That's why Armstrong would be good signing because he can cover about 3 positions in attack because he has some pace and is quite direct. I'm a big believer in horses for courses and would prefer genuine wingers with pace but you can get away with Armstrong there, also a counter attacking set up with him spearheading is one that wasn't used enough imo. He'd be worth a bit of investment on that lot alone.

Sam Gallagher is available... to compete with Graham! Would fit our system as lone striker!

“Minor Niggle” is code word for in negotiations with another club.

The amount of people who have said I don't watch England there shite etc etc all through qualification usually armchair united and Liverpool fans have come out in force since the Colombia result. The same ones that where out in force for the champions league final and fa cup but didn't bother with the earlier rounds. I think there is more than one way to support a club and they get there enjoyment out football differently to us. They use it as a social thing to have a pint without investing into the club. Rovers to me is like a family member. Will always be there through good and bad and love it. Couldn't be with out it. They can't understand traveling to Ipswich on a Tuesday night and going straight work. They think I'm mental.they don't understand it and I don't understand how you can scream at the tv with such passion in a final and then not bother watching your team against Brighton the week after. Suppose it would be boring if we where all the same.

I’m currently planning podcasts for 2018/19 season & I have been inspired by another podcast that I listen to, namely Malcolm Gladwell’s “Revisionist History”. In it, Gladwell takes a conventional idea or thought & looks at it more closely, from a different angle, usually challenging received wisdom. I am therefore toying with the idea of a “Revisionist Rovers” item for future podcasts.... if anyone out there has an idea & would like to get involved - in other words is prepared to construct a case for what might be a left-field, unconventional or potentially even downright unpopular view & is prepared to come on the pod (in some format to be agreed) to present it, please get in touch. I am NOT looking for deliberately contrarian, shock-jock positions e.g. “Alan Shearer was grossly overrated” will probably not pass muster, unless you are REALLY good at advocacy...? The sort of thing I’m looking for would be, for instance (NB I don’t necessarily subscribe to any of these views for clarity...they are just to give you a flavour...?): Zinedine Zidane would not have improved Rovers midfield had he signed in the 90’s David Dunn should never have re-signed from Birmingham as he never fulfilled his potential Sam Allardyce’s football was so ugly, Venky’s were correct to sack him Signing Danny Murphy made sense at the time, knowing what we knew then ...hopefully you get the idea...! Is there something in Rovers’ history that has always bugged you because you see it differently from most of your mates ? Do you carry an unpopular opinion around & have always wanted to unburden ? This might be your chance ? The mechanics & logistics of how we will do it will be worked through once I know if we have enough contributors & good ideas to make it worthwhile. It could be an interview, it could be a first person piece, it could be a written article narrated by someone else if you don’t fancy sharing your dulcet tones....that can be worked through. If you have an idea, please contact me by PM’ing me on here, or on Twitter using the @brfcs.com handle please....let’s see if we can create audio gold ?

Think youre being very harsh here and are writing off this tournament too easily. Totally get the need to also look at further tournaments but expectations DO change dependant on the draw, in this instance, a very favourable one, no matter how you dress it up, and it is a chance to get far, albeit winning it will be unlikely. I expected quarter finals based on the draw, but things do change, I expected Brazil/Germany in the quarter finals, not Sweden. If we go out tomorrow to Sweden, people will be understandably very frustrated because we are rightfully the favourites tomorrow. Not ashamed like they have been in the past, but looking at the opposition and the chance it represents of realistically getting to a semi final, it would be a kick in the teeth. Swedens front 2 is Ola Toivonen, a far from prolific 32 year old playing in France, and Marcus Berg, a 31 year old playing in the UAE. Their star player is Emil Forsberg who is a big danger, but alongside him, other team mates include Seb Larsson who recently played for Hull. No matter how you downplay it, the calibre and ability in our team far exceeds theirs ON PAPER, I am well aware that it doesnt work like that, and it wont be easy, they are no mugs, but its not ignorance or arrogance to see tomorrows winnable, albeit far from easy match, as alot more than a chance to gain some experience. The paragraph in bold is not right either, if we won the World Cup theres not a chance it would be anything but wildly celebrated.

England will never have a better chance...do they want it enough?

Maguire does that all the time

I think this is why it feels so different this time. We're supporting a team again instead of a bunch of egos.

I can’t imagine supporting a club where unmitigated success is just the expectation, how can you truly appreciate it then?

I stand corrected....said the man in the orthopaedic shoes. 2-1...Game on!

Maybe they're saving up to sign Jordan Rhodes?

Looking into his spells at Barnsley and Coventry and he didnt get many goals or assists at either club. That said, he was very young (as he still is) and he seems highly rated at Liverpool so I would be open minded. That said, if he was our only wide addition, we would be screwed, if he was one of 2 or 3 wide additions he might well improve us. All depends on the bigger picture. One thing he certainly isnt is a presence up front. His height may fool people but hes one of the weakest forwards ive seen in a Rovers shirt and his hold up is non existent. Towards the end of his last spell he was played wide. In the phrase "scored a few," few is the operative word, 17 in 89 in the Championship surely isnt the calibre we want at the club. Yes, he played for us before so I can understand the familiarity and the popularity of the suggestion to the extent, but there has to be better out there. Im sure Mowbray wont be signing based on sentimentality.

Gallagher isn't going to get a look in at Southampton I wouldn't have thought and I thought I'd heard he was approaching the final year of his contract. If so I'd expect he'd be available for purchase. Young, a presence up front, knows the club, knows the Championship, scored a few in a poor struggling side last time round. Could do a lot worse. Speculate to accumulate. At his age barring an injury disaster the likelihood is he will increase in value which should tick the Venky criteria.

Under a proper manager too.

I feel there is a difference between being priced out of the market at 2 million for any player, and not being willing to pay 2 million for a League One centre half with 12 months left on their deal.

Old kit for the first two friendlies... https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/july/club-statement-kit-release/ As an aside, remember the days when kits were kept for 2 seasons as standard?

Out of position ?

I thought it was a left winger playing on the right wing (or vice versa) so that they cut in on their strong foot to shoot instead of crossing from the byline.

'inverted winger' - football term for someone who is similar to others you have so you have to find a name for him to sound a bit more technical ?

There was a period in the mid-00's when I went off the national team. I found it difficult to support the likes of Terry, Ashley Cole, Rooney, etc. Supporting England is much easier now that those types of characters are gone.

Whilst I am definitely Rovers before I'm England, I still very much enjoy any success of the England National Football Team in the same way I enjoy Rovers!

Listening to some of the Man Yoo/Liverpool 'fans' in the office, going absolutely potty about England - much more than I've ever heard them when it comes to 'their' club, just shows how unattached to these megaclubs they really are. Made me feel quite smug that I really support a proper/local football club with its accompanying highs and lows, that feeling of being really part of something, they only get a taste of our lives for a few weeks every other summer...

Then imagine if we didn't........ Lol. Long way to go yet in my book. 2 young lads in who appear from TM's comments to give here to provide competition for places in the squad at this stage as opposed to being automatic starters, no new contract for Dack yet and none of the real priority positions addressed for me ........yet. May all happen of course but until it does still much to do and far too early to be talking about play offs etc.

I stand by that Chapman is far too big of a risk. I know hes a talent and hes popular but his injuries are seemingly going to be an ongoing concern. Hopefully Mowbray looks elsewhere.

Lots of talk about Sterling - Alli has been worse for me (he doesn't look fit). I'd leave Sterling in and put Loftus-Cheek in for Alli, who I think has been good when he's had the chance. Maybe Rashford if we really want to have a go at the Swedes. Oh, and how come no-one has mentioned Ashley Young? He's been very poor IMO - nothing good, either offensively or defensively has come down our left side - and the set-pieces he's taken have been very hit and miss (mainly miss). We've got two vastly superior options in Rose and Delph both fit and ready, one of them deserves a chance.

Bit touchy there mate. It wasn't aimed at you unless it was you who came up with the link?

Sorry quite right. Let’s see what happens tomorrow. I have us as underdogs hopefully we can cause another upset.

All jokes aside and all that - we have been on the end of many and its not nice, this does not bode well for them. Attracting players will now become almost impossible and should these issues linger into the season as well... For us, it looks like it might be one less team to worry about finishing above.

I think most at the start of the WC, with the draws - most of us would have expected a minimum of getting out of the group. Reaching the QF is now somewhat better than most would have expected. Sure, we have a chance to go further than we have done in a very long time and who knows, even make a final and have a chance at winning it - but wahtever happens tomorrow, the kids have done better than the minimum that was expected in my opinion.

Shocking finishing by Brazil and top keeping by Courtois saved Begium's arse. Martinez is a jammy sod.

Neymar is so easy to dislike. Diving cheat who was really poor tonight. The best Brazil player by far this tournament has been Coutinho.

Ball was going out of play. He was never going to catch it. However at the point of impact it's not over the line so it's a penalty. I know this because I rewound it and played it back in slow mode and freezed it. Its a pity the officials can't do that. Oh wait.....

2.5 million loan fee brokered by Darren Dein yes David’s son and family friend and ex SEM colleague of Jerome of Barnet

N’zonzi coming on for France now. Crazy to see a player we signed nearly 10 years ago for about half a million go on to represent one of the best teams in the World Cup.

Needs to be on an exciting winger who can give us a big threat, Maddison would be ideal. Someone who can give us pace and flair in a position where we are totally bereft of anyone. Do need a striker too to be fair but if Graham was starting the season id be moderately happy.

Ha ha you moan about it only being a quid then move the goal posts !!!! All bets are off ?

I think Uruguay will struggle up front tonight without Cavani, so can see this one going to penalties, especially if France fail to break through what is probably the strongest defence in the competition. Cant wait for the Belgium v Brazil game later tonight though, as it promises to be an absolute cracker. Have to stay up til 5am to watch it, but think it will be worth it!

We'll see, I think they are spreading what money they have in bolstering the squad. Maybe reading too much into the comments as is the norm around here but the tone goes from 'adding quality' - 'hit the ground running' - 'improve on what we have' to 'strengthen in all areas' -'strength in depth' type comments. Doesn't mean they don't have offers in for players but the longer it goes those deals shrink away and I think the market we are in with the spending we can do it'll end up with a few more Rothwell type deals than a Dack or a Mulgrew. Positive side is they are still bringing potential good players in whereas in the past it's just been nothing then a bit of a panic scramble to get bodies for the sake of it.

Based on what? The fact we are relatively slow signing players suggests to me that Mowbray is trying to get the right ones, players who will improve the starting 11.

From LT reporter Alex James Rovers boss Tony Mowbray says he is still looking to strengthen in all areas. Nothing imminent but plenty of work going on behind scenes. #rovers

There's no point him being a journalist any more, given his recent success rate.....

Perhaps he just didn't want to show off.

I’m never overly invested through the qualifying stages admittedly then get fully on board at tournament time. Although I have to admit that it’s so much easier now we don’t have the likes of Rooney, Terry and Gerrard in there. It doesn’t help that qualifiers disrupt the flow of the normal football season. Absolutely loving all the ‘it’s coming home’ memes

Need to see how he gets on in pre season, hopefully he does well and catches Mogga's eye. Evans shouldn't be an automatic starter, far from it in fact.

Oh. As you were then.

Chapman missed training today, good player but he's made of glass.

Until this year, Germany have been experts at playing poorly in the early rounds but always scraping through and then getting better as the tournament progresses. It's one reason why they've been widely admired (and reviled) for so long and been so successful. I'd be quite happy if England scabbed it (so to speak) all the way to the final. Brazil have always done well too despite having some mediocre teams by their standards. Knowing how to play tournament football is as important as having a talented squad of players, and if Southgate has found the way when many others have failed all kudos to him.

A 10 quid donation scheme to re-establish the official forum? Seems some people miss the safe space it created