Just not good enough. The set pieces were so bad tonight, it made me wonder if we were actually trying to score. That McLean is an absolute scumbag, isn’t he?

We’ll have another couple of chances before the end; let’s hope we can take one.

Come on, that’s not fair. On Penguin. Thought Trav looked decent in the first half, couple of good tackles and forward runs. But even Stevie Wonder could see that Vale needs replacing; it’s like playing with 10. Should be a couple of goals up, so there’s 3 points waiting for us here if we can take one of these chances.

JDT sees them in training and knows what each of them is capable of better than any of us, to be fair. That said, Vale needs a big performance today and really needs a league goal.

It is the risky bit, but he’s had 2 SoT in each of 7 of the last 10 home games (surprisingly).

I wouldn’t encourage or advocate gambling, but I thought that this was worth a fiver for tonight’s match.

I think (hope) that this will be the plan moving forward, now that we have Sorba. Lets see what tonight brings…

Undav starting up front today for Brighton.

Agreed - this isn't just a standard workday cock-up, this is a potentially season/future of the club defining moment. It's not an event that can be just swept under the carpet; it won't just be forgotten about. Somebody has to be held accountable.

Important one for us to win, if we do indeed have any ambitions of a top 6 finish; you have to beat the Wigans at home. With Sorba through the door, I'd start with BBD central and Dack just behind him - with either Dolan or Hedges on the other side. And not sure how long A.Wharton is out for, but I'd like to see him back in the middle of the park as soon as he's fit to do so - he's just so different to anything else we have. For Monday, I'd start with Buckley and Travis, Morton could do with a couple of games on the bench.

I’ve seen either yourself or another member mention this before and I find that really disappointing. I imagined he’d be pretty decent and approachable to fans, all things considered. That this wasn’t the case is disappointing.

The transfer side is a portion of what he does, not all he does. He’s the head of the footballing operations at the club; the recruitment of the lad from the Welsh FA was one example of a positive step, in terms of player development. The transfer windows have been disappointing; the one just gone moreso than any in recent memory. Nobody is disputing that. But to focus in on GB - and the work he’s doing to try and progress and improve our club - instead of the deep rooted weeds like Pasha, Waggott and Sylvester is baffling. To try and make out like he’s been an unmitigated disaster at this stage, even moreso.

I’m genuinely interested in how you’d classify the first, what, 6 months of GB’s tenure at the club as an ‘unmitigated disaster’…?

I’m dubious at the best of times on Nixon’s info - he’s a red top gossip guy, not a serious journalist. So I have no reason to start taking it seriously now. As much as I’d like to agree what he’s being fed by the club, I’d side with Glen’s opinion that it won’t be the whole truth. If it was and the EFL still decline the appeal; I could imagine a legal case commencing. Be an interesting few days either way…

A...sad...boo-er? Anyway, I like the banners idea - there's no escaping or hiding those, especially in front of the Sky camera. Whilst the message needs to get across, we need to be sure to be supporting the team on the pitch just as much - we're 6th in the league and don't want to risk derailing any chances we have of finishing in those top 6 positions (negative atmosphere during matches/etc).

If JDT does walk away - and I don't think he will - we'll not get anybody better under the current setup.

For a club of our stature, it's staggeringly amateur. You can picture GB sat at home / wherever he is, head in hands and rocking back and forth after the last couple of days. Made me wonder if it was Silvester, in an attempt to save his own skin (and, somehow, making a cock up of that as well)...

I always fantasise (not like that) of our club being run by people like you and I - actual fans of the club, passionate about wanting it to succeed and - get this - competent at what they are doing.

In fairness, the signing of Hyam and the new contracts for A.Wharton and Phillips have justified his first few months at the club. But there's no getting from what's just happened under his watch.

Ah, of course - deadlines are different in different countries. But, from a Rovers perspective, genuinely think this could be a tipping point for the likes of Waggott...

No, for us to sign anyone on a free, they can't have been under contract when the deadline passed.

That statement is absolute amateur hour; seriously, who wrote and approved that? Almost anyone could knock something up in a couple of minutes that would read more professionally then that. In terms of an appeal, I can only imagine that they would go down the ‘player/career welfare’ point of view. But even if so, you’d imagine that going back on their decision would set a precident. Absolutely. Embarrassing.

If this is true (and we don’t know at this stage), it is entirely unacceptable. I was considering a HST (can’t make every game due to work commitments), particularly on the back of O’Brien signing, but now there’s no chance. We’re talking about a signing that legitimately could have pushed us into the promotion mix; which has a knock on effect of how bright the future of this club is. But no, due to what seems to be sheer incompetence, computer says no. Sack the Secretary if he’s to blame. Give me the job; I have a basic level of competency in my job and I actually give a shit about the club. Not meaning to sound dramatic, but this could be a tipping point…

Re: blame. The clubs total silence suggests that the blame lays entirety in our court. However, I do remain confident that the deal will be completed.

If that is the case, I can’t see how the deal can’t go through.