1 hour ago, Butty said:

Anyone else get the feeling that a Downing or a Frank Fielding May be a done deal but TM doesn’t want that too be announced as our first signing when we are at a time where season ticket sales are horrendous and the club are trying too shift more? Could be the case. EDIT: Just seen on Twitter that Downing’s odds of joining us have gone in from 7/4 too 1/5. Someone knows something! 

Could well mean that Mercer has been down the betting shop again?

My take on this transfer window.

we need first and foremost a strong backbone which is absolutely essential for any team, particularly in the championship.

Goal keeper - Debatable.  Poor season after horrible injury but he is in the mindset of the clash (should I stay or should I go) because centre defence just not good enough.  Therefore new central defender an absolute must, we can have great wingers, great forward thinking midfield players but without the backbone we will lose more than we win ie if we score 4 but opponents score 5, result is zero points.  Any money available should go to that position which should be priority.

Up top - Depending the formation, Graham will be ok for one more season but not a priority replacement.  If we change formation and pace becomes far more relevant then BB will come into his own, I think he will prove doubters wrong but it will need a change of style.  Therefore no need to break the bank for another striker.

Next we need a a right back and possibly left back who can defend without the need for centre backs being pulled out of position to cover which in turn puts pressure on the keeper.  I am not sure about either Bell or Nyambie but Bennett is not right there.  So if money available we need at least one new full back.

No need to spend in either midfield or up front because we are covered.  

That would be my priority and that is what I would look at improving before any other positions are even thought about.  It’s all about priorities.

Just now, joey_big_nose said:

I would say in today's market Dack could be worth 20m off the back of some good form. Not at the moment because he's had some poor games, but I can see him hitting the heights again.  

With the best will in the world Reed and Gallagher are more like 10m combined. So no....

Dack has all the attributes to make it to the top but it depends how much he wants it.  He needs to really appraise his own lifestyle.

Assuming that there is a budget and that’s a big assumption.  The first on the shopping list should be a big uncomplicated centre back, someone in the mould of Matt Woods, Tony Gale,  and dare I say Glenn Keeley who would stick his head where others would think twice about putting their boot.

In my opinion that would improve the goalkeeper beyond recognition, and first and foremost a reasonable team needs a good spine.  Once that is achieved then look at other positions, probably right back to prevent the centre backs being pulled out of position to cover.

1 hour ago, blueboy3333 said:

I thought the same. @Paul Mani (iirc) was adamant, however, that there would be no delays to transfers caused by Mogga having to go to India to beg for money. 

Where is Madon when you need him?

Don’t get the criticism of Brereton tonight.  First half we were poor and static, second half while not Barcelona we at least were more fluid and competitive and that was before Rothwell moved into the middle which improved things again.

16 hours ago, 47er said:

When did we last move early in the transfer market? My impression is always of a last minute scramble after awaiting advice from India.

I think the last time we moved really early was for none other than the great Miles Anderson after coming on and playing 3 minutes for Aberdeen.

What a 3 minutes that must have been, he must have won the game single handed stopped 2 certain goals with last gasp defending and then laid on the winner.  Now those are the sort of players we want.

Wait a minute, I have just woken up from having a very strange and weird dream.

1 hour ago, WIR Second Coming said:

'kin ell!! Away from the forum for a few weeks, but get back to this 'my willie is bigger than your willie' shite and drivel again, rather than reasonable and insightful commentary on matters relevant to the team we love....For information, my willie is much bigger than all your willies combined, as I am the biggest dick ever to swing on to these pages. Now that we have sorted that, can we get back to discussions about the Rovers and our chances of avoiding a complete dicking tomorrow?

The biggest dick ever to swing on these pages or at this club just happened to be a Goodwillie.

Just now, Proudtobeblue&white said:

Never forget, never forgive. If they had any pride, they would arrange to give us our club back. They have no place in East Lancashire. Any apologists should take a good look at themselves. Why be a success in any other part of their empire, and be a total failure at Championship Manager?

Venky’s  like others who have inherited wealth have a certain arrogance that they are right.  Same with Walkers, who when you get down to it, their business acumen has been left wanting, take Flybe for example.

In my opinion, we have Indian owners who are living in a world that is probably 50 years behind Europe and as a result can’t be seen to have made a stupid decision to buy the club because in their world they have made the decision and it cannot be seen as wrong.  Problem is for us as fans we are now stuck between a rock and a hard place as they are looking at the money drain that is no doughtedly occurring.  Initial problem was that Venkys where shafted by certain agents and didn’t see that for a considerable period of time but by the time they did the agent and the manager who the agent had put in did untold damage which was exasperated by the relationship between the owner and the managers wife.   We thought or at least I did, this is pathetic.

They should give the club back but that is not going to happen because (coming from someone who has done business in that part of the world for many years) it is not in their psychology as it would be seen as a failure which is not acceptable.

In short, I believe, we are stuck with our current owners for the foreseeable future as in their world they cannot be seen to have failed.  However, if they see an opportunity for the club to improve (possibility of promotion etc.) then they will back the manager of the day, however, there is always a however, it is whoever chooses the manager because they haven’t the know how, Our current manager has done a reasonable job for us as fans because we are in a far better place now than we where at this time last year or certainly 2 years ago.  Problem we have, is this the farthest that the current manager can take us and if it is then who makes the decision to change.  The chief exec in Blackburn is a mate of the manager and is not going to get rid of him easily.

We have this issue, if we like it or not it is a fact, so in summary I can only think we get lucky and the owners will keep us going and back us to the hilt should circumstances arise but if they don’t, they see us as a money laundering outfit without going into FFP and keep us going.

4 minutes ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

Four soft goals for God’s sake. The only sliver of hope is that today will be the last time I see Williams in a Rovers shirt.

Don’t bet on that.  Don’t think even Mercer would bet on that?

Just now, arbitro said:

Although it hasn't been confirmed I think Rodwell might have been injured. He seemed to be holding his back towards the end of the first half.

He had been given a yellow also.

Well:  in that first half we where lucky to get nil.

I have just voted for other name.  That name being Andy McEvoy.  Against all the odds he ended up being second best scorer in the first division and the following year being joint top scorer with Jimmy Greaves.

In my opinion, absolutely remarkable.

41 minutes ago, Butty said:

Close the thread, our window is over. Positives: The squad as it is has got us currently three points outside the playoffs, and we’ve added Chapman to the mix too. Negatives: If we were serious about the playoffs, adding a striker of quality would have been a real statement of intent. I think we were in dreamland thinking we’d have pulled Assombalonga off. (Thanks for that madon ) 

It’s never over until it’s over.  Wait for the fat lady to sing.

9 minutes ago, Madon said:

Pretty sure it is 11pm tomorrow.

Welcome back the 11 O’clocker. 

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

Some on Twitter are now saying we are in for Peter Crouch. Who knows  

I see Sky are linking Dack to Burnley. That would cause some uproar 

Dack can do better than Burnley.  Come to think of it I can do better than Burnley and I am nearly 70.

14 minutes ago, AAK said:

Burnley 2 up at old trafford eh, looks like we will be playing them after all next season, once Britt fires us to promotion.

2-2 FT. Fulham won.  Newcastle beat city.  Burnley still in Sh1t

Just now, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

As I said the other day, when have we ever had a blinding end to a transfer window? You can see it now, we won’t get near a deal for BA and will have a Gally all lined up on deadline day only for Saints not to get a replacement in at the 11th hour.

Or the Fax machine packs up.

Just now, Pepsi Max Cherry said:

I’m new on here so just wondering what an 11 o’clocker is?

Many years ago now, Nicko as he was called (Allan Nixon) had great contacts with the club and any news he got, particularly regarding transfer news, he would report at 11-00pm. We all would wait for the 11 o’clocker with anticipation.

However Nixon lost his contacts and has since turned against the club but some, particularly Chaddy still take what he says as gospel.

Now wait for Chaddy:

Madon is quiet at the moment.  Could we be due an 11 O’Clocker?

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

Why is the Rovers fanzine called 4000 holes?

I was reading today that the Middlesborough fanzine "Fly me to the moon" is named after a quote a Boro manager made about our own Tony Mowbray

I assume it comes from the song a day in the life from the sergeant Pepper album by the Beatles.

Just to throw something in completely different.  I thought we may look at the lower leagues again.  I see Sunderland are looking at Eaves from Gillingham.  When I have seen him, his movement has been exceptional and due to the success of Dack, I thought we may be tempted down that route again.  I believe he is out of contract in summer, so transfer fee probably around £500,000 and wages not an issue.

Yes I know he is not proved at this level but we do still have Graham.  I would love Asombalonga but?

1 minute ago, Madon said:

Jesus Christ this better happen ?

Madon:  If this does happen and you are ever in the West Country, Taunton Exeter area, it will be my pleasure to buy you a pint or maybe 2.

Very sad to learn that Mike Harrison passed away.  Mike was part of one of the most exciting forward lines ever to play for Rovers.

RIP 

1 hour ago, JeffRover said:

We’ve learnt he watches the pennies so he’s currently travelling up on horse and cart as we speak. May arrive by Friday lunchtime.....

Are you telling me that he is as slow as the fax machine used to be?