Tomphil2

Classic Rovers fan mentality root around and pick ONE game from ages ago to form your own narrative. Nobody said he's a hard man but he's competitive it makes up about 75% of his game and to be fair he wasn't in good form at that point and struggled with the then head coaches style most of the season after a promising start. Don't think he downed tools but he did let his head go down and deserved a bit of stick however he's made up for it since and we were set up wrong in that first half anyway it wasn't all down to him most of em were shite.

And that is where the departure of Travis will leave us exposed and i don't want to see a return to the Bowyer days where teams regularly strolled through our midfield. People can say what they like about Travis but having a ball winner and tackler in there when he first emerged was like a breath of fresh air. Pansy he isn't.

Rovers is mixed wage bill by the sounds of it with academy grads still on academy wages but no doubt with bonuses, lower paid players in their first contracts or bargain basement signings. Then there'll be a few on average wages and one or two higher earners compared to the others but not in terms of top 10 championship earners. It's an ever evolving mystery but if its remained fairly static over the last few years but the squad size has remained the same that gives a clear indication it isn't a big payroll in Championship terms.

Low instalments over the course of a contract is probably the only thing they can get past the finance men. Then when it comes to selling Travis they'll probably insist on money straight away but do a discount.

According to some they did offer him a deal but he wanted to see if there was anything else. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Charlton, Bolton even Reading will catch up then pass us in the coming years the way it's going.

The interview with the #nob end chap was interesting and everything that's missing here when there is silence then they stick 3 stooges in front of the cameras to try and save their own backsides. No time for Preston but the difference in how the two clubs are run is night and day and i fully expect them to outdo us this season. Also interesting how they are increasing their turnover despite the cheaper ST offers but of course that couldn't possibly work here even though we still have a bigger fanbase waiting in the wings.

The most interesting thing now will be not who we sign but who we manage to keep and how long Ismael will stick around before he starts engineering his exit.

No real problem with Forshaw re-signing he'll just do the job he did before although we'll probably lose Batth now and the need for experience has pushed this.

Sorted it for you.

Been going on since the latter few years of Mowbrays time in terms of the silly names linked which we know they will just not pay for. It's even sillier now throwing several names out every day that might cost money or good wages when everything else the club is doing screams of downgrading and cost cutting. Muppets still fall for it though.

But since then they've seen Jason Steele, Jake Kean, Walton etc, all who were generally poor at Rovers. Pears i agree is nowhere near as bad as is made out especially given the names above but some of the needless mistakes hes made will stick long in the memory.

A million quid is nothing for a Championship keeper still in his 20's with his peak years ahead and with 100 plus Championship appearances who on the face of it only lost his place through injury and a gaffer change.

I think someone said they were just kept on because the lads need someone to stand in the goal in training and occasionally try and save one.

Fair point although he'd proven himself a lot better previously but i'm sure there are a few out there have seen enough of Pears to think they can do something with him. For the right deal obviously.

So fans can't have their traditional boxing day fixtures because the big clubs have cried to the EPL bosses about over working their bloated over paid squads. Unless of course the TV selects a few tasty fixture to be played on that day, no questions asked. The Prem is the land of milk and honey and you have to have something to play for but inn reality it stinks.

I said ages ago Pears would be flogged for 1 or 2 million total deal and that's why they persisted with him to get development and value as high as possible as quick as possible. It nearly led to a scrap with a couple on here such is the negative hysteria at times that clouds the reality of stuff. I stand by it in fact i pray for it although big Val keeping Toth in might have hampered it a bit but we live in hope he's proven himself an average now quite experienced English Championship keeper. I'm less confident about what will replace him.

It isn't standard stuff to have lists of players you know you can't afford or have any real chance or intention of signing.

All this A.B.C stuff sounds like previous Rovers transfer windows in the office, before they order their curry to celebrate missing all their prime targets ! Head coach - I need players off my list A !! Waggot - Think again son but we might get you one or two off my list B ? Suhail - You two bicker all you like, here's list C they are the only ones we can afford.

But if they can't use the club as before (ability to write off/move/lose money) due to court cases then option B of a low cost almost self sustaining entity they can virtually ignore - but not have to sell and open the books - might be appealing.

Can't have one without t'other.

Something in football governance needs to drastically change in regards to this. As for Rovers now the hierarchy will just see it as another income stream flogging them before they've cost anything really.

I think they'd prefer to stay at Championship level and will try simply because it adds more value and the execs are on good wages which will no doubt be cut in lge 1. However they absolutely know the pitfalls and know without substantial regular owner money it is inevitable we'll drop we nearly did 2 years ago. So i think those on the ground here are definitely preparing for that kind of future and probably advising the owners 'we'll manage if it happens it's our natural level now just think of the lower cost base and less input needed. We'll grow a team to go back up then consolidate whilst its book value increases, then sell it'. These owners ultimately call the shots but they clearly rely on what gets fed to them from this end.

'Willing' just like it was said Derby were 'willing' to go to 2 years. Yes it is all in the wording isn't it i'm glad you've finally grasped it.

I wouldn't worry all indications is he hasn't been offered anything which shows they want to flog him. If/when they do they'll not be offering him more just most likely same wage, 2 years with a year option to which he'll say know if his agent has drummed up some serious interest. Then the fall out will be how much they'll let him go for which might well already be the hold up.