This back 4 seems to be our strongest. Interesting that they didn't play together once last season. I think if Nyambe and Lennihan had been fit all season, we'd have walked the top spot.

What a talent Armstrong is, looking like a bargain signing.

I think its quite common for clubs to send players out with an option to buy. If someone came in now for Gladwin and wanted an option to buy, we'd probably allow it just to get his wages off the books.

If we spend £6m on one player, I'd rather have someone who is ready to lead the team and be our best player from the go.

Is he going to play ahead of Graham/Dack if they are fit?

No point loaning a 19 year-old IMO. We had 18 yo Harper on loan from a PL club last season and that didn't go well.

Has anyone managed to download the Rovers 18/19 fixtures to an Android phone calendar? I’ve tried the link from the rovers website but it hasn’t worked. Managed to do it last season.

Raya Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Bell Evans Bennett Armstrong Dack Palmer Graham Picks itself.

Christ there's some dross on that list of Hodgson signings... I'd be happy for Chapman to come back on loan. I'm expecting 3 decent loans before the window closes. There will be big competition for places, but it is a long season and injuries will happen.

First off, I’ll hold my hands up and admit that Evans was one of our best players today. I’ve no problem with him starting if he carries on like that. Apart from that,we started nervously but played some good football second half. Every game is going to be tough this season but I think we’ve got some skilful players who will threaten. Desperately need a striker to help graham who wasn’t having any luck today.

No Williams. Never thought I'd see the day.

Beretton- I'd just be worried that there would be a lot of pressure riding on a 19 year old leading the line if Graham got injured.

Agreed - Evans was poor for most of last season (had the odd good game). Was also poor last time we were in the championship. I'd play Bennett and Smallwood. But Mowbray won't. I thought Travis had been a standout performer in pre-season? Seems to have been dropped now the season has started.

When you look back at that - and take into account the money brought in from sales - the lack of investment in players by Venkys is shocking. It's amazing that we're still competing just one league down from the Premiership with that little expenditure on transfer fees over the last 5 years.

Could have been worse: Dack/Lennihan are still here. The main positive is Armstrong. Apart from that pretty uninspiring and unless we get very lucky with loans I think we’re going to be bottom half also rans.

As it stands, we’re in for a very narrow formation. Who needs wingers anyway.

I'm not sure that spending £5million (lot of money for us) on a teenage striker to sit on the bench is a good idea. If Danny Graham gets injured we'd be left with a 19 year-old coming in to play upfront in potentially a Championship relegation fight. I doubt Forrest would let him go if he was that good.

I thought we had a new scouting department? Not doing their jobs if they are not identifying the right players, crucially who are available.

Any chance of off-loading Gladdis? (Caddis and Gladwin)

Absolutely.

Going to be carnage on here later when our only signing is £1m on a sub goalkeeper.

By far the worst thing about both home and away kits is the awful bright blue colour of the numbers on the back. It doesn't match anything else on the shirts and looks terrible. Why not just stick to black numbers to match the collar trim and sponsor colour??

Any wingers linked??

Its an impossible league to predict. I see that they have Norwich on there predicted as 14th, when they have been throwing a bit of cash about this summer (signed Marshall and Rhodes). Rovers will need to use our promotion momentum to over-achieve vs some of the massive budgets (Stoke, Boro) but there's not much between the teams outside the top 3/4 contenders.

Palmer looks a promising loan signing, will bring some muscle to the team as the Championship is a very physical league. On my wishlist are a pacey winger (Chapman ideally), versatile striker who can also play wide (Armstrong) and a proper center forward. Not asking a lot