I thought Peru were desperately unlucky against Denmark and very good against the French. They just seemed to lack a top class striker up front. By way of contrast Denmark have been as dull as dishwasher. I think it's a real shame they look set to advance and not the spirited Peruvians. France are hardly any better.

The difference between Dack and Rothwell is that Dack had previously excelled at L1 level scoring 20 goals in a campaign before having an off season so he clearly had the ability. It would appear Rothwell has yet to consistently impress at even L1 level so I would describe his acquisition for a Championship campaign as optimistic at best. The comment about him regularly appearing sporting strapping is particularly off putting. Hope he is only signing number six or seven out of seven when we're looking back on the summer transfer business as a whole. Still think we need at least four or five players who are capable of walking straight into the first eleven and performing in the Championship as opposed to squad fillers.

My first thought as well. AHA!! I'm somewhat underwhelmed with the Rothwell signing, for me we need a minimum of 4 or 5 signings who are either proven Championship performers or Premier League loanees who look a cut above the Championship and who would walk straight into the side, not guys who are likely to be squad fillers. Rothwell clearly has some potential and if he represents the risky end of our business this summer and is supplemented by some proven signings of the sort I've outlined above then all well and good. If not and most of the business is of a similar ilk it smacks of there being no funds available and an almighty struggle ahead.

Difficult to disagree. If we Don't do something like that, next season is likely to be a real struggle. As things stand we have Nuttall and Samuel who probably aren't good enough and Graham who may or may not be up to it next Season. We're likely to be hugely reliant on Dack once again. If he signs a new contract.

Wow, that would be some signing for them.Maybe we'll have to try and be a bit cheeky and up our sights on who we bring in on loan as well.

When does his current deal run to? I assume he's under contract until this time next year at least?

Very worrying comment from TM about preferring character over quality. It's become apparent already that he has his favourites and that's probably the reason why Conway landed a new contract. I'd have thought most top managers would take the opposite viewpoint, they'd want the quality player and have faith in their ability to Man manage them. Pretty clear also he's not over keen on Chapman. If fit he's walk into our side for me but it seems TM doesn't regard him as a solid enough option defensively. Don't see there's any need to give TM a new contract either at this stage until we see how we fare next Season. I like the guy a lot but with the greatest of respect it's not like he's Kenny Dalglish or anything.

It depends what you expect from a striker over the course of a season but I Wouldn't consider someone who scores 5 goals over the season and doesn't score a goal after December as being able to score at any particular level. Wikipedia also only have him as having scored around 20 career goals and he's 24 which surprised me. He's getting on a bit to be an up and coing young thing with potential, at that age he should be very near to his peak.

Wouldn't say excuses as such, more an attempt to put positive spin on the fact nothing has yet happened either in terms of incomings or tying down the people on new deals we want to tie down. I'd have thought Raya is another along with Lenihan and Dack who needs an improved deal to ward off interest from elsewhere.

Me too. I thought it would be a really tight game with no more than a goal in it either way.

The Saudis are a lot better side than many who have "graced" the World Cup in the past such as Haiti and Zaire. There are bound to be one or two weaker sides. You Can't just hold a tournament based solely on the FIFA rankings.

I'm not someone who needs to see signings before I'll commit to a ST and I rushed in to renew on the first morning buoyed with enthusiasm by the promotion. That initial feel good factor is starting to wear off slightly though. I'm not so much concerned by the fact that there have been no incomings as it's still relatively early days. I would however have expected Dack and Lenihan to have been tied up on lucrative new deals as soon as the season ended. However as Jim correctly observed yesterday all we have is two new deals for the old codgers Conway and Graham.

Whilst I agree that the overall concept of FFP is fatally flawed and that it is not inconceivable that our owners might try to hide behind it you do seem to be rather obsessed with the subject. I haven't studied the subject in detail like you seem to have done but the basic point that occurs to me is that the rule is you Can't exceed losses of a certain amount over a three year period therefore whilst it looks inevitable that Villa will fall foul of the rule eventually, They've only been in the Championship for two years so far so any sanctions aren't applicable yet. Similarly for Forest, if They've recently come out of embargo, presumably the 3 year cycle starts from scratch so you Can't complain about them spending £13m on a player per se. If owners want to take a punt on reaching the riches of the Premier League and run the risk of sanctions if it fails that's up to them and not the League's fault. I think it's wrong though to suggest that sanctions aren't applied. They have been and massive fines were slapped upon QPR which are currently subject to legal challenge as far as I'm aware. Once again if a Court eventually rules against the League (as I hope they do) that's not their fault, they have tried to enforce their rules.

Have to disagree. Conway was dreadful for the vast majority of last season in terms of his overall play not just his non contribution in terms of assists and goals.

"An hour of Craig Conway running up and down working hard .......will at times be a better option than those flying wingers." It really won't Tony - scratching around a bit with those comments I fear.

Lenihan was clearly looking to move prior to him picking up his long term foot injury. If There's any hint of interest from another Club he perceives to be a better long term bet, he simply may not want to sign another deal here. It might not be due to any lack of effort on the Club's part.

Absolutely spot on re: Conway. Unless the funding for this season is virtually unlimited by Championship standards I find it a very strange move. I do worry that TM is going to be too loyal and put too much faith in this squad judging by his recent comments in the LT. We have to remember that the rump of the squad got us relegated from the Championship and if TM thinks the squad as it currently stands will have us competitive at the right end of the table I fear he'll be sadly disappointed. We need at least half a dozen quality additions who can make a difference at Championship level imo, not just squad fillers who will be back up to the existing staff. I'd be looking for a big nasty centre half experienced at Championship level, ditto for midfield, a ball playing midfielder two wingers with pace, and two strikers who can find the net at this level. That, or something close to that will be plenty expensive enough without throwing money away on Conway because he's been a decent servant in the past.

Agree on Lenihan but Dack will presumably be on a very modest deal at the moment so that would be my top priority ahead of bringing anyone else In.

Graham may or may not perform next season but the only bit of contract news I really want to hear at this stage is that Dack has signed an improved deal.

I agree about Shelvey, I think we're badly lacking someone who can pick a pass in midfield. I'd have taken him or gambled on Wilshere's fitness as opposed to taking so many full backs or Delph.

As daft as it sounds for someone who has just scored twenty odd goals I think Sterling is a poor finisher and I don't expect him to impress taken out of an exceptional City side that scored over a hundred goals and which created almost unlimited chances for him. I think Sterling is vastly over-rated as a player but of course he could prove me completely wrong. I'd take Rashford alongside Kane ahead of Sterling, but arguably I think I'd rather even more be going with Vardy and Kane up top for the first two group games gainst weaker opposition and not overload the pitch with defenders masquerading under the fancy name of iadvanced wing backs.

That's an exceptionally negative line up for me. Essentially you've got 5 defenders, 3 midfielders, Sterling who half the time couldn't hit a the proverbial cow's backside with a banjo and Kane. If that's the line up then for me Southgate is guilty of overthinking it way too much. I would also have Rashford in ahead of Sterling who I expect to be a massive flop yet again. Guess the proof of the pudding will be in the eating as always.

Conway was better than Feeney a few years ago but they're both pretty useless now which is all that matters. We shouldn't be handing out contracts on sentiment.

Well overdue. Many congratulations.

We need to be making sure Dack and Lenihan get what they want and not bothering too much about Graham adopting a take it or leave it stance imo. it's ludicrous to be offering Conway any form. of deal at all for me, he should have been shown the door along with Feeney.