Selling Raya without a replacement already lined up would be a huge mistake. We wouldn't have a keeper left worthy of the name. If we don't know who we are getting to replace him, we risk downgrading an already vulnerable area. As well as being overcharged ('Oh Blackburn badly need a goalie and have a fresh 3 million sitting in their pockets from the last one'). I actually don't want to sell him at all, I just want serious competition for him. If we do sell him it must include a huge sell on clause and not happen before we have at least a good deal of progress on a replacement. Think we should hold out for that 4 million too, regardless whether Brentford want to pay it. Lad has at least ten years left in his career, so that's 300k a season, in a market where value inflates hugely over time, on a player who could still improve a lot and sell for far more. Uncomfortable with this.

Is that last part your opinion or something you've heard/read? Interesting if so. I've not seen this area as being as much of a priority as others have (I'd rather just stop playing two DMs and strengthen the defence and get a striker with the budget), and my opinion has been either buy someone utterly class or very cheap but definitely a step up on everyone who isn't Travis. Hopefully this counts as the latter. Probably only get one good season out of him but that gives us time to see how the kids progress and what's needed. If he's up to it. If there is a similar budget to it, we now have the vast bulk of it for a CB, striker and whatever the 'up to' 5th signing is. Heard anything on the price? My guess was in the 300-500k range?

Jesus. Shame he threw his toys out the pram, weakened our bargaining hand. Hope we still managed to get a sell-on. I feel it should always be inserted in a sale of a young player.

He virtually said as much in that interview lately (an interview which seriously dampened my expectations). He was saying defence isn't a higher priority than other areas and the reasons being our upturn in form near the end and the new system we are looking to implement meaning the defence doesn't come under as much pressure. Suicide.

What makes you think the winger we got and the central midfielder we are linked with aren't the defenders? ?

LT regurgitate Derby Telegraph linking us to Bradley Johnson And the one they sourced it from... Derby Telegraph say we are in for Bradley Johnson

Well.... https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17749866.rovers-linked-derby-midfielder-bradley-johnson/ Basically sounds like the LT are just regurgitating it for now, even quoting the Derby paper. Journo Adam Lord. Seems the denial or confirmation will have to wait as it sounds like it's new info to the LT.

We don't have one fancy dan in the engine room yet? Who are you thinking of?

I didn't doubt that the system needs some adaptation, I just said we will be fine (ie, similar position to last time) IF we are still using that system. Indications are we won't. My point is Graham himself isn't a problem, or anything like poor, currently. His hold up play is decent enough that it doesn't require us to predictably pump it aerially to him. We simply choose to. He can hold it up on the deck too and I'm sure he'd make a good foil in a two up top. Again, unless his legs go.

Fair enough, I'll just have to start seriously doubting your postings if you're happy to adopt the techniques of a known charlatan. We'll leave it there then.

Or it shows how far off your opinion on Graham is. I'm fairly sure you're the only poster on here who thinks he is currently crap. It's a big worry whether he will deteriorate this year, but if he stays fit and plays like last season we're fine (in the current system of play).

Please stop saying fake news. Trump invented/popularised it and he's a fucking idiot. The vast majority of the time he says it, he's lying. This causes my brain to briefly assume you're also lying, even when in this case you were correct. Cheers.

Exactly what I was thinking. They're obviously not going to sell it out. They have Derby and Marseille at home too, so you can be sure of that (side note - why do we only ever have one home friendly?). They're just cheating themselves of a bit more money and atmosphere, and cheating some fans who'd like to go, if they don't give out more tickets. Surprised we are selling that many for a friendly in Scotland, personally, but hey if the demand is there. Maybe it's due to there being no 'prestige' friendly at home this year.

OK so are you saying you've heard that we ARE in for Assombalonga, which your first post strongly implied, or are you adding a few things together to assume we will be in for him, which most of your subsequent posts implied?

Hasn't he been offered a role elsewhere recently too? If so, it would make sense if promoting Boateng to the u-23s (or maybe u-18s, with their coach moving up too) was part of the plan. Would obviously be a way to keep him around.

If he doesn't get injured again, yes.

I'm mystified as to why people are talking like we are looking to sign Adam when even the original 'source' says he is only here keeping fit.

Frequently not, in fact.

Unless he's doing that during his family holiday and pissing off his missus, then no, he's not doing that.

Nothing to do with him being obligated to do it, it's simply that getting yourself in shape when teams across the league are coming back for pre-season training seems an obvious thing to do for any true professional whether contracted or not, let alone one whose career, stock and fitness is in a precarious position. Yes yes, I know he has other offers, but if he has a bad season next year for us or whoever, he could easily find himself short on them in future as there are already a lot of question marks over him. I just think it's poor professionalism and I'm not impressed. It seems like something someone who has fallen out of love with the game and isn't motivated would do. If he's not, fine, just don't want him around anymore when I was already unsure whether he adds enough value.

Holy shit, that's unreal! A one-off, sure, but five in a row? I actually struggle to believe that's humanly possible and not doctored footage. It was in his Villa days, but he shouldn't have lost much if any of that accuracy. It's different when the ball is moving, or you have to put more pace, bend on it etc, but at the very least I'd expect some good corners. Maybe not straight in like Mulgrew, though with that accuracy he should be capable of it.

I suppose you've blanked Murphy, Etuhu and Goulon from your mind? Don't blame you. Many would say Andrews but I think he was a similar level to Evans and Smallwood personally, just playing a league higher. He was poor but not half as poor as a lot of fans made out.

I don't remember who, Vinjay, I'm not Rain Man. It definitely happened, I had some very annoying arguments with a few. As I said, small handful. It was astonishing that there were any though.

Ah thanks. I just didn't want to read that far back really, imagining it to be the usual. I retract my remark.

That's hilarious. I wouldn't want 5 million Jason Lowes for that price, let alone just the one. I'd wish it had been true and happened...although I'm sure we'd face criminal action for that level of daylight robbery. I'm curious that nobody has commented on the Jack Payne link I posted. Probably need to save their energy for another Brereton debate.