I keep scratching my head on the Chapman one. Last season when he was fully fit in League One Mowbray was reluctant to use him apart from letting him run at the opposition in the last 20 minutes. He made numerous comments about Chapman saying he still had a lot to learn about the game and suggesting that he didn't fully trust him to start matches. Since then we've gone up a division, to a league that Chapman hasn't played in, and he's fresh off the back of 2 serious injuries which have kept him out of action since before Xmas. I'd just be surprised if he was a top target given his injuries and lack of starts he had last time here. I wouldn't be against him coming back if fit but get the impression Mowbray might have other ideas.

A signing of that calibre in the coming days would calm people down. I don't usually subscribe to the idea of making a 'big' signing but in circumstances like these were we to bring in a player with such an impressive reputation it would reassure a lot of people and settle some nerves. If nothing else it would suggest that the money is there and that it can be spent but that we are just playing the long and quiet game, rather than a more sinister development such as there being no more money or Venkys playing games. Maddison must be close to going somewhere as the rest of the Peterborough squad have gone to Portugal this week, including the much sought after Marriott, yet Maddison hasn't travelled. Suggests that things are quite well advanced. I agree reading his comments it all stacks up for it to be us but I still can't see it happening. It would be an impressive piece of business done on the quiet.

Last season's u18 shirt. The same as the senior away shirt but sponsored by the 100 Club rather than Dafabet.

Patrick Bauer currently playing for Charlton in a pre-season game against Cambridge. So doesn't look like that one is close.

Chelsea have just loaned 'wonderkid' Mason Mount to Derby, the Lampard connection bearing fruit already. Wonder if he'll be another one who will spend the next 5 years moving around various Championship clubs on loan never to appear at Stamford Bridge.

Todd Kane joined Hull on a season long loan

Every club will have an odd player who doesn't contribute, can't get fit or whatever. We've had way more than our fair share over the years and the situation as present is nowhere near as bad as it has been in terms of numbers and cost of people sat around not fit for duty. It was foolish to hand him a 2 year contract. I cannot understand why someone of his age and fitness would ever be given such a thing. Especially when the intention was always to be in the Championship this season where he would have an even higher standard to reach to be able to positively contribute to the cause. Indeed I recall he had fitness concerns prior to coming here and he had a lengthy spell on trial to get himself fit and keep himself fit, so surely it ought to have been a 1 year deal then re-assess this summer. The bloke has only recently turned 30 yet the photos in Austria he looked like he was 45.

Still come across McEwans now and again in pubs in Lancashire. Not very many but the odd one or two in Accy sell it.

Well Rovers set themselves a deadline the other week by announcing that the home shirt would be available 'a day or two' before the Liverpool game. My interpretation of that is Wednesday at the very latest. I don't understand how the date for getting it on sale can be so fluid. Missing out on vital sales here. Sunny weather, folk going on holiday.

I think there's a big difference between using the loan market effectively/to our advantage and then being dependent on loans purely because it avoids the need to sign permanent players and the commitment that comes with that. I don't think I've ever said I'm completely against all loans or that some good business can't be done in the loan market. But before then we need our own players who can be with the club for a number of years and develop. I think Mowbray himself has said similar numerous times about preferring to target permanent transfers yet bizarrely seems to have done a u-turn on that and is now talking about loans with increasing frequency. But yes, I'm very concerned and disappointed if the focus of our activity from here onwards is the loan market. I expected 5-6 permanent signings this summer to re-stock the squad, especially given the departures of last season's loans and the 3-4 players who clearly aren't in the manager's plans. To get 2 and now be being primed for loans is a disappointment, hopefully we'll get at least another 2-3 permanents who ideally would be a good age like Armstrong who could grow with the club.

I call bs. Don't believe for one minute that we've offered to pay out £5 million in fees, nor why any of the parties would agree to a season long loan with a permanent after that. I can just about believe the Chapman one and that Gallagher is on £24k a week out Southampton. I can see Gallagher happening provided we are paying at least half of his wage on loan. We've supposedly offered Dack more than £24k a week? No way.

There does seem to have been a shift between his comments on returning from India and pre season getting underway. Optimism of a healthy budget, 6 signings in for Austria to a couple and waiting on loans. Let's hope it's under control and all part of a plan rather than anything sinister.

No i didn't know that. Not sure what relevance that has to do with anything though. I know next to nothing about Rothwell so whether or not he is any good will only be shown over time. I've seen Payne play for us and also know that he played very well for Oxford and also featured in Huddersfield's promotion season so I think he could have been a decent signing for us this summer. Perhaps not top of the list but given the lack of activity thus far one that was worth exploring. It seems Mowbray wasn't interested because he couldn't promise him game time. If we subsequently sign someone better then fair enough but at present he's another viable option that has passed us by when a deal was there to be done if we had wanted it. You're well rehearsed on my opinions on loaning players but I don't judge a player's quality on the basis of whether it is a loan or permanent deal. A permanent is usually preferable particularly for a club with a small pool of playing assets. I've explained why countless times. It seems you're enjoying sparring with me these days, its clear we aren't on the same page on a lot of issues at the club.

Jack Payne has joined Bradford on loan. Think we could have done worse, and may well do.

So Lyndsey Talbot says no plans but it might close if it makes commercial sense to do so. Cheston says that there is no intention to close it other than for redevelopment purposes. Just think if 5% of our debt under Venkys had gone into Ewood Park instead of agents and players pockets. We could have a redeveloped Riverside and desso pitch by now.

I think Mowbray knows and accepts that Hart, Gladwin and Caddis can depart and that explains their supposed 'fitness' issues which have kept them out of contention vs Hibs and Port Vale. I reckon the club are working hard trying to get rid of those people and this may be part of the reason incomings are slow as getting shut might free up spaces and wages for re-allocation elsewhere. Even if they are 'only' on £10,000 a week combined that cash could go towards a new striker. I find it very difficult to believe that by pure coincidence they've all suddenly picked up injury issues. Hart is a young lad. Gladwin has supposedly been injured or close to a comeback since Christmas yet never appears. Caddis looks in appalling shape for a professional athlete. When I saw photos of him in Austria I thought he was a coach running with the players, he looked like he was pushing 50. Evans will stay but is entering the final 12 months of his contract and I suspect he'll be high on the list of people the club are happy to get rid of as he'll be a top earner. As others have suggested I don't think he's irreplaceable but with our financial model I'd bet my money on an inferior replacement were he to leave.

Maybe after we've announced the management restructure.

At the end of the day it is Mowbray's neck on the line. He went to India and came back singing the owners praises and talking about being given a good budget, it's his responsibility to make it work. He's earned as much patience and freedom as can be afforded to a manager after last season. He'll get judged on results and if the results don't come he'll be under severe pressure. If he thinks he can get by with a couple of loans that's up to him but he carries the can if it goes wrong.

Yeah, my mistake, need to pay more attention to tattoos.

Looks like Maddison might have joined West Brom. They've put a picture up on twitter. His 'sleeve' tattoo is very similar to Maddison's....

Yes I want rid of the owners. That doesn't appear to be likely to happen any time soon. The next best thing to them remaining is that they invest their money into it to try and improve it. If they aren't prepared to do that then what's the point in them? I said I'd sooner have Feeney than nobody. That's how short on numbers we are. I don't like him or rate him at all but I would sooner have him than nobody. Like it or not we're approaching the 'clutching at straws' stage. None of the players you mention have any Championship experience. Nyambe performed well in League One, now we're a division higher. Travis I rate very highly but he wasn't trusted in League One by the manager. Nuttall struggled in League One. My point was about firepower as I believe that is where our shortfall is. I don't think any of the players you mention can address that. I may be wrong but even if they all play they won't score goals or even create many.

As we all know strikers are the most expensive and highest risk signings. Goals cost money. There aren't many players out there who guarantee goals and those who do are highly sought after and can command big wages and fees. If you're short on cash or not prepared to put much cash on the table then you're going to either be picking up scraps or taking big risks. Strikers are judged on how many goals they score over a season, if they don't score many or any they will be deemed a failure. Even a striker who scores 10 in 40 odd games will likely be judged as average. Tough business. That's why we hear stories about Cheltenham Town wanting £1 million for a player who is 24 and has had one prolific season in the 4th tier. That's also why I suspect we're going through the loan market as the club is unwilling or unable to get drawn into an expensive recruitment process to go and buy a high calibre striker who is likely to notch 15-20 goals a season. We either can't or won't pay for one. So it will be either a loan or free agent. Trouble is both only get done at the back end of the window when clubs become more desperate and the Premier League boys have who they want and are prepared to let a few go out. Its all very noble and that to refuse to shell out big money whilst other clubs like Norwich cough up £3 million to loan Jordan Rhodes. I'm sure the bean counters and friends will sleep easily at night convincing themselves that we're on the 'right' path whilst others are on the 'wrong' path. Ultimately though all that matters are results on the pitch. If Norwich or whoever get into the play-offs through Rhodes' goals whilst we get relegated due to a lack of firepower then their approach is the right on and ours is the wrong one. Only time will tell.

Sorry but I struggle to believe anyone would argue that we are anything but weaker than we were in our final game vs Oxford. We have lost Armstrong, Payne and Antonsson. 20 goals between them, who were integral parts of the squad - settled in and knew the other players well. The fact they came to us on loan is one of my gripes - I recall raising this as a concern when we were signing them all - an over-reliance on loans which is unsustainable in the long term because when they go they need replacing. That's why I don't want more loans because it is filling a gap until this time next year when the process starts again. The only two additions are midfielders neither of which have any real track record of scoring or creating goals. Like him or loathe him Feeney was an experienced attacking option that featured for Cardiff on their way to promotion last season, so he can 'do a job' better than the current alternative of nobody. That will probably change but right here right now he was another option that has gone and not been replaced. If/when he is replaced then we'll see if his replacement is better. I would hope he is. But currently there is nobody to measure him against. We're playing a dangerous game, more so than rivals who already have squads in place that competed in the Championship last season. We are no better than we were last season, likely worse. Nyambe and Travis aren't going to bang in 10 goals a piece next season. I doubt Travis and Nuttall will be trusted by the manager to start many games.

Well also worth remembering that there should be some money left over from January as Mowbray said he didn't spend all of it. Maybe we'll do the same this summer. Spend a small amount of money and then after the window shuts claim more was available to spend but that it wasn't worth spending it?

Wonder what might have been had that decision not been given or had 8 minutes been added onto the first half rather than 3 at a stage when Croatia were creating lots of chances. Once again France fall on the right side of it.