Left back, centre back x2, centre forward, defensive midfielder.

Rumour has it he's had a nervous breakdown. Supposedly head and shoulders above Gunn and McCarthy in training but isn't able to reproduce it on a match day. How true that is I have no idea. But I think there's probably good reason he hasn't moved on before now. That said, if I was sat on a contract of £70k per week I'm not sure I'd be in a hurry to move.

Be interesting to see the targets over the next few weeks. All this talk of investment in the recruitment department and so far we sign Downing and strongly linked with Gallagher. Both known to TM. That investment will need to yield some results to be justified in India. It pleased me to hear we were expanding our horizons a bit. But I do worry that we're only playing at it and when push comes to shove, we'll opt for the safe known quantities.

It's funny, I look at Brereton and wonder what possessed us to part with that kind of money. Compare him with the likes of Graham etc. Then I remember playing football today. Shite standard. Pub league. More fights than through balls. And I think of the two lads we drafted in a few weeks back. Both 20yrs old. And even in the shite league I play in as an ageing fat bastard, they look like new born fish. I swear if you look closely enough you could see their hearts beating when they were getting kitted up! Brereton is just a boy. Putting aside the outlay he is a young lad. Let's forget any expectations and let him fulfill the potential that's clearly there in the eyes of the pros. I don't want to see him destroyed before he's even turned 20. Disclaimer. He may have turned 20. I really have no idea.

To my mind, we've had two proper managers in the last 4 we have employed. Bowyer was a gent but cutting his teeth. Coyle I'd rather not talk about. But Lambert and now Mowbray have both said words to the effect that we are / have been a club in need of repair. These things take time and I'd sooner we got the basics right and built slowly than go all out for the promised land. I like Mowbray. He seems to like it here too. Yeah he's not perfect. One of his flaws throughout his career is probably his recruitment. But when I think back to the days of Kean, Singh, Bruno Ribiero, Anderson (both) and then compare it to now I can't help feeling like we're in the right track. Don't get me wrong. It's not all rosy. I worry about losing Dack. I worry that Graham won't last forever. Ditto Mulgrew (more for his goals than his defending). But to my mind, if it wasn't for the large outlay on Brereton I think Mowbray would still have justified god like status. He has said the right things this window. He wants players to impact the first team. That makes sense to me. Plus for the first time in a long time I actually feel pretty relaxed about the transfer window. We're a decent side. I think we have commanded respect from the sides in this league and I think our league position is a fair reflection of our performance levels thus far. All being well, if we can build gradually we can be closer next year. But I think even now we have it within us to go on a run and make the playoffs. We aren't far away from that level. With some luck I genuinely feel we could sneak into that four way lottery.

Behave Merce! Clubs like Southampton do this all the time. Two years ago they could do no wrong. But regardless of this, it's clear it's not the case in this instance. Mowbray clearly fancies him. He has spoken in glowing terms a few times. He's not done it yet. May never do. But to question TMs job off the back of this signing is daft. We spent the same on Grabbi in a far different financial scene. Yes £7m is a whole lot of money in our current situation. But a good half a season and we'll be able to recoup our investment. He's just a boy FFS. The same age as Rankin-Costello. We afford him plenty of time to develop. Brereton might not deserve the same time because of his price tag. But there no doubt he's still got some learning left in him.

If I'd have been a Leeds fan watching today's game I'd have honestly felt that Rovers had done a job on us. Much the way I felt Sheffield utd did to us. We may not have been free flowing, but we were extremely professional and looked like wily opponents who had the measure of them and the league. Got to take my hat off to Mowbray. He's done an outstanding job for us. Really can't underestimate it. Rodwell is looking a shrewd piece of business by the way. We've got a keeper who pulls off miraculous saves. Bell looks a better footballer than Williams and our central midfield looks very combative. My only concern is his ability to spot a centre forward. I love Danny Graham. In my eyes he's the championship version of Glenn Murray. But Samuel and Brereton (thus far) suggest to me this is is Mowbray's major weakness. But on the whole, to take the reigns when he did, with the widespread doom and gloom, he has been nothing short of remarkable and is rapidly becoming one of those managers I will always remember fondly. All the charm and honesty of Bowyer but with the acumen to back it up with results. Football is starting to feel enjoyable again!!

He's not beyond reproach Stuart. You're absolutely right. But it's because of him that we have a side capable of going toe to toe with villa in the first place. He'll do for me every day of the week.

I know he gave the free kick away (which I didn't think was a foul). But Harrison Reed is a terrific little player. Early days of course, but I'd like to think we might be in the mix to get him permanently next summer. Really spiteful little rat of a player. Someone one described Sebastian Perez to me on here as being a pugnacious little so n so, and Reed has that about him. But he can play a bit as well. He's like a powered up Evans. Really unlucky tonight. Showed we can mix it at this level. Fancy us to be in the mix for the last few playoff places at the end of the season.

Why is it whenever we sign someone I can always make a case for it being a shrewd piece of business? I'm the most pessimistic, miserable sod going in day to day life. But I'll always find a reason to think we might get a tune out of our new signings. So this evening I'm doing just that. But there is this niggling little thought in my head that if I was reading about any other club signing Rodwell, I'd probably have a little chuckle to myself. Good luck to the bloke and obviously I hope he can do the business. But it does seem like a bit of a strange signing.

I think it's a difficult situation to judge. I won't try to dress it up. It's extremely underwhelming that we didn't strengthen yesterday. It also felt a bit cobbled together. But the truth is none of us really know the truth. I suspect it's just one of those situations where unless you have operated in and had first hand experience of a transfer window / deadline day, it's difficult to appreciate the way it works. I suspect so many late deals happen because it's a case of seeing who blinks first. For that reason there is always a risk you might get left empty handed. The other thing to consider is we clearly didn't blink first. Ok we made a couple of late bids and that does have the faint whiff of desperation about it. But I'd say neither were outrageous sums of money when you look at the names in question. If nothing else I am pleased we had a figure in mind and stuck to it. It's about building a reputation for being willing to stick to our guns and play hardball. Let's face it, there's a good chance we will have to face up to losing a few better players in the coming years. If the bidding clubs know we are a club who stick to their guns then it gives us a better chance of getting the value we insist on. As for the suggestion we could have picked up players like Madison for peanuts. Yes we probably could have done. But this comes down the the managers preference. If he believed Freeman was the better option then he has earned the right to make that call. I'm not going to sit here and take any comfort in the loan window. Sadly the club (even pre venkys to be fair) have failed to bring in the necessary quality and quantity required before. When I heard Mowbray saying he wanted another 5 I immediately expected only 3. So we'll see what happens. But I firmly believe we have enough to stay up as it stands. I firmly believe we had enough to stay up when we did go down. But we have ourselves too much to do. What is clear to me is although i think we have the players to get the job done this year, it wouldn't take much misfortune for that picture to change. So I would hope the club rectify this in the next few weeks. It would be nice to hear from the club after yesterday though. Think they need to acknowledge the discontent and at least make a comment.

I hadn't realised the A, B C list was being taken literally. Adam Armstrong signed and a bid lodged for Ben Brereton. I'm only glad we never got as far as C and D. I'm not sure Colin Calderwood or Damien Delaney would have set the pulses racing.

That's not uncharted territory for Fernandes. I'm sure he must have some coping strategies by now.

What I meant but written more better!! We aren't talking about a Chris Brown here. The lad can play. Last time I saw him (with us to be fair), he was very raw. But he looked like he could be a real handful. Not saying he's got the attributes to be a Drogba. But in terms of an investment, it's pretty low risk.

I reckon a good manager will get a tune out of him. To be fair to Mowbray he only had him for a few months. If he saw enough to think there's a player in there then that's ok with me. I also think playing the big fella up top is a hard one to learn. I think Gallagher has probably grown up thinking he can be that archetypal number 9. Running in behind and getting the glory for the goals. When you get a bit older you are able to see what you are good at and you'd like to think he's approaching that now. It's also no coincidence that he's been linked with some good clubs and decent managers. Even in his early days at Southampton he was well thought of by Pochettino. He's a bright lad with his head screwed on. If Mowbray thinks he can teach him when to shoot, when to pass, when to hold the ball up, when to bulldoze through the centre half etc.. then I would be happy to see him come back.

They all charge for it don't they?

Hmmmm. Not sure I'd agree with that. I thought we often looked like we could concede. But I put that down to the system we played and the lack of protection our back four had at times. It's a fine balancing act though I suppose. And I'm not complaining about having a Rovers side who's first thought is to attack. Scottish? Who Armstrong?

Started reading the thread off the back of the Armstrong links. Soon got fed up. So I apologise if this has been raised already. Looks like a good signing at a decent price to me. If nothing else, a strong season and reasonable amount of goals and we've got ourselves an English prospect at a very good age. And if recent history is anything to go by, those two things tend to mean an extra few quid when selling up. Although I can't say that's the outcome I'm looking for. The way I see it is this lad is dynamite in the penalty box. A proper instinctive finisher. I also seem to recall we had another deadly finisher at the club not so long ago and he was lamented for having no pace, no hold up play and no work rate. The way I see it, at least Armstrong has pace. So pace + finishing + £5m cheaper than we paid last time = decent business. My only concern is in effect (assuming Armstrong is signed, sealed and delivered) we are as strong as we were when we went up last year. I believe that's enough to stay up and consolidate. But the undertones from some of the press releases and player interviews suggest there is a quiet confidence amongst the players and staff that we might just be a surprise package. Not saying that's impossible, but it's a big ask. Not least because I thought we looked suspect at the back last year.

And yet people are so quick to dismiss booing and jeering towards a player during a match. It's madness. Just imagine the feeling having thousands of fans singing your name or cheering your play. It must be an unbelievable buzz. It can have an affect. But when the opposite is served up the player is expected to ignore it and be professional. Say what you will (not you Stuart, just in general), fans staying away or fans protesting will have an effect on the players. Whether it's for a good reason or not. It just does. Who knows? Stuart's lad might just have been a big factor in us having a streetwise striker this season. It's the little things.

I know it's probably a bit cavalier and almost certainly naive, but I'd sooner Mahoney get given a run than sign the likes of Feeney. No problem with the experienced sorts like graham and Stokes. But a club like ours needs to give youth an opportunity over signing journeymen.

Big thank you has to go to Lambert too.

This is a really good signing and even more incredible is it makes sense. The whole thing does. Brought him in to test the goods. Impressed by what we saw and then actually stood up to be counted and did the deal. Not often I say this but well done Rovers. Have to say I'm impressed with the summer business thus far. 2 out of 3 seem good signings and the third is an unknown. Seems like we've more to do and it seems the manager is talking with a sense of assuredness which suggests the other moves have been given the green light from up high. None of this 'we'll see' or 'we're always keeping our eyes open and we'll see what can be done if anything crops up'. It's refreshing and almost sounds like we're working to a plan!! Two hopes for me now. The first, we keep our better players. The second, the manager assembling this squad is capable enough to manage them and achieve results. Can't say I'm too optimistic about either. But this has been offset by two solid signings and for once I actually don't feel thoroughly disheartened just yet. It's far from rosy, but it feels better going into a season with strikers like Graham and Stokes than it did last year with fonz, brown, koita and Rhodes. Edit - quick question to anyone. Is 'assuredness' a word? Doesn't look right.

Glen please don't ever say "ease it into her" when discussing madame again. I was on a promise tonight but that's killed it dead.

And one other thing which jumped out at me was his use of the word 'we'. 'We' haven't come into this with our eyes closed. 'We' know this side finished bottom half of the Championship. Who is this 'we'? I thought he came in on his own?

Thought I was maybe reading it with my over sensitive glasses on. I have no problem with attractive football. But as you say, it's got to be productive. Ala Souness. The same doesn't work in reverse though. If we're gonna lose it doesn't make it any easier to stomach if we've played an attractive style or not. It actually worries me that this is the blueprint. How can we be expected to buy in to this ethos when he immediately implies he'll work within the budget he's given. It's like me telling my kids to expect a wonderful summer holiday in Disney Land when I know I've only got the cash to take them for a weekend in Skegness. I appreciate Coyle can't come out and say it that frankly. But I'm just getting tired of hearing this bullshyte from everyone who traps up here. Have a right good go. Play in the front foot etc... Unless the owners are going to give anyone the funds to achieve it it's all just guff. Sadly imo this guy doesn't have the defensive capabilities to find a draw when the attacking stuff isn't working. Which makes me think this season will see us struggle even more than previous years. As the league gets stronger we get weaker. That trend only leads one way.