We've been straight with FFP for a while and recently has probably been the best opportunity in a decade to invest in the squad significantly. Coupled with the good periods of form and league position at Christmas by not 1 not 2 but 3 previous head coaches the time was never better to give the club a real push but no they didn't want to know. Oh so conveniently they can't invest because there is a problem over in India of their own making. The FFP excuse might have stood up in the past but no any more.

I'm assuming his situation is complex but I've a feeling he might even do a Bentley or Ben Marshall.

I'd say if a club like Derby are in for him they'd want ti avoid that risk.

What if there is a club in for him and Rovers are dragging their feet over agreeing compen and being a little bit awkward with him ? Who'd be surprised at that and of course it will leave him in limbo for a while at least.

Probably because they'd have to agree adequate compensation first and if they can't they risk getting stung at tribunal. 15k a week over 3 years might be agreeable but not if it comes with a 1.5 or 2 million fee as well.

As usual you're dragging a completely different standard of player into it brought in on a totally different budget and project.

Do only relegated European 2nd tier teams contain the players Ismael wants ? Or are they the cheapest closest match ?

Now just apply some critical thinking to it. We want to build as strong a squad as possible and Wharton won't last a season and Batth is 36 so we'd be very strong in that dept, Batth would be off next summer and Wharton a year stronger. Chances of all 3 being fit and fighting for 1 spot at the same time wouldn't be often over a long hard season plus cup games.

A lot younger i assume and will maybe actually get longer than 12 months. Ideally we'd keep Batth and bring this guy in but they aren't capable of that.

Usyk v Dubois 2 any predictions ?

If they replace him with the guy from Hull and don't sell another of the centre backs then we might be able to finally argue there was some sense in it. Until then though.....

I'd rather him be brought along slowly and build up his strength etc then come into the team than be chucked in through necessity and struggle. He'll get his chance at some point and lets not rule out Rovers might have to pay another big chunk of money for him once he plays Championship football. If he isn't going to make the grade and someone lower down offers a few quid there's no harm done.

Good morning this is Suhail Pasha calling, we are interested in your player but won't pay anything near your current asking price. Please let us know if nobody takes him and you still want rid, even if it's in 12 months time, where we will offer one third of what you are asking now. Please be aware though we won't be offering to pay him what you do so he might turn us down anyway' Bye.

It's long standing interest allegedly we've enquired about him before so it's either we are waiting for desperation from Hull/the player (like when they got Hyam) or it's just the usual lazy journalism.

Should be decent enough if it comes off. Has Hyam signed his contract yet.....

But he runs in treacle, stands on the ball then turns backwards so surely such an easy opponent even for a bunch of cloggers.

It's called window dressing i don't think we've ever been 'linked' with so many since the windows involving Kean and co. We haven't announced a 50 million war chest yet it's 3 or 4 different players a day. Amazing stuff.

I genuinely think they make a list every window of players they know they can't afford then just make phone calls to all the various agents who then in turn tip off the media or twitter accounts. Linked with every player under the sun in certain price ranges but sign non. Then it's but we tried but X offered a bigger fee, Y offered bigger wages and Z's club wanted way too much. All lapped up by cries of 'but we only get 12k' if all the fans came back we'd.....

The emphasis on keeping possession that's drummed into players these days has all but killed the 'winger' and i don't think it did him any favours. Not that he wouldn't have over egged it anyway but the various head coaches he's worked under never seemed phased or tried to coach that out of him. The narrative though that he was just another average workhorse easily replaceable in our chronic situation has taken on a life of its own and is quite frankly nonsense.

I think as time passes and we see what's going on and hear more and more little bits it's obvious why Eustace wanted out - to basically anywhere and even why these lot were happy to push him towards the door. In private the idiots upstairs will have been jumping through hoops they got compensation for him. He obviously didn't believe in guaranteeing pathways to kids he didn't feel were ready and knew the key to success in this league is looking after you core and tying down assets whilst bringing in fresh blood in key areas. He's a horses for courses guy and they whilst not always the most entertaining or interesting are usually the most successful when working with limited resources. I mean the pettiness of not letting Dack train with them to keep fit when Eustace said it was ok, how pathetic is that.

People can't seem to get to grips it isn't as straightforwards as just saying ta ta walking away and signing for the first club to slap a better paid contract in front of him. You can sense the desire to see him going to Wigan for 5k a week just so it's 'i told you so' 🤣

Not good enough for some of the Rovers 'jury' they more prefer head down quicker direct running types who take on the man every time. Knock it past him then run it into touch or cross into the empty seats.

I'm sure the head coach is getting concerned but it's what he signed up for. Gestede might even be getting in a flap he hasn't been able to fill the squad yet with his contacts players. The rest won't give a shit every week that passes with a few less wages on the books is a pat on the back from Pune. Blackburn Rovers - a club being run as if they are in admin without going into admin......

Links us with 3 players a day on average, even has Chaddy in a spin.

Yep the fishing in the relegated Belgium teams is another step down from recruiting the likes of Quashi and Tronstad so the chances of them hitting the ground running are less. It's not always about what abilities they posses as most players have some sort of qualities it's more about how quickly they can adapt. The right attitude, desire and mindset and that takes a bit more scouting time and research than pouring over stats in less demanding leagues. Fingers crossed.