Why was he more productive last season than ever before?

7 goals in four seasons for us. Mind you it's not as though we didn't know what we were getting when we signed him, at age 29 I think he's scored around 17 career goals. Dreadful player.

What odds?

News to mercer’s ears he will be piling in trying to make profit on any rovers misery wonder how much he lost last year on the certain bet

Not sure you can argue it his stats prove year on year he’s got better / ever so slightly but still an improvement nonetheless I’m not a massive fan personally but will credit him for not downing tools I just think he’s been badly advised

On a plus note the bookies have us at a long shot for relegation lol

Really I’d argue he is worse, since he beefed up lost a yard of pace and ability to turn a man quickly

As much as I hate Gestede and co I'm not sure what you're getting at with these figures. I'm sure the figure is much lower than that 25%, in terms of players linked to signed, when you factor in that we've probably asked clubs about 100 players this summer. We're not Liverpool, Arsenal et al - our conversion rate is never going to be great. Coincidentally unlike Liverpool, Arsenal et al there are thousands of players that would easily improve us. There's perhaps a few dozen for them.

I saw a quote tweet here on that but I wouldn’t believe it, plus it’s also conceivable that Rudy et al are lying to VI. However I’d argue the most likely outcome is he’s been offered something and he’s waiting for a better offer. It’s hardly his fault that the club aren’t proactive or attempting to be more competitive with wages. It’s just nice to hear the manager actually say it. Eustace never said anything of such and just left, and JDT repeatedly blamed the project changing without much depth after every defeat.

On the ball, perhaps. Off the ball - PL winger would roast him.

121 appearances, 7 goals and 12 assists. Terrible.

I'm proud to say I didn't watch a minute of it. At the moment with being new the Competition lacks any credibility and might as well be a series of pre season friendlies. The South American sides seemed to take it incredibly seriously though so we'll have to see whether it captures the imagination of the Public and gains gravitas the more it's played, or just eventually gets shit canned as a silly idea.

Ok, so he actively didnt want to be successful.

Brittain is probably the only player we have that might not have looked out of place technically in the prem, great touch and delivery. It's a disgrace he wasn't offered a contract earlier. Difficult to comprehend the level of incompetence at board and ops level at Rovers given the size of the club and money involved.

Hedges still starting in our team is baffling - he is absolutely terrible

It was a tongue in cheek comment making fun of wanting 90% of transfer work complete prior to preseason 😉 Adding Mannsverk as reminded by @davulsukur, now 3 out of 12 ... 25% haha

It used to be that FBs were frustrated / failed CMs. Now a FB is often the best player on a team - they're asked to do SO much in the modern game.

Not true, Mowbray being a key case in point without wanting to rehash the same old argument.

I thought that when I read it at first - I thought "What is he talking about,he's just blaming the same people that are there now." I suppose you you could spin it to pin the blame on Waggott who has form for this going back a number of years but yes, that's no excuse why Rudy couldn't have sorted it himself.

They all want to do well, that success will lead to bigger future pay cheques.

Not really, some like Eustace and JDT want to do well and be successful in addition to just collecting their wage.

Have a feeling that the atmosphere by mid September at Ewood could quite quickly turn incredibly toxic - Brittain already out the door and a foot into the next one Travis and Tronstad likely have their bags packed ready All three unlikely to be replaced by anyone of considerable value and direct impact on the team. A starting 11 likely of: Toth Duru Wharton Hyam De Neve Buckley Forshaw Kargbo Cantwell Hedges Ohashi Can't see where the results will come from - and once we start losing it's amazing how quickly the ewood tide can turn its anger to Pasha, Gestede, Venkys and Ismael

Clearly not true.

I think its simply about being honest and straightforward, applies to anyone that is developing nicely and looks to have a proper career ahead of them. Hyam would need a different approach. Lads that we are developing need to understand that it's not about being the best kept secret playing keepy uppy in the back alley by the bins, you need a club that believes in you and wants to make you into someone of note. Skill exercised in the wrong environment leads to nowt. That's not free. We deserve to benefit as well as them. The key as we all know is to have that conversation early whilst we still have leverage. I'd be very serious, don't sign and we're done, go somewhere else. Good luck (seriously) but we're parting company, call your agent. I'm guessing you agree with me, honesty and fairness (yes he must be paid well and played in enough games) but be up front and tell people where they stand and your expectations of them. Worked for me. Venkys on the other hand, clueless.

Dolan hasn’t got any better since he was 17