Might be Just swinging the lead and missing a bit more pre season like TM has said he just wants to play for fun and to be honest most of his performances have looked like he's not that arsed despite the quality he obviously has. Are we really so desperate for these types on the books ?

Gladwin will still be on the books this time next year I bet and we'll hang around waiting for Rodwell and either chuck him an improved deal he's probably angling for or leave it too late and he'll be off leaving a hole in the squad with the excuse no time to fill it. Is there a more relaxed manager in this div ? Next news we'll find out he's signed a 5 year extension. I'd love to know what they were really planning on that Pune trip, my guess, same budget, same costs and invest what little headroom there might be left after what is already committed then grow the team another season. Finish a few places higher then get ready to cash in ! So there'll be no promotion or play offs pressure but at least the pay off days seem gone.

There's no assumption he has to be paid for however it's done and that's a fact as are the accounts and Mowbray himself confirming the fee. We've loved your goal post moving assumptions on it though for nearly a year now trying to make out he's only cost a few quid so far and he's earning peanuts comparably speaking. As usual real evidence points to the contrary but I suppose we can never rule out the late window Venky rush of blood that might agree to underwrite some more big commitment signings, loan or otherwise.

Didn't the accounts show around 5/6 million paid down for fees last summer ? Presumably a big lump down up front on AA & BB so if another lump follows this summer which it probably will that's another big bit of wedge again presumably out of this seasons budget as that's how they usually do it at Rovers with this lot I think. Hence why we will be financially hamstrung by that transfer for a while yet and maybe they got rid of the add ons by whacking more down upfront, common practise I believe to get rushed deals through which that one was. What we've seen since is two wages out in Downing & Conway and one in ( probably costing the other two wages ) in Downing unless i'm missing something. So no actual extra on the wage bill from last time as of yet.

We need players who are better than what we have in order to improve then the ones handed the shirts weekly become the back ups and the present back ups get sold/loaned/let go. Opposite happens at Ewood though we look for back ups to the back ups and in the long run it still all costs money !

I'll be very angry if it's Travis he squeezes out but not in the least bit surprised I always get the impression Mowbray played him through gritted teeth. He also had the perfect grafting midfielder who could also play at bit in Reed and was terrified of playing him there regularly. Another glaring example of signing a player not for a specific job but for a multitude of tasks so I don't see why this'll be any different other than maybe him being a pal guaranteeing him starts.

That's because they like us being linked with good ones it gives a bit of kudos to the bold talk then they hide behind the couldn't afford line when they already knew that from the off. That has now somewhat been blown out of the water with Bauer ending up at little old PNE and Downing costing a decent wage coming here. There's a lot of talk needs backing up by now.

Players are back in today so someone holding a shirt up or something could just be promotional stuff.

How can I possibly fill Chaddys void ? It takes a special kind of positive to do that. The BigOmeter is on its way ?

The sentiment of a Downing/Travis being Tugay/Savage is a good one and would imo if it worked be something this team has lacked at times a proper engine room rather than just stoppers. Downfall of it would be the tinkerman though who wouldn't leave it alone given the options he now has and the people he has to keep happy. I actually like Smallwood as a squad man he gets far too much stick he is what he is but can we be carrying so many centre mids ?

It was tarmac and no there's no point it's full of bottle jobs on here, eh.... ?

Why the hell do you run around day after day digging out peoples posts trying to twist then to your perceived negativity then telling everyone you've better things to do ? It doesn't seem like you do as you are the one starting the arguments. Just accept a lot don't share your candyfloss covered views on everything, that candyfloss was seriously missing when you were wanting Mowbray out and were a merchant of doom yourself not long ago ! Get a grip pal lets get the season started we'll all have plenty to fall out over then in the meantime chill and dig out some Downing posters ready to tell us you told us so when the Teeside Messi does his stuff ?

A coup ? Steady on he may or may not turn out ok but it's not in any way a coup the coup is for him being fortunate enough to have somebody like Mowbray and a club like Rovers ready and waiting with a contract he'd unlikely get anywhere else and the promise of games. He won't even have to move house. I said straight off this would be trumpeted up as a marquee signing and going off the endless columns of him praising TM and TM praising him then posts about the Boro Messi and how grateful we should be kind of points that way. The money for contracts like this needs investing far better IF there isn't much of it and not much else is coming in, if there is well then it doesn't matter but end of the day we've just signed another big wages squaddie with certain things stacked against him like age and one who had he been a Leeds lad at Leeds or Sheff Weds or someone Mowbray probably wouldn't have gone anywhere near him !

Although not my first choice at this moment in time Gallagher is better than Brereton and unless BB comes on leaps and bounds getting started in real position it'll probably stay that way for a while so having him in would surely add some strength to the squad plus it might keep Samuel out, he offers a lot more than him as well. Get him on loan with a view to buy then it covers all bases.

Bang on average on the football and signing side of things but he's good at other football club stuff obviously, also we know real well what the below side of average is like. There'll be a real good foundation to build on here when he leaves as long as he doesn't mess it up or it's sold from underneath him.

That's because he was at the time and it was another of those not what we really need signings borne out by the fact TM sent him back halfway through. Perish the thought fans on here should ever be right now and again. By the way Tony signed him, Tony didn't really use him and Tony sent him back not the fans, ok ?

A Mowbrayism there's a lot of it about. He does have a point though we are terrible passers in the centre mid unless it's going 3 yards either way or backwards.

I do think the Brereton signing will sting us financially for a while yet and it wasn't a wise punt in that regard at all but player wise I think everyone should give him a clean slate next season.

Ronaldo would be better surely...

Post of the week That's exactly what this league is about you've got to go head to head and fight fire with fire not many teams football their way into the top 6 in the Championship. To achieve promotion that way you have to have a very good team then there's a chance you'll run away with it. As under Bowyer our largely bland style of play will just be enough to tread water whilst allow constant rotation and game time for younger players and ones they are looking to increase in value.

It's called scrabbling around for the positives if we signed Teddy Sheringham today on a two year deal you'd still get some saying well he's here now give him a chance and at least he'll learn Graham a thing or two about playing till he's 40 if nothing else ?

Spot on but sadly I don't believe Mowbray truly shares this I think he'll try to get away with it as it is and cover it over with waxing on about killer balls and experienced heads to guide the youngsters. In other words trumping up his massive Downing signing and maybe a striker on loan and another midfielder, at best a back up defender who can cover a few positions. That could also be trumped up by the re-signing of Rodwell swallowing up the remaining budget money. The back end of the seasons good finish and the amount invested in the defence already in terms of contracts for the ones we have alongside Williams looking ok in CH a time or to will dictate this. 'Defenders are coming' will turn out to be more utter tosh I reckon.

Mowbray's fault all this if he'd actually sign a decent fecking player for once there'd be something real to debate/argue over but instead it's posse season. PULL YOUR FINGER OUT TONY !!!!!!!!!

He's always cranky on Saturday and Sunday mornings, be nice as pie again after his ride and lunch, hangry I think they call it.. ?

Selling to run the club in other words - before/leading to relegation -, hopefully another similar scenario ( that will surely come ) falls into the category of trading club again i.e reinvest in the squad.