MarkBRFC

To be fair all those you have named bar Lenihan went on to play in the top flight, something they wouldn't have done if they hung around here for any longer. Think it's a bit of a myth that nobody ever achieves anything when leaving here, playing in the top flight is more than this sorry effort of a club will ever do.

No he's absolutely correct on the John McGinn story. We had the chance to sign him very early in the window but Mowbray told him he was coming in as back up to what we already had (Smallwood & Evans). He did end up signing for Villa in that window, in mid August. We ended up with Reed on loan instead, who was miles better than those pair but as you say spent most of his time out wide. A very strange manager/character Mowbray, I personally dont particularly like or dislike him, but his constant sniping at the fans when in one of his many death spirals with "not 1995 anymore" ""I'm a development coach" " I dont work on set pieces" "I dont look at league tables" etc always left a bad taste in my mouth. Also the constant complaining that he was away from home all the time like he was doing us a huge favour, he took the job! Then ended up at Birmingham and West Brom years later that were even further away. Also encouraging his own staff leaving the club for Sunderland because "they are a huge tank coming past our knackered little car". People are too gushy over a 3rd division promotion when it comes to Mowbray for me. He did an ok job for around 24-30 months, then massively outstayed his welcome.

Plus we haven't beat Norwich at Ewood since our Premier League days. Seem to be a bogey side at home for us, but funnily enough we seem to have done ok at there place in the venkys era.

Notice how it doesn't say that he's welcome back at Ewood any time like "Bucko" is.

Seen a few say that, there was still 4000ish Wednesday fans there though. Full boycotts will never happen anywhere in football as folk love going too much, Blackpool came the closest with Oyston in charge, but they still had anywhere between 1000-3000 there each week.

Going back to Rudy's disastrous podcast appearances back in April, a striker was part of the plan then. He mentioned all the positions he would like to sign and a Striker was right up there. For some reason, that was quietly dropped (probably budget problems?) But now seems to have crept back on the radar again. For me we desperately need a new central striker to compliment what we have.

Far to much positivity for this version of venkys rovers this week with a good win and talk of a couple of exciting signings through the door. Rovers 0 Norwich 2, back down to earth with a thud,

Goddard was on the bench on Saturday, I wonder if he will be ahead of Michelski, seems to be a few years ahead of him in his development. Either way though, if Pears does go we absolutely need another keeper who has at least played some senior football.

He signed a 2 year scholar deal in the summer so you would presume so.

If we were in a similar situation to Sheffield Wednesday I think most would have sympathy. While we as fans know we are being run into the ground, to the wider football world all they see is us paying everyone on time every month, meeting hmrc requirements, selling players for profit but also spending a bit of money on replacing them. Technically, they can say they aren't doing anything wrong.

He was very loosely linked earlier in the window I think. Hasn't played a competitive game for over 3 years. But might be a better option to sit on the bench than Michelski, as it would allow him to play games for the Under 21's and maybe even a National League loan.

Either way, it looks like we will just about make both criteria's for season squad and match day squads this season as things stand.

So to summarise... It's 8 homegrown players needed for you're squad of 25 (under 21 don't count) It's 7 homegrown players needed in you're matchday squad of 20 (Under 21 do count). At the minute we have Alebiosu, Hyam, Carter, Wharton, Pickering, Taveres, Forshaw, Cantwell & Hedges who would qualify us for the 25 man squad The above plus Goddard, Michelski, Atcheson Montgomery, Batty, Tyjon who would qualify us for a matchday squad. Obviously not counting Travis, Buckley, Pears or Leonard. Is this correct?!

Yeah, to me he just looks like a bit of an upgrade on Gueye. Not sure he would be worth what Nixon thinks we will pay for him.

Needs to be a competitive cap, I presume that would push him further to make him eligible to convert, but I don't think we can do it until January anyway.

Don't count towards the 8 in the 25, but would for the 7 needed in a match day squad I presume? Goddard could be added to that too? (Not the 25 man squad)

Hmmm maybe. Going off this link - https://www.transferroom.com/gbe#calculator he would go to the exceptions panel. That website only has Morishita passing by 3 points too rather than 9, the difference being the International appearances.

No they haven't to be fair, seems to be silence on his fitness status. The only thing we have is from Nixon who said at the time of this signing that he was going for his op and will be out "a few weeks".

Something like this is what the last ESC spot should have been used for, a potential game changer, Not someone who will probably take until Christmas to get up and running. If we were creative surely we could have signed Baradji, sent him for his op while keeping him on loan at his current club until January, he then would have been fit and raring to go as a January signing.

Not said but I imagine central to replace Buckley.

Yeah i think so. Thats why I thought a bit further back might suit him, with those late runs into the box. We'll see how he gets used going forward, I think he will only be a bit part player this season with them integrating him slowly to he starter next season as I imagine Tronstad and Cantwell will be off next summer.

I think he will be used as an attacking midfielder, and admittedly I have only seen the minutes he has played for us so far. For me though I can't help but think he would be better as a "8" as the kids say today, doesn't look to have the nous or guile to play as a "10".

Elliot saying we want another midfielder after Morishita. Says not ruled out another striker but nowhere near a certainty. Think Nixon was well off with Afolayan.

Hea being bought in as a winger.

You can only be sure it's done when the club employee logs on to twitter to say "🇯🇵 🇵🇱👀"