Angry_Pirate

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!

Signing Hanley would definitely diffuse some of the angst around here (myself included). We need a championship quality CB to come in and Hanley has been signed by teams that have won this league twice in 3 years and was formidable and POTY at us 4 seasons ago. Raya Nyambe - Lenihan - Hanley - Bell Travis - Downing Armstrong - Dack - Rothwell Graham Subs: GK, Mulgrew, Evans, Davenport, Bennett, Brereton, Butterworth. Glaring issue is Bennett 100% starts in the team with TM in charge and will do at the expense of either Nyambe, Travis or Rothwell. ? If Hanley is a loan I want to see some money spent on CM as we need options beyond Evans and especially Smallwood.

To save other people a Google... "Liam Lindsay for £2m. Adam Davies, Jordan Cousins, Nick Powell and Lee Gregory on free transfers." Gregory is a meh signing to me, but Cousins is highly rated and we all know what Powell is about and we could have done worse than all 5 at our positions of need. GK, CB, CM, AMC, CF - Talk about building a spine of a team for £2m. Dont see any of them being nailed on best X1 here but certainly upgrades on most championship 18's. The queue for the buffet is getting long and if Mowbray ain't careful we're going to end up with only the last tuna and egg mayo sandwich which has a piece of bread missing.

Souness was a big admirer of a certain Tim Cahill that summer too, though he obviosuly chose Everton for something like £2.5m. He would have been an absolute game changer for us. Unreal attacking midfielder. That Millwall team lost Steven Reid, Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill in 12 months and also had a certain Burnley manager in their team. Wonder what Cahill would cost on today's market. £25m? (Edit: When Eveton bought him from Millwall I mean)

Luke Freeman close to a £3m move to Sheffield United from QPR. Didnt we have double that rejected 10 months ago? There seems to be a worrying disparity between the quality of players we get signed and ones (in some cases we enter talks with) that choose not to join. McGinn, Freeman, Bauer and Assombalonga compared to Smallwood, S. Downing, P. Downing and Brereton. Mowbray talks a good game yet keeps ending up with the classic "10 to 2 bird" in the kebab house.

Blackburnborough Rovers

When you read something and it leaves you speechless. Also, Joe Aribo choosing Rangers. I know they have Steven Gerrard etc but to turn down Championship and apparently Premier League teams in favour of the SPL, again, speechless. Lots of good free agents starting to make their moves, and we've secured Downing.