Signings like this are thin on the ground these days. Once good players don't tend to drop down a division and keep playing. MLS, China, and now Saudi Arabia are popular destinations. Or they retire as they have plenty of money. It reminds me of Rovers signing Gordan Cowans. He was superb. I'm not speaking ill either but Aaron Ramsey is a far better player than Whittingham ever was. Is Rooney going to Derby a better example?

I don't want to speak ill of those who are no longer with us, but it has the feel of a Peter Whittingham type signing, fantastic player in his day, but those days are gone and wages will be higher than his worth to the team Edit - wish I could think of a different players name to use as an example instead of Whittingham, but my brain has gone blank

If Nob End take our playoff place they can cart me off to fcking Whittingham!!

He wasn't just picking out the worst (Murphy) of the dross we signed under Kean. He said 'and the list of expensive has-beens we've had' with Prem experience. Here's a few more off the top of my head: Etuhu Guthrie Rodwell (ok at times, but still, a very much faded force and a liability at times too) Wes Brown DJ Campbell Peter Whittingham (RIP, no disrespect intended, he was just past it at that point and it wasn't even the Championship) Elliott Ward Kilgallon I can't say they were all expensive as I don't know wages, but I'm sure none of those were worth what we paid them (possible exception of Rodwell if he was mostly pay-as-you-play, but he cost us in games at times and left for free shortly after). There's some others I'm perhaps being generous by not including, and doubtless some I've forgotten. Ignoring the list of Premiership youngsters with a few Prem games of experience who have flopped majorly too. There are some successes too, but you have to choose carefully when buying Prem players. Playing at or being on the books of a Prem club doesn't automatically make you good enough for this level, let alone the one above.

Rumours circulating that our old player Peter Whittingham has fallen down the stairs and is now in intensive care. Rumours right now but I hope it isn't true. Admins delete if not this isn't ok to put up

A recent one for me is the late Peter Whittingham, seemed a real statement signing early in the window and plenty, me included were convinced he’d be brilliant. I can’t remember a single thing from him on the pitch for us! Tragic waste of a young life after he left

Sensational touch and passing. Tens times quicker and tenacious than Buckley. Reminded me a bit of the late great Peter Whittingham.

Been shite for a while now. Would be a downing/whittingham/holtby type of signing, which I think we should move away from. And I know downing ended up being arguably one of our best players, that first time around.

Rovers have confirmed that they have completed the signing of Peter Whittingham. The versatile midfielder has signed a 2 year deal and joins on a free transfer from Cardiff City. This manager Tony Mowbray's first piece of business of the summer transfer window and he has already stated that he hopes to bring in more players as Rovers prepare for life in League 1. View full article

Gav that's a very one sided view on things! Firstly Bereton. As I said before I can't think of another player anywhere who takes up such a huge amount of the budget that is allowed to take over 3 seasons to become good. Could Rovers afford that? Clearly not. Not could, I suspect, most other clubs have such a huge percentage of their transfer budget do nothing for 3 years. That's not job done whatsoever. That's opportunities lost - although it's far from a washout given his goals have saved us this season. But a roaring success? Not at all. Armstrong agree - fantastic bit of business. Gally - fans know nothing about football? Everyone knows Gally is wasted out wide. So what does that suggest about TM if he keeps playing him there? That doesn't suggest he's the expert and we aren't. It suggests TM is a Muppet for doing so. Again, having such a big chunk of our transfer budget not really performing to the top level again suggests perhaps TM isn't the football genius he makes out. Yes plenty of players have improved under TM. That 3 you mentioned are leaving for free is criminal. Whilst most of this is on the world's most incompetent owners, the manager mist hold some of the blame given he must have some influence on things (e.g. the extension of the contracts over lockdown). Again continuing with the this shows he is an expert I could raise you the likes of Walton, Whittingham, Ayala, the players stupidly out of position, the players limited out of position, the Raya situation, the mid season collapses. He's far, far from an expert. For what it's worth I think he is an ok manager - which is much better than the usual standard here - who makes stupid, idiotic mistakes.and is his own worst enemy. I also think he is a dislikeable toad due to his comments. As for Forrest they have been a basket case club. As we when we came down show, spending doesn't always mean it's been spent well. They have had a huge turnover of players, tons of managers, no parachute payments, a meddling owner and general chaos. To get them firing like he has in such circumstances is very impressive. On Ishmael didn't he get Barnsley into the playoffs? That's more than TM managed with less resources and time. Also WBA were in the playoffs when he left. Is he a great manager? I'm not sure but I would have him over TM. As for the rest you mention, taking a snapshot at one moment is interesting - have Coventry and QPR had the time or investment TM has had? Have either been on the death spirals he has been at. I'll finish with this had TM had a run like he has had with us at either club he would have been sacked. That's how football works apart from at Ewood.

Think this is an unfair criteria as just because a transfer fee may or may not be involved doesn't necessarily influence their importance to the team. Walton is a case in point. "Just" a loan but played most games and cost us countless goals and points. Not sure well we didn't pay a fee for him is a valid excuse for how damaging he was to the team. Whittingham would be another - no transfer fee involved but one of our higher earners making it a costly mistake. Gallagher would be the first name to meet your criteria btw. I'll be honest Gav. Whilst I agree Venkys are the bigger problem TM is far from a good manager and I find it a tad strange that he's absolved of blame even as a symptom not the cause.

As others have said, the date could do with being corrected in the thread title. Otherwise a great write-up. The Worthington Cup Final weekend was a highlight of 50+ years of watching Rovers for me, possibly even beats Anfield 95. A couple of other players to wear both shirts recently (although neither played many games for us) are Greg Cunningham and the late Peter Whittingham. Other notable recent incidents in this fixture were Shane Duffy's disgraceful last game for us and Arma's worldie a couple of seasons ago. I think I would take a point right now. Edit - just realised its actually a home game so no, I want all 3 points now :)

I think you have to judge them individually really. Murphy's legs had gone everyone knew it, Fulham offered him a year extension but told him he'd be on the bench and not involved much. Nobody in England would have given him the contract he got here. It was a stinker, a clear stitch up job by dastardly & mutley. Downing still had something although it was largely wasted here and it would have been better spending those wages elsewhere. Whittingham a good enough signing for league 1 but he had no real job in mind for him. Anybody else would have had him in Evans position or just as back up to him. Not our guy, just get him in then try and make him fit in somewhere. Typical Mowbray. Holtby another good signing but they really have to start finding the balance between risk and reward. Like the Ayala signing you know you aren't going to get many games out of them. So is it really worth it ?

It's not clear from what Mowbray said as to whether the contract has been terminated. You would think so, but it could conceivably be the case that Holtby is now on paid leave, if he has a basic salary. I don't understand why Holtby was on the bench for Huddersfield. Mowbray has stated he wants to give young players a chance like Buckley and yet, has not started him lately, and would rather leave a gap on the bench than put someone like McBride, Burns, Butterworth, Whitehall, Garrett or Barnes there. On a different note, I'd be glad to know the last time a veteran ex-Prem 'star' or from top tier football elsewhere, player succeeded at Rovers. To varying extents, Holtby, Danny Murphy, Stewart Downing and Peter Whittingham have been relative flops. It makes me wonder whether the style of play in the modern game makes it harder for such players to make an impact in the lower leagues late in their careers.

Quick question, what criteria are you using to define these as great signings? I presume by great, you mean better than good? And that would suggest have made a big positive impact on the club. Would that be a fair assessment? If that's the case I genuinely can't see how Rothwell and Holtby get on that list. Neither has hugely shaped the team, the stats and end product for both are ok at best and they have been in and out of the team. Even with blue and white tinted specs I struggle to see how that is great. Compare them to the impact that Dack has had since joining for example, or Smallwood in his first season, or Elliott this year and you see a heck of a difference. Good signings maybe, but great I think is stretching it. Also if we are going on what they do here rather than raw potential then am not sure that Armstrong in League 1 or Reid count as great either (assuming that we can count Armstrong twice, that seems cheating a bit (how do you spot s player twice?) Armstrong in League 1 was nowhere near as influential as say Dack or Smallwood and Reid spent most of his time shunted out wide. Hard to say either of those players had a great impact. Now Armstrong since signing permanently, my word, would agree has been a cracking buy. So even with a favourable outlook I really can't see how you can justify saying more than 6 top of the range signings. Tbf that's not a poor record for a manager. Problem is there have been some absolute clangers too, often at great expense Gally, Bereton and Whittingham took up significant portions of the budget each year for nothing in return, their cost as well as their inability causing damage to the team. Walton cost us so many goals it was untrue. Ayala has been shocking for fitness reasons hugely contributing to our defensive issues and Harper was an utter waste of a loan. I also think all the full backs he has brought have been substandard but wouldn't quite class them as terrible as apart from Caddis on paper they looked decent moves. In short, I think TM has made some good buys but he is no Mark Hughes in the transfer market for us. Far too many clangers and costly ones at that for him to be classed as having done well (as oppose to decent) on that front.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂now we all know you’re taking the piss, within what you mention, there are handy signings, there are okay signings, that’s it. Dack may be the sole one that you could put as great (in the lower league football sense). ill raise you that with, Ayala, harwood, branthwaite, Palmer, trybull, Walton, the boro keeper weve signed, nuttal, hart, caddis, bell, Douglas, whittingham, Payne, gladwin, leitwiller, Rodwell, Samuel, Gallagher and a few many more

I've known Mowbray isn't an amazing manager since Doncaster at home second game of the league one season. Even when he was doing a good job it's always been at the back of my mind. I mention it on here every now and again but it baffles me to this day. He basically massively overreacted to the defeat at Southend and set up incredibly negatively with a team full of logical holes. Team that day was: Raya Caddis Nyambe Ward Mulgrew Williams Smallwood Evans Whittingham Bennett Graham His time was up when we lost 9 out of 11. games in the second half of 18/19.

If the likes of Antonsson, Ayala, Bell, Caddis, Douglas, Gladwin, Hart, Leutwiler, Pears, Samuel, Smallwoood, Walton, Whittingham are not too bad then God help us.