briansol

Excellent performance. This was probably very close to our starting lineup. You could tell that this was the backbone of the promotion team. Well organised and suprisingly fluid (given our lack of attacking options). Dack was MOM, but also credit to Smallwood and Evans in the midfield who never gave the ball away. Won a lot of second balls with high pressure.

I like this

Kasey Palmer would be a coup. You take that kind of quality even for half a season.

There is nothing to suggest that the delay lays with the owners. Mowbray has had full control over the last two transfers windows and have gone public saying he has a budget to buy players. He has also said that he is confident that he will get there. So if there is a lack of trust it has to be on Mowbray.

Apperantly Ipswich's manager is also getting his patience tested regarding transfers: “It all takes time and patience is a word which I have to keep using and it’s certainly testing my patience.” https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/34034

He played 36 games, 26 starts. Certainly played a lot of games with Payne and was used in different positions as winger, central and attacking midfielder. Oxford fans seems to think he has the ability to play in the Championship but need consistency in the performances. I think he's bought as a squad player with potential rather than a starter. http://www.soccerbase.com is an excellent site for those who wants statistics

You could argue that Rothwell was his replacement but he is more of a midfield type than an attacking midfielder that unlocks defences.

I belong to the positive camp, however JHRover has a valid point. It's not that we should sign Antonsson og Payne, but they need to be replaced. Antonsson for all his shortcomings was an option on the left side that brought some goals. Payne was useful as an impact sub and also the only one who could fill Dacks role. Right now we lack 3 players to fill those roles. The pace of Armstrong, Antonsson's goal and Payne's creativity.

The team Maddison was close to join was WBA. The PBoro chairman tweeted Yesterday that the deal was that WBA moved out McLaren first, then they went and got a loan winger instead, so he didn't sound too pleased. We were never in the running apperantly. Currently Maddison played for PBoro and doesn't seem to go anywhere. Marriott has gone to Derby and it seemed the PBoro auction wasn't that successful as Derby was the only team bidding.

The window for permanent signings closes 9th of August. Frees and loans can still be added untill 31 August. I think we'll see loans added after 9th as PL teams take stock after the transfer window closes.

Surely warranted, though Mowbray himself said after India that they've been given a budget to buy quality players that fit our wage structure. Rich Sharpe also indicates that we could see the Dack fee of 750k eclipsed before the window closing.

I think you can count Davenport as a defensive/physical CM as well. Would really like to see a proper box-to-box midfielder that will make the deep runs into the box and finish off attacks. Seems like rare breed these days, only one I can think of in our space is Jon Nolan of Shrewsbury. But creativity at the front line is/should be the priority.

I think escaping FFP has more to do with selling their best asset last season (Will Hughes and Tom Ince) for 20 mill combined.

Mowbray's interview after India where he says "I think the budget we've been given is going to be substantial enough to add some quality players and not break wage structures" https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/may/tony-mowbray-qa-part-one/ https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/may/tony-mowbray-qa-part-two/

Yeah you misrepresented opinion knowingly. Uncalled for in my book. I've tried to keep a polite profile here, doesn't seem to work so well so maybe I've been too soft. Totally agree we are weaker than Div 1 and this transfer window hasn't gone to plan. Mowbray asked to be judged at the end of the window and I will. He says he is confident the deals wil be done by then, if they're not the window has been a major fail.

Uncalled for. It was a comment in the context that other clubs where spending massive amounts, which they don't. If we have a budget of 3-5 million without selling anybody we are eqular or better than a lot of clubs in that sense. Doesn't help to have a budget unless you get somebody in to address the the obvious lack of attacking players (which we all(including Mowbray agree on). I've never suggested anything else.

ONLY 3 clubs (as far as I can see) in the Championship have so far spent more than they have recouped in sales. Stoke, Forest (new owners) and Birmingham (bought one player). https://www.transfermarkt.de/championship/transfers/wettbewerb/GB2

Don't forget Lenihan

Bolton have only signed freebies and loans. Their players went on strike for missing payouts in June. They are even struggling to put together a squad with enough players. Ipswich sold Webster for 4 million and spent less than half of that. They also haven't paid over a million pound for a player in several seasons. So basicly we are in the same playground as them.

Sims would fit the profile. Question mark whether they would loan him since he's been used as an impact sub. However they bought Elynoussi this summer, and might consider a loan would be beneficial.

Does anybody knows what happened with Robbie Cotton? Supposed to be the next big thing, played regular for England U-16 and U17. Close to the first team at 17 when we were in PL according to this article. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/9268550.Cotton_is_not_run_of_the_mill__says_Blackburn_Rovers_boss/ Last record I can find was signing for Goole AFC in non league in 2015, but seem to dissapear the same season.

Still hope then

Before we get too Foden crazy, Manchester Evening News wrote June 22: "Phil Foden will NOT be going on loan to Leeds this summer - or anywhere else for that matter." https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-city-transfers-phil-foden-14812603

Nmecha was an educated guess based on Mowbray waiting for a young attacking City player that was part of their US tour. No name was mentioned, but the field was narrow. I don't think anybody entertained the notion that it could be Foden though..

That means that both Lenihan and Dack have signed long contracts on sensible wages, which is great news. It also means that Evans is highly overpaid, and wouldn't be a big miss if he goes. With Davenport and Travis he will not be missed in that case. Mulgrew on the other hand could have at least a couple of good years left if his body can keep up with physical challenge of Championship football.