First game for a while where I've been able to get down (thankfully a lot of Yorkshire clubs in the championship). Think it will be a close game but hoping we will nick it 2-1. Mulgrew and Dack to score. Heard it here first.

For me I'd really like to think think Trapp bloke from the MLS is still on the cards. At the moment we are playing a formation where we don't have the players for that two infront of the defence. Evans is an all rounder but doesn't have the bite to be a destroyer in there and doesn't have the vision to be a deep playmaker.

We need someone of the Jermaine Jones/the axe/Savage style to sit along a more creative player. I have never seen Trapp play but hope he could be this deep lying playmaker role. Then for now I'd say Smallwood is most appropriate to provide the 'bite' despite questions as to whether he can cut it at this level.

Call me boring but I'd take Trapp, Bauer + one more over brereton (though that might cost more in wages long term)

I'm still intrigued by rothwell after the last 2 appearances. Stupid question but what actually is he? What's his natural position? Is he capable of doing the stuff when we're out of possession as well for those that saw him in midweek or is that why we were defensively weak?

If we get both then we've got 2 young strikers, likely to improve, and surely with good resale values. I definitely think as the other poster suggested they will be used as wingers / inside forwards.

Makes you wonder what his plan for Armstrong is. The comments the other day suggested he might get a chance down the centre but surely that's less likely now.

Also probably means Bennett will be utilised more as a midfielder?

I still worry about the cb situation. Really feel you need 4 going into a season if we're not counting williams (which we probably shouldn't at this level). Does wharton have a recall clause in his loan? Worst case scenario at least we'd be developing our own player should we get a few injuries and not sign anyone.

Hey guys. This guy is banging them in in the Saudi A league and this YouTube video proves it. Think his name is carlos villa-something. Go get him TM. 

(seriously though, some of the defending in that video I think I could score) 

1 hour ago, Neal said:

Christ, just trawled back 5 pages thinking we'd signed Brereton way folk are going on. ?

Based on the last transfer thread we should have some news by page 150

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Wasn't it in the papers that Sunderland were linked with him going there on loan ? It'd be a bit of a strange move with Cattermole already being there. Maybe they could fill in for each other when they get suspended !

Isn't cattermole linked with a move to France or something (honestly I'm not joking) 

Hard to compare this lad with the Armstrong signing as, I think we all know, we absolutely did Newcastle over with that one! 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44850888

Apologies if its already been posted. Comparing revenue from the 2016-17 season of all the English league clubs.

May not surprise you to hear that we had the second highest wage overspend in English football (147% of turnover) marginally behind Bolton.

Also you look at our turnover in 2016/17 compared to all the other championship clubs and we really are bottom of the food chain even back before a relegation.

Would be interesting to see the same figures for the current season. Surely we've slashed our wage budget.

Part of me thinks it's almost a certainty that the loans are going to be Chapman and Gallagher.

However, the two bids on transfer deadline day make me think TM has more irons in the fire than we give him credit for. Here's hoping.

Saying that Chapman and Gallagher would be worth signing ideally with a perm option so we can test them out again first. They both have obvious talent and are young and a try before you buy option is no bad thing.

Might just be me but on the website I can't see any tickets for this game.

Surely not sold out already?

Just now, West Yorks Rover said:

All Millwall atm apparently.

Yep, we've barely had the ball so far. They've just hit the post with a decent effort. Look a tidy team. 

6 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

Ok, here’s my wish list for 5pm.

- Chapman (£1.5m)

- Striker (loan with view to perm)

- Big money (£4m) creative midfielder 

CB cover? 

Some of the players this club has picked out of obscurity in the last (not so recent) few years. You've got to think between dack, Armstrong, Chapman (if) and Gallagher (if) there's at least one future big player there.

I'm all pro this new transfer policy both on a gambling on success on the pitch front and an investment front. 

One worry with all these bids. Can all these newcomers have been vetted in the personality dept. Ie are they appropriate for the squad dynamic and the happy dressing room that took us so far last season? 

1 hour ago, Angry_Pirate said:

The Freeman article made me laugh:

Apparently QPR have a reputation of buying cheap and selling for big profit, they signed Les Ferdinand for £30k and sold him for £6m don't you know....

Yeah, 20+ years ago ?

See Niko Kalinic is now Atletico Madrids new £13m signing and gets to partner Diego Costa and have service from Griezmann, Lemar, Koke, Saul etc. Who saw that coming, honestly.

I still wonder whether he has an identical, more talented, twin

11 minutes ago, FGS5635 said:

I cant imagine that is allowed after the deadline, as in essence that is a permanent signing

But if they are technically on loan until Jan.....

Its like a future performance clause except you could put something like 'play one game and clause activated in january' 

Anyone know how binding loan deals can be. As in can the selling club make it 100% that a player will be bought in Jan or could the buying club always wiggle their way out of it or try to change the terms if they underperform? 

Not something I know much about. 

Celtic have matched villa's offer for Mcginn (2.75m)

https://readceltic.com/2018/08/08/celtic-make-improved-mcginn-bid-to-rival-villa/

We are almost certainly out of this one

From the LET article from yesterday re outgoings-

“There have been a few enquiries for players who I think may be on the fringes of our team,” Mowbray said.

“I have said to all of my players that I won’t force anyone out of the building unless I believe they are bad human beings or are being disrespectful to the group and I don’t have any of those players.

“Everyone has the right to take control of their career, so if a career opportunity comes up and they feel they will get more game-time somewhere else then that’s fine.

“If it’s right for them to move on then they will, if it’s not and they want to stay here and fight for their jersey and try and get in our team then that’s fine by me as well.”

We talk about the team togetherness being a big factor in last seasons success. TM is clearly just a top man manager. You can't say it any fairer than the above quote. Fills you with confidence that players are going to want to play for him and to come here and do so.

This is all very confusing. Seems to me we could all be barking up the wrong tree here as in are we actually going to play a 4231 formation and has Armstrong definitely been signed to play as one of the wider attackers?

Of the midfielders we have perhaps there are more that TM thinks can play in the more advanced positions hence why we are looking to improve on evans/smallwood.

Something just doesn't add up!

35 mil is mad but I guess in this market. Watched him play last night against Hull and although I don't like him much due to his past demeanors I have to say I think he can step up. Think he would slot in with spurs play style very well as part of the 3 behind kane though only as a bit part player. Doubt he will dislodge eriksson, son or dele anytime soon (until son goes to the Asian games). 

Let's be honest if you were Mcginn you'd always choose villa over rovers at this current time especially if grealish was leaving a gap in the starting 11 for you. 

As long as we prioritise a CF and a CB in the next few weeks I'll be happy. 

Just now, AAK said:

Not sure pal, just heard on the radio, confirming he's down at spurs having a medical for a fee believed to be in the region of £35 million

Plugged their deficit with 1 player. Madness. Shame about Mcginn as he will probably be worth a lot more in a few years as well so it's shrewd business by them. 

10 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

Coldplay was one of them.

Vydra was another though I haven't seen him play for a while I seem to remember him being a bit lightweight and probably not the kind of attacker we are looking for. Especially since we have now bought Armstrong. 

If we fail to get Bauer I'm pretty sure the young lad at spurs Carter Vickers hasn't got a loan move yet (though if alderwield goes he might be needed). He was decent for Ipswich last season. 

I still think looking at that batch of Derby players someone posted a few pages ago, that clearly aren't going to get a game, there must be someone we can poach in there either on the cheap or test them out on loan. 

(sorry, can't be bothered scrolling back trying to find it) 

I agree the trend is toward mobile attacking midfielders/'inside forwards' and if we are going to play this it makes Graham even more vital. He is literally the pivot that all 3 will be running off/looking for knockdowns from. No cover for Graham by 31st of August and we'll be in trouble.