Also Forshaw comes without a settling in period so they're saving on time too. What was it? 11 days til preseason and he wanted 90% done deals? 😕

I don’t know as I’m not paid to find them as a job. The club surely knew recalling Baker was an option so you think they would have had a plan. But if rovers had any state to of intent with the position they are in then pay the matched bond and bring Hamza Choudery in. Middle ground would have been Lewis O’Brien Failing that be cheaper and get Isaac Hayden. All three moved on loan to the Championship in January. The ‘restraints’ we are operating under are fully self inflicted.

Not that it makes it automatically a wise move if Ismael wanted it. But why did we initially disclose that he had been released if he was totally happy? There is the problem. Our squad players obviously won't be as good as the first 11, but having to downgrade so much when a replacement comes in, that lack of depth has commonly hindered us post Xmas.

No I wouldn't be happy, I said first or second replacement. Obviously we might get stretched and he may have to start, there are cup games to consider as well, but without taking it to the nth degree and seeing he knows what Ismael is after, it has some logic to it.

Rather play Garrett OR, use the wages to tie down one of Travis or Trondstadt...

There are plenty, cheap, experienced midfielders knocking around, you'd think Ismael would know one or two. Therefore, it would seem logical he's happy with the signing.

It's not a suggestion. Just something I've heard we may have been interested in. A quick check shows he's 31 and on a free.

I get some part of that but what I would come back with is at that stage who (within rovers restraints) was available to fit the championship ready/experienced role they were after? listen Adam forshaw isn’t the answer I’m not supporting his signing at all (I can see logically how/why it makes sense to rovers) but in jan with baker being recalled out of the blue there wouldn’t have been much other options in the mould they wanted

What year is this?

Don’t mind Forshaw sticking around but a bizarre out then in scenario. For me it shows we are getting desperate with a lack of bodies for pre-season and a sure sign we are failing to land any of our targets.

I can't agree on that, he looked lost alot of the time playing chase the ball, that being said he looked better at the end than when he started

Pre season starts on Monday, busy weekend ahead to get Ismael what he demanded!

Would you be comfortable if he needed to start games for a prolonged period due to injury/suspension?

Replacing our 3rd choice midfielder, who had started the last 4 games and was likely to get a lot more game time as the squad creaked towards the end of the season, with a guy that couldn’t get in the Plymouth side was fully on Rovers. Huge drop off in squad depth.

Question for you both. I get the fact he's experienced and can do a job as a late sub if we are leading. But a squad player can be needed for a period of time to start games should the first choices get middle. If like for a spell this season, Forshaw was needed as 3rd/4th choice to play 5/6 games or more from the start, would you be comfortable that the overall quality of the team wouldn't dip too much?

Serious comments only please this is not a laughing matter ok-hod? 😂

Lucas Joao anyone?

Fair comment, not saying Rovers effed up on that, the point is the squad player could do with being more of the quality of Baker than Forshaw.

More than happy to have Forshaw back. Decent squad player, plenty of experience and a able to pass that on to younger players. Thought he did well last season when he came on as a substitute, Like Weimann, a handy player to have on the bench.

if signing crap and over the hill players continues with our better players sold or leaving for nothing, as we all suspect,we`ll be battling relegation bring on the protests,losing every week is nailed on to get even the most mild mannered fan riled up

The baker debate is irrelevant because of all the monumental f ups rovers have done Stoke recalling him from his loan spell under a new manager isn’t one of them

Well......it was a far better squad when we had Baker before he arrived!

Different type of argument altogether. I don't think even proponents of Forshaw's limited abilities would be advocating he start. For me, if he isn't starting he is just blocking the pathway of a younger player coming through. The experience should come from the starting x1 not the fringe players. So either it's a sign he's likely to be replacing Travis or Tronstad directly or he's going to be filling out the squad in which case it's a completely pointless and ultimately counterproductive signing.

There's a term used by doormen "jacket filler", for someone who has the long jacket and his badges, but they don't get involved if shit hits the fan, they're just there making up the numbers. Forshaw is the footballing equivalent, he'll do fuck all useful and is pretty much just an extra body making up the numbers. Not sure how anyone can dress it up as a useful signing, awful waste of money when funds are tight.

Experience and know how. Could do a lot worse Looked more like the Forshaw we knew about towards the end of the season. Usual crew in hysterics - in effect, it’s another part of what was a good squad staying. Can’t complain