I think they plan on taking the Ledley King approach…

Honestly mental, surely it's the first signing they should have made?

He played 70 minutes yesterday.

I can't believe (well I can but it's a bit of a disgrace) we dont appear to have an oven ready replacement for Dolan lined up. We must have known he'd be going for months.

Someone needs to ask him where he’s got this from.

Elliot seems to think it's 90k per years contract signed at his new club, no idea if thats been verified though.

Had a stress fracture in my left foot about 5 years ago. Misdiagnosed at first - encouraged to keep doing everything i normally do during the 2 months it took for me to figure out that they were wrong. That included a lot of walking, golfing, badminton and so on including the 6 flights of stairs required to exit or enter our home. Most of the time - it was an annoyance that could be managed with pain meds. Without warning it could then become so excruciatingly painful that i couldn't get up or down the stairs or walk the 100 yards from the office to my car. That would last a few days until suddenly after 2 months it went to shit and i couldn't put any weight on it at all. Still bothered by pain from it 5 years later despite it having "healed" completely although i am told this is most likely to nerve/tissue damage around the fracture which would have been exacerbated by continuing "as normal". In terms of what it meant at the time: rest for 6-8 weeks and i am not a footballer. Imagine he would be unavailable for 8-12 weeks if it did become problematic (including 3-4 weeks to get back up to "match fitness") Cynical head on: given the number of crocks we have signed during the years either we have changed the medical setup or this is merely an excuse to get out of paying a lump sum up front for a player we want (with or without said injury)

he can`t be that injured seeing as he played yesterday,bet we are trying to get him for a knockdown fee

I find the whole Baradji situation very odd. Even on a pay as you play it seems like a high risk move, for a team who can ill afford to be making high risk moves. The player himself must be desperate to come, the Swiss super league is a very poor standard, the challenge league is probably league 2 standard at best, maybe worse. He cannot be getting paid very well at all there although he must be one of the higher paid players. So who is it at the club that thinks this lad is worth taking risks for? Hard to believe VI is an admirer, is it Rudy who's wanting to get it over the line?

I don’t think you’re wrong.

This meanwhile is more great journalism by Jackson: "Concerns with certain parts of a medical can always flag concerns"

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/blackburn-rovers-trying-to-sign-moussa-baradji-on-special-contract/ This suggests that Baradji may need time away to get his injury fixed. If so, then it would be ridiculous to still proceed with the deal considering we are only signing 2 or 3 more.

The importance of a good pre season, especially for the older players can’t be overstated. Forshaw on signing up was bigging that up and now looks like he is bloody injured before a kicking a ball in anger 😡

gone very quiet,even the obvious fantasy links are missing😒i sincerely hope this is`nt the end of our transfer dealings

Hmmm.......I think the only thing EVERYONE agrees on is we need a new RW. For me after that I think one striker is desperately needed, ideally two. Cover/competition anywhere else would be nice. And that's always assuming no-one leaves as FB would say. I dont think Brittain will stay personally.

Moronic isn't it?

A few pinning their hopes on Tavares. At 23, his only real senior experience, other than 30ish games over 3 years for Porto B in Liga 2, came last season with Moreirense, a lower half league team in the 5th rated Portuguese Liga. Last season, his stats were hardly convincing starting in only 15 games of which he managed to complete only 4. Think he only has 1 or 2 goals to his credit over his career so far (read somewhere he had just 1 goal and 1 assist to his name last season) so he's not going to give us much there. Beyond Travis and Tronstad, we look goosed in midfield with only Tavares, Buckley, Forshaw and Montgomery in reserve. We desperately need another seniorish central midfielder with some proven ability whether that be Baradji or someone else - if Travis goes then we will need two!

I don't think we get any compensation as he has signed for a club outside England? Or am I wrong on that?

I know commenting on changes in the women's game can be construed as condescending but I only mention it as it is so remarkable... the quality is improving at a exponential rate. If anyone watched that game yesterday and compared it to the last three euros finals the difference every four years is massive. The Spanish team's technique and short passing was very very good. The keeping has come on hugely. Both scoring headers were technically excellent. Really impressed. And England well done! Really competitive and great penalties.

i watched him a few times at chorley last season,he was miles above the level but to me he didn`t look like he was quite ready for the step up to the championship,however when he was recalled he did`nt look out of place at all,deserves a chance imo,he surprised me how well he played for us

Im not sure that the odds are that slim considering how often Carter gets injured and the fact that Wharton hasnt played competitively in something like 16 months. Its not a position that you want to be throwing in kids out of necessity. Obviously different if someone like Phillips is emerging who is deemed to be already a first teamers. For those who watch them, are any of the current prospects at that level? Its a bit different with say Tyjon because in attack, as long as you have enough alternatives to not need to rush him through or rely on him, which we dont. You can bring on attacking players at the end for cameos and theres more flexibility. We could do with another centre back although saying that, in terms of priorities it isnt at the top.

Maybe. I'd say the odds of three out of the four being out for any length of time at the same time are fairly slim. If there's a bit of an overlap use one of the young lads to cover the slack. (Atcheson/Litherland?)

What on earth even is this? So do 'these people', by which I assume you mean yourself, have no interest in: Raducanu winning US Open as a complete unknown Jess Ennis winning Gold just 1 year after giving birth Ledecky winning Gold aged just 15 in one of the toughest swimming heats Simone Biles inventing god knows how many gymnastic moves now named after her Lionesses back-to-back Euros Women's first every Hockey Gold medal The year Fallon Sherrock chinned a few at Ally Pally Katie Taylor chinning plenty over the last 10 years If you like Sport, but have no interest in any of the above, well that tells me something about you for sure.

The thought fills me with horror. Think re-signing Forshaw was an act of desperation as we'd only landed De Neve at that point. Already injured, played little or no part in pre season and wont be fit for the big kick off. As for 'Jason Lowe' Montgomery, a Lazarian footballer who has risen from the sixth tier of English football (Marine and Chorley) in the blink of an eye. Seen little to suggest the lad offers much beyond athleticism. Wouldn't like to start a match with him in our midfield.

Only playing 1 striker is a factor for sure. I'd still add one if we could. Carter is quite injury prone and when he gets injured, it's usually for months at a time. Wharton has been out for a long time and is highly unlikely to be ready to play week in week out. Will very likely pick up minor injuries along the way. I think the odds are that we'll end up with just Hyam and McLoughlin as our only fit centre backs for large portions of the season (without signing another) 5 probably is too many, if all 5 stay fit but chances of that happening are slim.