WBA fans comments (as with any set of fans) are subject to recency bias. Finish a season badly or well, you're more likely to pay attention to this spell than their performances earlier in the year (or indeed, they bias your memory about what those earlier performances were actually like). If you're as sad as I am and read through what they were saying at the time, his reviews earlier in the season were actually pretty good, and this from a set of fans who probably had higher expectations than most when it comes to the quality of their players at this level. Happy with this. Totally agree about Johnson too. Our defensive frailties last year were about more than just the defenders (although one v. good centre half could feasibly have made an enormous difference).

This is the team. Big Armstrong fan and think this could be a really big season for him , make Gally (who I also like) really earn his place. I wouldn't go overboard with just one game, but I can't pretend that I won't be very dissapointed if Rothwell doesn't play from the start, even if he has strong competition.

Hard to compare (if not impossible) - I'd suggest that Jones' might just edge that one. League debut against Drogba, basically in his prime. Back pocket. Next game away at Burnley. Clean sheet and they never got a sniff all game. Unucky not to score in that game too.

Agree. Armstrong had bursts last season, but Graham and Dack were asked to far too much of the work in the final third. Not saying that it will necessarily be successful, but if we have at least two of Armstrong, Rothwell and Gally on the park too, teams won't be able to get away with a 'stop Dack, stop Blackburn approach'. Travis and Johnson should be able to knock the ball around quicker than any partership we had there last season too. Being am optimist, all of this points to less pressure on Dack, and more time to show his skill across the pitch, but we'll have to see.

On the subject of new songs, I'm still shocked that the wider footballing fraternity hasn't made use of Baby Shark. Perfect fit for a football song. Even works for our Bradley. Bradley Dack doo doo doo doo doo doo Bradley Dack doo doo doo doo doo doo Bradley Dack doo doo doo doo doo doo Bradley Dack!

I can see the change of style meaning that he scores fewer goals, but is more influential in our build up. Early signs of this squad looks a little more capable of creating without relying too heavily on the Dack/Graham partnership, so hopefully that takes some pressure of Dack and means that he won't receive 90% of attention from opposing managers. Hopefully that delicious through ball he plays to Armstrong against Bury is an indication of where he'll be at next season.

To be fair, those changes in positions look tailor made to get the best out of the individuals we have in the squad. Let's see if it works out. Several teams have got promoted from this league in the last few years on the basis of having a very specific approach to the game that works for them. Hudds & Sheffield United stand out, but I'm sure there are others. More to the point, I can't think of a more sure fire way to make sure a squad under-performs than to neglect that side of management when other teams are going to use it for a competitive advantage.

He's more what we need imo. Reed was a very tidy player who I would've been very happy if we re-signed, but he was as guilty as the rest of the team for not being as canny as they needed to be last season. Don't think we can say that about Johnson.

I think most of the players usually picked as deadwood are decent back up to be honest. Bennett, Smallwood, Evans, Mulgrew - all players who won't be major cogs in a promotion winning team, but played big parts in some good spells for us last season. Whether we can afford to keep them as back up is a different question, as is how much they should get in the way of promising young talent, but I really don't get the clamour to see them leave the club entirely if they're happy to fight for their place.

He's still all potential for what we have seen at Rovers. He's chipped in at a decent rate when he's played, but hasn't had enough game time to develop. I think if he's going to flourish, Blackpool are perfect for him. He has good instincts as a striker, and despite a few comments about his attitude, has always struck me as a very motivated player. He seems to be getting his chance a little later than some, so seems (as much as you can tell) to really want to make the most of it. I have doubts about whether he'll ever have the touch or all round game to really make it in the top two divisions, but given enough room to develop and make mistakes, I can see it being a very good signing at L1 level.

Do we actually have any indication that we don't have a loan-to-buy option? These arrangements tend to come out in the wash, rather than being announced straight away, don't they?

Think we'll likely start with that formation, but with Tosin (or another incoming) in for Williams, Bell in for Hart, and I'm not confident at all about who starts on the right. Personally I'd like Rothwell on one side and Armstrong on the other, but I think Downing or Bennett are probably more likely.

Wouldn't disagree with that to be honest. As much as I think he's doing a good job, I felt deflated when I heard he was our choice. Not quite Coyle levels of disappointment, but not happy all the same.

Picking players Bowyer may well have been better, but there's no shame in that. Found some very talented players for peanuts. Tactics, absolutely not a chance. The hallmark of Bowyer's Rovers was a committed group with some talent, but never looking that cohesive or well drilled. Hardly ever deviated from a simple 442, and whilst we had enough talent to win tight games, it's hard to imagine Mowbray not getting an awful lot more out of Cairney and King, just to name two. I know that not everyone agrees with TM's approach, but tactically he's on a different level to Bowyer.

To be fair, our problem with King was mainly just not playing him, full stop. If he was getting regular game time, even if it was on the wing, I don't think he'd have been in as much of a hurry to leave.

Totally agree. Will be tough for Cardiff to bounce back too in my view, Warnock or not, but he will definitely make it easier for them. Fulham will have the players to score a lot of goals this season, but teh Championship is a ruthless league to cut your teeth as a manager. WBA are a reall funny one this season. Their saving grace last year was a lethal strike force which has gone and has only been replaced with a gamble in Zahore. Bilic is a real coup, but does he have the squad to stand out? Think they'll need to bring in a few for them to be optimistic.

Looked at the thread on their message board about him this morning. Looked like around November/December time he was getting some really impressive reviews. By the end of the season, less so, but with many fans saying that they'll still have him. Something worth considering is that when you've had a few years in the top division, your frame of reference as to what classes as a good player changes a bit. Young lad playing his first full season in defence in a team which is expected to go up, but doesn't have the overall quality to do so (exactly like we hadn't) is a tough gig. He'll be better for the experience.

One saving grace. Some attempt to at least make it 'halved'. This is not a good kit

Looks like Chapman got 45 minutes in the behind closed doors game earlier today. Hopefully putting worries that he's still injuted to bed

Exactly! Good managers want to surround themselves with talented people. Insecure ones want colleagues and employees who won't answer back.

Agree. Can't have unrealistic expectations of reserve keepers at this level, but I think we've seen enough of Leutwiler to see that whilst he has good points, we want to keep him on the bench as much as we can. I'd be absolutely delighted with Ruddy, but I think all the names mentioned would be entirely acceptable. Can't quite believe that so many are dead against Hart either. I know he's not at the same level as he has been, but look at how players like Pantilimon who are accident prone in the top flight look a different class in this league.

Would be the best of the names mentioned for me.

Under the same circumstances? I.e. we have recently been champions of England & had Shearer in his prime? Basically as much as Kane would cost in the current market, comfortably in the hundreds of millions,

Has wonderful talent, but no. 1 - we're well stocked for players in is position, like you say 2 - I don't think he's reliable. Not saying that this is necessarily down to a bad attitude, he may have just been a confidence player, but for whatever reason he goes for long spells playing within himself. In the latter months under Bowyer he should've been our main creative outlet, and he consistently under delivered. Wish him well, but not for me.

Sounds like someone's trying to get us to commit to a higher fee. Be patient at that price, if Brentford want to pay it then good luck to them.