Admiral Nelsen

Can't argue with almost all of that. All I'd say that is that Hughes level of success in the transfer market (and even he was responsible for some turkeys; Rigters, Vogel, Berner to name 3) is an awfully high standard to judge everyone else towards. Fitness levels too for that matter, was it Mourinho who said that the Rovers team of that period were the fittest in the league? I'd look at his signings a bit more favourably too. Dack is the only player who'd go for megabucks, but we'd have to say that Rothwell & Armstrong would go down as good investments who would feasibly go for big sums in the future. Too early to say with Chapman or Davenport, but the odds are decent. You could even argue that BB is too early in his career to be confident one way or the other about he's going to develop, but that's not a hill I'm willing to die on.

It's one of four categories that countries can be assigned to after being given a score on various things, civil liberties, free elections, levels of corruption etc. i) Full Democracy, ii) Flawed Democracy iii) Hybrid Regime iv) Authoritarian The definition for flawed democracies are states in which "elections are fair and free and basic civil liberties are honoured but may have issues (e.g. media freedom infringement). These nations have significant faults in other democratic aspects, including underdeveloped political culture, low levels of participation in politics, and issues in the functioning of governance." Not perfect labels by any means (the US is classed as a flawed democracy too).

Feel similar about this than I do about Downing; could be astute if the rest of this summer's business is of the right calibre. I'd be disappointed if he's there to be a replacement for Reed with nobody else coming in, but a bit of experience probably wouldn't go amiss if we're looking for Travis & Davenport to make big contributions.

As much as this would be amazing, it's probably either: i) A story to try and put pressure on Leeds to sell ii) A story literally made up from nowhere to get a site which nobody has heard of a bit of attention. Having said all that, Nixon reckons that there's nothing in it, so expect the Quataris at Ewood holding Rovers scarves aloft within the month.

Couldn't really think of an appropriate thread to put this, but here's an unexpected link which has a vanishingly small probability of even having the slightest chance of being true http://sportsrecents.com/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-wants-to-takeover-blackburn-rovers/?fbclid=IwAR0oagGPaKjO0WTgfxEv-XmUbSOQuC2D6YYTlJUOLnbupfXFjFUlemnqfoQ

I've only really seen him in the play off final, but he looked a quality above that level at least. Carried the ball excellently, looked unbelievably athletic. The sort of player you think TM may have had in mind when we signed Samuel

I actually quite like the first two, we've definitely had worse away kits. Can't say I'm overly fond of the third one though!

Would love this. I know no club treats its away shirts as particularly sacrosanct, but I've always thought that a club like ours which more than any other in the country is associated with a particular style of shirt, I don't know why we don't play on that more in our away kits and stick to halves. Colours could easily change; red & black halves, yellow & black halves, yellow & blue haves, whatever.

Can't speak about last year, but he played centre mid most weeks when he was at West Ham under Big Sam. Not sure how this would work in our system, he's not going to be number 10 so can he play as deep as he would need to play centrally? Probably not, but he's certainly more versatile than an out-and-out winger. I'm thinking Big Sam era Pedersen. This is the crux of it for me. If he's a Conway replacement, I'm completely okay with it, even pleased with it. If his wages are as high as 15k a week, suddenly that would put him amongst our higher earners and that would definitely be too much of an outlay for me. Waggott seems to be putting quite a lot of emphasis on the Mowbray and Venus links, so hopefully that would be more about convincing him with what we have on the football side rather than offering the biggest contract. My view in a nutshell

Can't say for a minute that the Downing link fills me with excitement. Some of the above comments are making me a little more optimistic that this could work out though, sensible wages permitting. Links with previous ageing flops are natural, but I think a big difference with Downing is that he won't be expected to be the main man. Murphy and Whittingham were both seen as a class above the leagues they found themselves in, and should dominate at that level, but clearly weren't up to it physically. This becomes all the worse when it turns out that the rest of the team aren't up to playing the sort of possession based football that they we're brought in for. Not saying for a minute that this is going to be a roaring success, but if Downing is brought in for one the three behind the striker, then you'd expect that defenders will be concerned enough about shutting down Dack & Rothwell that Downing would have a bit of room to work with. Might end up being a shrewd move as a Conway replacement with an eye on playing the ball on the deck a lot more. Ultimately, we'll be judging the success of the window on getting our defensive issues solved, getting good back up for DG, and probably getting a Reed replacement. So long as we get those bases covered, won't be losing too much sleep over Downing.

Great shout. Believe he can play all across the back four too? Could be a very shrewd signing.

Keep a player for 4-5 seasons, his value might end up going up substantially just through player inflation

This fella? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48471401 No matter what you think about the Scottish league, doing that as a 19 year old is impressive, especially when you're playing for one of the smaller sides. Even so, I think we're done spending big money on potential, this season has to be about investing funds who can definitely come in and do it now imo. £3million could get us near Luke Freeman, for instance.

Don't know enough about all the players you mention to say one way or another, but I agree entirely with where you see the squad. Definitely the bit about Bell. He for sure has some more improving to do, but I think one of the missed stories from our bad run from February was that he was getting steadily better, especially in defence. Cooper is a name that has cropped up a few times with various clubs, seems highly rate and potentially the dominant centre back that we need.

Elphick is a great shout. Not usually a fan of signing players over 30, but given we've got a young squad, a player with his pedigree as a foil for Darragh could be a master-stroke. Adomah could be quality, but seems to blow hot and cold too much for me. He'd probably expect to start at a club who finished mid table last year, and be on a decent whack, I'd be interested if his wages wouldn't be too high.

Think this is right, at games he's been backed to the hilt (bar the odd frustrated groan). The way everyone celebrated his goal and gave him support generally at Bolton was a really nice moment. There's still something to be said for people making their mind up a bit too quickly in my view, and social media & forums really put them under the microscope, but they're different issues that probably relate to 4 or 5 players at every club at any one time.

No reason to believe that this is actually on the cards, but how would people feel about a cheeky bid for Aiden McGeady now that Sunderland are spending another season in the third tier? If we're playing three behind a lone striker, currently we have Rothwell, Dack, Armstrong, Chapman and at a push Bennett. Seems to me like we're probably one short unless we're asking players to play away from their natural position. Never really been convinced by his character, but there's no doubt that he can do it at this level and he knows Mowbray from Celtic.

Suppose any Assombalonga interest has died with Pulis' sacking. Hard to see how the next Boro manager, whoever it turns out to be, would not try and play to his strengths more than the last one.

A gamble with poor odds, but a potentially massive pay out. I'd avoid, but I can definitely see the temptation. Another tempting one would be Adrien (no idea if that's realistic or not). Dropped the odd howler in the top flight, but could be top class at this level.

Because I don't agree that our mid-table finish was due to our player of the year not doing his job! I think 15 goals and bringing Dack, Armstrong, Rothwell and others into play as well as he does is good enough for a top 6 finish if we stop the goals at the other end. He needs help though to be sure.

Have to take issue with that, almost all of our attacking play last season went through Graham. Dack & Armstrong relied heavily on him for any sort of platform. Rothwell managed to create for himself towards the end, but Graham's holdup play is up there with the best in the division. He might not be a 20 goal a season striker anymore (even though 15 at his age isn't at all to be sniffed at!) but his contribution is certainly well above average. Next season is about taking some of the burden away from him having to do it consistently three times a week, not massively upgrading on his quality imo.

Not really, other than the one Nixon story saying we'd probably need to sell before we could afford Gally for 5 million. Obviously that could mean: i) our overall budget is less than £5 million ii) our remaining budget for a striker, after setting aside funds for all the other positions is less than £5 million iii) Nixon is guessing because he said 'probably need a sale' iv) Nixon is guessing because, well, obviously he is I don't really know what I'm expecting. I don't see any Brereton-scale outlays if we're going for players in their prime. If I had to guess I'd say a couple of frees (of which it seems like Fielding could be the first, but lets see), one maybe two transfer fee signings from Europe and maybe one player in the Freeman mould who would cost a few million quid.

I know that's a disgrace, everything wrong with modern football etc. but am I alone in thinking that's hilarious? Villa supporting mate thought he was rather hard done to under the previous management. Can see him going to a championship club for a heavily subsidised loan next season, think we could do worse personally.

According to a Sunderland fan I know, it sounds like they're in a position not too dissimilar to where we were last season. 2 or 3 players that are far, far too good for the third tier, other players that are probably top end of L1 but with question marks about how well they could adapt. They've got used to winning again, so maybe exercised a few demons there. Having said that I get the impression though that they're relying on McGeady and others even more than we relied on Dack & Mulgrew, and the wages are equally if not even more eye watering. Also don't think there's anything that you'd really call a feel-good-factor there either given how they've coughed and spluttered and missed out on the top 2. I don't think they would be in as good a position as we were to compete if they win today, but I think a loss could be disasterous. I know less about where Charlton are at, but I'd be dissapointed if we'll be concerned about either of them as competition next season.

Be interesting to see if Stoke take the same moral stance if a player who is actually doing the business gets convicted! Clearly a very good player in there, but not good odds that he'll turn his career round at this point in my view. He'll go to a championship cub who get desperate in all likelihood. I hope that it's not us.