bluebruce

Ugly bastard. Perfect! Won't be afraid to shove his face in front of a foot or get punched for being a git. Might be hoping for it, to accidentally improve his face! 28, which I tend to regard as a CB's typical peak. Couple of Croatia caps, captain of his side, who finished 3rd in the Croatian league. Hardy lot those Eastern Europeans. Tall enough without being a giant, at 6 ft 1 and a half according to Wiki. Shorter than Mulgrew but unlikely to be worse in the air. Profile sounds alright to me.

Complications with the agent on a loan deal? Sounds a bit odd. Do loan deals have agent fees too? I suppose they would in this day and age.

Fair enough, don't know why I got Southport in my head. Have we played there when the other facilities were unavailable or something? Or maybe we just played Everton a lot, I dunno.

I'll be honest Paul, I'd prefer someone a little more seasoned, in this league if possible. I feel like Tosin would be a good addition if it was him and an experienced Championship (or other top flight...and no not just ten games) CB, as long as we don't have a clause where we have to play him. Alongside a 23 year old with only ten Bundesliga appearances though, I'd be wary. Could turn out to be a gem of course. I recall the last time we bought a fringe squad player CB from a German side. Worked out pretty well! Just think it's a little risky to tie up our defensive reinforcements purely in young lads, but I won't be slamming it if it's these two. It'd be a 'wait and see with reservations'.

Southport seem to do very well off our arrangement with them (we still play our u-23 games there right?). They get to keep tabs easily on our lads and probably get first dibs on the lesser ones we let go, with them being comfortable with the surroundings etc. Interesting to hear about a 'lack of end product' from Chapman...I don't expect him to be delivering goals and assists all game. An assist and hit the bar in this one and 2 goals in the previous wasn't it? Sounds like enough end product for me. However I'm sure he won't get as many breaks at Championship level so if he isn't consistent with the end product it could be an issue in the first team. Sounds like Arma really. Electric and unplayable at his best, but little more than a nuisance (and an outlet to stretch play) when he isn't. I think our fans are harsh on Arma personally.

I think that's fair of us. I was thinking myself that he's worth in the region of 500k with a hefty sell on, and could be worth close to double that if he has a good year in League One. I'd back him to finish in the top 5 scorers there if given a fair crack of the whip. If they don't want to pay accordingly (which is fair enough, I assume they're not flush) then surely he can just be loaned and do enough for others to take note.

My worry with Dack is that after he didn't get to leave Gillingham one summer, he had a bit of a lacklustre followup season. He was then able to secure a cut-price move to a bigger club for what I think was about half of his previous value. I worry he might think if his form dips with us, the same thing will happen so he's fine.

First time I've had the chance to see him in person. I watched pretty much just him for a bit. I'm not gonna lie lads, I wasn't blown away. He looked comfortable enough though, and did a few fairly nice things. Took a shot outside the box well, which I think might have been his first touch. There was a point I thought he'd foolishly played himself into trouble, but he came out the other end somehow. That bit impressed me, and actually elicited an audible 'wow'. Looks promising for his age. I'm not expecting him to change our season just yet though. Mowbray saying he is definitely not going on loan sounds like he might have a bit more willingness to play him than I thought. We will see, but it does make me a bit less apprehensive about the drawbacks of not loaning him.

Same, same and same. When I was young I considered whether to try being a rapper (I actually made a little song with a Scottish lad that briefly reached 3rd on a UK hiphop download chart). But you have to sound like where you come from really, and a Lancs accent doesn't suit hiphop. So I didn't bother. This video has reassured me I made the right choice. Credit to the lad for trying though, and I reckon he's thoroughly enjoying himself. Bit of a spurious link between Tugay and thievery though! A couple of the lines were ok.

Sorry, you dragged up my post from May because...?

Bow down? No clue what you mean. It is getting a bit ridiculous though. You're not allowed to have an opinion if it's remotely critical anymore. Best have a word with the manager, who said himself he wanted to be playing a Premier League team at this stage. Or you could have a word with yourself.

He lamented the lack of a prestige friendly at Ewood earlier in the summer. Seems we just couldn't arrange one. Probably the same team negotiating friendlies as negotiating transfers...

I believe in the loan market being a good tool for player development. I think it's the loan fees that have made clubs like Chelsea get ridiculous with it. I used to do the same thing as them on FM but only because it was just a game. I don't see a need to cap the total players sent out, definitely not as low as 5 which would only detriment the development of many a young player. Just cap (or outlaw) the fees. Then clubs won't be so keen to amass so many as a nice little earner on the side.

Doubt they'll get a few million while benching him for Bennett. As a buyer I'd look at that and think, "They don't rate him, we'll get him on the cheap."

On top of which, it completely contradicts the situation and what he has done. The defence ISNT filled with loads of players. The attack and midfield are. Really hoping the stuff about the defence is smoke and mirrors as I'll be fuming if we start the season with no new defenders.

All except the draw at Rangers.

The main thing I noticed with him was a moment where he seemed to think he could take the same risks near our area as he can take in midfield and we lost the ball as a result. He looked much better in his forays further forward, I recall him doing very decent things on three occasions, all in the opposition half. It's almost as if he is some sort of midfielder and not actually a left back? Can't be.

I expect to see us get robbed in possession in a dangerous area doing it, resulting in a goal, at least one or two times.

It's pretty standard to start the last friendly with the team you plan to use on the opening day though. That's why people are worried by the defensive lineup and lack of Rothwell. But I reckon you knew that.

Can Walton not kick or something? What's with these short passes in the box as a goal kick?

It really will be an unforgiveable travesty if we don't bring a CB in this summer. It was needed last summer, then in January. Then we had some out through injury and got routinely beaten just to super-highlight it. To now be down Downing and Rodwell, and still not bring anyone in...there could be no excuse, surely? I'm sure some desperate people would try though. Hope it doesn't come to that.

Anyone who isn't a CB doesn't remotely interest me at this point.

Eww, does he have to be?

Might not have been their choice. Or maybe they just thought it was time they got a keeper they owned, and probably cheaper. Seems odd for us and City to have figured out that they want him promised games and we won't do that. Seems more likely to be a disagreement over the size of one of those clauses about him playing a certain amount of games.

Well, I didn't mean it literally when I said I couldn't see any logic at all in things that have happened. It's just been bizarre when viewed in context. I don't think this one is bizarre. I just don't agree with it on balance, but not to the degree I'm saying what the hell. I don't think he left the goalie this late on purpose. We are just shite negotiators/unwilling to pay the going rates. In the context of us getting Walton when we got him, leaving him out vs Bury wasn't all that head-scratching. Not like the other stuff.