DavidMailsTightPerm

My immediate thought was manic street preachers - never seen the Spanish Civil War reference. We learn A little every day 🙂

Fools or not - IMO they didn't honour Jack's final wishes for the club - and that is the worst thing.

I don't know about you - but I would prefer a managed exit, so we can rebuild from a reasonable level, rather than caught in the tail spin of their financial problems. It is amazing to think - if you rewound a few weeks everything was fairly settled. We had brought in three promising players (early), settled management team, and I think most were looking forward to the new season with a degree of optimism (irrespective of our owners). Now looks like chickens are coming home to roost for our owners (and by default us) and that optimism is quickly evaporating.

Reality is we have a wage bill that far out weighs our income. We have a relatively small fan base, in an extremely competitive catchment area. Though we could become yet another rich person's play thing - we struggled to sell the club while in the Premiership with a good balance sheet - far more difficult sell now. Having said that, I pray you are right - and another Jack Walker is waiting in the wings to buy the club.

But what will that mean for Rovers ? The club is split in two with the training ground sale, we totally rely on funds from the owners, unless there is another Jack Walker out there - how do we avoid a Bury or Wigan scenario ? Everyone seems to be celebrating this news - I struggle to see how we can currently survive without the owners cash injections.

Totally agree - we can't complain about players blocking the path way for A Wharton etc - and then watch new players block their progress (obviously not the case in this window) In truth this window could go either way - there are so many players we have brought in with huge question marks against them. But when you look at the players we have lost - most were fringe players either because of injury or in Diaz case, lack of form post Christmas (I think Diaz is our biggest loss, as he was the one player that could do something different, score a goal from nothing). One thing is certain - we will find out how good Greg and our scouting network is - as we need a high % of these new players to be at the very least useful. The one thing I will say, given our financial restrictions, I think the signings show a certain amount of imagination. Based on reputation I think Sigurdsson could be the best of the bunch - but Moran and Ennis have both looked good, As for Buckley - the one positive I can see, is that in theory we now have a space in our wage budget for a unattached player to be brought in. As time passes - those players will become increasingly willing to lower their wage demands - could this be something we are banking on ?

Agree - no glamour, could easily get beaten.

None of this helping JDT 's new striker request 🤣

Really - after playing so long with 10 men - the 10 mins were always going to be tough.

Yes - I think this is going to be tight. Looking at it realistically we weren't initial that good against WBA and then a couple of quick fire goals change the complexion of the match, similarly against Rotherham 2-0 down and out until they get a player sent off. Hull will be a big test.

More roughage ?

Another Dunn 😁

I think we have to trust JDT - he won't look at Dack with the nostalgic view that most Rovers fans have - coupled with the feeling about what could have been (very similar to the feeling when Jansen tried to come back post accident,) - he will view him as the player he is now, the player he sees every day in training. You then have to view whether he is worth keeping as one of our higher wage earners. Personally, from his play last year, I don't think I would have kept him given our wage constraints.

Totally agree - I think things are improving on the football side - but the commercial and day to day running seems to show lack of imagination and drive (though it is easy to criticise from the outside). I think when the current financial issues are fully in the open - we may find out how poor management of the club is (if it is down to the change in tax laws - that has been talked about for a while - so should have been planned). Ultimately the impression given is that the regular financial input from the owners covers up lack of drive elsewhere (e.g commercial side).

Depends on perspective - should they be applauded for putting in millions into the club each year - meaning we financially punch above our income. Or should they be lambasted for creating the poorly run club we appear to be today (i.e. a mess of their making) ? As much as I feel we could be run so much better, they definitely started the demise of the club - I still appreciate the money they provide each year (and I'm amazed they continue to do so).

And Ronaldinho 😁

I still have bitter memories of our previous manager that lost out on goal difference leaving for better things (though his would have been automatic promotion). Granted it was a club he had huge affinity for - and he didn't do too bad in his first stint with them. But we never really recovered until Jack took over. Though JDT made some mistakes this season - he represents our best chance - and I wonder what would happen if he leaves. But, as with Howard Kendall, there is always a risk that a club that offers a better future than Rovers will come along.

Dack is an interesting one - I thought he gave the ball away far too often - and to be honest at times didn't realise he was on the pitch. However - he is the one player on the pitch who would have been able to sniff out a chance (though few were created after he came on).

I do ponder how much is down to lack of a striker - as we aren't making and missing loads of clear cut chances. But I do think it is fine margins - we seem to be making the wrong decisions far too often in the final third - is this down to a decent striker to stretch the opposition ? It isn't just about them scoring goals - but intelligent running off the ball to create space for other players - though past his best Vardy is the perfect example of this. I really hope that JDT is here next season - you can see what he is trying to do - and with a bit more luck with injuries and better assistance with recruitment we would have made top 6 this season (of course still can). Though we do need a couple of decent players (minimum) to bolster the first team - I do think we could be well equipped next season if JDT is still here. We have a number of players like Wharton that will only benefit from their experience this season.

Sky will be desperate for us to win today - will make it one of the best finishes for that final play off berth for quite a while.

Two decisions stand out for me - Corks challenge which really should have been a red or second yellow (as he should have already been booked). Barnes hand ball in the penalty area was as clear cut as you get. We really aren't getting the rub of the green at the moment.

Plus sell on %, and performance related clauses. He is contracted for a while yet - so all becomes a question of how much teams want him. A big gamble - but how many regret not buying Bellingham when they had the chance.

Totally agree with this - providing they can both keep their heads - having two scrappers in midfield might be better anyway.

Last time we got into play offs was on the final match (if I remember correctly). Let's hope it is the same this season

That was a really horrible day