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?

Yeah, it was a bit petty, but Mowbray has been consistent on his professionalism in training and as with Smallwood, the 3 of them have never been (from what we know) excluded from training from the first team and indeed Mulgrew has been praised as a person by Mowbray. As with Bennett, my opinion on Mulgrew is a fond one historically, he seems a good guy to have about but is no longer capable of contributing on the pitch and if there is any alternative to funding a senior wage solely as an off the field role model, I woule be happy for the club to accept it. For some reason, acknowledgement of Bennett being a very good professional and role model but an inadequate Championship footballer is to some indicative of a personal grudge or vendetta.

I think the small cash injections are fairly routine but more as a means of general funding, nothing to suggest it id for a sudden transfer splurge.

But thats the point, he doesnt offer competent cover. He is a liability at full back, diving in and giving penalties away and we now have Nyambe and Rankin Costello ahead of him on the right and soon to be Douglas, Bell and Williams on the left. He couldnt maintain a midfield position in League 1 whereas Smallwood could, and we now have Johnson, Evans, Travis, Holtby, Rothwell, maybe Dack, Davenport and Buckley in central midfield. The "two superstars in every position" like a PL club is a strawman argument, but I personally would suggest that IMO he would warrant a place in the second team. No shame in that, like a few before he played a key role in making effort a minimum and has been left behind in quality. You make it sound like Smallwood was tactically kept around to take part in 11 v 11 training. Ultimately a club in the Championship surely struggles to afford such a luxury, a senior wage for a player to make up the numbers in training. His personality again has never nor ever will be questioned. His passion is not a unique trait, I dont think that the current squad lacks that at all nor does it warrant a senior wage alone. Ultimately seemingly no one has shown interest in him and he seems happy playing a father figure and I am sure he will continue to be an exemplary professional who hopefully wont be needed on the pitch.

Would make zero sense really unless the Greek isnt a first team keeper. If we have any money after Douglas we could spend it elsewhere.

Do you agree with the current formation he is trying to impose, 3 centre backs and 2 holding midfielders included? Do you agree with his weird desire to stick as many right backs on as possible recently? Isnt it a worry that the player turnover is so high, no scope for a setttled side, constant debutants? Are the recent numerous disciplinary problems, the 3 party goers, Foden and Greenwood in Iceland and James losing his head today a concern to you? Didnt his inability to come up with anything to cope with having a player less worry you tonight should we go down to 10 men in the future? The World Cup was somewhat of a success, the fixtures were very fabourable but he recognised certain limiations before the break through of some talent we now have and relied on set pieces. The football was attritional but edged us past limited opponents and ultimately when we played good teams ie Belgium and Croatia, we failed. I am very unconvinced by the direction since or his inability to allow our attacking players to flourish.