brittain and then potentially Tronstad and Travis, chuck in Weimann too, and just add too many random European players, I suspect there may be a lot of anxiety.

Don't do that. They shouldn't need any preparation for these questions, they should have the answers right then and there on the spot.

Guess it'll go in the too hard basket like everything else then.

Surprised there's no new links today. There's usually a good one thrown in to deflect the negativity 😂. At least Ismael now admitted we will sell our captain/Tronstadt should an offer appear. Even the LET brigade are beginning to realise all is not well. There's nobody else to blame now the CEO has gone. Pasha/Gestede are going to have to nail a couple of decent signings soon as it's all on their heads.

I'd say he usually comes off second best in most debates he has on here. Has his moments though. But if he argues with the poster you quoted, he's basically arguing with himself.

rudi is picking players from the belgian 2nd division where he`s obviously got a contact,i suspect the other scouts you mentioned have recomended the players who have gone elsewhere or who we won`t pay for ,i.e keersmaecker,mannsverk,baradji etc, those lads will do a parke and leave by october when they realise their job is pointless,ironically that`s what we`ll be in the division,pointless!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm well aware of all this. Attempts to compare the highly professional and Premier League standard coaching staff of Allardyce and Hughes to the current outfit is hilarious and ludicrous in equal measure. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24977075.blackburns-stance-ismaels-staff-addition/ It was clearly implied that addition(s) to the staff were potentially coming this summer, and since then Lowe has departed. So I don't think this is simply Ismael not wanting a 'big coaching staff'. Perhaps he has been informed that there isn't the budget to allow for further coaching staff which is why Lowe has been axed - to save cash? I bet if you compare that collection of names to any other coaching staff in the division it is small.

That is the problem for European teams. I suspect Chelsea will pay for it next season.

Based on what my eyes tell me.

A word to the wise... Don't feck with Mercer! He's more of an old codger than I am, and would pull your arms off and spit roast your torso with his keyboard warriorship faster than two black holes merging in deep space.... Just saying..

Well we know one of the big factors in JE leaving was the lack of tying down contracts. I am intrigued what exactly we have offered. Unfortunately VI isn't very clear on that. Could be something the Fans Forum ask for some detail on from whoever comes to that (Gestede?).

https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2025/july/14/blackburn-tickets-on-sale-wednesday/ Tickets for the league cup game look like they are £10 (or possibly £12 for home fans) Interesting that there are “safe standing” away tickets in seats 167 to 180. Will that be right up against the JW stand?

Whats the betting on another manager jumping ship, before the seasons over, more players joining the exodus.

Maybe Ismael doesn't want a big coaching staff or wants to more of coaching himself or is changing Johnson role within the set up. Hughes and Allardyce only had a number 2, first team coach, fitness coach and GK coach. Ismael has on his staff Whitehead has number 2, Johnson has first team coach, Benson as GK coach whilst we have Karl Hodges and Adam Yates in the fitness area of staff

This is why the 5 day game is the essence of cricket (Baz Ball excluded). 3 fantastic tests 💯

Why do we have to wait and hope that the question gets asked in a Forum meeting? If the media and Ismael have both confirmed it why can't the club?

Yes we are. This time last year we had 2 more than we do now. I don't really care what he was doing, and presumably we weren't paying him to sit around doing nothing, it is less than we had before. I thought Ismael mentioned wanting to add to his staff once the season was over?

They offered Lowe a different role, which he is reported has not taking. So probably trying to sort of his exit terms Hopefully someone at the Fans Forum is asking this question for yourself

Didn't realise you were body language expert? the things you learn Has anyone said they are being unrealistically greedy? They are key players in this squad and they should be reward with contracts to reflect that. Why don't we wait until to see who sign as right winger based on what? who says Gestede is picking random targets? why do we have have lead scouts like Piotr Sadowski and Michael Cairney doing what? are these not scouting and finding these players that fit how Ismael wants to play and the profile of player he wants? Also you don't factor in the role Adam Owen is playing in the recruitment of new signings and behind the scenes?

Every other league has relegation odds. It’s like in the Championship they are waiting to see what happens with Sheff Wednesday and any other potential points deductions (Leicester) before they price it up.

You can't. If you could, you could have a risk free bet to win a fortune by laying it off on the betting exchanges. Like Hasta says no odds are available yet for relegation but likely to be about 5/1 or 6/1. For comparison purposes Bet 365 have us 17th favourites at 50/1 to win the League and 14/1 to be promoted. That'll be roughly where they expect us to finish at this stage before a ball is kicked. You could probably safely add a zero on the end of those and not be out of pocket.

Maybe Ismael rated both players far more you do . I can't comment on Alebiosu quality but I think Montgomery is someone we need to develop but I think he would be better in box to box midfielder role with his ability to get up and down the pitch. Just for record and to be crystal clear Yes I would sign another right back with championship experience with similar attitudes to Brittain to play the role that Ismael wants from his right back role. Montgomery did very good provide that width and getting high up s quickly are we really one down given that Eustace sent Lowe scouting the next opposition and wasn't actually coaching anyone. Maybe Ismael doesn't want 2 first team coaches but is happy with Whitehead as number 2 and Johnson as first team coach.