Well surprising sums up this window but for once it's maybe more positive than negative. Firstly the negatives - i'm really not sure why Pears signed. I mean it's going to be detrimental to either his or the Greek lad as only one keeper can be number 2 so not sure what is going on there. The only consolation is that given Kaminski and the Greek lad both are from overseas and therefore carry a bit of risk of not adapting (although I like what I've seen and heard about both of them) I guess you could say it's an additional security of having a keeper adapted to this league. Still seems a bit like a favour to a mate though. The other negative is it's a lot of loans, which means a potential reset next season. I get it was a hard one of either one in permanently or a couple on loan, and we had a lot of spaces to be filled so I can see why they went for that option. However I do feel it means there's a fair bit of rebuild next season. The positives. We've hugely improved on left back. Exactly the quality needed, a top 6 Championship left back. Excellent move. It gives us a pretty strong back line and first 11. Exactly what was needed. Also I said we needed numbers and we got numbers. I felt we were short of defensive cover, centre mid and on the wing and two of those three were filled. Ok I guess all three were but I would have liked an extra defender on top of a left back. However, this is a minor gripe as all three positions that were identified as weakness were addressed. Again, that's a big positive. The Liverpool lad I feel will either be a big flop or a huge success. He could however be a masterstroke and wildcard. So long as it's not your main option (which I don't feel it is) a wildcard like this may be the difference between playoffs and not. Certainly compared with Chapman I think the Liverpool lad may turn out to be a stronger option and we certainly could've done with that X factor Vs Cardiff. I'm pleased we now have that wildcard option. No idea about the Norwich chap but a midfielder which was needed, and seems to have decent pedigree so may be an astute move. That said Evans got promoted with Hull, so no guarentee of success, but again it seems like a solid move. Overall I think it was a good window. Not ideal but with no money could we have done better?.I'm not sure we could have. It seems a nice mix of youngsters and experience with few ageing players which may improve the success rate of TMs transfers. Not getting carried away but feeling much more pleased and optimistic than I thought I would.

Yes it's one step away from proposing that clubs outside the big 6 are not allowed to shoot or tackle. Perhaps they should add in fines for scoring against the big 6 too. How anyone can look in the mirror whilst suggesting these changes is beyond me.

My project restart (which wouldn't be called that, operation sort out the crap is more apt) would be. Champions League for winning your league only plus last year's winners. 2nd, 3rd and League cup in Europa League FA Cup winners go into the reinstated Cup Winners Cup. Limited squad sizes so big clubs cannot hoard all the players. U23 teams cannot play in league trophy tournament (thereby defeating the tournaments purpose.) Agents paid by players not by clubs. Agents cannot have any mixed interests, for example "advisory" roles in running clubs. Fit and proper test to be revamped to actually do some good. FA Cup games to be shown on normal TV. Limited KO times, no 6 pm on a Sunday nonsense. As an aside I find Arsenal paying 45 mill for a player whilst laying off 55 (I think) staff is disgusting. I'd look for rules to prevent this sort of thing too.

Excellent post. And then I hope America gets a hold of it, uses.their extra financial muscle and makes them the paupers. That would be a dose of their own medicine.

Agree. No wonder I hate the big clubs. It's an attempt to ensure those on top remain that way forever. If it goes ahead, which at some point I think it will, I really hope it crashes and burns. Destroying what skewed competition remains would put me off football I think.

It's interesting that you arbitrarily draw the division line at 2018. It's an unusual place to put it as it's well after the chaos of 5 managers and the Kean era. It seemed then there was a change in tack with how things are done, albeit with the next 3 incumbents we were still badly run and gave us no success. So I'm a little bit at a loss as what operationally has changed since TM came in, as oppose to under Lambert or Bowyer that warrents such a divide. Even if we do accept such a division you still have to ignore the previous 8 years. The fact is they are the same and are responsible for those 8 years. You can't just imagine it away or wash away their responsibility for it. Not the consequences of us as a club experiencing the effects of those 8 years. Our league position , our finances etc are all a result of their tenure. Such a division doesn't really exist practically. Getting over those two obstacles I still take issue with the couldn't be better since TM. Still plenty of issues. TM getting the gig in part because of the agency he is with - having such a limited pool of candidates isnt healthy. having his mate as his boss. Form not counting for anything (12 without a win for starters.) Delays in telling him what the budget is. Ewood falling into disrepair. No re-engagement with the lost fans. Whilst positively philanthropic compared to their early efforts it can't really be seen as good in an objective sense. Still far too many problems from our owners, who are seen in a positive light only because of how fire they were previously.

Forest have a good manager and along with a talented if underperforming squad become more of a threat. Barnsley without their manager look a lot weaker and more likely for relegation. Just goes to show how important the right manager is at this level.

How many strikers do they need? Mind you they've had so much talent over the years and still not managed promotion. Can't imagine this lot will be any better, whoever they bring in.

Well that makes me feel a lot better. Was it just the European one that shut then? I guess that means no more taking advantage of the European scouting network. As I said I feel there is still a lot to do, so it's good that the window hasn't fully closed.

Hmm another window goes by and this may be controversial but am a tad disappointed by it. The plus is the keeper situation seems really sorted with two promising keepers. Given we started with none to have this locked down for years is a big step in the right direction. Would have preferred Tosin to Ayala both stylistically and reliability wise, although appreciate wages may have made Ayala a much more realistic target. That said with a fee of £2 mill surely there was room for a bit of enticement from Rovers, a signing on fee, a low release clause for a premiership club etc. However we do have a dependable centre back which is a positive too. Dolan also looks a steal and an unexpected bonus. He plays wide as well which is also good given our squad balance. Given his age and experience however we can't rely on him too heavily. The negatives for me are still mostly in defence. No first choice left back - and though free agents are available it's a much smaller market. We are still a player away (maybe two) from a top 6 team. We also bemoaned last season having only 3 centre backs and unless Warton' makes a step up that's still the case. Especially given one centre back is also covering left back and all 3 have somewhat sketchy injury records. I've banged on elsewhere about a cm so won't repeat myself except to say I feel it is a need. And up front we have lost Graham and Samuel and haven't improved upon Gally and Bereton, which strikes me as rather risky. Another decent attacking player could have made all the difference, especially as neither Gally or Bereton are high scorers and the Gally on the wing experiment seems set to continue, hampering us. We've had a decent start. When we play well we are a good team. No surprise though imo we had a poor result as soon as we are in the playoffs. And I can't help thinking just one or two extra players, a few different options, could have made all the difference Vs Cardiff. And I suspect that might be the case in many other games this season too.

I brought a car as a long term investment. Doesnt mean I limit its use to once a week. Wrong message imo. Teams always should be looking to improve. Contrast this with what Kenny etc have said - it's a different mentality and a more successful one to be looking for better than you have. Would never have signed Bellamy, Samba, Nelson, heck or the Shearer or Cole with that attitude. That said I think looking for a left back is giving him a bit of a kick up the arae and improving his performances.

Hi no problems with you quoting my post or disagreeing in parts. That said we both hugely agree about the left back and keeper issues. The disagreement centres on a couple of positions. I don't think anyone is saying the squad is wafer thin but needing strengthening in a couple of areas. Bit of a difference. Personally I think the two areas mentioned do need strengthening. You list who is out, and therein lies the problem. Travis is out for a while, months. Evans is out regularly. Therefore there is a significant thinness to the central midfield options. Their being injured supports the point I was making! Especially when you factor in Holtby and Johnson's fitness records. I will admit it's an availability rather than a numbers issue, but the effect is the same - we need another body in there. Of the players you mention I don't know about Butterworth and Vale but neither have really played so perhaps wouldn't be relying on them. The bigger thing for me is how few of those injured, certainly those proven in the squad, can play wide in attack (properly!) Again this suggests that we are thin out wide in attack. I'm not saying there's no depth, that a whole revamp is needed, but rather that certain positions look thin, either due to numbers or the reliability of those to be available.

You are right his distribution was generally woeful. I can remember a range of horror shows from his kicking from slicing it to conceed a corner to cannoning it off strikers resulting in a goal. That said when you have a keeper that poor you tend to remember when they do something right! Like his pass to Emmes. I also recall him having one really good game late on in his time with us (I think) and thinking blimey where did that come from? However it wasnt really repeated.

Not so fair a comparison. One given three years with no sales and a good budget, the other sells his best players with no replacements. Go back a further year for a team of Gestede, Rhodes, Ciarney, Conway, Marshall, Hanley, King and Duffy and you see we have had a strong championship team before (how the hell that team never even got playoffs is a travesty). Progression compared with this team in terms of quality is much less pronounced. That said am I glad we are where we are than under Owen Clueless - too right. Not defending Clueless as a manager at all, just saying it's not a fair comparison. And fair comparison or not I also appreciate that we are in a better position than that year. I also think while Bowyer was better at spotting players TM would have got the Rhodes et al squad into the playoffs. And as another aside from this comparison it's interesting that of Bowyer's unfulfilled potential team Evans is the only one still here (I think).

Personally I still think we need 3 or 4 in though with budget restrictions don't think it will happen. Everyone is in agreement about a back up keeper and left back. Left back is our biggest weakness in the first 11, whilst a back up keeper is like breakdown insurance. If you need to call on it, you are very glad you have it. I think CM is a huge priority. How long can Johnson keep his form and fitness up? Even if he does and he and Rothwell are forming a good partnership, after that the cupboard is bare. Travis has a long term injury , Evans is always injured and cannot be relied upon. (Seriously get rid and have someone available for more than half our games.) Davenport I feel TM doesn't rate or trust. So one injury , suspension or drop of form in cm and we are struggling. I also think a wide forward is needed. Perhaps less so with Gally and Dack to come back but both strike me as more central players leaving us a bit short out wide. Sure Armstrong can play there but outside of that it's a bit thin. Again I think TM doesn't rate or trust (and not sure I do either.) That leaves us with issues of natural level with Bereton, that all 3 wide players are young and may have a drop off in confidence/may find the season grueling and we don't want to put too much pressure on them, whilst JRC also is sometimes called to serve as full back. Add in injuries and suspensions and a wide forward seems like an astute addition. That said this is all a wish list and probably won't happen. We can only hope Venkys see the league position, get excited and free up some more funds.

Not TMs biggest fan but my word the last couple of games he's got it bang on. There are worries - the squad is very thin, we have a number of players playing above their usual game and how long can that continue, and the management of the Nayambe situation worries me (he'll be off soon.) Tbh I don't think the table really starts to take any meaning until game 5 but nevertheless it's better to have points on the board than not. TM is famous for his good runs as well as bad so am trying not to get too excited. Those cautions aside there are lots of positives. If having weaker players playing above their ability is a worry it's also most definitely a positive too that we are getting some bang for our bucks. Two clean sheets are nice. Lots of goals- and goals shared about too - is great. Dolan looks very promising and has a long career ahead. (Incidentally the PNE youth network should be shot for letting him go. I mean if they can't see talent there...) Rothwell may provide a long term partner to Travis. Armstrong continues as pinch hitter. They say you can only beat what's in front of you but you still have to do it. And for all Derby's recent form being poor they have been a top half team for a long time with a strong budget and good players. Glad the immoral lot are sinking (here's hoping for relegation for them) but I don't think this this was an easy win by any means. So we'll done TM and the team and long may it continue.

Too darn right it isn't after what's been spent. That said whether it's banged on about or not, it doesn't change the fact that work is needed to finish off the team. And call me cynical but I'm fairly confident part of the reason TM doesn't want it banged on about is because it highlights his weaknesses.

Yes. With you there. Call me a football dinosaur but I prefer my strikers to get or cause goals. I don't even mind if they don't score too many if they cause them for others, for example Roberts unsettling opposing defences (along with unsettling Rovers fans with his shooting but I digress.) Until Ben is involved in and/or scoring a decent number of goals he can only be deemed a failure. At present he's still not meeting that criteria.

Rovers transfer update 24/9: - Good and bad news on the injury front. The bad being that Dack still isn't fit and Travis needs surgery. The good being Gally and Evans are still injured. - Both sets of news however shed a light on how thin the squad is and the need for reinforcements. - On Evans and not really linked to transfers but how the hell can he be injured all the time except around internationals? I mean how is this physically even possible? Can we get Dack and Travis called up into the NI squad as it seems a miracle cure for injuries, albeit a temporary one? - TM said he only wants squad fillers. After all why would we want to improve the squad and improve on a 10th place finish? Why would we actually want better players? - His comments do however shed light on certain signings we have made... - Also in terms of TMs comments during transfer windows never let it be said he doesn't know how to stomp fans expectations into the dust. From the we don't need a new left back (heck of a come down from a 5-0 win) to we don't want better players, to I don't know my budget, it's no wonder Rovers fans hate transfer windows. - in absence of any transfer news debate once again turns to the quality of our owners. I personally don't know why we still have this debate as surely we have run out of adjectives to describe their loathsomeness. Whilst it could be acknowledged their current attitude towards Rovers is positively philanthropic compared to the early years, this is sadly: a) more an indictment of how bad their early behaviour was than an endorsement of now, b) ignores we are still run in a shambolic manner, and c) are reliant on their ministrations because of their past action. Still it's something to do during a transfer window I suppose. - And of course, there are still no transfers.

Now, now, lets not use logic. 4-3-3 does raise questions as to where Dack plays in the system. But you should realise it's apparently wrong to question the club on anything really.

Bit unfair. Nothing to do with the result wharsoever! Can make a judgement on the squad and be happy about the result. The two are not mutually exclusive. Certainly on first glance it appears we are more than covered there but I've said before quantity over quality and reliability. Two injury prone in Evans and Holtby, Johnson isn't great fitness wise and Buckley and JRC are needed elsewhere. Rothwells emergence there does mitigate things somewhat but even so, we are gambling on a lot of players staying fit, doing ok and not being needed elsewhere. To me that is a big gamble. Incidentally I would say left back and reserve keeper are more pressing issues but that doesn't mean all is ok in midfield.

Who hasn't?

Typical. Just when we are all bouncing off a win Tony brings us back to earth with a thump. Given left back is pressing in terms of quality and numbers you really think getting a good one in is crucial. We also need a reserve keeper and a few other positions look a bit thin but surely free agents could augment that? And a left back is more important than these positions. What I dont get is how he can be ok with Bell but not with Nayambe either.

Not TMs biggest fan but he has to take credit for today. So many positives. We have some young players who look very, very promising. Armstrong continues his fine form. We may have found Rothwells place in the team. Our weaker players all put in solid performances, albeit against weak opposition but still pleasing to see. Of course 5 goals and a clean sheet helps too. The only negative is Nayambe being dropped after a good performance v Bournmouth. That won't endear him to stay whatsoever and we could be adding a right back to our lists of needs. Not ideal. However one negative, a ton of positives and a thumping win, so you can't be unhappy with that. Won't be getting carried away but it's good to know there's some quality there which should ease any worries against relegation. Oh, and it's worth mentioning these are the sorts of game that TM struggles with, when we are heavy favourites. So in this respect as well it's a significant win. Perhaps this formation is what we should use Vs weaker opposition and be a bit more canny and practical Vs tougher opposition? Food for thought. However, at least this time it is very positive food.

Blimey mate.. I mean with me, I point out your inconsistencies most days and probably deserve all I get. However I get the sense that Tyrone has been watching Rovers whilst we were still in pampers! Bit cheeky to ask him if he watches Rovers games. Given 4-3-3 has produced few wins and lots of goals conceded it was hardly an unreasonable question either!