Hate to mention Preston but the other night they go to Stoke and win comfortably. This won't be easy but we haven't won down there in a while and that must win siege mentality goes a long way in tough games. Defence has been doing well so we have the platform but need something up top can't just rely on Armstrong as we did Dack as he'll become the marked man now.

Probably because they see the keepers position as one they can get someone in relatively cheap and grow to sell. A decent experienced keeper might be able to be got on a free, might provide the cornerstone of the team and serve us well for a few years. BUT he's likely to be older, on big wages and not have resale profit potential so it's a no go. Things aren't done for football reasons first and foremost at this club that's why we flounder and are so erratic in the transfer market.

Maybe but they've been sniffing around Maddison a while. Personally i think it was Bauer he cooled on once they became aware Downing was coming free and was interested. Much more likely to be Brereton and or Gallagher.

Nope not this season that's why there is a vacancy.

He's not fessed up to which other option they chose I see !

Good teams have that must win mentality every game. When things are going against them in a match it quickly switches to must not lose.

Nice to see a little club going places. Not nice to see another overtaking us with our set up that's been in place a long time !

Walton has the wobbles occasionally but so does Raya and when he clangs it's often a whopper that there is absolutely no explanation for. You'll struggle to find a better reflex shot stopper in the div though than the Spaniard so maybe it out trumps the bloops over a season. He seems to be getting away with it at Brentford a bit more because they are an all round better side so it's not costing points. I think that might be the difference between the two at the min. Personally i'd always plump for steady over spectacular.

Wasn't the allocation 3k ? I've not seen any sold out or nearly sold out signs. All things considered 2k is perfectly respectable.

No because you'll find yourself having to try and justify a load a shite as well. Overall they've been bang in the middle I'd say. But it's fair to point out Mowbrays comments on the Walton signing. If he himself didn't cast so much doubt on some of his dealings when he's in full waffle mode he might get an easier ride.

I'd decide after he's given us a full season. Then if hes shaped up ok in general and he could be got for 500k to 1 million max then I'd say yes. Personally I think they'll sign him for a (silly) undisclosed fee. They'll keep Leutwiler if HE wants to stay and they'll sign a youngster.

Correct. Whatelse would it be saying ?

You've got to be looking at a million tops preferably less. Then he's worth a punt but at the end of the day he's Brighton's 4th choice and that's probably where he'd be if a late loan here hadn't cropped up because we were desperate. He definitely looks to have settled now but we'd better not get carried away yet. Quite ironic though that one they didn't scout and wouldn't have normally signed, sent back even, turns out to be a good one. What does that say about the recruitment dept ?

Maddison might have had a poor game last night but that doesn't mean squat. He'd have been a handy player to have around our squad he's shown what he can do in the past. Wouldn't have wanted to overpay for him though so it's not one to cry about either way now really.

Been touched on before a few times but last night again the less options this manager has and the more his hand is forced the better it suits us imo. He has to go with the basics and a bit more horses for courses than some of the stuff early season so he can't over complicate it as much. Last night showed it again, kept it tight and had a go later on and it worked. Fulham game was fine lines if we'd drawn or pinched the winner instead of them nobody would've been arsed about the overall game because they're a good side. The fact he can't really make wholesale changes for Charlton feeling he has to give his mates games should work in our favour again.

Every time a player hits a bit of form at Rovers it doesn't mean they should be slapped with a new contract. He's probably about halfway through a very good one right now. However i can see there being a bit of interest in him by summer i mentioned early doors i thought he was this seasons 'project' to try and push on. If he carries on the same way till summer they've got to be putting ten million on his head to keep the vultures away.

Doesn't suit there looking for offence narrative i'm afraid. Min there's someone shouts loudly 'Fuck off Brereton' at an away game that only those around them can hear they'll be all over it. It'll be trending and the usual ones most of whom never go near ewood or an away game will be very upset for the lad. Even though he probably doesn't give a stuff he might actually know it's part and parcel of his highly paid profession, always has been and always will be.

No idea which Rovers will turn up or what the manager will offer up in this but i think it'll be similar to last night. They tend to land on something that works then give it another go before completely changing it again. We are learning how to defend though finally which is a big plus. Charlton 0 Rovers 1

They'd rather stick 12 million into two young investments with no real goalscoring or otherwise pedigree whilst hoping to cover it with the sale of Dack. That's the thought process here and you might be forgiven for thinking it's an overly ambitious pipe dream of wheeling and dealing to make money rather than build a promotion challenging side in the near future.

This is an evenly matched game tonight as both teams are, there's no excuses not to compete well against this Hull City side at home.

Just a point for debate on that, a lot say it's the weakest div its been for sometime so does that have a bearing on it i wonder ? The money seems to be at the top again aside from one or two who are making a mess of it but will probably get their acts together in coming seasons. Then there are a few well run solid clubs with good managers who've been working to an ambitious plan up there but apart from that it's the usual mish mash competitive but plain old Championship as far as i can see.

You can have a wage budget and transfer budget my friend.

If that was desperate it was nothing compared to Coyle bringing in Brown, Greer etc and wanting a nice contract for old mates like Giles Barnes or whatever his name was. Harsh reality is somewhere behind the scenes you had people taking advantage of the situation and getting rubbish nobody else wanted onto our books on good wages. That's the entire story of venkys tenure and nobody has been immune to it in the managers seat to varying degrees i'd wager.

The budget thing is a bit of a myth as well in terms of transfers. How many midtable clubs have been able to spend one off fees of 6 then 5 million. Even 1,75 million rising to 3 and a 4 yr 15 grand per week contract is impressive by midtable club standards.

Do we actually have those aspirations though and if so how strong are they from the ownership ? When they get someone in they like and trust they seem more than happy to have it bob along causing them less headache. They're happy to fund it on the promise players will be grown and sold to contribute and promotion will just somehow organically happen some day.