I don't think you mean to say what you have. If it was a sight for sore eyes, what you saw in the second half was pleasing. Sorry for being pedantic!

I'd have been happy with Forster and Skrtel (although I did think they seemed very unlikely at the time they were mentioned). I'd pass on Sinclair. Struggles to get a game for Celtic nowadays. He's not at the level he used to be.

I literally know nothing about him. Is he meant to be any good?

Sorry if it's been covered earlier in the thread, but have you revealed who the goalkeeper target was that we were trying to bring in? I assume it wasn't Walton and we might've missed out on them.

Personally I don't buy these comments and I mean no offence by that. In his signing interviews Downing specifically talked about how he likes Mowbray's (perceived) attacking style and that it would bring more out of him than his previous manager did (I'm sure that was Pulls and Karanka before that?). Sounds like he wants to get as far as away as possible from being a more defensive player. That's not to say he won't play more defensive from time to time. After all, we know Mowbray loves playing people out of position.

Alan Judge for a third time? No thanks.

Completely fair comment. I just wouldn't use his limited performances for us in League 1 two seasons ago as a stick to beat him with. He's apparently had a good season in League 1 since and turned up in pre season looking an improved player.

There is such a thing as development you know.. I haven't been impressed by him either when I've seen him, but I'm happy to reserve a bit of judgement on him until I've seen him play again. He's hardly had any opportunities for us to date. By all accounts he's been playing well in pre season and people who have actually seen him play live this pre season seem to think he could be a viable option at left back. Seems strange that you would outright dismiss that.

I'm fairly pleased with the Walton signing, if not a little underwhelmed. All the big names we seemed to be linked with and we've ended up signing a young (but promising) lad on loan. I think it speaks volumes though that Brighton see him as a potential number 1 (seen this pop up a few times on twitter). Seems to have done a decent job at Wigan.

What an awful away shirt. Can't see many people buying that!

They play with a high press. None of the front three play in the traditional striker role. Mane and Salah play as wide forwards and often cut inside, whilst Firmino plays as a false 9 linking the midfield trio to the front line. We sort of have the players to play the system, but not in terms of quality obviously. Dack would be the most likely to play the Firmino role, which I can see, but only if he does play deeper, allowing the two wide forwards to play more centrally. The natural fits for that role would be Gallagher and Armstrong; capable of playing wide, whilst also having the fire power to score goals through the middle (we hope).

AAK/Dreams of 1995. Excellent posts, both of you. I've no issues with the signings made so far. In fact I'm really pleased, as long as we bring in a good keeper and centre half. It's quite clear that we were lacking a bit of nous last season. Even just focussing on the times Graham was rested/injured/was subbed last season, we struggled to make an impact up front. It didn't work out for Brereton unfortunately, but I can't see Gallagher having the same issues in regards to influencing the game. We've seen first hand what he's about. His signing in isolation instantly makes us a tougher proposition next season.

Apologies if you're ITK, but this post reads like pure guess work. Have you actually heard this from someone reliable?

As in that's who you've heard is in talks? I'd be happy with that.

It's £3 per ticket for category A & B games (so effectively all of them). They've promised further discounts for the two category A+ games, but haven't disclosed that information yet. So I'll be able to get a ticket for £22 or £25, depending on who we play. Unless the discount is massive for the category A+ games, I won't be going to those because £40 is ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure he made a thinly veiled dig at Mulgrew in regards to injuries around the time we were really struggling. I think it was around the time they seemed to be having a club v country debate.

I personally feel like he got that Palace move in spite of his performances here. More than willing to give him a chance if he is someone we're after. He might feel as though he's got some unfinished business here, if he does come back. Yakubu was a class above. Sickens me that we relegated despite him scoring so many. Shows how poor our defending was that season. Agree with the point about height. My girlfriend always finds it funny that we have a team of 'midgets'.

I've had the 1875 membership for the last two seasons (when I also had a season ticket). I travel to the games by myself from Liverpool, but it was handy to have for the ticket discount whenever my partner fancied coming to a game. The initial club cash off my shirt purchase effectively offset the membership cost before that anyway. I'm not renewing this season, so I've bought the membership to make use of the discount on the games I can make at Ewood, as well as to get the slight priority on away tickets before they go on general sale.

Agreed, we were awful then. He was brought in for decent money though and with a really good reputation from his time at Birmingham. Completely failed to reproduce the form here.

Wasn't impressed by Scott Dann when we had him. Plenty of Prem experience though and you'd imagine he'd be a good player at Championship level. Would be interesting to see how he got on.

Ampadu would be an amazing signing. He's another centre mid though isn't he...

It's hard to make a judgement on that before a ball has even been kicked. The players seem to have bought into the playoff push rhetoric this season though, so why would anyone coming in think otherwise? He might well be able to get more money in the US, but in terms of league quality, he'd be better off in the Championship. Depends what he values more; his football or his bank balance.

Screams Joe Hart to me.

I completely understand the concerns over Chapman, but I'd rather have 20 games where I could call on him, than not have him available at all (i.e. if we'd not signed him). He's brilliant. Given his probable low salary and transfer fee, he's worth having IMO. I think the risk on our end has greatly reduced as well with the additions of Downing and Gallagher. Downing as a potential option out wide and Gallagher as a genuine contender to replace Graham, leaving the likes of Armstrong available to play out wide.

Liverpool link there as well with Gerrard. Could be right with that.