An interesting dilemma could be when and how to introduce these 2 players if and when they sign. With our previous signings, Kaminski came straight in. Ayala was one for whom injury and isolation has made it easy for the manager. He has obviously come to play, but with Williams in form and Lenihan an obvious starter, that could have been a long time coming. With Lenihan out, Ayala came in and slotted in well, had the 3 been available for Saturday, then it would have been a real selection headache, as it is, Lenihan and Ayala can play and as our best 2, potentially stay in the team. Douglas is a more difficult one. The thing is, he is an obvious and considerable upgrade on Bell, so sooner rather than later, we want him in the team. Another aspect is looking towards Saturday, we have a lack of creativity with Holtby out and are playing against an out of form team, Douglas' added craft and set piece ability could really help. Then again, even though I think Mowbray's description of his performances as "excellent" are over the top, it could be harsh to drop Bell or indeed any part of a defence on the back of 3 clean sheets. Does Douglas come in after the next game that we concede, the next game Bell specifically has that is poor, or for the midwek game next week, assuming its not straight in on Saturday. Then there is Trybull. He is right footed and naturally can play in front of the back 4, a position that I don't think naturally suits Johnson necessarily who I think is better when he is breaking forward offering a goal threat rather than trying to pick the ball up on the half turn. There might not be as much urgency to start Trybull, who might also be rustier if he has totally been in the cold at Norwich.

Literally nonsense and needlessly provocative at a time when we are potentially signing a couple of players. No one that I have seen has been anything other than complimentary over those 2 excellent signings, indeed the full agreement happens to result in no debate as everyone agrees.

The deadline is 5pm tomorrow, I think there is or was a bit more grace in terms of signing loans just before a game, so unsure if there is any scope for him signing before the deadline but not in time for the game. Bit of a throwback and might have changed anyway but we signed David Jones and Cameron Stewart before that Peterborough debacle when we went 3 down at half time, I am sure they signed the morning of the game but I might be wrong.

Hilton. To be fair, we dont know that for sure with Downing. Maybe it was a case as Mowbray implied earlier whereby Downing to us was a Plan B/C, not the other way around, he mentioned that he might "revisit" it once we had signed our priorities, so maybe it is just a case that we havent spent our budget hence why we can go back to it. Even if the decision was partially Downings, I think its very fair for him to be a little bit cautious when accepting a lower wage considering his successful season last time out. But it is all hypothetical. The problem for me would be fitness, signing him next week would be 5 or 6 games into the season, and then he would have missed pre season.

Apparently he is injured.

Does he have a better resume? Difficult to compare, Pears has played loads in the National League plus a decent amount of starts for Boro in this League last season, Stergiakis has played loads for Slavia Sofia in a league of an unknown and questionable standard. I would imagine that Pears will be sub and Stergiakis will be under 23 goalkeeper if I had to guess.

And it was a Millwall side that finished even lower than us, had a totally immobile Danny Shittu in defence, veteran lump Rob Hulse and talentless Chris Taylor as their spine, and in the Semi Final their fans fought amongst themselves.

I suppose with Stergiakis, none of us had heard of him, he is a young lad coming from a poor standard of football, we dont have the foggiest if he is competent back up at this point. Pears played quite a bit of football at Championship level. That being said, unless the deal was for peanuts, and it assumes that Stergiakis isnt ready, that becomes more of a questionable use of limited resources than Pears. I also am unsure as to why Pears would join to sit on our bench however, just swapping one subs bench for another. Unless its for a payrise and contractual stability.

A freak result amidst a dismal season very much a perfect indication of our horrendous owners. I think it was Millwall in the next round, that replay at Ewood was everything about us in one. Barely anyone attending a quarter final of the FA Cup, a depressing and fairly inevitable exit to a limited and one dimensional Millwall side that we couldnt figure out how to break down, with a trip to Wembley at stake.

Does anyone have a link or a source from where it came from on Facebook?

To be fair, again its just echoing the rumour rather than adding anything. They also reported the Wilson rumour which has been rubbished in the LT.

Plus only for one has he gone past 10 goals. He was indicative of the team around him here. Saying that, he looked like a breath of fresh air at first, I remember going down to Ipswich on the first day and he was really good, he was big strong and powerful, and then in the first home game afterwards he scored to make it 2 in 2. Aside from obviously a scuffed winner at the Emirates, he was dismal for the rest of the season. Not too dissimilar to Leon Best.

I am not convinced by Cocu and Rooney as next manager just seems inevitable if perhaps ill advised. Gregory managed them in the early 2000s but that would again be very random, also not sure on what terms he left.

One of the strangest deals of the transfer window. Derby are an interesting one. They have a clutch of really talented youngsters and have made a couple of shrewd defensive additions in Marshall in net and also Clarke on loan. But they have absolutely no substance in attack and seem directionless under Cocu. Rooney has undoubted class but just seems incapable physically despite occasional brilliance. (v us, he was run ragged but set up their main chance for Jozwiak with a brilliant flick no one else on the pitch would have done, and obviously the free kick at Norwich.

To "build a club" you dont necessarily have to stick to a manager indefinitely. If Mowbray was to go at the end of the season, it would be following 4 and a half years as manager, he is already I think the longest serving manager in the division, so it wouldnt be a rash, impatient decision should this be his final season. Ultimately, the target has to be top 6. Of course, that leaves scope for still not getting promoted but it would be tangible progress even if we made the play offs and didnt win them. If he can get us in the top 6 this season, that would be the sign of progression. Another mid table finish (or worse) would for me be the time to signal a change, accepting that Mowbray very much has left us in a capable position, has maybe hit a wall, and we might have to sell one or two dependant on their willingness to commit long term, and then that would potentially be the time for some fresh ideas. I think that is a fair and realistic target for a manager entrusted with time and resources to date.

I dont think theres any chance of Wilson, seems a rumour that has snowballed from little, but Wilson has got history of goals and assists and a major impact across a season at this level. Dolan has only a handful of senior appearances, there would be nothing wrong with signing a more readymade player and having Dolan bubbling along capable of either impacting from the bench or equally playing off the opposite side.

Covid tests.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18796488.tony-mowbray-provides-blackburn-rovers-transfer-update/ “We’re not cash rich at this moment, we’re not flush with cash, we’re not going out to buy a £1m footballer, they’ll probably be loans." Corresponds with suggestions that the injection of £6m is nothing to do with funding a late transfer splurge. The main problem with Downing is match fitness, he definitely is a regular in the squad assuming he maintains last seasons standards, I think this notion that he slows play down is a little harsh, he was incredibly productive on the ball and created miles more than anyone else. But if we are to sign him, surely sign him before the weekend when we are struggling to name a bench.

Mowbray said that Kaminski and Evans both need to do Covid tests before they are eligible to play on Saturday.

Seems like he is well down the list, but the timing makes no sense. Why sign him after 5+ games when he will need longer to get match fit when we need the bodies now? If we wanted him back, we should have done it far earlier.

Talk about considerable cash injections from the owners for transfers and talk of Harry Wilson seems sadly over the top. The trio you mention seems more realistic. Douglas would be an upgrade at left back, Pears would be a bit of a strange one suggesting that the Greek isnt yet ready to be deputy, and Downing would be illogical more for the timing of the deal. He had a very impressive season but we will be nowhere near match fitness and thus will have and will miss a decent chunk of the time we are already light in midfield following Travis' injury. Personal suggestion or media speculation?

I dont think and am not implying that we will or can sign him. But his 2 choices are to be outside the squad at Liverpool or to come to the Championship as transfers between Prem clubs are not allowed in this window. Wilson also had a very poor spell at Bournemouth last season so not too sure his stock is too high.

Has Whiteman ever been linked to us by anyone other than Sparks Rover? Where are the media links. Would be amazed if we bought anyone for a 7 figure fee, the main 2 links seem to be Douglas on loan, an area we have tried for all window so suspect that the cash injection is purely coincidental and this is just the earliest we could get it done, and Pears for a fairly nominal fee.

Is the only way that anyone has a valid right to question a current managers ability to get the most from what is at their disposal is if they offer a new appointment too?