Easily done, as anything outside the main two European trophies isn't worth a jot. So you were only a kid when Venkys ruined your life, my sincere sympathies.

These underfancied, underfunded teams often return to expected levels the next season. See Barnsley. If they're smart, Luton players will know their stock might not get any higher and use their moment in the sun for a better move. And yes, we almost certainly pay more than Luton.

No.

Wow, one of 11 teams to 'win' a Mickey mouse trophy that was really only a UEFA cup qualifier, and the actual winners of it were Hamburg. C'mon, we're not Newcastle fans, we don't need to try and count that.

Wow, I missed us winning a trophy in 2007, what was it?

Over 900 quid a day and they're looking for a new interim for the role...maybe I should apply! My CV can't be too much less suitable for the job, and two of my sisters are teachers. C'mon Highland Council, what do you say? I'll even do it for just 700 a day, bargain!

6 years.

Dunno, looks like he has a team of players who can barely pass, yet he got them to 6th! Got to the same playoffs as MK Dons did, and knocked them out. Substance over style every day for me.

I'm not sure how Carvalhal would be exempt from the budget he has had being considered.

Ahh yes, 'nobody knows' - the basis of all solid transfer policies.

I hope the next manager isn't happy to sign players that won't move closer to the club and prefer to commute stupid distances at the cost of their energy and fitness. I don't remember this ever happening on this scale before, usually just the odd player. Since Mowbray was also doing it himself, he probably had no issue with it. It's far from ideal for the manager but certainly shouldn't be happening with the lads who actually have to run every day. If you want to work here you really shouldn't be living more than say, an hour away within a few months of signing. If that's not good enough we shouldn't sign you (exceptions to every rule of course).

Umm..we pretty much always have at least one, usually more like 2 or 3, games against opposition of about that level. Even when we were in the Prem we would play some teams of a lower level. Usually we have one or two 'prestige' friendlies against higher or similar level opposition (like the Celtic one) and the rest are weaker. Is this your first time paying attention to a preseason friendly programme?

Ye gods, that's the last thing they should do! A first team coach can do a lot less damage than a DOF. I'm certain the Assistant will be someone else. No point bringing in a new manager then letting a DOF from the old guard interfere with his vision for the club.

Hmm I dunno, we finished 8th in the league, 8th best away supporters...the correlation must be causation, the supporters are to blame! 1st or 2nd best away fans next year and we are golden!

I don't want Grayson these days (have in the past), but his record shows he is average at worst. Talk of Dunn is just pointless nostalgia, I never buy into that. They need to be good enough or they can sling their hook.

Wow, I didn't know that! Has he stopped doing it, and what sort of stuff was he retweeting? Agreed he is a sycophant, didn't he come out in support of Kean?

Clumsy bastard. I hope nobody got hurt.

He has literally never gotten a side relegated, but has saved clubs in relegation fights when he arrived, at least twice, so I'm not sure where you draw that conclusion.

Should be to your everlasting pride, to convert a grown man to the Rovers! And you better be kidding about going to the Etihad...

Just over 11 weeks I make it.

Yep, and then more Venkys bumbling and a string of inadequate managerial appointments fucked us right back into 'basketcase' territory.

Surely a poster like you knows better than this? The Armstrong money is already gone into the black hole to cover losses. Similar awaits most of the Brereton money if we do sell him. The report the other day was that we want 15 million for him and that only a small portion will be available for reinvestment. I'm not even sure it's being 'trousered', that's one for the accountants to opine on, but we really don't make a lot of money and have had consistently huge losses for a decade.

Absolutely - finishing in 2nd in the Prem is unacceptable, I expect us to win it like in 1995 😉

Goodbye Tony, good luck in future. Things I'd like to thank him for: Bringing stability Promotion from League One Never seriously involving us in a relegation fight since then Some good signings The short-lived but great feeling of having been in 2nd and making me dare (foolishly) to think we might actually do this Being a man who clearly loves the game and happily talks at length about it, even if he sometimes talks himself into cul-de-sacs (gives us stuff to talk about if nothing else!) Bringing youth through - occasionally didn't do this enough, but can't deny that not many managers would have introduced this many U23s, or watch most of their games as he does Things I definitely don't thank him for: Bizarre tactical decisions - round pegs in square holes, taking forever to realise when something or someone wasn't working, playing favourites and seemingly ostracising others, etc Antagonising the fans with sly remarks, and being petulant when questioned Sticking around way past his time despite saying he would resign if he was a burden Horrendous second half of the season collapses, including pissing away our best chance of promotion since Venkys Some poor signings, including an obsession with ex-Boro players and signing his mate's shit son Misallocating his budgets in strengthening the wrong areas of the squad (no defenders for ages even when he said they were coming, spending 7 million, most of our budget, on a future project striker, collecting excessive amounts of players in one area of the pitch whilst neglecting others, etc) Not bringing youth players out for dead rubber games on the scale it should be done Being complicit in the blatant lies about the training ground plans, and being far less honest than is constantly made out An abysmal attitude, at times, on the touchline and in pressers, that made it look like he didn't give a fuck Relying too much on loanees even whilst saying we needed to build for the longer term Extremely premature cup exits, every time Overall, just not being good enough to take us to that next level (adding to this, blaming resources for it when teams like Barnsley and Luton have made the playoffs ahead of us and don't have a shining academy or our budget, and having made remarks that he turns down extra funds)

Possibly, but Allardyce got enough Prem jobs, for a very long span of time, playing dour stuff.