No surprise to me. Like water, young players eventually find their level. The lad's almost 22 years old and the writing is on the wall for him. Seen him a number of times and never thought he was one for the future.

Not a chance. I think Watkins is twice the player of Armstrong in terms of both ability and football intelligence.

Donis.

Will be a much needed signing. Let's be honest, IMO, it's not a case of Fisher 'not being ready', it's a case of Fisher not being good enough. He's 22 now and struggled to get game time when even out on loan in the lower football leagues. The Greek lad seems to have a proven ability as 60+ games at the age of 21 testifies. Video clips can be misleading but he certainly has a presence and agility. Think there is far more potential in this lad than say Pears at M'boro.

Kindly tell me what tangibles have been achieved? I take what Mowbray says with a pinch of salt. IMO, we've barely delivered on what he said in Blues Bar back in Feb 2019 and he promised lots! For a start, defenders are coming, defenders are coming.........one permanent signing in Ayala!!! We are desperate for a left back but our Euro scouting team don't appear to be able to find a left back anywhere in Europe better than Bell and bear in mind we will be far more competitive on wages than swathes of Europe. In my eyes, what an indictment on their role. I am not interested in, IMO, what is Mowbray's bullsh1t. Mowbray can talk the talk but, IMO, he can't walk the walk.

Any agent worth their salt would have been creating a lot of noise on behalf of Kaminski and Holtby. Maybe there were not too many clubs that fancied either player. Let's face it, according to Mowbray, we've lost at least one potential European signing to another club so perhaps you are overplaying the influence. I think it's great we have a European resource but they need to deliver real tangible results like we've seen with the likes of Brenford and Norwich. If and when that happens, I would be delighted.

If you really think Holtby and Kaminski are products of our European scouting team then I think you've been taken in by what I think is Mowbray's bullsh1t. Mowbray and Waggott have to demonstrate to Pune that the cost of the Euro scouting team is worthwhile and if they can attribute any signing from Europe to the set up then they will do. I hope they turn up a Samba, a Nzonzi etc soon and when they do then they really will be cutting the mustard.

Come on, it's not rocket science!!! Kaminski had spent the last four seasons as a number one goalkeeper in the Belgium First Division and had made about 150 appearances as number one including 15 or so in the Europa League. IF, there had been a Premier League number one goalkeeper available who had made 150 appearances over the last four years and was available at a knockdown price following a bust up between club / player, clubs would have been all over it! IMO, Kaminski was a 'no brainer' and not a product or 'discovery' of our European scouting team.

Holtby was a 'known' player and as I recall a free agent, so I think to attribute his signing to the Euro scouting team is one helluva stretch! I've little doubt all the spadework was done by Holtby's agent. I've stated my views that, IMO, Kaminski was not a Euro scouting team 'find'. I'm pretty certain most fans are looking for our Euro scouting team to find the next Berg, Samba, Nzonzi etc. At this stage, IMO, they have simply not delivered.

So what have they achieved in 12 months? IMO, in terms of scores on the doors, virtually nothing as I am pretty certain Kaminski was not their baby but rather a result of a club / player bust up.

What gets measured gets done. Bottom line, IMO, is we have very little, if anything, to show for this operation. Holtby last season was 'a known' player - you didn't need a scouting set-up for that one as his agent should have done the graft in alerting clubs to his availability. As some poster pointed out yesterday (may even have been yourself), Gent would have circulated Kaminski's availability following the alleged club / player bust up and I do not think we would have been scouting Kaminski (undisputed first choice goalie with a Belgian 1st Division club competing in Europe) pre the alleged bust up. 'Near misses' don't count!!! IMO, we haven't found a single European unpolished diamond within our transfer / wages' budget (which will be very competitive relative to most of Europe) and that is the acid test or bottom line.

Mowbray's also been telling us since Blues Bar in Feb. 2019 that defenders are coming..........................we've made one permanent signing in Ayala! If you want to hang your hat on every Mowbray statement then that's fine. Personally, I take everything Mowbray and Waggott say with a pinch of salt! At the end of the day, I assume someone in Pune asks for feedback on their recently financed European scouting set up and I would think it's quite easy for Mowbray and Waggott to point to Kaminski. IMO, we got Kaminski more by accident than design and in no small part due to the alleged club / player bust up - without that, I think Kaminski would still be Gent's goalie and we wouldn't have got a sniff just as Wigan wouldn't have got a sniff of Mulgrew if Mowbray and Mulgrew, allegedly, hadn't had a bust up in training following our opening day defeat against Charlton where Mulgrew was captain (captain first match of the season is not indicative of a manager's plans to 'send to Wigan' within days). You think what you want Chaddy but it's often wise to sit back and reflect with a nice glass or two of your favourite tipple!

IMO, if we were scouting Kaminski BEFORE the alleged club / player bust up, presumably our scouts are rocking up at the likes of PSG, Barcelona, Juve. Bayern and Ajax!!!! You need to be serious - the fans aren't as naive and gullible as, IMO, Waggott, Mowbray and yourself think.

I think you might be giving our Euro scouting set-up more credit than is due. I think it's more likely Kaminski fell into our lap following a seemingly fall out between club / player in much the same way as we saw Mulgrew 'sent to Wigan' just hours before last summer's window closed. Are we really scouting for players in Belgian's First Division who are regulars for their leading clubs (playing in Europe)? Would seem out of our budget (Kaminski price arguably low due to circumstances). My theory seems borne out by the fact that we don't appear to be able to find a left back anywhere in Europe (within our budgets) better than Bell!

We are on fire. Confidence and momentum are everything in this league and can take you beyond your dreams. This is a nailed-on home banker. At 13/10 a wonderful opportunity to fill yer boots with more to be had with > 3.5 goals in the match at 5/2 (scoring for fun - 11 goals in 3 matches).

But if you think Accie Stanley are Real Madrid..................................................

This league is wide open. A huge test of Venky's ambition and nous. Two, maybe three, very shrewd signings might, just might get us back into the PL providing our manager doesn't bottle it and revert to type. Bigger tests to come. Think Wycombe will be the whipping boys for all teams and Derby are just a shambles. Having said that, you can only beat the opposition in front of you and 5-0 and 4-0 wins are pretty convincing. This may well be the season which gives Venky's the opportunity (through promotion) to recoup big parts of their losses. Waggott and Mowbray MUST get their pitch to them right.

Not many in it!

No it doesn't. IMO, Waggott is not even average, in fact I think he is very, very poor. In which case, his salary is hugely OTT. Tell me what value you think he has added to Rovers?

Tell me what you think Waggott's key strategic objectives and KPI's are? Personally, I'm struggling to think of anything he has delivered on other than handing Mowbray and some of the players ridiculous contracts which have cost us dearly. I would wager substantially that Waggott's base salary is very close to £300k which, IMO and professional experience, is hugely OTT for the organisation he heads up as CEO.

The answer is not no - are you unable to read and understand? I will not reveal any names of people I've dealt with on a professional basis.

Think you are way off the mark. You would be surprised at relative salary levels (to Waggott's) for CEO's in 'large' companies and Rovers would not fall into that category. The big bucks come in terms of what is known as 'executive compensation' comprising share options (typically 3 to 5 times salary levels), long term incentive plans (typically shares given to CEO's if their companies perform and meet their KPI's over a number of years - 1 to 2 times salary levels) and annual bonus (again performance related and typically 50% to 100% of base salary). IMO, based on experience, Waggott's base salary is at least twice as much as it needs to be. If I was calling the shots, he would be heavily incentivised to deliver on strategic objectives. For perspective, our PM runs the UK and his salary is about £150k. Waggott, IMO, is ridiculously overpaid.

I've had dealings across football clubs (and you would be surprised about some of the people I've come across / dealt with), rugby clubs (both codes) and cricket clubs. I can tell you I've found Executive Directors / Senior Managers (across the four sports) to have a very wide range of competence and nothing surprises me at all.

Indeed! So simple and effective. Well done PNE.

The accounts show we have four directors: Waggott, Cheston, Babu and Coar. Three of these are 'executive' directors with, presumably, Coar the non executive director. The cost of benefits for the three 'executive' directors in the accounts to June 2019 was a staggering £570,158 with the highest director costing £319,329 (which can only be Waggott). So these three (not so very wise men, IMO) earn more than the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary put together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IMO, it is a scandalous waste of money on three individuals presiding over the decline of a once great football club. As for Mowbray, he signed a new three and a half yeat contract in Nov. 2018 and if that isn't a long contract then I've been missing the point of my 40+ years in practice, business and commerce. He should have been given a 12 month rolling contract with strong rewards for getting us back to the PL because, in reality, that's the bottom line and all that feckin matters.