Selling Steele was evil genious level - pretty much swapping Steele for Dack (financially) must be the best bit of transfer business EVER ??

Bit of a concern that but in bold! Who’s in charge here? It would also explain why we hardly ever have substitutions at HT in games. Players are far more likely to bollock each other but then agree to improve second half. Ultimately, the approach was successful because we were promoted and it did appear that we had a tightly knit squad. But it does show a level of tactical naivety and preference (or even deference) for tumthumping.

This is not meant as a criticism of TM or Conway but I do not think it us just about rewarding players. It must aid the managers cause to have senior and "loyal" players around the dressing room who are singing from the same hymn sheet as the manager. I have read at least a couple of times TM saying he more or less let the players sort it out at halftime in games. I am sure Rovers dressing room is currently very stable but that can change quickly say with a mistake on an incoming player or by results. Having a 'loyal' core is a defence against a problem gaining momentum, it's just better if those loyal senior players can still do it on the pitch. It happens at most EFL Clubs I am sure.

It's disappointing to hear that Conway might get a new deal. I just don't think he will add any value to the squad and will probably impede the progress of one of the promising youngsters we have coming through.

Agreed. Don’t get me wrong Conway has been brilliant for us but next season would be one season too far IMHO. If we had pots of money then it might be worth paying for his dressing room influence but we don’t. On a side note, should testimonials now be offered to players if they retire with more than 5 years service rather than 10? With current wages being what they are, and players no longer needing the pay off, it could be to raise money for charity and purely about fans saying farewell to a loyal player... they could even do it during the friendly period.

He wasn’t half decent, he was just a c*** I much prefer signings under the radar. It’s also good to have a laugh at the supposed ITK types around here.

Cairney when he was sold was in and out of the team. Bowyer didn't like playing him centrally so he was rotated with Marshall, King and Conway out wide. Shame. That Bowyer misused two quality players like King and Cairney for so long was very disappointing. Dack on the other hand is the talismanic player the entire team revolves around. He is as close to indispensable as it gets. Totally different situation to Cairney.

I don’t think money will be our concern with Dack, it’s the bright lights of Essex calling him that is more likely to be troublesome. Hope not for ours and his sake as you could see that side of his life derailing his career if he isn’t careful.

Hey Chaddy, when Shearer left Rovers in 1996 my kids cried and I also shed a tear so enough of that cr@p. Sadly, too many are in football to make a fast buck and I see this happening over Dack. IMV, his head will be turned, there will be interested clubs (but not at nonsensical fees speculated of £8million upwards) and as such, it would be no surprise to me to see Dack leave in a deal with add ons in the £3 to £4million range. I think it's 80% certain Dack will leave (think he'll become unsettled) and if and when he does, I will elaborate further.

Rover the dog?

I agree! Just read that he's paired up with Katie Price. That says all you need to know about the guy. She's vile.

No because agents want noise for their clients, not silence. You'd think with your obsession you'd know how agents worked.

Sorry, I disagree. Duffy was a numpty who wanted out. I don't blame him though, we'd just employed Owen Coyle as manager and he saw me off too.

Shrewsbury being a typical example, limited funds and punching above their weight. We all thought they'd fall away but they never did. You dont necessarily need a big budget or big names, just guys with skill and hunger

Blimey Mercer, that's one hell of a donation. Fair play to you fella. I don't want to jump the gun but the Robert Fleming Foundation (established 11 May 2018) is an extremely worthwhile cause.

Chaddy I think you believe what the papers say way too much mate, just because something is online or in some form of media it doesn't mean it's true. I tried to put that as unpatronising as possible but not sure I managed it If someone offered 30 million plus for Sessegnon he would be gone, especially if Fulham don't get promoted. You really think they'd be asking for 100 million?! Come on Chaddy man don't be silly!

The danger team could be Fulham if they don't go up and lose Cairney and Sessegnon.I still don't think we would sell him for 3 or 4 million. Here till at least January in my opinion and depending how we are doing and if he has shown the same quality in the championship as he has in league one then I'm sure big bids will come in for him then

That's why it's essential that we have a coaching staff in place that can get 110% out of our existing players and new recruits.

I did not mean that players run the show at halftime in every game, my recollection was to specific games.

Somewhere in North Wales

A few of my friends are big Celtic fans and watch Scottish football far more than me, they say this lad is class. Seems to have knuckled down too and started looking after himself better since leaving Celtic, hence less injuries. Looks a clever singing

On the important issue of Duffy and the tartist formerly known as Jordan. He is a brave man. He must never have heard the poem by Robert Frost "I have taken the road less travelled and that had made all the difference"

No thanks. If we want to stay in the division we don't want to start picking up aging, injury prone players. McGoldrick is a good player on his day but consistent injuries have taken their toll - hamstring problems have taken away a lot of the pace he used to have. His scoring record in the Championship also isn't that good Personally I would avoid.

I could not think of a better pair, she now has 3 big tits.

I agree, we can't have two " Smallwoods " in centre midfield. Whoever comes in needs to have a bit more about them going forward.

Great news, Ken & Barbie have rivals, just wait for the plastic dolls to get on the shop shelves. She will eat him up and spit him out, quite possibly without using her mouth.

Looking to extend Conway’s deal? Meanwhile Payne is told that he would only be a sub and if that isn’t good enough, find another club? Not really the noises I wanted to be hearing.

Hope not he is 30 now with his best days behind him. Not been the same since a major injury.

So if some think that evicting me and others who want to be in the Darwen End is a good idea then the same can be applied to the Riverside. The JWU would be filled up nicely and let’s face it, the owners can’t see the Riverside from where the cameras now are. Oh and if you think shutting the Riverside is crazy then how do you think us Darren Enders feel. Whats good fert goose an all that.

I’ll remind you, our club (countless examples but what better than one in our shirt) paid 2/3 million a season and 8 million for a striker who’d never played in the championship. He then went on to top score in the division. The idea that we’d sell someone for less than half that, 5 years on when parachute payments are 3x.... deliberate attempts to get a reaction knowing you are talking crap.

You’d have to be short sighted as “ferk” to think the reason we got relegated was simply down to “they sold all our best players and got relegated”. Do you even acknowledge the simple fact they signed off the signings, the contracts and the managers we had, that put us in so much debt? It’s a rhetorical question because discussion with you is pointless. The likes of you telling me such is akin to being labelled an idiot by the town moron.

Pace - have seen milk turn quicker. £10million for Dack ?! You must have had a nice dream where wishes were tripled! Stands out in League 1, compass might go astray in Championship and probably wouldn't at all in PL - get real!

Ali Crawford is a Tom Cairney type Notts Forrest want him he would be a great free for you as would Jason Naismith the Ross County right back still 23 look at his stats big powerful guy that can attack and defend both of them could do well for you and are young enough to make money on when they do well

That's a Kean description if ever I heard one! Run a mile!

It is a fair point tbh. But stop it. You are ruining my Friday night!

Biz and chaddy along with the LT can ferk right off.

But after years of being badly advised, they have finally learned .. Lol

Think the old three club rule might be coming into play here! QPR don't have a manager for a kick off. Fairly unimpressed if true, although we do need bodies there I suppose. Maybe would've taken him 3 or 4 years ago, but would've thought he's well past his best now.

Some quality thinking on this thread. Venkys should be welcoming Tony Mowbray with open arms if not wallets in Pune. For once the stars have aligned for us and we have a no nonsense manager who needed us as much as we needed him. His identity fits ours very well and hopefully now with a proper business framework around him at Ewood, we are a far cry from the dodgy dealings of recent years. Mowbray chooses players that fit his mould and ours. Some you win and some you lose but he won more than he lost this season especially with last minute signings. Mid table obscurity would be a solid start next season although the promotion bounce worked well for Sheffield United and Millwall. Keeping it simple, staying open with fans and players and maintaining a no bull$&@ zone around the club would be the perfect mantra for 2018-2019. I hope the Venkys mantra is “in Mowbray we trust.” The losses in football terms are worrying but they are a tax write off for Venkys against profitable divisions. I am sure from a reputation standpoint they are more concerned about trying to rebuild their brand equity. Mowbray and the team have started the process. Long may it continue.

Indeed so, I spent my first couple of seasons in it. That roof made for tremendous acoustics. I have to say I don’t remember a lot of fuss when we were relocated to the Blackburn End when the ground was first segregated. I think it was purely a logistical decision: majority of home fans head off back toward town or up LBR, easier to bring in the away coaches down from the Boundary. How on earth did we survive the next 40 years where home fans only went in the Darwen End by going over the top into battle.

are you having a laugh 3 million pounds for Dack. you taking the piss there. no pace? at least 10 million for Dack. But a simply not for sale would do.

http://www.cityam.com/285601/their-way-back-blackburn-rovers-championship-bound-but-have

If your going to do that then you may as well make the whole ground unreserved seating.....like away games which if i remember rightly many on here complained about not getting their allocated away seat ..so think that wont work somehow! Better idea would be if people all over the ground put a bit more effort in and became more vocal as one .

You’ve got to hand to to Mercer, to be fair. He still comes back on here after a prolonged absence, then sells our players on the club’s behalf. Though with some of his past predictions, it really is quite the opposite of a ‘licence to print money’...

don't see it happening maybe personally Stuart. I don't see Graham and Payne being a good partnership at all.

Better to take a punt on an up and comer than somebody like McClaren imo. No way Schteve could work with Ipswich's budget. Ross will find it hard as well, mind. What happened to Sol 'managerial genius' Campbell?

Just been reading an interview with Sep Blabber and a 48 team world cup really rankles. 16 groups of 3 where only one team in each is knocked out. It's adding a layer of pointlessness just so they can make more money from teams that are nowhere near good enough. They should learn from past failures like the time when the champions league had two group stages and even the last Euros where it was so bloated with below average teams 3rd place got you out of a Group. It was no coincidence it was the worst euros ever. Quality not quantity.

Well deserved.