World Cup 2034... the search for more money!

Thanks for that, saved my sanity somewhat. I thought my confusion was the inevitable consequence of a season of staring at far too many team lineups and scores all at once every week 🙂

I believe from this article (quote below), that this season, it was ultimately Stuart Jones, who is leaving in the summer " “From a development perspective, we’ve identified that loan moves are really important for young players, so we’ll be looking to develop a loan strategy and really drive that process to ensure that our young players get out to develop in senior football. “I’ll then be managing those players whilst they’re out on loan, in terms of keeping in contact with them, going to watch them in games, reporting back and having a close relationship with the clubs, as well as managing the high-potential players within the top end of the Youth Development Phase (YDP) and across the 17-21 age group."

Starts today for Eastham - lost 2-1 Wood - lost 2-0 - replaced at half time with the score at 1-0 Honor - lost 1-0 Not involved in matchday squad Barrett - won 2-0 - no keeper named on their bench, not sure if injured/recalled/tactical decision/etc

Or it could just be that Brittain had earned/needed a rest after that performance on his first game back, and Pickering needed some minutes, somewhere/anywhere on the pitch with the game already won

The flaw in your thinking is that whilst it will indeed cost a lot more money to replace them adequately (rather than renew their contracts). The big brain move that the morons are making is to save money by replacing them with inadequate lesser players, who they will then cross their fingers and hope will do enough to keep Rovers in the Championship on a shoestring budget What can possibly go wrong?

Those in power at Rovers stating things that are far from the truth? Who would have dreamed that such things could happen?

I fear that is the case, its just a coin flip of if Waggott et al will sell them for buttons (because of contract mismanagement) this summer, or decide that we will get better value (not getting relegated next season) out of them by playing them for a year, and then letting them leave on frees next summer Obviously the correct course of action would have been to have signed them up to long term deals at least a year ago, but with the clowns that we have in charge, that was never going to happen

So in the past few days we have had Tronstad saying he wants to sign a new contract and stay, and Ismael now saying Brittain will be a key part of his team going forwards. Well somebody had better pull their finger out and get some contracts sorted, otherwise we will have another mass exodus (a la Rothwell, Lenihan, Nyambe, Brereton) in a years time when half the team (Tronstad, Brittain, Travis, Hyam) walks away on frees because it was easier (& cheaper) to wait because there was no need to rush

I've been very critical of the appointment of Ismael so far, but if Rovers carry on as they played today, they I will be delighted to eat my words. I still expect the summer transfer business and contract situation to be a mess, Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong about that also

The ridiculous side of that argument has been demonstrated in the couple of seasons when they have allocated funds to transfers. In JDTs first season, they spent money (was it about £5M?) on Szmodics, Hyam & Brittain, the Szmodics sale more than paid for all 3 of those with money left over The summer when Rovers went up from league 1, they bought Armstrong for under £2M, who was later sold for about £15M. Newcastle had a sizable sell on but the spend still showed a large profit. Rothwell & Brereton were signed in the same summer, they refused to sort out contracts for them in a timely enough manner, refused to sell them when bids were made, and they left on frees. By effective contract management (well before players are in the final months of said contracts), and investing sensibly in the playing squad, they would end up paying much less than the stated £20M/season. Numerous people at the club have mentioned the Brentford model on more that one occasion. Sales of Armstrong, Raya, Szmodics, Wharton etc (not to mention the numerous players who ended up leaving on free transfers due to contract mismanagement) could have led to exactly that. Edit - the £20M/season argument also completely ignores that had they not made stupid decisions at the start of their reign, they would still be getting mega money from premier League football

Starts on Friday for O'Riordan - drew 0-0 - Crewe played with 10 men for the 2nd half On the bench Markanday - won 4-3 - came on in the 79th minute with the score at 4-3 Garrett - lost 3-0 - came on in the 83rd minute with the score at 3-0 Powell - lost 2-1 Goddard - lost 1-0 Not involved in matchday squad Batty - won 2-1 - was named in starting 11, but injured during warm up Duru - drew 0-0 - currently injured Olson - lost 2-1 - withdrawn early in previous game, possibly injured Litherland - drew 0-0 - Confirmed as having been recalled by Rovers this afternoon Mafoumbi - won 3-1 - I think this was their final game, Mafoumbi didn't even appear on the bench during his loan spell. Unless there is an option/obligation to buy, then I do not understand the point of this loan at all

Has a 1 year option, so that will be activated, and then that particular can kicked down the road for another year

If anyone is interested, there is a video of the full 90 minutes of the 3-2 loss to Fulham on the Rovers website As far as I am aware, it is free to view as long as you are registered on the site https://www.rovers.co.uk/videos

I think what has happened over the past 15 years, is we have seen numerous terrible appointments in varying positions at the club, so some fans are terrified about who might replace whoever leaves. Don't like Waggott, well, careful what you wish for because Gestede will be next in line Not a fan of Ismael, how does Rooney suit you? Its hardly a surprise that these rumours surface as discontent amongst the wider fanbase grows This would not be the case if we were a well ran club. Ether consciously or subconsciously, people know that Venkys (or their subordinates) are always a coin flip away from making a truly terrible appointment (Kean/Coyle etc), so prefer to stick rather than twist

U18s scored 2 late goals to come back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 vs Stoke Valentin Joseph scored 2 and assisted the other for Freddie Leatherbarrow

Wasn't JDT also quoted as stating that the player wage bill (or maybe he said "budget"?) had been decreased by something approaching 25% at the start of last season? Which would have been covered in the period covered by the latest accounts Something about the constant £25Mish wage bill (every year!) does not seem right

Worth noting that Fulham were in a 2 horse race with Man City for the PL2 title and finished 2nd behind Man City by 2 points, and ahead of the rest of the division by 7+ points,, so a gulf might have been expected

also judging purely from a lack of appearances (unless they are injured & I haven't heard), Caddick and Murphy-Worrell might well be released also

U21s final game of the season tonight score/update

Onana ditched from Man Utds squad

Not sure if it has been mentioned elsewhere. Ohashi seen after the game in a sling and will have a scan on his elbow to see if it needs treatment etc https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25086031.blackburn-rovers-takeaways-hard-fought-victory-luton/