I gave my season ticket up a couple of seasons ago when my son was born, I knew I'd miss more games than I'd attend so I would essentially be throwing money down the drain. When I was a younger lad with less responsibilities I bought one regardless and because they were so well priced it never cost me any more over a season than buying individual tickets. Last season I ended up spending about 20 quid less than a season ticket would cost so toyed with getting one this year, my lad is coming up 4 and I planned to start bringing him more regular, however the price hike put me off massively and again made it so I would be throwing money down the drain. I think my seat in the JW wings has gone up to something like 450 quid, which I'd need to attend 18 games or so to make it worthwhile. I really think they've missed a trick this year with getting casual fans and those who travel from the wider area to the game. I remember going back 7 or 8 years there were 2 coaches ran from Lancaster every week and a load more travelling off their own steam, most of those fans have packed in going now and I'd wager that a good offer on prices may have enticed a good chunk of them back.

Brentford brought in a young lad from Arsenal, supposedly been offered a new contract at Arsenal. How much of that is procedure so they can claim a development fee or down to seeing a future for him I don't know.

I think its unfair to say injuries affect him, he's had 1 horrific injury which has kept him out for a long time, prior to that his injury record is pretty average for a Premier League winger. He managed to play in the final 20 games of the season last year after being out for over 12 months with an ACL tear, so his knee looks like it's holding up ok thus far.

I know he did his ACL but even so, he's a fantastic player and one of the few who runs at defenders in a straight line, always looks to beat his man. Providing he hasn't lost too much pace as a result of his ACL surgery and/or the ability to turn sharply he should absolutely rip it up in the Championship.

I can't believe that Bolasie will be playing in the championship.

It's more of an open question as to why if 2 of the top teams were interested in him are none of the remaining 18 cash rich teams interested? As for your other little rant, the problem on here is people see everything as black and white. If you are cautious about a signing you're negative and if your pro a signing you're a happy clapper, I can safely say I'm neither. I'm big enough and stupid enough to be able to form my own opinions. I think with this transfer it's to be expected that some fans are cautious, its a long time since we've spent any money and my worry is that this is a one time splash from Venkys and if it goes wrong its the last money we will see invested in the side for a long long time; I'm fearful of spending it on the wrong player. Brereton could be amazing, he could also be terrible, 8 million pounds plus no doubt hefty wages is a lot of money and with it comes a lot of expectation. So there are certain questions that need to be asked in my opinion, asking those questions doesn't make you negative, in fact quite the opposite. I want the best for Blackburn Rovers and securing longer term success, when we're investing so much in a player (probably around 4 times the amount that has been invested in the squad in the last 4 years) surely it's right to question whether this is a good deal.

But yet he's still at Forest and nobody else in the premier league has taken a punt on him?

I would take the Liverpool and United interest with a pinch of salt, most young players who make an impression are soon after touted as being looked at by one of the top 6 clubs, it's easy copy. Based on the amount of young talent the top teams hoover up anyone they have an interest in they generally take. Again, I'm not saying Brereton isn't decent, I just think hanging a hat on the fact that Liverpool allegedly 'looked' (what does that even mean really) at him at some point 2 years ago isn't much of a yard stick.

Nixon talks shite

I think it should all be done and dusted before the season starts, it's barmy getting 5 or so games into the season and not know you're side. There is no reason why it can't close prior to the first day of the season.

for some reason i had it in my head it shut at the end of July, got 31st in my head, must be thinking of August, my mistake, smart arse

I didn't say he wasn't fit, I pointed out that the transfer may not be the sole reason for him not featuring, at least initially. Which reports are these then? I've not seen anything to suggest Forest were hawking him around, in fact everything I've read appears to be contrary to that, on deadline day all the reports suggested they were surprised at the interest in him from Rovers. As I've said repeatedly, I'm on the fence with this transfer, I can see both positives and negatives of it, however the length of time it's rumbled on and the multitude of reasons it hasn't gone through yet lead me to think that it's not going to happen. It's nearly 2 since the window closed and I find it hard to believe that two sides who are reported to want to do a deal have thus far not been able to, we allegedly have a team of people dedicated to transfers, surely they could have got the job done.

Forest don't need to sell IMO, yes they've not included him so far but I read somewhere he'd missed a lot of pre-season after playing with England U20's and isn't match fit so that could factor into him not playing as much as the transfer rumbling on. Looking at it objectively I don't think Forest are bothered about selling him, if he goes and they get good money, happy days. If they keep him he remains a developing squad player who will feature intermittently. If he spits his dummy out, again no major trauma as he doesn't appear to feature in their immediate plans and they can punt him out in January. Forest appear to have all the cards at the moment and as the end of the window draws nearer their hand only gets stronger. They don't need to sell but we need to buy and have repeatedly said as much.

I think it's a strange comment too, surely it's not that difficult a concept and can be written into a sale contract fairly easily. Kovacic deal from Real has had it written fairly easily it would seem.

I don't think we will sign Brereton, I think it's rumbled on too long and Forest's demands seem a bit rich for our taste/sensibilities. I think we will end up with Bauer and a couple of Premier League youngsters that haven't been on the radar thus far, oh and possibly Chapman although I think the way Palmer, Dack and Armstrong have linked up so far might have cooled our interest on Chapman a little.

I'm merely playing devils advocate as I have done on this signing from the start. Brereton is a massive risk; as with all big risks the potential rewards are massive but the fallout of a misplaced bet, equally so.

I'm not advocating bringing in Jerome at the cost of others but as a steady, Championship player in a rotation of forwards we could do worse.

We're looking at spending 8 million quid on a 'never been' and/or 'might never be'

I wouldn't be against Jerome on loan, steady pair of hands, very experienced at this level and provides some added physicality.

Doesn't Chapman's deal at Boro expire next year? Whilst they will be entitled to a development fee for him if he walks at the end you've got to think that one's a complicated deal as Rovers shouldn't be paying much for a player who is out of contract at the end of the year and is seemingly unwanted by his parent club.

He's crap? (tongue firmly wedged in cheek)

He's injured isn't he? He's also had a stinking injury record whilst at Villa and his wages are reportedly about £35k, potentially good player but another who looks like a massive risk to me.

Athletico Mince take on McClaren is hilarious

I think the opposite is true in terms of why people are bothered about the potential Brereton signing, I think most fans first and foremost want to go all out to retain our status as a Championship club this season, anything over that is bonus territory. Brereton is an unknown quantity and an expensive one at that, given the recent history I think most fans want a steady pair of hands this year that will see us safe in the league and look to build over the coming years. I don't think anyone realistically think we should be chasing promotion do they? Every fan I've spoken to see this as a great opportunity to consolidate and build on the good work that began last year.

I think it's now looking unlikely there will be someone in before the weekend, even at this stage it is then unlikely they would be included on Saturday. Brereton is supposedly not to full fitness following the summer tournament so if it is him it's pretty certain he wouldn't feature on Saturday. Of the others that have been bandied around (Gallagher and Chapman) only Gallagher would be in a position to be involved on Saturday.