2 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

Is it a coincidence that most of the clubs in the orbit of the Manchester two are really struggling/already gone - Bolton, Bury, Oldham and Wigan?

Big towns, but unfortunately teaming with glory fans (plus RL in Wigan, of course).

I think it's more to do with the same thing most of us suffer from. The stupid wages at most levels of football and the snouts in the troughs behind the scenes.

How many clubs in the champ / LGE 1 & 2  can cover their wage bills from their own gate/commercial and media income ?

We'll win the last 3 or 4 games and he'll be the messiah again although there'll be no play offs.

12 minutes ago, Alex Rover said:

For a layman (me) is there any reason (financially?) that someone would take over a business with the intention to immediately declare administration?

Looks to me like it might have been along the lines of Holdsworth and co getting hold of Bolton.

Probably plans to punt it on again quickly whilst charging all-sorts of consultancy fees and trying to put a few clauses in for future benefit.

Like that one its not worked out so its gone tits up. Somebody will have made a few quid out of it though. That's football.

Fair to say they've gotten on our nerves the last few years but that's the six fingered influence stoked it up on their side. Sad to see them in the mire though and it's a strange situation but just shows how finely balanced some smaller clubs finances are.

Both them and Bolton were in good ownership for years until not very long ago. You just cannot help but think one day in the not too distant it'll be our turn. That's why we desperately need a trip to the land of milk and honey no matter how brief and painful it may be.

And that's why the likes of 'i haven't got the balls to go for it' Mowbray boil my piss.

59 minutes ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

What is a happy clapper ?

They get offended easily on behalf of others, others who are often earning tens of thousands per week win lose or draw, play offs or midtable.

1 hour ago, Darwen Rover 007 said:

Hearing they're too invested in Tony to let him go yet and likely to give him another year... 

From the bits you hear and read and some of the stuff he comes out with it seems Rovers in this period is very much Project Mowbray with Vs full backing.  I think that's why it often seems so relaxed and blaze' because he knows they have been sold a plan over a number of years and it looks like his word goes he can pretty much do as he likes.

Almost like a franchise backed by a big corporation but run by others they've got the 'line' manager in TM they always wanted. I'm still suspicious about who sits right in the middle of all this behind the scenes. They've spent a lot since they did those audits and i'd stake my house on part of the plan being a nice round of sales at some point similar to the GB era.  Squares up FFP and gets them a load of money back to cover running costs then basically start again.

That's when they might make a change because he'd probably move on then or retire and i think that would be a couple of years off still. However a new financial climate might spoil that so god knows what plan B would turn out to be. Otherwise Nyambe, Lenihen, Dack, Travis and Armstrong would nicely cover the wasted 12 million plus some running costs.

40 minutes ago, rigger said:

Not in our case

And the question is why go out on a limb money wise for two such players ?  Misguided faith that Mowbray could realize hidden potential ?

Well that's worked out well so far.

Armstrong had suitors i don't think the other 2 did we just enquired their clubs set a price and we paid it. Yet when we enquire about others with a bit of pedigree we then pull out rather than actually buy something that's ready to hit the ground running.

At the heart of it all, friendly agents.

3 hours ago, philipl said:

The horrible thing is, it doesn't hurt any more.

It is like we are still in the Covid football shut down.

It was so obvious from the moment the teams were announced we were going to lose.

Irrespective of injuries, there is a Rovers eleven and five subs who could have beaten Barnsley.

Mowbray didn't get anywhere near picking them or selecting the tactics to do it.

Spot on it's not defeat that hurts much these days it is the manner of it even the most ardent of fans looks at the last 2 line ups and thinks they are set up to fail. No surprise when they do it was actually a surprise when we won the first game back.

The manager blames missed chances but they are his dud strikers missing them yet the only person acting surprised there is him. The Venky's need to do a bit of their own research into what they spend money on they'll find not many goals in Gallagher, brereton and Samuels background pre signing.

Armstrong is our most potent and he actually had a decent record for a young lad. You get what you pay for.

If he wants big money again then he'll have to get some lucrative gig in some minor league somewhere abroad. Or he's spending the rest of his career as a Prem no 2 or 3.

If he wants regular selection he'll have to get real and play for less than 20 grand a week i reckon. His stock isn't high and money might be scarce at the type of clubs that would welcome him straight in as a number 1.

Without doubt the most frustrating manager iv'e seen at Ewood, certainly not the worst far from it so some of the criticism is over the top. Constructively though he readily provides ammo for it he is his own worst enemy yet it would be no surprise to see us bounce back and trash Leeds.

Just the type of match the owners might take an interest in and watch so everything is rosy again in their world if so. You do ask yourself though just how he managed to get West Brom promoted. Some of his waffle is now in the coyle mould and some of the tactical messing around is straight out of Brian Kidds book of recurring confusions.

8 hours ago, OnePhilT said:

With a punt for £5k a week? Hart wouldn't get out of bed for £5K a week!

Well we are safe then.

Might have escaped your attention but there might well be a huge reduction and n wages incoming. Not sure he's in a great position to choose unless he goes abroad.

He should be worth a few quid so the chance to be a guaranteed no 1 at a local club for a few years might appeal over money.

Then again who am I kidding ...

4 minutes ago, Boroblue said:

Rothwell is a shadow of the player he was. Travis is good defensively but used to make surging runs. Gallagher and Brereton are either strikers or we should have bought wingers. Bennett while I respect the man should definitely not be at left back or in the team. It took the injury to dack to allow Mowbray to free Armstrong. Johnson is past it and davenport should be either playing in his position or at left back.

Finally no intention of returning season ticket money yet Mowbray hands out extended contracts to players who haven’t played for us for twelve months. To justify this he included one in the squad( Smallwood) and plays the other( mulgrew). Easy money.

Technically inept, can’t spend money, can’t organise a team and to keep the players onside hands out my non refundable season ticket money.

All disfunctional but with no real oversight not surprising.

 

The two things you've highlighted there with Smallwood and Mulgrew really stand out and make you think just what is he actually playing at.

Do the deckhands run the ship to the extent he's terrified of mutiny if he breaks up their comfy little club i wonder ?

Something really isn't right about this.

3 minutes ago, Proudtobeblue&white said:

Then it's as bad as it gets. Perhaps he should explain? As a Rovers supporter, I don't follow any history into our inglorious recent past relating to agents who have done nothing but destroyed our club.

No idea if it was true or just another urban myth but i wouldn't be surprised as a few years back there did seem to be a big swing with that paper basically just being the clubs mouthpiece. They report what they see and what they are told but nothing of what they hear, very little journalistic license it seems.

6 minutes ago, Proudtobeblue&white said:

I note Rich Sharpe follows Honeyman.

Tentacles everywhere i heard in the past another LT Rovers reporter was on books connected to these lot.

They did have Media in their title once over.

10 minutes ago, Gav said:

We dominated that game tonight for large parts but the end product was missing as usual.

The owners have given him time and money, the sides experienced in this league now which is extremely important, he needs to produce the goods. 

I'd give Mowbray until November and if we don't look like making that next step up to play off contenders he's got to go.

 

That just never works though especiailly with someone like him who suddenly pulls it out the fire every  time the pitchforks are out. 

November then becomes Christmas the Christmas becomes the end of the window then it becomes the end of the season. 

Time to make change is the summer the time to put the wheels in motion for recruitment of someone potentially better is now. Pretty soon we'll be desperate for change just for changes sake and that's a sticky wicket.

Look to improve and start looking now.

And IF we spend any big money chances are they'll be connected to the above somehow.

Just now, Proudtobeblue&white said:

I tend to agree. The madness is the Loons will believe mid-table mediocrity is the norm. Irrespective of their losses TM delivers stability. If I was a rich person/family, why would I not need value for money? Why are they not asking serious questions about what their eye-watering investment actually gets them? I'm no Loon apologist, but there must be a limit to their patience and I fear at some point they will pull the plug. Next year if they allow TM to continue as is. Where will that leave our club. I still don't know why they are here.

They have half an interest i think that's the main problem. Most of the time they just won't be arsed what's happening but when they take an interest and ask questions we probably suddenly get a reaction from the manager.  I just don't think they are that bothered that's why it's easy street and when a manager has been here long enough to see how it works they just play it to their own advantage.

The void between here and India remains huge for a host of reasons.  The inbetweener messenger man is either thick as pigswill or on such a good number himself that he doesn't want to risk by rocking their boat.

On Mowbray yes by and large he done a decent job but far from flawless yet if he did leave or get sacked you look at the squad and he's left us in a bit of a pickle. There'd be a hell of a hard job for the next guy to sort out really although he'd have some decent stuff to work with there is no proper defensive base no reliable goal scorer.........and probably no money !

Just now, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Nyambe cashed in on, so a backline come August of:

Bennet - Mulgrew - Williams - Bell

Gulp.

Yep i nearly inserted that bit.

I'm telling you all now that with the way things might go in terms of finance we'll be starting next season again with Mulgrew. Williams and Bell in the back line.  Bennett shoehorned in somewhere and Samuel given a new deal.

He hasn't got either the finances or the spine to get rid of a lot of those. Number one priority for him is looking after everybody.

If anything sums him up it's the last 3 games and i don't for one min think the guy is that muddled. He's absolutely effing coasting it here, maybe he has an eye on next season and the short summer and doesn't want to beast them. When you are a few points off the play offs though and in with as good a shout as anyone you need to give it a right go.

He's no intention whatsoever of that though despite what he might say. I seriously question his motives now.

His absolute dogshit signings of Brereton & Gallagher cost us time and again and SAmuel ?  Well iv'e been saying it since i first saw him the guy is just not, never has been and never will be a goalscorer. Another of Tony's 'nice guy' projects though.

#### off !

For 5k per week Hart would be worth a punt i don't rate him but at this level he can't be any worse than what we've had or what else we are likely to have foisted onto our books.

£15k or more pwk no thanks.

1 hour ago, JoeH said:

To put this into perspective, Ben Brereton just turned 21, Scott Wharton is about to turn 23. One is putting in competent performances in a Championship team, and the other is putting in competent performances for a League Two team. Yet you'll find more people who want to get Scotty Wharton back to Ewood than you'll find people who think Ben Brereton WILL come good.

Breo has two years on him and still faces more criticism, cynical attitudes and WAY more expectations. If we could all just apply the same logic and the same attention to detail with Wharton, we'd be able to agree that yeah... Maybe it's time to give up on Wharton??

Competent performances ??? Give over he just turned in two back to back more lively efforts than he's ever done.

That's the sum total of it. Most want to see him given a chance to at least build on them.

But for a 7 million pound buy he's shown little if anything to be described as competent.

Running around and getting stuck in is a must it isn't optional.

1 hour ago, 4000Holes said:

I can understand why you are saying that but this year there will be many players available on free’s.  I think there ar3 many teams in danger of going bust, so this year is a little bit different.

Having said that, do I think Mowbray will recruit wisely, probably no.

I said that back in September it's an old post. Things have changed considerably and if they can grant a budget similar to last season it's game on taking into account what you've just pointed out.

Like you though I don't think we'll take advantage of it. It's there's enough in the pot the first thing TM will probably do is chuck new contracts at his mates.

If it means tying up some of the good ones and youth a bit longer then fair enough. I can see deadwood being handed a lifeline again though.

That isn't progress.

At leat Wharton has consistently been out there grafting away and cutting his teeth. It'll stand him in good stead  in the near future you don't learn anything on the bench.

Its been touched on before but spewing 12 million on 2 'investment' types and selling your homegrown keeper for a few million to the club who's formula you claim you want to emulate is actually a million miles from it. This is why i find some of the pure waffle insulting it's just backside covering at worst and straw clutching at best.

Both Brentford and Sheff Utd put their building blocks in place years ago and have stuck to a formula. In the last few years alone we've changed tack several times and look like doing again. Ok there's a transitional period but from what to what  ? Unless you buy quality footballers you won't achieve quality football consistently enough to be at the top.

Unless you spend your money on an actual goalscrorer or two you won't get the chances put away in tight games to make that extra bit of difference. You can't be surprised when the types we have miss the chances they do.  All this needs building on a reliable regular keeper and a solid pair of regular center halves not changing every season or window.

Where actually are we on all this  ?  Surely that's how you build a successful team over a number of years.