Reading the articles I dont think it was the transfer window that did it really. While not brilliant it was better than recent efforts. And it sounded like he was interested in roles before the Jan window opened. It was the lack of comms with the owners, the lack of a plan (not renewing key players contracts being a huge red flag), and confusion and poor quality individuals (Gestede) pushing out good quality (Park etc).

Reading that you do wonder how much the appointment of someone with no pedigree for the role he's in (Gestede - he came on work experience..!!! so mad) and the sidelining of experienced heads like John Park is really the fundamental issue alongside the lack of a long term plan and communication with the owners. There's nothing more likely to drive someone out the door than working with people you don't believe have the right capability. In terms of next manager I personally think it will be either Damian Johnson or maybe a punt on Duffer. It's pretty much a free hit as we can't get relegated, and I doubt anyone really believes we will finish top six. I don't think Waggott and Gestede will be able or want to persuade a robust character like Edwards to join. They'll want the easy option so they can regroup in the summer.

Whats mad is that its not really a lack of money that lost the manager... Its a lack of communication. If the owners were engaged in any way this could have been avoided. But they aren't...

Cant see any of the out of contract players signing new deals. Wonder if a few of them will end up playing for Eustace in a season or two.

Could just have decided that he doesn't like the shambles. Not totally sure Derby look that much better mind? Feels like part of it could be Derby might just be offering him a lot more money and Rovers can't match it.

Yeah, this is the bit that just defies any explanation, which then leads to the view there must be something we are not seeing which leads to conspiracy theories. Its hard to believe with all the heat from the court case etc they are just ignoring the situation at the club entirely, there must be a reason they want to keep it but minimise costs. But what is that reason...?

That have the ring of truth around it. Does also leave open the door to him staying if he gets assurances. But I cant see how he will though... That we are not even proposing contracts suggests to me the owners are just cutting all out of season non contracted investment

Wolves gave us a good look at the new signings... Pretty sure this is the side we want to put out Pears Brittain. Baath. Hyam. Beck Travis. Buckley Dolan. Denis. Kargbo Gueye

This is where I am a bit blurry on contract law - wouldn't he have to pay up his contract to Rovers out of his own pocket?

To bargain for what?

I guess one option no one is talking about is they could just refuse to let him go... Then what happens?

Ultimately well beaten by Wolves but we acquitted ourselves reasonably well. Thought the centre backs, centre mids and the new signings played well. Toth and Cantwell were absolutely shocking. The subs couldnt make any impact. As long as Eustace doesn't quit then I feel like we will have more to offer at WBA than I expected based on today game.

Is that definite? I thought we are still in rumours?

Quite fancy seeing him in a two with Gueye. Looks an ideal partner for him, if he can get in the box more. This games already over but looking forward to WBA..

Dont think Ive felt this positive about losing 2-0 before. Keeper is terrible but Dennis and Kargbo look like very good acquisitions who fit exactly what we need. Think if everyone's fit based on what Ive seen Cantwell gets dropped. Hes such a waste of space.

All the new signings look decent tbh. Haven't had a player line Kargbo in a long time. Toth looks very similar to the keeper we had last year, no confidence at all and slow reactions.

I think things have changed a bit since Eustace joined. The key difference is the court case has hugely reduced investment is now completely evident. JDT came before that kicked off, and I think Eustace may have understood the court case would be cleared up in the summer when he joined. I think decent managers will be a lot more wary now after (if Eustace does go) 2 managers walking out due to lack of investment and lack of leadership at the club.

Derby are in a bind at the bottom of table at the moment... The only way I can see Eustace going for it is if he has assessed that Rovers have been cut completely adrift by the owners. But... we just paid over a million for Kargbo and 20k a week for Dennis. So while the overall engagement of the owners is non existent the lights seem to be on. It would really be a massive statement to take a job at the other end of the table.

In what context do you mean this?

It would be really something and make a big news impact if a club thats 22nd gets a manager from a club thats 6th... That cannot have happened many times before. Enough to make someone in Pune notice? Also if Eustace leaves under similar circumstances to JDT its not going to help new manager recruitment... That said if this all moves us closer to Venkys selling the club I am all for it.

Yeah I agree its a fools game to predict where we will end up this year. We go on winning runs then losing ones. We've got a chance with the new signings, players coming back from injury, less intense schedule etc we have a decent run now. Next season worries me as I can't see how we replace the players we lose. But this season looks okay enough to just see how it plays out. Think Eustace will go at some point in the next 18 months as well. We are one bad managerial appointment from being in the real doo doo.

I don't think we accept any of our players being poor in their own right because of whose around them. Good players find ways to impact games. If he was making great passes or good movement and other players aren't linking up I would have some sympathy but he isnt.

Yeah, Szmodics had his role last season and Cantwell this season. Mind you Cantwell has been so poor maybe if Sigurdsson was fit he could have challenged him... But hes been crocked. Not surprised we've left him out. He just hasn't played nor looks like he could be relied to in future.

You do seem to have an incredible ability to go to the games where we play the worst!

We won and looked pretty good against Preston, generally have been playing well. Last night we got well beaten but overall think we have been pretty solid losing quite a few games marginally (Bristol City, Coventry etc). We'll miss out on top six but should finish top half. The big question the club needs to ask itself is how to update the squad to win mid week games over the November to February period. It's our absolute achilles heel - if we could solve that then we might have a chance of top six. We need more high energy high fitness players - these relentless games are not won by quality (although you need a bit), they are won by who is the least exhausted and the most fit when you have played 8 games in 20 days etc.