No, the message was pretty clear (in his forum) from Mowbray that his target was to get into the top 6. He also stated that having bought potential last season, he was looking to add Championship experience and pick some gems up in the European market. All dependant on budget of course! Im still interested to know what that will play out to be. Waggott said it was similar to last season. That was fairly healthy. What is laughable is the amount of people insisting on us having a good budget but won’t even put their hand in their pocket for a season ticket to support their beloved team!? ??

First signing this week?

The key to how a top class keeper improves a team isn’t how many saves they make. It’s the confidence that they give their team mates that they can be relied upon. Allison vs Karius is the perfect portrayal of that.

Yup, quite a few overreacting as per. Downing hasn’t signed anything yet. Moreover, surely any signings have to be looked at in full context. Any signing can look good or bad as a one off. Downing doesn’t particularly inspire me either. Let’s see how it plays out.

I think you’ve just perfectly corroborated my point. Wingers in the truest sense are Ripley and Wilcox, kanchelskis and Giggs (before he was converted). Wingers are quick. Their job it to stay out wide and offer options down the outside of full backs. Right footers play on the right and left footers on the left. They do this because their job in the last third, when they’re not dribbling past full backs is to take one touch out of their feet, open their bodies up and swing in a cross. Barely any of the other players you have mentioned do a job even close to this now. They are wide attackers who are usually utilised on the opposite side to their preferred foot. Their job is to play creatively in the space between midfield and the oppositions defence in ‘pockets’ and then to make runs between the fullback and cb from an “out to in” perspective. Adam Armstrong is not a winger and never has been. Regardless of which side he plays. So yeah, no one plays with wingers ??

I don’t know anyone who plays with out and out wingers these days tbh.

Fantastic post. Thanks for the insight into the financials. I also agree on the changing landscape and i believe that we have a real chance next season based on that and the information being recieved from Waggott re the budget. Re the signings - can you clarify if that’s five or three signings you’re expecting? Any loans?

Came up linked with us? There’s some reported itk posted something a few days ago but I can’t see much... cracking player!

I said very early on (before the Christmas window and Assombalonga-gate) that the priority had to be a mainline striker. At that point our defence was a little leaky but had yet to break its banks...form after January highlighted our need for defenderS and a commanding goalkeeper but I still say that we need a frontline striker to challenge / replace DG. This is not me demeaning DG who has been absolutely fantastic. I don’t accept the point that he’s a ‘mid to lower table Championship striker’. But strikers win games. All of the teams chasing promotion have several options available to them. Im not going to be one (like a few on here) who write BB off a 20yr Old who has represented his country and is highly rated in the game. I feel wholeheartedly that those who already have could have their words played back to them by their mates poking fun at them for many years to come. But even if BB, AA and Nuttall are all fit, we still need another striking option to challenge and provide ready made cover for that position right now. An Assombalonga, Waghorn, Hugill type with experience and goals at this level.

Very early days yet. I don’t believe for one second that we’ve shown our hand and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if none of the linked players were on Rovers actual list. Patience

I was thinking that. Highly rated and commanding too...

Whichever version that I, you or anyone else chooses to remember, there wasn’t a single person (in the world) who expected us to to get in the top 6.

Whatever mate....?

I also don’t think for one second that anyone’s target last season was the playoffs. Evans point in context was him talking about the period before Christmas when they had been looking up at the promotion spots. Then the consequent disappointment of not kicking on. If it’s top 6 or nothing for you then fine. That’s your opinion ??

I’m being disingenuous or he is?

The short answer for me is yes. We need to see improvement and achievement of our stated goal. The season before last, TM said promotion was the target. ✅ Last season he said the target was 60 points ✅ This season the target has been set at top 6. So if we just miss out on 6th then I can accept that. If we fair like this season then it’s not good enough. Simple as that.

Failure for me is not being anywhere near the playoff spots.

As I’ve said, if he fails, he’s done.

Haha, weird. This literally never happened. Ever. Iv never said we are going to sign this player or that player. Neither have I poked fun at you about this. I did ask for some calm during the bad run when several in here were calling for the head of the manager. My point through all of this is that the manager has set his stall out. He’s shown his hand in terms of his ambition. If we are to achieve that then he will have to sign much better players. So let’s judge him and the club at the end of the window. None of this has changed and quite frankly the hysteria amongst grown men that can be created from 30 second excerpts of interviews in India is laughable. I often wonder if people read back their posts and think “How on earth did I get SOO upset over that?”

You’re on pal...??

Darwen festival Sunday night. Anyone fancy it?

Let's be fair, if Mowbray says he has £x million to spend then prices will go up, I don't think they have ever set a fixed budget, but they have usually backed the manager if he has wanted a certain player and makes a good case for signing him. I don’t see that budget stretching to ready made championship players now though...the model is buy young, develop and if necessary, sell on to offset the expense.

I’d agree. Has anyone seen the full video? It’s very hard to quantify exactly what he’s saying without hearing the questions and the context...

Fantastic. Sat on the benches in the sun!

Interesting. I know what you mean but I can see them wanting a more ‘ready’ made option in the 23’s (which are effectively the old reserves now). I also think there’s a strong chance that the club and Fisher want him to go out somewhere and play? With Albinson released maybe they don’t see a replacement from the 18’s. I’m also pretty sure that the last commentary post which Sharpe did with TM before he went to India. I’m sure Sharpe confirms that we’re looking to sign ‘at least’ one goalkeeper? Maybe that was the biggest hint yet that they’re considering selling Raya? Then adding two senior keepers to fight it out? Just a theory...