Wasn't he on about 9 grand pwk lst time and rovers contributed about 6k pwk ? I think that was banded about by redtop man. Be a hell of a lot more this time.

Got a new contract and big pay rise when he returned to Saints after being here.

Don't mind Gallagher too much but he'll cost a fair whack to loan in this time I bet, is he worth that money ?

Maybe Caddis was injured or maybe he carries something long term which prevents him from training flat out and getting as fit as he can who knows although it might explain why his career went downhill all of a sudden. If not wouldn't you think he'd have gone away end of last season and put his head down to get as fit as possible to challenge for a season in the Championship ? I just don't get the lack of morals some of these guys have, where is he going after here ? Bit part League 1 or 2 at a small skint club briefly then non league probably. Sad.

I hope this doesn't turn out to be one of these we've been here before summers again aka revert to type. Sometimes the mangers tone strikes me as going from excited to dumbing it down bit by bit. A few token bids in for players in the blind hope we'll pinch one but no intention really of going up in price to really land them because Waggot only has a little bit of movement in his authorised budget and the phone to Pune has gone dead again ! We've a decent little squad but there is a fight on next season make no mistake so a little extra quality is needed not just bodies but I think that's what it might come down to. TM needs his rabbit out the hat gloves on quick.

Agree and regardless of this incident whatever it was he has to be one of the most overated molly coddled, self serving players we've ever had. 3 or 4 good games per season since he's been here and usually leading up to Internationals or contract renewals. We know he can do it but for a multitude of reasons he doesn't he's been a passenger and in a way Lowe when he was here took a lot of heat off him. Like I said regardless of today i'd have traded him long ago he's probably always been in the top paid bracket and doesn't justify it. However in todays market with what we have to spend i'm not sure we could actually get much better but maybe somebody more robust and regular would be a start.

Do we know what context this was in I wonder, was he just jokingly being exasperated or genuinely grumpy ? Anyone witness it ?

Been to Thailand on hols and come back not quite feeling himself or so the rumours say ?

It looked pretty pointless every time they tried starting with it last season.

I think that comes from a lot of the safety first mentality coached into them these days and it's been particularly relevant at Rovers. I don't think we'll see a flying wing back or constantly over lapping full back very much no matter who is in the shirt unless we are chasing a game. Modern methods.

I think the thing with England that frustrates a lot is the fact we usually self combust at some point and throw it away despite being in a decent position to do better. That gets mistaken for over expectation at times when really it's just frustration that they can't see a job through they are more than capable of doing. It's rare we get tanked and you can just say we are crap. In this case though we were only just beaten by a slightly better more experienced outfit who more than deserve their place in the final on merit. We didn't bottle it they just edged it no matter how you dress it up and this one is far easier to take on the chin than a lot of the other exits.

Norwich obviously taking a calculated gamble, fair play to them although the price of Delia's grub in kiosks will no doubt be going up !

Vaguely remember watching it and I don't think there was more than a few hundred English left there by then, crap game as well I think. All pointless really although I did notice on Swedens Wiki page it boldly states 3rd place in the World cup lol Can't see Southgate telling his grandkids in years to come hey I managed England to 3rd place in the 2018 WC although I got England to the semis sounds quite good.

That's what I was thinking and although having those two for the left back spot is good I still don't think they invested in him just to be back up long term.

Williams signs new deal, certainly he's earned it. Wonder where this leaves Bell in the team ?

10 years ? Steady on you've got to judge them on the tournaments so if as expected we have a decent Euro in 2 years then on we go but if it's a disaster then he needs assessing' He is at least in tune with the modern way of thinking and has done a lot of good stuff in helping revamp the whole set up so let's hope the FA continue to buy into his way of thinking. A modern manager for modern times is the way forwards, dinosaurs and overated overpaid foreign managers a thing of the past hopefully however the future pans out for Southgate.

This nails it for me but with a young raw side and rebuilding job that's the price you pay I suppose. You could even stick a John Terry in there and a Shearer up top and they'd probably have strolled to the World Cup win. Sadly it doesn't work like that and we've had guys with good football brains in abundance in recent times, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham to name a few, even Rooney but along with them comes the ego's, the it's all about me mentality and maybe trying to overdo things to live up to their tags. For me the biggest contributor last night was Southgate was tactically outdone in the second half but chances are Croatia might have pinched a goal anyway even if we'd continued to dominate but failed to get another one or two. To be honest i'd rather go out like that than penalties in the end.

Yep Southgate at least applied a new broom and got rid of all the ego's who seemed to think appearing in these tournaments was all about them and their profiles. We've had so many top class players over the last 20 years but it's been bloody painful to watch them at times skulking about looking like they'd rather be on the beach and they'd a divine right to beat teams just by turning up. These lot were refreshing and for that i'll always be grateful, hope it continues.

That's something we noticed in the early games how poor he is at winning headers with his back to goal. One of those who drops off his man then leaps backwards making himself a foot shorter but I suppose he's not really a target man despite having the size. Couldn't fault his graft like all of them but he's looked ordinary ability wise, just a pity the Spuds version couldn't show up tonight.

Actually said at half time that England are one of if not the best short passing team in the tournament they bossed it in the first 45 but you just cannot miss chances time and again at that level. Totally outdone tactically and finally ran out of steam in the 2nd half but it was probably to be expected. Southgate has done brilliant but made a few wrong calls in that second half especially taking Sterling off who loses everything he touches but constantly stretches and menaces opposition defenders. Kane has been disappointing for me the last two games although he's been well marked and that has opened up space for others but although he played his part he hasn't yet looked world class in this for me. Great effort and great tournament, never mind actually winning it I never thought i'd see England in a World Cup semi again so i'm over the moon. Don't think we'll ever win it to be honest but England should always be in the mix of quarters and semis so hopefully it's the start of a bit more consistency. We can and should have won a Euro by now though so over to you boys !

I'd definitely like them to sign him I think he'd be a good addition but only for the right money so that's why I think it'll run and run and I've a feeling we might sneak it in the end. Anything over a million for him and Charlton are having a giraffe but they'll know they'll never get daft money so an 11th hour compromise might just be sorted.

Ben Marshall to Wolves is a good example of the Bauer situation. Rovers asking for about 3 mil at first wasn't it even though his contract was running down ? Behind the scenes he wanted out and they needed him off the payroll and wanted a fee, any fee. In the end he goes for about the same he cost. This one will run a while I think and how he performs in preseason might determine it, has his head been turned enough ?

You could spend 5 mill and he could score 5 goals or you could source someone with a steady but not spectacular record and he'd be a hit in the right system. Like I said above there's plenty examples over recent years who've banged in loads at this level but haven't cost a right lot. A steady scorer who fits your style is the thing to look for. Ok guaranteeing 15 is a big ask but maybe look around players who've banged in up to 10 regularly and you know there is something there to build on.

Danny Graham turned out alright although obviously his type are a big gamble on wages but I think there are plenty examples at Champ level who didn't cost a right lot.

If we were to spend up to 2.5 mill on one player ( we Won't ) i'd like it to be a striker who's almost nailed on to bag 15+ goals in the champ. That would prove a vital bit of business.