BigUts

Just had my text message telling me the deadline is tomorrow and not to miss out on the deadline. Presumably then there is no way the deadline will be extended. Such a shame so many won't be taking one up.

I think we are agreeing with each other on the game at Ewood

I'd take Rooney. One of the biggest names in world football and I'm sure his stature in the game would attract some players alone. Liam Rosenior who was his right hand man at Derby seems very clued up. They were a side that tried to play good football and they absolutely tore us a new one during the 'Bradley-Johnson-False-9' debacle. Only when we had that crazy 10 minute spell did we expose their soft underbelly. That side were clearly very well coached and their movement was good. I'd welcome him and it would most definitely spur me on to renew my ST.

I believe players are officially allowed to negotiate with other clubs when in the last month of their contract if in the same country. They can negotiate an exit up to 6 months before if the clubs are abroad (I think this would also apply to Scotland and the Welsh teams barring those which play in England). I guess Rovers could in theory demand Nyambe and Lenihan train with us until the end of their deals expire but I would guess they probably wouldn't expect them to do so. If players don't agree a new deal with any club after their contracts have expired then they also get one month's salary from the PFA to help them out.

If Ayala was consistently fit we would probably have one of the recently promoted / relegated sides knocking on our door. As it is, he is consistently injured for >50% of our games so is basically a waste of wages. If anyone wants to take him, even for nothing, I'd have him gone and try to put the dosh towards either a young up-and-comer who costs a fee with smaller wages, or one of the more experienced frees knocking about.

Still no actual news or rumours as to who or when the new manager might be announced? I'm guessing we might get a hint if the season ticket renewal deadline is extended any further...

Personally don't see Travis as a leader myself. Doesn't appear very vocal on the pitch and I've seen his head drop too may times to be captain material for me.

For those struggling to read: Bodo Glimt have become one of the biggest clubs in Norway in recent seasons, with Kjetil Knutsen, the coach who masterminded it all, being strongly linked with the vacant position at Norwich City. The 53-year-old is among the bookmaker's favourites to replace Daniel Farke in the Carrow Road dugout and is understood to be open to talking to the Canaries. Few are aware of what Knutsen has achieved in Norway. Not only has he delivered Glimt's first-ever Eliteserien title but his side have also smashed record after record. Despite having a modest stadium of just 8,500 and finishing just above the relegation zone in 2018, Knudsen has since helped transform Glimt into one of Norway's best football teams rivalling the likes of Molde, Viking and Rosenberg. Bodo is a city of just 50,000 people and is a 16-hour drive from the country's capital Oslo. Knudsen is known for being a calm, process-driven coach with a clear identity of how football should be played. Bodo/Glimt are now viewed as one of the best clubs in Scandinavia. Knutsen's tactical set-up revolves around a possession-based 4-3-3 with high pressing that has been maintained even in the high winds provided by the Arctic. All of this has been achieved on a budget with a squad that consists of a high percentage of homegrown and academy based players. Prior to joining Bodo, Knutsen started his managerial career with fifth-tier side TIL Holding - two promotions in nine years saw him gain admirers from higher up the pyramid. He would go on to join top-tier side Brann as head of player development before becoming manager at Fyllingsdalen in 2012, overseeing just three games in charge. Asane was next. Knutsen oversaw 69 games in charge before being dismissed in November 2016 with an average points per game return of 1.32. It took him just two months to return to football with his current employers. Knudsen became head coach of Bodo in 2018 just a year after joining initially as assistant boss to Aasmund Bjørkan, who later became sporting director. The success and elevation of that club since has been dramatic. From a relegation threatened side, Knutsen's work has now seen them move within four games of recording back to back league titles. An impressive 6-1 dismantling of Jose Mourinho's Roma propelled Bodo/Glimt into the mainstream of European football last month - Knutsen subsequently joked that he was the 'pretty one'. Knutsen has developed a deep affection with his players. Patrick Berg, defensive midfielder for Bodo told the New York Times in 2019 about his best quality: “He listens to his players.” His identity centres around an intense, purposeful possession-based game, as he explained recently ahead of their trip to Italy to face Roma. “Dominating doesn’t just mean scoring but also having the possession of the ball and dictating the rules of the game," Knutsen said. “We want to create a team identity that encompasses everyone; players, staff, managers, fans. We must confront ourselves to be able to create this ‘Bodo model’.” Their success title tilt last season saw them register 102 goals in a single season, an average of over three per match. Their style on the pitch was described by captain Ulrick Saltnes as 'kamikaze'. Knutsen's methods have transformed their fortunes and elevated them from a side that bounced between the division's to Norwegian champions. It has been a tale of innovation and somewhat of a fairytale. With a contract that expires at the end of this current campaign, it's little wonder that Knutsen has had admirers. Rosenberg have made their interest felt. Many in the Norwegian media are expecting him to move on upon the expiration of his current contract in 2022. Speaking about Knutsen on the Training Ground Guru podcast, ex-City head of academy recruitment Gregg Broughton praised his ability to focus minds on the present. "That ability to work in the present has probably been the biggest competitive advantage we have had. Our head coach, Kjetil Knutsen, is an absolute master at it. "He refuses to look past the next game and training session. He absolutely lives that mantra every day. And it’s a vital part of youth development." With a strong record of developing young talent, curating an attractive and effective style of play and working to a budget, it is easy to see why Norwich would be considering Knutsen among their main targets.

Good summary on Knutsen here when he was strongly favoured to take over from Farke at Norwich Norwich City: Who is Kjetil Knutsen? | The Pink Un

Not heard of him personally but I'll certainly conduct some research before passing judgement from upon high 😁

The train from Southport to Blackburn now takes about 2 hours with 3 changes and costs about £23 return!

I keep chewing over this. First I was somewhat despondent at the prices and the ensuing debacle of a manager search, and now I'm just worried about actually getting to a game. (Without being a big headed t*at) I earn a good salary and live in a nice house and could probably stomach the cost, but that coupled with the cost of everything else and most pertinently fuel (travelling over from Southport at soon to be £2 a litre diesel) makes it too much for me now. I genuinely fear there will be around 6k season tickets this season if nothing is done about the current pricing. If nothing else the price is actually embarrassing.

I hope we don't "emulate Brentford" as that would mean disbanding the academy...although with the proposed sale of the academy last year maybe this is all part of a longer term plan to "streamline" and cut costs?!

Without trawling back several pages of posts; has there been any further input from @glen9mullan since it was revealed Farke has gone elsewhere? Would be interesting to get some insight in to what appears to have gone on there!

From what somebody said on the Manager thread its a different Steve Walsh...although I could be wrong! Walsh had a great record at Leicester and although it's gone to pot at Everton, I wouldn't hold that against him. Its well documented that his reign there was basically null and void due to the crazy nature in which their owner decides to operate!

With this seemingly imminent, what are thoughts on who or what's happening? Pearce has been mooted as has Steve Walsh (who seems a sensible appointment to me).

Good job we are all married parents with 2 kids too. #wholesomerovers

@darrenrover was this a wind-up or were you being serious?

Agreed. If the ticket was £299 instead of £399 it is actually and also sounds more palatable. I hadn't had a season ticket for 6 years before last season as I deemed my son now old enough to attend regularly. I absolutely loved it even the games I ended up attending alone, but the price with all of life's other increases and trimming back going on feels like a lot to fork out now. I'm on the fence so I really hope what @darrenrover said above comes to fruition...and pronto!

He has added under his other, more high profile pseudonym.

I'm sure Critchley would have a buy-out clause in his contract; I would be certain all but the very top managers would have the same. Would we be willing to pay a fee? Probably not.

Done an amazing job at the lashers. I would happily renew my season ticket based on this appointment.

The notion that the Rao's never refuse to sign things off sounds a little fanciful to me. Why would anyone, including Waggott, not ask for more money if they're ever so happy to do sign cheques? Surely that would mean that there would be no problem in asking? There are HUGE issues at the ground that need addressing and wouldn't fall under FFP. Waggott et al. will be aware of all of these issues and I would assume that the Rao's man on the ground Suhail will be too. You'd have to literally be blind to not see them. I don't doubt at all what you think you know @glen9mullan and I know you aren't one to pass on information or rumours without it coming from a credible source, but it makes zero sense.

Sorry @Mercer this wasn't directed at you or anyone else in particular. I actually enjoy the speculation its just a little reminder that we should all take hearsay with a pinch-of-salt and in reality we all know absolutely zero about what's occurin'.

To summarise the last 10 posts; Nobody knows anything, other than those in the know who know something but won't knowingly say what they know about knowing something.