Didn't we only sell him for like £4-5m? They couldn't justify that fee given he barely played last season.

Completely get that. Agreed - McGinn would have joined Villa over us. Celina to Swansea, not so sure. Like you I just feel that the V's p!ssing about makes it nigh on impossible for us to strike early on targets. Seems a bit frustrating all round at the moment; I hope I'm proved wrong but can foresee another disappointing window with this lot at the helm.

Here ya go https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17703350.could-rovers-match-ben-brereton-fee-this-summer/

He talked a fair bit of missing out on players because they’d gone elsewhere for £5k more. Pretty sure it was in reference to a couple of those. Freeman may have not been for that reason but for the other two it likely was a big factor.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17717367.rovers-boss-on-the-difficulty-of-getting-first-signing-secured/ Completely get what TM is saying but if we again miss out on players of the calibre such as Celina, McGinn and Freeman for the sake of a few grand a week then it will be extremely disappointing. Especially if we then blow it on a 19 year old prospect!

AAK was saying that surprisingly they have a good hit rate for Rovers too. Gulp.

The Daily Fail linking us with some bloke called Brandon O’Neill - a defensive CM from Sydney FC.

One things for sure - Bauer would have brought height and physicality in spades which is what we are absolutely crying out for. Nobody can deny that. Let’s hope TM’s plan A - or B - whatever way you want to look at it, comes off.

Losing out on Bauer will surely be a punch to the gonads for Mowbray - he’s been after the bloke for a year. To the Nobbers too.

Brereton at RW gives me nightmares. Need to bring in some serious quality this summer but I won't hold my breath.

If I had a quid for everytime someone suggested this! He has not got the body to play CM...he'd break down within a couple of games - could practically guarantee it. Not a chance TM will play him there and quite rightly.

Wasn't it Sterling that he marked out of the game in one of his first few appearances for the club? How the mighty have fallen indeed.

Sensing a bit of the Lambert's about the V's ahead of this summer. No doubt all "yes, yes we can discuss that in Pune, of course we want to get back to the riches of the PL" ahead of Tony turning up. Then when he's there "well we've actually looked at the budget and..."

95% of the people on here have been saying this was no doubt the outcome of his trip to Pune so haven't been getting ahead of themselves... Twas ever thus with Venky's I am afraid. Surprised the other 5% didn't realise this! As for Mowbray leaving; the only two realistic 'ambitious' clubs IMO would have been Boro or WBA and they're both now out of the equation.

Agreed. I know hindsight is a beautiful thing but I’m sure most have us would take one of McGinn, Celina or Freeman over Brereton let alone two of them! Hopefully Mowbray can twist the V’s arms to be a bit more savvy with their finances for transfers this summer (if they are indeed the problem as I would imagine they are).

The other silly thing is he bemoans players wanting £5k more - why not be flexible with the wage if the fee is lower? All of those CM's weren't close to Brereton's fee individually. Perhaps a conversation to be had with Venky's there but we need some flexibility!

Mowbray’s team work harder than any since 94-95?! Whaaaat? Hughes and Allardyce say hello! The amount of times we downed tools last year was galling.

Tragic news. Had just guided them back into the FL too. RIP.

May have already been mentioned but Vorm has been released by Spurs. Similar age to Downing et al but GK’s can go longer and he’d be a good tutor to Raya.

You missed an ‘o’. It’s actually 52 year old Mexican legend Jorge ‘Campos’ coming in alongside the evergreen Downing and Whelan.

He's been their best player for the past couple of years. Not a chance we could get him I'm afraid.

Liverpool were even worse if that’s possible. The early goal, which shouldn’t have been given, ruined the game. Barca Ajax would have been ten times better.

Downing is 35 next month. 35. No, God no Tony.

Best decision for both parties this. Great servant to the club, always got his head down and never seemed to kick up a fuss when he was out of the side. Awesome crosser particularly in his first couple of years with us. Thank you and all the best to the lad.

Celtic and Fenerbahce would surely blow us out of the water wage wise. Probably his agent doing most of the linking at this point though anyway!