G Somerset Rover

Bennett over Nyambe, Evans over Travis. No Rothwell. As we all predicted and as will be the case against Charlton. He never changes.

Also it’s *our* defence we’re talking about. Heads need to be on the block if we start poorly.

Extremely meh. Thought ‘surprise a few’ meant he would be decent. Raya out for £3m, old boy and loanee in.

Don’t pull a Mercer, Phil! We never thrash anyone.

We don’t need any more defenders Roversfan99 - couple lads on Twitter saying our defence will be sorted once we get a GK as ‘Johnson in front of Williams and Lenihan will sort us out’. Guess they didn’t see our inability to defend set pieces and crosses last season then. Some Rovers fans can’t be helped.

It's either: - 'Raya's fault' in TM's eyes - Williams/Lenihan 'form' at the end of the season has completely fooled TM - Venky's not willing to sanction half decent cash buys for defenders Either way, 69 goals against ain't gonna drastically improve with the addition of a 21 year old who has played the majority of his senior football as a right back. As I say, suicidal if we don't bring in an experienced head at the back and there will be no hiding place for anyone.

Nothing ever moves quickly with us does it? Be Monday at the earliest for a GK then - even less time to work as a defensive unit. Also very, very concerning if our business is done after the GK's/Citeh youngster come in. Not bringing in an experienced CB would be suicidal IMO.TM is surely not that dumb; it would only add to the theory around the V's not willing to pay decent cash for a defender. Be interesting to hear him get grilled if we don't sign a CB (loans excluded) at the next fans forum...

For what it's worth, Sharpe thinks Rankin-Costello will be the youngster to make a real breakthrough this season. Wasn't he the one Dunny singled out a couple years ago as being the one to go on to big things too?

The defence is just as concerning. Some decent players have already moved to Champ clubs - Flint, Elphick, Lindsay, Jansson, Kalas. Ajayi close to WBA. We don’t seem to have been remotely close to any of them.

Why would you let your number 1 leave without a clear target in mind or at least a strong recruitment strategy in place to replace him? As I said earlier, 2 weeks until the start of the season. No time whatsoever for the new man to build on a relationship with our defensive unit (do we even have one of those?).

Doesn't look like any signings today going by Sharpe on Twitter. Disappointing...2 weeks til KO.

Are we actually announcing the kit today? If so, perhaps one of the new signings will be paraded in it on social.

Jesus Christ, no to Whelan, please no. Johnson, Downing, Whelan - they'll all gas after about 60-70!

If Williams is the answer at LB then we can forget about any promotion push. We may get away with Bell if the other 10 are bloody good and the LW gives him some serious protection!

JC, for a second I thought we'd agreed to a Sunderland esque documentary.

Still convinced it'll be Carson and this Rangers lad. Reckon Rangers GK and Citeh youngster today, then Carson over the weekend. Still very much hoping we bring in a big, experienced nasty bugger the back too.

Is Butterfield still hanging around? Seems to have gone quiet.

Rangers GK is plan A? Slightly disappointing for me if so.

Made of glass though. He and Davenport would have made quite a partnership.

Mixed reviews on Baggies forums but they all agree he’s been shuffled round too much and needs to settle on a position. As Neale said we really can’t stop here defence wise - we need an experienced head at the back too alongside Lenihan.

Yep he’s my least favourite out of all the names linked. Would much prefer Hart as I still think he has time to turn it around. Preference would be Ruddy ultimately but we don’t seem to have been strongly linked to him at all.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17777347.rovers-transfer-news-keeper-search-nearing-end/ “The defensive area of the team could do with some competition and some bodies added and we’ll try and do that.” Bit different to the whole better players are coming in as the current players haven’t been good enough quote a couple of months back.

Got to be - read he’s played a bit at FB too. Not exactly getting the pulses racing. Would prefer any Rovers delegation to concentrate on bloody GK’s and CB’s right now.

New GK, Benno, Lenihan, Mulgrew/Williams, Bell, Evans, Johnson, Armstrong, Dack, Downing, Graham If they’re all fit I’d be amazed if that isn’t our team against Charlton.

Brereton won’t start and I fear for Travis with Johnson now here too!