I know why Farke did. He’s heard I put £30 on him at 9/1 after Glen was told he was coming and he did it just to spite me.

Out of interest is this opinion or what you’ve been told?

I’d take 10M for him now if we could spend the proceeds. Better than nothing this time next year and nothing to replace him with. Your approach has Dolan replacing him this time next year and Sparks having a rage induced heart attack, is that what you want?! I couldn’t give a toss what the owners want, I’d walk the second they interfered.

It depends who’s interested. There’s no way Ben is going to turn down all of Everton/Southampton/West Ham/Brighton/Leeds/Nice/Sevilla/Villarreal. Get on the phone Gregg, offer him around…

You can pick the new one - quote this with what you’d like!

I appreciate Poveda, Chapman, Magloire and Brown did nothing - but Zeefuik and Davenport did have a role to play within the squad and Poveda was intended to have a role. If our squad had Brittain, Zeefuik and JRC I'd say we're covered at right back. With just Brittain and JRC I'm terrified Brittain gets injured. Dack played for us towards the end of last year, I expect he will have a like for like contribution this year. Markanday is a direct replacement for one of Poveda or Chapman. From the list I think the below need genuine replacements: JP Van Hecke - replaced with Carter Ryan Nyambe - replaced with Brittain Darragh Lenihan - not yet replaced Ryan Giles - not yet replaced Zeefuik - not yet replaced Jacob Davenport - replaced with Garrett? Brad Johnson - replaced with Wharton - although I don't think this is a good like for like replacement, Johnson offered us physicality to cover Travis/Davenport Joe Rothwell - replaced with Morton Reda Khadra - was going to say replaced with Sammie, but they're two very different players Ian Poveda - didn't contribute last year... but that was because of injury, the intention was for him to be in the squad and we must not lose sight of this. Replaced with Markanday. Harry Chapman - didn't contribute last year Tyler Magloire - didn't contribute last year James Brown - didn't contribute last year Based on the above, I think if it was like for like (which it isn't) the squad is missing... CB (Lenihan replacement) Left Back / Left Wing Back / Left Winger (Giles replacement) Right Back (Zeefuik replacement) Central Midfielder (Johnson replacement) Winger (Khadra replacement) We've signed competition in number 10, which we didn't use hardly at all last year and Markanday has replaced Poveda. If any of this doesn't make sense its because I've just been told United fans are blocking the coaches from coming to Old Trafford and I work next door, so I need to beat the traffic...

Of course you're right. But we could quite easily put some pressure on him to leave. It would strain the relationship - but we know what happens when a player knows they are going, despite all of the "he will give 100% effort!" we see a Joe Rothwell 2.0. As I've championed repeatedly for years now, much like our 'wage structure' policy I would have a 'contract negotiations start 2 years before the end of your contract - if you haven't signed with 18 months left we will actively try to sell you' policy. Regardless of the player.

Oh Christ it’s like having Nicko back.

There’s plenty they can do - they can either offer him the contract earlier or sell him before we’re in a position where he can sign for a foreign club for free in circa 4 months.

Sparks have you watched our last two games? We're not getting promoted! The squad is desperately in need of investment. If GB lets him leave for free i'll lose all respect for him.

If you’re happy to let a 7M investment leave on a free when he could be sold for 12-15M then I don’t really know what to say. Do you think Waggott and Pasha will let that happen?

When he wants to leave is irrelevant. If he isn’t signing a new deal — which is his choice and one we’re absolutely fucking stupid to have allowed to get to this point — then he MUST be sold.

I'd be happy with that as well, if the plan is to loan Phillips out then Sepp coming in to fight it out with Carter for third choice sounds good for all parties.

I agree on Ayala, I wouldn't want him anywhere near a cup game for example. I wouldn't be sending Carter on loan personally, I don't see what he gains from it. He's played at the top League 1 every week, if he can't play midtable Championship occasionally then we've failed him. I wouldn't want someone coming in ahead of Carter because it's a short term solution, if the rumours of Sepp requiring a minimum number of games are true for example then we'd essentially be developing their talent instead of ours.

I think he's done OK, he's only just turned 17. We're asking a lot of him, I'd have no problems with him being fourth choice and developing further but I wouldn't want him starting every week as he will make errors - like any 17 year old would - and I don't know how his confidence will hold up if those errors keep happening.

I don’t think so, what was my previous opinion? 😂

Where do you reckon the new one fits in Mike? I’ve put below the centre backs in the order I would pick them, where does the new one fit in for you? Ayala Wharton Carter Phillips

I think we’d sign a replacement if we got decent money - what was the left forward called at Malmo we where rumoured to be interested in? I know it’s only one game but the Dingles have signed Tello(?) and he scored two at weekend, the one where he brought it down on his chest was very BBD like.

RE why I’m not sure on another central defender, we already have four to keep happy and give game time. There’s dangers - Ayala gets injured, Carter is unproven at this level, Phillips is a kid… but if you’re signing a fifth that means when all are fit, you’ve got three centre backs not playing. I think we’re invested in Carter now, Pompy loved him in League One, so for me he’s earnt his right to be behind Ayala and Wharton. If we don’t tell Phillips he’s around the first team squad then he may as well sign for Spurs, that’s our trump card. So who do we bring in? Sepp, who’s clearly a good player, but we can’t guarantee him any games and signing him would stop the progress of our own two youngsters, Carter and Phillips. Yes, if we can somehow sign JVH - or similar - I think we make an allowance for that as he would instantly become our first choice Centre back. I guess what I’m saying is we’re in a tricky position at centre half and whilst I’m not against signing a new one, for me it’s only worth signing either 1) a stand out, first choice centre back or 2) a Loanee happy to play occasionally and be behind Carter at least and Phillips potentially as well.

Where did the 10M come from? I hope that you telling me doesn’t mean you think when I said I can see us spending 10M i was doing some ITK nonsense? I think we’ll end up getting 20M including add ons, maybe 13-15M up front. I just can’t see him staying. Nice have already bid, there’s rumoured to be plenty of teams interested, it’s getting close to the deadline. I reckon he’s either gone or left out pending a transfer by next week. Just my thoughts. I actually think - subject to being able to spend money - it’s for the best.

3 minimum needed this week, four before the end of the window. I don’t think we need two centre backs, I would be happy going into the season with Ayala, Carter, Wharton and Phillips if the intention is to play a back 4. I don’t rate Pickering and rate Edun even less at left back / left wing back. I’m concerning Brittain doesn’t have suitable back up, JRC can’t play right back or right wing back either. Centre Midfield we need another enforcer. If Travis gets injured we will have the smallest and weakest central midfield in the league. We either need a striker or a winger, depending where he’s playing Gallagher. I can see Gally scoring if he’s playing as a nine, but that means another winger. So I’d like to see… Starting Left Back Back up right back Central Midfielder (is that guy still at Barnsley?) Winger With a statement left forward lined up for when Ben goes. I don’t think he plays for Rovers again.

Lascelles is on 70K / week.

I’d love to know the time period between when Rovers decided Mowbray was going and JDT was approached.

Happy to give them a week to turn this around, then I’ll panic. If JVH has decided to sign a new deal at Brighton I don’t want him at Rovers. We need commitment and longevity.

We are live!