You didn't answer again. That's why people get frustrated - you evade answering questions you dont like the answer to. Yes or no has TM done a good job in the transfer market? Yes or no has he assembled a good squad? Simple questions and everything you say suggests he has done a bad job but won't admit it for some reason.

You were right. What I asked is what that says about TM and his managerial qualities that he didn't do any of the things you said we should do or needed. I didn't ask who you'd sign or who you prefer I asked what it says about the manager's quality when he does the utter opposite of what you, I and any sensible minded fan would do transfer wise and when you think we need an entire new defence? So i'll try one last time in case you misunderstood the question: - we spend £12 mill on strikers you (and I) wouldn't have signed - you think we need(ed) a new RB, 2 CB and lb of which there has been little improvement on. (Again would agree we need defensive reinforcements.) So what does the fact that TM does the opposite of all this say about his ability as a manager in the transfer market and his ability to assemble a squad.

Yes but what does it say about the quality of the manager that you think we need a whole new defence and wouldn't have signed either of his big money striker signings? What does that say about the manager's abilities and competence?

Another excellent piece. Thanks.

If this were the case it's a bit devious and disloyal to a club that stood by him and helped his career no end, but I wouldn't be that unhappy (or unhappy at all) as we had got him off the books.

Whenever I think I have seen it all Rovers throw in another curve ball. Very worrying if TM didn't want or ask for him back, as we have to have him as no one else can have or take him! One way or another if unwanted it's a drain on our resources. As it is maybe Mulgrew is the replacement for Cunningham? IE Williams moves to left back again. Or maybe as a squad player with Evans our for a while and most of our defenders getting injured. Or perhaps it will allow TM to play 3 at the back having another centre half in the squad. Who knows? What is certain that as part of a back 4 Mulgrew is defensive suicide and we badly need his goals and set pieces. Could be an interesting drama to follow.

So the only defence is, getting rid of him will make us unattractive to good managers because of the financial situation/FFP. That is some endorsement. "Yes he's crap but getting rid of him will render us unable to get someone better in." Given he's done so poorly with tactics and transfers and perhaps most pertenently changing the team and playing players out of position - the most easy and obvious thing to do - I would suggest that actually a huge amount of managers (who've had a couple of years in the game, not the try it and leave types) are better than TM. Name me some names who have been suggested who aren't better than TM. I reckon a fair few of them actually will be better.

More like Patrick Valery's coming back to the club.

It might be a bit more than 6 months (the article might not have said but the impression I got was they were soon.) Either way I think the principle and issues remains the same. From my understanding of Spanish football very often presidents use promises to get elected. Such as I will sign this player or get this manager so I would suggest the new chap who is close to Xavi will be promising Xavi as manager.

Also bare in mind who would take the job knowing that in 6 months there is likely a presidential change with the president bringing in Xavi as manager. It really is a caretaker role in all but name. Still seems a stupid way to do things mind.

From what I read, they approached Xavi, Xavi said yes and changed his mind because he wanted to work with the other barca presidential candidate. So in all likelihood the current chap is a place holder until the next presidential elections. If the other chap gets in Xavi comes as manager. If the same bloke remains president then who knows what will happen (Xavi may still come, they look for an alternative guy). But the threat is that the current guy could be gone after the next elections so they needed some random chap to fill in. Let's be honest though anyone could fill in at Barca.

That will be interesting and ominous. I wonder how much power the EFL have - after all Bolton got away with their suspender point deduction. And as Sheff Wed are showing, even if you can't avoid it you can postpone it until you are where you want to be/in a better place.

Some good points there. With Gally we would be very lucky to get £5 million back for him, even if the market continues to inflate. Agree the stick him on the wing thing is really hindering him (and ultimately is even more likely to see us not recover our money.) Whatever way you look at it - and I too think there might be a player in there - I feel we're a long way off from seeing any return on that investment, or even a break even. Put it this way I doubt either of us are confident/optimistic rather than hopeful Gally works out. And as for Bereton.... I think I was mainly thinking of Downing and Johnson tbh. That 2 key signings were at the twilight of their careers struck me as a bit odd at the time, and in light of our FFP situation very risky. Credit to TM for Downing as it has worked out brilliantly, but Johnson hasn't. I guess it's a mix of Johnson not massively improving the team and hindering FFP and the summer seeing us sign 2 players on big wages at the end of the career. Whittinhham was a fair while ago but falls into that category, but was more a case of what are we doing signing expensive players with no resale value on the cusp of FFP. Buckley is a good example of not being ready but I wonder about others. Warton should either be ready by now or gone for example, or JRC seems to be very promising. I think in part there's a thought if FFP was looming so badly we could have been more proactive in getting our youth ready for the team or be a bit more ruthless in getting rid of some. I think my main gripe is it seems we we have somehow sleepwalked into FFP again.

Well if this is the case our transfer strategy has been well and truly utterly stupid. Gally and Bereton. £12 million down the drain. Not only are they not contributing much on the pitch they're hindering things off it as well. Why are we signing players at the twilight of their careers? Whilst this has worked well with Downing, Johnson is no better than what we have but on a good wage with no resale value. If we had such challenges why is there so much deadwood in the squad we don't seem to be actively trying to shift? Why are more of the academy players not involved as squad players or if not good enough moved on? I get it is easier said than done but we don't seem to be operating in a way to prepare for it. But, I've done it again - worrying about FFP when any good owner shows it can be avoided, ignored or deferred. There's been a boat load of shenanigans for clubs to avoid it but our lot are either too lazy, too incompetent or both (my pick) to avoid it.

For all those saying we won't get better there's an article on BBC football (I can't copy the link) saying Warnock is tempted by one last job to get over the 1500 league games milestone. But of course there's no one better out there than TM. As for where the goals will come from, funny TM isn't talking about Gally and Bereton.

More chance than us getting promoted under TM. Btw the point was there has been, is, and always will be better options than TM at any point in time. PS you can't say there's no one better than when one is suggested change the argument to will he work for us.

Warnock (almost came) and promoted with Cardiff. Rowett - doing well with Millwall. Houghton (still not in work and unconvinced he will get a premiership gig and he will soon realise that). That's just off the top of my head. But let's be honest it's a straw man argument. To be better they have to realistically do a few things: 1) not blow the entire transfer budget on 2 utter flops potentially endangering us to FFP 2) have a fairly consistent line up and not play players stupidly out of position. 3) not in the last year have a points per game total that is relegation form, or as poor as Mowbrays (which might just be above it, not done the maths). But in short a better recent record than TM 4) if you want to consider past achievements although there's pros and cons to this (Souness did brilliantly for us for 3 seasons then lost the plot, and feel TM for all his past achievements with us has similarly done so) then have a better record of success than TM. This is a harder criteria especially with upcoming managers so perhaps isn't a great one to use for numerous reasons. On criteria 1-3 I suggest most managers suggested blow TM away. Or put it another way who would want TM as a manager from another club now? It is risky the Lunes appointing but I would suggest they would struggle to do worse than TM who has run his course.

Your welcome and I feel the same. Its a sad indictment that we haven't brought anyone better for the midfield slot in 6 windows then Evans. Thank goodness Evans has made the breakthrough.

Woah tosspots for disagreeing with your post and not rating "Corey"? Seems someone is getting a little overly worked up about this. Seriously - get a grip!! His achievements for Rovers however are more limited and include lots of injuries and imo in a fair number of the games I've seen him play he goes missing and rarely dominates. Better this season but still. Wouldn't disagree with you that we haven't recruited better. Johnson is no better and we really should have brought better than Evans. Smallwood was better suited in league 1 to the scrap but in a more sophisticated league is out of his depth so yeah we should have brought better. However that doesn't make Evans a good player - just TM not great at signing players. Shame we can't disagree without resorting to insults.

Lucky? At best his medicore championship midfielder. More often he is an injury prone midfielder who hides and only plays well when there's internationals coming up or his contract needs renewing. He's had a decent season, probay his best under us despite that not being a particularly high bar, but lucky to have him is a massive overhyping of his abilities.

Yes, I don't think we're going down this season as even WLLLL will comfortably keep us up this year. That said it's poor form and shows we're nowhere near playoff candidates under TM.

TM usually wins these kinds of games (better opposition where little is expected). Gally out wide is an absolute waste. Whilst it is debatable as to his merits as a striker fans and critics alike think it's stupid playing him there and yet the only person in the world who thinks it is a good idea is the one who picks the team. Don't buy unlucky with injuries either. Of we had another centre back of decent quality Tosin could fill in there admirably. Or possibly if we had better midfielders Travis could drop back (though.ore reluctant on this as he is our best centre mid...) When you only have a few defenders on the books it is going to cost you. The point and drab draws in our non-winning means we're not going to get sucked into a relegation battle. And Preston can't gloat about beating us twice which is a bonus. Crumbs of consolation but that is what we are reduced to.

Ah but be fair rigger. We don't always know how he will make it more difficult. TM keeps us all guessing on that one.

Given Armstrong has been our best player of late and is best wide right this seems an ominous statement that TM is going to make things harder than they should be...

Not sure Holtby did and there rest were all summer acquisitions. Say you are correct though, why the heck did he say it. Either he's lying and of poor moral character or tactically inept. Either way it is not an encouraging sign. P