Nothing bitter in post firstly RF99. He would have a develop here if he stayed instead of chasing the money instead of being loaned here and there. I would say first choice next to Hyam Did he break through to Spurs first team? No then its a pointless signing for them. Wharton when he joined Palace made the right move cos he was playing regular, improving and now ready for a move one of the best teams.

Do you genuinely think he would have played 10-15 games more here than what he has moving? He has played consistently, week in week out for 1 and a half of 2 years so that would only be bettered if he instantly had gone from 5th choice here to playing regularly. And we still had Hyam and Carter who were our centre backs when we finished 7th with Wharton also here so there is no way that he would have been a regular here in that first half season in which he went to Spurs and didnt play for a bit. You also mention being more sought after potentially because we are higher in the league. In that first season, we nearly went down. In the second season, he would perhaps have been even less likely to play under Eustace.

I think our days paying for experienced premier league players are long gone now. In todays market we wouldn't even be able to get Downing or Graham. It really stretches us to get even experienced Championship players like Cantwell, Baath or Wieman. We're obviously trying to stick to 10k p/w max. I get the sense Eustace really had to push to get Cantwell.

I would loved to have been in Spain, watching Rovers in one of the new away shirts. They played in the new gold shirts against Everton.

Can't beat stern tests, it sorts out your strengths and weaknesses.

Vardys looking for a club next season, but I doubt we could afford him. A decent performance against Everton last week, but still the same problem, light on goals. We need to strengthen our strikeforce, and make them play for there places.

We make our second trip in 4 days to the quaint Pinatar Arena on Friday, this time to face La Liga side Elche CF who should provide much sterner test than Qatar SC. For those who went to the game on Tuesday, you will be aware of how welcome we were made by the staff and officials at the ground and we can expect the same again. There were a handful of Spanish fans at that game and some are coming again on Friday, as there is a keen interest in the English game and Rovers are still pretty well known and highly thought of by some fans. I expect Rovers to start with a similar line up to Tuesday and make some changes, as the match progresses, as it is still very hot and drinks breaks will be a must. I expect there to be fewer goals in the too and will go for a 1-1 draw. it is a short trip for Elche as their ground the Estadio Martinez Valero is around 35 Miles from the Pinatar arena. I don't know if they will bring many fans though, as the way support, for the smaller teams, is not really as popular as in the UK although in some ways we could class this as their home fixture. Elche has had their share of problems over the years, including a relegation from La Liga to Segundo division in 2015, despite finishing 13th. This was due to significant debt and delayed payments to players and staff. They were in fact then relegated to the third tier in 2017 but have since bounced back, finishing second to Levante last season in Segundo division, securing their promotion back to La Liga for the coming season. Hopefully it will be an enjoyable evening and I will see a few familiar faces again, as we did have a good turn out and it was nice to share a beer or two with some like minded fans.

The issue for Philips is hes decent but not outstanding at Championship level. For him going to Spurs made sense as his wasn't going to be a key player at a Championship club, so taking the short term wage boost at Spurs and being loaned out was the best financial option. For a player at 16/17 who is a step above, like Wharton or hopefully Tyjon the financial reckoning is a bit different. 1) Rovers will offer a much higher wage than Philips had on the table 2) if they go on and play 30+ games they then will get bigger offers after a season or two 3) for a player who is good enough to be a key player they get the security of being prioritised and developed by their championship club rather than shunted around on different loans. I think we are in a pretty good position with Tyjon. If it was someone truly exceptional like Rooney then we wouldnt have a chance as they could go straight into a prem first team squad. But Tyjon is in the zone where Rovers can offer him more development by being a key player.

Always said I have zero interest in Women's football or any sport in fact Matty..as per usual trying stir the pot

Pretty obvious that Kapaudi isn't coming now, not sure why he's still trying to push that one. Baradji I dunno, seems like they really want him, but it's a huge risk. As for Phillips, another good season at Stoke and you could be looking at selling him for £6m plus next summer, how is it a pointless signing for them if they more than double there money on him, all while probably having the majority of his wages covered for a couple of years via his loan spells? No guarentee he would have developed any better here, you're also forgetting that he's only just turned 20 years old.

What an incredibly bitter post. He has developed! You would perhaps have a point had he been just playing kids football for 2 years but he hasnt. He has played and this season will continue to play loads of football. Phillips didnt even play 10 games under JDT. He has played 53 Championship games in the last 2 seasons and will play regularly again this season. If anything, far more than he would have played here where he was 5th choice and still had Hyam, Carter and Wharton ahead of him. So can you please tell me how the move was bad for his development. Also, the idea that it will be pointless for Spurs even if they do sell him, considering a considerable profit will be turned over, again is ridiculous.

Whilst I agree in footballing terms not much has come of it as Iv mentioned above but for spurs it’s not pointless if they make a decent profit on him

I'm not sure it is to be honest. You would need for me 3 GK's at both under 21 and Senior level for training purposes, also to cover for any injuries that might occur. I imagine someone like Barrett will be on absolute peanuts, probably not much more than the average working man.

Possibilities. Baradji will come here if we completely restructure the transfer deal here and his club accept more of appearances based deal. I think.that ship has sailed personally Did he make a break throughout in Spurs first team then its pointless signing for them.

I think that was main reason.. I do think Phillips would be regular next to Hyam right now if had stayed but he didn't.

Excluding the under 18's we have six goalkeepers for the first team and under 21's. For a club with no money that is over indulgent in my view.

Oh, so he doesn’t watch all football apart from when it’s on TNT after all…

I imagine Barrett is very cheap to keep around for training purposes and to play in the under 21s as an older head. It looks to me that Michelski will be the 3rd (possibly 2nd if Pears does leave?) choice keeper to save a registration spot in the 25. Obviously depends if the Under 21's play on the same day as the seniors but concerned that could hamper his development if he's not playing as much. Although thinking about it there is a lot of under 21 games/competitions these days so sure he will play his fair share.

I've watched it all on BBC/ITV

He reckons two of them are still Kapaudi and Baradji. If they sell him on for a profit next summer, how is it a pointless signing?

It take it the women’s football is on TNT?

Philips would naturally have overtaken Carter in the squad had he stayed. When you have true progression and in perfect hindsight Carter would've been sold for 2/3 mill plus add ons and Phillips steps in. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that when injuries/agents/greed and pushy parents are in the mix as well but lessons need to be learned in tying boys to some sort of deal that benefits both. The rules for this need looking at as well otherwise the academy at its top level becomes pointless and too many kids just disappear into the big club system with a few more quid in their pockets and a promising career up in smoke.

Interesting to see Barrett with the under 21's yet we have four goalkeepers out in Spain including two younger than him in Michalski and Goddard. It made no sense in June when he got a two year deal (with another years option) and makes even less sense now.

But we didn’t sign batth the season before and with Phillips here likely wouldn’t have needed to or at least wouldn’t have been a priority