Again though there's a little bit of rewriting history there as i think most of us were delighted to get him. It was a great signing at the time and a real statement of intent it only looks bad now because they've ballsed up not tying him down to a longer contract. To get the lad here from a Prem club where they'd got him on a contract of about 19k a week was never going to be easy. There's no way we would've stumped up an asking price of 6 million plus so they had to find some middle ground. Iv'e no issue with it and think if he's sold they should pay up properly. Do business in the right way and it stands you in better stead than trying to worm out of things or shaft people. Newcastle didn't sting anyone they put their terms on the table, we agreed them. End of really for me, wouldn't matter half as much if we were set to get proper money for him now.

Well within reason he's had all the backing hes asked for the many things have been highlighted on here time and again. Yet we are still going nowhere and non of it has worked. I think he was banking on selling a player or two he'd helped develop by now. That would've considerably backed his methods. It would've helped the balance sheet also but the team and club wouldn't be in any much higher place. Too many flaws to what he does at first team level and too much desire to chuck cash in the wrong directions, on and off the pitch.

And if they don't do the decent thing there we'll never get that kind of deal or player off a Prem club again.

Along with Smallwood the HSH boy sitting out the best contract he probably ever had, no push from the management. Then the covid extensions, Downing, Rodwell etc When theres been money this lot have wasted it big time, now the whole club pays the price again. Jokers.

Like iv'e said this is like Rhodes again, unrealistic valuation, owners don't want to sell, club needs money. Drawn out saga ends in taking probably less than might be on offer right now.

Cut backs at the bottom end yet in comes another presumably well paid one at the top end. Pity the day to day staff don't have agents.

The last time an upstairs 'consultant' was brought in it lead to 1 loan signing ( his own player), a managerial change and eventually relegation. It would surprise no one if this guy has just been brought in to sell people or sign one player. This is Venky/Coventrio Rovers, there are no real plans they all just wing it.

So they are all ducking the issues now and sending out the 3rd wheel to try and explain. Spineless, gutless Coventrio, one's back in his Teeside haven, one's been hiding down South almost permanently. Now the only one left is ducking the interviews. Really, what is the point of these lot anymore. As for the other elusive phantom of this soap opera, where is he ????

Seems as predicted this is following the Rhodes path and sooner or later the player himself will get fed up. Owners want 25 mill, he's worth 25 mill to us as it stands but not to anybody else with only 12 months left. We won't get 25 mill or anywhere near that, owners don't need money though. The club however really does. Another great dilemma people paid a great deal of money to avoid have dropped everyone in. The guy should be 12 months into a new deal by now, one with a price trigger of around 20 mill to keep everyone happy. Undisclosed fee of around 12 million incoming or a half arsed player seeing his deal out !!!!

Well usually at Ewood under Venkys there's no such thing as multiple coincidences. When odd thing after odd thing begins to happen again one after another something is usually in the air. Knowing old Tone though he probably just fancied a day off, maybe he'll permanently work from home now like the snake oil salesman CEO. Wouldn't put anything past this lot.

So far this summer The head of recruitment, a groundsman, a fitness instructor, possibly this fella and anyone else iv'e missed. All purely coincidental of course, nothing going on is it ......

Not organic stuff there isn't.

Having failed in their attempt to sell half the training ground and put the squeeze on the academy. I now wouldn't be surprised if plan B is to scale it back to the point there is no point to it anymore.

Problem is kids in general don't play footie like they used to so if these lot weren't there how do we get them playing. Outside of school etc especially, looks like it's a necessary evil these days.

If he'd come through in recent years Fielding would've been a competent enough keeper for us.

Nearly 2 thirds of that is a grant though.

Cling to the hope they were just exercising their own form of social distancing after mixing on the pitch 🤨

It isn't the result that is the issue really as we know pre season is just pre season. However it's the same old red flags flashing up with the same old issues. Defensive cock ups by experienced defenders, rancid football based soley on possession stats. Not scoring and rarely troubling the opposition keeper and basically being beaten easily by a fitter looking, more organized looking, more up for it side. Those are the real issues you can't just hide behind it's all about fitness in every game. It really isn't it's about tactics, gelling, shape and all the rest as well. It's bobbins as usual.

Give over before you even start.

Salford City assistant on bigger wages than our under 23s boss ? Quite possibly and there'll be a payoff in the not too distant no doubt. Then what ? If all these people keep leaving here it is because they want out no other reason. That could be due to many factors but it's yet another huge red warning flag if true. Looks like the mythical root and branch is actually underway but as i thought ages ago it's Mowbrays gang behind it not in front of it.

Funnily enough i was reading similar on twitter just now 😂 That coffee they serve in Blackburn has to be the weakest smelling stuff in England !

Pah!!!... we can't even top possession stats and lose 0-1 anymore now. Dire stuff, when's Tony back ?

Only having to contribute 1.5 mill per season to something like that is an absolute bargain. It doesn't have to find a 10 million pound player every couple of years although that would be nice. The dynamics of it have changed now, it has to produce lads good enough to fill our Championship squad. Anything else is a bonus when the odd real gem comes along. Take into account the wages as well when they graduate into the first team. They aren't all on 10k pwk like Joe Average 26 year old journeyman wants. It's so vital to us now.

After so long in this division apart from 1 trip to league 1 which in some ways reset things, then yes there should be a lot more to show for their tens of millions. The only bright thing is the academy which bucks all other venky trends. If that was run by some of the dweebs we've had in the managers chair and upper office briefly then that would be fecked as well. In fact the present lot would probably kybosh it first chance they got if they got one. Whoever has stood firm on it under this ownership needs a medal.

Waggots told them we have to hit 70% possession every game to ensure a good season ticket uptake. Winning don't matter !