40 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

It’s absolutely scandalous if we limp out of a promising window at a critical time having spent zero (net) and with no significant defensive reinforcements.

I have made my point to the people I know. I genuinely believe that having lifted the fans and owners expectations, the management have their necks firmly on the block.They know that a bad first 10 games will see them out of a job. 

I feel sad for them. Hope Jonty doesn’t get dragged in to the pending carnage! 

How is it a zero net spend? Based on reported fees, we've brought in 3.75 and spent 5. This is ignoring loan fee for Tosin and Walton, plus likely signing on fees and agent fees on all incoming transfers. From a wage bill perspective I'd fully expect us to be paying more this year than last.

On an unrelated point, those who were bemoaning us not signing players early on only need look at spurs. Even well funded champions League finalists look to be doing major business on the final day.

Which managers can we realistically get who are proven or can reasonably be argued to be better than TM? This isn't me saying he is the Messiah, but I do sometimes get the impression that some fans still believe we are a well established Prem club with a good infrastructure and operating model i.e. a really attractive proposition.

In respect of his man-management, he is criticised for this and yet criticised for improving contracts. Crucially the players seem happy, I don't recall anyone demanding transfers and he seems respectful of his players. Look at how Downing was handled - possibly to our detriment as a team - let him go on loan as wasn't playing much in order to try and earn a contract. Appears to be looking after Gladwin as well when many here would happily cast him away. You might not agree with the decisions but it can't he isn't looking after the players - a huge part of man management

I have to question whether those criticising TM on that quote have read the full article. He's pretty much dismissed attack and midfield additions, says defence will be looked at along with keeper. The overall message is he still intends to get transfers in, yet the line being focused on is that is content with defensive options. 

Given that was our frailty, 48 hours before game 1 he's hardly going to instill confidence if he said we're desperate for defenders cos we're poor at the back. It would also drive up prices for us 

For all those saying new signings should go straight in, I seem to recall Pedersen being held back with comments along the lines of he needed to bulk up and adapt. Of course we'll never know how he would have performed if thrown straight in, but it may have been the better route for him. Perhaps Kalinic would have benefited being eased in. 

For those debating if new signings should start straight away or if we should sign from abroad, a topical article based on academic research. In summary though, some take longer to adapt than others. Go figure. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49099670

59 minutes ago, Tugay-is-God said:

What's the point in access if he never does anything with it though!

Really can't think of one transfer story he's broke this summer. If he's keeping his powder dry, we must be in for a massive scoop in the next week. 

Did he break Maher? Regardless, if he gets told off record we've bid for Player A, publishes it and then another team gets Player A cos they've become aware of availability, what good is that for Rovers or the LET? For the sake of traffic and reads for one article, they lose access to Rovers. Not worth it. 

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

But he's a journalist not a club employee.

A journo who relies heavily on club cooperation for what is probably one of the most popular parts of the paper. Lose or reduce your access by giving away what the club doesn't want you to, harm your work and your paper

In case it hasn't been mentioned, the Forum minutes from earlier in the month have the following:

"David Raya’s sale had come about after him losing his place in the first team and his agent actively looking for another club. SW confirmed that there had been some interest in acquiring Karl Darlow from Newcastle but his current high wages were a significant stumbling block."

Be it the criticism or not having the mindset to battle for his place, seems Raya instigated the move

Just now, BankEnd Rover said:

Most probably. I dont like Mowbray - last season was enough to decide that. Strange tactics & unfair comments to certain players. There is no reason what so ever to have Travis & Rothwell on the bench come the first game. We all agree on that. Like I said (one last chance) we will see how we start the season. I would rather draw against charlton playing the players we should than win with Tony's friends.

So you would rather your personal opinion and view receives validation above a better result for the team and therefore the likelihood of most Rovers fans being happy with a win. You'd make a great modern day politician.

Just now, Tormund said:

Good looking lad isn’t he Gally.

Our Championship version of Santa Cruz?

As we're getting the band back together and members have called for full backs, surely it means the return of Martin Olsson and the new Denis Irwin, Bruno!

Just now, Ossydave said:

Whys everything undisclosed these days?

Welcome back though Sam ???

Don't show your hand if you don't have to. Man Utd for example have to let shareholders know, but do you want other clubs to know what sort of budget you have? In the extreme, if he cost £10m, clubs will then be raising the price for any other enquiry we make.

For the selling club - don't let others know how much you've just had as a windfall. If Southampton bid for a player, they don't want the other club raising the price by £5m cos they've just got that from us. Also, if the price is low, don't piss off your own fans. They wont be happy we got him for £250k....

So varied reasons why you don't disclose it if you don't need to

For those criticising the contracts given out, have you forgotten when for around 2/3 seasons, we would finish the end of the year with hardly a match day squad still on the cards? The squad then needed quite a few new faces, inevitably bolstered by loans, which resulted in the same situation the following year. Players were leaving at the end of contracts or final 12 months, meaning it was hard to get any value out of them.

Whilst bigger wages and renewed contracts may mean we are stuck with a couple of players (for which interest is not guaranteed anyway) I would rather be in this position than losing the likes of King & Mahoney on frees, while 4 members of the first team leave every year due to their loan ending.

Just now, MarkBRFC said:

Didn't his wife give birth recently? Think that's why he wasn't in Austria.

Yes it was either on the official site or LET explaining he had been given permission to stay behind for the birth of his first child

There is a lot of criticism of late bids and even had they succeeded I get impression they'd have still been labelled panic transfers. Does the same apply to Everton with Mina and particularly Gomes? Fulham, West Ham and other Prem teams also had very late, left field deals. 

I don't understand why so many deals are attempted on deadline day when as many have rightly pointed out there's been months to deal with it. But pretty much every club does it. Last year we got three in on deadline day and 2 have been terrible. If the squad doesn't cope in the league then TM will need accountability. 

Are we weaker than the squad which finishes with promotion? I don't actually think we are. Palmer is a direct and hopefully better replacement to Payne and for all the love for Chapman, he wasn't part of the run in. That's not to say I wouldn't have been happy for a return at a million or less.

Davenport and Rothwell are unknown quantities at the moment and yes of course any promoted team needs to strengthen, but the jump from L1 to Championship is nowhere near the difference of Championship to Prem, where it seems you need to shell £30+ million to have a chance. Squad depth could become a concern, depending on injuries etc, but our first xi should be adequate for a decent (mid/lower-mid table) finish. Dack aside, our best transfers last year started as or were loans. I'd be a little concerned if we don't sign anymore by the end of the month, but it wouldn't be the level of anticipating relegation.

No one can deny Venkys turned the club from a solid Prem outfit into a league 1 team. However, those with comments along the lines of Venkys light is red or funding had been stopped may have to re-analyse the view if we spend some of the funds mentioned.

Even last year, some argued they didn't finance the team much as Steel offset Dack. The sales didn't materialise and this summer I don't think there was a single semi-serious link of a key player leaving. TM has brought the club a decent way back; if he doesn't want a winger enough to pay the rates asked, have to trust the squad he assembles.

In respect of various points raised over recent days:

Armstrong/Chapman not being main targets - this may have been true, or IMO, it was TM being astute. Had we been promoted and he come out and said he wanted them signed up, this would immediately have given their respective teams cause to hold out for a higher fee.

The same applies to Bauer with the comments we are moving on. I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up landing him, but it's hardly a position of strength to negotiate if you come out and say the player is your main target.

Sharpe/LET coverage - some say they know nothing, others that they're tied by the club. I get the impression they only publish when something is close to being confirmed, the club think it may help push a deal, or a genuine scoop is broken elsewhere. A high percentage of traffic to the LET will be about Rovers, if they published everything they know straight away, I'm sure the club could make things much more difficult for the paper in terms of access. In turn, they'd have less to publish, less traffic and less revenue. It's a fine line for them to tread.