M_B

That's just a ridiculous reply,you're picking out the bits that suit an argument and ignoring the rest. A million in wages is the same as a million in transfer fees. The lower the fee, the more you can pay in wages, which may get you a better player.

I've just said that the Fulham player would be a different situation. It isn't black and white, we might pick up a gem for £2 million, but in general you don't get much for your money at that level. Buying 5 players for £10 million wouldn't necessarily appease me any more than 5 free transfers where we may have to pay higher wages to get better quality.

Just as an example, £2.5 million gets you Jerry Yates. Would you right now swap Ohashi for Yates? Also, would you be happier if we'd spent £2.5 million on Ohashi than get him for next to nothing? What I'm saying is, at that low level, with the right scouting, we're as likely to pick someone up of similar or better quality on a free or there abouts. Not sure of the potential fee for Germaine. The link with the Fulham player at £6 million is obviously a different level. You're then looking to speculate to accumulate.

Not necessarily bothered how much we spend, as opposed to getting the scouting spot on. It isn't as if we'll be forking out £10 million on a player, at the level Rovers will be spending, it's as likely we'll get a good player for nowt, or next to now. The money may well be better spent on wages than transfer fees.

You've won

It'll all come out in the wash, as it always does. I've just watched Watford's goals against Stoke, Johansen was a popular choice to come here, no thanks on that performance.

.... and Derby beat Boro today.

I'm not saying I'm opposed to a "gamble", just that the gamble needs to be a dead cert. Otherwise it's Pears as an unchallenged number 1 for another season. Obvious scenario would be one of each category.

For where we are right now, I'd be more inclined to go the experienced, old head, keeper route. It's the most important signing of the lot and we cannot afford another Wahlstedt catastrophe. Looks like we can trust Gestede, but unless he's 100% sure of an unproven keeper, I'd be happy to sign an experienced stop gap.

You haven't even seen it properly, which probably sums up the conversation.

Watch the full highlights and you'll see I'm right. From behind the goal, Tronstad calls for the ball, normally he would control it and play it back to Pears as in 20 times in a game, but he miscontrolled it. Pears then actually gets his angles right and Sergeant shoots wide. Tronstad then apologised for his mistake.

Think you're getting mixed up. It was Tronstad who asked for the ball, lost control and apologised after Sergeant shot wide. Tronstad bailed Pears out from his cock up passing straight to the Norwich player.

Definitely blowing in the second half.

No surprise.

We were discussing him in the local merchants, as you do. Maybe a bit harsh, but one lad said Tuesday night was a glorified training game, and Siggurdson still went down twice injured.

I'll probably be branded a Venkys stooge for this, but I'm not necessarily bothered how much the club spends, I'm more interested that they've done due diligence over whoever comes in. Gestede's signings so far give hope that we're now looking in the right places,and at the right levels. Most important of all, any new keeper signing has to be absolutely spot on.

If we are to replace him, another silver lining for me is the way Gestede's signings have started the season. It does at least give confidence going into the last couple of weeks of the window.

I wasn't just meaning the ones we're effectively competing against, I don't think any club with or without money is up to full speed for a good few weeks.

Similar to what I was saying the other day. All teams are carrying/playing players who aren't 100%. All teams will also add to their squad before the end of August. If Rovers can be one of the best at overcoming this period, before other teams no doubt fork out millions more on players than we do, then there are important points to be had.

He renegotiated his contract in December ish.

That's probably a perfect summing up of where the squad stands and needs strengthening.

As I said,to me last season was needs must, I don't know why a "home win" only took on its own life after the win at Sunderland, and was more important to some than a win at Leeds for example. We stayed up, job done. I was always prepared to start afresh this season, it's a decent start.

The criticism was that he hadn't won a game. The "home game" criticism only became a thing after we'd won at Sunderland. It was at this point that Stokegate took on a life of its own. The most ridiculous thing is that it would have carried on into this season, for that reason alone, thank the lord we beat Derby.

Perfect draw really.

Great shot last night, brilliant save.