My point was, the hope was for a proven manager to push us on upon the announcement of Mowbray's departure. Those sort of names are what we wanted so if we ended with someone much more unknown and much less proven, it would be underwhelming, surely you can understand that. We can speculate whether those names would be interested, firstly we shouldn't limit ourselves only to people who apply, getting the best man often requires being proactive and looking yourself and convincing someone to join. Broughton has been here a few days, the second interviews were done this week on the back of the first ones two weeks prior, with seemingly any choice taken away from us with better candidates going elsewhere during the long process. I very much doubt that he has had a major impact if any. Can you apply for a work permit without actively having chosen to employ a person, which can't happen until Venkys approve? There will surely be a delay, how long is purely speculation but its not ideal IF indeed he has been chosen. That wasn't aimed at you on this occasion, those sort of quotes are widespread. The manager should be allowed to decide which if any of those youngsters come into the first team. A huge influx of rookies filling gaps left by proven performers does not equate to a likely improvement in league position in my opinion. Some of them need loan spells.

Where have you read that a work permit for Tomasson would be straight forward because he has worked 2 full seasons? Hasn't Kompany and his is taking ages. I am not convinced that it is a good job hence why we seem to be fishing in the market of managers who have been working in minor leagues. It will be difficult to improve upon 8th considering the departures and of course furthermore pending any budget limitations.

Not specifically those 2, but I and many others wanted a manager with a good and relevant track record. Farke was an ambitious one and ultimately if he had that Bundesliga interest from the start, although maybe it only materialised due to our sluggishness, then fait enough, difficult to compete. The Carvalhal one seems more complex as like most humans he has gone for financial reasons, are we offering low wages? Limiting him on his staff? Could we have got him if the owners had any genuine intention, perhaps. Even beyond those 2, there are the likes of Dyche, Jokanovic and Wagner still out of work, im not sure if all (or indeed any) are realistic, Dyche is the ideal candidate but the most unlikely, but that is the calibre of manager I wanted. You've said Tomasson would be "interesting" but for me it would be underwhelming, an unknown quantity IF indeed he is the man which is far from confirmed. His CV is limited and mixed, he has a relegation on his CV and a second short and unsuccessful spell as a manager on there too. He seemingly did well at Malmo winning 2 titles on the back of a 2nd place finish before him (and they are 5th at the moment) albeit I looked into it a bit and it seems like they had much bigger resources than the competitors, something which is not comparable to the job he will have here. I also noticed that a few Malmo fans had tweeted underneath and the common consensus was that he was very reliant on individual quality winning games and they questioned his tactical flexibility, with one also saying that he is reluctant to bring through youngsters. Ultimately though, barely anyone will have genuinely followed his previous jobs especially in the Swedish League so he is very much an unknown. He (or another) may benefit simply because a manager is finally appointed after a seemingly farcically long search for one, although even if he has been selected, waiting for those bastards in India and then a work permit creates two further delays when time is of the essence. I am fed up of people saying things like "stop being negative" and "get behind him" if he is appointed, as if that is in doubt. People can critique a manager and indeed be underwhelmed by his potential appointment whilst still backing him if and when he comes in.

Because at the start we was all hoping for a Farke/Carvalhal/Dyche with a really impressive CV. He seems to have done well at Malmo and poorly before but there isnt much to judge him on. What do you think of his potential appointment? Its not a case of not giving him a chance as of course I will, I just would find IF he was appointed someone with a CV like Tomasson's to be a little underwhelming.

I dont feel in a position to comment massively on him, id find it a little underwhelming IF he is to be the end of such a long search. That being said, this tweet seemingly has tried to (from afar) critique his CV and he has been jumped on with the usual "give him a chance" and "stop being negative" bullshit that is often the counter argument to constructive points, as seen below.

Hourihane would be a really good addition on a free, or would be if we had a manager this side of Christmas. Experienced, a good passer and left footed so I could see him complimenting Travis. Drinkwater and Musonda released by Chelsea.

I genuinely don't care about how boring or otherwise a manager is, the biggest reflection of one is how their team plays, I don't pay much attention to the sideline stuff or see the need to get to stressed/excited about interviews etc. Hard to get too much of a feeling either way though as he seems to be the daily name banded about as has been the case throughout, with nothing happening. Not much to judge him on anyway.

How do you know specifically that Waggott has met Ainsworth and didnt like him?

Lots of players available on frees that will soon be snapped up I guess. Sheyi Ojo, Will Vaulks, Jonjoe Kenny and Tobias Figeuredo amongst what ive seen today. No idea if any are good enough to genuinely improve us but they will go elsewhere by the time we appoint a manager anyway.

5 subs next season again allowed. We dont even have that many!

Where from? Seems premature to me, had lots of whispers and rumours but ultimately no sign of an apppontment. Even Deila was also reportedly interviewed and seems unlikely to join.

Tough one with Ayala. All logic dictates that getting a big earner who cant stay fit off the payroll even if there was no fee is a no brainer. That said, such is the lack of options with only Wharton who is good but fairly young and Carter unproven at this level available, we might need to keep those 15 games in which we will have some experience at CB.

Did you want Deila?

"Know the playing squad" and "Knows the club" are regularly phrases banded about. Why is this automatically seen as a huge positive? Surely anyone will get to know them over time but if the approach is a fresh start then its best not to be too reliant on existing opinions too much? Any new manager should be allowed within reasonable finances be able to pick and choose his coaching staff.

If you believe the conspiracies. That was well into the second half of the season and amidst the poor form, not the catalyst.

The search goes on and on, I bet no one will be here when pre-season starts. Can't profess to be an expert on Deila but we can't afford to wait and wait and Celtic fans dont seem to be big fans. His preference ie one game he (stupidly) did it, fixed it at half time and we won the game?

As it stands at this moment, I don't really get the thinking behind that. At this moment in time, they have a proven manager, we are still scrambling around and half of our team has gone. You seem rather bitter about it, I remember you saying that Waggott had essentially said about Lenihan that he isn't that good (post the 7-0 loss) so perhaps his opinion has worn off on you? Big ask for Carter, not least alongside Wharton with Ayala constantly injured. We need perhaps two more I would say.

Again, I never mentioned targets, I am on about what I think will happen, not what we should strive for. Those 2 players are not of the same standard as Lenihan, he was our captain and a leader in an inexperienced team, plus a key part of our defensive strength. He plays basically every week, we are much worse without him. Goode has played 16 times in 3 seasons since playing well in League 2, an unremarkable career. Mawson has played 11 times in 3 seasons and is very injury prone. Not saying they would or wouldn't be reasonable signings, I just think you are being quite flippant about the situation as if for example losing Lenihan isn't a big blow. We already are a lot weaker than last season as it stands and the variables ie manager choice, money, recruitment I suppose could go either way but I have little faith in going right. Is it all negative? Of course not. Like I said, its a poor league so it would take a really bad summer (terrible manager, no money etc) for us to be right near the bottom. I think a lot rides on Dack and his return to fitness as the other attacking options we have either flatter to deceive often or are unproven. But I don't get why it has to become about positive v negative. I think Boro with a full season under Wilder and especially with a shrewd free addition will be stronger. I think West Brom with a marmite manager but with one with success (not just experience) at this level, with Swift signed, Dike back fit and more to come will be up there, I would be surprised even without Gibbs-White if Sheff Utd aren't in and around the top 6 so with the relegated 3, I don't see us directly comparable to those at the momeny.

Its easy to pin it especially on Mowbray but if we are working with peanuts im not sure what else he could do personally. He didnt even deal with contract negotiations.

Its a myth thats developed that hasnt even come from those in the club really, it wasnt mentioned by Waggott nor Mowbray when we didnt spend last summer, they mentioned being preoccupied in India. The lack of willingness to spend on things that arent FFP eligible prove it to be nonsense.

Out of interest, do you think that Venkys would invest more was it not for FFP?

Surely its's not about positivity/negativity, glasses being half full or half empty, enjoying the ride and mindsets. You compare to Brentford, they have a totally different structure with no academy but a B team. They also have the knowledge that any time an asset is sold, a chunk is reinvested and the process is continued. With our owners, they are inconsistent with funding as proven last season, so a similar method can't work. Also, more fool any prospective new employee if they believe what Venkys tell them, regarding resources or indeed plans. After 12 years, surely everyone would agree that we have been burnt by them more than enough to be wary, whether it is what they say directly or indeed indirectly? When they came, it was all Champions League and 5 year budgets. The sort of objectives that have fed through since have become less laughable but equally as fanciful based on their corresponding actions. Even last season, they (apparently themselves) stated on the official site that they were fully behind the club and endeavoured to come to Ewood at least once last season. What happened? They reinvested no money and never showed up!

What sort of jump are we supposedly talking then? We can't be expecting him to step up, if he does at such an age then its a bonus. Ayala is a worthless comparison as he will spend most of the season on the treatment table.

Its not about glasses being half full or half empty and yet to see much to br hopeful about personally. The Lenihan news is a hammer blow and I would be amazed if we get a replacement of a similar quality. As touched on the transfer thread, its a blow for various reasons. Boro for one are massively strengthened and us weakened in one move that raises zero pounds for a budget.

Nobody on here can possibly say how much he will be on or indeed how much of the move is financially motivated. That being said, it seems likely that he will get a rise and it says a lot about Rovers under Venkys if we cant come close to competing with a team like Boro.