11 minutes ago, Norbert Rassragr said:

That's what I thought, but I think the shirt sponsor was a children's hospice.

Yes I remember now that Villa earned lots of plaudits for the deal.

3 hours ago, Norbert Rassragr said:

So a consortium led by a former agent, with Paul Senior who I believe has links to certain agents might take over Vile. And with no idea who the British business people are. Nothing to worry about at all if you support them!

A quick look at Matt Southall suggests he has tried to lead a group that attempted to buy Newport County, he runs some sort of academy with Cameron Jerome and owns an employment agency called Acorn.

I don't know if there is a link but weren't Villa's shirt sponsors called Acorn?

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Just leave it alone. Not worth it. If people dont want to tell the full story dont know ppl post it

When you post a Nixon article do you ask him where his information came from? 

I really don't understand the desire to find out who told me.

6 minutes ago, RV Blue said:

Then say ‘I know for a fact that the car isn’t his’ instead of making it sound like Pilkington himself has confirmed that it isn’t his car on Twitter or something.

I didn't say that.

I have put a rumour to bed that was in danger of getting out of control. I think next time I will just let it.

1 minute ago, RV Blue said:

So you have heard that it isn’t his car? That’s not what your first post sounds like.

You are clutching at straws there mate. 

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

of course it does matter if you are claiming it wasn't him

It doesn't matter at all if you don't believe what I'm saying but it's true. If your trying to find out how I know you will have to be smarter.

40 minutes ago, RV Blue said:

I hate posts like this, confirmed by who...?

It really doesn't matter who but what is important is that it isn't him. If people want to get excited and speculate about a car registration (which I have been told isn't even his) parked at Ewood that's up to them.

It has been confirmed that it definitely wasn't Anthony Pilkington at Ewood today. He isn't even in the country.

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

Paul Hurst is the new manager of Ipswich Town Football Club, signing a three-year deal at Portman Road

? https://t.co/DD2LYNUBjv https://t.co/57ri6WkSyw

I can't help feeling for Shrewsbury in all this. They had a great season and under normal circumstances would have gone straight up but now they have lost their manager (another probably backroom staff), they will lose their best players and will struggle next season (in my opinion) to stay in League One. The fine margins are in evidence there.

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

4-4-2? We mostly played 4-2-3-1 all season. 

If Mowbray switch to 3-5-2 formation I wouldnt have a problem as we have the players to suit us. Probably need right wing back and Armstrong to make this work. 

Isnt Antonsson on 6k week?

Naive???  Haha. 

Or just believe in Mowbray totally. Big fan of his management, the way he talks to fans, open and honest communication and want the best for this club. 

Wouldnt say Samuel was a miss either. He scored goals that won us games. I probably say undecided. 

The other 5 miss you put in 4 were free and Harper was a loan. 

I understood we paid undisclosed fees for Gladwin and Hart.

Villa will be worried if they don't go up as their parachute payments will be halved next season. With a weekly bill of around £700k on the first team squad some cloth may need cutting. With lots of big earners to pay I wouldn't be surprised to see Grealish being touted about. 

https://sillyseason.com/salary/aston-villa-players-salaries-99599/

Just now, Paul Mani said:

Based on your argument my opinion is really valid as I spend thousands every year with the club. 

For what it’s worth. I wouldn’t give Conway a new deal either based on what Iv seen. But the man who matters believes it right so that’s ok with me. The end.

Your use of the word opinion says everything about a message board. To you your argument is valid but some people disagree. It's not being negative.

4 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

You tell me mate. But after the last 12 months we’ve had, with a manager who has proven 100 times over his worth, a team who have given everything to the cause and owners who have backed the manager and backed the manager and not sold any of our best players...what on EARTH do any real Rovers fans have to be negative about?

If Carlsberg did amazing turnarounds, being a Rovers fan in the last 12 months would be it!!

So yeah, I question the motives of those people. Now back to transfers ??

What's negative about an opinion that a player simply isn't up to it any more and shouldn't get a new deal? 

4 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

Completely agree. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. But leave it there. We’ve got guys on here going on and on about Conway. “He’s not worth it!” “I can’t see a single reason to keep him” “it’s a waste of money” etc...but these people don’t know what he’s been offered...they’ve never worked with him...they don’t pay the bills...I just find really odd that ‘supporters’ feel so empowered to judge without any information. 

After the season we’ve just had I can’t believe some of the negativity still being peddled on here. It’s draining and I can’t help but wonder if those people actually have the club at heart Stuart.

Ah the old negativity argument. As for not having the club at heart I know for certain that some of the posters who don't see any value in giving him a deal never miss a game, spending a perhaps a couple of thousand pounds in doing so.

1 hour ago, Paul Mani said:

That’s great. So let’s support the team then. Support the manager. Trust the manager who sees every single day what the likes of Conway etc bring to the party!

The fact that we love the club doesn’t give us a reason to strenuously pass judgment on situations we know literally nothing about. Anyone on here know what terms we’ve offered? Anyone work with the group daily? Anyone here responsible for paying the bills at Rovers? No. Like I say, it’s weird.

Just let the manager do his job. 

As supporters we see the games and make judgements about players from them. A player can look good in training but flops on the bigger stage (Gladwin for example). Conway hasn't just been mediocre last season, he has been that way for some time. I just don't see what he will bring to a squad which needs improving radically if we are to even reach mid table. I just don't get the coming off the bench argument neither. Any squad player for us should be good enough to start and their presence in the squad alone be enough to keep the other players on their toes.

As Conway is recovering from a broken metatarsal I would have thought his pre season will start later than the reporting date which in turn means he probably won't be fit for August 4th. 

Hopefully he will turn the new deal down and find himself a new club.

Conway shouldn't get a new deal for me for one reason, he simply isn't good enough anymore. He struggled pretty much all last season when he played and in a faster paced game he would be found wanting. Giving him a deal would also probably stifle the development of one of the youngsters who may well step up.

10 hours ago, JAL said:

He's too slow for International football plus his team can't do anythng in the premier league.

Who would you play in his position John?

Just now, DE. said:

Truth be told the only time he really had a period of sustained form was his first spell with us. Before that he already had gambling problems and injury issues. He didn't make many appearances for Arsenal before coming to Rovers. Obviously goes without saying he was brilliant for us for a couple of years, then it all went downhill again when he moved back down south with Spurs and never recovered. As we saw when he briefly came back here a few years ago he had become a shell of the player he was.

Long term I don't think his mentality would ever have let him get far in football. We were lucky to catch him during a very brief two year period when his head was right, but inevitably it got turned again before too long.  

I think the key to his upturn in form was getting away from the bright lights of London. He had a close relative (aunt perhaps) who lived in Bury and the story is she kept him on the straight and narrow and out of the bookies and casinos. I also recall something that she was a nurse and Bentley organised for lots of footballers to voluntarily donate a days wages to the nurses. I was told by somebody I trust that as soon as he got back to London and the 'in crowd' again he was once again gambling and wasting fortunes.

Such a waste for a player of undoubted ability.

9 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

From Rich Sharpe

have been trying but nothing as yet - hopefully something tomorrow and then more later in the week. Noises I’m hearing are positive though.

Is it the way I have read that or does Rich Sharpe contradict himself?

2 hours ago, JHRover said:

Telegraph reporting that Stoke want Rowett as their new manager and are discussing compensation with Derby.

He's only been a manager since May 2012 and this would be his fourth job. He was unlucky at Birmingham to be sacked but he left the others of his own volition. He has had one promotion with Burton from League Two via the playoffs. I really don't get why his stock is so high.

8 minutes ago, McClarky said:

Bloody hell, the bloke’s a sex pest.

And this girl appeared in some sordid Reality TV nonsense. It seems like a match made in heaven.

21 minutes ago, Biz said:

I would’ve thought most people would be happy to hear he said “top half” and not consolidate. 

But then he has tempered that comment by (once again) saying we need new signings to help us compete at that level. I read that as if we have to use whichever plan was freebies and loans we will struggle. If he comes back today with what he wants then we can expect top half.

For anybody who had any doubts:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/michel-platini-admits-1998-world-12556523

4 minutes ago, lraC said:

Just as a reminder, Premier league money and parachute money since Venkys arrived has been in the region of £130 Million. Sales of Phil Jones, Samba, Nzonzi and Gael Givet alone total £38 Million too.

Hoillet, Kalanic and Martin Olsson too.