3 hours ago, Parsonblue said:

The only people who have the right to ask questions of any manager are the people who employ him and play his wages.  Manager's certainly don't have to justify decisions they make to supporters but our present one is very good at explaining what he does and why although he has no need to.  Supporters may offer a view on a manager but suggesting that they are accountable to complete strangers for decisions they make seems rather odd.  

A very subservient view.

Not a lot of point in having 'an evening with Tony Mowbray' if you can't ask questions! 

Supporters are the lifeblood of any club. Managers are temporary employees.

What is our record number of consecutive defeats ?

4 hours ago, JHRover said:

I'd just like us to be quick out of the blocks for one and get the majority of our spending and business done early doors to give the new players a full pre season. Mowbray said he wanted that last summer but it didn't happen as we left it to late on before bringing in Reed, Brereton and Armstrong. I don't expect that to happen as we've still to go through the annual review with Madame in May or June before approval is given to spend and we will be playing catch up whilst all the decent free agents will be snapped up.

It's such a depressing situation.  Even if Venky's authorise some spending we still have no infrastructure in place to make use of it at the right time.

Before we start thinking about new players we need to sort out the club behind the scenes and make it functional. 

Despite their money, our owners are a massive handicap.

I think Mowbray has done just about enough to have another go next season - but it's a close call for me.

I think one major problem is his closeness to Waggott. I think they are both decent men but Waggott's remit is to cut costs wherever possible which may account for Mowbray's reluctance to spend in January. The summer recruitment was an expensive flop and another window like that may have had Venky's on their backs.

Mowbray has a long term contract so he won't be feeling too much pressure and is probably happy to be persuaded by Waggott that things are OK without splashing out at the moment.  Their futures are probably intertwined so if Venky's think Waggott is doing a good job, Mowbray is safe and secure. Waggott is a money man not a football man.

I would be happier with Mowbray if he had a more demanding, football savvy boss who put pressure on him to achieve more - feeling satisfied because we are 'doing nearly as well as Preston' is just nonsense. He needs to be more ambitious.

If the setup remains the same then I don't expect much improvement and I would then probably think a change is required. 

Having said that, a change is unlikely to bring anything better so what's the answer ?  I'm not sure there is one at the moment.

On ‎14‎/‎02‎/‎2019 at 06:23, AllRoverAsia said:

ÏMowbray is not going anywhere. He is contracted until June 2022, his mate Waggott is his 'boss' in name at Ewood and Venkys like how he deflects attention away from them.

His stated aim is family security and putting his kid(s) through Uni, his plan will be to finance that via Rovers not the Dole queue.

Be prepared for years of mediocrity, there is no way he can build an auto PL promotion capable team at Ewood, playoffs possible even for an average team hitting form at season end.

I am going to give him a max of 4 more transfer windows including friggin Januarys, with this summer being very important. He has players to replace and positions to fill but stymied already with his players contract extension madness. Like many I expect no progress, but for Mowbrays job to be safe.

I think we have been done up like a kipper but it's ok, he's a nice open and honest bloke.

And fucking Preston, from miles behind, are now above us. Amazing what a good January window can do!

This is exactly how I see it too.

A long term contract with his chum as CEO is great for Mowbray but not good for Rovers' progression - as evidenced by the lack of ambition in the last window.

I think the Chapman signing was just to appease the fans a little - doesn't look like he will play much this year  - we could have waited until  the summer and saved half a season of wages or got a useful loan player in

Overall I think this season has been drab at best.

10 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

Portsmouth aren’t fan-owned since 2017 when former Disney CEO Michael Eisner bought them.

Sorry - That is very true but the fans voted to allow him to take over and made sure he was going to run the club in a way that they approved.

I think the Portsmouth Supporters Trust still has a seat on the board.

51 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Whats that, languish in League 1? 

One day (soon maybe) they will be back in the Championship along side us and they will be fan owned. 

Imagine having people who actually care about the club making the decisions! Good luck to them ( and Luton too for that matter)

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

Although losing and conceding five goals is annoying and frustrating I have to say I thought some of Brentfords football today was exceptional and they fully deserved their win. Their play in and around our penalty area was extremely difficult to play against. The quick movement, one two's, spinning in behind and movement off the ball was as good as anything I have seen in the Championship this season. From an analytical point of view there is plenty for Mowbray to look at and whilst he does that he has to analyse himself and his staff. His changes were poor and once again he made several positional changes when using substitutes when one positional change would have done. 

One real cause for concern was how our players looked at each other after three of the goals. It seems that they were trying to pass the buck whilst exonerating themselves. A bad day for us and the sooner we can get fifty points the better which has been my opinion since August.

I noticed the same at Preston, Wigan and Sheff Utd. No fighters or leaders in the team

Just now, AdamRochina said:

What a surprise ..no plan b no striker to replace Graham ..no ambition in the transfer market negative mowbray with his loyalties to piss poor players ..there was actual talk of play offs Jesus Christ give over ..pathetic 

I honestly feel we could have done business in the last window. Good players available and Venky's interested in buying but maybe Mowbray didn't want to gamble. 

End result is we are well short of depth in the squad and we rely on a couple of key players. I don't care what their wages are but BA or CA and a decent right back in our team today would have made all the difference. No ambition means no progress. We should have strengthened in the window - no doubt about it.

No bottle when it gets tough - Bristol, Swansea, Preston, Wigan, Sheff Utd, Brentford how many more to come ?

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 

30 minutes ago, ben_the_beast said:

Personally I'm disappointed we've not been able to go for Gallagher. I don't want to see us dropping totally unsustainable amounts of money signings. I doubt we'll go up this year. Still could. But we've got our club back. We have pride. Mowbray values the club rather than short term success which is very rare for a manager. Hopefully the summer is better. But I think we've got it pretty good

Really?

13 minutes ago, rovers11 said:

TM pretty much confirming in his press conference that we won’t be signing anyone today as the players he likes are too expensive.

He spoke of beefing up the scouting department to try and pick up some gems in Europe in the summer.

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 ? 

3 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

"As with" How so definite? I haven;t seen any sources say Mowbray doesn't have the final say on players 

Ear to the ground

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

Given Mowbrays often public show of fairness I honestly can't see us paying wages which are not on parity with the current highest earners. One sure fire way of upsetting the spirit and morale of the current squad is by bringing somebody in and paying them way above senior players.

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

1 minute ago, Fraserkirky said:

Love to see Rovers spending money, but I think Gallagher on loan with option and Chapman on permanent is good enough business. Blasting 10m plus wages on BA is pretty scary, but I might just be having Brereton nightmares.

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.

22 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Id be absolutely amazed for so many reasons:

Why would Boro sell him to a team in 8th?

On what planet would we afford him considering weve already spent 10m this season?

Mowbray has repeatedly said he doesnt want someone on wages outside the parameters of our current wage bill. How would we afford his high wages?

Why would he come here?

How would he fit in short term? Dack and Graham are undroppable and critical to our team. So he either is a sub or out wide. Mowbray only plays one "attacking" wide man and at the moment Armstrong is in incredible form. He is far less effective wide anyway. 

Hes 26, so obviously he would outlast Graham and be here for a good few years. What does that mean for the 9m worth of forwards we bought in the summer? Armstrong is on fire playing from wide but Mowbray sees him as a striker long term. And Brereton at 7m as ever is the elephant in the room. Then theres Nuttall too. You cant play them all.

Lets be clear on the quality of Assombolonga. He is a proven goalscorer over a number of years. He is far, far better than the likes of Sam Gallagher. He is a good age too, he would be a superb addition. But I dont see it happening in a million years sadly. 

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

7 minutes ago, Stuart said:

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2019/january/grimsby-move-for-grayson/

What the actual f...?

We have no reserve defenders and the one we do have is allowed out!

Mowbray had better have some plan up his sleeve!

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

4 hours ago, JHRover said:

If we sign nobody this window does it count as one of Mowbray's two/three/four windows he needs to build or do we defer it until the summer and add another one on afterwards?

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. 

5 minutes ago, arbitro said:

I actually feel for the lad now. Clearly out of his depth, confidence shot to pieces and physically weak. Somebody has dropped a real clod paying so much money for him

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 

24 minutes ago, philipl said:

Frankly, turning up next Tuesday is mission critical for Rovers supporters.

Good attendance = case proven on pricing

Bad attendance = why should Venky's keep supporting losses when Blackburn folk can't even support the club for a tenner? Stuff the transfer budget.  

NAPM

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

That's something people say about Palmer but I don't think is true. I think it is a lazy accusation aimed at him because he had the confidence to try some tricks.

He worked a lot harder in terms of tracking back and chasing down opponents than the likes of Brereton, Armstrong or even Rothwell. Also unlike those 3 he was capable of winning a few headers which is much needed with Mowbray's hoof ball.

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.

6 hours ago, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

Then why did he try to get him in at the death of the transfer window?

I see he is on the bench again today for Boro. 

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