5 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Fair enough. Like I said, once you mentioned it I took it completely on face value. Why would you lie.

Its interesting though. Says to me that there is money to spend.

IMO, looking at cheaper replacements for players to be sold!

Think there's a good chance Travis is off if we are looking at Whiteman - would net Rovers a couple of £million or so.

7 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Lenihan played 37 games last season missing 6 games due to injury, 2 games due to suspension and 1 game due to his wife giving birth to his 1st child. So hardly alot of games is it? and the season before !?!>

Mowbray didn't need to answer the question.

if Travis is sold? hinting at there Mercer?  Why the supposed interest in Whiteman then when we have other huge priorities like 2 goalies and 2 centre backs !?!?

I think Davenport has been decent enough for the under 23's when I've watched. Not on the level of Travis who stood out in the games I've watched in the under 23's games in 17/18 season. Why he got his chance in first team before his sending off at Portsmouth.  IMO, will never, ever be Championship material.

33 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

we don't need a back up centre back at this stage if Wharton is staying with us but having a good 1st choice centre back to partner Lenihan at centre back  IMO, Wharton is nowhere near good enough for the Championship.  Lenihan misses a lot of games with injury - we need two very capable centre back signings.

He said he hadn't have full clarity which is very different to no clarity. You would have hope that by now with us chasing players according to a couple of posters on here you would have to say he has been told his budget.  Think Mowbray being diplomatic - can you imagine the furore if Mowbray had come out and said we still didn't know what our budget is.  Nothing to stop Mowbray talking to players and finding out whether they might be interested in coming here - he might need a replacement if Travis is sold (a sobering and realistic thought)!

I have no idea why you are wanting to loan Davenport when he is going to play a fair amount of game and time next season. Evans's injury problems are well know so we will be needing him.  Not sure who would take him.  Not even impressed me at U23 level.

2 hours ago, Tugay's Right Foot said:

When you mention Parkes, which club do you think of. That for me is one of our legends too.

So true.

Passed Tony in the car a couple of times recently whilst he's been out walking - now walking with the aid of a stick and a carer (I assume).  It's so very sad.

1 minute ago, bluebruce said:

Well this has garnered surprisingly little attention compared to DG being misallocated the term 'legend'.

The profile you linked for Harthez shortly after doesn't look massively promising, but not a player I know. 'Aerial duels' and 'tackling' listed as his weaknesses. Well those are two of the main things I want from a LB. I don't care how good he is on the overlap if we remain porous at the back. It does say he is also a LW though. Plying his trade in the second tier in Germany at 27 isn't super promising either, but doesn't mean he isnt currently good enough.

Ripley seems an upgrade on Leuts and that'll do for now.

Likely to be the result of the 'famed European scouting structure' @Chaddyrovers keeps banging the drum about.

Might as well sack the lot and sit in an office at Ewood thumbing through the Argos catalogue of European footballers who are cheap and cheerful! 

3 hours ago, JoeH said:

What?! Vale is nothing like head and shoulders above Butterworth ? Do you watch the Under 23’s? One is the youth team captain, playing across multiple seasons in multiple positions, scoring goals and creating things.

The other is a promising younger talent who’s scored less goals, created less chances and isn’t a leader on the pitch. 
 

There’s just zero evidence for the claim that Vale is ahead of Butterworth. None whatsoever. 

We all see things differently.

To me, Vale has that spark and in two years time will be at least two leagues higher than Butterworth.

3 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Ya that would make sense except for the fact Mowbray first signed him on loan and then permanently. How you explain that bit to correlate with your theory? It doesn't really add up.  In the same way Mowbray signed Gallagher and sticks him on the wing, in the same way that Mowbray pays a relative fortune for Brereton and rarely plays him because, IMO, he's not good enough.  God knows what goes on in Mowbray's head!  

I bet if you asked the other players, they would also point to his attitude.  Chapman is like any other working individual, if you think you are being sh@t upon at work, you will feel a bit p1ssed off. 

I agree he is a talent, but that's half his problem. He doesn't think he has to do the hard work. This is where real man management comes in - understanding what makes an individual tick and we are all different; sadly, IMO, Mowbray has an absurd 'one size fits all' mantra.  Take the last couple of matches.  Lad comes on for a cameo against Reading.  Next match, Mowbray keeps him marooned on the bench.  IMO, shocking man management - it stinks.

35 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

He may well do but its far too soon to predict that. He needs to play at a lower level for the time being but 21 is not old no matter which world class talents you bring into the conversation.  I keep saying it but ability is relative to the level you are at ie Carter is being judged at Championship level.  The point I try and make is that players at 18, 19, 20 etc, if they are going to be 'real players' for their club then they've battered down the first team door and are regulars whether that club is La Liga, PL, Championship, Div 1 or Div 2.

5 minutes ago, Jlee1984 said:

Chapman has been around the squad for some time now and Mowbray always mentions his work rate, with Lb being a problem im surprised he hasn't tried converting him to a fullback, Manager cant have much faith in him if a Natural left footed player is getting overlooked by Bennett in left sided positions, Personally I don't think Chapman makes the grade

I like seeing Chapman getting into the box - he frightens defenders with his trickery and he doesn't need too much space to work in, seen him put defenders on their arse and we haven't too many capable of that!  Needs to be let off the leash, given a licence to thrill and win football matches for us - he has the talent and capability.

Mowbray needs to realise not one size fits all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just now, tomphil said:

This is it with Chapman he needs a chance to at least prove himself at first team level otherwise it's another complete waste. Everyone else gets a fair crack of the whip whether they frequently under perform or not.

Give him a go and see if it grasps it and if not boot the little fecker out on loan until his contracts up then say ta ta.  

Been saying this for ages.

IMO, it's as though Mowbray doesn't want the lad to succeed and is even denying him the chance to.

I just think there is an amazing talent in there and with good man management, we would have a real player, a real creative force, on our hands.

9 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Didn’t know you went to Leyland, Mercer? You rarely even venture to Ewood, as far as I’m aware. ‘I was going to buy 17 tickets, but saw the team, so now I’m off to Majestic for a crate’ being the usual line.

How many times have you seen Butterworth?

Always taken an interest in those teams below 1st team level whether matches played at Brockhall, Leigh, Leyland or even Ewood.  My then young kids used to love going down to Brockhall to watch the Academy stuff and I remember one of my lads being particularly taken by Ben Burgess (a beast of a young striker then) who came over and did autographs etc.

Couldn't tell you how many times I've seen Butterworth but first saw him in our U18's not too long after he'd joined us from United.  Agree, injuries haven't helped but the lad's almost 21 now and in my book, he should have broken through that first team door by now if he was going to become a 'big player' for us.

15 minutes ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

Butterworth will be an excellent player if he steers clear of injury. I also don't think you know enough about the rest of the players, or have seen them enough, to write them off. 

I hope you are right but he hasn't shown me anywhere near enough for me to think he might be a 'real player' for us.  I compare him to Vale and I think Vale is head and shoulders above Butterworth.

How many times do you need to see a player?  An old friend of my dad's was a scout for a Division 1 (now PL) club, scouting senior players and he reckoned he knew within 45 minutes if a player had anything about him or he was wasting his time and the player could be crossed off his list - it was fascinating to hear his observations, particularly if I was watching football with him. 

6 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

There was a few similar that he did like that, im guessing you mean the one at the end though? Definitely looked out of his depth. Only a boy but not ready for Championship football in the near future.

Carter is not 'only a boy' - he is 21 years of age this year.

As I have said before, ability is relative to the level you play at.  IMO, if Carter was going to be a player for us at Championship level, at his age, he should already have broken through or shown much more composure and dominance in his two games for us.  Sadly, I think he is another Academy product who will just drift into obscurity or earn a crust at Division 2 or, at best, Division 1 level.  You watch these lads at levels below first team and and I think it's pretty obvious who has got something about them and has a chance to become a real player for us and who hasn't.

IMO, Jack Vale looks like he could be the real thing but others like Butterworth, Davenport, Fisher, Grayson, Magloire, Mols, Wharton etc you can forget.

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

Superb? well over the top. very decent appointment

Very decent appointment but can he make it work at Bristol City. Will he be allow to bring his own staff in like Paul Trollope who is always on his staff? 

We will find out how good of a coach he is. 

We know how good a coach Hughton is.  Proven track record, far better than Mowbray's.

I bet you, however much money you want to bet, not only will they finish higher than Rovers next season but they will finish in top 6.

A club with massive potential.

4 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-rovers-mowbray-budget-transfers-18646217

Utterly depressing. Venkys still havent bothered to give him any indication. But lets be thankful to them eh. They dont give a shit.

He also batted off talk about budgets by deflecting onto those academy players that were on the pitch. Carter certainly isnt the answer, a million miles from being ready. Ive not been overly convinced by Rankin Costello as much as most and who certainly cant play in defence. Buckley? Ineffective and too weak at this moment.

So seemingly its the money blown on strikers in years gone by whilst the defence was neglected that may also cost us. He hasnt fixed the defence and sold our keeper to buy a striker.

At least we took 4 points off Brentford and "should have been 3 up v Leeds." Clutching at straws. We were quite a bit away and if he genuinely thinks that we arent far away, hes a little deluded.

Number of points here.

Firstly, I do not think it is inconceivable that Venky's have sidelined Waggott and have someone working on their behalf to see if they can find a replacement for Mowbray.  The silence is deafening and it would explain a lot - perhaps their confidence in Waggott and Mowbray has gone.  Who that someone may be or who they are looking at is another factor! 

Secondly, we might have had half a dozen or so Academy / Development players on 'the grass' at some point over the last couple of games but like you, I would question if they really are good enough.  Most of them are 20 going on 21 and I think a couple or so are even older.  You look back over the years and the 'big players' broke through in their teens  Butch Wilkins captained Chelsea at 17, Rooney, Mbappe, Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice  and more recently Reece James at Chelsea.  And before anyone throws their toys out of their pram, let me make it clear, ability is relative to the level you are at.   I do not think for one moment our younger players should be playing in Champions League or World cup Finals but at their age, if they were good enough, they should have battered down the first team door and become regulars at Championship Level. I think Alexander-Arnold and Rice have already clocked up 100 first team appearances or so at just 21 years of age. 

Lenihan is no longer a youngster and at 26, I think he's found his level. 

Travis is a decent Championship player at the moment with room to go but the lad is almost 23 and still nowhere near 100 appearances,

Nyambe is 22 and as far as I'm concerned, his development is being held back by Mowbray's mismanagement. 

Rankin-Costello I think has just turned 21 and his first team appearances are still in single figures - could become a decent Championship player but no more, IMO.

Carter 20 is no Phil Jones and doesn't look good enough to be a first team regular

Buckley 20 is, IMO, as you say, ineffective and too weak

Have seen the rest of our younger at their respective levels and, IMO, there is only one who really excites me and who looks like he may have some star quality and that's Jack Vale.  

Like I've posted before, our Academy is NOT producing the 'big players' for us - the David Dunns, Damien Duffs and the Phil Jones's.  I think the rest, in the main, are much of a muchness ability wise - average.  IMO, it needs looking at. 

9 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

If we were to seriously challenge for promotion I'd say we need a top quality keeper, CB, LB, creative midfielder, pacy wide man and probably a consistent goalscorer.

That's at least six quality players. I wouldn't trust TM to bring one in. Such new additions as there are will probably follow the previous formula of either being past it and looking for one last pay day or youngsters who can optimistically be described as "ones for the future" thereby not upsetting or dislodging the core group.

It's a bit more than slow build and evolution!

IMO, lays bare just how much Mowbray has mismanaged the transfer windows.

1 minute ago, Stuart said:

Strongly disagree. The fella is partisan, yes, but he’s doing his job.

IMO, he spouts so much sh1te.  I don't think he understands the game.

Last night was very interesting.

From bits I saw, Mowbray, IMO, looked very disinterested.  

Was Venus there - someone mentioned they didn't see him?

The normally statuesque Lowe seemed, IMO, to throw a wobbler at the end.

No Mowbray comments that I can see in the LT.

You can but hope that this is the end for Mowbray, Venus, Lowe and Benson.

35 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I'd have John Barton instead of him tomorrow. At least he saved the odd shot. Fettis I didn't see a lot off. Darren Collier wasn't great either but Walton is hopeless.

John Barton filled the goal!  Little room for the ball to pass!

38 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I go back as far as Fred Else and Walton is in a league of his own as being the worst keeper I've seen at Rovers.

Absolutely.

Think Fred Else was Yashin though in comparison!

Just now, Tom said:

He’s a good guy, with anyone paid by the club you have to be overly positive though 

IMO, he just spouts so much sh1te - it's embarrassing.  I don't think he understands the game at all.  At best, IMO, a 'yes man'. 

52 minutes ago, ossyian said:

Hardly any wonder Chapman supposedly "mopes" is it. It must be soul destroying sat on the bench and then seeing a dolloper like Bennett get the nod to go on. What did Harry do wrong between creating the winning goal on Saturday and Wednesday. Mowbray needs to resign now. That's me done with season ticket till he fucks off

Spot on.

Mowbray's article in LT was, IMO, feckin disgraceful.

I think he's frightened of playing Chapman because he knows what he'll do if given a chance but he simply doesn't like the guy. 

52 minutes ago, Tom said:

Nonsense 

Neil Yardley took issue with the time wasting but when you are scrapping to survive you use every trick in the book, show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser and all that 

Think Yardley is a complete tosser.  Full stop.

1 minute ago, Parsonblue said:

Under-18 goalkeeper.  I think Fisher is ineligible because of various loans and Hilton may be on furlough or injured.

But we extended contracts for Hart and Smallwood - IMO, utter incompetent madness if that's why the reason for Hilton's exclusion.