Best Case Scenario - Turns into one of the world's best players, puts Rovers on the map in India, leading to a swell in supporter numbers, increased interest and funding from that area of the world, back into the Premier League as a major force. Worst Case Scenario - Not good enough, but forced into the team due to Balaji's dream of having a 'local' play for 'his' football team. Opens the floodgates for more mediocre talent from the sub continent and we slide down the league due to poor quality of footballers. Most Likely Scenario - Comes over, not good enough, but better for the experience. Unlikely to get a work permit regardless.

Slim pickings at the moment Danny Graham probably the most deserving, but still 11 games to go (nearly a quarter of the season) so chance for some to stake a claim. Dack, Armstrong and Reed have shown flashes. None of the defensive quintet deserve recognition based on our record. Corry Evans has performed well in patches, but hardly a Player of the Year candidate.

96% of BRFCS members have voted BACK And let’s be honest, those of us who have been here a while, know this board can be pretty fickle and vociferous at times....which fans messageboard isn’t? Mowbray had a dream, to build a football team..... let him get on with it!

96% Back based on 56 votes How anyone could think sacking Mowbray is the right thing to do is beyond me, but football is about opinions and I respectfully disagree. My thoughts, yes, the recent run has been poor and performances have ebbed and flowed all season, but this year was always about stability, re-establishing the club as a Championship team (on and off the field) whilst rewarding the commitment from those who helped us get out of League One, whilst trying to add wisely to keep the club moving forward. Personally I wouldn't fancy us to beat any of the current top 6 over two legs/final at Wembley so this ''playoff push'' is a moot point. There's no point getting into the playoffs if you're just making up the numbers. If by some miracle even then we managed to get into the Premier League we'd be the least prepared team to make the leap since Reading in 2012/13 (who won 6 games all season and finished with 28 points - they've not been in the Premier League since, and are threatened with relegation to League One). Expectations need to be kept in check, done correctly, the process will take time. Current promotion hopefuls Norwich* (last in PL in 2015/2016 - 3 seasons ago) Sheffield United* (last in PL in 2006/07 - 11 seasons ago) Leeds United* (last in PL in 2003/04 - 14 seasons ago) West Bromwich Albion (last in PL in 2017/18 - 1 season ago) Middlesbrough (last in PL in 2016/17 - 2 seasons ago - Only 1 season in last 9 seasons in PL) Bristol City* (never in PL) Derby County (last in PL in 2007/08 - 10 seasons ago - Only 1 season in last 16 seasons in PL) Nottingham Forest* (last in PL in 1998/99 - 20 seasons ago) * = Club has been in League One in the last 10 years If on the 18th February 2020 we're in a similar position, then its maybe a question to have, but for now, the rebuild continues.

Having slept on it, still disappointed with the result and complete lack of quality in both of the final thirds. As said by others it seems to be a real mish-mash team at the moment, players out of position, no set XI and predictable substitutes. Upgrades needed in the summer, particularly across the back. A LB, CB and RB on the transfer target list, for both depth and competitiveness. Other reflections: Brereton showed some positives, though that miss in the second half was a shocker. I've enjoyed watching Craig Conway and championed him on here several times, but he's a winger who needs bodies in the box to be effective, Graham isn't that striker and with Chapman now signed his days are surely numbered Dack's form has dipped Travis has been average the last 3 games (Brentford, Bristol City and Reading) he should be held to the same standards as Evans and Smallwood Amari'i Bell's goal shouldn't mask another poor performance Elliott Bennett should play in the midfield or not at all We're 4 or 5 short of being competitive in this league

I thought I’d put him on the list! A shoe in if ever there was one.

After the success of last nights event, it got me thinking who deserves to go into the Hall of Fame next? I know that it is run by the former players association BRFPA, and no ''non football related'' (e.g. Player or Manager) were enshrined in the Hall last night, so I've purposely limited it to PLAYERS ONLY. John Lewis and Arthur Constantine and of course Jack Walker all deserve to be in a Rovers Hall of Fame, but for the purposes of this discussion I've left them out. I've chosen 8 to get us started, I feel these are the next obvious names..... But please feel free to add names and vote Other. You can vote for multiple players

There's an argument that getting into the baseball Hall of Fame is ''too hard'' which I think is exactly what a Hall of Fame should be! The inaugural seven are all worthy. After that, I'd limit it to 3/4 each year.

Andy Todd. Really didn't take to him. Getting stupidly sent off against Birmingham and the blatant thuggish elbow on van Persie, crossed the line too many times in his football career (IMHO)

With his success last season, and the wounds he's managed to heal, Mowbray has ensured his place in Rovers history, and a very favourable legacy he'll leave too. In Tony I still trust, and given where we were in February 2017, to where we are now, he's done a magnificent job. Can he take us onto that next level? History would suggest he can (see West Bromwich) and he's more than earned every right to take his time, build a squad and progress at his own pace. If you'd offered me the sort of season were having back in August, I would have bitten your hand off. Questionable tactics at times, poor substitutions, collapses away from home (Preston, Bristol City and Brentford) have not been acceptable, but for anyone to even be thinking about Mowbray Out is incredible.

Both of this years kits are terrible.

As cliched as it sounds Travis and Nuttall have been like new signings, Rodwell too to some extent, all have added depth to the team. Combine that with 4 league wins on the bounce and we're two/three more wins off ensuring (at worst) another season in the Championship has made our January pretty successful without having to take a big financial risk in this transfer window. 30/01/18 - Rovers 3-1 Walsall - Graham 2 and Dack to go 2nd in League One. 31/01/19 - Rovers sit 3 points off the Championship playoff places...

I can't quite put my finger on why I'd feel a little uneasy about the signing either, but perhaps because what we're building at the moment seems very organic. This feels like a bolt from the blue (not saying thats a bad thing) and our recent track record (Brereton) still leave a bit to be desired. Plus if we're honest, we've been the ones selling over-hyped, over-paid Championship strikers for big money, and done the right thing each time. See Gestede and Rhodes.

Assombalonga went to Middlesbrough for £15m less than two years ago. Would we spend that kind of money? Yet to be sold on the rumours. Chapman as a project and the Gilbraltar chap seem more likely. Any money we have in the budget should surely be heading to Southampton for Harrison Reed on a permanent basis.

My thoughts on this summers transfer window is ''Upgrades'' Paul Downing is very much a League One defender, he's not what we need long term if we want Premier League ambitions. Decent servant though. 29 League Starts (2 sub) 1 League Goal - Blackpool (a) 28/11/17 1 Cup Start (1 sub) 1 Cup Goal - vs. Lincoln City (h) 28/8/18

How are we this far into the thread without mentioning..... Brett Emerton's debut at home to Wolves!

Only picking games I actually attended Top 5 1. Rovers 4-3 Man Utd - Bentley hat-trick....RIO RIO RIO 2. Rovers 5-0 Burnley - Watched highlights recently, seriously could have been 8-0 3. Rovers 2-0 Red Bull Salzburg - European demons finally overcome with two magnificent strikes from McCarthy and Bentley 4. Rovers 2-1 Spurs - Cardiff, League Cup win 5. Bury 0-3 Rovers - 1st away game I went to last season, so many Rovers fans, marked the start of our promotion run Bottom 5 1. Rovers 0-1 Wigan - Relegation Night, the end of an era 2. Rovers 1-2 Bolton - Earlier in that season, massive game at home to Bolton, 0-2 down inside 5 minutes. 3. Rovers 1-2 Burnley - As soon as Rhodes hit the post, the tide turned. 4. Both Rotherham and Doncaster 2-0 Rovers - Two trips to Yorkshire that were awful and a complete waste of time. 5. Rovers 0-1 Crewe - At that point the lowest in my Rovers supporting life, real smash and grab, punch in the gut game.

Those highlights accurately prove the gulf between the teams. Could have been 3/4 up at half time. Ipswich as poor a team as we’ve seen in two seasons (including League One). Can’t see us playing them next season! Lambert must be at the top of the Pantheon of Overrated Managers!

Saw Stuart Ripley in Clitheroe town centre this lunch time. Looking well, although he looked as cold as the rest of us!

Really looking forward to tonight. Hope we put out our best team and progress. I think the crowd will be decent too, I expect anywhere from 15-20k

I personally wouldn't want to get rid of him.

We're 4 or 5 wins from mathematical survival. My thoughts would be to get a winger on loan, and a centre half (if Downing leaves) and maybe a fullback, but really I'd be keeping the powder dry. Move any monies to the summer transfer window and spend the remainder of the season assessing who's good enough to stay next year. Obvious players on the for sale list..... Williams, Bell, Smallwood, Downing, maybe even Rothwell. Also try and blood a few more of the younger players, particularly towards the end of the campaign with minutes for Davenport, Tomlinson, Wharton, Grayson and Butterworth. The sooner we get to 50+ points, the sooner the plans for next season can take shape.

I remember being on holiday in Florida during the summer of 2001 after we'd signed Tugay, I remember walking around Universal Islands of Adventure theme park and spotted a teenage kid (similar to me at the time) wearing a Rangers shirt with 17 Tugay on the back. We'd just signed him at that point, after a lengthy battle with getting a work permit too IIRC, and distinctly remember thinking.. "He must be popular if someone has got his name on the back of the shirt''. Little did I know that he'd go on to become one of my favourite all time Rovers players and I'd have 5 Tugay on the back of my Rovers home shirt a few years later...

Hat-trick tomorrow ala David Bentley? He's a young player with room to grow, admittedly he's looked a bit iffy thus far, but give him time. A full preseason and a year or two learning from Danny Graham can't do his development any harm.

I've been to the Riverside before, around this time of year too. A Carling Cup Quarter Final, December 21st 2005. A trip over the Blubberhouses and up to the Smog. Freezing cold night, Rovers fans singing songs whilst taking off their shoes, an empty main stand (for TV purposes) and a last minute winner from Paul Dickov, which not only sent us through, but more importantly............Meant we didn't need extra time!! As I recall, Middlesbrough barely had a kick, obviously once Rovers scored, they proceeded to nearly throw it all away seconds later....Massimo Maccarone hit the post with virtually the last kick. Nearly 13 years..........time does travel fast. Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Gray, Bentley (Reid), Savage, Tugay, Pedersen (Emerton), Kuqi, Dickov. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/4537806.stm