Is this not an assumption based on late signings? Every signal I’ve seen from SW/TM suggests budgets are agreed beginning of window

I So end of last season after league one? This was the team vs Oxford Armstrong was on loan so went back, As was Antonnson (on the bench) First of all; 1. Adam Armstrong would’ve been one id taken first since the link, with a loan ending. Plus he can play both upfront and out wide and will get better. 2. This is before Travis had fully stepped up so I would’ve probably said next priority (as most rovers fans would agree) improve on Evans and Smallwood 3. Even with AA only DG, Nuttall and Samuel - question marks against both the former (and AA) in a league above, long term replacement for DG needed sorting. 4. Wings. We kept playing Samuel, Armstrong, Bennett and Conway our wide - Chapman has gone back albeit injured - we needed some attacking quality out wide. Desperately. 5. At that point we had Lenihan, Mulgrew, Downing, Plus Ward/Wharton/Mags/Grayson behind. Assuming Ward/Wharton would move on - Downing 4th choice, I would’ve brought another CB. Like I said, a big ugly one!

I think I said we needed a “big ugly centre-half” last summer personally, I thought we might go for someone like Che Dunkley

Get a life m8

First bold part - I thought we did ok since we’d just come back up, so I’m not playing anything up or down. Secondly - I just made the point in that post to Kenny that it’s just not as simple as (Amazon esq) “add experienced defender to basket” then pay. Especially if you don’t pay top fees or wages. Not forgetting we’ve got Grayson, Magliore, JRC and Hart potentially hitting the squad. There’s Wharton too.

No but Paul he said DEFENDERS ARE COMING RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE

So watching someone 5 times in 2 years, 3 as a substitute, 2 FA trophy games, who is 23 years old is enough for you to say he ain’t good enough? Sorry mate but that’s impossible from where I’m standing. Unless you watch training? Also -around 12m we’ve spent over 3 windows so far. Do you know that Wolves spent 4m more than that on one defensive midfielder the season they got promoted? Not including many of their other signings that year came as frees (ruddy, Bennett) or cheap/on loan (Jota, Mir etc)

You’re over simplifying again there mate, it’s very frustrating. Of course there is room for questions about what is available and why, but you’ll never be able to justify the sweeping and close minded shut down to any argument with “He said DEFENDERS ARE COMING FFS” You don’t need to be so closed minded, it doesn’t suit you. We are EXPECTED to add the city lad, and we’ve ALREADY replaced the GK, and we’ve at least 3 young defenders on the cusp of the first team squad.... Do you see why a few of us see the “SIGN MORE DEFENDERS RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE” and get a bit pissed off? Maybe, just maybe - behind the scenes, things are happening that you aren’t aware of.. maybe eh!

And in your opinion he’s had enough chances to prove one way or another how good he is?

Typical Stuart “if you don’t agree, you must be part of some group opposed to the betterment of BRFC!” Like I said, if they’ve looked around and felt most of the options within our remit aren’t that much better than what we’ve got, then hiring a new technical development coach to move on the graduates makes perfect sense. The black and white “Why’ve we spent 12m on strikers” completely ignores what we have coming through, and the pitfalls of a market we aren’t leaders in!

New GK already, A stalwart at a recent playoff finishing team potentially over the line... I think that would be ok, but it would be an exceptional window if we add further recruits in defence, and full back. Edit - I would be happy if JRC and Hart make the grade too Cant expect it all, but the aspiration is more defensive recruits!

But surely there’s more to a window than satisfying one “defenders are coming” quote? There’s also the element of our fantastic academy - maybe the heat of the moment response in a post match interview, to our poor defending is not actually fully representative of our aims? Maybe we see Grayson and Mags further up? Wouldnt that make perfect sense since we are one of a handful of clubs who’ve employed a “Development manager”?

£5 shiny pounds on that one Mr Rochina. Add that to @roverandout ‘s relegation bet - I’m looking at least a free night out in Blackpool next June

Firstly I’d suggest getting with the times since Brentford are currently roughly (depressingly) around our sort of level. Secondly - you’re playing this out as if he has the perfect season. Fairly legitimate grounds to be dropped in most people’s opinion, even if we both agree that we’d rather he stay!

About turn for defence? Rumoured to be signing one loan and one permanent. I don’t think it’s a magic wand scenario either, takes time. Those comments are only a few months old. Cant see why investing in Gallagher is a bad thing. What if Raya wanted out? Downing and Johnson feel different to Murphy and Etuhu personally.

Not sure if this is already linked here; Actual journo for paper in Brighton. If it happens - I can say I’m “pas mal” about the raya deal including this. Wigan always seemed to defend better, perhaps we will if he’s the new no1!

No offence to @Bbrovers2288 but I don’t call that evidence, a snippet to create a more potential 2+2= scenario - there’s a plethora of player/agent/contract reasons any one transfer can stall. Remember Degsy’s fax machine?

Using two stats in isolation to prove a point rarely reflects well on the opinion from my experience. I mean, simply putting in a few elements of what TM inherited compared to what he’s got now would put more meat on the bone. Its a far cry from Coyles Barmy donut Loan army, in my humble opinion.

It’s not always that simple. Raya May have forced it to the extent where he would be unsettled. They may have had ample choice at that time. I don’t know the full ins and outs, hence why I’d try not to be too close minded about how and why it happened.

I know I might be sounding a bit left field, but maybe the players we wanted aren’t / or haven’t signed for us for reasons other than our budget? It might sound crazy, but doesn’t this happen at every club, every season? You get some targets, you miss others?

LEWIE LEWIE, OHH OHH, LEWIE TRAV. YA YA YA YA YA

I think he likely assumes most fans are wise enough to know he can never reveal the whole picture, despite his tendency to “wax lyrical”.

Holy smokes, that chestnut has surely been debunked by now.

Yea- it’s TM’s words. Do we take those or the ones where he said Raya wanted to leave? If you honestly can’t take some element of “a pinch of salt” with his comments, id give up reading them.