JHRover

Mowbray has publicly said numerous times that he prefers to make permanent signings rather than loans and that he wants to assemble a squad of players that will be assets to the football club, develop at the club over a number of years, improve us over time and retain value that the club can realise should the need arise to sell them. He wants to build a squad over time that will gradually improve. To be fair to him the signing of Davenport appears to fit that criteria. So how does signing this guy on loan fit into that? It strikes me that we've a similar budget to last year e.g. 1 million or so at the most to spread around the squad. In League One that sort of dosh goes a long way if you can land a Dack with it whilst keeping your Championship players, but in the Championship it won't get you very far whatsoever. So we're now onto Plan B which is to rely on the loan market where players can be picked up quickly on favourable financial terms from clubs happy to let them out for a year's development. Low risk and cheap but not a long term solution. I'd love nothing more than these concerns to be unfounded and be me overreacting or getting ahead of myself but I'm not confident.

I heard the away kit was to be yellow which I think fits with the colour of the training gear that we've had. Although it wouldn't surprise me if we ended up with a dark blue one especially now we've a pale blue and white home strip. I'll never understand the logic behind Rovers having a dark blue away shirt with white on it, yet we've had it numerous times over the years including in our last Championship season. Seems pointless and ensures a 3rd kit is needed when playing away at the numerous clubs that wear dark blue or white at home. Having seen the full kit it is almost identical to the Zebra home strip. I don't mind the pale blue as I think it makes a nice change from time to time. Don't like the socks at all, would be better in pale blue or white.

Quite like that

IF we could get hold of Gallagher, Maddison and Armstrong i think we'd be well on our way and looking well set. Not sure we will though,

Absolutely. Our routine over summer months has often been to sign a few early doors, let things drift and then squeeze some more business in at the back end in the last couple of weeks. Coyle was similar when Mulgrew, Gallagher, Williams and Emnes all turned up late on. Trouble is that they were after two big sales. Seems to be a hallmark of Venky summers.

Give him chances he'll score. Doubt Norwich would be paying that much out if they weren't confident he could still do it.

Poor selection to go at there. Not really that bothered but would prefer something to get people going a bit and liven the place up. Suppose you need the music to be audible in the stands to make it work though. Goal music is an absolute no-go. Pre match I'd suggest either Strings for Yasmin by Tin Tin Out or preferably this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1u9fMrl7wA from 2 minutes onwards as the players are in the tunnel. Think Fulham had it not long ago.

They've a good blend of British experience combined with continental players. Bearing in mind that Rhodes and Hanley were two of our most reliable and consistent performers in our 2 near misses with the play-offs i think they're a decent shout for the top 6. They've a stronger squad than we had under Bowyer and won't be playing Lowe and Williamson in CM every week.

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.