OK, so looks like Derby are spending big and backing Eustace. As the tweet says, you can see why he left, Derby showing some actual ambition, whereas Rovers are the polar opposite.

So do we (or rather the club) think we're close to signing another CB? Or are we going into the season expecting one of the Academy players to step up and fill that 4th CB option? Currently we've gone from: Batth - Hyam - Carter - Sanderson to Hyam - Carter - S. Wharton That's a downgrade however you spin it.

It's signings like this we actually should be making - young, talented players from L1 and L2. Ones that have a few games under their belts and stand out at that level, but aren't quite yet of interest to Premier League teams. The £40m or so from Wharton, Szmodics, Raya et al has been completely spaffed on running costs now, so our owners don't have to put their hands in their pockets, but realistically half of that should have been spent on the best young players from Crewe, Charlton, Reading etc. If you want to run a model where you develop players and sell them on, you have to actually invest in the players first. The Academy will bring some through - but as we're seeing the most promising ones get pinched before they can sign professional contracts. I've no idea what to make of O'Riordan - I've barely seen him play. I hope this loan works for him. It seems he played well when he went back to Crewe, so there's still a player in there somewhere, but he quickly needs to push on as he's 21 now.

There was no problem with the last 2 coaches, quite the reverse. Either the powers that be didn't realise what they had or doing too well didn't fit their agenda for some still unexplained and unfathomable reason and they refused to back them.

The forum has the ability to let you ignore people you don’t want to see, I heartily recommend using it and your enjoyment of the board will improve!

So we have no money for transfers and our most promising youngsters get picked off for pennies. Don't you just love football?

So you think all is sweetness and light then? Interesting. I personally think it's an absolute shambles and it will take a monumental effort from Vi just to keep our heads above water. The jury is still very much out on whether he'll be another JDT or JE or an absolute dud for me. We'll soon see whether any pessimism was warranted or massively over done I suppose.

Agreed. We don’t know what goes on inside this club,but with whispers of Gestede and pasha trying to do things without Waggott and VI being there choice hopefully they are on the same page. The board and manager hasn’t worked well since Mowbray, The direction moving forward is still unclear and we don’t know what the plan is as they have changed so many times. We need a vision and to stick to it. Honesty with fans builds a great platform to move forward. They have expressed plans in the past and have done a U-turn on them. All we are used to is turmoil and the guesswork going forward will always be negative

The Isley Brothers - I Guess I’ll Always Love You

It's the main point for me, we've lost 2 good coaches because of it.

But that’s sort of my point a lot of times at a lot of clubs they aren’t on the same page time will tell with rovers this window

Ismael is happy to develop younger players and has been rewarded with a long contract for buying into the latest ‘project’. Time will tell if it works….

It’s a good loan for O’Riordan - League 1 and will be playing against better players week-in-week-out. As Kent says, Carter and Wharton both did really well out on loan and it aided their progression immensely.

I'm not particularly bothered who has control as long as they're all on the same page. From the outside, it would appear that was the problem with the last 2 coaches. As far as Eustace goes, I'd say he got the positions covered he wanted, but didn't get to choose which players filled them. The situation needs clarification or we'll end up with another unhappy coach. Just another point, it does seem that Ismael has the backing of most on here, much more so than when he came in.

There are definitely downsides to how most if not all football clubs now run. You get power mad director of footballs who are ultimately not solely working on getting the best team possible for that season. There regularly seems to be instances of disagreements and ultimately the manager/head coach is always best placed to know what his team needs, yet can be overruled. Teams also seem overly reliant on data which is limited in what it can do. There are certain things, for example intangibles like leadership/experience/personality, that it cant possibly measure. The Sheffield United situation is a good example. I dislike Wilder but he just accumulated 92 points and lost to a last minute play off final winner. Surely he is better placed to know what that team needs to get promoted as he has done before as opposed to relying on AI and a manager who hasnt really achieved much.

In fairness, his view is as valid as yours, just because you don’t agree with it. It’s not about what I enjoy, everyone has a right to a voice, whether on here, or otherwise. Just keep scrolling, or ignore people you don’t agree with, not that difficult.

He’s got a point to prove

This move must have been on the cards for a while? He got less than a week of Pre-season in. He's gotta go there and do well.

Wasn’t ismael specific just used him as a reference as he’s the current manager it’s the problem with football at the minute with directors of football or whatever fancy title they are given I’m old school in regards to this I think the manager should have full control of transfers in terms of player choice and who they want (within a budget provided) I’m not a fan of we need pace power under 30 then they come back with a list going we like him…I think the manager should have full control over that perfect example at present is Arsenal - arteta wants sesko berta (if that’s his name) wants gyokeres

Of course it's pandering. I honestly don't care whether or not it is used in other sports so that to me is irrelevant. It doesn't matter who they are speaking to it's the traditions and values which should be protected. You intensely dislike VAR but you are happy to accept something like this. It adds absolutely no value to the game.

Doesn't someone on here volunteer for wateraid?

We cant I agree although I dont think I have seen people suggest that they aren't Ismael signings. Its clear that the last 2 managers didnt get what they wanted in the market so they clearly werent aligned hence them leaving. Ismael, we dont know either way. How is it a conspiracy theory? We dont know either way whether these 2 so far are Ismael endorsed. Im not saying they arent.

Argument works both way you can’t confidently say he does either we simply don’t know

more conspiracy theories here How do you know that Ismael doesn't sign off every signing and trusts his scouting staff, Gestede and Owen to bring the right profile of players?

I’d argue there isn’t much choice, take what we can get in regardless of ability. 2 players in, peanuts spent, squad weaker than last year. (So far)