Excellent post and succinctly hits the nail firmly on the head.

I really don't understand what role Venus has at Rovers. I know his job title and perhaps what he should do but his involvement on match days seems negligible. Yesterday Tindall was in constant dialogue with his coaching staff (I noticed he has got Graeme Jones there) whilst the game was in progress. Mowbray, Venus and Lowe didn't speak to each other at all when they were in view, in fact Mowbray spent more time sat down than in any other game I can remember. It just has an odd feel to it at the moment.

Your highlighted comment is the most pertinent of all in the Raya debate and kind of sums up Mowbrays sometimes ad hoc approach. Raya had mistakes in him for sure but to sign a replacement (who wasn't in the frame when Raya was sold) who was probably worse is poor on Mowbrays part.

Some good stuff to be upbeat about today, particularly Holtby, Johnson and Dolan. A draw would have been a fair result and to lose is something of a travesty but the manner of the goals we conceded leaves me worried once again. Scoring two away from home should be enough to secure at least a point but over the last few years clean sheets have been too rare for me. The new keeper looked fine and I liked the way he wasn't afraid to come out of the penalty area to cover the defence. The much maligned Williams was better than Lenihan today who I thought was poor. Likewise Bell did some good things and some poor things. Nyambe looked like has generally looked for too long - short of confidence in the final third. The number of times he could have gone one on one with their left back and didn't was annoying. He could power past most people in them situations but frustratingly just doesn't. Johnson did well but Travis still looks a yard short at times. Brereton just doesn't have it for me and Armstrong troubled them with his movement and pace. Mowbray should be aware of our propensity to give away cheap goals but this has been going on for most of his tenure. I'm sure he wants to fix this, I genuinely doubt whether he and his staff have the wherewithal to do it.

Too true. Under circumstances the three biggest days of a season for me are opening fixture, Boxing Day and FA Cup third round day. This diluted version of such an important aspect of our lives just doesn't get anywhere near cutting it for me.

My point was Nixon was wrong...............again. ??

John Sheridan has been appointed as Wigan manager on a short term deal. Didn't No Mark Nixon say Grayson was being appointed this week?

Shades of Hanley with his right knee bandaged, or was it his left knee? Or both maybe.

If that's what you want to believe then work away. Preston have a wage structure which they didn't want to break. I thought you were in favour of that approach after either Mowbray or Swag alluded to a wage cap in an interview this week.

Oh come on now. Why is he different from any player who moves for more money. I have never heard about a player who has turned down a far more lucrative deal to play for a particular manager or club. If it was for ambition alone then Preston were a better proposition. Your judgement is blinkered by anything which adversely shows any links to Rovers as criticism or in this case reality.

That's the way of the world. Adam Armstrong was on his way to Preston as they had agreed a deal with Newcastle when we went in for him. In Ridsdales words 'we blew them out of the water' financially. I don't remember too much criticism of Armstrong on here for taking a better financial deal and usurping Preston. It's football.

Hearing that XY and Z clubs haven't signed anybody is getting tedious and trying to justify what has so far been a poor window. I really couldn't care less who hasn't signed many players, I'm only interested in Rovers. Saturday is the first game and we still haven't strengthened in the areas we all know needed doing and all I'm hearing from Rovers is excuses, some of which are well worn.

WSC was on the back of fanzines and started off as an irreverent publication similar to fanzines. I remember a monthly column entitled 'The bloke behind me' and was essentially readers writing in about the comments and weird actions of fans in close proximity. All kinds of things from being peed on to being pick pocketed. Last time I saw it the content was far more serious.

It will be interesting when season ticket prices are announced if Swag has put the prawn sandwich brigade prices up too. Perhaps he feels he can entice a few more to take them up for the opportunity to sit in the JW Upper.

Would that be to buy or loan?

It is probably a poorer reflection on Mowbrays inability to bring in defenders. As has been quite rightly stated there is a distinct possibility that three of the back four on Saturday started in Mowbrays first game over three years ago. Despite his bluff and bluster which is swallowed by some it is poor management.

Your post really saddens me Parson and really reflects poorly on the club and the way they treat loyal, dedicated supporters who were here long before the current incumbents and will almost certainly be here long after they have gone. I don't think there has been any consultation with supporter groups or even affected individuals, it's just another announcement without too much thought for the consequences to look after corporates of whom many don't support the club and are essentially on a jolly up. How many of them go to Swansea on a midweek Winters night to support the team? I have said before I know a couple of posters who frequent this board who could do a far better job than Waggott largely through understanding how we locals tick. I get these are unprecedented times but having our collective noses rubbed in the dirt by Waggott is just not acceptable.

I'm not too precious about my own seat or even sitting in the JW Upper as we have for some years but what really irritates me is that the whole stand is being given over to the prawn sandwich brigade many of whom only go to a few games as guests. Also a lot of them don't even enter the ground but prefer to stay drinking in the lounges. But as they pay more then they are treated better than us ordinary fans. And Waggott and his cohorts will still get their free admission to the best seats in the house.

It's interesting that Waggott talks about a salary cap after the money that has been wasted recently. Aside from overpaying for players (and presumably salaries commensurate with those fees) we have (and still are) paying players not to play, £1.15m in agents fees and ridiculously £30k to fly the team to Cardiff recently. The buck stops with the management team. By the way Swag Tax has a nice ring to it ??.

What annoys me Andy is the many people who are excusing them because of their age. Arrogance sums them up pretty much but I detest this above the law attitude that some of them have. As you say Rashford has been a beacon of humanity in the recent past and the likes of them two have let him and their profession down.

True and all with a common denominator of desperado about them.

That makes perfect sense as to why this window has such a scatter gun feel to it. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if this was their approach to every window in the last decade given the reported targets we've missed. If it is true why would any manager work for them?

Absolutely correct. If Brereton is selected and he plays well then he keeps his place. If not he is dropped. I wouldn't be comfortable weakening the team to simply build up a 'project signings' confidence. That simply is unfair on other players and the fans.

A decent performance which got far better after the raft of changes which really exploited the Leicester midfield and defence. Suddenly we pressed high and looked likely to go on and win, prior to that we were sedate in the final third although to be fair once again the forwards looked uncomfortable in the positions they played. Travis still looks slightly off the pace to me but I'm confident he will come good. Hopefully there will be another game next week to fine tune and give Mowbray a chance to play the team he intends to start at Bournemouth with.

As I said joined up thinking. It's not difficult.