Only some potential interest in Jordan Archer.

RE: Damien Johnson. It was more a general comment. He was promoted a month ago today and we are still yet to replace him. We have made enquiries/low bids for defenders in Germany and Holland (mostly Germany). But not pushed through with it. I only know of 2 names. One of which I mentioned the day before yesterday and one that is already widely known.

I really don't buy that argument. We have a loan space still open for instance and plenty of decent affordable defenders have moved during this window. We spent a good 6-9 months scouting Europe, particularly Holland and Germany. Now we are fudging about with silly low offers and halfhearted enquiries. Hell, we are even making a pigs ear of replacing our U23's head coach.

Last season Derby County scored 69 goals (5 goals more than us), but conceded 54 goals (15 goals less than us). That is the margin of error in terms of competing for either automatic promotion or play-offs. 3 defenders have departed this summer: Ashley Cole (played 9 games for them last season in the Championship) Marcus Olsson (played 0 games for them last season in the Championship) Alex Pearce (unused sub a handful of times last season and didn't play for them in the Championship) Today they have added highly talented defender Matthew Clarke on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, signed equally talented defender Krystian Bielik from Arsenal for £7.5 million rising to £10 million. If Mowbray thinks we are going to do better than teams who have improved on an already solid defence without significant improvements being made to our defence, he is living in cloud cuckoo land!

Lots of inquiries and low offers. No reward as yet. The last 48 hours it has been really difficult to find anything out bar what Mowbray said in the presser.

God help us if he partners Mulgrew at the back! ?

We could have recalled him. Could have certainly renewed his contract come the end of the season as well.

The fact of the matter is we are a CB down. Rodwell/Downing out. Tosin in. We have too many numbers in midfield and not enough at the back for my liking.

Yes I know that obviously. I meant defensive, as in defence. Would you feel more comfortable if I'd said back-line a couple more times?

Can't help but go into his season a little bit baffled. One core thing we learned last season was that our defence was as leaky as the Conservatives budget. 64 goals scored, and 69 against. The first thing Mowbray did in response was allow Paul Downing to leave for a minimal fee to Portsmouth and Rodwell departed not terribly long after. It took one full month from the departure of Rodwell, and two full months from the departure of Downing for Mowbray to bring in any defensive reinforcements. That defensive reinforcement is a loan with a season's worth experience at this level. So a loan replacing two players on a long-term contract. In fact if you recognise Wharton as a 1st team option you could argue his departure on loan has left us further weaker. It's worth reminding ourselves that Tosin has been our only defensive reinforcement this summer (if you exclude Mowbray's line of thinking that Downing can play along the back-line) When you take into account defensive injuries last season that saw us playing Magloire and the departures we have already seen. The only conclusion is that our back-line is vastly weaker than last season, following a time when the manager said that was his main concern. I can dismiss playing forwards as wingers (to a degree). But I am never going to be sold on playing wingers/midfielders at right-back/left-back. That special privilege can only be held by Brett Emerton and maybe at a push Ben Marshall. The end of the last January window left us scratching our heads in terms of defensive reinforcements. Another full summer without defensive reinforcements at least being done early enough to participate in pre-season training with the team should give everybody pause.

Matt Jansen should be brought back to replace Damien Johnson as U23's head coach, or at the very least replace George Boateng at the U13's. About time he came home to Rovers really.

Have highlighted the players who aren't actually wingers. Would feel a heck of a lot more comfortable with actual pacey wingers on board. Prefer not to make do.

209 games in his professional footballing career. 32 goals scored and 27 assists. Not a brilliant record for a winger who has played in some decent squads over the years. Still find it mind-boggling that he was signed by Liverpool for £20 million and within 5 years been released on a free. He was then released on a free again by Fulham 12 months after signing for them having played ONE game! 3 mins earlier...

Waldemar Anton (sure he's a player of interest) and of course Robin Bormuth. I am pretty certain there is a Holland based defender of interest as well. But haven't got any names. I suspect Jordan Archer is of interest to Mowbray. Not a chance in Hell.

Mowbray: More irons in the fire Tony wanted a centre back and he's got one, and the boss says he's looking at further additions

He won the European Under-21 Championships and has over 100 appearances some of which are in the Bundesliga for Hannover 96.

One of the names I have heard (from a journo and somebody in the sport) is not on your list because his contract expires in 2021. I don't think we have a chance of signing him due to his reputation and credentials. He currently plays in 2. Bundesliga after relegation last season and looking at his data on Transfermarkt his market value is huge. He's got mixed nationality and played up until this year in the German U21 team and has been a nailed on 1st teamer for his side. If we pulled off that signing it would be an amazing coup. But cannot see it happening myself.

Walton is being looked at as Number 1 by the club and that is certainly what Brighton expected from his loan spell. But the player who is being talked about has way more experience and age to him. It would be Walton's jersey to lose. Not a chance with his wages. From what I gather. The players Rovers are looking at ply their trades at the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga and the Eredivisie.

Think Mowbray wants the next signing to be a goalkeeper. The club are bouncing some low-ish offers off of clubs in Germany and Holland for CB's who are running down their contracts. Bit of a bizarre move to make at this late stage of the transfer window. For me, if we don't tie down at least another CB and Winger, we have left a risk going forward into January with a lack of pace on the wings and a commanding CB for when Mulgrew has a patch of poor form. Current goalkeeper target is out of contract and has been mentioned on here before.

The Tosin info came from a Manchester based journalist. The transfer info from somebody else.

The hold up on the Tosin deal was over Manchester City demanding a minimum number of games played and Mowbray unwilling to promise he would be in the 1st team from the off. I believe Rovers have compromised by allowing City the chance to recall him in January if they are not satisfied with his game time and development. Ironic thing is City fudging about regards his getting game time has deprived Mowbray seeing him play for Rovers in pre-season which would have made it more likely he would be playing for us at the start of the season. I think the move for Robin Bormuth is still there. But Rovers are possibly looking at a couple of other CB's in Holland and Germany. Haven't a clue who they are.

Honestly what a shambles! What are we even looking for right now? A CB? Is this a CB as Mowbray said at the beginning of the club who doesn't just make up the numbers, but is going to force his way into the team or is it just going to give us options. The message keeps changing as often as our targets do. Quite obvious now that we have waded through our list of plan A's, B's and C's. The club is now seemingly in panic-buy mode!

£5 bet for Help For Heroes that he will still be in a Rovers kit come the beginning of the season?

I know you aren't conflating Evans with Shearer. But Shearer was always going to have attention. Evans on the other-hand won't have attention considering the excessive wages he is on.

Rothwell's goal was a 25 yard thunderbolt. Brereton's was a well taken bullet-header. I doubt very much we will see Corry Evans go during this window when you consider he has been used in the new marketing campaigns for the new shirts.