JHRover

It is a weaker defence because we've lost players and havent signed any, yet. It's simple. It isn't as strong because two backup options have gone. It isn't stronger because they haven't been replaced with better, yet. So it is weaker. If the season started tomorrow we have the same defence as last year but without the same backup. Weaker.

The Goalkeeping position is unusual. I don't think it was our downfall last season but I do think with a reasonable amount of cash we could improve on Raya. I've no problem letting him go IF we quickly bring in an experienced alternative. If we start trying to give Leutwiler a chance heads should roll. Far more important and urgent that we addressed defence and midfield. It is critical that we sign a quality CB who is going to play and not someone to make up the numbers as 'backup'. We need more goals from midfield and less reliance on Graham and Dack so hopefully Johnson and Downing can help but still think we need more.

With Terry McPhillips quitting Blackpool yesterday I'd like to see him come back to coach the u23s.

How the League can't have decided on a punishment yet is beyond me. Fixtures long since announced and season fast approaching, long since the crime was committed. I half wonder if the League are hoping everyone forgets about it. Let's remember that they broke the rules twice. Firstly by not playing the game when it should have been played, calling it off at short notice to Brentfords detriment, and secondly by failing to rearrange the fixture when directed to do so by the League. Two separate offences should be two sanctions but expect they'll try and cobble it into one and let Bolton off lightly as they have throughout.

Likelihood is that unless upwards progress continues Mowbray will be out of a job before he needs to worry about rebuilding after these players have gone. He needs to do what he can to try and get us up asap. If we don't go up there's a fair chance Venkys will sell anyone of value like they did last time Bowyers project didn't work out.

If Raya is going for 3 million then Darlow at 4 million is a good deal.

Rodwell has gone as his contract expired in June and he hasn't signed a new one yet. I don't think he's been involved in pre season. Whether you think Rodwell and Downing were good or useless or somewhere in between the reality is they were both called upon last season, albeit to a limited degree, and now they have gone and so far havent been replaced. That means we are weaker. Two less CB options to what was already a weak defence. An urgent need to add a couple of defenders.

Worst defence in the league weaker through the loss of Downing and Rodwell and still being coached by the same staff. If Mowbray doesn't address that soon he needs help. Darlow would be an excellent addition in my opinion but without structural changes to the defence it may well be pointless.

I'd much prefer Fraser Forster to Joe Hart. Hart strikes me as someone who has lost the plot and spending the last 12 months with that lot wont have helped. Nor should we be doing any direct business with them. They will probably be delighted if we take him off their hands. Avoid please.

Monk has left under a cloud and strange circumstances from all 4 of his jobs when at the time results weren't particularly bad. Maybe he's the modern Billy Davies who despite good results at all his clubs seems to never last anywhere and falls out with people.

Brentford aren't daft. Far from it. They're one of the best clubs around in terms of recruitment and player progression. Theyre in a different League to us on that front.On that basis I'm sure Raya will be worth a lot more to them than they pay us. Folk trying to inflate the price to 5 million are off their rockers. Take a quick look through Brentford's incoming transfer spending over the years and ask yourselves if they are really going to start throwing around 3 to 5 million on an unproven goalkeeper from Rovers who has a lot to prove. Nope, not having it myself. It'll be 2 million or so at the most. They'll see an opportunity to develop him and sell on for a profit. I suspect this is the evidence of Mowbray having to raise funds and he's decided letting Raya go is ok in the scheme of things. On his head be it but the proof will be in who comes in.

Oldest trick in the Venky book to bring a couple of 'big name' free agents and then out the back door goes a player for a couple of million to cover the outlay. It has been said that the budget for fees AND wages is the same as last year, with authority to move money between the two. With Downing and Johnson in safe to say their wage packets will be a bit bigger than the Rothwells of last summer, so presumably the funds will be coming at the expense of transfer fees.

Presumably to raise the funds needed to bring in Johnson and Downing. Expect to see a freebie or loan keeper come in and then the cash we get for Raya will cover our summer spending.

Mowbray was very clear in the days following the closure of the January window that Assombalonga's wages were the obstacle. Unless he's suddenly decided to significantly drop his wages why would we be back in for him?

Seems strange to me. Surely if there were doubts about him or his character that would be looked at well before terms were offered and agreed? If Mowbray doesn't fancy/rate Smallwood/Evans then they need consigning to the history books NOW, rather than 'by Christmas'.

Everton released theirs today. Very similar 'reveal' to ours with mens players and ladies stood wearing it in the stand. Their shirt has gone down the route of the GK shirt and Hull shirt with a pattern over the upper half of the body. That's the sort of thing i was expecting from ours with the blue at least having a design or pattern in it. Still don't get the point of the miniscule amount of red on the shirt. No problem with having red on the home shirt but at least make it recognisable - red sponsor, red collar etc. rather than just a tiny trim around a small part of the sleeve.

We might be holding out for that but we won't get it. 3 million maximum but probably less than that. Brentford don't pay 4 million for a Championship goalkeeper.

Just waiting for the Telegraph 'It is understood that Derby midfielder Bradley Johnson is not one of the names on Mowbray's list despite national media reporting a move to Rovers was on the cards. Mowbray is an admirer but there havent been any talks and his wages could be an issue' Might have to wait for Rich Sharpe to get back from his holidays.

I assume we will be getting the same as the dingles. Only taking more. Will be annoying if they had a bigger allocation.

Talking about, thinking about, hoping to. Ifs buts and maybes. That's life under Venkys. They are apparently billionaires who will do whatever is needed to deliver success. They want to sign Beckham and Ronaldinho. They want to appoint Rafa Benitez. We get Steve Kean and Mauro Formica. They want to spend to get us promoted but unfortunately those nasty FFp rules stop them and they have to sell everyone of any value, rip up the squad, only allow loans and frees and take us to League One. They now want to spend but have managed to stumble across the only manager in world football who will try to persuade them to spend less. Outcome? I know what I expect. A succession of excuses, theories, tales of hard luck, missed targets. End result is the same. Every time. Common theme through all this? Bull**** from the owners over 9 years.

Exactly. Those who cling to the 'slow build' concept are those who will turn around when Dack is sold and say more time is needed to replace him and rebuild. On and on that cycle goes until we've lost another 50 million quid to tread water in the Championship, at best. Norwich needed 2 seasons under Farke. Sheffield United did it in their 2nd season after promotion from League One. Wolves did it in year 2 after their takeover. Cardiff in Warnock's first full season. Burnley in Dyches first full season. Brighton and Middlesbrough in Hughton and Karankas 2nd seasons having gone close before. The idea of a 4-5 year build or whatever we are now talking about is wrong. We're in year 2 in the Championship so should expect 'the plan' to be coming to fruition. That isn't to say promotion is expected or demanded but that the slow build concept should now be reaching conclusion. There isn't the time in football these days to build over 4 years, not when operating like we do

They've been here for 9 years and have apparently spent almost 150 million since being here. If they still need help they must be slow learners. Many owners with no previous involvement in football learn how it works in much less time for a lot less money. Fact is at no club should the manager be guiding the owners. The manager is a short term employee who delivers results. I think you'll find I wouldn't trust these owners as far as I could throw them and think they are con men. I do trust Mowbray but he has numerous faults. I'm just pointing out the potentially ludicrous situation being suggested where the owners can and want to spend yet their employees are supposedly stopping that.

Just imagine if the Arabs had turned up at Man City and Mark Hughes had turned around and told them not to spend because he preferred a slow build and didn't want to risk anything. Same with Ranieri at Chelsea. Owners decide what happens and what the budget is. Manager delivers it. It isn't the managers job to tell them to put the brakes on or spend less.

It doesn't matter, or at least shouldn't, what Tony wants. The owners decide on the target and the funding and employ a manager to deliver on it. If Mowbray is uncomfortable or unhappy with that or FFP concerns then get a manager who isn't.

If that's correct then it appears there is an unprecedented situation where the owners of the club want to spend and make good signings and the manager is reluctant. I don't believe that is the case as it would make Mowbray a managerial freak, and it would mean Venkys want to spend which I don't believe. But if it is true then the owners need to make a decision. No way would any normal club or owners tolerate that.