JHRover

Why?

We could sign Cristiano Ronaldo and I'd still be concerned about that defence.

Just trying to work out what happens when Lenihan picks up his inevitable injury. Williams no pre-season of any description. Presume the 'grand plan' is to make Nyambe into a backup CB. We'll be seeing Joe Grayson in the team, no doubt about it.

Quite clear there wasn't a plan or if there was it was flawed to the extent it achieved nothing, so in the end we've reverted back to what we know best which is rushing around for generous loans on the last day of the window to come and fill in for the season before clearing off elsewhere. All his talk of building, growing a squad, no evidence to back that up. IF we survive in the Championship season, which i would shake hands on now, we're facing a major task next summer in even putting a defence out. Hand to mouth reactive existence. Not going anywhere with it. Quite staggering to think how much of a drawn out farce this whole pantomime has been. Go back to last summer and Mowbray's talk of 3-4 windows to get where he wanted us to be, investment from the owners into the squad, European scouting, to be sat here 12 months on having padded out the squad with a few loans whilst taking a punt on Gallagher as the lottery ticket. Not what was promised at all. Then there's the mystery of the vanishing transfer kitty. Only two weeks ago Mowbray stated clearly that the Raya money hadn't been touched. He also said after January cash was left over, yet we couldn't find a single player to improve this defence with that cash? No, that's nonsense. Last two summer deadline days - committed £7 million on Ben Brereton and allowed club captain to go to Wigan - on loan! Not the behaviour of a club with a rational plan in place that is for sure.

End of the day we didn't get him because: a) We didn't really want him/try hard enough for him b) He didn't fancy playing on the wing for a side going nowhere c) We didn't offer enough money Excuses like he didn't fancy moving up north (2 hour train ride) are typical of the self pity blame deflection that we see at Rovers these days. I'm bored with it all to be honest. Nice guys who 'try hard' come last in this game.

Not really. All up north. He's a professional footballer, he'll go where's best for his career. Clearly that isnt us.

Lol. And he'll turn down Liverpool or Manchester City too?

Our manager has said on more than one occasion that he would rather avoid loans and get permanent additions in to build on. The only reason we go down the loan route is as a money saving sticking plaster temporary solution job.

Reed is better than anything we have hence he's joined Fulham, a decent side. He is genuinely versatile rather than 'can do a job' in more than one position. Sickening to see him join them but not surprising. Another one we wasted and ensured wouldnt come back.

Very good point. Just shows the utter chaos that is our transfer policy. You don't start him as captain if you're moving him on. Relegation battle ahead. Looking for 3 clubs worse than us now. Struggling.

Correction. Almost everyone wanted a better player who is actually a CB bringing in to improve the squad. Mulgrew out and nobody in at CB no.

Been quite clear for a while that the only way we were getting arrivals was by getting shut of someone first. Venkys wont add to the wage bill. Hey presto look what happens. What about the Raya money again?

I think technically he was released in June as his contract expired and the club still hasn't confirmed that he signed anything else. All we had was that he was talking to the club about a short term deal and then Sharpe announcing that he was still recuperating from injury at Brockhall. I've tried a couple of times to get Sharpe to confirm his contract situation and find out why the club hasn't announced it. Our website, whilst still featuring most players in last season's kit, makes no reference to Gladwin at all on the squad, which it should do if he's under contract. Very odd behaviour.

The myth of 'building' By next summer we are going to be even more short on numbers as contracts expire and loans return. It.will be another rebuilding job and thats before selling people to cover losses. It never ends here hence going through the players we have done. That's what happens when you shop in the loan and short term contract market and are reactive rather than proactive. You end up with people not good enough or just passing through to get games and 'do a job' for a season.

Perhaps shows how reliable some of these rumours from Sky are. Unless they just forgot to add 'former'.

Sorry I don't understand that. Sky just said we were in talks about a loan move but on the internet it says he left QPR last summer....

Sky claim we're after Idrissa Sylla on loan from QPR.

They'll just play it without fans. They'll stop at nothing to help Bolton out and get their games in so the fans will be the ones who miss out.

Well it is as easy as that. Mowbray knows he's in trouble with the fans and this 'fighting talk' is to cover his and our pitiful transfer window. I've zero faith in him delivering the goods today and he will be judged accordingly on results moving forward. Wont be long before the January window is being referred to as our salvation until it actually arrives and nothing happens. No other club hit February with no fit CBs at the club. Most other clubs have signed defenders this summer. You would think that experience alone, along with getting shut of Magloire, Wharton, Rodwell and Downing, would see priority given to that area.

We should know how this all works by now. Mowbray knows he is in for some almighty grief if nothing changes so we'll be scrabbling around for someone to come in and 'help' the existing players. Otherwise known as a short term loan on the cheap who can sit on the bench. Mowbray will likely come out tomorrow or on Saturday and say we tried our best to add but just ran out of time and that we weren't looking for big signings but it would have been nice to get some 'help' in. As I've said before I can no longer take what Mowbray says seriously as what he says and what actually happens are usually very different.

Sunderland moving for Martin Olsson. So much for his wages being a problem. We're just not interested.

Assuming we don't sign anyone decent, which looks likely, then the only thing that will save Mowbray is if he and his coaching staff manage to forge a better defence out of a weaker selection of players than we had last season who conceded 69 goals. Hopefully once Venus has finished negotiating transfers he can get to work on the training ground. The defence was our downfall last season and could have seen us in a relegation scrap had we not stopped the rot at a crucial time. We've weakened the personnel so the only way of saving it is by some fine coaching that will organise them into greater the sum of their parts. Talk of Hart and Grayson is frankly laughable and desperation stage stuff. Mowbray has undermined a huge amount of trust and belief the fans had in him and now even his biggest fans will be short on patience unless something unexpected happens. A shame but it seems we are now in the death throes of his tenure. Unless he pulls rabbits out of the hat or works wonders on the training ground with these players then it's only a matter of time. Could have been so different too. Seems Mowbray has succumbed to the same problem that's plagued him his entire career. Stubbornness and neglect of defence.

Marc Wilson being linked to Luton. Its now at the stage I'd take him on a season long deal to provide experienced cover.

The reliable Pete O'Rourke saying Magloire to Rochdale for the season. Sharp piggybacking on saying it doesn't mean any arrivals. Utter madness after what happened in February. Now lost Rodwell and Magloire as CB cover as well as Downing and Wharton.

All probably true. But if so Mowbray shouldn't be making bold promises about things he cant deliver and should be honest about the situation. He's said even recently that the Raya money is still there and that he's in control of recruitment.