The goalkeeper Mowbray signs could be my final straw with him. If and only IF the replacement is of a decent (better) quality to Raya, and not spunked our entire budget (profit) in the process - will I deem the decision to let Raya leave be not a complete mistake (though time will prove us it will be I'm sure). Gut says I'm not going to be happy. I'll honestly be hoping otherwise.

Two words, Tony Mowbray. Serious question for the TM supporters. Suppose we sign a (universally agreed) dreadful keeper (in the next few weeks) as our Raya replacement... what say you then?

With each passing day I get more and more disillusioned with Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray out.

What's done is done. But I'm very confident David Raya is a name we will be talking about for years to come about just how badly we (Mowbray) screwed up here, and quite how much of the fan base agreed at the time. Amazing how we can sell a player on a Saturday... when was the last time we did any incoming business on a weekend?? Karl Darlow, Joe Hart, Joe Day, Fraser Forster, Scott Carson, (Insert Middlesbrough GK)... I'd actually be happiest with Darlow, everything considered. Good luck David! Hope you prove people wrong. See you in the playoffs??

Love how the pal debate has gotten onto its 5th page ? Growing up, the rumour around my primary school was that "pal" stood for "personal a*se licker" ?‍♂️ Darlow for Raya, although I'd probably rather keep Raya it is not as desperate a transfer merry-go-round as it seemed at 10am. Spending all the Raya money on his replacement still seems rather redundant to me. But Darlow is up there for what we could hope in exchange and it refreshes the BRFC scapegoat.

Darlow is a better age (and wage), was huge for Forest back in the day. It simply cannot be Joe Hart. ... we need to sell some deadwood.

Who is taking the bigger gamble though? Rovers for selling Raya for such a (potentially) low fee (£3m ish) or Brentford for buying him? Brenford probably sold Bentley for more, and he is at best on par with Raya and only had 1 year left. Raya leaving will still leave us with no clear CB partner for Lenihan, a bobbins GK "coach" and no #1 GK. ... and maybe Sam Gallagher ??

I'm moaning that he's being sold. It seems very 50:50. So the current strategy is what... Let's sell a 23 year old with bags of potential, fantastic shot stopper who plays behind a porous defense and learns from an unqualified GK coach... and replace him with a past it GK (Hart) who will swallow up the entire transfer fee in his signing on fee and wages? Cool.

That graph either tells us that 1) Raya is much better than a lot give him credit for, 2) it's open season on our goal every game or 3) both. Knowing Raya doesn't get much credit on here... The outfield players (not just defenders) have to help out on crosses, win headers, track runners etc AND it's their job to prevent the crosses coming in and to prevent shots on goal. The don't. That graph indicates that we actually already have an elite shot stopper at this level in Raya, and without serious defensive improvements - were still screwed. For what it's worth, Johnson-Travis will probably save us 10 goals compared to Evans-Smallwood. We need a new CB.

Selling your #1 when you dont have a replacement is a poor strategy. We sold Friedel once we secured Robinson. I wonder what this "better than Raya" replacment will think when he comes in for talks and realises he will be learning from (community) coach Ben Benson. Never heard of a person more out of their depth. Compare him to almost any other GK coach and ask yourself why Raya hasn't developed as quickly as we wanted.

Potential £5m plus a hopeful sell on fee. Okay money for what he's achieved I guess. I do see us still regretting it, and we are currently much weaker until we replace him. Absolutely no excuse why we cant get a quality replacement for much less than £3-£5m and spend a decent sum on a CB from the rest of our budget. Next week should be busy!

Comparing selling a goalkeeper a lot of fans were sad to see go without (knowingly) having a replacement lined up.

Talk about mixed news. Delighted with Johnson and think he walks into our team and will turn out to be just what we need this season. Smallwood has to go now??? So so annoyed about Raya and Mowbray. He has simply been made the scapegoat for every goal we conceded last season. £3m is a joke too. Good luck to him, for a youth team player he deserved much better support from both the manager and (some) fans. This is like the selling Brad Friedel scenario, except then we all knew we were getting Paul Robinson. Who on earth are we replacing Raya with? Truth be told I would have been happy for a straight swap between Raya and Daniel Bentley. But as of now it's a win-win for Brentford and we have Jayson Luitwiler. We hold our breath...

Frank Lampards Derby County FC were, to a man, chasing shadows and being played off the park that night in our best performance in years. But useful to single out Johnson for the sake of debate. Gee I wonder why are we "getting rid of" our #1 GK, who could also be argued is our, what, debatably 6th, best player? (Graham, Dack, Lenihan, Travis, Rothwell top 5?) Perspective.

I don't think I'm exaggerating as I genuinely cannot think of a better example... but Bradley Johnsons performance at Ewood for Norwich (in a 2-1 defeat) 4 seasons ago was the most impressive individual performance from a player I have seen in the Championship at Ewood. Not just for the 20 yard rocket to win it. (Of course we have seen better players - Zaha etc) Clearly Johnson isn't the same age or even capable of the same performances, but unlike Glen Whelan or Charlie Adam, I think he would be an outstanding signing for a 32 year old on a 2 year deal. Johnson and Travis would actually allow for an attacking trio ahead of them in (Dack, Rothwell and Armstrong/Chapman) - the complete opposite of what we could do with Smallwood and Evans. ... of course it probably won't happen.

For what it's worth that's exactly what I've heard from a few people who work at Rovers... as far back as January. Think of the pressure surrounding the Brereton deal... the manager (possibly) knows a big window will increase expectation and there are only so many £2-£8m players he can keep on his bench behind Bennett, Williams, Evans, Smallwood etc. Ironically, by spending money, TM (thinks he) is actually increasing the odds of getting sacked as a result of it... he's probably right. I don't expect him to see past December if I'm being honest/hopeful. Spend or especially no spend.

I for one am very happy to keep Raya. He would be a player (like Cairney) who we would regret losing so hastily. Get behind the lad and improve his defense and FFS his coaching. Surprised we only want £4m to be honest. I'd have said £6m plus future add ons as an opening. Ironically, Assombalonga is probably one of the few Boro players I'd be happy (thrilled) with! Much better option than Gallacher who is too much in the (potential) Brereton mould. Though the only position that has any chance of "taking us up" is a CB.

Call me part of the minority, but I genuinely believe that Mowbray is the main problem within the transfer market and not Venkys failing at stumping up the cash.

Vs Charlton: Luetwiler Bennett - Lenihan - Mulgrew - Williams Evans/Smallwood - Travis Downing - Dack - Armstong Graham Calling it now. ??

Ask yourself what the bigger issue is, is it: 1) Central defender 2) David Raya Unless we sign a proper CB to play with Lenihan then it doesn't matter who plays in goal on Saturdays. Improve Raya's coaching and back 4 and we might realise how special he could become. Those suggesting selling Raya because we can "do better" must also believe that Middlesbrough's back up GK is better than Raya as that is who TM will buy. Our manager cannot be allowed to sell off one of most promising players, epicially with his track record of signing players. Would be a move we regret long after Mowbray is sacked before the end of this season.

I'm amused at the whole "Brentford dont spend money" angle therefore some assume we will sell Raya at their reduced bid and not his value. "Hello Poch, yes, this is Brentford, we are wanting to sign Harry Kane, however we dont spent over £3m on a player... you'll take it? GREAT!" SMH. Replacing Raya without a better CB pairing in front will only highlight to people how much we're going to miss Raya. The lad is 23 years old and being 'trained' by the least qualified GK coach in the football league (probably) with only 1 player who "likes to head the ball" in the back 4 ahead of him who has missed about 40 games over 2 seasons. It will be a mistake selling him, a disgrace selling him on the cheap.

I've said it before, but selling Raya this summer will be one we regret massively for a long time. People state he is not Brad Friedel, true, but hes also not Jake Kean, Jason Steele, Simon Eastwood, Jayson Luitwiler or Gregorz Sandomierski... ie our goalkeeping history (without Raya) over the past 7 years. Frightening.

Left CB is our glaring need, followed (IMO) by a midfield partner for Travis. I know we all have our wish lists and areas we think we can improve but we can't buy an upgrade at GK, RB, CB, LB ,CM, RW and CF all in one go. Look at Fulham spending £100m+ and their team losing everything as a consequence. Rovers need a quality CB ASAP and a quality CM this window. The rest can be assessed as we go with maybe a loan or deadline day purchase. There is no sense spoiling our budget elsewhere before those two positions are sorted.

Assombalonga, Downing, McNair, Chapman, Smallwood, Adam Clayton. Players Mowbray has signed or we have been strongly linked too... He quacking loves Middlesbrough doesn't he!! Is there anyone else at Boro who we can want? Gestede? Flint? Ayala? Friend? Randolph? Think bigger Tony!