M_B

I didn't "write him off", I said he had a shocker against Watford, which he did. As shaky as Pears sometimes is, I can't remember him costing 3 in one game.

I'd be happier going down the tried and tested route,even if It means signing an "oldie". With having only Pears, it's imperative we get this one right. Keeper is such an easy one to get wrong, you only have to watch the highlights show to realise that. You'd sometimes think Pears is the only dodgy keeper in the league, have a look at Johansson's performance for Stoke against Watford.

It is interesting, we're in decent company there, it backs up the view that we've definitely become more resilient.

Mac's pass was timed and weighted to perfection. 👍

I've never understood the "I'd sign him but not at that price, or wages" point of view,as if we've all to chip in every week. If there's one club right now which isn't going stretch itself, it's Blackburn Rovers,honestly, don't worry yourselves over it.

That's always the danger, but having secured a much better sell on than Birmingham did, Wharton could well end up fetching more than Bellingham.

There's a reason you said "player", and not keeper.

Totally agree, the more we get linked with gambles like this one, the more I think that an older, experienced keeper is the way to go for this season.

The Wharton deal is all about the sell on.

Page 666,what's the worst that could happen 🙄

I don't think it's that black and white. If you've a head coach who has knowledge within the game,and they all have, it would be detrimental if not mental to completely disregard his input. There is obviously going to be crossover at certain points. The knack would be for both parties to have trust in each other, although you would expect the recruitment team to have the major share.

He may well not be a target anyway.

My opinion is that if, and we don't know if it's true, but if Eustace wants a former player, then his knowledge of said player would be many times more than yours or mine. Different if he was lumping on someone he hadn't worked with before. As I said the other day, I'm not against signing an experienced keeper at this point. If that's Eustace's opinion, then signing someone he knows and trusts short term would seem logical.

You're looking at it the wrong way round, if Eustace had any doubts about him at all at Birmingham, why would he possibly go out on a limb to sign him for Rovers?

My counter argument is obviously that Eustace has managed him before. What other argument would I use, or do I need?

Don't know why there's such negativity towards Ruddy to be honest, if anyone should know his capabilities/limitations it's Eustace. If he wants Ruddy, then Ruddy it is, Eustace will live or die by his decision. On a side note, Victor Johansson was a much desired potential signing for us. If anyone has seen his "performance" for Stoke at Watford, they might be thinking we've dodged a bullet there.

Ta

Have we actually been linked with him?

Is Broughton coming back to not buy players for Tomasson?

I wouldn't swap back.

I think you can add Haaland to that list, I could be wrong. It's because virtually all the power is with the player,unless under a long contract, meaning a lot of the time, free transfers are often the better players. Which is why, signing a "free" transfer often isn't anything of the sort,although you may well end up with a better player because the fact there's no fee, means he can ask for better terms for himself.

Once again, I agree, but I wasn't t talking about players who cost £5 million,i never was. I compared a £2.5 million player in Yates to a free player in Ohashi. You never answered, but which one would you have? At that level, a lot of money can often get you not very much. That's not to say that we shouldn't be looking to pay for the right player. If Gestede wants to pay a fee, the club should try to support him.

Agree with that, that's exactly what should be happening. It may well be what happens with the Fulham player. The point I'm making is that signing a free or virtually free transfer, doesn't necessarily mean you're signing a lower quality player,it's often the opposite. It isn't justifying cost cutting by Venky’s, it's people doing their job properly.

The concept of signing well scouted, quality players for nothing or very little, like Ohashi and Gueye, rather than lazily signing the likes of Jerry Yates for £2.5 million. Gestede has made a good start, I'm sure he'll use any transfer money well.

You obviously don't understand the concept.