I suppose we will find out one way or the other in January. I still maintain that it would make no sense if esc players can only be switched to a standard work permit after the initial 12 months, and not at another later date. But that is my quarrel with the wording, not with you 🙂 In the meanwhile, hopefully we can move Mafoumbi on and free up a space that way

I dont think I can remember us ever being almost on the eve of a season so bereft of attacking options. It's going to be brutal without major reinforcement in those areas I fear.

All things considered finishing 7th this season and keeping the play offs alive until the death would be a monumental effort as it was last season to be honest. Yes we should always be aiming for that and season on season they should be building on the previous season, strengthening the weak areas and maintaining or even trying to better the strong areas. However we all know that NEVER happens under this lot, never has, never will they have no desire for it. You should always build from a position of strength it's the only way now for a club like us but this ownership and those running the club always find reason or cause reason for good work to be ruined and start a new journey project chapter (i think we are up to now) It's almost as if borrowings need reducing and people lust for commissions. But whatever i'd rip someones arm out the socket to finish 7th this coming season although i'm pretty sure all arms are safe for now.

They will think of something.

I was going to say, it will be an awkward day for them when the Case does eventually get heard and the remaining restrictions are lifted because the expectation will then be they should send a lot more money across. What excuse not to will they be able to come up with at that point I wonder?

Some posters continue to do this weird routine of "No one knows for certain so you can't say". These same posters abandon this principle whenever it suits them. We aren't here for Mystic Meg shows. We look and we judge. In my view we are slightly weaker than last year

Imagine that. A chorus of Venky’s out, during the next one.

There you go again. You bet your life it was.

Surely that's the whole point of a message board, to give your opinion? I know that as with every window you seem to be trying to quell unrest about the transfer activity for some reason but objectively this time round we've lost a load of players with Championship experience and replaced them with a load of players without any Championship experience therefore it is hardly surprising most people will assume we're a lot weaker.

Matches when a player is injured don’t count towards the calculation. Here’s the link as requested (it is the GBE rules in their entirety): https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/gbe-2025-26/fa-mens-players-gbe-criteria-202526.ashx

That would mean that if for example a player was injured upon signing (ACL in week 1 so something), they could never convert to a GBE, which would make no sense, I presume there are further rules on that document Do you have a link to it?

Nope - see below from the FA doc:

No money's been spent at all (net) has it after selling Brittain and JRC? Genuine question as Im not completely au fait with the figures that have been quoted for the players coming in.

I'm certain its a rolling 12 month period, (but always has to be done in a transfer window )so by Jan 2026, it will be the 12 months prior to Jan 2026 that are used in the calculation Anything else would make no sense whatsoever

It’s not the last 12 months, it’s the 12 months from the GBE being granted.

Yes, as that part of the regulation says play 50% of the minutes (and play in 25% of the games) within the 12 months following the date from which he was granted his GBE. We announced his signing on 30th August and he was on the bench the following day so his year runs out at the end of this month - and he’s currently on 6 matches out of a possible 42.

The Byrds - So You Want To Be A Rock ‘n Roll Star

I think it depends how they look at things - if its how many minutes they have played (of available minutes) over the past 12 months, (so from Jan 2025 to Jan 2026) then it is reasonable to expect that as first choice, by January he will have played enough minutes, At least that's how I read it If it is over his full spell at Rovers, then he doesn't meet it

So if Toth plays 90 mins every game he'll still fall short?

Apologies mate. It wasn’t meant to be directed specifically at you. I just got the lot off my chest! 🤣

I said it earlier, but I’m going to say it again anyway 😁: It is not reasonable to expect Toth to meet the (minutes played) criteria to convert, in fact i believe it is impossible. (and less likely for Kargbo = highly unlikely imo).

Rovers, experience, precedent... Of course all football fans live in hope 🙂

Fixed that for you 😉 Full story, & link below, pertinent parts in bold https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25365279.blackburn-rovers-transfer-business-gives-moussa-baradji-clue/ Blackburn Rovers’ move from Axel Henriksson will put the brakes on any deal for Moussa Baradji, at least for now. The 23-year-old midfielder will be the next signing through the door at Ewood Park after a deal was agreed with Swedish top-flight club GAIS. He will join Lewis Miller in bolstering Valerien Ismael’s squad before the season opener against West Brom. Henriksson’s arrival will further add to a well-stacked set of midfield options. Sondre Tronstad, Lewis Travis, Sidnei Tavares and Adam Forshaw are all competing for minutes whilst John Buckley remains at the club but is seemingly not in Ismael’s plans A deal for Baradji has remained on the table despite the move stalling after an issue was flagged in his medical. The player and Rovers staff were incredibly disappointed and were very keen to bring Baradji to Ewood Park. However, the move for Henriksson will prevent Rovers from signing Baradji, at least in the short term. That is due to the club now using all of their ESC slots, which are needed for players who don’t meet the GBE work permit threshold following Brexit. Each Championship club gets four players and if then more than 50% of Championship minutes, they become eligible for a full regular GBE permit in the following transfer window. Rovers have Balazs Toth, Exause Mafoumbi and Augustus Kargbo occupying their ESC slots, plus Herniksson when he signs. By the January transfer window, it’s reasonable to expect that Toth will have met the criteria to convert, considering he is going to be number one. Kargbo could too, though that is less likely. Either way, that would only be a benefit in the January transfer window and beyond. The only way for Blackburn Rovers to free up an ESC slot this summer would be to sell one of those players. A loan move is not sufficient as the player still need to have a permit to be registered in England. So, realistically, unless Rovers were to sell Mafoumbi, a deal for Baradji or any other player that doesn’t hit the GBE criteria is off the table.

or was it deliberate 🧐🧐😁

You seem to have disregarded the content of my previous post and just replied to something else