JHRover

If they want a 'signing section' then it should be in the BBE and they could designate one of the 5 blocks as a singing/standing area e.g. the corner nearest the Riverside.

There won't be any games down at Brockhall today. The players will be setting off to Ipswich. All so predictable with the Telegraph. Applying handbrakes to rumours and excitement for years.

I'll make a prediction that Rich Sharpe will say something like 'i'll look into it' or 'i'll check on that one' and then come back and says that Armstrong remains on Rovers' radar but a move isn't imminent.

I think that's what we need yes. Though I'm not sure Mowbray likes that sort of thing, think he prefers other ways so doubt we'll see a big lad target man turning up.

I think this was well down the line as far back as last week. I'm still of the belief that the Bennett PR exercise early this week and the 'Agent Benno' thing was being done knowing Armstrong was on his way. Mowbray was probably teasing with his comments the other day. If it comes off I'm pleased provided it is just one of 3 attacking signings. With him and Palmer we've probably now made up for the trio of departures from last season but of course we need to be stronger than last season so more options are needed.

Very disappointed that Birmingham signed a player that presumably the League had to sanction the paperwork and registration on. They're taking us all on a ride here. Simple question that I'd love to know the answer to. Why didn't the league announce way back in May those clubs in breach of the rules and the punishments they would receive?

I'm still struggling to buy into the belief that we're going to be splashing the cash on a couple of multi-million pound players. As I've learnt with Venkys, talk is cheap and I'll believe it when I see it. Last 10 transfer windows going back to January 2014 I reckon we've spent about £2 million or so at the most spread across Williams, Bell, Dack, Samuel, Davenport and Rothwell. We also raked in fortunes in sales during that period. I'd be very pleasantly surprised indeed if Venkys were going to sanction one signing that cost more than all those, never mind 2.

They broke the rules alright, only for some unknown reason it has been left until the 11th hour to announce it. Meanwhile they spent a couple of million on a new player who is allowed to play for them. Perhaps the League should get their own house in order and announce sanctioned clubs at the start of the window rather than the back end and prevent them from signing any new players. No mention of the word embargo which seems to have been dropped. Meanwhile lots of empty threats of points deductions etc. which i'd bet my savings will never be enforced.

https://www.efl.com/news/2018/august/birmingham-city-profitability-and-sustainability/ I have to hand it to the League. Just when i thought they couldn't be more ridiculous in their approach they've managed it. So they've finally confirmed, what every man and his dog had known for some time, less than a week before transfer deadline day, that Birmingham have broken the rules and so will be referred to a 'disciplinary commission' and will be RESTRICTED in new player registrations. Meanwhile their £2-3 million summer signing of a Danish international will be allowed despite the league being able to refuse to register him should they wish. They will also be allowed a further FIVE additions, should they require it. Be interesting to see what happens if Birmingham survive by the skin of their teeth again and someone else gets relegated at their expense, given one option (which I bet now will never actually happen) is to deduct points from a club. Stark contrast to when we were placed under an EMBARGO when the league immediately seized the opportunity to broadcast our non-compliance on their website. No mention of the other clubs also supposedly being sanctioned.

I suppose if a request is sent to Venkys now for funds for transfers then the authorisation might come through in time for January. That might be a benefit of loaning now with a deal in place for the winter window.

The problem then however is that this time next year we will need at least 2 strikers of sufficient quality. Graham might well be moving on after this season or no longer be able to perform, the loan you want will go back to his parent club, and Samuel and Nuttall might be surplus to requirements. That's why we need an heir to Graham now, to come in and play this season. Bringing in a loan to play 2nd fiddle is just delaying things until next season when it will have to be addressed on a bigger scale. As far as I'm concerned we need at least one striker now to call our own who we build around and who shares responsibilities with Graham. Ship Nuttall out on loan and see how he goes on. Give Samuel a chance when possible and make a decision on him and then next summer we make decisions on Graham and Samuel whilst still having someone else to fall back on.

If he gets the 5 he's suggested along with the 3 already in then that's 8 for the summer. I remember being shot down for suggesting we needed at least 7 new signings to go with what we already had.

Reads to me as fresh as in not the club or clubs that was or were previously interested, of which we might be one, though maybe not.

Interesting quotes from Steve Evans - 'Marcus Maddison was due back into the group today, but Barry Fry received a call from a fresh Championship club registering interest in his services. We'll see how that one progresses'

1,000 tickets sold. Available on the day at the away end turnstiles with no price increase.

When I carried out my rudimentary calculation the other night I just about reached 9,000 In terms of seats that were not available for purchase. That will also include complimentary for staff and I think also includes a small number restricted view seats in the Riverside.

I very much hope that we're aiming for better than Garner. I'm not interested that he's from Blackburn. We're supposed to be assembling a youthful squad that can grow in stature and value over a few years, not sure how he fits into that and his record in the Championship isn't particularly impressive.

Is he leaving? Thought he'd picked up an injury the other day which would scupper it.

Sounds like Middlesbrough are after Hugill and Waghorn. Spending some money. Must be knocking £80 million out in the last 3 windows if they get them two.

In the past we invited interest in our star players. No coincidence that clubs were queuing up to take our best players between 2015 and 2017 yet either side of that window we've managed to keep hold of them.

Strange isn't it. Particularly given he supposedly has a release clause set at £2.5 million and has been promised he can leave by the Peterborough chairman after they failed to go up.

Well a week tomorrow all will be clear. 4 players and some significant cash buys is a lot to get done in that time. Mowbray has my support and so I'll reserve judgment until the window shuts and I hope to be pleasantly surprised. Given how this summer has progressed to date and given the owners history I think my reservations are justified. If the window shuts and we're still short and the talk is then about using the loan market to our advantage instead I'll be disappointed but not surprised.

Quite a few usually meet in the pub opposite the train station on the riverbank which is a 5 minute walk to the away turnstiles.

Odd way of dealing with it really. You'd think if they were likely signings the last thing the manager would be doing is telling the press that those guys aren't at the top of the list. I'd be surprised if either came here now, so lets hope Mowbray has some better alternatives on the way. I also find it strange that Mowbray refers to experience and game time in the Championship as being an important factor in his recruitment and yet the 3 he has brought in are all young and inexperienced. Rothwell has no Championship experience (or negligible), Palmer about 40 games and Davenport less than 20.

Been saying it all along. Feeney and Ward out of contract, Davenport and Rothwell in on contract. Wharton out on loan for the year, Palmer in on loan for the year. I suspect there's very little if any room on the payroll and numbers authorised for more incomings, particularly permanent deals, until departures are secured first. Wouldn't surprise me to see Gladwin, Hart or Caddis paid off soon to make way.