All Activity

Ismael confirms that despite being allowed a 25 man squad, Rovers essentially limit themselves to 22 players over the age of 21 so that they can give opportunities to youngsters. He just states it in a roundabout way https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25638233.blackburn-rovers-boss-january-transfer-window-admission/ "At the same time, the EFL tells you that you can only take 25 players over 21 years old. On your list, two goalkeepers come out, it leaves 23 outfield players. "Blackburn Rovers want to offer a chance to young players so one or two players are on the list. Then 20 players to fill your team. If you take two players into every position, it's two players per position that's 22, two too many. "If you say we need more players, it means we can't play the younger players. On the other hand, if you want to develop young players, you have to let give some away.

Honestly though, we've done OK without Cantwell so time to see if what we have can get at them. Stranger things have happened

If we lose Cantwell, which I'm worried we will, we'll have lost our club captain in 3 of the last 4 transfer windows.

Eustace and Waggott wanted Cantwell. Gestede didn’t. Waggott and Eustace met with him early in the window but it didn’t progress due to finances - probably Suhail putting a block on it. It became apparent towards the end of the window that he was available on the cheap - 250-500k - so Waggott went rogue and had talks with Rangers - whoever he was dealing with up there said something along the lines of “Thank god, we’re desperate to get rid of him” so Waggott revised the offer to zero. After about 2 days of wrangling they agreed that it would be zero upfront with a big sell on clause and various appearance/promotion payments. Announced as undisclosed to appease both sets of fans. Getting him on a free allowed Waggott to make the case to Gandhi Babu (circumventing Suhail) to pay the required wages and get the deal signed off by Venky’s, as did claiming he would be worth 7 million if he could rediscover his form. It’s certainly plausible that an appearance trigger is approaching. It’s also plausible that the man who never wanted him in the first place and thinks paying any player more than £10k per week is unnecessary might want rid of him.

Think this is exactly right. They aren't as daft as they appear, of course they could see it and knew how light we are at centre half. Savings and cash in the bank trump all football related decisions here though, always has and always will. Anything that happens on the pitch is irrelevant to this regime.

------------------Pears -------Miller---McLoughlin---Pickering Alebiosu------------------------------Hedges -----------Tronstad------Forshaw ------------------Morishita ----------Gudjohnson----Ohashi I think that's what we are looking at. If he's feeling brave he might start Montgomery in place of Forshaw but I don't think he will. If he's wearing his clown shoes, he'll start Hedges at CB and play De Neve at LWB. 3-0 loss and as comfortable as you like for PNE. Picks has made 2 appearances all season (one of those was a last minute sub against Watford) and Miller probably won't be in a good place to actually play but will be forced too now.

They think we are all stupid. I don't really blame them, the majority of the fanbase are. One look at the nonsense they've got away with over the last few years alone tells us that. When you've got people hissing and booing at the likes of Eustace and Travis and silent towards the likes of Venkys and Suhail it's no wonder they come out with this sort of thing. They could literally say or do anything and most of the fanbase would believe/defend them.

First images of Birmingham City's new stadium (no it isn't AI) Looks great, though their owner and ownership model is American 'Soccer' Ownership at its most cringeworthy.

January window is going to become another farce. Panic buys will happen due to the recent injuries. For the last 6 years we have faded away because the squad has never been strong enough to last a WHOLE season due to lack of planning. They must have all the data on this, its been obvious to see and so frustrating for a fan. All the fans knew Carter and Wharton had the potential to miss a chunks of the season due to their injury record. The championship is getting more and more intense each year so for them not to have cover is criminal. It gets bleaker and bleaker as the weeks go by.

Possibly because the Club notified them they wanted Cantwell off the wage bill, so they secured a move elsewhere for him in Jan. Both parties agree he won't play in the meantime so from their point of view he avoids injury and in return we avoid having to pay some sort of appearance related bonus and/or an additional payment to Rangers. I can't see it's that far fetched a possibility - especially given our track record

If we are playing 3 at the back, I still think Pickering is your best bet. He's done it before. However as I heard he was one of the players unhappy with Rudy & Co. back when Eustace left (along with Leonard, Hyam, Travis, Weimann), I think his absence is less suspicious than that of Cantwell.

5000 away fans turning up on a cold Friday night, many paying more than thirty quid a pop. We deserve better than this. We all knew this would happen sooner or later and we pointed out in the summer. Why couldn't our manager and recruitment see how lightweight the squad was? I think they probably could see, and don't really give a toss. Who knows what the lineup is gonna be, might as well draw the remaining fit players out of a hat. Disaster waiting to happen. I said the other day I would take a point, that was when I expected at least Carter OR Cantwell to play, now we're without both, I don't know what to think.

Yeah he's a human being he ain't doing it purpose this is his career and life and its never really got going so insults are needless. For balance though i think most of it is frustration because anyone with any sense could've predicted this and to not strengthen the centre defence pool after selling Hyam is pathetic. Absolute schoolboy stuff and i lost count of the clowns who said it's fine we have Carter and Wharton coming back.... This is what we are up against at this club now though and all they were likely bothered about is the pennies again. Replacing two good defenders in Batth and Hyam who commanded 10k plus per week with a lad who they thought they'd be selling next summer for good money and a cheap wage local lad. Clowns.

Tugay never won Premier league player of the year or came close to a ballon'dor does that mean he was a poor player?

I think it’s pretty much an instant loss tomorrow. Not a chance we even get something. Story of our season unfortunately.

In other injury news (following Carter's latest injury), Owen Beck has returned to Liverpool as his latest injury, which he picked up during an U21's game against Rovers, requires surgery. Shame for the lad, really good player for us, hopefully injuries don't wreck his career.

I think he made his mind up before his captaincy and it was an attempt to keep him. Plausible

Like I said why ain't Cantwell and his agent kicking up a fuss If he is being left out due to financial reasons? He was available for a modest fee from Rangers yet he ended up here. I think he started the season well but last season he was average not enough goal involvements and I just see a queue of clubs would be in for him,when they would have to pay us a fee and take on his wages. Like I also Said I'm not totally ruling it out, but I think its more likely he actually is injured.

On the 4th of December Cantwell will have been out for exactly two months - allegedly because of what was described at the time as "a kick on the knee". Something is clearly awry even if it's "only" the fact we've misdiagnosed the severity of his injury. The thing that irks me most is (in my opinion) VI lying through his teeth about it and pretending nothing is up. He's the perfect accomplice for this regime. "Just take your £600k p.a. and keep your head down"

We must be the only club that has a worse injury forecast after two weeks of not playing. It is a joke.

Foolhardy, neglectful, kamikaze...and which of us did not see this coming? No wonder people see them, as taking us down by design ( and not for the first time) Fuck off, Suhail the snake and Gaslight Gestede! I see you...

We are fans who are rightly suspicious when things like this arise. We've seen it too many times, something just seems off. Ryan Nelson was made out to be near wheelchair bound, he played for Spurs a few days after leaving. We don't forget!

We play Ryan Hedges there because Pickering, a player who has been a first team regular for years, is being frozen out of the squad due to his wages.

Nothing new about top earning players being frozen out of the squad at this club. I see they've fully committed to the 'model' of 13-15 years ago.

Its very unfortunate for him, he doesnt want to be injured. But he is the very definition of a waste of space to us. He is never fit to contribute, he cant go a week of a training post one injury before breaking down again.