bluebruce

Have to say, I believe I've had the last 3 seasons predictions pretty much spot on at about this stage of the year. I don't know whether I posted them all each year, but I definitely predicted we would go down the year we did. I predicted we would go straight back up (I think I even said in 2nd place). I predicted broadly mid-table last season too. I don't recall what if any actual positions I said for it, but 15th is in the middle third of a 24-team league. I think I was expecting 2 or 3 spots higher, ish, but like I said that kind of stuff can change very easily based on almost any unanticipated event or mid-match fluke. Mid table is generally quite crammed with not much space points-wise between clubs. Hope I'm wrong in a good way this time!

I wasn't willing to answer this until the window was done. At this point we are still waiting on whether Mulgrew is off or not, but I think it's still time for me to give my prediction. I expect us to finish somewhere in the 10th to 14th bracket. I'm not going to name an exact position, that sort of thing can hinge very easily on a single fluke result. Obviously lots of things can affect the season in general, including the sheer vagaries of fate. But there are still large question marks over a number of things that could see us finish better than that bracket or worse. Will TM play the right players in the right positions or continue failing to learn? Will Mowbray keep his job regardless of results and runs? If he is fired, how good will the replacement be? If Mulgrew does go, are we going to get another CB in on a free, as our cover is very limited there? Will the new players perform as we expect them to, or better, or worse? I think Walton is really key in this regard as our options to replace him if he does poorly are shocking. Will we strengthen at all in January, or piss about like last year? Will the highly promising youngsters be given their chance and kick on when they are? There are other questions that come to mind, but these are the most important ones I can think of right now. There is a rumour tonight that Mulgrew and Mowbray kicked off this morning and it has potentially unsettled the dressing room, that could have an impact too (good or bad, as I think some need a kick up the arse). I wouldn't be amazed if we finish 2 higher or lower than I predicted, so 8th to 16th, but anything more than that either way would surprise me a lot at this point. Pending the answers to some of those questions above, of course. Based on what I've seen and heard so far, I'd snap your hand off for a 10th place finish. Which is a great shame, as with a better window addressing our real issues properly, we could have been strong playoff contenders. But I don't think we have enough for that level of consistency at all. I also think we have too much to go down. Not that it would be the first time we've said that and gone down.

What interview where the defence was slagged off? As far as I've seen, TM has bent over backwards to not blame the defence. Saying the defence is fine, we're ok with not bringing any more defenders in, it's hard to find defenders better than the ones we have despite them being abysmal, the goals shipped last season were Raya's and the whole rest of the team's fault but not so much the defence, etc. The only interview I know where he slagged the defence was the one back in March or whenever. If there was a time to throw your toys out the pram it would've been then. If I've missed an interview lately where he finally did slag off the defence, then Jesus Christ Charlie, take it like a man because you and your pals have all been wank for ages and been defended to the hilt. If he can't accept some totally warranted and overdue criticism and roll up his sleeves to cut out these ridiculous errors then I'm even more glad he's on the way out. How he could think defending like against Charlton shouldn't be called out is beyond me.

Uh where have you seen that other clubs think we have had a decent window? In fairness, if you just look at who we have brought in in isolation, ignoring fees, whether perm or not and the glaring weakness in our defensive area, it probably does look 'decent'. But the priorities have been all wrong.

My only concern with Cunningham is the limited amount of football he has played in the last two seasons. 8 appearances in all competitions last season (in which he got 3 yellows) and 21 the season before (4 yellows, a goal, 2 assists). I don't mean that this means he mustn't be good enough. I assume the limited games for Preston that year must have been due to injury since he moved to the Prem for 4 mill at the end of it, and last season he was apparently just up against a very good LB. But players sometimes go backwards after not playing much for a couple of seasons. Also a bit of a shame it's just a loan and with no option to buy either (according to roving rover's ITK info anyway). But I can see the logic. They paid 4 million last season so I assume would want about 3 now, or in a clause for next year. This would be quite a lot for a LB who would be 29 by then, when we have 3 other LBs on the books taking wages. That said, Bell will be out of contract next summer. I think Hart too? But the key thing is, we were crap at LB all last season and now we have somebody who is meant to be very decent there. Along with Johnson, this is probably going to be our key bit of business in terms of being someone who should definitely upgrade our first XI from last season.

Nah. I'd be on the blower to someone who is actually a CB and has kept themselves fit this summer.

You keep your finger away from him.

Tosin and Cunningham.

I had a look at Rochdale's fan forum earlier btw. They seemed very happy with signing Magloire. Sounded like CB is a problem area for them, so he should get plenty of game time.

Interview

We can only sign free agents after this window. We could sell players to leagues with windows that are still open though, I think.

Cheers, wasn't showing as a GIF on my end.

Even if you're right, that puts him at least a full league above the level of our incumbent left backs though.

Wow, that's the worst photo. Blurry hands and his face looks almost CGI (on my phone at least). Someone even forgot to edit in the greenscreen! That said, I wouldn't give a fuck if they used the greenscreen to add a gay orgy in the background. Just glad we finally have a left back better than Bell!! Still worried about our CB situation, which was the priority for me all summer. Hart needs to go on loan again now. Maybe Rochdale again? They rated him, should play him, and he'll be able to build on his understanding with Magloire.

That's not the Mowbray Method.

Don't we have a highly rated 16/17 yr old fullback too? Jake Garett I think is his name. How did he play?

You said he lacks skill. He doesn't. I'd call that dissing. I also think that, whilst not a RB, he's a better RB than Bennett, who seems set to play there most of this season.

I've seen you wax lyrical about some of our dross (no, not Travis and Johnson), yet you're dissing Reed. Think it's fair to say from this and the general pattern of your posts that you'll basically back whatever the club do or fail to do, regardless.

Is...is that how things went down in the war? I'm so glad I wasn't born until well after. Now I'm even more grateful for their sacrifice. They got cuddled and fingered in the ass by men, so we never had to (but still can if so inclined). Never forget.

Nah it's not 1943, our European scouting was better established even in the middle of the war.

In fairness, back in January I said we will keep him in January but definitely lose him in the summer. It's probably his loss of form between then and now which has kept him here, that's the downside. Hope he gets firing again soon.

I think it's more to do with we don't want the stress of going through all this crap again next summer, desperately hoping TM will bother to reinforce the defence adequately.

Thing is he's not even the only one they have who reports on Rovers is he? I mean, I could have done better updates for them today, and I'm including the fact I was at my own job until 6!

He's a fucking idiot or genius (getting out of the hardest work day of his year) if he's planned his wedding day for today. If I were his boss I'd be far from impressed. Tom says it's his mate's wedding though? Even worse.

Isn't he the only loanee we've ensured wouldn't come back? All the others have either come back or we've not wanted them back, mostly due to being a bit gash.