Paul Mani

For me it’s…. Toth Alebiosu O’riordan McLaughlin. Cashin Sonny. Baradji jorgensen. Cantwell Morishita Ohashi Subs - Michalski, Miller, Carter, Pickering, Forshaw, Montgomery, TGH, Doherty, Henriksson, Gudjohnson. Start on the front foot. Though we don’t have many attacking options in those wide areas.

For me… Toth O’riordan. McLoughlin Cashin Miller Henriksson . Sonny. Pickering Baradji. Cantwell Ohashi Subs - Pears, Atcheson, Pratt, DeNeve, TGH, Forshaw, Tyjon, Jorgensen i want to see O’riordan get an extended run in the team and I want to see Henriksson next to Sonny. We do need a LWB in this window. On loan at least. Plus the stated striker.

I fell in love with Rovers in 1990, aged 9. Coming off the back of that World Cup, with the likes of Roger Miler and Toto Squillaci, I was ready… Born in Bolton, my Dad a Srilankan immigrant was already converted into a Wanderer and took me to games semi regularly. Then around this time he started a new job and had to work weekends leaving me at a loose end and desperate to watch a game. I played for a local team managed by ‘Mr Seed’ who was a Rovers fan and if you got MOM he would take you to the game as a reward. God knows I must have had a purple patch, but either way, I got hooked really quick. I fell in love with Blackburn Rovers and the rest as they say is history. Since this time, I would say I’ve held a season ticket for roughly 30 of the 35yrs. I’ve watched some of the most wonderful players grace Ewood Park but I’m pretty much done, too. For all the reasons stated on this thread and too many more to articulate. The truth is that it’s hope which drives our beautiful game. The hope of every football fan that it could be their year. The working man or woman’s escape from reality. That hope, that connection is almost gone now. It’s a flicker and I can’t bear to go anymore. I still love the club I remember, the club I was proud of but feel nothing for the one before me. Something akin to a victim of domestic violence, where I imagine you become numb to the pain. As painful as it sounds, I don’t want my children to experience this. My 9yr old daughter is just falling in love with football, and my boy is 4. I could take them to watch any team in the land and that’s where my head is at. I don’t want them to feel like this, so I’ve stopped going. I won’t be renewing and I just pray for the day Venkys leave. Such a shame.

Haven’t watched…who are three that have gone off with suspected injuries? Montgomery and….?

Great post - in the early months I was extremely hopeful. He has loads more attacking prowess than his predecessors. I feel like if he had converted one or two of those ‘many’ chances he got, or bundled a couple off his backside, he could’ve really fed off the excitement of the fans and gone on to be a talisman.

Ahhh so both Nixon AND RoverExtra know their stuff!? Who’da thunk it? 🤩

Currently grumbling about the council not emptying his green bin, whilst repainting his ‘Venkys Out’ banner which he intends to laminate in case of rain….🤣🤣

So we want to ban transfer rumours from the transfer thread? Why, so we can continue to read the relentless bleating of fully grown men, blowing off steam about stuff they don’t (and could never) fully understand, instead? I appreciate this messageboard is a form of therapeutic catharsis for some, but others of us are just here to see if Rovers are close to signing someone… I have no idea why we constantly hound out any possible sources of information to the point that very few of the actual ‘ITK’ guys even post at all because they can’t be arsed getting the second degree. Sure, have questionable motives, but honestly I’d rather be entertained by a crap transfer rumour (in the transfer thread) than have to watch Dave from Lower Darwen, have yet another messageboard meltdown. Theres a poster on here who posts on X as RoversExtra or something like that who called the Cashin transfer days before and got the usual set to and abuse. His info was right! Alan Nixon is a bellend, but he’s got more right than wrong in recent years, and either way, he probably knows more than most people on here about transfers. This is the transfer thread, so please don’t remove any potential rumours or linked posts, these should be the focus of our discussions and save the therapy sessions for quiet news days! Fyi - Makhtar Gueye is STILL better than Sam Gallagher for me. Anyone seen more on this Frey link from QPR? Seem to remember him tearing us a new one at their place a couple of seasons ago…

Ahhhh got it…Thank you.

I expect to see Toth, Atcheson, O’Riordan, Cashin, Pratt, De Neve, Montgomery, TGH, Henriksson, a new striker and the Academy lads. I’d be shocked to see Miller, McLoughlin, Sonny, Baradji, Cantwell and O’hashi.

Good work My guess is that they will de-register Gueye now for Cashin, then look to offload Gueye, and Pickering freeing a slot for a striker. Then de-register Hedges if the news is really bad, and sign a LWB. We’re still one short, the ones who look most at risk to be de-registered are Carter and Kargbo. Unless they sell Alebiosu. Cashin looks a really solid signing on paper. Hasn’t had a great time a Brum but was class at Derby and got his big move. Signing him and O’riordan takes the pressure off the young lads (Pratt and Atcheson), and the returning Wharton, Carter etc. The one positive thing about Ismaels rambling is that he’s insistent on players being Uk based, and ready to go. 3/4 of those in addition to what we have will make a huge difference. I would be tempted to give McLoughlin a little break as he’s looked leggy. O’riordan looked good when he came on against Charlton and he’s a beast too.

So, I was considering walking out for an early tea when the second went in, but I’m glad I didn’t. Atcheson and Baradji were the standouts. I thought O’riordan made a big difference from half time and the lads showed they haven’t given up. Assuming we get the 3/4 players in, then once we get Gudjonson, Alebiosu, Morishita, and Wharton back I think we’ll be much better.

You don’t need to be playing against the best every week at CB as Pratt has demonstrated coming back from loan at Chorley to the Championship. I haven’t watch O’Riordan play this season but he’s getting high praise and seemingly excelling in L1, and the club have recognised and recalled him. My initial post was about ‘bodies’ because when you look at depth, then I make it 6x CB, including O’Riordan and Pratt once Wharton and Carter are back. With the link to Gibson, it looks like they want 2x additional (including O'riordan) making 7x and I would guess that’s because they don’t trust the fitness of Wharton and Carter. When you look at the striker situation, with Gueye completely frozen out, they now need 2x just to stay competitive. The most confusing thing for me is the narrative from VI that this evolution to 352 wasn’t planned. A few of us called it in the summer when we were offloading wingers and signing wingbacks. Signing Andri and keeping Gueye, then stockpiling CM’s. On a personal note, I saw the formation change coming a mile away and only the sale of Hyam on the final day of the window went against it. If Hyam had stayed, Gueye stayed in favour and Kargbo kicked on, then we’d be 100% built for 352 anyway! It was inevitable. Wonder why VI is spinning that!?

Why a winger? We don’t play with wingers… 2x strikers, a RWB and a CB for me. I would be happy with O’Riordan back from loan. No point in Gibson for me but looks like we want 2x CB’s because we don’t trust Wharton and Carter to stay fit for a prolonged period of time. If they get two in, they can use Miller as RWB cover. Though Pratt and Litherland have been outstanding, you can’t pin our hopes on them. We’ve plenty of Midfielders, still creating chances, and once we get a couple back from injury we’ll be fine there. Review again and Address it in the summer.

I just haven’t seen a lot of him. He’s not started many and usually comes in for a cameo. Not saying I’ve seen anything good specifically. For those in the ‘Jury is out’ group. There are some who are obviously in a better position than others. Baradji looks promising, whilst TGH, DeNeve and Tavares have had more chances without doing much, but Henriksson hasn’t really played yet. Personally, I hold out hope on Baradji, Henriksson and Tavares (who I still think there’s a player in). DeNeve doesn’t look up to it, so far and TGH is just, “Meh”. Can see the latter two leaving.

Not sure as a fan I’ve seen enough to write any of the new signings off yet, though I understand why Vi believes he can. Heres my take: Has worked / shown enough - McLoughlin, Miller, Alebiosu, Morishita, Gudjohnson. Jury is out - Tavares, Baradji, TGH, Henriksson, DeNeve Based on circumstances, and our need to clear some space for the “3 or 4” Val wants, it’ll be TGH, and DeNeve at most risk, plus Gueye, Pickering, and maybe Kargbo. With a view to signing a RWB, O’riordan back from loan and 2x Strikers (1x foreign buy, 1x loan). Note - Midfield will need a full review in the summer. With Sonny leaving we’ll have to see if the likes of Baradji, Tavares, and Henriksson have kicked on.

I reckon the 3 or 4 Val mentioned wanting in are: RWB - purchase CB - Potentially O’riordan recall. ST - Purchase ST - Loan out: Gueye and Pickering or De Neve

Fwiw I actually fancy getting O’Riorden back and playing for Rovers. Looks like he’s kicked on on loan and deserves a chance.

Baaaah humbug…Here he is!!

That’s fair. Plus Gueye gives us another option if we’re going all out for it in the second half.

As you were fellas! Subs - Pears, Miller, McLauchlin, Pickering, Montgomery, TGH, Kargbo, Henriksson, Gudjohnsen Strong bench and leaves DeNeve and Gueye in the stands but could easily add those two back in and take out Christi and Henriksson?

Agreed. Managed. Decline.

Remember when I said, I thought we might sell Hyam and lean onto Carter, Miller, McLoughlin and Wharton @roversfan99 ??? Call me Nostradamus 😩😉🙈

This didn’t age well…👀🤣

Yup, being reported by reputable source in the target location = VERY likely! I watched his reel this morning and he looks good. Clean striker of the ball, left and right foot. Resembles his dad with a couple of cute finishes too. PS - before the naysayers come on saying he hasn’t scored many in the last year, if he had….hed be worth 10x what we’re paying. We have to sign them at this stage and hope they hit that curve whilst playing for us.