I think our lack of infrastructure has a big affect on our ability to utilise these transfer windows successfully. Mowbray has a football team to run, Waggott is looking after every other aspect of the club. They need backup and the club needs a fully functioning board and employees who can do the leg work and research and talk to agents etc. Mowbray has admitted that the scouting network is not up to scratch. If the decisions over transfers during this window were completely down to Mowbray and Waggott then maybe they have taken the easy option and refused take any risks after the (so far) disappointment of Brereton. Another big money flop may have had implications for both of them. When a new manager arrives there is always the 'see where we are after 3 or 4 windows' attitude - which is fair enough - but we've just seen a window slam shut with very little in the way of positive progress. I don't really blame Mowbray. If he had some backup we could have been ready with a list of potential players / budgets and offers all lined up ready to go when the window opened. I just don't think we are organised enough behind the scenes. Mowbray can't do everything himself. It's a shame. We are on a good run and in a good league position. A couple of impact signings could have given us real impetus for the run in. Mowbray has admitted there was money available! - Opportunity missed

Really?

Too expensive in his opinion or has he asked for money and been turned down ? He stated at the consultation meeting that money would be available in January and he would get backing from the owners 'if we were in or around the playoffs' If there are players he likes and available then where's the backing ?

Ear to the ground

As with the Brereton signing, is there a possibility that Mowbray doesn't really have the final say on these matters?

Can't see Gallagher propelling us into the playoffs really. The lad from Boro just might. I'd love us to go for him. Think big.

This is Venky world. Have they ever done anything that makes sense ? You just never know.

I've heard Brereton is a great centre half in training sessions !

Every window is an opportunity to improve the team. Mowbray stated at the supporters consultation meeting that money would be available in January if we were 'challenging in and around the playoff places'. So perhaps the owners assess each window based on our current league position and judge the chances of the investment generating immediate benefits. Since we are unlikely to go up or down this season they may not be too interested at the moment. This is not the way to steadily build for the future and - as previously stated - staying still will probably result in going backwards.

Pretty sure it wasn't Mowbray

It would make no sense at all to loan Travis out at this point after he has just made an impact in the first team. I don't think Mowbray is one to put personal issues before the good of the club. Also can't see Travis pushing for it now given his current opportunity to impress. Don't think he is going anywhere

NAPM

Thought he looked really decent at Sheff Utd. Wonder if that convinced Bristol to go for him ?

Are Newcastle likely to fill the whole end ? They are not exactly in love with their team / owners at the moment. Even at £10, the first tie attracted 36,000 as opposed to their usual 50,000 for a league match. Not sure they will turn up in their usual numbers.

Who knows ? He also said Armstrong was only on the 'C' list and then bought him. Maybe bluffing ?

That contradicts what Mowbray said at the supporters consultation meeting. He said Boro were constantly on the phone asking if Rovers are still interested in Chapman. Mowbray then went on to point out that Chapman currently wouldn't get in our team and his contract is up in the summer so why would he make any commitment at this point in time. This may not have made the radio edit.

Another 3 or 4 months of current form and I think most people will be casting judgement. This season could be catastrophic by then.

I think he has potential. His pace while in possession of the ball is amazing but may sometimes affect his ability to pick a final ball. He sometimes holds the ball too long but that will improve with experience. Overall he did well but diving when he had a clear chance to equalise really blotted his copybook. Got to cut that out.

The last 3 games I've attended were at Preston, Wigan and Sheffield Utd. I've seen us concede 10 goals in those 3 games and the reaction by the players to each goal has been the same - look down at your boots and shrug your shoulders. Not once have I seen cross words between players, encouragement for each other, pointing fingers, no discussion about what went wrong, no communication of any sort. Just no fight at all in this team. I think they have inherited Mowbray's 'this is where we are' attitude. The team is spineless and leaderless. I think we showed in the first hour today that there is ability in the side - Palmer was good, Reed and Travis both busy. Rothwell seems to be more bluster than end product and that dive was a disgrace. I didn't see any real threat from Brereton at all I'm afraid. But the overriding worry I have is that this team is beginning to accept these heavy defeats as par for the course. The attitude in the last few weeks has been as bad as anything since we were relegated from the Premiership. I don't see any confidence returning to this side without a big change in personnel or a change of manager. I don't think we will go down but we can't plod along like this into next season.

we've been quite lucky with lack of injuries and suspensions so far this season - they often have a big affect around Christmas. However, I really don't want to watch us plod along with Evans, Smallwood, Williams etc for the rest of this season but I don't think Mowbray will shuffle the pack unless he's forced to. No point keeping a settled team if we are not winning. I am hoping we are safe from any relegation scrap so why not experiment a bit?

And why start Palmer instead of Brereton at Preston ?

I don't really understand how the 'loan with a view to permanent transfer' works if it is outside the window for transfers. If there is a clause that states that the loan MUST be converted to a permanent move on a certain date then it is clearly a permanent deal made outside the EFL transfer window which is against the rules. Does it mean clubs can make permanent signings during the loan window and just call it something else while the authorities turn a blind eye? If it is just an 'agreement' then do we need to stick to it ?

The buck stops with the manager. Currently he is not doing a good job. The thing that worries me most is his apparent lack of emotion after each defeat - He should be absolutely fuming but appears to accept our plight as somehow inevitable - 'its just where we are'. If that attitude is prevalent in the dressing room then we might as well give up now. Too many excuses not enough action. Mowbray needs to change his attitude but it won't happen. He's under no pressure after that recent contract renewal - Not good news for Rovers immediate future in my opinion.

This is exactly right. I don't see how Venky's don't understand this. No business will ever succeed without the correct infrastructure. Rovers need a proper board of directors who understand football, understand the club and understand the fans. I can't imagine Venky's allowing their other business interests to be run with the same model used at Rovers. Maybe they see themselves as Mowbray's supervisors and think they don't need any help. It's either that or they are not particularly bothered about future progression. Still totally baffled by their intentions and actions after all this time. Without changes behind the scenes Rovers will stagnate and slowly continue on a downward spiral.

There is definitely something in this story. I believe Mowbray was consulted but not particularly keen. The deal went through because Brereton seemed to fit the criteria currently being used for Rovers' signings.