Agreed. It appears that FUP rules are tackling annual club losses rather than overall debt. Probably to avoid upsetting Manchester United. I expect that leveraged buy-outs are perfectly legal so it would be difficult to outlaw.I certainly agree that if a rich owner wants to pump his own money into a club, and not issue loans or mortgage any player contracts against future income then they should be allowed to. It's every football fan's dream that a Jack Walker rocks up - probably why everyone hates us.

Tough one, Mike. That is the rule, and a professional referee was stood 2 yards away, but "some guy on Twitter" reckons otherwise so I'm no longer sure.

Vinbot.

Didn't you get the memo?

Why is 'he' being brought up again?

Sorry I'm confused now. What is the mb argument here? That he isn't good enough due to his countless weaknesses and poor scoring record? Or that we are overly reliant on one star player?The goalposts are getting switched a little of late so it's a it hard to keep up.

I don't need to answer any questions you pose. Especially ones designed to provoke or that question if I am a Rovers fan. Why should I need to answer to you?I'm happy to say that any hiatus I've had have been self imposed Jim since I know where the line between banter and genuine bile. You however... yet you continue with the same permanent insolent tone regardless. All that said, if I have insulted you in some way then I apologise (although I'm not sure how demeaning a picture of two of the greatest ever British comedians would be). I await for you to reciprocate. As for Rhodes. I'm sure there is much debate still left and less than one week after he has left is hardly time for his dressing room seat to go cold. When Rovers start to win in games, the Rhodes-shaped shadow will no doubt fade. Until then his spectre shall remain - whether I mention it or not. As for Dean's question. We were already out of embargo because Venkys threw some money into the pot, they could easily increase that for the right player(s), plus we have shed other players from the wage bill - including a fee for Olsson and even Koita. If that and Venkys can't cover a few loans, without having to sell the Crown Jewels then it's time to shut up shop. No, I fully expect money to be available for Lambert to spend in the Summer. If not then I'm sure there'll be plenty of short memories around to tell me that the money has all been legitimately spent and to "stop having my glass half full" and stick to the positives.

Go back and check my posts Jimbo. I don't go first but it seems as though you are enjoying trying to wind me up. I have no need to justify myself to you so I won't be doing.If it was about insulting members you would be permanently banned such is the very personal nature of your barbs - and not just to me. Stick to the football. I would have preferred Rhodes to be wearing blue and white yesterday - alongside the players Lambert brought in - and that would have been a very decent squad, full backs permitting. If we sold Rhodes to fund 4 or 5 upgrades in the rest of the squad then so be it but right now we haven't, and we have to hope that we can pick up the wins to stay in the division.

I remember when we were x points away from the play-offs. Despite that number getting bigger and bigger ever few months, everything was always fine.Now we are a massive 6 points clear of relegation. Rovers fans' ability to adapt, and remain cheerful, is incredible. I'm not directly comparing their attributes. I'm comparing their relative under-appreciation and criticism for weaknesses despite obvious strengths. Something you've illustrated in your reply very well.

Just as well Bolton won.

And obtuse. The manager in the example was a current international manager at the time he made the comments!

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/2231643/cole-enjoys-hoddle-revengeNow, Hoddle: is his opinion of a player more or less credible (relatively speaking) than Strachan?

Look around at the posts saying how much better we are without him. Am I not allowed to take a view on that, on a messageboard? I'm very happy to just talk about moving forward without 'him' and leave it to others to let the subject drop as well.For the record, I really don't want to be saying "I told anyone so". I'd much rather look forward to being "painted into a corner" and "eating my words".

What does it tell you, den? Try to answer without being bitter or personal.Cole had the similar accusations as Rhodes (albeit in different divisions) and he had far, far superior players around him. He did well at a lower level and then was picked up by the most attack-minded manager ever and became a success. However, he was infamously described as being extremely profligate in front of goal and needing a dozen chances per goal despite his record. Funny though, some folk. Much better to champion failures like Bowyer and Lowe than successes such as Rhodes. I can only assume that it is jealousy.

Maybe with better players we could have ADDED TO the goals that he scored - either by him or by others. Now we have lost the goals he scored and don't have any guarantee that others can step up.If you have the deadliest scorer in the league then you need to create chances for him so that he can finish them, not dry up the service and blame him when the goals follow suit. I'm struggling to understand why scoring goals is such a problem for you, den. Much rather that than lots of endeavour but nothing to show for it. We were going downwards because of a poorer and poorer midfield, not because of Rhodes. Did you hate Andy Cole as much as you hate Rhodes, btw? Because he had the exact same accusations against him and he had Cantona to support him!

We see his performances differently den, and always will. Yes, he has weaknesses (although he's not nearly as bad as the intelligentsia on here make out) but he still did what he was paid to do (sorry - as much as it seems to grate for you, strikers are paid to score goals, and measured by how many). Unfortunately he was never going to develop further under Bowyer, and prior to that was on his own on that front, given the calibre of manager. He couldn't even get the potential out of Judge, Rochina, or any other attack minded player, and moved Marshall to right back, such was his defensive focus. I firmly believe that with better (or even just attacking) players behind him in midfield, and playing football higher up the pitch, would have got more out of Rhodes. Given that I've stuck my neck out on this one, I'm very interested to see how he does at Boro - just not today. We really should have insisted he didn't play but unfortunately the way we went about that last day, we backed ourselves into a corner and gave any leverage to Middlesbrough. But aside from loaning Gomez, we did!! The money is now in Venkys bank account.

It's not me that keeps raising the issue.Unfortunately he will be the elephant in the room as long as we aren't scoring goals. Believe it or not, I very much hope that Graham and Watt can form a formidable partnership - and that both remain here next season (to avoid us having to start all over again, again). Neither of which is guaranteed at this stage.

Rhodes has been playing in a team which has never suited his style - certainly not since CKR was here - and that has got worse each season. Yet he continued to score goals. Even this season - his worst since he arrived he has scored half of the team's goals.We finally have the kinds of players who could help him - certainly with Gomez in midfield - and we go and flog him (without even using the money to bring in permanent reinforcements - a left back and a midfield general, STILL). It's not just a case of replacing Rhodes' goals, we now have to get more points as a team without him than we did with him. And Jim, oh Jim, the guy who wants to march on the pitch but makes every excuse possible not go first; the guy who questions the supporter credentials of anyone else who won't; the guy who gleefully, in his own sardonic way, creates a relegation thread earlier and earlier every season; the guy who spits personal comments at people like a bitter old man when he doesn't have anything useful to say. Yes, your opinion of my support really means a lot to me.

Just pointing out that there is a reason our goal difference isn't utter gash. And we just sold it to Middlesbrough.At the end of the day Rhodes is no longer a Rovers player so we have to hope that the three players that we've had to bring in to attempt to replace his goals do so (even if this means all of them exponentially improving their career stats). Also, I wonder how their combined wages compare to what we were paying the bloke who was keeping our goal difference from being in the minuses. Personally I'd rather we had kept Rhodes and brought in two midfielders than brought in Watt, Jackson and Graham but we move on.

I think it's time you went to bed, Shoelaces.

I'm not going to dignify that question with an answer.

Not really fair, 2 against 1.I'll take your bet though. Loser donates £10 to charity.

Better hope so. It'll be interesting to see how Lambert accommodates Duffy, Hanley and Ward. Will he use ward as a threat to try to get the best out of them or will he drop Duffy?

Bit of a false sense of security that given the distinct lack of goals in our squad.2015/16 Rhodes 8 Akpan 2 Conway 2 Hanley 2 Lawrence 2 O.G. 2 Delfouneso 1 Duffy 1 Evans 1 Plus 3 pens (Rhodes 2, Marshall 1) Excluding Rhodes, the remaining players have managed 9 goals, plus 1 penalty, in 27 games. Again, aside from Rhodes, we've scored 1 goal from in the last 8 league games (and only 3 including Rhodes and own goals). If Graham and Watt don't hit the ground running our goals could really dry up.

To be fair to him - although he's a bit of a muppet - he simply takes a point of view for debate purposes and make a talking point. There are plenty on here guilty of worse. At least Durham doesn't throw it out there and then go home for the day leaving everyone else falling out with each other.That said, I stopped listening to Talksport a long time ago. About the time when they were backing Kean against then fans funnily enough - when we were a PL team of course, after relegation they couldn't care less.