Hopefully there will be a level of compromise with playing it out from the back too much because our centre backs are not the best on the ball. We needed more than anything someone who could defend, on our budget a player good at doing both was unrealistic. Ayala defensively is as good as we could have got, I would have much preferred Ayala to say Naby Sarr who many wanted who is good on the ball but really poor defensively. Both centre backs are good in the air too, Kaminski had looked shaky from crosses and that was his weakness based on what the Belgian football expert said (interview on Radio Lancashire) back at Gent so hopefully that will help him out a tad.

Of course, probably frustration talking, because there is no reason in my opinion to take such draconian measures, there should be compromise like with other industries who the government clearly recognise are also vulnerable financially such as pubs, restaurants etc and I just hope that there is a u-turn and a bit of common sense. That being said, if it had been confirmed before the season that there are no fans allowed all season but you can pay 400 quid anyway purely out of financial support, I and the very vast majority wouldnt donate money because, thats a luxury a working class man (or woman) couldnt afford or justify. Ultimately I have taken a slight risk which I was prepared to but it will be disappointing the longer that I cannot go and attend.

As @Mattyblue says Warnock tends to get results to get into the top 6 so its flawed to compare "Warnock style" football and "entertaining" football on the assumption that both are getting the exact same results. Warnock doesnt think, right well im gonna finish 11th anyway so I may as well do it in the most boring way possible. Mowbray himself said at the weekend that we need a few more senior heads because its very difficult to maintain consistency with 8 or 9 young lads in the team and he is right. Hes signed an experienced keeper and Ayala so hes clearly keen to address that, hence his seeming frustration that he cant get more over the line. It doesnt mean that Mowbrays approach is incorrect regarding style but that is assuming that we can get results like this; I dont get the constant contempt now in the football world for anything but playing it from the back, results are almost secondary now, I mentioned it in the Premier League thread about Burnley. Thats not to say even without considering the current economic climate that we shouldnt do anything but use the academy to our advantage but our side is already young and full of talent, in many cases, home grown. We already have Lenihan, Nyambe and Travis regulars in the team and Buckley and Rankin Costello in the squad, then Armstrong, Dolan, Brereton, Davenport etc on top that. The main worry with many is the contractual situation. But the focus should always be on results, whether the best way is passing from the back or being more direct. Indeed the squad that Mowbray has built means there is little scope for direct football, now we wait and see if it is more effective than the first style Mowbray adopted when we went more direct to Graham. Indeed playing a higher press and some younger players shouldnt be done because it is fun, because it is pretty, and as if the alternative is "boring" (subjective) football getting the same results, it should be done only if those young players are worthy of playing, and if that style of football is condusive to getting the best possible results based on the squads skillset. As it stands, I would suggest that doing both of those may well be the best way to get results though. The younger lads that havent yet progressed into the first team properly, Magloire, Carter, Thompson, Vale, Butterworth etc, I dont think there is any urgency to get them involved in the first team in the immediate future as the squad is already packed full of young talent, unless of course any are deemed to be worthy of a spot in the squad, perhaps down to an injury crisis. They may be better suited out on loan.

Football/sport will be a total shell then at the start of next season. Massive job loss, many peoples mental health impacted, clubs going bust. The risk of having a low percentage of a ground open, people spaced out and socially distanced outdoors, following hopefully successful pilots is much safer than opening pubs, restaurants (even with a curfew) and offices. At the start of next season, or even the season after, the virus will still be here. Definitely regret getting my season ticket. Money down the drain.

Very sorry to hear that you are going to lose your job. My personal opinion is that many others will due to unnecessarily draconian measures all things considered. I am not suggesting pretending that it doesnt exist but I think that the pilots and the phasing back of fans should continue. Even if you are willing, the vaccine will not totally eridicate the virus. If it ever comes. We are probably going to have to live with it.

I disagree. Not to get too much into a covid debate as I am totally fed up with it but the deaths/hospitalisations are so low relative to what they were and the collateral damage ecnonomically, job loss, mental health etc is huge. And most importantly, the process would be gradual, and it would be based on strict procedures regarding limited capacities and social distancing to minimise the risk. Even if a vaccine came it will take a long while it wouldnt totally eridicate the virus as not every single person would have it. Totally fed up with it all.

Shit news. Surely with very limited crowds, a gradual process, plenty of procedures in place, all socially distanced and of course pilot events, there is no need to pause things. We cant wait for a vaccine which may never come and even if it does wont totally eridicate the virus. Depressing update. Football games are played before 10 o clock and the curfew doesnt come out until after then anyway.

Yeah I think the deal was announced on Friday but one thing is for sure, that he wasnt very close to signing for us to the point that Jaquob Crooke was posting ? emojis and basically preparing fans expecting an announcement. Apologies if ive got mixed up but I think you have said in the past that he hasnt got any direct sources and I would have to agree. He very much goes as vague as possible with what he can gather from the public domain. Rich Sharpe seems to be the main person regarding transfers but he himself is more of a person who will check and usually deny a rumour once it is already out there.

I dont think he is in the know at all chaddy, he was adamant that we wanted and had bid for Phillips at Charlton for ages (which all stemmed from that phoney "twitter journalist) he seemed sure that we were about to sign that Maghoma from Poland and on Friday he had to backtrack after implying that Manning was about to sign, admitting no insider knowledge at that point on a rumour that stemmed from Rich Sharpe claiming historical interest in previous transfer windows. I think its just a junior journalist, not at the direct local newspaper of the club, who does get to attend press conferences but otherwise is very much summarising and pulling together what he can from the public domain and being as vague as possible. Rich Sharpe is very slow to get news but he does at least seem to have a direct line to the club in terms of being able to dismiss stories that arent true. The left back story came from him that we were going to get an answer within 24 hours, whether people on here got their indications from him or vice versa, it seems that the left back was never as close as they said.

I thought that Buckley had by far his best performance for us at Charlton away last season in the 10 role. Whilst of course that isnt available in the 4-3-3, I think he seems particularly comfortable on the half turn in attacking areas so would probably be best further forward ahead of the sitter.

Yeah you would like to think that a player wasnt being held back solely to be a catalyst for us to maintain our status in the kids league. He would likely struggle to stay in football if that was the case when he left.

@chaddyrovers nope certainly not ITK nor have any desire to be! I got the Garner information from the Lancashire Telegraph: "Mowbray has spoken about the financial difficulties of doing loan deals for Premier League prospects, but Rovers were understood to have reached an agreement with Manchester United for teenage midfielder James Garner." I agree that left back is the key signing and we do need a back up keeper. Mowbrays comments about Bell and LB not being the priority are a concern. Also a shame that another target who we were close to (and dont know the identity of) got away at the last minute as others have done. I think the Manning rumours were just a perfect example of transfer rumour chaos! Wed been linked with him prior, it snowballed into Rich Sharpe reporting simply historic interest, some people had wrong information that a deal had been done and it all snowballed to the point that our fans were mocking QPR fans on twitter! Very much so. Any hopes of a late transfer splurge based on sales of King and Raya seem fanciful in the extreme.

Would love us to suddenly have some money to play with but seems that wont be the case.

If I was Mols, I would be demanding a move either on loan or permanently in that instance. I wouldnt like to be in a position coming up to the age of 22 whereby others are going into the first team but I was being kept playing uncompetitive football because of a fear that involving me with the first team or more likely another first team would leave a gap in the kids league. I dont think its fair to be ultimately sacrificing a key part in a players development just constantly playing kids football with no potential out. When he gets to 23 or 24 and say we let him go, he will have no first team football on his CV and really struggle to stay in the game.

I dont think that any sell on would just be added onto the transfer budget, although I may be wrong. Certainly not leading to us spending a few million on players in this window. I also dont think shifting Mulgrew would make much difference because we are going to have to pay the majority of his wage (or pay him off) either way. Mowbray really seems to be struggling to get deals over the line, this unnamed left back, Garner on loan who it said we had an agreement for, Kipre, and initially Ayala, although in that instance, getting Ayala was a very good signing and whilst he lacks the longevity that Kipre would have given us as an asset, Ayala's experience and leadership is key. Cunningham is again mentioned in that article but it reads as very much speculation on Rich Sharpe's behalf who said no approach has been made. He would be as good as we could hope for really assuming he stays fit, a very good left back at this level, although with a year left, I cant see Cardiff loaning him to us. Unsure what the criteria would be in terms of a midfielder. I suspect that we could do with one who gives us maybe some energy and tenacity in there. I think that the midfield 3 did well on Saturday but maybe in more difficult games, maybe having Johnson or Evans, Holtby and then a third player (obviously in an ideal world Travis) would be a good mix, and then Rothwell can be an option from the left of the front 3.

I can honestly say I have never reported anyone. And if I wasnt prepared to have my opinion questioned I probably wouldnt come an internet messageboard. I saw the line about being fun at parties @Dreams of 1995 and certainly did not take any offence to it, I took it as the joke as intended. And I cant imagine being on my own in thinking that describing Buckley as "quite simply one of the best footballers we have seen at Ewood in modern times" is hyperbolic. I made it clear that his assist was superb. I dont think its unreasonable to post a positive and a negative about a player, thats not being pessimistic, surely thats having balance or trying to? Is doubting predictions that Dolan will get a big money move to Europe within 18 months and Buckley will become our key midfielder or is one of the best footballers seen at Ewood in modern times being needlessly and unncessarily pessimistic and miserable? Maybe it is. In terms of players that I have rate, I have had numerous posts in the last few days bigging up Dack saying that he is one of the best players in the division and I cant wait to see him link up with Armstrong who I am only positive about. Ayala I have been very positive about the signing of, I mentioned him at the start of the window but thought it might be unrealistic so was very happy. I keep defending Lenihan based on the PPG we pick up with and without him. Ive been very pro Nyambe when posters have questioned his attacking side, which I dont necessarily disagree with but I think the focus is on conceding less. Travis, cant think of much negative to say about him. Evans, I have often defended because I feel that he is underated. Holtby I think is a big player too. Beyond that clutch of what I consider to be our best players, I admit there are positives and negatives. Buckley looks technically very good but also very weak. Rankin Costello looks steady. Dolan looks very talented indeed but I am wary of people going over the top because its very early and I dont people to expect too much.

"He's quite simply one of the best footballers we have seen at Ewood in modern times." That again at this stage is a huge statement to make. I do think he can potentially get more game time this year and is obviously technically gifted.

If we are genuine about pushing for promotion, especially considering our last result and of course Derbys start and looking at their injury problems, there is absolutely no reason to go there not confident of picking up not one but three points. Obviously a level up from Saturdays game but nothing to fear.

It was against a 10 men and 4 down Wycombe team. That being said, the pass for the fifth was superb.

Big shout that. Definitely technically has potential but even on Saturday he got crowded and bullied off the ball a few times before he settled.

Bang on regarding the argument that Dacks injury supposedly stopped us from getting into the play offs! Armstrong and Dack are the 2 attackers we build around and play to the strengths of. Until Brereton, Gallagher, Chapman, Dolan, Rothwell, Rankin Costello etc start scoring goals as regularly as them 2 do, then ultimately they are not as important and are not going to stop Dack from coming back in.

We have no reason not to have a slight advantage over Preston long term, we have better infrastructure and a bit more money, so cant argue with that. Preston were slightly ahead of us last season as the league table proved, and we lost much more in the summer, we had no keeper, Adarabioyo went back, Downing and Graham left. Our academy prospects havent really changed in terms of emergence solely this summer, Lenihan and Nyambe a key role, as does Travis although his injury is a blow, Rankin Costello is a squad filler for me, Buckley on the fringes too. Then again, we have signed a keeper, although we dont really know how good he is yet. We have signed a proven centre back. Plus a raw talent as a bonus wildcard. And of course, Preston seem likely to be vulnerable to losing players. Not that it really matters as a direct comparison unless we are directly competing for a top 6 place. My point was more about our current squad situation in terms of contracts, and it going against the idea of a slow build. Most people seem to feel that we are destined for mid table, me included. I fear that we might have to do a bit of a restart if we dont go up this season however. If we get to the end of the season, we dont go up and Armstrong, Dack, Lenihan and Nyambe havent signed new deals, we might have to sell the first 3 (and potentially take a tribunal fee for the last) then it may be the start of a reset, and probably time for a new manager to go again. I just hope we can at least get some of them signed up, and/or of course get promoted!

Im not sure the number of pages in a transfer window thread on a respective forum is proof of the success of a window! Ultimately we had many more holes to fill comparatively in that not only did they finish closer to the play offs but they also were less reliant on loans. We had no goalkeeper and a key centre back who had gone back. I think they are one year ahead of us in terms of the cycle of their team, so we potentially have one extra year on them. They are in a situation now where they have Davies with a year to go on his contract and getting interest from other clubs, they have the same problem with Johnson and also Pearson although I dont know if he has got any interest. They might need to sell some and restart if they wont sign new deals. I cant help but fear that we might get to a similar situation next summer if we dont go up. Armstrong, Lenihan and with his option Dack all have 2 years to run, and Nyambe only 1 year. It is probably going to be very difficult to get them to commit long term (although we must prioritise them urgently) but unless we can get them to sign or indeed get promotion (or at least close) it may be a case of having to sell some if not all of them next summer to get a fee for them. Luckily I think Travis is here for the next 3 years.

Bell has been ok? There is a bit of money/leverage left to bring in someone permanently or a couple on loan as Mowbray mentioned. So im not sure it is a case of us "spunking our last pennies on players only to end up like Bolton and Wigan" which are 2 totally different situations. So there is no reason why we shouldnt have a left back at the end of the window and as soon as possible ideally even within Mowbrays adjusted comments about recruitment after seemingly a transfer meeting on Thursday that didnt go as well as expected.