Didn't realise, just heard about the away match. Doing well then, we will see if he gets his debut this season now Hirst is gone and we've signed no bugger.

Harry Leonard very nearly made the matchday squad against Brum. Was the 19th man and travelled down.

It is. If you're an inattentive, incompetent fuckwit.

The World Cup doesn't really affect it tbf. Business couldn't be done during it, and a break in domestic matches doesn't make things any easier for the recruitment team. Arguably the opposite as there are no games here to actively scout (there would still be archives of course so it won't have mattered too much). Still a proper shambles this though. But in the interests of fairness, worth pointing out we don't know yet if it's our side or theirs that have fucked it...but with our history and the fact it's two of our deals it's happening to, well...

Lol we went to uni together. He's a good egg, definitely loves the club, but of course is just frustrated with the muppets running it. The contrast between name and statement is funny though.

Wasn't just a view, it was mandatory just like this one will be if we went up. Or would have been. So yeh, we have agreed this sort of deal with them before, assuming it's still the same owners/board members on their side.

I feel like surely this is the only reason the Rochdale kid hasn't been announced yet? Not wanting to announce just that and Markanday out on loan as our deadline day business, hoping to be able to announce the two together. Otherwise, whilst I understand the O'Brien one is probably about the mandatory fee and future contract, I can't figure out why the kid hasn't been confirmed if it's not that. Or maybe it was a last minute desperation move when the striker pursuit failed. Either way, if we really do botch both signings it would be a damning indictment.

I'd do it for as little as 50k in the first year tbh if pushed, rising signficantly if they're happy with me (well, I would if we had owners capable of assessing that...). It's a lot more than I'm bringing in now...

I'm supremely confident, in all seriousness, that I and numerous other posters on this board could do a better job as CEO than Waggott. At least in terms of strategic decisions etc (obviously we'd need a bit of catching up on how specifics at the club work, SOPs if they even have any, compliance requirements and so on). Although not sure I'd last long before being fired for giving the V's to the V's!

I did mention it a few hours ago, nobody seemed to take me on. But there's a lot of posts in here lol, we can't read them all. Not whilst staying sane. But yeh I also think this could be the holdup. The club to club paperwork should have been in well before the deadline given when we heard the medical was, but the player's contract (presumably sent seperately) may have been finalised later as Rovers and the player's camp played brinkmanship with each other knowing the looming deadline would eventually force one side to blink. Just speculation until the club actually bothers to tell us something of course.

(From Sharpe on the LT feed) Here's some previous when it comes to this kind of thing. https://www.efl.com/contentassets/c9fc5dceaa7f4b62b81dca0b9e2f7c9d/201028-nottingham-forest-football-club-v-the-english-football-league.pdf (Back to me) Obviously I haven't read all this, but I've skimmed enough of it to get the gist. Forest had a dispute over a transfer with WBA, over Grosicky. The online paperwork was submitted a matter of seconds after the 5pm deadline. No more than 15 seconds it seems. The league chose to block it (they have discretion to allow it if they want, but in 'exceptional circumstances'). Forest challenged this, I think legally, and lost. Could be something like this going on here? In which case we shouldn't bother, as there's precedent against us. It's a fucking pathetic ruling though if you ask me, being pedantic over a matter of seconds and holding back careers. Yes clubs have all month to get deals done, but we all know sometimes progress is impossible until the last day.

Why would it still not have been established by 2:30pm the next day whether the paperwork was received in time? It's a simple case of checking the time stamp on the paperwork (which will be electronic 'paperwork' of course, and even if not then I'm sure you can find out what time a fax came through easily enough...plus somebody could just make a note of it when it comes through). In regards to the additional paperwork...I would assume part of this would be a potential contract for O'Brien that would kick in if our clause is triggered. Otherwise the 'mandatory' deal could fall down if the player later failed to agree terms.

The only two clubs outside of the established big boys to have won the Premiership. The only two Prem title wins I'd say you could class as fairy tales. I think there's a touch of romance in there.

I know Venkys' loan to us is interest-free and 'without the expectation of repayment', but I'd feel a whole lot better if they did this too. That would be something worth applauding for a change - the debt is their fault, but writing off about 200 million isn't something many rich people would do. My personal belief with the debt is that as long as they're doing alright themselves, they'll never call it in, but if they struggle financially they'll asset strip us as much as possible to claw some of it back. Think they might also want some of it back if they sold, which wouldn't be feasible as a buyer wouldn't pay much for us in the Championship anyway. Whatever the case, it would be nice to not have it hanging over our heads.

You're thinking of the rest of us. Mowbray was pretty happy with him, evidently he thought 'Robben' or something.

Giles was more a wing-back than a winger, but very capable on the left wing, but obviously the biggest issue was we shunted him out to be a right-sided inside forward. Which he wasn't right for at all. This time at least, we hopefully won't do something as stupid as that. But the worry still remains that the recipients of any crosses won't be up to making the best of them.

It's about more recent caps, not lifetime caps. I forget what period it covers, but it's something like must have played X percent of international games in last X years or somesuch, to score any points for it. I think.

Sharpe confirms no striker unless a free agent.

I know the window hasn't gone well, but you shouldn't punch your sack.

Eh? I'm talking about a blanket statement, not a reaction to every rumour. The club knows fans stay up late hanging on for news, it's no effort at all to put out a simple statement. If there's nothing to announce, announce there's nothing happening. I'm not saying it's a massive deal, just a common courtesy to those who care. At the stage we are talking about, the club knew if something was in the offing or not. And it couldn't conceivably hamper any deal to mention it.

I'm sure a Rovers manager did say something along those lines in the not-so-distant past. Someone in the Venkys era. I'm not sure who it was, but I'm sure they didn't deliver.

Tbf a simple announcement could have been made. Just something like: 'We won't have any further news this evening, but initial paperwork was submitted before the deadline for (X amount) players. We will give an update in the morning and hope to have good news!'

You're right, it's no good only fixing the half time entertainment short term. Still, if it's Beyonce I'm happy, as long as I get to meet her.

Just to check, we do all know that we have more than one racist fan, right? Just that some people are talking like it's just one guy. This incident is, yes, but I think it's 100% accurate to say we have 'a mindless minority' who are racist - just like every single other club in world football will. I've even heard it myself at the ground on several occasions (not for a long time now I'll grant, but I get to a lot less games than I used to) and nearly kicked off with someone over it once. Whilst I understand concerns about optics, I think it's accurate language.

Surely in either scenario, one of them will go out on loan. There's also another scenario - that he isn't as good as them.