Is he though really? He prefers to run with the ball than pass it. He's too "head down" to be a true CM in my opinion I think technique wise he could make CM - he can pass pretty well when he wants to, and has really good feet. But the way he moves around the pitch so freely and every time he receives the ball he wants to turn and run - sometimes quite blindly - is a real issue which he hasn't broken out of in 2 years. I cant really see that much of a future for him at Rovers to be honest. Obviously talented but lacks a clear role and path forward.

I would say Downing was in our top 5 performers last season so would definitely retain him. Obviously Tony is a huge fan. It's very odd that deal hasn't happened. Maybe his agent wants two years but we will only offer one? But that would be crazily ambitious from him. Or maybe an embargo on signing players without resale value? Anyone know?

Come on surely Tugay is number two after Shearer. Thought Duff was great, but Tugay was next level.

With Kipre you would think there is as much upside to that deal as an attacking player. Decent chance of making a significant improvement on an initial investment of £1.5m.

With Kaminski landing things are looking up. If we could get Cunningham and Kipre plus an experienced CB and a promising GK that would be a very good window compared to what I expected a week ago.

This is great news. Sharpe tweeted that we are targeting 2 GK, 2 CB, 1 LB which for my money is exactly right. If we can sign real quality and can keep the squad together that would kick us on and make us genuine playoff challengers. Only quibble I would have is he said once we fill the above we may look at midfielders. But for me after the GK/defence next stop should bringing in an improved striker and get one of Brereton and Gallagher out the door

I agree the whole Gallagher/Brereton on the wing thing has been an absolute abject failure. I however think Mowbray loves it and we will see plenty more of it. Interestingly today suggested he may actually try some wingers, but I am not hopeful.

I would say having better striking options would be good, but way down the pecking order compared to gk and defenders. As it stands we are going to play one up front but have 3 first team strikers (Armstrong, Gallagher, Brereton) and two young players knocking on the door (Vale, Butterworth). In terms of numbers that's fine. Main issue is Brereton and Gallagher have been very very poor to date, so need to seriously step up.

If he's another attacking centre mid surely we are selling someone? We've got four already - Dack, Holtby, Rothwell, Buckley. Maybe to allow Dack to move on?

On the surface of it quite promising. He was first choice for Genk who finished second in Belgium top league. Displaced recently though.

Does this mean we can actually start the links thread?

Ive started feeling a creeping dread we are about to go the way of Wigan and Bolton very quickly. So not enthused at all.

I would take Armstrong over him any day. Armstrong scores goals out of virtually nothing - probs half his goals last season were like that. Dack is more about the interplay and partnerships. If we're on the back foot the is less likely to produce something. That said our big hope this season is that we can keep both and get a good partnership out of them. I could see it working with Armstrong up top and Dack in the hole. Does beg the question though of what to do with Gallagher and Brereton. The obvious answer is to desperately try and sell at least one of them. I think Butterworth and Vale will offer us more.

Funny as it's sadly so close to the bone. Best side we can probably put out is as follows : -------------------------Fisher Nyambe----Lenihan-----Williams-----Bell -----------------Travis----------Evans --------Holtby-------Dack-------Rothwell ----------------------Armstrong Subs : GK???, Carter, Bennett, Johnson, Buckley, Rankin-Costello, Gallagher Got a decent - if very narrow - front line but defence and keeper is absolutely shocking.

The three players we absolutely have to keep are Armstrong, Lenihan and Dack in that order. If one has to go I would go for Dack as we have Holtby, Rothwell and Buckley who can all play that role. If Armstrong goes we have no decent strikers. If Lenihan goes we have no decent defenders. Perilous situation.

Just looking at this rationally what will actually have changed by October? Unless the population is significantly vaccinated by then (highly doubtful) nothing, and with the colder months coming and people spending more time indoors there will almost certainly be an increase of infections. October is likely to be more risky than now which makes this statement bizarre. I think it's all wishful thinking. For fans to be able to get back into the stadiums we either need 1) An effective vaccine or treatment that removes/minimises the risks 2) Accept the risks of increased transmission and deaths that come with it (which to me seems incredibly unlikely to happen)

That's probably our best lineup at the moment but suffers from extreme narrowness. Also I'd have Evans over Johnson though when fit (a rare occurrence). A "best we can do" side missing three players, which has three number 10s in it, and excludes two strikers who cost us a combined £12m tells you everything you need to know.

Yes, plus he's a guy who thrives on crosses. We are hardly going to be providing that with Brereton and Gallagher running up and down the wings.....

I don't know - it will be a major reason to hugely reduce the budget I think. It'll spook the finance guys massively and they will recommend minimising all spending.

I guess they are trying to keep people employed. Plenty of companies are doing it and I fully support it.

I reckon our chances (and anyone relying on ticket receipts) of spending any money this season has just taken a huge blow. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53556072 We may well be weeing with the willy we have.

Even if he's brilliant I would really think carefully about spending 2m on a central midfielder when we have so many of them and it's the area where we already have the best quality.

Yeah I'd be thinking 442 and try and get Armstrong and Gallagher to form a partnership to get the best out of both of them. But then you're left with what to do with Dack, Holtby, Rothwell and Buckley. The squads balace is a joke. Too many central players who are compromised by having to play some of them wide.

I don't really agree with this. We conceded a lot of goals this year - and while definitely the majority of the blame sits with a poor keeper and fullbacks Tosin was okay but not first rate defensively, he got beat in the air a few times and pulled out of position from time to time. If he stayed I would be fine with it, but there are improvements we could make there as we need to bring someone else into the team.

I know Tosin's a pretty rare centreback at Championship level but I wouldn't say its critical to get someone with his technical skills. A blood and thunder defender who gets his head on everything, has pace and is positionally good would would arguably be an improvement over him. That shouldnt be too hard to find (I hope). Id take that over a passer whose positionally weak or poor in the air any day.