Paul Mani

Leonard has a real chance. The last time I spoke to any of the senior / Academy coaching staff in depth was a week after JDT was brought in. At the end of our meeting (about other stuff) I asked specifically who were the jewels In the crown coming through…he was glowing in general but clear that Rovers had three, potentially generational talents who they expected to play in the PL and for England. Ash Phillips, Adam Wharton and Harry Leonard. I did come on here and pass on the info at the time. I hadn’t seen any of them play and he described Leonard as the most natural finisher they’d seen. “He always gets himself in the right place and he’s deadly”. Let’s hope it clicks for Harry. I certainly hope so.

Defence, keeper and Sonny pick themselves. Buckley makes sense and he’s a more attacking option at home. I expect Hedges and ACD to start on the bench after illness. Weimann the most likely to score a goal and hoping the penny drops for Leonard. Gueye, ACD and Hedges on at 70 mins. Forshaw for Sonny if we’re comfortable late on. Rovers 2 - 0 Pompey (Leonard brace..) Pears Brittain. Batth. Hyam. Beck Bucko. Sonny Dolan. Cantwell. Weimann Leonard Subs - Toth, Sanderson, Litherland, OG Macken, Forshaw, JRC, Hedges, ACD, Gueye

Fwiw - I think the Sanderson signing is smart. JE will see him as an Outliar in that he covers two positions and is great value for money. He obviously rates him as a player and a leader. Forshaw appears to be one lead by the recruitment team, in terms of being available, with championship experience, leadership qualities and cheap. Appears to have received sign off from JE on the proviso that the remaining money is spent on forwards. But honestly, I agree that it’s potentially weakened our squad, because he’s a direct replacement for Baker. So we’re going to need Buckley to step up massively and prove us wrong in the second half of this season.

Funny… I’m at home watching the Arsenal vs Man U match and my wife just sent me this. PS - Celia is our 8yr old daughter. My work here is done 💙

Honestly, I don’t know. We don’t know what’s been agreed. The manager seems like a realist to me. Not like JDT who was hell bent on his own narrative. My guess would be, they’ve agreed X and so long as they deliver it, he will accept it. He doesn’t seem annoyed with the two signings and Sanderson in particular looks 1000% JE.

The overriding feeling is that us going after time served Championship players looks like JE is in charge. Ive said this before but I’ve absolutely no idea why fully grown men lose their shit over some cat shagging, mummy’s boy with an X account, saying we’re about to sign John Utaka! 🙈🤯 Nixon is a bellend. But of all the hacks, he probably gets more right than most. Having said that, most of our ‘actual’ signings come out of nowhere. For me, the pertinent clues here are the type of players targeted. We have never (as far as I can remember) targeted experienced Championship players in this window. That tells me that the recruitment is being driven. Fwiw, I reckon the names mentioned so far are probably on ‘the list’ in as much as we’ve made enquiries, but the only reason we know about them is because the players camp are trying to drum up more interest. I’d imagine what we know is the tip of the iceberg… Anyway, final two pence…in my opinion, there are two things that matter most in this window. 1) That we improve those forward positions and add goals and creativity to give us the best chance of winning games. 2) That we keep the manager happy by giving him what he wants. At this stage, I’d say keeping the manager happy is most important. This is based on my (most) opinion that he is seriously fuckin talented and currently creating vintage 100yr old red wine out of bog water. So if he wants Denis Irwin, Andy Sinton and Mickey Quinn, give him it!! (This is a joke) Final point - there’s an uprising of folk sneering at those who are sensibly advocating that our managers decision on players is final. My retort to those is - “Nice one, I appreciate you won the PL with Bromley on Champ manager 9, but I’ll stick with the professionals for now” 👍🏼

I can’t work out if he’s quietly confident of us spending some proper money in those forward areas, or worried we might not…

Fair enough. I see it as, it’s a game I’d like to win, but I’d much rather give a few of the squad some minutes with the hope we can play the likes of JRC, Weimann, ACD and in particular Gueye into some form! Most importantly, we need to protect Sonny and Beck who we cannot replace on Tuesday night vs Pompey.

Looking at those who’ve been on the bench in the last 10 games, JE probably owes this lot a game. For me, he can’t risk Beck or Sonny. The signing of Sanderson eases the worry at cb. Toth Hyam. McFadz. Batth JRC Garrett Bucko Hedges ACD Gueye Weimann Subs - Pears, Litherland, Beck, Sonny, OG Macken, Dolan, Cantwell, Leonard.

Here’s my take… Sanderson - JE’s captain and played all last season. The manager likes and trusts him. Importantly, he’s 4th or 5th choice when Carter comes back. (Thumbs up 👍🏼) Forshaw - Lots of pedigree, but widely accepted that he’s struggling at 33. Hope he’s the managers choice and not SW calling a favour in like he did with Fleck. Importantly, he’s coming in as 3rd choice, back up for Trav and Sonny. For me, that’s not good enough. (Thumbs down 👎)

Honestly, I’m happy with that…100% the managers choice and so that must mean he’s happy with him! Get him and Forshaw done as bodies in the door. THEN let’s get to business on a winger and a striker!

All I’ll say is, if Adam Forshaw is the answer to the midfield cover question, then I fuckin hope we’re doing it to keep a boat load of cash spare for a striker and winger! Dearie me! 🙈🤣

It’s known amongst the staff, coaches internal team. People offer to leave on a daily basis in companies. It’s not sensational and in footballing context, information like that is only ‘reported’ on when one or both sides wants it to be. So if JE was looking for a way out, (like JDT) then it gets leaked. Or if the club are looking to pot the manager, it will get leaked. Ergo, the positive here is that neither side actually wanted it to happen. I don’t think JE wants to leave. I only passed on what I heard to provide context that he won’t be pushed around.

That’s your opinion. Being backed is subjective. I would suggest, based on the comments narrative from JE around the standard of player recruited in the summer that it’s satisfied his expectations. He’s certainly not intimated any unhappiness with the business, and simply stressed that they must “continue” to strengthen in the January window.

Yeah, because people NEVER offer to resign, 6 months into a job when their employer backs out of a fundamental part of the reason they took the job. Sound 👍🏼 #headinthesand

I get it, we’ve fucked up the last 3 January transfer windows. I’m as anxious as you. BUT, the only thing that matters is that we get the right players. That we get the players that the manager wants. If that takes a few more days, then so be it…Right? The fact of it is that we (the fans) don’t have a clue what is happening so what’s the point in losing our shit every 30 mins when we check X and BRFC’s?? Fwiw, I think Kitching on loan (a £4m signing for Coventry) to cover Pickering, on paper looks like a very clever and encouraging signing. Lots of experience, just drops in, like Baker did and Travis did at Ipswich. This came out of nowhere and looks like one that JE could be behind.

Mate, from as close to the horses mouth as you get, I know JE offered his resignation in the summer as we meandered through the transfer window refusing to spend the money he had been promised on joining the club. In fairness, Rovers turned it round with some good signings and backed him, with the Cantwell signing the ‘Cherry on the top’. JE doesn’t sound petulant or erratic, but he is apparently VERY direct and clear in what he wants. I think he’s a realist, and doesn’t expect us to spend millions, but IF we have a terrible window this January, then I don’t doubt that he will do his job well until the end of the season and be gone in the summer. He won’t be short of offers.

I think your point about it being sarcastic, or playful is likely. Either way, we can’t be getting our knickers in a twist about it without the full context (Not saying you are btw). I think it’s still pretty early in the window. The names linked aren’t overly exciting, but the first ones out of the hat are rarely the ones you get anyway.

Kinel guys….relax. There’s so much context that can’t be seen in written text. But when you add in the fact that the report is paraphrasing a full conversation, it makes full understanding impossible. Maybe he was referring to others who had said they were “Too good”, maybe they’d just had a joke about Ronaldo coming to Rovers off camera and that was the context?? There’s many many ways this could be read. In the main, the message is REALLY clear from JE. The most pertinent word in the interview is ‘ambitious’ for me. That is laying the gauntlet down to Suhail and The V’s.

I think it’s fair to say we don’t know who or what is going on. The ‘links’ before Kitching have been tenuous to say the least!? Let’s see how things unfold.

I hate to state the obvious here, but seeing as it’s you. Here goes… At £200m in the red, I reckon Venkys probably understand the concept of having to spend more than they generate. 🤷🏽‍♂️ Whilst I wish they hadn’t decided to take a hiatus from pumping £20m a year in, your point is pretty odd considering the money already spent. Disclaimer - I DO NOT LIKE THE VENKYS, THEY ARE TERRIBLE OWNERS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED ASAP.

Baker is average. He’s very replaceable. Whether we do that or not, is another question. Interesting that the Stoke fans don’t rate Moran either. Absolute nothing of a footballer.

Garrett was recalled because he’s not wanted by the new manager there.

This is brilliant. Brutal but brilliant, because it perfectly encapsulates what is happening. We never spent well at Christmas because it’s seen by the board as a continuation of the summer budget and there’s no ‘reaction’ to changing situation. The owners are absent and their representative (Suhail) is a non emotive employee. Venkys can fund Rovers whenever they like. The directorate about giving a guarantee on the money doesn’t mean they pay twice, it means they’re personal on the hook for the cash. The reason why several Rovers employees over the years have coined the phrase “they never refuse to sign a cheque” is because those who have had direct access to them have experienced exactly that. IF you can get in front of them, and you ask, it’s granted. They flirted with ‘advisors’ like Shebby, and historically some managers had a direct line into them and those managers had the biggest budgets etc. All of the instances you referred to, I believe unfolded in the current regime. One where the decision is taken by the board and Venkys representative.

Argh, I appreciate you trying but you genuinely don’t need to defend me to him mate. He doesn’t understand football, full stop. Keeps trying to goad me by misquoting shit which only proves that I live rent free in his mind.