I think the downfall of a lot of half decent managers is the lack of surrounding themselves with the best qualified staff and assistants they might be able to bring in and instead going down the jobs for the boys or cheapo route. Souness was a good case in point for that.

No time for Dann either another who just used the club and was a project of Kean and co I heard some stuff about that deal around the time that left another bad taste. Came here unfit, to get fit and move which he did and his form only improved here when he was told scouts from a few clubs were watching him now he was fully fit again. Then bingo he gets sold. So no thanks non of this is moving us forwards its beginning to resemble a desperate attempt to stop us going backwards again.

John Keeley ex keeper and keeper coach at Ewood you only had to watch his pre match drills to see his was a good thorough coach, fact he had a powerful left foot helped. Raya was under him which obviously helped his progress when he stepped up from youth, Steele was signed and was crap but improved a lot under him then went backwards immediately he left. Most good clubs employ ex keepers as GK coach it does make a difference without doubt as does working with other good keepers daily. Another thing penny pinching Venky Rovers and presumably the manager seem blind to these days but no doubt Benson and Mowbray are getting a pat on the back for turning youth product Raya into a 3 million plus add ons sale that pays some bills.

They are simply plugging gaps whilst growing a team but whether it's for a promotion tilt of to sell off and start again is anyones guess. What's clear is they won't pay for ready made players it either has to be potential for profit or short term big wage stop gaps with no fee. Custom designed to sit in the middle of the division under the steady hand manager. Wouldn't be so bad if they didn't pretend otherwise.

And soon to be Championship regular........

An age old rovers theme throw money around the squad on all unsundry totally wasting half of it instead of actually buying quality that might cost a lot to start with but actually saves you money in the long run because they do the job they are bought for. Never learn.

Totally agree on the Evans point we've played more or less the same way ever since he set foot in the club regardless of manager. Really is time we moved forwards from two men doing one good mans job in midfield let Evans be back up, late sub to someone else.

Relax, with Smallwood taking over in goal we'll need another midfield bod.

Keeper really isn't the position to be experimenting with or plonking young'uns in to grow for a season or two and sell. Get something proper in there and give the rest of the team a solid platform to withstand the usual chopping/changing, blooding youngsters etc

Charlie Adam who was supposedly training at Brockhall this summer just to keep fit is apparently now getting a run out in the blue and white...... Back to the days of bullshit by the spade load i'm afraid. This Raya situation will send a clear indication as to where we are at more than anything else so far this summer. All eyes on his perceived replacement ( if thee is one ).

That's what they've said but so did Mowbray but we rarely played with a high line however they do and probably see him operating on the edge of or just outside his box at times which it looked like he was itching to do. His style of keeper will work better for them than us.

It won't have gone unnoticed that Blackburn Rovers now have no first choice keeper and a fee in their pockets so I hope he already has someone with one foot in the door. I do fear he'll try with the Canadian and these funds are earmarked elsewhere already !

Undisclosed fee which usually means it's nothing like the figures quoted and that would add to the theory Brentford don't shell out big money often. 2 mill tops with add ons i'd say. The statement about him suited Brentfords high line and him playing it out from the back and operating in that space is also very relevant to this move I think and why Raya fancied it. Mowbray came out with exactly the same yet it was his hot air yet again because we rarely played that way which probably added to why Rata never looked totally comfortable because he wanted to do things the manager didn't want him to. He did try to be a bit of a show pony at times when his concentration should have been more on the basics hence the rushes of blood. Reason he stands out a bit is because of this, he's a bit different I said ages ago he's a continental style keeper who would suit the top Spanish league rather than the Prem and I stand by that and wouldn't be surprised to see him there one day but he'll never be a top Prem keeper even if he gets a stint there. Best of luck to him though he's played his part in the past 2 seasons, I hope they've secured good add ons and I wish him a great career. I'll personally nail TMs arse to the Wainwright Bridge if he tries to replace the lad with shite but I really don't expect them to spend big to replace him that's not how things are done at Rovers.

He should've been out on loan again instead of sat on our bench, piss poor that was.

To be fair we probably had a better keeper coaching set up than now under Bowyer and they saw wisdom in not only bringing in Steele Boros 3rd choice to replace ex England and vastly experienced Robinson but actually paid a fee as well. I reckon in Rayas case he's been here an eternity, he's done well up to a point but stalled and a change of scene and different approach could kick start that again so they reckon he's worth a punt. Just because Rovers seem terrified in investing a few million here and there in potential with first team experience doesn't mean other clubs are it's chicken feed in todays money. I doubt Brentford go down the over 30's big wage route very often or carrying deadwood eating up their budgets.

From the managers point of view how many times can you keep cutting him slack for mistakes when it's your head on the block ? If Raya was signed from Boro was 300k most would say he's shite but being an academy graduate he gets more slack from fans and yes he's still learning on the job and that ain't his fault. I think the main factor in this is the defence as has been touched on before, Nyambe, Lenihen, Bell and even Williams all young, youngish and all have re-sale potential versus it actually costing money to replace them or some of them with better = never going to happen. Then that leaves Mulgrew who probably has far too much influence in the dressing room and a manager who has too much faith in him and is terrified of getting rid or sidelining him on the wages he's on. Wouldn't read too much into him being dropped at the end of last season at all " Hey Charlie you know how we need to get some mins in some youngsters ? Well I need to chop the team around a bit and you've had a long hard season and have summer internationals coming up so how about a good rest first son ? " -- "Ok boss, sound". Mowbrays answer rather than get defenders is beef up the middle, probably try and play tighter and maybe change the keeper especially after they appear to have fallen out. Not saying I agree but not many seem to be considering Rayas part in this ? Maybe he wants away, fancies London, doesn't like his current boss. All at a club looking for income to spend, not exactly going to stand in his way are they.

The era of the commanding good at the basics keeper is over the era of the error prone agile shot stopper is in ! I blame the academy system not enough young players out cutting their teeth and too many similar robots straight out of the coaching manual outfield and show pony keepers in the sticks.

I just don't think we'll pay any significant fees certainly not a combined 9 mill I think one or both will be loaned to start with if they come or for around half the quoted price plus add ons.

I don't think Dack is daft enough to go to Leeds unless they ae suddenly chucking big Wonga around he's better off here than there for now crowds or no crowds.

Don't bet on it, whilst i'm happy with this signing i'm also terrified wondering what Mowbray has in store for him.

Yep I just don't see why the defence should be neglected when they appear to be trying to strengthen all other areas yet that was the weakest last season.

I'm liking the sound of Darlow if hope it comes off that's a solid piece of business if you're going to lose a young keeper with potential but replace him with another not much older, more experienced and still of potential for similar money. Yep good deal indeed !

The very thing they were swerving on long term target Bauer for !

Great post I think the coaching he might get down there is better than what is on offer up here at present plus maybe he fancies living down there now for personal reasons or whatever. Bigger Spanish community etc.

If that's correct the finger swings firmly back in the direction of the defence again and suggests he's carrying the can for that which raises questions towards the manager. However just think what his stats would've been if he didn't drop so many howlers. It's an odd case this one.