Mercer

Saw pre match interview with Wagner and very impressed. Spoke with clarity, passion and purpose and emphasised importance of relationships with fans and community. In another league to our owners and executive management.

'One more signing unless there is an unexpected departure'. Wow, think we will need to batten down the hatches. Frightening. Out - all proven Championship performers: Batth, Beck, Brittain, Dolan, JRC and Weimann (and 20+ goals between them!!!) In - with Championship experience: Forshaw (washed-up, we didn't want him at end of season and possibly only re-signed him out of desperation, looks like wont be fit until almost September) McLoughin (signed as a centre back but only played half his games for Hull in that position last season, strange if he's good - what we've seen so far, looks painfully slow) In - with no Championship experience: Alebiosu (strong and athletic but is he a footballer? Looks clumsy with little technical ability) De Neve (even the locals in Belgium expressed their surprise at this signing. Can run all day, as could Jason Lowe, but haven't seen much else) Henriksson (Could prove to be well worth the punt - scores goals, aggressive and wants to win) Miller (Aggressive and wants to win - a good start. Should be okay defensively but another Nyambe going forward?) Tavares (only started half the games for his previous club and actual completed 90 minute games could be counted on one hand - unconvincing and unproven) I think, unarguably, we start the season with a considerably weaker team/squad than we finished last season with. We might have names on paper that make a squad of 24 or 25 but a good number of them are simply not good enough or ready for the hurly-burly of Championship football. IMO, we are at least 3 players short - a quality striker, a quality right winger and an experienced goalie (if Pears goes, as seems likely, it would be folly to run with a young inexperienced Michalski as only back-up for Toth). All in all, an underwhelming window IMO - you simply can't replace proven Championship players of a good ability with, in the main, cheap and unproven foreign imports and supplement them with Academy lads who are either not good enough or not ready. ATM, feels like it will be difficult to keep out the bottom six.

What would Ken be worth today? A complete midfielder. Had the lot in his locker including a cannonball shot - think he averaged something like a goal every 5 or 6 games for us. Would have eaten Travis for breakfast - twice the player Travis ever will be.

IMO, it's just to hide the true cost so the club through the media can then over-egg and over-hype the transfer fees so the gullible in our fan base think we are really splashing the cash.

Think you are right leading to an almost inevitable opening day loss.

If the ultimate goal is to get Rovers back to the PL then I think it's pretty clear there is no plan: Do Rovers have direction: No Do Rovers have a focus: No Do Rovers have a clear path to achieve its ultimate goal: No Without a clear plan, players, coaching staff and other employees can become demotivated, disillusioned and morale suffers - what better examples than JDT and Eustace and how long before Ismael snaps !? All I see is a club failing to protect and secure its playing assets and an ongoing degradation of the club as a whole. 'Wing Commanders' Pasha and Gestede - IMO, just versed in the art of 'winging it', and 'winging it' poorly!

Cambridge weren't pretty but feck me, what Beck achieved with them on a shoe string budget was quite remarkable - making the most of what you have!

He was never prolific though - his best spell was with Rovers where I think he had a dozen goals in 30+ games. Think he spent over 10 years at Grimsby where he was a 1 in 5 or 6 man.

Glad you got through it! Hope things have settled down for you.

A huge task ahead - opening games in the Championship don't come much more difficult than this. Not impressed with any of our new signings so far and I think we go into this game far weaker than we were last season. We needed quality additions in early and it hasn't happened. Momentum and confidence is everything in the Championship and a bad result on the opening day can set the tone for the rest of the season. Sadly, I think WBA will win by at least 2 goals.

A footballer is not 'Joe Average' and there is considerable 'stress' on the feet so if rest and immobolization haven't solved the original issue then surgery is the only alternative but can be problematical - didn't we have another player not too long ago who had at least two operations and he missed most of the season?

To gather at Brockhall by 6AM means those same players were climbing out of their beds as early as 4.30AM dependent upon where they live!

Sadly, Chaddy, too many in our squad, as you see our squad, are simply not good enough and shouldn't be in the 25. Not one of our new signings has impressed. We looked disillusioned today and the season hasn't even started! Defensively we were shocking - no cohesion and too slow. Midfield no spark or creativity. - rarely seen Travis and Tronstad so disinterested. Up front - punchless. Only bright sparks for me were Toth (who looks a good goalie) and Kargbo for 20 minutes (though not sure he's 90 minutes in his locker). Montgomery and Mullarkey-Matthews aren't ready. Tyjon has undoubted talent but needs to be managed carefully (based on today, doubtful he's ready to start a game). It's not just one defeat it's the warning signs that need heeding. I think we need a minimum of 4 quality additions that go straight into the starting 11 - without those, I think it's going to be a long, long season with Rovers in the bottom 6.

Agree - thought Travis was 'out of it' today, possibly pondering his future. Tronstad not his usual self either.

Totally agree. Has been far too much hype about the lad. From Marine and Chorley to commanding a place in a Championship team in 6 months doesn't add up. Think he needs some regular football in League One and let's see how he fares there. Sadly, our wafer thin squad probably wont allow it. Most of us, given the players we've lost, thought we needed 7, 8 or even 9 new additions.

Lovely Kargbo goal - carries a real threat. Madness if he doesn't start ahead of De Neve. Hyam never quick but seems to have lost a yard of pace since last season. Also, noticeably less comfortable without Batth.

Little to get enthused about. Montgomery looks over-hyped and De Neve innocuous. We've no craft and no control. We need quality additions both urgently and in number who will walk into our starting 11.

Think your pessimism is shared by many. Today's game should be a good test against a top half Eredivisie team - I'm particularly looking how Montgomery, McLoughin, Tyjon and De Neve shape up.

I hope Rovers have stopped his wages. Any player who opts for elective cosmetic surgery that goes wrong should pay the price.

No Cantwell, Buckley or Pears - injuries or on the move?

I seem to remember a night match at Ewood when the crowd was calling for the introduction of wee winger Johnny Price to give us some width and balls into the box - Johnny was introduced but our 6 feet 4 inches centre forward (John O'Mara) was taken off!

"I don't necessarily pick the best players, I pick the best team," Alf's words when Jack questioned Alf over his inclusion in the 1966 World Cup squad.

I think Jackson's demeanour changed when the LT let him go to Spain to cover the two friendlies - think you are spot on, Rovers lured him in and played / play him like a fiddle.

All you can do is troll, troll and further troll. Your personal vendetta against me is plain for all to see. It's pathetic. For fecks sake try and be constructive or bore off.

One word - bullsh1t. You simply aren't worth debating with.