RevidgeBlue

If you're impressed, that gives me a little bit of hope.

Far too many for me - even without Baradji. I do expect Travis to be sold though.

I mean if we made a genuinely "wow" Steve Archibald type signing then as a one off I'd say that would be absolutely great. But to do it for every unheard of signing that comes in from the European Lower Leagues that's a bit like having a film crew outside my house waiting to catch me going to work every day. Or having a number 2. No harm done for those that like that sort of thing I guess.

I think the exact opposite, I think they're extremely tacky and cringe. Appeals to a different generation I guess.

Suspect one of the other midfielders already here will be a direct replacement for Travis when he goes as well. Otherwise agree.

Miller's not fit is he?

In terms of quality, last season we had Dolan and Weimann chipping in, now we have neither. The 2 strikers scored c 15 goals between them last season and I dont see them scoring more than 20 this season. Clearly not enough, we need a lot more. In terms of numbers would you be happy with 2 CB's plus an untried 17 yr old and a 21 year old who hasnt really cut it to date as cover? I suspect not - yet for some strange reason a lot of fans and seemingly the Club deem that to be adequate for the striking positions. So to answer your original question, because it's so desperately needed, the Club probably won't do it -no.

Brilliantly put, that's the most concise summary of our plight I've ever heard. Well done. BTW we DID make the play offs several times in the 80's despite no cash. Funnily enough I ran into a random guy the other week who knew me from my Rovers related activities years ago and he apparently was a near neighbour of Jim Branagan and knew him very well. He confirmed what many of us have always suspected over the years using the naked eye test. Jim apparently said the players were very conscious that if they did go up most of them knew they'd be replaced and they were settled in the area and their kids at the schools etc........

It seems to be only you that thinks the call for the 3 stooges to stay away was a bad thing, it was calm and measured and imo reflected far better on the fan base than actively disrupting games etc. It brought more media attention on us than we've had in years and I haven't come across anyone who thought it made us look like "dicks". With the exception of Jim White who I suspect has some sort of connection to Anderson etc, everyone in the media seemed to receive the call very sympathetically as well. The only thing I agree with you on is that I think a large part of Coalition activity from now on should be targeted towards attracting the attention of potential new owners. I thought it was very noticeable during the car crash interviews that unlike in previous previous years the concept of the owners selling was most definitely not expressly ruled out. Don't think a local link is essential, just started watching the documentary about Birmingham. Compulsive viewing, Wagner and Brady want success so badly for Birmingham it hurts - I'd kill to have owners like that here. As an example, after they were relegated Wagner said they set about transforming the ground to make many parts of it "unrecognisable" as they wanted it to be a place worthy of attracting extra investment and sponsorship and a suitable environment for the fans to live out their dreams etc. Compare that with our mob allowing Ewood to fall into disrepair etc.

Two. Plus a right winger. The defence is going to have to be bloody good this season otherwise.

On the face of it seems the most promising signing so far but it would be a very Rovers like thing to give him an unusually long contract by our standards and then he has to stop playing within a relatively short period of time due to his illness. Hope he stays healthy and we're well covered in case of any eventualities.

So either not being offered a new contract or one which doesn't reflect anything like your true worth makes you not committed? Weird take. If there's one player I'd want alongside me in the trenches when the chips are down it's Travis. I do now expect him to be sold though as the cost cutting continues unabated.

Well they're not doing a very good job of it thus far. Even if the signings who've come in are up to the sort of standard required we appear to be assembling a squad potentially completely overloaded with midfielders and barely any striking options/complete lack of goals in it.

Talking of which, how IS the search for a new "CEO" going?

Come on chaddy - there was no "plan" to sell Brittain. We wanted him to sign a new contract and at one time apparently thought it was close. He didn't and therefore we we forced by necessity to bring in a cheaper and probably inferior alternative. (Although Im sure some posters will be jumping up and down about labelling him "nferior" without having seen him play etc.) To the extent there is a "plan" it appears to consist of replacing the better paid players with cheaper ones. If we were going through the first X1 one by one and improving the quality of player in each position, that would be an actual plan.

Interesting take. Thanks. My post was based (with only three or four days to go before the new season) about what would be the situation if we brought in another midfielder and defender without selling anyone, we'd temporarily have no space left in the squad for a winger or striker. To me we desperately need one or preferably two strikers and a right winger. I'd be bringing those players in first before piling players on top of more players in other areas. Your post assumes we'll be able to easily offload Travis, Leonard, Pears and Buckley. I'd imagine Clubs would be queueing up to buy Travis if we gave them any encouragement but it might not be so easy to shift the other three. Your theoretical squad actually looks quite a bit better than what we have currently but I'd say it's still massively imbalanced - potentially ten midfielders but only two strikers plus either Leonard or A.N. Other if we did manage to bring someone in. And of course all loans have to be registered so if we fill up the squad with more defenders and midfielders we still can't go down the loan route to bring strikers in without selling first. Unless they're under 21 which probably wouldn't be any upgrade on Leonard.

Come on -you know the law according to Chadster. It's too early to judge any of our incoming players but it's never too early to d.ismiss every player everyone else signs as shite

Hope not, if we aign him and midfielder number eight, wouldn't that leave us more or less at capacity as regards the 25 man squad?

Agree fully that this time last year it looked like a disaster waiting to happen as well but Eustace plaited sawdust with the resources he had at his disposal. VI is going to need to do the same.

Ok thanks. Probably a very small net spend at this point then. Of course if Henriksson or Baradji come in I'd say there'll be a very strong possibility of Trav going the other way so again we'll presumably be substantially in pocket on that exchange.

I dont think I can remember us ever being almost on the eve of a season so bereft of attacking options. It's going to be brutal without major reinforcement in those areas I fear.

I was going to say, it will be an awkward day for them when the Case does eventually get heard and the remaining restrictions are lifted because the expectation will then be they should send a lot more money across. What excuse not to will they be able to come up with at that point I wonder?

Surely that's the whole point of a message board, to give your opinion? I know that as with every window you seem to be trying to quell unrest about the transfer activity for some reason but objectively this time round we've lost a load of players with Championship experience and replaced them with a load of players without any Championship experience therefore it is hardly surprising most people will assume we're a lot weaker.

No money's been spent at all (net) has it after selling Brittain and JRC? Genuine question as Im not completely au fait with the figures that have been quoted for the players coming in.

Presumably so they can try and flog the one off kit as well as the home kit.