Mercer

Norwich signed Pukki on a free. Brentford signed Maupay for about £1.5million Sheff U signed Adams from non league for not much more than a box of crisps and then Brum paid about £2million for him Rovers signed Brereton for £7million+ !?!?!? I think the talent and potential is out there but clearly, in my opinion, Rovers' recruitment strategy / policy / execution is seriously flawed.

Welcome back Chaddy - have you been travelling Europe studying football? Haven't a clue? Been saying since I first saw Brereton that I thought we'd signed an expensive dud and it looks like I could well be right. Don't give a monkeys about what our owners think about Mowbray. Their record in appointing Rovers' managers is, in my opinion, flawed in the extreme.

I might be wrong here but I don't think he's started a game for them this season so why would they not want to let him go? The lad's 23 and has a goal record of about 1 in 6. He's not pulled any trees up wherever he's been. In my opinion, he's not developing as you would expect a young talent to and is just another expensive mistake waiting to happen. IMO, there is much better value out there and we can do better, much better.

Would give Gallagher a wide berth. Think he's expensively overrated. No one is getting knocked over in a rush to sign him.

Think the folly of the Brereton deal is hitting home. He's contributed virtually nothing and those funds committed on Brereton could have been used so much better and excitingly. Kamy, what happened to Mowbray's 'due diligence' re Brereton !?

You can think what you like. My post was merely in response to 1864roverite's post and other subsequent posts on the subject of the Brereton deal. My understanding of the deal is not from the Rovers' end and I would back its likely credibility against anything that the LT has published on the deal or anything posted on this MB about the deal.

Having spent quite some time recently with a colleague who is a Forest fan and who has good connections with the club, my understanding is that Forest are absolutely delighted with the deal. If my understanding is correct then I think you would be surprised at just how costly this deal is for Rovers.

R.I.P. Mike Harrison. An absolute flying machine who had the lot. Probably the best penalty taker I have ever seen. A joy to watch. I think if Mike had had the mental toughness of a Shearer or a Hughes, he would have gone on to big, big things. Would be priceless today.

Yep, he was still a class act and shows what a remarkable job he did by also very successfully managing the team! Mowbray has one just job - managing the team!

It's relative. Rovers hadn't a pot to pi$$ in under Kendall and he was competing with clubs with far greater financial resource including the likes of Chelsea, West Ham and Newcastle, to name but three, that season!

It's quite a famous rejoinder which clearly you haven't heard of! If you are a footballer earning big money then expect both 'bouquets and brickbats' - it's all part and parcel. I abhor the vile stuff.

They haven't spent £10million on two strikers have they!?!?

With £10million investment on two players and a team already including Mulgrew, Dack and Graham, I would expect a half decent manager to have us in the top eight. When Howard Kendall brought us up from the same division, in the close season he spent £40k on a midfielder (Speight) and signed about four on free transfers. We finished fourth missing out on promotion on goal difference and we were never lower than eighth all season. Kendall's circumstances were far more difficult than Mowbray's but, IMV, he was ten times the manager Mowbray is. In my book, Mowbray has no excuses and I think he's underachieved so far this season.

No he didn't but no doubt he gladly accepted everything that came as part of the deal including signing-on fee, big wages etc. If you can't stand the heat then you shouldn't be in the kitchen.........................

Doesn't matter which - either scenario is appalling.

That is in line with the link someone provided from both Blackburn / Nottingham ends confirming £7million plus add ons. The link has been posted at least twice but I am not got to wade back through countless posts to find it.

There can be no excuses. We are playing a very poor bottom of the league team, who are 7 points adrift from safety, at home. A home banker.

A big, big problem. Mowbray should take responsibility on this whether it was his signing or not. Firstly, if Brereton was Mowbray's decision, I think it raises serious question marks against his judgement on both individual players and the needs of the team (there are so many obvious areas where we need some quality). Secondly, if Mowbray was not part of the decision to sign Brereton then perhaps he is not the principled man some would like us to believe. No manager worth his salt would stand for such interference in team affairs. I don't think sending out a £7million+ acquisition on loan is the answer. If the lad had shown us at least a glimmer then it might be worthwhile but, IMV, he's shown us nothing and is lacking in so many areas. I think damage limitation would be selling the lad for as much as we can as quickly as we can - and we would need to be prepared to write-off millions.

I'm judging Mowbray on the two years he's been our manager. What is our footballing philosophy?

Well that was interesting! All my concerns about Mowbray came to light again. Tactically, I think he's a mess. As a unit, we were so loose and wide open and let's not kid ourselves, game should have been over before we scored our first. If you play three at the back, defenders and midfielders need to know and understand their roles - you need decent players with a football intelligence and, IMV, that was clearly missing tonight. Yet again, too many square pegs in round holes - Reed for one was wasted in that wide role, he and Travis would be a terrific twosome in centre midfield. Plus points - Travis again, Graham (what a moment for our first goal) and Lenihan. Negative points - too many without writing a book. Suspicions about Brereton just continue to grow for me - just what does he offer; looked for a 'moment', like Graham's 'moment' for our first goal, but absolutely nothing. Didn't realise Bennett was playing until after the half hour mark, so innocuous and ineffective. As far Raya, think the lad's going backwards and not progressing / maturing. As for Dack - don't buy the 'illness' story. If fit enough to be on the bench and play a part in the latter stages then surely better to start him and get a good half hour out of him that might have put us in the driving seat. A few tonight were convinced he's off but for me, tonight Newcastle showed just how short of pace the lad is - looked two yards off the pace. Would be amazed if a PL club was prepared to pay some of the ludicrous fees being mentioned. Very disappointing. Convinced more than ever Mowbray is not the man to take us forward - IMV, tactically poor, can't set up a team, poor substitutions and very poor player trading with Brereton looking an even bigger clanger with every minute he's on the field.

Yes. Given the momentum carried forward from promotion and Mowbray's spend of £10million+ on two strikers.

A signing that will cost Rovers £10million+ over the next 3 years and the lad's not even good enough to start in Graham's absence! Didn't see him at Sheffield when he did start but when he's come on as sub, I've seen nothing at all to suggest we have a player on our hands - to me, at best looks like a free transfer 'chance'. Really hope he starts tonight but wont be sat in the JW holding my breath.

I would remind you that two of our three 'mainstays' (Graham and Mulgrew) we signings made by C o y l e and without doubt, potentially the most calamitous signing made by Rovers in a long while (Brereton) was made by Mowbray. I think Mowbray's track record on player trading is poor.

Agree, a great result in the end with two excellent moves for the goals. However, no masking the fact that, IMV, as a footballing unit we were utter shyte for 85 minutes. It is not a style of football that is going to bring the missing thousands back to Ewood. Travis continues to impress. Let's hope Mowbray does not let him go out on loan but keeps him at the club and, more importantly, in the starting eleven. The lad's got great energy, passion and footballing intelligence and can't he pick a pass! As for Brereton, the mystery deepens. Why the hell did we sign him and commit the club to a £10million+ deal?

Travis is the man!