Tomphil2

Exactly, apart from maybe size he bears no comparison to Nzonzi football wise.

Great win we seem to have a decent away day formula at the min so now there needs to be one for home games.

Iv'e often wondered how many advisers and consultants are on the payroll.

Surely they couldn't be diverting wages from the football squad into the non playing staff whilst keeping the overall costs the same ? Could they .......

It just smells of some of the stuff we've seen in the past. Bring him in - get commission Get him fit then a large pay per game fee - Commission In the shop window hopefully plays well and earns a contract, not necessarily here - Commission. Proper 'vehicle' stuff.

A right back replacing an established 3 million pound centre back at his peak who didn't miss a game all last season and has got into the International squad himself ? Yes great planning.

The Rovers account tweeted about a couple of hours ago about a last training session before setting off for Watford. So it looks like train this afternoon then off down South on the bus in peak Friday traffic.

Saving then thousands per week though having a player in the squad who isn't being paid until he players. I'm sure they'd love a few more like that if they could find them.

Mowbrays very system of developing players involves playing them out of position and moving them around trying to make systems fit them and vice versa. After watching his methods for 5 years it was very obvious. AA, Dack, Buckley, Giles, Gallagher to name just a few, sometimes it worked sometimes not and was often detrimental to the team itself. He even said he wasn't that bothered about results or league position as long as he felt individuals were developing and presumably increasing in value by gaining appearances and proving flexibility. He did bring in some big fees and should have had a few more big sales if it wasn't for various factors. End of the day that was his remit from the owners, not promotion but i guess at Sunderland and Brum that was on the agenda unlike the mid table target here.

If it 'works' and by that i mean we avoid anything catastrophic for a couple of seasons - unlike the last 2 times they conducted massive player and personnel overhauls to bring money in and get costs down - then Gestede and Ismael will be deemed very good at their jobs. In Pune at least and whatever place the middleman COO calls home. So much so that they'll probably go and do it all again.

A contract for a player like that coming in on a pay as you play set up can never be straightforwards. Be very interesting to see a breakdown of the particular deal 🤔

But they are owned by one of the top 10 wealthiest groups of people in the Championship. Who've shown they can easily underwrite enough losses to make the club compete with those outside the parachute money but from bigger catchment area's. However their reluctance to employ higher calibre people and install enough ambition and foresight in running the club means crowds remain lower as do income streams outside of player sales. Coupled with long periods of lack of backing leading to further financial problems, off field issues and good players not wanting to stay means they constantly lose ground on similar competitors and renders the whole 'owned by billionaires' model rather pointless.

Or get their properties back that were allegedly 'seized' to the value of the VLL anomalies ?

It's no rumour it's fact the only thing for debate is if they'll cash in during the Jan window. They won't offer him anything remotely good enough to tempt him to stay but for benefit of the lemmings they'll spout the usual... 'offered contract, didn't want to stay'.... 'Did all we could'.. This Outer Mongolian Defensive mid from the Belgium second tier really wants to be here and we want players who are onboard with the project so say bye bye Sonny !

They signed Miller in advance because they knew they were nudging Hyam towards the door they'll have known there was genuine interest. He was never going to sign a poxy contract and they'll have expected that but in the event he didn't go then you have a fresh player who can cover 2 positions. Some will say hey that's great planning but others will see through it for what it is, a cheap replacement and another likely downgrade.

Where is our official Doctor Who themed kit in honour of our most famous celeb fan ? Or maybe a one off Max Farnham edition ( for those who remember ) Missing a trick here Macron !

You don't gain promotion magically you gain it by building strategically year on year and improving your weakest areas. Yes you'll lose the odd player but if the club is funded properly a lump goes straight back into some quality potential. Have a root and branch clear out at a club that has finished just outside the top 6 and WOULD have been in it with the right backing at the right time is beyond odd. It is only being done for financial and control purposes and anyone thinking any different and expecting some kind of revolution is not only kidding themselves but also swallowing the latest propaganda from people who are only here to line their pockets. History under Venkys shows exactly what will happen.

Players tend to want to stay where there is ambition and where they are treated correctly contract and wage wise. I'd like to know who out of the ones who've left were the ones you are referring to as not trying hard enough ? Aside from Buckley i don't think that accusation stands up after a 7th placed finish. Only thing they are building for is to increase the squad value ready for another round of sales and another reset in a couple of seasons once they've finished cashing in a replacing the last of the current lot. Then they'll move the deckchairs again staff wise and a fresh set of faces will tell us the exciting journey we are about to go on again. Which division we are in then is open to debate.

Building for what ? What are they building for on the back of a cashing in exercise and wage cap ? Because it certainly isn't for the top 6.

I don't think people being forced out of long standing jobs then having a snipe back is in anyway toxic it's just normal human behavior. In fact branding them toxic is pretty pathetic to be honest when not knowing the ins and outs. The number of ex employees and players having a snipe and those who previously spoke out before they left more than hints it's they who were leaving a toxic situation behind. A toxic do as we say/take what we offer or leave environment that has clearly been created since Rudy Gestede set foot in the building. You can blame who you want for that but there are ways of dealing with things and there are ways you don't, all this is on his watch now he's the owners latest poodle so with that comes accountability. So it's all on him.

Ismael was purposely selected for the impending clear out they knew exactly what was on the horizon as long as the bids came in as expected. That's why he is here so of course he's always on board with it they could sell the entire squad and he'd nod along as long as some sort of replacements were brought in so he actually has something to work with.

That's a fair point i think it's reasonable to assume that if they did decide to part with it they'd turn to the usual people to handle a source and sale project. Which is probably as terrifying as them continuing to own it.

The Chorley pub scene on Saturdays is booming now and this plays a part even Chorley FC cater for away coaches going to Ewood. Meanwhile Blackburn town centre has the Postal Order and er.....

Yup virtually all the worthwhile assets have been cashed, squad wage bill lowered, most of the money gone to running costs with a fraction re-invested in cheap punts. Now it'll be back to as you were with annual losses covered for a few years, a few more outgoings to contribute then no real spending again for a few years until the next crisis looms prompting more cuts and fire sales. Round and round we go. Meanwhile Suhail and gang will earn another million or so sat not taking accountability for anything.

As much as it might stick in our throat PKE would be a good sensible investment for the right people, maybe even a Rusian roulette hedge fund like the other lot. Small well maintained up to date stadium, no expensive academy or training complex to fund, probably minimal external debt, enough crowd potential to fill their shoe box, modestly famous ancient name to trade on. And owners who wouldn't want 100 million back.