Whilst he recognises the type of centre back we need I'm slightly concerned about comments along the lines of 'when I say strengthen I mean add competition'. For me at least one of the centre backs needs to be our 'biggest' signing this summer. The type that should be able to come through the door with his name nailed down in the first 11 on day 1. It would be such a let down, but so predictable to see this seasons centre backs starting on day 1 next season with a couple of new centre backs sitting on their bench 'waiting their turn'. I might be misinterpreting him, possibly a little harsh, but comments like that along with our recent track record of signings leaves me wary.

My thoughts too. If we’re making a day of it, give out as many as we can to people who wouldn’t be there otherwise. Multiplies the chance of reattenders, nothing to lose.

Really happy to see the club finally do something proper to re-engage the community & to set the foundations for future fans. Brilliant move but it’s only scratching the surface - don’t let it stop here Rovers.

The Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums

I can't see any negative reaction to the players we're linked with? People on here have been wanting Bauer for ages, he'd be a good signing and it seems we all recognise that. At worst the model of going back to old targets might be a bit worrying to some as it might indicate our net isn't cast far, nothing more.

That's an unfair snipe, Chaddy. Villa have won their last 4 games and are creeping in to the play offs. In their last two games at Villa Park they've taken apart Derby 4-0 and Boro 3-0; two teams who are much higher up and better than us. Meanwhile Rovers are on a horrific away run, we've conceded 16 in our last 5 away games which is insane. So putting 2+2 together..... As others have said it's not being negative, just the likelihood based on our current situation.

Good timing Stuart. Rovers are continuing to monitor Charlton defender Patrick Bauer https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17528978.rovers-monitoring-out-of-contract-league-one-defender/

This game won't be pretty for Rovers. It's got that inevitable Arsenal away under Allardyce feel to it. There's some real height in that Villa side from the centre backs & Abraham which will be grim at set pieces against our little laddies. As well as that I'm sure their manager will know that if they run at us, we won't be able to cope with their wingers and tricky players like Grealish. They'll be right up for it with a big crowd whereas it's all abit 'meh' for Rovers at the moment. I'd be really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really surprised if we concede less than 3.

Aye. Hanley had, and will have his critics but I thought he was really good in his last season for us & became the leader of the side. Might make the odd slip up but half of the goals we've conceded recently wouldn't have gone in with him in the side, and if he was a better player than he is he'd be in the premier league and we wouldn't have a hope of signing him. Really like the look of Bauer too.

Rodak was excellent for Rotherham at Ewood & he's had a lot of recognition throughout the season on the football league show or whatever it's called this time round. Would probably be a great signing but I very much doubt Fulham would be open to selling, their main keeper is only on loan so they might want him in the side next year, especially with them being back in the Championship. Very wary of it's authenticity but saw this article suggesting we're back after Ben Heneghan. Tall Sheffield United centre back on loan at Blackpool who's doing really well by all accounts. We tried to sign him previously but Sheff U pipped us to him. Regardless of the article being written by a chancer, I wouldn't be overly surprised to see him through the door along with Patrick Bauer, knowing TM's past recruitment approach. https://www.clubcall.com/transfers/2019/03/24/blackburn-back-on-trail-of-blades-defender/.

With regards to leading the summer clearout... Is Mowbray head coach? Or is he manager? I've always had the feeling that he is in the managerial role, however I've just seen that when he was appointed, the official site welcomed him as the new head coach. However the official site in the staff section currently lists him as the manager. Was there a mistake somewhere? Was there a change at some point? A manager is expected to oversee the key front line aspects of the playing squad from coaching through to recruitment. Whereas a head coach is self explanatory - head of the coaching department, thus responsible for coaching and coaching only. Not recruitment. I've seen many posts across a few topics lately discussing certain players as being Mowbray signings/not Mowbray signings; if he is indeed head coach none of them are his signings. Added, there's been a lot of posts about Mowbray rinsing and repeating his old signings/targets. Does he have full control? Does he just give advisory input? And one of the key reasons for wanting Mowbray to be replaced is recruitment. We've not done well in the last couple of windows & we probably need a change in approach to do better in the next window. So by replacing Mowbray as manager we would be giving ourselves a shot at better immediate recruitment. But if we replaced him as head coach, in theory recruitment would be exactly the same as it would be with him in place. Thus being manager/head coach would have a major impact on most fans decision on whether they would or wouldn't like him to remain at the club through the summer, so it's quite important to understand. I might have missed something but would appreciate some clarity!!

No didn’t do much, but none of the Gib lot stood out at all, very much a basic defensive approach as you’d expect. He’s a tall lad but needs to hit the gym to make use of it, although he’s very young and that side of things should follow. Not the greatest time to follow you lot. Seems an ageing squad and can’t see where the goals are going to come from anytime soon, no Keane to pull you through!

Great to see a Rover playing in a European qualifier at the age of 18. And playing as the defensive 1 in a 4-1-4-1. A rare, privileged position previously frequented by footballing greats such as Makelele.... and our very own Aaron Mokoena. All hail the new axe.

Unnecessary sniping towards Rothwell, just to justify his own shortcomings. And as stated by others, unfair application of his principles across different players. Very poor from a manager. Hearing it multiple times a week from him now & it's really starting to grate. Bad results can be tolerable to a degree, but snide comments like this need to be cut out right away.

Wish I could shit £10,000,000 footballers out. What a high yield cash cow that'd be.

I've noticed this. Also, half of the team spends the vast majority of the actual pre game warm up blasting the ball at the net down in the corner whilst the other team does ACTUAL professional warm ups. How does that add value, especially so for players like Smallwood and Evans? It might be worthwhile for the strikers for a few minutes but I genuniely had more of an intense, useful pre game routine whilst playing u14's football. Not sure how relevant to this but Mowbray started off the famous 'Huddle' that Celtic do before games, now adopted by a number of teams (correct me if I'm wrong) so I'm surprised it's not something he's thought to add to our repertoire. Whilst i'm here, there's a cracking picture in the Football Museum of the Rovers and Wolves teams doing the huddle side by side before the 2011 last day game in which we both stayed up!

I work with a Bury fan who says he looks their best defender by a mile. They only signed him in January & might've missed one or two games through a niggle. First centre back on the team sheet otherwise I believe.

Probably only due to immediate availability. For what it's worth I really like the look of Wharton, give him a season in league one next year and see if he's ready/good enough for the Championship after that - he's still only 21 so as a centre back he's worth giving time.

Seems a wasted opportunity/very low risk gamble from Rovers perspective, but if Rodwell sees himself as a centre back that’s that!

How is he finished as a centre mid though? He’s a 28 year old professional athlete who trains every day for gods sake. The manager has painted him to be an aged crock and a lot of our fans have bought it. He’s only said that to justify the centre back experiment imo.

Sure there’ll be a split consensus on this, but I’d keep Rodwell providing it was a sensible wage & the intention was for him to play central midfield, although I can’t see that happening from what we’ve heard previously from Mowbray. Shame for me as he could be a tidy centre mid at this level when kept fit, he undoubtedly has quality and experience that would be useful next to Travis. Reed likely won’t be here next season too so would make him a handier signing.

I’d like to shake his hand, thank him for what he’s done over the last 2 years and replace him with somebody who can keep us going in an upward trajectory. The key reason for me wanting to replace is the fact that I don’t trust Mowbray to oversee the recruitment required this summer. For me, he’s failed in the last two windows. He’s spent good money in the wrong areas, totally ignoring the fact that we needed to upgrade in certain positions, and the fact we needed to bring in leaders. Secondly, the last couple of months have been really worrying. Without a doubt we’re in relegation form. We simply can’t afford to get relegated next season. Without a change I fear we’re sleepwalking in to a relegation battle next year. Third, we don’t have an identity. Look at Leeds, Norwich, Sheff U, Preston, Weds and so on. You know exactly what you’re going to get and it works. We’re inconsistent. Too many formation changes, too many different starting line ups. It doesn’t work. That’s something we urgently need to address. I’d like a manager with balls, able to bring in the right players, and able organise a team whether it be gritty grind it out football, or more of an expansive game - not bothered as long as it’s consistent and it works. All of this said - I’d only get rid if that sort of manager was lined up. Off the top of my head there’s a few out of a job right now that could fit. Hughes, Moyes, Allardyce, Karanka would likely take the solid organised job approach, my preference. Wagner, Jokanovic if we went down the more expansive route or whatever it needs to be called. They’re not conclusive lists by any means. And I’m not saying we’d necessarily be able to attract all of them, before people point out Allardyce wouldn’t work for Venky’s etc. Just throwing the type out there. IF we could bring one of those or similar in, i’d definitely go for it. If we couldn’t find that type, I’d (slightly reluctantly) rather back Mowbray in the summer for a chance to get it right, rather than switching for somebody of less credibility than the type of names mentioned. Forget sentiment. Football is incredibly cut throat and we need to do best by the club.

Injuries to the defence. The same defence he could’ve spent 7m on, and glaringly had to, rather than blowing it on a 19 yo striker that hasn’t played. All whilst thinking an actual centre back and two converted midfielders at the back would suffice whilst loaning out two other centre backs. True story.

Honourable mention to Rothwell and Buckley however the 4 goals conceded were so horrifically, depressingly bad I can’t be arsed to comment on anything else. A change(s) required. Atleast our next away game, with us having conceded the most away goals out of all the 92, is only away at Villa. They’ve only won their last 4 on the bounce. Christ.

BRING BACK SPARKY.