Deadline day

Prepare to be unthrilled!

IT DOES NOT MATTER!!!

Unbeaten since Xmas, we have a good, competitive squad that is more than capable of progressing in this division already.

Unless DC can bring in someone who is better than what we already have, then I’m happy with what we’ve got.

It certainly doesn’t need a collective meltdown if there is no movement today.

Not sure about a "collective meltdown" if nothing else happens today. But let's have a quick re-cap. We have sold our best player and bought in a Mensah and Craig (on loan). That would leave Bodin - Mensah = around £300-£400k to spend. Now if Darrell can't bring in anyone in to improve the squad with that money - fair enough. But if this is what some fans think is a successful transfer window - I can only conclude that people have low levels of expectation.

I think some have been totally seduced by mediocrity. I've seen people say recently that there has never been a better time to be a Rovers fan! Years of being run like a pub team obviously imparts some kind of Stockholm syndrome on the psyche.

As for our transfer dealings, our form has offset the lack of signings which is great because I was terrified of Bodin leaving. His replacement appears to be kept back as one for the future so we have swapped the first name on the team sheet for one who will hardly feature. It is great we are on the up on the pitch but we are only a couple of injuries away from being in trouble.

I was secretly hoping we could show some ambition and intent to put a run together til the end of the season but a lack of signings this window means I just hope we limp over the typical points threshold to avoid relegation and confirm another season in league one.

I understand why people are going to be jarred off with so little transfer activity but dont think we should ever just see that little activity in the transfer market equates to low levels of expectation. Depends on how you see expectation. If we don’t get anyone in or perhaps just one in this window it’s not a disaster. Of course it would have been better if DC could get all his targets but I bet he’s not prepared to pay over the odds either to get someone. At the moment we’re on course for another mid table finish in League 1 which will be a good consolidation after two years of upward moves. The big worry is if on Saturday we picked up a couple of injuries then we would be very stretched and in this league the middle of the table is so close. A win and you’re talking about play offs, a defeat and you’re looking down again. Trying to be optimistic here!
UTG!

I am also not particularly worried about this.  We are not going down bar catastrophe and it's not worth throwing the kitchen sink at it on a longshot bet to go up - if these guys somehow miraculously get us into the playoff race then fantastic but the better bet is to sink or swim with what we have here and start preparing for next season. The only players I really want to see us bring in are those we have a view to signing longer term.

I do think there are serious questions over the owners recent commitment to investing in the squad but I think it's the offseason that will give us the biggest clue as to how justified those worries are (I'd far rather we found a Bodin replacement then than now for example).  Right now we have a bit of breathing room and I don't mind if we use it - I feel that buying clubs in January get fleeced more often than not.  I feel like most of the time mid-season acquisitions are pretty underwhelming if you're a lower league club - people tend to underestimate the amount of 'bedding in' time it takes most players to adjust to their new club.  By the time they're up to speed it's often beyond the point at which they are likely to have much of a positive impact on the season.  My only concern midseason is normally for us to hold onto our players - not to bring in a load.  Unless we are in deep trouble - in which case that is a sign of desperation rather than a positive.

Depends on the reasons we are struggling to sign players really. We don't know if it is money, the infrastructure, our location etc. If players are refusing to come here because of our jurassic stadium and training situation then a DOF will be a waste of time. That will be for the owners to sort out. DC himself certainly speaks to the media as if the hierarchy at BRFC is making him do his job with an arm tied behind his back.

I understand getting permanent signings in during January is difficult, which is why i don't understand why DC cannot go to his plan B which is loan signings, something he has said is easy to do. I'm not fussed whether the signings are permanent or loans, but the fact remains the squad has lacked a proper defensive midfielder and a wide player since the start of the season. If we sign yet another left footed centre back, plus a young raw Bernard Mensah as Bodins replacement, then this window would have not only been bizarre but totally unacceptable. DC is real rough diamond, and a manager i have no doubt will go onto manage in the championship in the next 3 years, but his lack of being able to get deals over the line together with his ultra tough approach to wages is the reason why signing proven league 1 players is almost impossible.

Last part of your post is pure guesswork.