Regarding the Trav/Tron situation, could this be the Venky/Gestede logic (I type that word whilst smiling). They have 12 months of contract left: - We have a history of letting contracts run down - Gestede promised an exciting transfer window - Val seems to have self convinced that a promotion push is on this year Decision: - keep Trav/Tron - add speedy options (DDN) to the wings and extra strength to the midfield (Sid) [hopefully Vicious] - HOPE for promotion - decide to say to Trav/Tron at that time "here's a cheap contract, you either want to play in the Prem or you don't. Sign it." - in the Prem they'd likely be squad players anyway as presumably (yes I know it's the Venkys) we'll buy higher quality in. If that's their logic then they'll need a striker signing and another (or resigned) CB. I'm leaving Brittan out of the above as I think he'll stay because of Val, plus he likes it here. If we don't get promoted then Trav/Tron will be deemed the problem and they can go. We keep the 2 new lads and buy afresh and go again. We're in Venky World so who the heck knows but there is at least SOME logic in it. If renewed contracts aren't offered and we buy/loan a strong player for the other slots then plan completed. That's what I think will happen, no sale, no new improved contracts. Personally I think that's as sensible and likely as the Underpants Gnomes strategy presented on the chalkboard as: 1. Collect underpants 2. ??? 3. Profit I can see Gestede's office wall now.

The pattern is obvious, we're following the declared business model. It's not about football and winning games/promotions. The two new signings are young and presumably their data shows that they have a shot at developing and therefore becoming more valuable. On the other hand they may not. It's a roulette game, take a spin. Sign another one and you've a reasonable chance that 1 in 3 will work out then we sell and bank the money somewhere offshore. Who cares if we win matches, what's important is that we pick well as will be evidenced by the fees we receive further down the line. You get promoted by ADDING proven, respected players to your squad. Our signings are business (likely replacement) deals/gambles only. Venky's don't want promotion or relegation, they want Championship status so we can generate self sustaining income by getting lucky on picking up prospects who develop. To paraphrase Tina Turner "What's football got to do with it? What this about winning a promotion".

Forshaw signing is OK for me if he's an "as well as ..." but not if he's an "instead of ...". So if we sign others (of quality) and keep hold of Trav/Tron then his dressing room presence/experience will be useful. The reality is of course that we don't sign quality and we lose Trav so if that was to be the case then this is another low water mark moment. As an aside I like Garrett, he has attitude. Hope he has an impressive pre season and breaks through (oh and he's free so in the current climate what the heck).

My opinion is that we're in the Championship by design. For some reason the Prem is forbidden ground, ditto League 1. When in League 1 we kept the squad and bounced straight back When in the Prem they sack Sam and appoint a clearly incompetent dick who failed at his first objective by blowing his brief at Wolves but then managed to follow instructions at the second time of asking. Also a nice touch to sabotage our League Cup chances at the same time. Since then we've had many opportunities to win promotion only to be shot in the foot by deliberate acts of sabotage by the owners and board (IMO), no money, admin "failures", good players sold or contracts allowed to expire. I have absolutely no idea as to the rationale but the Venkys really need us to be in the Championship and will move heaven and earth to keep us there. Consequently we won't have a sniff at promotion or relegation this season or any other season by design (IMO). Oh and Chaddy is a bot by the way (IMHO) - that's a joke Chaddy ... mmm but wait a minute ...

mmm fair question, if nothing else he earned a ton of respect and now he's earned the disrespect (mine at least). But then I feel the same about Shearer and he was a legend (or is that a leg end mmm).

Ah, I see. A scenario: man woos a woman, the woman falls for the man, they marry and make their legal covenants to each other. The wife then gets tempted by another bloke with more cash and pisses off. A question: do you reflect on the warm memories of the good times or do feel aggrieved at the treatment you received? Personally I'm enraged by the actions not placated by the memories.

Why on earth would he say any of this stuff!? It's ridiculously naïve. Why didn't his agent stop him. He has to come back to Ewood this season, why get everybody's back up with stupid unnecessary comments like that. He was a legend at our club and held in great regard by the fans now it turns out he gave us two fingers and told the club to do one. Don't know about you but I love rejection. What kind of reaction does he anticipate? If he aspires to get into coaching after his playing career is ended he's pissing on his chips with any return to us. I defo would have given him real good round of applause when he came back to play against us but after treating us with such disrespect he'll get an earful. Self centred and entitled like all the rest of the overpaid footballing pre Madonnas, absolutely no respect for those who make them as rich as they are. Do one Sammy.

Beck will be the toughest of acts to follow. This guys on a hiding to nothing if he signs on as a LB. He has no reputation as a defensive back and if it's left sided pace Gestedes after then what's the point when you have Kargbo in front of him. If it's a signing for cover then maybe given Picks injury record but then that's what Hedges is for isn't it, I can't say I'm anything like excited by this [rumoured, potential, possible, definite maybe] signing (assuming we get the registration papers submitted in time of course).

Spot on. 100% of nothing = nothing. Job done. Exceeded our only promise (10% earlier). Good window.

It's like picking up a new book and reading the last page first, we know who dunnit. Watching others getting excited at the thrills and spills of actually reading the thing is comical to us - we know the outcome. Been here many times before with Rovers and the transfer windows, it's pointless even going through the motions. The only new things are the interesting plot twists that explain WHY someone wasn't signed or WHY someone left but it's always Colonel Mustard in the Library who's behind things. 6 candidates for the crime, 3 in Pune and 3 in the boardroom, though I guess that doesn’t quite work now as Professor Plum has left the building. In case you can't wait to get to the last page it ends in tears and frustration and the perpetrator gets off scot free.

AI wrote this. Usually it showcases the intelligence of the average Burnley supporter but in this case the last sentence is interesting. If true then we should be glad of a truely awful transfer window :-) Enjoy! Blackburn Rovers' future under Venky's ownership remains uncertain, but here are some key factors that could impact any potential sale: 1. Financial Situation - Venky’s have limited investment capacity due to ongoing financial issues in India. - The club operates within EFL financial fair play constraints, limiting spending. 2. Fan Pressure & Ownership Commitment - Fans have repeatedly called for a change in ownership, especially after funding cuts to Blackburn Rovers Women’s team. - Despite frustrations, Venky’s insist they remain committed, though that doesn’t rule out an eventual sale. 3. Potential Buyers - So far, no confirmed takeover bids have been reported. - The club’s status as a historical but Championship-level team may make it less attractive to high-profile investors. - A sale would require substantial investment to re-establish Blackburn as a Premier League club. 4. League Performance & Future Ambitions - If Blackburn Rovers achieve promotion to the Premier League, Venky’s could be more inclined to hold onto the club due to increased revenues. - A continued stay in the Championship might strengthen the argument for selling, particularly if financial struggles persist

Agree in principle, that was great vision by Jack, but that vision was that WE should benefit and that one day WE might produce a Man U style golden generation for ourselves. When the charlatans took over that dream disappeared, we were never going to benefit from a major emerging talent, others were. We're less of a nursery now and more like a simple incubator. For those old enough, think Crewe. They produced some really good players but they were never going to play for Crewe. Agree that Academy sales keep some of the lights on but we get peanuts when the talents emerge and are told by their agents to not sign long term papers. Most of our kids come from far and wide, they're not all Wartons from Blackburn. They owe us nowt and aren't emotionally tied to the club. They're here for one reason only - we're recognised as a launch pad for better things elsewhere. So I repeat ... what's the point? This wasn't Jack's vision.

As I've said previously, the Academy is a business venture not a football venture. It runs parallel to the Championship side of things but are IMO only linked through branding. The Academy is a sausage making machine. It will (should) produce players who are solid enough in the lower divisions but will never set the world on fire. The occasional gem that gets snagged up in the net is soon recognised by other watching recruitment teams and are gone before we've even got a sniff of watching them contribute to a promotional push (ho ho yes I know, but we live in hope). The ones who make through to our first team are earnest tryers for sure but never amount to more than squad fillers. So ... what's the point? Venkys see us through the lens of a business (remember the renting players quote), they're just viewing the Academy as a machine to hopefully defray running cost, keep the cupboard stocked with pencils and bog rolls available in the visiting dignitaries toilets [the backroom guys get torn up newspaper pushed onto a nail]. Promotion will never happen because you have to buy most of it, talent acquisition, wages, coaches who can do the job etc., etc.. With Venkys in charge you can forget about every aspiration you ever had ... full stop. The Academy means nothing at all. I suggest we even stop thinking about it as a solution to anything.

The club have pushed us all over the edge, we're bipolar club supporters, extreme episodic bouts of mania and depression. The answer to your question depends on the day that you ask it. How can we be anything other than manic depressives in this mad house of a club, disappointment follows optimism, hope follows failure the only constant at the club is chaos. It's a rinse repeat situation. Follow the Rovers these days and you're signing up for a self inflicted rough ride. I salute you all but you're all mad as a box of frogs. Expectations for the season ... only that I'll be writing the same words this time next year.

Wheels wobbled on the truck when Baker left. Good player. They came off when Eustace bailed. We finished well, 7th hurts but not too shabby taken in context. One gets promoted from the 4 play off teams, it was never going to be us. Kargbo will come good, needs proper coaching. Dennis, please go. Dolan, please stay. Venkys do one, waggott etc do likewise. VI and backroom staff have earned the right to have a punt next season. Academy, look out we're coming for your kids. Onward and hopefully upward :-( yes I know, whistling in the dark but you know, Rovers supporter and all that. Laters.

Poor days are usually a required investment for the good days to come. The pain of growing into something worthwhile just has to be taken on the chin as we look forward to better times. The foolish approach is to suffer the pain and then let the finished product walk away for free. Dolan has found the escape tunnel, he's not for turning back. A lucky break for him, a win for whoever signs him and a kick in the b*ll*cks for us fans. It's been a rocky road with him so far but just as we see good days ahead we get the middle finger treatment. 'Twas ever thus.

Brill, many thanks all.

We're perfectly capable of winning this one, I actually think we will. Was surprised by Watford yesterday as they threw the kitchen sink at us like their lives depended on getting a result yet they had absolutely nothing to play for. I fear the same from Sheffield United who in theory should be putting the reserves out as they've nowt to gain from this match but risk injuries. So we know how that's going go don't we?!! Still, academic IMO as we are reliant on other results and not every other team is a West Ham. Rovers to win and not qualify.

Is there a short cut to get to 'first unread' or 'last read' in a thread?

So, the Crewe model then. We aren't a football club that wants to compete, we're a hot house for talent that we can sell. A plant nursery and not a garden. What's the point of being a 'supporter' when the only thing that matters is putting product on the shelves and rubbing hands together when it sells like hot cakes. What's that got to do with football? Surely just a Michael Porter business strategy. Football? What's that?? Look at all the cash that's in the till. I'm looking forward to standing in the pub in few years time watching Prem and Internationals on TV and saying "he was one of ours, oh and so was he, oh, him as well". Ah, pride, a nice warm feeling 😀 Great. That's what supporting a team is all about. NOT!!! Get these morons out.

I'm likely in a majority of one here but hey ho, opinions and all that - I think that TM saved this club, literally. Think about the open warfare we had before his arrival, manager after manager, agent vultures, scavengers and the toxic legacy of the recently departed he who shall not be named or spoken about. Things were as bad and corrupt as they could be. Tony brought stability and decency back to the club. I'm convinced there would be no Rovers (at least worthy of the name) today if he hadn't arrived. Pedestrian, yes, old fashioned, yes, top quality manager, not so much, but as a package of decent human being with morals and standards, yes in bucket loads. As said I'm sure everyone will disagree, fair enough but one man's view for what it's worth is that he saved us from extinction. Stayed to long, discuss, capable of promotion to the prem (no IMHO), odd decisions about players and their positions certainly but I'm still grateful he stumped when he did. I wish him all the best.

Got to say I've enjoyed the match. Good stuff. Shame we've pissed our play off chances away but nevertheless a good game. New contract for Trondstad please asap.

All the faux hype coming from the club about exciting rebuilds, new players fitting the VI style, projects (yawn) is getting really tiresome. Bottom line ..... we have no money, Venkys don't give a crap, our board is piss poor. There's a pecking order in all things, football is no exception, except for the once in a lifetime 'golden generation' fluke you have to SPEND to get anywhere and we won't. We're supposed to get excited about being allowed to watch an event at: - Glastonbury Pyramid Stage - Etihad Stadium - O2 Apollo - Butlins DJ Sets - Blackburn Empire Theatre What's your pick for an enjoyable night out. We're supposed to get excited by an open mic evening at the Dog and Duck!? Really!!? We're buying no one of note, we're going to sell any prospects that we might have in the Academy and we'll be thrilled and excited to welcome a handful of 35 year old has beens and B List loans. Another project to get us nowhere. What happened to my club Venkys? What did you do!!??? WHY!!!!!???????

Venkys are a terminal illness that's not going away and there's no escaping whats inevitable so might as well buckle up and try to enjoy the football. An appalling state of affairs but I'm with you, let's win this and worry later.

Cometh the hour cometh the man 😉 I bet you won't be able to help yourself just like the rest of us poor saps.