He was an upgrade on Lowe and far more suited to the role, a shrewd signing at the time by Mowbray. Be interesting to see where he ends up next when you look at Lowe's career path that's now arrived at Salford probably earning more than he did at Bolton. Would expect Smallwood to get a decent lge 1 gig somewhere.

Well he was on 33k at Boro so no way was he coming here for ten grand pwk i said it at the time some of our fans are very naive when it comes to wages. Getting him was the real reason imo Mowbray decided to pass on Bauer and put all the money into Downing. Again to me although Downing turned out quite well it was still the wrong move and looks so now. Guys like him at 20 grand plus per week are luxury signings. The final piece of the jigsaw to help push you over the line but that was never going to be the case here. It was another of TMs starry eyed punts because all the bits added up behind the scenes. Now we are a million quid lighter and still nowhere near the play offs.

Let's hope they had the brains to include add ons in the deal if not the penny might drop in Pune when Balaji reads about that over his cornflakes. Isn't that just the type of thing we are supposed to be doing ourselves ? He'll be waiting for the ten million plus bids for Brereton and Gallagher instead no doubt.

If they resigned Steele that would be an Owen Coyle level piss take although i think we could very well end up with someone not even as good as Walton. Another completely ridiculous situation to be in under this present set up.

You were the one dragging Henry's private matters into it because of your notion that he was overrated which is ridiculous. You were also the one who decided to compare him to Berg when they were different types of players you'd never get Berg playing as a striker for a start. Big Col also got the treble in his top level swansong at Rangers which isn't bad. Just comes across as sour grapes from you towards him for some reason and a bit more than just a player opinion. So yeah leave it there now the records straight... EH !!!

We already did to be fair but letting him sit out his contract and even add another month or so when there was no intention of using him sticks in the craw a bit. Similar to the stuff with Mulgrew, Gladwin etc that's what needs to change if we are to move forwards. Every available penny should be used to push and improve not look after people. Yes there's responsibility and the human angle but there's a fine line between that and taking the piss.

His alleged misdemeanours have jack shit to do with his ratings as a player, sounds like you've an axe to grind. Does he owe you money ?

Not getting all misty eyed about this one like some seem to be in some places. Did a great job at his level in league 1 but obviously struggled with the step up. TM did the right thing replacing him with his numerous other mids but keeping him around doing nothing coupled with him at one point turning down games with the U23s doesn't sit well with me. Had his moment and we are thankful but also seems to be another who's done very well out of this manager and his soft side. Best of luck to him in the future but imo should have been gone 7 months ago.

Parkes is just an outright club legend the type you name stands after and not just as a token gesture because of his recent situation either. I never say him play but there's never been any doubt about his standing as Mr Blackburn, even though he's from Sheffield or somewhere ?

Hendry was colossus don't talk crap he wasn't a ball playing center half and didn't pretend to be nor was he the quickest. Most of his stout robust defending was down to the fact he was first in because he had no pace. You're a bad judge of a 90's defender if you think he was overated. Berg, ice cool loved the guy a class player but caught out himself plenty times anybody who keeps getting out jumped by Michael Owen needs to work on his timing.

That's pretty much nailed it.

They should try that i agree just say fix yourself up and we'll let you go. Sadly this is 2020 and it's all about money he'd want what he was entitled to and is probably prepared to sit on the bench all season to get it. Pray that someone offers him something somewhere he can't turn down.

Agree on the first 3 but it's all about the takers and who is going to pay then what they are on here ? Nobody is the blunt answer plus Mowbray worships Bennett and seems to rate Derek. Mulgrew i wouldn't be surprised to see them waste a hefty lump on paying him off, we are nice like that. Personally i'd loan him out i'm sure he's enough good rep to get a gig somewhere. THen he can go for nothing eventually.

Probably a legend or cult hero to younger fans and that's fair enough. A bit of a lower league Benni Mac for me he had something about him always a goal or good touch in him at all times even if it didn't look like it. Would've liked to keep him around but finances need using better now.

Mowbray has played a good counter attacking game here at times but GB liked to sit deep tap it about and try and draw some space out of the opposition then hit it there. Very similar to what we seem to be doing now. Difference there was the wide men often on their wrong sides looked to cut inside into that space and shoot or feed Rhodes. Brief spells we got proper wing play when Conway was hitting Rudy early but mostly it was the other stuff. Probably tailored to create space for Rhodes to buzz around and it worked to a decent degree. The reason we didn't get in the play offs was that old chestnut at the other end, he couldn't assemble a good keeper or settled back line either. Apart from him being even more cautious than Mowbray he had more players likely to pull something out the bag but the lack of building from the back cost us. Some decent individual defenders there but that's how they played they never formed a unit.

When you look back just a few years to Bowyers time the legendary 'right good go' was born out of many frantic last ten mins at home with Marshall moved across to the left. Rescued quite a few games like that and least gave the crowd a few mins entertainment after the usually tedious previous 80. Chapman doing a cameo coming on the right if Armstrong is on and cutting inside could have a similar effect maybe. Anything to try and create a few chances or win a penalty or something.

The way Mowbray wants to play and his preference for wide forwards shouldn't be underestimated here he got 3 on his books for that berth and Armstrong left so Chapman was always way down the pecking order. It would upset his daft formation actually having some balance at both sides. Then factor in he signs expecting to be involved when he's fit enough to play but then is just left to graft for months in the U23s after proving himself fit. Obviously he should have got his head down but i can see why an immature young lad might become quickly fed up when he's looking at the first team stuttering about with strikers playing wide. Seems a 2 way stand off this so they should get him in the squad pre season and beast him into fitness and give him a real chance. He could be the game changer from the bench we crave but old plodder prefers to replace one wide striker with another. No wonder we rarely rescue games or turn them around late on.

This is it with Chapman he needs a chance to at least prove himself at first team level otherwise it's another complete waste. Everyone else gets a fair crack of the whip whether they frequently under perform or not. Give him a go and see if it grasps it and if not boot the little fecker out on loan until his contracts up then say ta ta.

So he'll bash it in them again next season on the assumption some of those stats will improve and others will even themselves out. Result = marginal gains and a place higher and what fans there are even more bored and frustrated. On we plod.

He's another who's mostly been on a very good number here so he'd not leave that lightly.

Strange this i also was googling these guys the other day it seems Paul S does a lot of 'stand in' type roles whilst Paul H must've had a nice Desai payoff then started a few of his own ventures. Slick slippery car salesmen the lot of them. As for the guy next to him in the photo now that's a real conundrum.

He'll go from being their captain to having to learn the ropes here ! and with Travis & Evans when fit being first choice and Johnson 3rd we are looking at yet another back up man. Or of course he'dl be shoed in on the left or something.

Could simply be they are assuming or have been told the wages budget will be similar minus a couple of big earners so any other headroom he creates from lesser paid leaving he can use however he wants. Money for transfers or money left over in the kitty from an overall budget for transfers is a different matter as i reckon there won't be any.

Unlikely it'll happen then this is probably this summers will he won't he saga only to be told his wage demands are too high. Then he signs for Preston or Coventry.

Who's his agent ? Considerable savings on quite a few wages already will pay for him and no way will the fee be 1.5 mill probably about half that, hopefully Then again who's his agent ?