We've played the same way since GB or should I say since Evans & Lowe first got pitched together but Evans is the common theme in it all. Manager after manager at Ewood seem to play a style to accommodate certain players it's mind numbing at times. We had Reed last season a proper midfielder and Travis looking like a young understandably raw potential midfield dynamo and it was shaken up a bit at times and worked well on occasion. A revert to type was always bubbling under the surface though, so frustrating i'd love us to move away from that altogether. Never against a 442 two banks of four when needs must though but that's a rigid formation not the staggered one we have.

That's exactly what possession based game means for average sides at this level, knock it slowly side ways and backwards to keep hold of it and try and draw the opposition out then hoof it over the top. It's mostly what we've already seen from Mowbray over the past few years and same as the mind numbing stuff under Bowyer. Another common theme in this approach is ? Yes that's right two deep sitting defensive mids, in short it'll mean nothing has changed at all. Seems in chasing Downing and the other oldies we've been linked to he's looking for someone to deliver the killer balls forwards to open it up a bit. Not sure that'll be enough i'm afraid.

Tony is a massive upgrade on most of the bellends, clueless, dodgy, inexperienced and bang on average joes we've had shoved upon us under Venkys. A breath of fresh air in many many respects BUT he is a football manager. They all talk drivvle at times they all cover their own backsides and shock horror they all make bad judgement calls and get things wrong. It is what it is however he is good at playing the game in the media and as time goes on it's clear a major part of his job s to pay lip service saying the right things at the right time whether they are correct or not I think there's pressure on any gaffer here to do that after the fanbase was so fractured and distanced from the club. He is in real danger of tripping himself up now though if he doesn't deliver some positive signings he's done too much bold talking and major back tracking over the last 12 months. Time for honest Tony to be honest at the end of this window if it doesn't deliver what he's been saying it would shrugging shoulders won't cut it this time.

Yes you're correct if he's saving cash from his budget to direct into this which would likely cost a million quid for one season and that's accounting for him taking a ten grand per week drop in wages..... ? I suspect the only thing holding this up is waiting for the player himself to be released from his Boro contract end of June and seeing what else he might be offered. Mind you if we sign two good defenders and a striker Stuart is welcome... ?

Yet..... Why would you approach players and hold talks with them if you didn't want to sign them ? That didn't happen with Bauer, allegedl. It has happened with Downing, go figure.... ?

Or on a short term 35 year old old pal, there's no wisdom in that either.

There seems a feeling around Preston that they were worried about losing Neil so uncle Trevor has eased the purse strings a bit to help keep him happy. This Bauer signing would back that up although it's in the 15k+ range not the 40 or 50k however rumours of a heft signing on fee that might balance that a bit. Either way if it's cost them 2 million quid all in it's a decent bit of business I feel, easily covered if he / they have a good season or two. That may have been a reason they've got they've got down to business early this time around plus he seems a very proactive manager, Mowbray is very much reactive in most situations, a little bit too relaxed perhaps.

Having slept on it i'm still a bit disappointed but seeing as you like the positives I suppose looking at the likes of him as back means he's set the bar quite high to replace Downing which is good. Other side of the coin - and there always is one - That only really rings true if he's identified better to come in up the pecking order but it falls to pieces if he's still regarding Lenihen, Mulgrew and Williams/Rodwell as his first choice 4. Also sniffing around the guy all this time then either backing away after being quoted big wages without actually making a move to really find out or even worse telling porkies to put fans off because you've gone off him or know he'll knock you back for a similar club is a balls up no matter how it's dressed up. He really needs a good defensive signing or two now or he's made himself look very silly. Defenders are coming remember.

Awful news mate you all have my sympathies, sadly our pets can't tell us there's something wrong so there's nothing that can be done in such situations. No long suffering is a tiny crumb of comfort.

A level headed Nobber who's a bit close to the inner circle there tells me the player was aware all along of Blackburns interest but never got to the point of speaking to our manager despite expecting too so there wasn't any choosing to be done between Rovers and PNE. Take it as it is just someone telling someone what they've heard but if that is the case Mowbray can't be blamed for failing in his pitch although being linked all that time but never making a move when he's a free agent is odd.

Hasn't it been said before that after the initial surge it almost slows down to a trickle through summer before another late surge approaching the season ? It probably won't end up much different to last time although wouldn't be surprised to see it down a bit the Tories are still squeezing less off folk the hardest and this continued Brexit nonsense is without doubt driving prices up in Super markets although who is actually really behind that is debatable. Also it has to be said that despite him retaining the support of fans after 2 and a half seasons a few are a bit fed up of Mowbrays lax attacking approach to home games and his constant meddling with square pegs in round holes that contributes to the lack of flowing football. A few good signings and the least flicker of ambition will swing most waiverers though, players to bubble under the surface and back up oldies and nobodies won't.

I'm hanging my hat on one as good as Reed but a centre half...... Still have the obstacle of him actually starting regularly in his position though if we find one, the vibe again very much seems to have switched back to back up stock !

I think he'll pull off at least one good loan from a Prem club the Vs like to back that kind of thing but I hope it's a good defender and I hope he gets started.

Didn't Rovers or even Anderson thrash out a deal that saw another few million on top of the initial 16 or so that got rid of any clauses once it was paid up ? Total deal north of 20 mill, almost enough to pay off the outstanding balance at an Indian bank for the purchase of a club ??

This is it in a nutshell it doesn't really matter what differing opinions we all have of him as a player or potential signing the fact is from the outside it's looked like another long drawn out waste of time. During that time - 3 windows - some other very good and gettable players have probably changed hands whilst our lot sit on their fingers 'giving these lads a chance' in season and 'waiting for others to make THEIR minds up and get back to us leaving the door open all summer' out of season. Casual to say the least.

And in Prestons case ? as with most of this division there is no parachutes. Course it was different times but there was still huge financial barriers like clubs getting 10 to 20 thousand average crowds and keeping all their gate money whilst most others got sub 10k averages, massive difference. You still had to pay your top players 500 - 1000 per week whilst keeping your others happy on £250-350 or less so not to dissimilar in the grand scheme of things just more noughts but still the same principles as today. And we are backed by billionaires you know and well within FFP at the moment despite still carrying a far too hefty wage bill which could stand some sensible pruning to allow a good signing or two. Our gaffer doesn't seem to fancy that though for fear of upsetting the lads.

Funny how we used to compete against and often outdo the likes of Stoke, Boro, Preston and Brentford when we hadn't a pot to piss in and we got 7k on whilst Stoke/WBA/Leics/Boro could often command double figures even back then with fanbases more fickle than our own. If we are going to be a top ten Championship sides there's plenty of bigger income clubs we have to compete directly with we've done it most of our history so it isn't a free pass in the excuse stakes i'm afraid. It's all about how the team is built and managed and this team spirit we are so big on now. Astute signings needed please.

That could be swallowing up the headroom in this years budget as well.

We are though....until he suddenly finds 7 million for a Brereton or thousands per week for a Downing.... or generosity to injury prone and non contributors that could free up much needed space on the wage bill. Welcome to the BRFC transfer merry go round where nothing makes sense.

Exactly where i'm at with it i'm actually not over fussed about the player although I think he would've been a good addition to the squad on a free and personally would've taken a punt on him much sooner when it was doable. They've clearly courted him a long time so must've seen something they liked so again it's the bigger picture at play here, whether that is actually the owners or Mowbray himself changing tack is debatable it's easier to lay everything at their door but they provided funding last year clearly and he shoved the majority of it on Brereton. Some of his transfer dealings worry me there aren't many full time ones aside from Dack and Armstrong that can actually be described as astute yet although Rothwell may buck the trend.

Don't we keep getting told by our own manager we need to be following the Preston model ? I'd be interested to know when was the last time they shelled out millions on an U23 reserve or got into talks with a 30k pwk 35 yr old free agent with a serious view to signing him maybe at the expense of recruiting younger hungrier legs ? What they've done with Bauer is follow the tyical PNE model to the letter, identify and swiftly move for a player mid 20's with good potential and plenty game time behind him, mostly lge 1. Probably for a specific role in the team all for what will turn out to be modest money seeing as there is no fee and he may well do them a good job for 4 years or more even if he doesn't increase in value and get bought. I think for them at this moment it's a very astute signing and as much as it sticks In my craw PNE could well be the next Sheff U in a season or two. What we continue to look like going off speculation is typical Venky BRFC, not knowing it's arse from it's elbow then diving in scaterr gun later in the window bodies for bodies sake. First rule of thumb invest in what might make money rather than what it can instantly give the team, second rule of thumb just plug gaps with whatever and whatever the cost. Millions go down the swanny again but it's ok our owners can afford it but all the while it's lumped on what we owe them.

Spot on. I've never seen such a relaxed scenario as what there is now lets hope the holiday camp midtable just do enough mentality isn't settling in again.

It's what managers say though there'll be a long list who've been promised they are coming in to start then soon find themselves not doing. To sign players you have to massage their egos if there are a few clubs in for them and as we know football talk is 50% bullshit at all times by all managers. TM may be too honest for his own good in these circumstances - 'We'd like you to come here a be 3rd choice CH to start with behind Lenihem & Mulgrew with a view to forcing you're way in and keeping the shirt and for that we'll give you X amount per week' as opposed to - 'Patrick we've been tracking you a long time and we see you as someone who can come straight in and start and we can build a team around you as long as you hit the grade, for that we'll give you x amount and a cherry on top if succesful'

In my opinion now that Downing has become available Mowbray is probably preparing to swallow up most his budget on this guys short term wages hence the sudden cooling on Bauer. Then they'll scrabble about for a good loan or two where the parent club contributes most, be it Hanley or someone else. Then maybe a squaddie and if there is actually any transfer money another 'bubble under the surface' youngster via a friendly agent or three. This would more fit his mantra than spending or loaning in players actually ready to take the place of the improved deal favourites. Downing will be trumpeted as a marquee signing stepping down to come to lil old Rovers from massive mighty Boro I can just see it now.