RevidgeBlue

Maybe wishful thinking but I wonder if Suhail has decided he doesn't fancy the limited amount of criticism (or in Club speak "abuse") finally coming his way and has retired hurt back to India? To either direct operations from even further in the background or pursue opportunities elsewhere in the Venky's organisation. Could that explain the renewal of the search for a new "CEO" with no actual authority?

Whatever he does or doesn't get, he obviously doesn't mind. He's been doing it long enough without resigning or speaking out against them at any point.

Yeah, from a Venky's point of view it's a " Look the hierarchy who were here before us approve of us" type thing.

We dont seem to be able to win games when it really matters under VI. Stretching back to his very first game in charge. I don't expect us to win this either. Might just about come away with a point which won't be good enough in hindsight if our home form doesn't improve.

I can't disagree, particularly about Miller.

Id imagine maintaining any status he may hold at the FA is his primary motivation. Any freebies lobbed his way will be a nice little bonus. Might even get paid a relatively tidy sum for signing a few docs every year as well. Luvvly Jubbly!

One of two things is/are happening here: a) All the speculation is/has been complete bollux b) An agreement was reached some time ago between the 2 camps that Cantwell would leave in January and at the moment he's just being given a few minutes on the pitch to regain some semblance of match fitness in advance of a move. Whether or not there is an impending clause requiring a wage increase or payment to Rangers is moot, but if there was it would sharpen the focus of Rovers in wanting to shift him in January. It's ridiculous to be even entertaining such thoughts but nothing surprises me any more with this lot. They'd seemingly sacrifice their granny to save a few quid. You'd have been carted off in white coats for suggesting 24 hours before Hyam was sold that he would be leaving a matter of hours before the deadline with no replacement but it happened.

I was thinking Ismael and Gestede. Not sure Pasha is. As the date of this match wasn't specified I find the story eminently believable other than if the "Back 3" referred to are "Miller/Mclaughin/Pratt I could understand anyone not rating the first two but not Pratt.

Will that situation ever be any different though? Do you not think it's possible we'd let him go on a free or a nominal fee just to get him off the wage bill?

He didnt say when it was tbf.

Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb on the conspiracy theory front. Cantwell now on 45 League appearances. 4 more takes us right to the end of December. The 50th if he doesnt miss any inbetween, would be Wrexham on New Years Day. It couldn't happen again could it, mysteriously absent again in January before being sold?

Ah yes, someone prepared to be a willing patsy for allegedly going rogue for the purposes of a Court case (and then not being sacked) Bit like Broughton taking the blame for catastrophic happenings (and then not getting sacked)

Take it they don't mean one of their own, Pratt, so who are they including in that - Miller/Mclaughlin/De Neve/Ribeiro? Surely they dont mean Alebiosu either?

Injuries, the atmosphere at Ewood......

No indication from Nicko's piece that anything has changed and that that the new appointment wouldnt still be purely ceremonial. After the debacle of the pitch fiasco, they just want someone to cop the flak the next time the **** hits the fan. Which probably won't be very long.

You can only say the Cantwell thing is bollocks if he's still here after the January transfer window closes. The speculation about whether he might have an add on clause in his contract after 50 games is slightly different, may or may not be correct, but those including myself who flagged it up as a possibility acknowledged it as such. Id personally stilĺ be surprised if he's here in February.

Yep, you could be Pele, Messi or Maradona but if you're in the treatment room you're as much use as I would be.

Why shouldn't he be? Two weeks shy of Christmas and he hasnt been fit enough to start a game yet! If he eventually comes in and does well, and then we sign him permanently and he turns into a bit of a superstar you could excuse it but otherwise he's been a pointless and costly signing.

Who the fuck are Atigua? Do they mean Antigua.

Other than not being able to score (which was a standing joke) Batty was a fairly accomplished all round player. None of this modern " all I do is sit in front of the back 4 and shield the defence and make the occasional interception". A far superior version of Travis if you like.

In terms of bare additions, it's one extra body. Whether anyone brought in in January will make a difference or Ismael will like them once he gets them here, remains to be seen. Most of the players brought in in summer have had a negative impact imo.

So essentially then, one addition to what we have already. You think that will make a difference?

John Williams was always firmly of the view your finish in the table was roughly commensurate with the size of your wage bill in comparison to everyone else. I don't completely subscribe to that but by now our wage bill must be amongst the lowest in the Championship and that's exactly where we find ourselves.

Fuck me......£12m of players out!

Yep, you can nit pick until the cows come home as to whether the headline fees quoted either in or out are completely accurate. However the bottom line is that in summer we sold decent quality, and bought in lesser quality at a moderately negative net spend, and presumably a massive reduction in the wage bill. And find ourselves struggling badly. As 99% of supporters predicted would happen in advance. Quite surprising really.