Things change fast in football do you pay enough attention from your lofty perch to notice this outside of this website ? Disappointment to some is exciting to others and we wouldn't have it any other way it's called English football pal.

100% spot on. He's a continental type keeper and not just because of the name. He would actually be very suited to the game over there I reckon, bit more thinking time and less set pieces plus bowling it out from the back every time.

I'd be happy with him as understudy to a good keeper but he'll not like that understandably so best thing would be loan him out to get games. If not you are looking at the next Jake Kean scenario I fear, lad ruined.

That's fair point although they do mature at different levels he's still only really two full seasons as a no 1 but I was still thinking of him as being 22/23 for some reason. It comes back to what we said a few years ago, do we want to see them put a foot down and try and build a side for promotion or are we happy to see the club plod along developing players to sell and just pay its bills.

That's the worry, he could be looking to raise his own funds now after tying up all the spare in that mon. I suspected he was trying to squeeze Nyambe out not long ago for that reason but he's since got a new deal so maybe not but you never know.

Building from the back is how it's done and a good experienced keeper who's a bit more commanding especially to his centre halves HAS to be followed by another centre defender of similar stature and hopefully a good left back. That's positive building blocks for this team imo otherwise there'd be no point flogging him unless the money is used properly. Let's remember Souness, not a defensive minded manager, started right there with bringing in Brad for what was already a good and popular keeper in Filan. Turned out a no brainer, going way back we were struggling all over the park under Mackay after a few great seasons but the first thing he did when Jack gave him some funds was get in Mimms, Dobson and a big lump up front in Livingstone. I'd suggest that's a good way to go right now. Kenny replaced a good keeper in Mimms with Flowers and Robinson was a solid if not spectacular replacement for Brad. Simply put if you want to get anywhere you just must have a good reliable safe pair of hands in the sticks. Raya himself was an upgrade on Steele so the process is ongoing. Forget all the misty eyed stuff if it was done for the right reasons i'm 100% with it...........as ever though that remains to be seen but we are now not sticking plasters over holes we are in an actual position to upgrade if there is funding. First time that's happened for a long time.

Raya's young and has plenty time to develop into a decent keeper but tbh I've never seen a potential Premier league great in him at all let's be honest since he was head and shoulders too good for the U23s he's been a little bit overhyped. Great reflexes but a lot of basics need massive improvements and he's two full seasons In now as no1 although only one at Championship level obviously. Bleated on about it before but to me it was a right cock up leaving him on our bench for a season or two after he'd been on loan at Fleetwood and done well. They should 100% have had him out somewhere else for a bit learning his trade. 90% of being a good steady keeper is in the head if you can do the basics right it's all about judgement and communication next and this is where he still struggles plus he looks to be about 5'11" and sadly these days to be a real top keeper you need to be a good few inches taller. Definitely enough about him though to develop into a good Championship stopper he's just a kid still learning on the job so I wouldn't get rid of him unless there is a good experienced ready made no 1 available to come in although that will cost, would be worth it imo if he isn't old and could serve us a good few years. Getting rid of any good player only makes sense if you replace them properly but personally I don't see Raya as a key player to the team like the Dacks, DGs, Lenihens etc but it would be crazy to cash in now just for the sake of it.

If they commit to similar spending as last summer i'e whatever has been paid out of the 10 million for Armstrong and Brereton then at some point they'll want to be seeing something back for it as that would be a c20 club commitment in 2 seasons albeit being paid over 4 or more . Might be a good go at the top 6 or an attempt at covering it with a good sale or two depending on what mood they are in or who's advice they are taking at that moment. I think he's got it covered either way though because a play off finish and some nice publicity from those games will delight the owners but if not 20 million from sales would sooth the way and please the club accountants. To me that's how you placate these owners and keep their trust and this time we are operating from a relative position of the strength as the rotten core seems to have been rooted out, there's a work ethic about the place and the squad as it stands has value in it. That's why I think he's quite relaxed about it and is in no immediate pressure to deliver or not next season so he can get away with a lot of bold words.

He's no legs for midfield or left back and he doesn't want to play either he's said as much because he felt it would impact on him getting his place in the national team.

He did it in patches this season but seems to bottle it every time an attacking approach back fires but in some of those away games where we were cruising then ended hanging on or got beat he himself made some terrible calls in chopping and changing things around. I think when you play a more attacking game and use the more bold players especially in the middle you will get caught out a time or two and you will take the odd pasting but you've got to stick with it imo. Changing things around every week and in games several times only serves to add to confusion but it's a trademark with Mowbray wherever he's been and so I really can't see it changing now. I think to be really successful here he'll need a large squad with some quality in every area to pick from and allow him to get away with the constant adjustments a bit like us in league 1 last year. Apart from preferring the two defensive mids and counter attacking he doesn't really have a core style he sticks to like the Bruces, Dyche and the like where they tend to stick to the same methods, best first 11 and put guys in place who can operate in those methods. They're all accused of being boring but they tend to get teams promoted.

Last time he wanted a player with technical ability and experience on the ball that's what we ended up with and he's another who ended being paid off. Not sure spotting a midfielder is Mowbrays strong point hence why I think he'll continue to work his way through the Evans/Smallwood/Travis triangle next season. Gives him chance to rotate according to opposition which he loves and keeps available the cautious approach which he also loves. He dropped on a very good midfielder in Reed but was terrified of giving him a regular slot in his real position so that says a lot I think but we don't want any Whittingham types again anyway.

Under Allardyce he was very handy with the dead balls and throw ins and he was a fit lad who worked hard doing those put in open play he became pretty useless once Hughes left for some reason.

Hope they get plenty donations to help them through but this really is pathetic how much money are Anderson, Warburtons and the Eddie Davis Trust worth combined ? They are the major shareholders of BWFC so surely to god they could have guaranteed the wages of regular non football staff who are normally employed year round ? Some very wealthy people are some of the very worst forms of human beings

That's what we should be looking at but I don't think Mowbray sees it as priority and there's no sell on value increase in a signing like plus he'll want real wages. Being linked with Fielding and the like suggests they just want cheap back up to increase competition for places but pose no real threat long term just keep Raya on his toes.

Forget Bauer we didn't move for him when maybe we should have and he didn't force the move he signed a new deal down there and now thinks he's worth 40/50k pwk !!!! In that time he's done another season in league one whilst we've got promoted and finished midtable a league above. His rep on here has probably got overblown because of our continued defensive frailties but is he really that good ?

Nothing against Charlton it's good to see them moving in the right direction again but the usual pre match SKY hype towards the bigger southern club nailed it right there and then i'd love Donny to pull it off ! Come on.

Leading light in promotion season, fan fav and one of Tonys blue eyed boys plus new terms after promotion i'd wager he's on a good bit more now.

People of around 20 years service got potted but let's all feel sorry for a five to ten grand a week player whos contract is nearly up ... Actually would those jobs have been cut if we had Mowbray & Waggot in charge back then ? Not so sure to be honest let's face it we had a Preston shelf seller and a part time accountant running the club who probably had very little day to day dealing with some of those people or any clue what they actually contributed. Things have changed for the better despite some head scratching stuff still.

Hypothetically speaking seeing as we are linked....... To be honest i'd have a fit Frank Fielding over the other two all day I thought he was a decent keeper for this level and better than Raya at the same age as he is now. Sadly he's another now though with a worn body and carrying some serious injury baggage so he'd be a pretty pointless signing. From a football angle anyway but from a human element we'd be being nice again I suppose.

So we'd have 3 keepers of very similar stature and ability but one with more experience than others but who will be 2nd choice and not one big commanding keeper amongst them ? You know the type we actually need and the type the manager said he wanted ! Might as well stick with the two we have instead of wasting another wage there's enough potential acts of generosity around.

When a player is off Specialist treatment and enters rehab in his own club going in daily and working with their own physios, doc and coaches isn't he technically back at work ?

Wouldn't surprise me at all and also he had the reserve keeper at Boro was it years back so that was always a nailed on new deal I think. It's no wonder he's so popular really, he's a very loyal and fair man is our Tone he even got a mate of his a gig to be his so called boss ! Like I said before forget the basket case stuff a job at Ewood for the right people is one of the best in football if you learn how to play it and at least have some idea of what you are doing. Owners thousands of miles away, will say yes to most reasonable requests and let you get on with it if they like you and you toe their line and are nice to their friends. He got some good players in at West Brom and Boro when he had a couple of quid to play with so let's hope he's now rooting in that contact book again not his personal old mates one.

He could very well have the option of another year written in like a lot seem to have at Ewood these days and often it stipulates so many mins playing time to trigger that option. In the event of not being able to play through injury they might have to find a way to let him get fit first and have those mins or be liable to some kind of release fee to compensate for it. As with anything in football there is always a price and players very rarely come to the end of their contracts and walk away with nothing even if it's only a month or twos severance pay. This lad was signed from QPR who used to chuck daft money about and themselves were being milked by agents because of clueless ownership so he'll have been on an average championship wage probably at Rovers which will amount to a decent wedge. If he's blown it all it's his problem otherwise he should still be able to eat.

I think the only reason the downing one is being let slide is because it was done to death months ago and we knew he was leaving that's why 'players man' TM loaned him out and left us up the creek until he faffed about and dropped Mulgrew to let Williams find his feet along with Lenihen coming back to fitness and form and somewhat pulling him out the mire. That in itself is a good example of why team and points should come first not the feelings of individual players because it could have cost us dearly.

...... Gladwin shouldn't be given a contract he should be nailed to a stake and stuck up Darwen Moor so the crows can peck his eyeballs out and locals can pelt him with out of date Leavers pies... Said no one ever but they might as well do such is the reaction to non existent hysterics which in reality are just the usual opinions on another odd decision and very underwhelming player.