What you've described there is exactly what occurs when bidding for a player, you start low, they want more, if its out of our budget then it can't be helped. If you don't bid for a player then you have absolutely no chance of getting them at all. If someone like Coyle or Kean was in charge I'd definitely thinking the same but Mowbray doesn't strike me as the sort of bloke who'd play those types of games. Perhaps it's just naivety or blind faith on my part after getting lucky in having a decent manager for once.

Then what are you suggesting then? I can only summise that you're implying that Mowbray is that disingenuous that he's put fake or token offers in for players...

Rich Sharpe asked Mowbray if we were interested and was told that weren't in for him.

Collins at this level would be a good signing. I know people are hesitant signing players at that age after Etuhu and Murphy but we also had Berg and Short at centre half when they were about 35... Sako wages would be silly.

See for me it's Edwards... At that price given our budget, its a big opportunity missed. Given his performance right under Mowbrays nose at Ewood... We should have snapped him up. Can't fathom why he passed on that one.

Mate, I've been more cynical and skeptical of happenings at Rovers ever since they came in but are we really suggesting Tony Mowbray has such little inegritity and decency that he's putting in fake or token offers for players? I mean, nothing would surprise me after what we've endured but I just find that pretty hard to believe, especially given the random nature of the players targeted. I can totally understand after 8 years of absolute shit the cynicism from the fans but are we that damaged as a fan base that we can't trust anyone anymore? With Mowbray I think we can afford ourselves a little respite from it and finally trust in what appears to be the first genuinely decent spokes person at Rovers for some time... I hope I'm not wrong.

I'm stuck between 2 feelings really... I'm positive about the fact we've tried to go out and bring in some genuine talent but I'm dissapointed we have taken a chance on some of the talent from league 1 as I think there is some good value to be had, especially if you look at Edwards and Maddison at Peterbrough. Although we were never linked, seeing Ulloa going out on loan to some Mexican side is dissapointing because I think he'd have done a real job here. That aside, we can still bring bodies in and sign them in about 4 months time, so we'll have people coming in putting everything in for a permenant move and possibly getting them for better value now the window has passed. I still think come the end of the window we'll be happy.

I'm not saying he's not to be critised, everyone is worthy of criticism, there just seems to be a bit of a lack of faith that he's trying to make the right decisions in the transfer market. Or perhaps its a lack of foresight to understand what he's tried to do... He's waited for clubs like Forest to make their signings who now have bloated squads and might need to cut their cloth accordingly... Earlier in the transfer window when they're less desperate they may have demanded much more for a player like Brereton. We have a limited budget, he's tried to use it cleverly in a desperate part of the window... It's not come off, naturally it's dissapointing but it's not like we're in a position where this is our side till December. I still think we'll be satisfied come the end of August.

I can't believe the lack of faith in the manager. Most of you know my feelings of the owners and how critical I've been of the club over the years but this guy has earned the right for us to trust him. Now I'm not saying people shouldn't be dissapointed but to make out that it's been a disaster, horrific or a shambles is a massive over reaction in my view... Especially as we can still bring in players and simply sign them in 4 1/2 months, whilst giving them extra motivation to earn their contract. I'm pretty sure Mowbray has even discussed testing clubs late in the window to get better value for money. Its been a long time since we've had a decent enough manager in charge that we can actually trust. Today has been an indication of what type of quality he wants to bring in, surely we can take the positives from that? To have a manager with actual aspirations is something we've been robbed of for 8 years... So trust him for gods sake, he's earned it. Yeah, signings might not have come off but if we pull of some great loans with agreements in place before the end of the month I guarantee we'll have less folk complaining. In Mowbray I trust.

Still have the loan window to essentially make as good as permanent signings though? If anything, signing someone playing for a contract in 4 1/2 months is surely going to get the best out of them?

Dont talk sense mate... To sum up today... We only have monopoly money, we make fake bids for players, we have no transfer policy, we should have sacked Mowbray for Hurst and we're going to get relegated. Been a good laugh. ????

We probably made that offer hours ago, just that it's only just coming out now.

That's class.

No it's suggests we bid ?

You strike the me as the sort of person that if someone offered you a grand in the street, you'd pull your face that it isn't 2! ? ?

Some of you lot are absolutely kin mental... Dissapointed because we haven't signed anyone and when we make a bid no one believes it! It's hilarious.

Be a left field signing for sure but my Forrest mates really rate him.

Brereton was linked with United not long ago... Tons of potential there.

Bretherton 5 million bid on SSN!!

Perhaps I'm getting older but... I'm not getting it. 5 O clock will come and go and we'll still be able to sign players, perhaps even for better value... So what's the big deal?

If Bolasie is going Boro that will mean no squad place for Chapman now... Pulis isn't playing him as it is. Get it done!

Anyone more interested if this thread gets to 500 pages before 5 O clock?

I can't believe what I'm reading. To summarise, we should've sacked the man who got us promoted and he should have spunked his budget willy nilly.

Exactly what I was thinking. He's not getting minutes from the bench, if Freeman signs for them I can see him not even being in the squad. Could be a bit of a domino one this... Get him in TM.

Pretty chilled to be honest. The only area I think we're desperate is CF but if we can get someone decent on loan with a buy agreement then I'll be pretty content, especially as in these situations you can get better value... Like Cairney. Would like to see Chapman sign still though, Pulis doesn't fancy him, he wants to be here, we want him here, it fits. What I don't want to see is us recklessly wasting money on players we don't desperately need. I don't want to see Mowbray not being able to bring players in due to embargo.