Or the alternative is that FFP is a sham and Villa know it. Their behaviour in the last few weeks has shown the threat of serious sanctions to be a mere myth that they are now going to step around. The worst that will happen is they will miss promotion and get some loose 'embargo' like Birmingham have had where they are restricted on incomings. Likelihood is with that squad and Bruce at the helm they'll be getting promoted this season anyway so won't have anything to worry about, as I predicted in the days following the play-off final defeat when lots of people were predicting Leeds-style misery and chaos.

If you're not a fan of the cringeworthy Sky coverage i'd advise not bothering with the Forest v WBA game. Within 30 seconds of putting the tv on they were telling listeners that these are two sides vying for promotion to the Premier League. Don't know how you can say that at this stage, surely all 24 clubs are doing that? Garbage product from Sky who still think it comes down to how much money you spend as to whether you should be in promotion contention.

The only ones who would go near that job are those who have nothing to lose or are absolutely desperate for a job in management. The likes of Grayson, Nolan, Appleton and Cowley have decent enough reputations to get jobs elsewhere. Especially Grayson and Appleton who have worked for Oyston before and know how he operates. That's where the likes of Coyle come in because he likely knows by now that he isn't going to get anything any better and has no such pride.

£20 million + on Jay Rod and Ben Gibson from the Championship. Quite happy to see another chunk of the Premier League dosh used up on them two.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11464392/blackburn-rovers-tony-mowbray-delighted-with-bargain-signing-of-newcastles-adam-armstrong Another mention of Mowbray wanting another 4 or 5 incomings, though it seems part of that may be loans from the Premier League.

Believe that when I see it. I thought this summer was supposed to be the big one with clubs getting their comeuppance yet as far as I can see the only action we've had has been transfer restrictions at Birmingham, conclusion of the QPR saga for significantly less than it could have been, and rumours of trouble at Sheff Weds and Villa yet they haven't lost any major players. Meanwhile Forest have spent £25 million, Derby have hit £15 million, Leeds must be knocking £20 million. God knows about Stoke and Middlesbrough.

Shouldn't make an ounce of difference who the owners are, as its all to do with the club's accounts and how much is brought in and from where. Doesn't matter who owns the shares, its how much they put in that is the issue.

Yep, both overspent to go up but managed to succeed and then survive so have avoided the trouble that QPR have had. I still can't get my head around introducing rules to supposedly help with sustainability in football and to stop clubs spending beyond their means and then punish them for doing so by fining them millions of pounds. Good question. I think the answer is its one rule for some and different for others. Think it is quite strange how not a single club has officially been announced as under an embargo this summer by the revolting 'EFL'. The closest we've had is an 11th hour announcement last week that Birmingham are under 'restrictions' which still allow them to sign someone for £2-3 million, so not really what I would call an embargo at all.

Leicester, Bournemouth and QPR also succeeded through doing it. QPR have been punished because they came straight back down again, yet strangely despite all the trouble with them they're still rumoured to be close to signing Jackson from Stanley for a few million.

How can Villa sign him? I thought they were a club in crisis and knackered by FFP rules?

Double edged sword. According to Rovers if the away side is having the full Darwen End then a noon kick off is required. That in itself knocks a fair amount off the travelling support. It will look well when they give Villa 7,000 for the Sky 5:30pm game and the lies are exposed.

I think what Mowbray said last week is more relevant than what he said 2 months ago. Where is the link to Mowbray saying yesterday that he only wanted 3 more? The most recent interview I have seen/heard was Mowbrays to Radio Lancashire before the Ipswich game when he said another 4 maybe 5.

I reckon Sharpe is deliberately conservative in his predictions, whether that is because he is told to give that impression by Rovers or because he genuinely has no idea and doesn't want to go out on a limb and predict something that doesn't happen which may come back to bite him. The Armstrong one was a clue as to where Sharpe and the Telegraph are in the food chain as Nixon (credit where due) was the one who broke the Armstrong deal on Thursday and the default Telegraph response was to downplay the subject until word came through from the club that it was happening.

No we're short of the target. On Wednesday or Thursday last week Mowbray (his most recent interview on the subject) said that he expected another 4 or possibly 5 incomings. We've had one which is Armstrong and I think most of us are quite happy and impressed with that piece of business. Nonetheless that leaves at least another 3 to reach Mowbray's target. A CF, CB and winger for me. One more addition from here and I think the jury would still be out on whether we are any stronger than we were last season, depending on the calibre of that particular arrival. 3 or 4 additions of the calibre of Armstrong and Palmer and we would all agree that we were stronger than last season, as we need to be.

Well if we only get Armstrong and one other then we're 2-3 short of Mowbray's announced target. Which would suggest we're delving into the loan market to bring in another couple.

Good news. Another 3 or 4 needed now for Mowbray's target to be reached.

Interesting tweet about Derby and players they didn't have in their squad at Reading on Friday. Marriott and Evans not in as they aren't up to speed yet. Also missing altogether were Tom Huddlestone, Cameron Jerome, Craig Forsyth, Jacob Butterfield, Matej Vydra, Chris Martin, Ikechi Anya, Nick Blackman, George Thorne, Jamie Hanson and Marcus Olsson. How on earth they're paying £5 million for Martin Waghorn when they've that lot sat around not even getting in the matchday squad is unbelievable on several counts. Must be £200k a week there.

No. He was as clear as he possibly could be that he expected at least another 4 or possibly 5 additional players in the building. True, he didn't specify Thursday as being the point to achieve that but you would think/hope that most of those would be done by then rather than in 3 weeks by which time a lot of games will have passed by. He did say one might be 'late on' which suggests that means later in August whilst the others will be sooner. That target has nothing to do with those already in this summer and that interview was given before the Armstrong rumours circulated and Mowbray confirmed that deal was close after the game on Saturday.

Still no news on this one with the game only 12 days away? Bizarre. Would they do this if it was Leeds or Sheffield Weds coming to town likely to sell out? Doubt it.

Mowbray said he wanted 4 maybe 5 so that should mean Armstrong PLUS another 3 or 4 unless the goalposts have moved since late last week.

Aston Villa signing Joe Bryan from Bristol City. Disaster for them this summer.

Mowbray said on Radio Lancashire on Wednesday or Thursday last week that he could see another 4 or maybe 5 arrivals, but one might be back end i.e. late August when the loan window closes. I interpret that as meaning at least 3 maybe 4 permanent arrivals this week. Armstrong may well be one so another 2 or 3 required.

4 OR 5 signings to be announced by Thursday evening. Lots to happen this week. Nothing confirmed yet. Should be interesting. Rovers certainly doing well at keeping things quiet if indeed we're close to making these exciting additions.

Can anyone tell me why there are two midweek games this week in the Championship? Forest v WBA and Middlesbrough v Sheff Utd are both tomorrow with Forest on TV, yet nobody else is playing. Hull v Villa tonight on TV. Can't wait for Saturday's live game between Derby and Leeds, Sky Sports will be in overdrive with the Lampard & Leeds love-in.

Notice that it seems Derby have now beaten Middlesbrough to the signing of Waghorn from Ipswich. Reported fee of £5 million. That's a lot of season tickets. Another £5 million to put onto Derby's FFP calculations to go with the £5 million+ on Marriott and the other signings. Must be paying him well to get him to turn down Middlesbrough who like to throw money around themselves. Still haven't sold Vydra either..... That cash might enable Ipswich to spend if it is reinvested.