I never said "he's just building up an old Middlesbrough team" (your twist)... only that (to repeat) he seems to have a limited contacts book because he seems to back to his favourite club alot to sign players. It was an observation more than anything and he's probably not unusual in doing so, but there you go. If It sounded cynical then it probably is, because his management is taking the club nowhere at the moment.

Well, there you go. Hats off to Tony (for once). Now which of those juniors started at Boro.........?

I thought it was pretty impressive without doing any research. Thanks for the corrections but 4 players (and possibly 5 in the offing) from one club out of 92 and that club just happens to be the home town and former club of the manager is worthy of note. From your extensive knowledge it would be interesting to know if he has signed more players from another one club. I somehow doubt it.

Mowbray probably signed the rest to keep them company.

Danny Graham, Stewart Downing, Jason Steele, Ritchie Smallwood, Harry Chapman, Jayson Leutwiler, Marvin Emnes that I can think of off the top of my head,.....that's alot of players connected to Middlesbrough during Mowbray's time at Ewood. There aren't many managers who have gone back to one of their old clubs for so many players.

Whoosh. Never mind.

So we could be recruiting from Middlesbrough again. Tony's contacts book has only got one page

Double barrel name - do we get 2 players for the price of one?

Looks a busy little character who runs around alot. Our dog does that but let's give him a chance.

In that case, we need 2 new centre backs - good ones.

At times Lenihan looks what he is - a converted midfield player. As a centre back he was fine in League One but he gets caught out too often in the Championship, either for pace, positioning or basic errors like against Doncaster. Hes not the tallest either . Ideally, I'd like to see 2 new centre backs Anyone know what the situation is with Tosin?

Just seen the highlights - some powder puff defending from Lenihan and dreadful mistake I think by Bell. The goalkeeper could have done better too. Glaring deficencies from last season still not addressed and we won't make "progress" until they are

We had a pretty rotten end to the season and that often carries on to the next so why the confidence?

Let's hope he's good on the field, eh? I'm world class on paper, even with my bad knees.

James Beattie? Though admittedly he didn't score for us because we let him go. Great decision

It's like looking after any property, including your own home, don't keep up with the maintenance and it starts to look tatty and unkempt. The daft thing is, it will cost them more to put it right (assuming they're bothered) than it they had maintained the ground properly. Anyone looking at Ewood would say that there is a club with a management that doesn't care and has no pride.

I was fortunate to see the 7-2 Spurs game and the 5-2 Plymouth match. Both fantastic occasions for different reasons. The Rovers side of the early 1960s was the best I've seen in blue and white halves so I'll have to give that match the vote

Tony is guided by his pensions advisers.

Calamitous start by England albeit against excellent Pakistan bowling. Is there an unwritten rule that whoever they're playing, England have to start every series badly?

Why Tosin? Mowbray has said Tosin is Premier League quality, he expects him to be pushing for a regular starting place at City, and he's out of our league at the moment. Or am I being naive in believing what Mowbray says and he knows what he's talking about

Tin-hat time. Paul Cook for Rovers anyone?

Good footballer Danny Graham, a proper centre forward. Wish we'd had him 5 years younger. I hoped Brereton and Gallagher might have learnt something from him in training, but they obviously haven't

So that's Bristol City and Middlesbrough in the playoffs at least with Hughton and Warnock in charge. It could be us with Pearson at the helm. What are they waiting for?

..... based on the player upheaval likely in the coming weeks, many out of contract, the best likely targets for other clubs, the apparent managerial indifference as to whether we "make progress" or not, but most of all, the current direction of travel and dire form, as we stand at the moment I can't see anything other than a relegation struggle next season.

Worse than John Barton and Alan Fettis?