To me that's an example of where it didn't work out. We failed to sign a proper centre back and settled for what is in hindsight an expensive stop gap. We signed tosin on a decent wage and played a loan fee of over 1 million pounds. He was great in that year, I really rated him but what did we have to show for it? No asset to sell at the end, another place in the squad to fix in the next summers window driving more resources away from other areas. If we'd have finished anywhere near the playoffs that season then it wouldve been worth it but we didn't. See Douglas last season. See the panic loan of Walton the season before.

The way these deals are weighted means its very cheap if the player starts every game. But if he doesn't we will pay a lot more of his salary.

Felt sorry for dolan today. Played as the centre forward against a huge back line and all we did was hoof the ball up to him. Its said a lot but should be said more that gallagher playing that deep on the football pitch is still bizarre. He's not half as bad a player as mowbray tries to make him. He has pace but doesn't have the tight ball control to beat players in those positions so why he continually is asked to do so is beyond me. Was very vocal in criticism of the back 5 vs morcombe on Tuesday but it worked better here and gave us more of a platform to complete. Some other thoughts: Rothwell played well and is becoming very important so let's hope that knock isn't too serious. Butterworth showed some spark which he didn't show on Tuesday and I think there's a player in Carter, he may not be the finished article but he is certainly ready to compete at this level and compete he does, he is very much up for the battle. I'm still not convinced brereton will get us a ton of goal from open play but he today attempted to take the weight of the team on shoulders and wants to be the main man which is good to see.

Ideally we sign a long term fix at centre half and send both out on loan. Mowbray hasn't done that before so it's unlikely he will do it now. So it's likely it will be another premier league loan. Could be costly like tosin or could be someone very young and raw like branthwaite. Ideally we need 4 centre half's. Lenihan is prone to an injury and suspension and ayala is rivalled by vince grella in his injury proneness. Wharton is coming back from a serious injury and probably won't be available till October at the earliest. Nyambe can play centre half but there isn't another right back in the squad. Carter needs to stay at ewood till January, the most important thing is having cover, he will likely get game time here which will aid his development. Magloire might not be upto standard but he needs replacing. I just don't see the point in bringing in a premier league loan. A short term fix at best, at worst you are losing points developing someone else's player. One of the reasons I renewed my season ticket was the hope of watching us develop our own players. We ain't getting playoffs or better so as long as we don't go down then now is the time to do it. I think Mowbray should put a little more faith in Carter.

Probably go with the same team from Saturday or one change being bring Davenport in to give more solidity in midfield. Not sure who I would sacrifice for that though

The frustration is we went fullish strength and went out. I for one wouldn't be critical at all if we had played Pike, cirino, davenport, mcbride, etc. So we only managed to learn one or two things. Carter looks ready to me to play a part. Looked comfortable on the ball, confident and physically ready too. Magloire probably isn't quite upto standard. I doubt we will see him again, some instances of good defending but looked out of place especially with his distribution. Butterworth didn't show anything at all last night which is a shame as his cameo vs Swansea was very promising. Pickering does some things well, he can cross for example but will need time to get upto the pace of things, can tell he is used to doing things a bit slower. He also won't be the most dynamic full back in the world.

Not for me on McBride. Good at under 23 level but I don't think there is enough there to step up to championship level. For example I think Nuttall was a better prospect and he's ended up nowhere near.

So obafemi in on a permanent- for me a good move but some obviously debating that. My money is that if he does sign mowbray will play him out wide because you know mowbray. Reda Khadra on loan from Brighton. Cover out wide. Any additional money from the armstrong sale that isn't going to newcastle or to cover the debts should then be put towards securing the futures of Kaminski, Lenihan, Brereton, Nyambe, Rothwell (my guess is the later two won't sign a new deal anyway). Then what else do we need? Looks like the plan is to get premier league youngsters on loan. Hate this plan for a few reasons (problem next season when they go, blocking our own lads development to develop someone else's talent) but it is what it is. One I wouldn't mind too much would be Clarkson from Liverpool simply because he's a rover. Centre Half. Weve got magloire, carter, and in a couple of months Wharton. Really we should use this to see how good they are. But a centre half in as cover makes sense because at of our current 5 options are either injured, injury prone or unproven. Cover for either fullback? Or give gametime to cirino and Pike if needs be. Hope JRC stays fit and use him to cover both. Another option in centre mid? Possibly Clarkson or Doyle from city going by the links in the media. Do we need another striker/attacking option or should we rely on the unproven and injury prone Chapman and Butterworth?

He looks like Borats manager

If we get obafemi out of this I would be very happy. Much better than getting a loan in.

I'd be to protect those players who we couldn't do without. I'd risk it personally Kaminski Pike carter magloire Cirino Garrett davenport Chapman butterworth McBride Gallagher

Getting someone half decent in return also helps us stay up this season. As we are all aware taking armstrongs goals out of this rovers team leaves us very suspecticle to relegation

For me the preference has to be a deal involving obafemi or Idah. 3 reasons, first it lowers the amount paid to newcastle as a %. Secondly i don't think we would be able to get anyone better on what looks likely to be a free transfer. And thirdly it gives us a tangible asset for to develop and sell once mowbray eventually goes. With the finances as they are it appears the club would prefer the cash.

This is bugging me too

Where did he play out of interest? Happens with a lot of younger players, have talent but it needs moulding into a proper footballer. I must say he looks a real prospect.

About the same amount as home season ticket holders. interesting to see wigan have sold 6k season tickets in 3 weeks

That last half hour team looks very weak. Very little depth. I suppose we are missing dolan gallagher brereton johnson Wharton JRC but it's lacking so much depth.

Apparently Southampton have put a 2nd bid for armstrong. Cash plus Sam mcqueen.

Wasn't the samba transfer a bit of a fluke. His agent was supposed to send Emile Mpenza for a trial they sent Samba instead so we stuck him with the reserves to train. Then they quickly realised he had serious talent.

Personally would be gutted to see Rothwell go. He gets me out my seat. Its going to be a tough season next year ad we will need all the entertainment we can.

I think your right. We won't get enough of the fanbase on board to make it worthwhile.

I agree with you. NAPM wouldn't affect them really. Really you need a way to affect their business india, that would get there attention but I've no idea how to do that.

I don't think how we do will be determined by the squad selection. There's nobody he's left out that would've made any difference with the possible exception of the backup cbs in the case that maguire doesn't recover. It will all come down to his team selection. Maguire needs to be fit as if he isn't I can see him reverting to 5 at the back which could be an attacking move but you just know it wouldn't end up being. Interesting to see how he manages his attacking options. Kane will benefit from having pace around him but the pace options of sterling and rashford are 0ut of form. Grealish with all the clamour was 0ut for a long time. I'd start with Henderson A right back stones maguire Shaw Rice Bellingham mount Sancho Foden Kane Henderson for Bellingham after an hour

BBE

I won't be renewing I will however be buying a ticket for the first game of the season and telling mowbray I think he should resign. From then on I'll do some away games.