Good day out. Chuffed for the manager to start with a win. This is how I saw it.... Kaminski, played well but as usual his distribution almost cost us again. Otherwise, good game. 6.5/10 Brittain, solid. Just did his job and all this talk of him being either crap or amazing is nonsense. He did his job, that's it. 7/10 Ayala, a class apart. Experience, nous, a leader. 8/10 Wharton, solid, did his job, was comfortable. 7/10 Pickering, did ok. Wouldn't go as far as to call him solid as he gave the ball away one took many times. Feel he could get exposed and be a weak link but it seems more a confidence issue than ability to me. 6/10 Trav, wonder goal, solid. 7/10 Bucky, like a white Kante at times with his reading of the game and turning over possession. Such a clever little player, technically a class above. 8/10 Hedges, this is a wierd one. I think the good parts and the bad parts are standing out in different people's minds, hence the mixed reviews. For me it's much of the same as I've already seen, plays with intensity, looks busy and tidy at times but ultimately I don't see him as much of an attacking threat. Powderpuff is the word I've used before and I think it's pretty accurate but he was a bit grittier today at least. Has his moments but I don't see enough shots or individual brilliance to see him as someone who could make us a top 6 side. Good squad player, a solid performance but I think someone like Bowler would be an instant improvement. Diaz, showed his ability in fits and starts. Even in one of his more quieter games by his standards, still somehow manages to look a standard above what's on the pitch due to his pace, size and physicality. 6.5/10 Gallagher, meh. Should have been down the middle instead of Vale. Ineffective. Poor. 5/10 Vale, I don't want to be too critical because its the lads home debut but he looked a fish out of water to me. I think people are being a bit too nice in their assessments because he's one of our own but putting that aside and being honest... He looked too small and not quick enough. Having not seen him before I expected him to be quick at pressing but he looked knackered before half time and got bullied at times. There were some tidy moments but I think a loan to a league 1 side would be ideal or at least keep giving him 15/20 mins here and there but starting? Absolutely no way. 5.5/10 Dolan, was an instant improvement on Vale. Trickery, quick in the press and just a general pain in the arse. Unlucky not get an assist for Diaz. Should be starting. 6.5/10 Overall, I'm not sure how much we learned from today. It was a nice starter for us, especially for the manager. Lifts confidence and expectations. They were absolutely woeful and much the same as they were last season at Ewood. An almost carbon copy performance. JDT's blue and white army!

Have to 100% disagree on this. He was solid, especially late on the game, won a few key 1v1's. Was a very promising start and a great defensive performance all round. A firm 7/10.

It does feel a bit of a scraping the barrel type signing to be honest. As if we've bid for the A list players with our "healthy budget" and been turned down... Now we're on the C list. Really underwhelmed by this one.

I really hope we're not spending too much on Szmodics. This isn't filling me with promise for the rest of our business.

yeah, what I'm saying is that Sharpe has obviously asked the question and has only said a move being close isn't true, he hasn't said that it won't happen.

Now to be fair, this doesn't exactly write it off, all it says is that a move isn't close as things stand, it doesn't say we have no interest and it doesn't say we haven't made a bid either. Reading between the lines, what this probably eludes to is that talks are on going between the club and the player. He's obviously asked the question and the club are as usual keeping their cards close to their chest and not giving much away.

That's what I'm saying, doesn't seem an unreasonable fee for a capable player that we need in a position that we're light in. Yet Blackpool are stepping in front whilst we try and sign some kid who's probably not good enough from Liverpool. Not a good look and it doesn't fill me with confidence for the rest of the window.

Well, considering Rich Sharp said we had an interest, I'm guessing we were offering toffee's again. 1.25 for a player who scored quite a few goals from midfield in a position we need bodies doesn't seem too unreasonable. Either way, doesn't look good.

🤣 Now we can go from elation of potentially signing Bowler to the depression of not signing him from Blackpool and also missing out on Branagan to Blackpool... Who could afford the buyout clause and we couldn't. Let the meltdown commence.

Nixon saying no truth in Bowler links.

I trust you've seen him more than I have so will i'll take your word for it but 9 goals in the Swedish league last season doesn't make me feel like he'd be exceptional in this league. At this point, i'll take what we can get because they aren't exactly queueing up to sign for us.

Not convinced we should be spending anything like 3 million on Bermancevic. Rather see that spent on someone familiar with this league.

If we don't get 3 points on Saturday or lose even, I think that will really push things on with transfers. There will be some keen eyes on how the likes of Carter, Hedges, and Pickering perform (if they play). If Carter looks out of his depth, Hedges looks ineffective and Pickering gets murdered... I can see some signings getting sorted quick sharp.

I think we should be starting Markanday. We need him to have a decent season for us and get him going as quickly as possible so it feels like he can fill the void Khadra has left. Having some faith in him and giving him regular minutes will only help his confidence. Even if he doesn't do much in the first few games, just stick with him and hope he can find his feet to be a potential match winner for us. At the risk of sounding like i'm making excuses for our lack of transfer activity (I'm not), I think this is one exception where you can say it's like a new signing for us.

The biggest issue with signing Van Hecke is that his performances which led to him being called up by the Netherlands u21's, will not have gone unnoticed by clubs in his homeland. A club like Feyenoord would likely be interested. If there is the smallest chance we might be able to get him, one positive that may sway him could be how loved he is here. If we signed him and made no other permanent signings I'd probably consider this window a success.

quite funny actually, although he doesn't seem aware of what it takes to actually get sacked by Venkys. After all, Mowbray still wasn't even sacked after another dreadful post crimbo meltdown.

Bowler looks like he caused Everton some problems yesterday....

Sort of suprised Rovers haven't moved for Hirst at Leicester, considering only a year left on his contract there. 15 goals in league and cup on loan at Portsmouth, 4 assists, only 23.

Sorry got my stats mixed up. 3 mill could be about right but do think it could be more a deal rising to 3 if it comes off. Just my opinion.

They won't get 3 mill for Bowler.

Yes please.

Would imagine he would ask and the club would ask him to not report on it as to scupper the deal.

For what it's worth I've heard conflicting reports on Steve. One from a person who worked higher in the ticket sales team who said he was apparently difficult to work for who then subsequently decided to leave and get paid more at a smaller club. In contrast, I've also heard from people who frequent the executive boxes that he's personable guy who tells it straight. I recall being told how scathing he was when describing one of Adam Armstrong's performances after a game, along with a few others, apparently he talks like any other football fan and didn't hold back with the expletives. I suppose as a supporter, when you're seeing your best players leave for no income and witness little being spent on the team, it's natural to point the finger at those at board room level. I guess we shouldn't make assumptions about those we don't know and what we don't know. What I've read here is extremely encouraging, hopefully the rest of the transfer window backs that up.

Probably the most insightful stuff I've read about the inner workings of Rovers for well over 10 years. Much appreciated.

What we might have going for us here is his friendship with Brittain and various other players at Rovers too... Maybe he'll just want to enjoy his football with his mates, not have to travel too far and stay close to family?