JHRover

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.

Well Mowbray said last week that he expects 4-5 more incomings. If we assume Armstrong is going to be one of those, whenever that is announced, then we should be seeing at least another 3 in the very near future i.e. before Thursday. Maybe one will come later on in the loan window but would certainly hope there's Armstrong and another couple at the minimum in the building by Thursday tea time.

Evans will have them in the promotion mix. Peterborough a bit like Brentford in they have an excellent record of unearthing quality players who have been overlooked or lost their way, turn them into multi-million pound players, sell them off regularly and repeat the process again whilst still managing to compete in the league.

Would be a sickener if a club like Ipswich landed Maddison but not a surprise. Time is a ticking. Have we signed anyone yet?

Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich others who put away fans upstairs away from the pitch and only allow them the bottom tier in exceptional circumstances.

Well with the entire Darwen End now available for away fans when the likes of Millwall turn up next week with 1,000 maximum fans it would be daft to put them in the traditional blocks closest to the JW stand. If it were up to me I'd put them upstairs out of the way but if they go downstairs it should be done to ensure there is no need for any seats in the home ends to be netted off.

Middlesbrough CB, nephew of their Chairman. Highly rated a couple of years ago so not sure why he's heading to Burnley. Seems they've failed with Dawson from Wba.

Aren't they both injured so they're desperate for a keeper

20 million or almost that for Hart and Ben Gibson. Sooner them than us. And Dyche spends his time commenting on other clubs spending, he should look closer to home.

So Maddison wasn't included in Peterborough's squad photo earlier today, Posh confirming that a new Championship club is in talks with him. Seems he's on his way somewhere. Would love it to be us but think it is unlikely, though once again their Chairman was happy to deny Wigan as an option but refused to answer whether Rovers were a possibility. Mowbray likes players he has worked with or experienced first hand before like Rothwell, Armstrong, Payne, Samuel, Dack and Gladwin. Maddison and Gallagher are another two who fit that description. I would be happy with Gallagher coming in. Like Armstrong knows the club and squad and did quite well last time. 11 in 43 is not bad for a side that finished in the bottom 3. Like with Armstrong I would want a permanent deal as these lads need to put down roots, grow and develop at Rovers over a couple of years not continue a nomadic loan existence whilst never getting into contention at their parent clubs. And I don't believe for one minute that Southampton would expect 7 million for him. 2 to 3 million would probably be enough and is probably a good price in today's market.

I've no idea what Nmecha is. He might well be quality but I always approach rave reviews of teenagers who have spent their time playing in academies and reserve football with extreme caution. Supporters of clubs naturally are biased in favour of their own academy lads as we often are on here being desperate for them to succeed and go on to be great players. I think Sky Sources amount to a couple of blokes sat on twitter all day looking at rumours.

Guardiola is mates with Bielsa so like with Harrison I would expect Leeds are in the driving seat for any City youngsters. I'm not fussed really as I think there are more pressing concerns to deal with over the next 6 days before worrying about kids on loan. We need another 3 or 4 quality additions in the house by the time the window shuts on Thursday. 'Sky Sources' quite often means one of their employees has found a story on twitter and decided to put it on their own news network.

It hasn't happened yet. If/when it does I'm sure 99% of Rovers fans will be pleased with the signing, but until then it is just talk.