I was being sarcastic, I.e the kind of cheap skate thing they’d do.

you posted this didn't you?

The Club Secretary forgot to press send for the request for a game, I heard.

Last pre season we played Tranmere behind closed doors at Brockhall on a Saturday afternoon and that was well publicised by the club. I think this summers effort is just down to rotten planning, and being caught out that league one/two start a week earlier than us.

Why would I have known about a secret game against Blackpool? And of course if we had they would have at least mentioned it. A midweek game in the middle of the season to help a player back to fitness, maybe they wouldn’t, but of course they would announce the final friendly regardless of the venue… come on Chaddy, it’s piss poor for a supposed Championship club.

Yeah - I don’t see Bamford as a VI type signing at all. Much more likely to join Eustace at Derby.

No I'm not saying there would be genuine interest just to be clear, it just ticks a few boxes that would make someone like Nixon or Nathan Jones say we're "working on a cut price deal to secure the services of him" that's all. In reality, maybe someone like Wrexham would take a punt, failing that I would be surprised if he went overseas somewhere.

I think we need the following, in this order assuming no sales of key players: 1) RW - Dolan replacement / better than Hedges (easy to find as both are average) 2) CB - We need one more. Carter is made of glass and Wharton early back from a long injury. 3) CM - Trav, Sonny, Tavares, +1 Fwiw - I don’t think we need another striker. I would be really inclined to put my trust in Yuki and big Mak who I think will get better after a year in the league and a full preseason.

because they don't, didn't you say the other week we had behind closed game against Blackpool, was that announce?

They could, but why wouldn’t they have announced it?

Could Rovers have a behind closed doors game organised for the 2nd of August but not announce anything? Fulham could be option for pre season game, They don't have a game that weekend.

We were linked to Bamford by some last year. Huge wages aside, his injury record was also pointed out as being poor since his glamour season in the prem

Under Eustace Bamford was a plausible link. Can't see any qualities in him whatsoever that Val would like though. Plus like you say we wouldn't entertain those wages anyway.

15% of sell on according to this piece today https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/35927483/adam-wharton-liverpool-transfer-tottenham/

It’s pre-season. I’ve seen us play appallingly throughout them… then first day, played well, and vice versa. Teams are at different stages of fitness so you have to take everything with a pinch of salt… case in point Celtic Park yesterday. Nobody picks up any injuries and minutes in the legs is what it’s all about regardless of results, but yes, despite all that, who wouldn’t rather see a win on a summer’s day, whatever the format.

Bamford has been told to find a new club, 30+, final year of his contract, it's the type of situation that would see our ears prick up (obviously the wages not so much). Wouldn't be surprised if you spot some ITK's banding his name about saying we're working on a deal blah blah blah in the coming weeks.....

I dont want to create an arsenal discussion but Saka, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri and to a lesser extent Martinelli are all 'home grown'

Duru still injured - fractured foot Vale was released Garrett played for the U21s last week, so may have played for them again yesterday, but yes, that would indicate he is surplus to requirements Unsure about Leonard - think I've seen him in training pics, maybe just being careful with him after his last couple of injuries? I wonder if James Edmondson may end up on loan at Forest Green in the National League? Robbie Savage is now their manager, and he had him on loan at Macclesfield last season and was very impressed with him

Arsenal may be harder to resist given their strong track record of promoting young talent. They have already signed Christian Norgaard, Kepa and Noni Madueke in the summer. From the article about Tyjon. That’s quite contradictory. Saying in one sentence that they have a strong record of promoting talent and now trying to to buy their way to the top. not many homegrown talents left in Arsenal. Most have gone elsewhere.

And in Toth gets injured? I'd rather have Pears on the bench than turn to the u21 keepers. Or have Pears available for transfer by being fit and someone else brought in. Nixon reporting this morning that Wharton stays with Palace, so no sell on for Pasha to look forward to yet.

The deal with the club is done so i imagine it will be a renegotiation of the players contract.

@K-Hod was anything mentioned in the FF about the poor planning of pre season this year? Ridiculous to not have a game for two weeks before the season starts

Nevermind ‘ambition’, ‘or we should increase gates by doing x’, ‘there’s an opportunity to do y’. They aren’t now even fulfilling the absolute basics of running a professional football club… and that’s doing a disservice for non-pro clubs who will be able to organise a friendly for the weekend before the season kicks off.

As it stands right now Rovers will have from July 25th to August 9th without a match. Going two weeks immediately before the season without a game is poor and will surely affect Ismaels preparations. I think there will be something hastily arranged but pretty much every Premier League team are fixed up and Leagues One and Two start on August 2nd. That narrows it down to a non league opponent or going into Europe which I don't think is ideal the week before the season starts. Poor from Rovers.

Pay as you play? I presume that will be to his club not the player? As much as a like the idea of the signing, his injury must be pretty risky if we're offering offers like that. Cant see the parent club accepting that tbh.