I'm pretty confident that, barring a very bad injury run, that there will be three worse teams than that squad. Beyond that, I don't think we can say it's competitive one way or another because we're heavily dependent on the new signings being up to it. They could be - and one or two are showing good early signs - but the Championship is such a relentless league. It worries me that so much of the squad could be physically struggling once we get past Christmas, and that's before making judgements about their quality.

Rovers have played just 14 Championship games since Norwich City last visited Ewood on 1st March (for Ismael's first game in charge) the team that day was Pears; Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Ribero; Forshaw (Tronstad), Travis; Dolan (Dennis), Cantwell (Weimann), Kargbo (Hedges); Gueye (Ohashi). Of the 16 players used that day 6 have left (or are due to leave e.g. Pears) 3 of the 4 unused subs have also departed - Rankin-Costello, Woodrow and Sanderson. Only Toth remains Carter and Forshaw unlikely to feature due to injury Leaving just 8 survivors from only fourteen games ago! The grand reset has happened quickly!

He'll be getting advice not to bother. Firstly he's still officially a Rovers player, so zero chance he's going to say anything at all until the ink is dry on the deal. Then he'll just crack on with the soundbites for his new club, we'll get a 'statement' on social media about thanks for the memories but I'd be astonished if there was a spilling of the beans on what has really gone on. It just isn't done in football with departing players. I suppose there isn't really any need because there's nothing really to be gained and it's not his problem any more.

Because he is being professional? Because he is concentrating on getting himself out out an awful situation first?

All fair points. To be clear, I’m not advocating or necessarily in support of the new regime / idea. I’m just intrigued by what’s unfolding. I wouldn’t put my money on Tavares and Baradji being better than Travis and Sonny either, but I do think they’re probably better suited to what this manager wants. For clarity, I think they probably planned to clear the deck in stages with VI. First waive out , Bucko, JRC, Pears etc…extend the others (Trav, Dolan, Brittain etc) and add a couple of the foreign lads, then phase the remaining players out. This has been accelerated by those players not extending. In terms of Dolan, I think they probably tried to extend him, but never offered anything like what he wanted. But I don’t think he had a long term future in this regime either….not enough pace or power. This is aside from my personal opinion as I would’ve gladly just waived him down the road. The vibe I’m referring to is what changed. It was enough of a change to dislodge JRC and Bucko who have been coasting on nice contracts for years. As I’ve said, lots have been rocked out of their lifeboats and the band of brothers has been disbanded.

My biggest question is why hasn’t Travis come out with a statement yet?

I think a really big problem with Buckley is that he takes a while to get his rhythm. I've always been one that rated his ability and wanted him to kick on, but I don't think I can ever remember him coming on and changing a game. Similarly when he's had a spell out of the team and he gets his chance, his first game tended to be pretty underwhelming, where we see his under-hit passes and getting caught in possession. He has tended to get better when he is given a run of starts, but he's not going to get that here so it's best for all parties that he tries to get his career back on track. I really hope he manages it.

The difference is the club haven't had to resort to dirty underhand tactics to get rid of Bucko because he wasn't a cornerstone of the team/captain and probably would have quietly sat on the bench for the next 12 months if necessary. Travis is obviously a different case being actively pursued by rival Championship clubs and first name on the teamsheet last season. The club have had to deploy a hatchet job operation on Travis to paint him as a villain in this sorry saga and, credit where it is due, it has worked with aplomb judging by comments on social media. All it really took was a win at Hull, a couple of unnecessary and unchallenged comments by Ismael in his post-match press conferences and signing another foreign player who sounds exciting but nobody knows anything about and the job is done. Not even a murmur of anger or outrage now about offloading the captain to Derby County less than a week before the window closes. It's impressive but shows we've no chance of ever succeeding against this regime when they are able to control the narrative so easily via the Telegraph and media and so many in the support base just swallow it.

Putting my happy clapper hat on, imagining I'm an 18-25 year old rovers fan. Is Travis a legend?

Whilst you can only beat the opposition in front of you, Hull were unbelievably lethargic and poor and if I was a Hull fan, I would be somewhat concerned. So difficult to use that game as a marker. As for Norwich, think they can be as good as they can be average. New manager so I guess their players are still adapting to different style of play, tactics etc. As others have pointed out, not difficult to envisage any one of the three possible outcomes. If I'd to plump for one, it would be the draw. As for our 9 new signings, it's early days but already written-off Forshaw and big question marks in place over De Neve in particular and Henriksson. 4 look steadyish atm whilst 2 have still to kick a ball for us.

In true football manager tradition he will get injured either in his first training session or game, and be out for 6 months

Their spending power and signings if they are around top 6/8 come Jan yiu know they can/will go all out

Baradji in full training kit. Wish the LT/club would give us an update either way.

Yeah apologies. For some reason when I checked the pre-season odds I looked at Wrexham and not Birmingham. (Newly promoted, hype, yanks etc...). Both West Brom and Wrexham were 7/1 pre-season. The next question is why the hell are Birmingham second favourites? I didnt even consider them pre-season and saw nothing at Ewood to change my mind.

He may well not do an official one with the club, especially if he is suspended and therefore not been able to be on the premises, but I would be surprised if he doesn't do a personal one of some sort

I doubt the goodbye video is a contractual obligation, Travis may simply not want to do one. We shall see.

Travis hasn't left yet Any video etc is only ever released after it is officially announced

I’m not sure how using a slot for a kid who never got anywhere near the first team is evidence of them ‘using the esc slots better than most’. I’d call it a complete shambles but hey ho.

Travis hasn't actually gone yet is the current difference.

What's the difference between Bucko and Trav? Bucko leaves in style with a goodbye video

Jackson's article today suggests that a midfielder is being chased but that a striker is far from a guarantee. Surely those priorities should be swapped.

What about Dolan? I know you arent a fan and I think have been massively unfair on him. But in terms of style, surely you agree that his high energy profile suits Ismael down to the ground? And surely you acknowledge that his form improved when Ismael came in. Totally get why signing these exotic players are exciting and I appreciate that much of your post is satirical. But obviously it goes without saying that it is not a case that many of these players are being "left behind" with Ismael wanting them gone because the boys club vibe is no more and theyve not been able to keep up. Theyve left because we cant get them to stay on the peanuts that are offered. They leave gigantic holes. Tronstad and Travis very much did stand a chance from a footballing sense, they arent the T1000S that need to move on, its a hell of an assumption that Tavares and Baradji will just wave them on as they come in as superior models to take us forward, again jokes appreciated. One comes from being in and out in a mid table Portugese league team and one was relegated in Switzerland, there is reason for optimism with both but I suspect if we had all 4, then the latter 2 would be the ones providing competition and learning from the T2000s, who actually contrary to the above are very much the real deal.

Curtis Mayfield - ( Don’t Worry ) If There’s A Hell Below We’re All Going To Go.

Saw his interview last night, which was nice. Its obviously a big life change for him leaving the club which is all he has known. I did get the impression listening to him, he's not entirely sure what he wants and wasn't exactly full of emotion or passion. I think he had some decent technique but lacks the sort of personality to become a very good player. Not much fight about him.

Two totally different scenarios. I think Trav would've been happy enough to stay and play out his deal, but Rovers gave him an ultimatum. I thank him for his services, not his biggest fan, but he's had some really good spells for us and been a good leader in a turbulent time at the club. Wish him all the best, as long as his team ends up below us in the table.