I agree, this is what JDT and Broughton were trying to do. I think this is also what Luke Griffin and the rest of the newly formed recruitment team was trying to do at the time. It seems as though they and the head honcho couldn't agree on matters, hence what we saw play out. It feels different this time as the trio seem to be on board with the current strategy. The real test of this will come in January, if we find ourselves in or around the top six by that point. I think Val and Rudy will fancy it and will want to push on. Not so sure about the other fella right now, but let's hope we are in a position to find out.

The transition to a cheaper squad has suddenly maybe become a revolution. I'd say someone somewhere has been rattled and let the brakes off a bit but we'll see by the end of the window. Agents payments in the next set of accounts will be eye watering.

I’m going to half-hold my hands up here. The addition of our long-term target (Baradji) and seemingly a major piece of our jigsaw (Moroshita) has started to make this window overall quite an exciting one. Only two things would tip it above 8/10 for me: Forshaw out in favour of Travis (I know that won’t happen). Bring in a striker worthy of the name. I feel like we have otherwise answered many of our problems either with competition, adequate replacements or actual improvements. The irony that it is pretty much the model Broughton and JDT wanted to implement, albeit with a different style. With ALL of that being said, I cannot get excited because we’ll throw it all away after Christmas as we have done now for three successive years. Venkys Out. Pasha Out. Gestede Out.

Eh? Birmingham were one of the favourites to win the league, let alone get promoted, at 2-1 at one point. They're currently second favourites to win the league and second favourites to get promoted. Not sure where you got the notion they were 7-1 for promotion. West Brom currently 6th favourites for promotion (oddschecker).

Has "Fax Machine" written all over it this one.

The way deals are happening without much or anything leaking, Morishita being the latest example of that, is what makes this a potentially exciting end to the window. No sarcasm when I say that. We don't know what might be lined up and despite Rudy's words on the budget being unaffected, it's obvious they have raised quite a bit of money from sales. A percentage of this being added to the pot isn't a wild thought. I agree with Duncan's view that Rudy has more of an understanding with Pasha than any other before him. This could be to our benefit. It appears they are all together as it stands and that they are trying to improve the team by meeting what the manager wants. The encouraging sign for me is the creativity being shown and most of the new signings clearly having something about them. We can't call them successes yet, but these aren't in the same mould as the likes of Paul Taylor (who?), Varney, Brown, Fode Koita, Edun, Mola, Telalovic etc where you're thinking 'wtf!' (even after seeing them play). Personally, I can't wait to see Baradji driving forward from midfield and our Japanese attack linking up. I think Baradji is going to be one of those where we go 'wow'. Sentiment aside regarding Academy and English players, I particularly like the ruthless way 'wooden' players are being moved on. This needed to happen years ago. JRC and Buckley, despite given chance after chance, have demonstrated, IMO, that they are not good enough to play for us. In Buckley's case he has gone backwards as a player. I wish them well at their new clubs and this isn't personal. We need better. It looks like Rudy and Ismael actively want better too and I'm pleased about that. I also wouldn't blink in moving Leonard, Pears and one or two more out too if we have the opportunity to replace them. "But they are Academy lads". Yeah, and? We've been out of the Premier League for 13 years now. This game is about winning and trying to win. Only my opinion, but sentiment shouldn't come into this. These guys aren't good enough for where we need to get to. If we can bring in better, move them on. You won't hear Newcastle fans saying "Aargh, I wish we had kept Longstaff, I wish we had kept Elliot Anderson...they were Academy lads" when they can do a lot better and ARE doing a lot better. Even with these owners and Pasha being here, we can do better than those we are allowing to leave.

Agreed, I was done with him. Probably a nice lad, had talent as a footballer, but hadn't applied himself properly for years, and had never done so consistently for more than about 3 months. He had been in more last chance saloons than I can count. I wish him well, but it was long past time for him to go. I don't think he has the personality to be a success at this level.

Keith Andrews was a fairly shit Premiership midfielder. Then we loaned him to the Championship with Ipswich and he immediately scored 9 goals in 20 Championship matches. Different levels altogether these two tiers. JB and LT were never as dominant as that in the Championship at any point in their careers. OP was right, JB and LT would never have been regulars when we were a good Prem side. At best they'd have made a smattering of substitute/cup appearances, been loaned out, and never seen at Ewood again.

Very cynical and insensitive of me but I'm not fussed Buckley is gone. Moreover, the fact he never advanced as a player from more or less his debut and the fact he's now signed in Saudi in his prime id suggest are related, and as much as it's sad hes leaving after 20 years I'd be asking myself why if that was me and be looking at my motivations and whether my decisions such as this move will help me further

Buckley consented to a farewell interview with Rovers TV today, still in his club tracksuit. It is a hard watch as the lad is clearly devastated to be leaving. He appears shellshocked and close to tears. He started here twenty years ago - aged six. What a shame he couldn't build on his early promise. He is a good lad Bucko and I enjoyed watching him when in form and confident. I believe this move is best for both parties and I hope he can settle abroad and recover his love of the game .

Garrett has a torn groin and is out until at least Oct/Nov I believe. Might get a loan in Jan I guess, but yeah never quite kicked on as we all hoped after JDT left. In theory he's a good fit for Ismael, 6'2 and athletic, hard working with some ball playing ability. Next summer will be decision time I think.

Neither will make it at Championship level - these are not kids with Garrett 22 and Montgomery 21. Garrett has struggled on loan at lower league level whilst perhaps Montgomery found his level at Marine and Chorley last season. They would struggle even in League 2. For perspective, neither can hold a candle to John Buckley who first broke into Rovers 1st team at 19 and has amassed circa150ish appearances since. Good luck John Buckley - a move to fresh pastures overseas might just clear his head and give him a focus. There is talent there but the lad does need to sort himself out.

I don’t really have a Scottish team tbh, I watch some games and I live near Aberdeen more than anyone so keep an eye out for them and yea spose I have a soft spot for hibs too, always seem to produce good young players.

Think they'd be better telling them it's 5pm.

I thought the player liaison lady was fired?

The future would look better if upcoming talent such as Phillips, Finneran and Tyjon had been retained.

Needs doing this week if it's a goer, with the window closing 7pm on Monday or I wouldn't have confidence in them getting it done on time. Hang on, I wonder if they realise it closes at 7 🥲 if one of the club plants is reading this, remind/inform the powers that be please....

You’re doing that direct comparison thing again mate, I get it because you’re a logical thinker but it’s not that straight forward. You could probably apply it more if JE had stayed and then we’d lost Dolan, Travis, Brittain, Batth, Buckley and Weimann. But with VI coming in and having watched us at the back end of last season and early this season, I’m genuinely glad most of them didn’t sign and I can understand why others have left. Its a new world now and rightly or wrongly the profile - in particular the physical attributes of the signings we’ve made are like night and day to what we had. So, the ‘glaring holes’ you refer to are really hard to justify. Tavares would’ve replaced one of Travis or Sonny in Val’s new midfield. Not because they’re not good players, because he wants bigger, stronger athletic types. It’s done now, this is the biggest shift we’ve had in years.

My mistake 0-3 Bradford.

Let's not count on it, probably a weakened Norwich.

John Buckley makes move to Saudi Pro League club, Al Kholood, for an undisclosed fee and subject to international clearance and approval from governing bodies. It ends a 20 year association with Rovers. A clearly gifted midfield player who never could quite get his game together. We kept waiting for the penny to drop, as we waited for Joe Rothwell, for example, fruitfully, in that case. But for Buckley, who was shifted around to right back, wing, false 9, the vision and passing ability was not matched by, it seems to me, confidence to take the lead. I thought we were looking at a Premier League player when he first started to breakthrough, in the mould of, perhaps, Adam Wharton. Buckley had moments, for example, when Mowbray fielded him as a false 9, with Reda Khadra offering a pacy distraction, Rovers made a charge to top spot in the league at Christmas. Then, there was a end of season run, when nothing was on the line, Buckley played regularly in central midfield and I'm sure I didn't hallucinate at least one 20 yard screamer. To go to desperate Sheff Wed and get shunted onto the wing and on the bench and then to fall behind Kristi Montgomery, fresh from his Chorley loan spell, were the final nails in the coffin. It seems a great move for Buckley for a few different reasons (though Continental Europe, maybe, Spain, would've been ideal) and his time at Rovers was fading away. But the biggest question is, where is the next Buckley coming through? The next Wharton? The Rovers U21 are in the doldrums, fielding teams that struggle to beat non-league second strings. Players that show promise seem to fade away, disappear on loan or get injured and never quite recover. With Travis on his way out, JRC gone, now Buckley, it is an end of an era of academy/U21 graduates but the future pipeline is a major concern.

Pity his mother didn't use one.

What happens if you are over estimating it? We will see over a season whether it's been problem or not so much. Also need factoring in the changes tactical that has happened this season.

That Telegramme has 177k followers and is the Lorient local paper/site. May be something to it who knows but if they're looking for €6m they're having a laugh. Even Lorient fans saying that's way over priced for the lad

I'm going to Lorient again on Saturday to watch them play Lille so will see if he plays or not.