RoverKyle

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.

As other posters have said, I don't think we'd miss Evans and Smallwood if they left. We've got quite a lot of cover in that area anyway. I'd be pretty pissed off if we sold Bennett though. He gives his all every game and he's very versatile. He'd be a massive miss.

Well that's up to Mowbray and above to decide. I'm a bit of a risk taker, so I'd be all over it for the potential upside, which lets not kid ourselves is huge. There's two factors we actually know nothing about. No one on here knows what his wage demands are. And no one really knows what Venky's are willing/able to afford in terms of running the club.

I've just said the same to someone today. The upside is massive. If he continues as is, he's probably no worse than what we had with Raya. Let's not forget, in between the mistakes this is a guy who's been playing at the top level basically his whole career. He's a good goalkeeper that has lost confidence.

I've always rated Adrian, so I'd be chuffed if we signed him. Good shot stopper and he's quite an imposing player. Shouldn't have any issues claiming crosses. He was dropped for Hart when West Ham signed him, but he soon won his place back when they realised he was better. He's the one I'd be after out of the three.

If he showed that sort of commitment on the pitch when he's been fit and played, you wouldn't have forgotten him. We've outgrown him. Should be one of the players we're touting around.

Certainly helps. Going off that list though, it looks like they've strengthened despite the player sales.

See the main point. Still plenty of time..

Looking through, you could argue that only the following clubs have properly strengthened so far. 3 weeks to go. Still plenty of time. Bristol City, Brentford, Forest, Stoke & Millwall.