4 hours ago, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

TM said at his 'evening  with' that we need a 6ft 4 ugly CB who can head a ball.  He also mentioned not getting one was a regret from his Coventry spell.  If we don't get one this window (even if it's a squaddie that just fills in against aerial teams) then it's inexcusable. Simple as.

Agreed. 100%

2 hours ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Jeezo Jack Payne linked back again, do we only have a network system of ex players and Middlesborough. Getting sick of this, expand the bloody search, get the European scouting working, we need better than this 

Oh god, this is maybe worse than I thought! Please no.

32 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Just waiting for Hanley to be unable to agree terms now then those who were saying how he would bes so much a better option than Bauer will then no doubt  be saying  "he's rubbish" "didn't want him anyway" "liability off the pitch" and "we've dodged a bullet there" etc etc.

Last summer we seemingly drew a complete blank with all our main targets then started chucking telephone numbers about right at the end of the window at anyone who might still be available. Let's hope this window doesn't go the same way.

The suggestion here is that this is how fans have reacted to Bauer. Iv not seen much evidence of that particular sway. I for one think Bauer could’ve been a good signing, maybe even a fantastic one! But I refuse to throw my toys out of my prom as if we’d just missed out on Harry Maguire! 

12 minutes ago, Stuart said:

If we sign him, yes, and he is just what we need.

If we don’t then no, he was never on the radar and not good enough either.

All joking aside, I really hope we don’t sign Hanley. Especially in a loan deal.

Why wouldn’t you want us to sign Hanley? Championship pedigree, club captain of a newly promoted team, big, ugly, uncompromising, knows the club. I’d say he is the most ideal signing we could make. Permenant or loan...basically ticks every box? 

33 minutes ago, Hasta said:

The problem with Bauer falling through isn't the circumstances around why it fell through. It's the fact we have appeared to need an aerially commanding centre half since we went down 24 months ago, have gone through 4 transfer windows and the only centre half we have been seriously  linked with  in this time has turned us down.

We have conceded way too many headed goals from crosses and set pieces for two years now, and it's still not been addressed. That's what worries me about Mowbray and our lack of action, not the failing of the Bauer deal specifically. We don't seem to be able to upgrade the obvious weak areas.

We know we have another problem at left back but I fear that issue will run and run for another half season at least.

Plenty of time left yet this window but I've thought that in previous windows and been disappointed.

I think this is very fair. Agree that the changes feel slow at times. I’m not particularly bothered about Bauer. If we can’t find better than him this summer then we’ve failed massively.

Contrary to what some on here think. I couldn’t give a shit about Mowbray. I only care about my club. Imo he’s done a very good job and I don’t accept 90% of the criticism that’s been levelled at him. But, he has stated on several occasions that he expects to be in and around the top 6. That he needs to strengthen in several areas and so if he doesn’t we don’t then I will be looking for answers and ramifications against the manager. 

5 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

The issue for Bauer was personality of the manager and therefore the club.  Him talking about his reasons for joining Preston (Neil's youthful outlook, attacking style, 2 recent promotions, etc) are the very things Mowbray and Waggot don't offer.  Fair to say that a young lad needs to be enthused about where he's going to work.......I think Tony is just a generation to old for this

Mate, you don’t know anything about Mowbrays personality. Only what a friend of a friend told you about a meeting with Ben Whiteman.

Just now, arbitro said:

I'm baffled by (arguably) Mowbray chasing a player for so long to be a squad player. Wharton, Magliore, Platt or Grayson could have made the numbers up as squad players.

Any player worth his salt know he has to work hard, it's what good professionals do. I don't think Bauer would be any different and if you know football like you purport to then you will know that no manager would guarantee a starting place. Sharpe saying this was a complete red herring in my book.

I have my own suspicions about what Mowbray thought he was going to get to spend and what he has in reality. In my opinion this is causing havoc with his A list of which I think Bauer was one.

Oh my god!!! ??? He isn’t ‘chasing a squad player’. He’s chasing a player who he likes and making it known to the player that they are not guaranteed to play if they do not perform / work hard. 

I have my own suspicions about the budget too btw...but there’s no suggestion here that the issue with Bauer was financial.

Just now, arbitro said:

Chasing a player for that length of time to be a squad player is a waste of time and resource. Do you think he would have been on Mowbrays a, b or c list? Given the endeavours I would suggest the first and if that only equates to a squad player then heaven help us.

If Mowbray hadn't said anything about being a squad player and he signed would you have been suited?

Mate, we’ve been interested in signing the guy for a year because we think he’s a good player...so what? He came in, was told he would need to work hard in order to get in the team and decided he preferred to be knighted on Preston town hall steps! ??

What on Earth is wrong with Mowbray telling any player that they’ve got to work hard to get into his team!? I’m baffled by your stance tbh.

27 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Why would you vigorously chase player for a long time for him to be a squad player? That is the point you seem to be missing. To me it indicates that Mowbrays random transfer policy.

I’m not missing any point. Mowbray likes the player. Sees him as someone who could be good for us. But the guy is a league one defender and has just been asked to earn his place. If he would rather be the king of Preston then that says more about him and Preston than it does about us...

52 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

If he isnt capable of dislodging Mulgrew or Williams then why has he even been chasing him? We need to sign players who can come straight into the team and the defence. Lets see if he can be ruthless with the defence as he must.

Who’s said he’s incapable of dislodging them? The manager is saying to Bauer that he needs to train well etc to get in the team!!? Jeez can’t believe what I’m reading here...

If we’d missed out on Sol Campbell in his prime id be worried. This guy is a 26yr Old from League 1. He absolutely would need to earn his stripes! 

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

What is mad is chasing a player for 12 months but not having the courage of your convictions to clinch the deal. If you're after a player, make sure it's someone you really want and have confidence in your judgement and be prepared to pay what is necessary to get the deal over the line.

Don't fanny about half heartedly for 12 months fluttering your eyelashes at a player you don't really want simply because there's a slight chance you might land him on the cheap.

There’s no suggestion we were fannyong about or offered less money. Mowbray obviously liked him but ultimately having spent is career in League one it would take one hell of a desperate championship club to offer him a starring role!? 

Mid asking him to fight for his position such a bad thing? 

Just now, benhben said:

On the other hand if I saw Williams and Mulgrew play last year and was told by the Manager I would have to wait to start ahead of him Id tell them to jog on...

Come on mate, jokes aside...the guy has been playing in League 1. There’s no evidence that he can make the grade in the Championship? The manager was absolutely right to make him fight for his place imo. 

Looks like Hanley is likely now. There’s no comparison between these two signings.

Hahahah this is mad. So it turns out that the manager has been tracking a league 1 defender who he rates but is asking to fight and be at his very best to get into our team....and he’s criticised for it!?

The fact that Preston gave (League 1 defender) Bauer the keys to the bloody city and that Bauer wasn’t prepared to back his own ability and needed his ego massaging to get the deal done says more about Preston and Bauer in my opinion!! 

Just now, neophox said:

Think these two could provide a Big difference as mistakes and firepower was a Big problem last season in many games.

Completely agree. Downing, Hanley and Gally would make a massive difference. Added to the potential of Rothwell, Chapman, Armstrong, Travis and Davenport and the class of Dack and Graham I’d be quietly confident of being in and around the top 6.

Just now, blueboy3333 said:

It's a message board. Calm down. I doubt anyone at the club is getting upset we are 'on their backs'. 

Try adding to the debate instead of trying to shut it down. It isn't difficult 'lad'. 

 

I’m not trying to shut anything down. You’re just boring everyone with your constant whinging. It’s perfectly reasonable to expect fully grown men to be able to process basic information without bleating on and on..

When anyone actually does come on here with transfer information you and ‘the boys’ usually hound them out calling bullshit and demanding a ‘source’.

Hang on, wait a minute..Is there an age limit on this site? 

Lads this really isn’t difficult. The manager has said he wants to get in the top six this season. The players are saying the same (see Downings interview). Top 6 wasn’t our target last season. The season before they put their neck on the block saying they HAD to go up and they did....

Get off their backs and let them get this window over and the season started. If they are nowhere near the top 6 come Christmas then there won’t be a single Rovers fan happy because top 6 is the the absolute stated aim and we are all Rovers fans first and foremost. 

5 hours ago, tomphil said:

A level headed Nobber who's a bit close to the inner circle there tells me the player was aware all along of Blackburns interest but never got to the point of speaking to our manager despite expecting too so there wasn't any choosing to be done between Rovers and PNE.

Take it as it is just someone telling someone what they've heard but if that is the case Mowbray can't be blamed for failing in his pitch although being linked all that time but never making a move when he's a free agent is odd.

Makes sense. Seeing as Mowbray alluded to losing interest in the supporters forum. 

3 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

Ok, I've found out that it's not Tony, the guy that is doing the deals is a proper prick apparently.  Not easy to deal with and probably the reason we struggle to sign anyone.

Kind of makes sense to me. Waggot avtually looks like a bit of a bell end. I’ll have that

2 hours ago, arbitro said:

And that for me is were the waters are muddied. Last year, to quote Risdale we 'blew Preston out of the water' with what we offered Armstrong and less than a year on they are reputedly paying more in wages.

It's not just missing out on Bauer that bothers me in particular. I trying to see the bigger picture and my hunch is that Mowbray didn't get anything like he hoped for from his recent soiree to India. The next few weeks will be telling and could well shape up the mid term future of our club.

Great point re Armstrong last season. I don’t think there’s any evidence that the budget has been lowered. In fact the CEO stated when he returned that the budget was the same / similar.

Therefore, the natural assumption on this is that this not about money but more about how much both clubs showed they wanted him.

This only becomes bad business if / when we fail to buy any better.

Just caught up....and basically, I don’t care what Rich Sharpe has been saying, Mowbray poured cold water on a deal for Bauer in his fans forum interview before the end of the season. It was obvious that he’d gone off him by that time.

The key here is that we improve that area. The manager will be judged at the end of this window re his transfer dealings! 

I’m not bothered either way on Bauer tbh. Obv rated in league 1 but didn’t massively impress me in any game I saw him play. The main thing for me is that we deal with the cb issue this window

5 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

He wasnt finalising his budget, before he went he didnt have the foggiest what budget he had.

The significance is the timing of it. There was no need to wait so long to do it and there was no need to fly to India to do it. 

He was finalising his budget. They scouted targets A to D or whatever and then sit down with the owners after the season to agree on their final budget and the level of expectation.

It’s absolutely standard that it is done at this time, face to face and will have happened in clubs up and down the country. Especially when you’re asking for 8 figure cash injections!!!?

The only difference here is that our owners live in India. But the constant whining of some on here about ‘missing the boat’ is a bit weird when you consider there’s been like four signings (total) in the championship so far this summer. 

Another baffling part of this discussion is when people on here forget that players, managers, agents, scouts, chief execs etc all have mobile phones and will have been chatting for weeks about transfers (during the season, afterwards, on holiday, before meeting owners, afterwards) ?

Moreover, we don’t even fully know who the targets are yet so how do we know who / if anyone we’ve missed? ??

4 hours ago, 47er said:

Will one signing in defence turn things around?

Nope. Need two defenders imo

Downing and Morrison and Bauer would be a solid start for me. 

2 hours ago, Crimpshrine said:

Most owners turn up to matches and talk to the manger daily. Most owners don't live in India. Most owners are actually interested.

I can't believe you are trying to make out Rovers is run like other clubs.

I said nothing of the sort. I said most managers meet with their bosses after the season has finished to finalise their budget...so the fact that TM has to do this is of little significance tbh.