Miller11

I think he will be pretty unique in that he’ll be a cult hero with the fans, but a £7 million loss and nothing to show for it he will have to go down as one of our worst ever signings.

We’ve significantly reduced those figures. That wage bill includes what we were paying Bell, Bennett, Evans, Downing, Holtby, Mulgrew, Armstrong, Nyambe, Lenihan, Rothwell, Johnson, Chapman, Stergiakis, Fisher, Davenport, and a load of youth players. The back fill has been done with a few signings on way lower salaries and the promotion of youth players. We’ve reduced the squad size significantly too. Our wage to turnover ratio is now on a downward curve.

Warhurst was a bit of a one off. Before we signed him he has a crazy goal scoring run as a striker and got called up to the England squad off the back of it. Proper utility player.

A couple of million would go a long way with players on that list. Loads of players there would immediately improve our first team. Sadly “the project” is more important.

Exactly what we need at the moment, unfortunately I can’t see it happening. If he goes to Watford maybe they can send Choudhury back to Leicester, who in turn can loan him to Rovers by way of an apology for inflicting Hirst on us.

Me too. They have done a bit of business already and certainly aren’t hanging around. It still seems too early for us to pull our finger out on any signings unfortunately.

Looks as though there is something in the Gelhardt talk. Looks great on YouTube videos - don’t they all! But he does appear to be very technically proficient. His goal scoring stats don’t make for great reading, but I’m presuming a lot of his appearances are going to have come off the bench, plus no team is going to loan out a player who is scoring regularly. Hopeful optimism rather than hysteria, although the fact other clubs appear to be in for him puts us at a disadvantage… we always dither.

Because we will lose our most effective player and only source of regular goals. This entire “project” is based around the idea of selling our best players as soon as they start to peak. If it happens as they intend it’ll be reset after reset. Obviously selling our better players is better than losing them for nothing, but it’s hardly a blueprint for being successful on the pitch.

Let’s look at Venky’s master plan so far shall we… “We plan to focus on leveraging the global influence in establishing Blackburn Rovers as a truly global brand," - complete failure. The only thing global has been our embarrassment. "We will absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy and will be actively supporting the organisation to ensure that Blackburn Rovers remain one of the best-run clubs within the Premier League." - Continue to piss all over his legacy. Turned us into one of of the worst run clubs in premier league history within a matter of weeks. “We will make £5 million available to Sam Allardyce for transfers in January. We won’t need to buy expensive players, we can always lease them. We don’t expect to be in the top 5 of the premier league. We will be happy to be in the top 10 or 12.” - Sacked Allardyce before well before then. Millions went on agents fees rather than transfer fees. “Leasing” was accurate. No need to comment on the league position. "Initially there will be 5 million pounds put in straightaway to buy players but of course if we have to do more then we will. There will then be much more investment and we have devised a spending strategy already for the next three years that will see the manager given significant funds to buy players," - Obviously Rochina and Formica were already earmarked, hence the 5 million. That last 3 year plan went well didn’t it? "I am not promising that we will be a top four team but I can promise we will try. And that is what we will aim for. We are committed to improving the performance of the team and when the situation is right there will be investment," - How much stock can anyone with a functioning mind put in their promises and assurances? All utter bollocks. "There is a new generation of boys aged between 10 and 17 in India that are football mad but lots of them support Chelsea. I believe at this time we can make the market for football in India grow. Having Indian owners in EPL will create a lot of interest and I think we can try to create a whole nation of Blackburn Rovers fans," - Not sure how that nation is coming along, but they’ve turned off local supporters in their droves. "The takeover has made the front pages of all of the newspapers (in India). That shows the interest that is there. My dream is to make Blackburn Rovers an even bigger brand in India than Venky's," - seem to only want to distance themselves now. "We will be taking a very hands-on role in the way that the club is run because we are passionate about making this a big success. My brothers will be very much involved in the running of the club. I will be coming over soon with my family. - turned up a few times acting like royalty. Haven’t been seen in years though. Should be ashamed to show their faces but are too arrogant to feel any guilt. "Please tell the fans that we are totally committed to them and to the club. We are fully committed to Blackburn Rovers. This is not just another investment to us. We are fully committed to the success of the club. That is how my family is with every venture we take on," - Bollocks. So yeah, I’m not holding out too much hope for any of their plans coming to fruition.

We are a small town club who happen to be about the tenth most successful club ever in English football. And we were regularly getting in the playoffs before Jack put his money in - something we’ve never managed under these cretins. Our bad crowds are a result of 12 years of terrible ownership. Jack didn’t just “buy us history” - really disrespectful to him and all that went before him that, by the way - he put us on a really good footing. He built they academy we are now so reliant on for starters. He also allowed us to be a sustainable Premier League team for a decade after he passed away. They don’t spend all they can at all. They can’t even be arsed keeping the stadium in good order. They aren’t interested enough to sack underperforming employees, and despite being completely disinterested it appears they also interfere on footballing matters which they don’t have the first clue about.

If we do get promoted it will be in spite of the owners, not because of any “plan” they have come up with. We need to try and capitalise on fortuitous positions we find ourselves in, it was ballsed up last year, looks like it will be again. We shouldn’t just shrug our shoulders and say “project” when our chances of success are pissed away before our eyes.

It didn’t take them long to destroy a sustainable premier league club. I wouldn’t get too excited about any supposed plans they have to achieve it again over a decade later. I’d be amazed if there is anything resembling a plan. It’s just empty words. I’d be astounded if those words had originated from any of those three morons in Pune.

What could possibly go wrong with that eh?

Absolutely we do, but the worry is he’d be played on the wing or instructed to come short all the time. Our squad is nowhere near as bad as people are making out in the aftermath of another shambolic defeat. The big problem remains that they are all being asked to do things they are bad at and to ignore the things they want to instinctively. The system is far more of an issue than the personnel. Kaminski sees the ball at his feet far too often. Ayala and Hyam saw more of the ball than anyone again yesterday, picking up goal kicks in our box and passing it about when they are both much better suited to heading the ball away and smashing clearances down the park. All our midfielders are expected to play intricate little one and two touch stuff around the opposition midfield. The fullbacks are now expected to come inside and get involved in the pointless midfield tippy tappy crap. Forwards must only enter the box after the ball does, primarily with their back to goal, they also appear to be under instruction to only shoot as a last resort. Dolan and Markanday have been told to stop dribbling and pass it backwards to the centre backs. Dack may be stood in the right spot, but he has to come so deep to get on the ball, yet still there’s rarely anyone in front of him. Brereton is the one exception as the only player whose strengths we play to.

We could have Wilcox and Ripley in their prime but they’d be useless with how we play currently. There is absolutely no point in crossing the ball when there is nobody in the box. The only crosses that will ever happen on the training ground will be corners. Our forwards have a tendency to run towards the ball rather than towards the goal because crossing isn’t on the agenda. The only thing this system needs is throwing in the bin.

The big flaw in the project is the current transfer market, and it’s not going to change any time soon. Every footballer now basically has a set value based on their technical ability - there might as well be a big book or spreadsheet with their value next to a name. And it’s all based around how well they can do the tippy tappy shite we are trying and failing to implement. Bidding wars are a thing of the past, players aren’t valued on how effective they are, their stats on scouting databases are what matters. And it’s one extreme or the other - they are generally massively overpriced or have next to no or no value. Nobody will pay a decent fee for Brereton despite him being good for 20 goals because he is clumsy and far from technically good. It’s why we got a good offer for Rothwell 12 months ago, despite him being largely ineffective for huge periods of his Rovers career. It’s why Nyambe was worthless in terms of a fee. Of our current prospects - Travis, Garrett, S. Wharton, Vale, JRC, Carter - none will command anything over a nominal fee. Buckley, A. Wharton, Phillips, Dolan, Markanday all will to varying degrees. With this idea of “adding value” we are trying to make too many players into something they are not, and never will be. We could pick up some really useful players on the cheap that would immediately improve our starting 11, but that doesn’t fit the project.

Got in about an hour ago, watched the goals back and read a few hundred posts on here. Anyone who reckons Rotherham somehow fluked it is only kidding themselves. You don’t fluke a 4-0, and to suggest so is disrespectful to them. Their first two goals (the scorers were far and away the best two players on the pitch by the way) were excellent hits despite our crap defending - you have to have a shot to score. We were pathetic today. Garrett tried a tackle or two, but that was about it. Morton is a coward and a bottle job who would pull out of anything less than 80:20 in his favour, let alone a 50:50. Hyam is generally a good championship centre half, but there is a reason he’s uncapped for Scotland… the new Ryan Nelsen he isn’t. Gallagher was at his worst today and Vale will never carry a goal threat at this level. Then there is the issue of what we do with the ball. I wonder (dread to think) what percentage of that 77% possession was taken up by Hyam and Ayala. When we work the ball out wide it becomes a hot potato that has to be played backwards and inside immediately. Nobody can be arsed getting in the box, and when we do put the ball in there it’s a panicked last resort. Markanday and Dolan had to come in at half time, and none of the front three could have any complaints at being subbed off. Obviously JDT waited til we were 2 down, but we proceeded to do the exact same ineffective shite we’d persisted with for the previous hour. Both have the ability to terrorise teams by running at them, but whenever JDT speaks about either he’s always just happy they are taking less touches. Way to coach their effectiveness out of them. I think every defeat we’ve had this season has been a fair result. Not sure I can say the same for the wins. Our goal difference tells a story too. For those moaning about the lack of quality in our squad, we’ve played Rotherham today. With all due respect they shouldn’t be anything to fear on paper. The idea of the broader project I can get behind, but this style of play the manager is stubbornly married to, absolutely not.

Maybe not consistently, but I can’t think of a better individual performance this season than Wharton against Blackpool. Elliott had his shortcomings, particularly defensively, but was still given plenty of game time. I’m not sure how pressing the need for game time for Wharton is in JDT/Broughton’s opinion - we have heard how he’s ahead of where they expect him to be. It’s undeniable though that when he’s on song Wharton improves our side massively.

I clearly didn’t read that properly! Didn’t spot they were two separate quotes from Farke and Wagner. Obviously if he’s fit, that puts a different complexion on things.

It sounds like he isn’t ready to be playing for the foreseeable. When you consider what Tomasson made of Dack’s match fitness I doubt he’d play Cantwell much this season if he were to sign. Even without the questionable attitude I think this is one to avoid. We need signings that make an immediate impact.

There’s nearly as much talk bemoaning fans for writing off the player than there is about the merits (or lack thereof) of the signing. Anyone on here who would be underwhelmed by the signing would get behind the player if he were to sign. They’d want him to succeed, because that could only be good for the club. I don’t understand the problem with people voicing an opinion that maybe they would prefer we look elsewhere when at present it’s nothing more than rumour and paper talk anyway.

And I merely answered. Depends how you look at it. If you’re predisposed to defend everything the club do, you’ll criticise other fans who aren’t immediately enamoured with the idea. If you’re naturally cynical/sceptical of the club, there’s not a lot in this rumoured signing to get excited about.

Depends how you look at it. I’d say questions are being asked as to whether a young midfielder with limited experience, who seems physically similar to several other players who are contracted to us long term but probably aren’t getting as much game time as we’d like, is really what we need. If you want to bash other fans though, that’s the narrative to take.

Yeah, he’s played there quite a bit. Seems silly to me as from what I’ve seen of him he’s got an eye for a pass, puts himself about and tackles. Looks a promising midfielder all day long to me. I was kind of hoping we’d got past the whole anybody can do a job at right back idea - surely it’s been proven false too many times!

I’d go even further than that. It’d be a pointless, shite signing. We don’t need a midfielder to make up the numbers - Harlock should be blooded before padding out with another loanee who likely won’t be up to speed til March. We need someone to improve the starting 11, anything else is a waste of time and money.