As others have said, its hard not to be better than Vale and even Gallagher. Muniz (Admittedly against 10 men) was excellent at Ewood last season.

Shane Long is streetwise, has been around the block and gave him a torrid time. I wouldn't describe him as calm, unhurried or effortless especially from the 2 league games. He seemed quite nervous and keen to get rid of the ball as soon as possible.

The reason people presumably reacted so negatively because of the cryptic nature of your rumour, which required a couple of pages of questions before it came to pass. Do you have a source or a screenshot/post that you can show, assuming it is from social media?

Fair enough. If you choose to believe and judge baseless rumours, adding on speculated rumoured bids for players we didn't sign etc, then you seemingly will be with the majority on here, but I will continue to judge the owners on what is spent, not on what apparently could have been but wasn't. I believe the last bit about loans, no idea on whether they were "very good," I presume you know the names? Connolly and Forss were linked, neither of which could be described as such.

We definitely need a forward, whether Brereton goes or not he plays from the left anyway. Gallagher is average and Vale out of his depth.

There surely comes a point especially as various staff members change over the years that the penny drops as to the common denominator behind any long lasting problems. These whispers have become gospel about substantial budgets not being spent, even though Mowbray moaned (and sympathised with the owners) throughout last summer about no reinvestment of the Armstrong money then moaned again when he wasnt given autonomy to sell Rothwell and reinvest. It doesnt make sense that we had lots of money unspent. But either way, Mowbray is gone now so any spending less than what is expected will be put down to new members of staff by some.

I can only guess that this illogical rumour that Mowbray declined to spend significant funds put forward is a way of trying to gain some hope that big money must be spent this summer as a result.

People IMO are judging Phillips as a 17 year old rookie rather than just as another player, which I somewhat understand. He was out of his depth unfortunately. I also thought that Travis was really poor after 3 outstanding performances prior.

All 5 were poor signings. He also signed Robinson though.

Its all down to Venkys changing their ways and not interfering whilst being consistent in reinvestment. Those young players are all first teamers with the latter 2 having benefitted from regular game time elsewhere whilst we had better replacements temporarily and the first 2 became regulars under him.

His overall managerial career suggests that he isnt Didnt he spend £4m on Vince Grella and sign his old mates Andrews and Fowler?

The lack of incoming defenders means that we likely will have to flog Phillips again which will have the Sheffield United forwards licking their lips. I would probably go: Kaminski Brittain Phillips Ayala Pickering Travis Morton Hedges Dack Brereton Gallagher Subs: Pears, Markanday, Szmodics, Buckley, Dolan, Edun, A Wharton

Just because we lost doesnt mean we should have been looking to win and been frustrated with anything less. They lost 4 nil to Rotherham at the weekend, have Paul Ince as manager and their team is poor with the worst keeper in the league and a scattergun mixture of unwanted journeyman and a bench (aside from the unexpected return of Joao) of kids. Its a bad reflection on us that we played so poor. You mention a partial Brentford model but Venkys would need to consistently commit to that and they clearly havent to date. We could have made a huge profit on Rothwell with far less than 19 months on his deal and the owners stupidly intervened. We dont know if they will stubbornly do the same with Brereton. They also have a random policy in terms of budgets where often they have allowed no investment or even reinvestment of big incoming fees rather than encouraging a consistent churn of selling for big money, reinvesting a percentage and using the rest to offset losses. Also, loans are a necessary evil, many promoted teams have had a sprinkling of loanees.

We have spent over 2m on an attacking midfielder and 1m on a right back which is far more than last summer and the summer before too. Nowhere enough though so far.

It was quite clear from my post that I am giving him the platform to prove himself but I merely commented that I have not been wowed from his first 3 games in which he hasn't really stood out. We need big things from him coming for a relatively hefty fee. If you have no business in making judgements after games (which is hypocritical as Miller11 points out) then just scroll past, shutting down my opinion because he has yet to play what you perceive to be the correct number of games to judge isn't very constructive. Just because teams haven't made signings this week (are the 2 Delap and Fosu at Stoke?) doesn't mean that they haven't across the course of the summer. But I was on about us and we desperately need players in, I would fear for Phillips for whom it is a big ask for him to go again for a third game in a week in which he has failed to last the full match twice and against a tough opposition. Did you watch the game last night? And if so, what did you make of Vale's performance?

It would fall into second place if Chelsea sign Gordon for the money quoted.

I think we have already seen again how different Championship senior football is to kids football. Vale was banging in goals left right and centre for the under 23s last season despite having a poor goal return in non league, and looks so far away from the level it is untrue. Out of interest @chaddyrovers having seen him v QPR, Hartlepool and last night, would you loan or keep? Phillips is the same, so highly rated but he was well of it yesterday having shown a few hesitant moments at the weekend.

Its a coincidence.

Thought he really struggled last night and was a clear weakness. On Sunday he misjudged a couple of things but got away with it, yesterday he looked so nervy. Of course he is very young and raw and ultimately we should have players ahead of him.

We should be looking to move Vale out on loan to League 1 or 2. Nowhere near Championship level and to be honest struggled v Hartlepool. If Tomasson doesn't have any new players available by the weekend then he has been let down.

Questions about Sammie Szmodics especially considering the fee spent. A long way to go to start to prove that he was worth that money.

And to Venkys. Hopefully they will provide the money. Amarii Bell and Tayo Edun must have been erased from your memory. I am guessing that you didn't see Sunday's game? Or when Edun played last season. Pickering has started the season well bar yesterday where Brittain was just as bad. Tayo Edun is not the answer.

Absolutely embarrassing. Broughton and co need to pull their fingers out. That being said, from what he has available, Tomasson got it badly wrong tonight. Vale nowhere near good enough, get him loaned out to the lower leagues. Phillips is nowhere near ready. Ultimately no one comes out with any credit.

Dreadful first half, out played and out fought by a dismal Reading side full of proven poor players and managed by an idiot. Tomasson has unfortunately got his selection wrong. Vale is nowhere near Championship standard and shouldnt be starting games for us. Dolan has been absent too and the other 2 attackers not much better, Szmodics needs to do more considering his price tag. Both midfielders have been off the pace and Buckley still needs to prove himself as a deeper midfielder. Phillips isnt ready for this level and Broughton needs to pull his finger out and get a defender in before the weekend. Dack and Hedges or Gallagher on at half time please.

Not sure about the changes, Vale was ineffective in his previous 2 starts but hopefully he repays the manager tonight. If changes were to be made, Dack should have come in.