Gallagher at 2.5 million and wages that would fit into our structure would be a no brainer for me they are the type of deals we should be doing and if Mowbray pulled that off and a first 11 capable defender and decent keeper it would be bang on.

Translates as I've done my bit to drive up the fee and wages for my pals by making stuff up so now i'll back away myself and if it doesn't go through i'll drop in the old sell to buy line again.

Hart surely has enough left for Championship level football with less spotlight on him he seemed to crumble a bit at top level mentally. Never been a huge fan simply because I never thought he was England material he was always a bit of a James mk 2 but like him there's no denying he has good ability. Wouldn't want them paying silly wages for him though.

I'd have no complaints at a 32 year old 6'2" muck and bullets defender with a bit of pedigree coming in as long as his fitness was proven over the last couple of seasons.

So some nice moves upwards. Interesting you mentioned Mosely I have vague memories of watching him for Brighton v Utd in the cup final as a kid but i'd no idea until now he started at Rovers.

When or if Nixon actually appears to know stuff it's time to get worried as far as i'm concerned. The least he knows the better.

Don't worry the 20 mill we get for Brereton will cover it.

And a good few others, he was certainly speaking from behind enemy lines for a while.

Rinse and repeat before too long ?

I don't for a min think TM has told him he's coming in as a regular second or third choice behind A N Other not signed yet after they've been after him so long nor do I believe that's why he went to PNE. I'd believe Mowbray has told him he'd have to fight for a place but that's pretty natural when you are stepping up a league again. I just think Preston did more graft in pursuing him and were prepared to give him a manageable wage but a decent signing on fee and long contract whilst our lot just dithered around thinking they'd get him on the cheapo whilst turning their attention to the likes of Downing once knowing he was available. Had our pants pulled down is the top and bottom of it but like I said i'm not massively miffed at missing the player although I personally think he would've been a good signing but more miffed at what it says about the recruitment and their priorities.

Well at least it's fleecing them like they fleece others I suppose.

Did they step sideways or up ?

Likewise.

The main thing about missing Bauer that perplexes me is that after all the talk of investing in good young players who can make a profit or serve us well for a number of years they appear to pass up on this one. Yet by the time we've finished collecting old heads on short contracts we'll probably have spent the same or more but have maybe just another midtable season to show for it then be hunting around again to replace them and still probably be light on defence.

?? Get back in your box he's training a lanky clown to fight bums he's just a cheerleader when Fury gets in with Wilder and the like he does what he wants, pure survival instinct. Bit like Raya is an instinctive reactionary keeper certain things come natural the things he actually needs drilling in don't. More like equivalent of Carlton Palmer ! So many boxing trainers weren't fighters or much of fighters but I really think having a good ex keeper as a coach is beneficial and football in no way resembles boxing it's a team game for a start they don't need that individual mentality drilling in them like fighters do. Daft comparison but not surprising from a Fury groupie .... ?

We always seem to sell the good young keepers that come through at Rovers, Given, Fielding etc now Raya but pre Venkys we've always had a top notch number 1 and at least one good experienced back up. Alongside some good experienced keeper coaches as well. Replacing Steele was NEVER going to be difficult Keane or Eastwood could've done that job just as well it was more about desperation than promoting Raya because he was that good. They simply gave him a go because he was there, the Gary Bowyer of keepers.

Mowbray is changing tack every interview as the weeks roll by now and to be fair he won't be the only one doing that football changes day to day however he's laid down his marker as honest Tony a few years ago so I think he should start batting in a straight line again. He said he wanted ready made players but is looking like delivering has beens glossed over as that. He said he wanted defenders to help the team then lost his long term target to a smaller more ambitious club then brushed it off as he was only back up anyway. Now he's saying he wants an experienced keeper to 'help the defensive unit' which really sounds like he's no intention of actually strengthening that after telling us 'defenders are coming' then being gazumped on Bauer. Following this logic prepared to be shocked and underwhelmed when it's a zimmer frame keeper or non at all.

TM doesn't rate Raya as in he thinks he's got potential but isn't up to it week in week out so needs another competitive no 1 to work with and more time ? OR TM has had a spat with him and saw a potential few million in transfer funds after telling him he'd be frozen out ?

In the Coyle summer window in came two busted flushes and an on loan defender supposedly as back up but really to plug expected gaps cheap as poss then later on in came a decent player on a free and a loan striker, you know who. Along with of course the usual very questionable signing we seem to get every year. Soon after out went a home grown player disillusioned with the club and another bought cheap and polished to sell who supposedly fallen out with the manager, both around the 4 mill mark. Money to pay the bills and cover previous commitments, There could well end up parallels in the next 6 months and we know how that ended.

The way he's packing midfielders on the books someone has to go and the only one who'll command a fee is Travis so id be keeping an eye on that one. Also suspected for a while he'd off Nyambe if he could there was some odd stuff last season with him where it looked like he was being frozen out just to give Bennett a place. Then they give him a new contract and off he goes to this summer tournament which will be a nice shop window. Selling young talent early for a few million before they've been revved up the pay scale whilst sticking on add ons and sell ons might prove quite lucrative in the long run whilst enabling funds coming in to hold onto those who'll make big money and also creating space in the team for others. Scary thought

Correct, good player when fit and arsed but he was another stinker at rovers imo.

Nyambe ?

If I thought we could get some real use out of him i'd have no qualms he's a good player and always has been but the fact he's been struggling with a calf injury then released by Stoke and is now going around asking for trials waves the red flag a bit. I'd take him over Evans any day of the week but not sure he'd be a shoe in for that spot even if he was fit more likely end up a right or left side substitute.

There's fit and there's fit, I liked Caddis but felt sorry for him as he was clearly struggling after 15 mins everytime I saw him but he tried his best. Getting 45 mins out of Charlie Adam against a low league outfit with their own mixed first 11 after a summer off means fook all, sign him and he'll struggle you can guarantee it and all the ability in the world won't cover it. Just another short term waste of money.

There was some theatrics from him in a Blackpool match at Ewood as well around the time we were linked. Would have been a great signing at one point but now he's just another Paul Caddis as in he'd be alright if he was fit but he isn't and that's why he's pitched up here looking for a contract.