Elche kick off home to Real Betis on Monday 18 August so are behind us in preparation.

Same mistake as the site made for the Qatar match too. Time zones confuse Rovers- particularly the one between Preston and Blackburn on transfer deadline day...

Looked up Elche on Transfermarkt seeing as I know nothing about them and found their squad is valued at 5m less than Rovers! Only an Austrian central defender, Affengrauber, valued above 3m being at 5m. For keeper they select between a 21 year old Spaniard and a 38 year old Uruguayan.

I think I am already at the stage that I would be less concerned seeing Montgomery coming on as a sub than I would be about John Buckley trotting on.

Kargbo getting kicked

40 minutes each way?

Pasha out very visible.

Still no sound here despite a reboot

Rovers without a pendant to give them - how cheap! Anyone got sound or is that extra?

Random numbers pricing.

6 v 5 game at the end if there are.

If we are to lose Brittain then at least it is good there is an auction, hopefully.. Dolan going outside English football could lose us as much as 2m in compensation. Come on Cov and Bris, you know you have too few step overs in your teams...

Was sent an email by the club promoting the deal- clicked on it, tried again, the Rovers web page said it failed but I got a text message from Revolut it had gone through and sure enough I got email confirmation! Woohoo Hope the game is as exciting as trying to pay to watch it...

I have never had Paypal and didn't realise it was still being used. Debit card payment now failed 11 times. I wish all the other payments I make failed like this!

Beck is a cracking player at this level but not many Championship teams this season will have their left back position competed for by players of the ability and experience of Pickering and Ribeiro. There are at least 6 positions that need strengthening before needing a third left back. Unusually for us, I can see there being intense Championship level player competition for places in every position by the time the window closes. I can also see a Pasha mentality that short/ expiring contracts being the equivalent of loans without the loan fee and PL/ parachute level wages... Not condoning it but looking in from the outside, this seems to be the mentality. By the time players and agents have had their cuts, transfer fees have to be 5m+ these days to make a serious difference to the club's finances. Incidentally, Boro who are chasing Britain have done zero new signings to date. We will go and loan Harrison Armstrong now and blow this theory away....

This is 2025

Payment has just failed for the fifth time. Meantime I have made two other online payments from the same card without any problems. This is pathetic Rovers. No wonder they are far too ashamed to advertise it.

I would buy it if it were working!

Here in Malta I am out for my morning walk by 6.30am and go for the evening walk at 7.30pm or later. Heat won't be so intense at 7pm CEST but will still be a shirt soaker for our players. In contrast, the Qatar players will be in their thermals as it is mid 40s and upwards there this time of the year.

We beat Barcelona 3-2 in Reus with a Shearer hattrick. So is this the Qatar WC squad we are playing? https://www.rovers.co.uk/matches Gobsmacked- there is a GBP5.99 offer to watch both Qatar and Elche on Rovers TV!

But great for keeping BRFCS message board ticking over. I read Ismael as needing forward(s) plus two or three in other positions. So between 4 and 6 more signings. Anyone told Pasha???? PS no loans yet plus noises coming out of Boro point to them being willing to pay silly money to land Brittain...

Or how inflated his agent is...

On the way we have played in the two friendlies, I am happy to assume Ismael knows what he is doing and has a season plan. Extraordinary to have 7 unavailable at this stage in the pre-season but there we are. Obviously playing hard ball with Boro and Derby over Brittain and we might have had a lucky break with Baradji (no not funny..) It is inconceivable we won't pick up at least a couple of loan players in the last day of the window so with the youngsters coming through the competition for places is going to be pretty intensive. We will need some long Cup runs to keep everyone happy.

Surprised no stories about Brittain- pleasantly surprised. Here's hoping Pape, Ohashi, Leonard and Tyjon all kick on this season as I cannot see the piggy bank stretching to a decent forward even if one or more of Brittain, Tronstad and Travis depart. What has happened to Vale?