I wouldn't have thought JPVH going elsewhere (if it happens) is linked to Phillips. Phillips hasn't even committed to us yet either.

This rumour about JPVH has only surfaced this afternoon as far as Im aware.

I agree.

The money (for fees) was there! Just as it is now. Presumably we are struggling to get people in because of the self imposed wage structure.

People tend to assume loans are more or less free whereas the reality is for anyone half decent it's likely to be a loan fee of at least £1m p.a. plus £10k p.w. in wages.

Yes I do, and no I can't show it because I would rather that source remained confidential. It really isn't worth sharing anything you hear on here. There's never any cast iron guarantee it will come to pass but you never get any acknowledgement or recognition for breaking it first if it turns out to be correct, only pelters if it doesn't.

Steady on you'll get accused of being '"special" or an "attention seeker".

No, sorry. So not Styles either, by process of elimination ......

So if something isn't on Twitter it's nonsense? Righty o.

🙄

Nope.

To be fair Carvalhal seemingly turned us down because he wanted to bring his entire team in. Hearing there's a possibility Sunderland fans might soon be very happy and we'll soon be very upset.

Watched a re-run of the Sheff Utd v Sunderland game and didn't actually think the Blades were all that. I thought Sunderland looked the better of the two sides before having a man sent off at 0-0 and also managed to pull a goal back at 0-2. That said, if we fail to compete physically as was the case on Wednesday night we'll get stuffed.

All well and good unless you try indulging in a game of poker but come up empty handed like we usually tend to do.

Summer 21 I'd imagine the owners had lost a degree of faith in Mowbray after a dismal 20/21. He should have been sacked at that point but hey ho. By January 22 the landscape had unexpectedly changed and a substantial one off budget and the promotion bonuses were made available.

Come on, we saw from January onwards there's barely a goal in the side if anything happens to BBD. I know the new joke chant from the stands is "He scores when he wants" about Lewis Travis but we can't rely on him coming up with a howitzer every week.

I think your info is extremely reliable my friend. I believe we have offered slightly more than that for JPVH but it's still a long way shy of what Brighton wanted originally so who knows if that will get done this window. Especially if he now has family issues. Also think we're still in for Styles, VDB from Liverpool and a young Europen based Central striker as you say. As none of them have so far landed, I'm starting to get rather worried. If we haven't been able to get the deals done by now, how is that magically going to change over the next twelve days? Seems to me a drastic rethink is required either in terms of what's necessary to get the deals over the line or in terms of different personnel. They can't be the only quality players available at this stage.

Difference is, Gav is purely guessing because he hates the owners and it suits his agenda. My belief that there was a substantial budget available in January (in addition to the widely publicised bonuses) comes from specific information received. I wouldn't just have made it up without being told something either way. People can scoff at that if they like, that's their prerogative, but it seems various other people received similar information regarding the situation in January. Similarly, I believe there is a very decent budget for a non parachute team that has been made available this window as well. So far Waggott and Broughton haven't really delivered despite the fact £4m has already been spent and whilst it is still possible that we'll get the four or five quality players in we need over the next twelve days, I'm starting to doubt it will happen as our need for players is so urgent that if we were determined enough to make the deals happen you'd have thought the respective players would be here by now.

For the opposition.

Hear what you're saying Mike, but it COULD easily have been 6 or 7 and it wasn't Ferguson's Man Ure or a top.of the table Fulham. Every cloud though, we're still top and last night's drubbing might concentrate a few minds on the transfer front.

Over to Waggott and Broughton now - the manager needs help - and lots of it.

I think a balanced view needs to be taken after last night's shit show. JDT was dealt the worst of hands by the negligence of Waggott and Mowbray as regards the make up and composition of the squad. He has done unbelievably well to eke out nine points of nine under the circumstances but reality caught up with us tonight. Against that we simply didn't compete physically on the night and if you don't do that you have no chance. We looked liked we'd been spiked before kick off and that lack of combative spirit has to be placed at the feet of the manager. Equally as worryingly, Reading to their credit seemed to have clocked on to the rather risky way we attempt to play the ball out from the back and pressed accordingly. We had no answer and you'd imagine other teams will soon cotton on. Individually only Ayala and Travis looked Championship standard on the night: Of the rest Kaminsky - looked very hesitant and nervous for the second game in a row Brittain - hasn't got as much talent as a lot of people are making out - gave the ball away for fun tonight Pickering - looks to have completely gone since his return from injury - needs replacing. Phillips - by no means the worst performer on the night but looked very shaky. Unlucky with our only serious effort on goal. Buckley - Completely anonymous for the second game running. He is one who has the ability and is capable of far better Szmodics - oh dear - Championship looks a step too high for him at the moment Dolan and Vale - Although Dolan has previously impressed at this level , See above BBD - far more Breton than Diaz on the night Maybe temporarily distracted. Gallagher - Dear oh dear came on at HT as our big hope and all he contributed was to give away goal number 3 with an appalling attempt at defending. Dack - not the worst but not much to suggest he demands a place in the starting X1. Hedges - A lot more industry than most on the night but zero end product. Edun - a limited player but showed more fight in his brief cameo appearance than the rest of them put together. Over to Waggott and Broughton now. Mowbray and Waggott fucked up the January window despite money being available. The manager needs help - and a lot of it We can't afford for the same thing to happen again this August.

Worse. I have serious doubts about him, doesn't look anywhere near Championship standard to me.

Wayne Hemmingway on row behind as well apparently. Getting a bit silly now.

Gareth Ainsworth sat in the Rovers end with his son just in front of my mate and his son. Good lad Gareth!