jim mk2

Steele and Walton are 2 of the worst goalkeepers I've seen in a Rovers shirt, especially the former - and we've had some bad ones in the 60 years I've been watching. Of the 2 scenarios above, you have to say they have gone to become better goalkeepers after they've left - pointing to coaching failures at Ewood Park

For the Indians it’s a troublesome child they’d rather forget about. For the management at Ewood it’s a cash cow for their pension pots

£6m on one player under this regime? It’s not going to happen. Stansfield’s position is hardly a priority anyway The lightning rod for the current funding crisis and the club’s future direction is the goalkeeper dilemma Pears is barely adequate in this division and will continue to cost us points like he did last season. He needs to be replaced, and Eustace knows it. Failure to do so will send a signal that the club is resigned to mere survival this season and also I imagine will make Eustace question his future at the club

I'm sure the Rovers management see the Japanese lad as the Szmodics replacement. To be fair to Mowbray, among the duds he signed some excellent loanees - Elliott, van Hecke, Harwood-Bellis, Reed, Giles - all of whom I'd have loved to seen at the club permanently (pigs in flight etc) Your 2nd par is the one. Prepare for disappointment

Yes I’ll have a “friendly wager” but I’m concerned that you are happy to “bet your life” on it - if you lose are you willing to drive over Beachy Head? Seems a very silly thing to say It’s not implausible and a reasonable bet that no more players will be arriving given the parlours state of the club’s finances. If Venkys lose the impending court case more players could be leaving and all bets on our survival would certainly be off

No new names because that’s our lot I’d say. They’ve replaced Szmodics already with the Japanese lad and although Pears isn’t wonderful he’s adequate so he won’t be replaced. Maybe a fringe player loan at the last minute but I’m not holding my breath

Two weeks to deadline and the silence is ominous on more incomings. Would it be a surprise if that's it until January?

We all know it's going to get done, probably in the final hours of the window Let's hope our fax machine breaks down again

BBC reporting that Ipswich close to signing Kalvin Phillips.

That's rather harsh. He's a skilful player, but lacks the pace and physique for the Championship. I think he'll do well in League 2 and will give some of those lower league defenders a hard time. Not the worst winger I've seen in a Rovers shirt by any means

They're not "snide", only a view that's different from yours on how some fans see certain clubs. I realise clubs come and go, and times change and that clubs have no right to be at the top however "small" or "big" they are perceived to be, but for many the likes of Brentford and Bournemouth and others like them being established top flight clubs is laughable

The above is stating the obvious but to some folk of a certain vintage they're a fourth division club and always will be. Same with the likes of Bournemouth

I see Brentford have paid £27 million for a Liverpool player That's £27 million. Fourth division Brentford. How far have we fallen?

De Lange fallen through because Rovers were haggling over a few hundred thousand quid? Steve Waggott strikes again Pears is still No 1 then, with all that entails

The Keane (and Zidane and Lewandowski) non-signings hurt even now. Has a club shot itself in the foot as many times as Rovers? Szmodics is going come what may and cash will be available so there's no reason not to sign De Lange now.

That is a shock. Good player, proper old school batsman who never gave his wicket away.

Blimey, who's talking about "promotion"? The aim this season with this squad and under this regime will be to stay in this division and not get relegated.

There's not many Tugays in football. If the new "lads" are half as good I'll be happy

We've just signed players aged 37, 33 and 32. The optimist in me says they'll provide much needed experience in the forthcoming relegation battle; the pessimist says we've signed them because no one else wants them and they'll break down with injuries. Have to say I'm looking forward to seeing the new forward pairing - is there any chance we might sign a pacy winger too?

And combined ages of 70, the oldest.

Don't raise your hopes: you'll struggle to find more than a few posters who'd like him to stay

Running around to no purpose does not constitute a "work ethic". The last paragraph is the truth. Gallagher would appear to have everything going for him - he's big, he's tall, he's a good athlete, he looks like a proper centre forward yet he does none of the above. The irony is he's often our best defender from corners and set pieces when he's often the first to head the ball away. Perhaps he should reinvent himself as a centre half because I'm certainly finished with watching his pathetic performances up front. Get rid this window please

Even when fully fit I wouldn't want him in the team. He's doesn't like the physicality of the English game, the heart the size of a pea and not particularly talented either hiding out on the left wing offering very little attacking threat. Cue someone saying he scored a few goals last season. My is contention is that's as good as it gets with him Really, the prospective starting XI next week is so weak it would struggle to say in League One never mind the Championship

Should we start the relegation thread now?

I didn’t realise Ruddy had joined Newcastle. He’s getting on and very average - why would they want him?