Many of the best freebies went elsewhere when we spent a couple of months in embargo at the start of the summer and couldnt offer the security of a contract, Mowbray said that players went elsewhere during that time, and you cannot formally offer a contract to a player until they go into their final month. He did know that Armstrong was likely to leave but my point is that this summer is on Venkys. He has brought in a huge fee from one of his signings, the wage bill has been considerably cut, now he couldnt expect all or most of that money to be reinvested, but to be reliant solely on heavily sponsored loans for kids, that after an embargo, these are limitations beyond his control, conditions to which competent owners wouldnt allow their manager to work under. The comment about what he has failed to do over the last 4 years is a totally separate argument and one that I would agree with much of. Comments, I am not arsed about personally, and also plenty of speculation about his motivation skills, but I don't see a team that isnt playing for him. The squad coming into this summer, again, different argument and I would agree with you. Tactical choices, again, would agree with you. I am far from Mowbrays biggest fan and have wanted him out for a long while, but I think that he has possibly overstayed his welcome to the point when he is blamed for things that he isnt to blame for, when there is so much that he still can be blamed for. Experience will always help with game management. If we lost a couple on the bounce, I think our young side would find it very difficult to get themselves out of such a rut quickly. We lack know how and we lack leadership. You also think back to when we used to be winning, how Graham and Dack used to be the masters of running down the clock, now there are extreme opposites to that when we have seen Derbyshire and Gallagher both being naive over the years and have cost us 2 points. I think Ayala makes a big difference but we cant be overly reliant on a man who will be injured at any time. Of course it depends on the individual, indeed not only did Trybull fail to impress from a footballing perspective, but he hardly seemed like a leader.

Even if the loans improve us? Makes no sense. No good having experience if the player in question is really poor. Although we do need experience. I just think that his end product and indeed any players is unknown until they prove otherwise. The fact that Leeds fans seem to question his decision making (and attitude which is a worry, with Elliott there was never the thought that he was being discarded, Klopp seemed reluctant to let him go, Poveda has just totally fallen out of favour behind other prospects) suggests that maybe there is credence to the suggestion that his end product is lacking, although the sample size of proper evidence is so small. I think you place too much importance on youth football when judging a potential signing. I understand as there is so little to go off, but it literally is so far removed that it isnt worthwhile evidence.

I don't know that he can't (or indeed can) finish, or if he has the end product in general, hence my point: "He obviously could point to a lack of game time to begin with, but his end product is at this stage a mystery really. As with Clarkson, it is essentially a stab in the dark." Sadly, blind stabs in the dark with kids with minimal first team experience are all we can stretch to at the moment. Scoring goals in kids football is a different thing altogether. As is scoring goals in training for example. I think you perhaps underestimate the difference between scoring goals in glorified friendlies against kids in games whereby the result is fairly immaterial, to doing so in senior games at Championship level. A common theme from Leeds fans and what they have commented is that he lacks end product, ultimately like you I would question whether he has had the game time to prove it. He played 341 minutes across 14 appearances according to transfermarkt, so he averaged 24 minutes (not 3 or 4) with only 2 of those being for less than 10 minutes. That being said, its still such a small sample, and its at Premier League level. This is where the difficulties of comparing players over different competitions comes in and the limitations of stats and highlights come into focus. Pickering came in as supposedly the best left back in League 1, thus far he has struggled with the jump. Conversely, players like Obafemi and Poveda, you are basing it on cameos in the main, and not only that, but at Premier League level, so there is scope for even more leeway. Alternatively, judging a player on kids football is not far off being worthless, McBride would be our main striker if that was the case, as it is, he doesn't make the subs bench. My personal opinion of the player is based on a few times to which he has played for Leeds when on TV and come on and always looked bright and sharp, but that just shows you what type of player he is, he never did anything substantial in those cameos, but as I said, in 25 minutes in the Premier League, you would expect that. It is a total stab in the dark as to how he will do across the course of a Professional season in the Championship. Why is there an assumption that there was money readily available in January to bring in all of these permanent signings? We made one in Pickering, and loaned a couple of kids again to fill a gap. I doubt Mowbray was sat there on a noticeable budget and chose not to spend it.

He suggested earlier this summer that he wasn't told that we would be reliant on a kids even when the players out of contract left. But how could he possibly prepare for a transfer window even if he knew in advance that even upon the expiry of the contracts of a number of senior players and the sale of our main asset at a huge profit, that we can only afford kids on massively sponsored loans, aside from perhaps scoping out the best loans? There is a lot that he can and should be criticised about, his tactics on Saturday a prime example, and spending 12m on Gallagher and Brereton was ill advised, we could go on. But this is down to Venkys, nothing is logical, he keeps saying that he would like to sign the next hero, about selling players on, and about not really needing but having to make do with kids on loan. Venkys have let the club down, continuously ever since they came in through the door. Mowbray is just a manager who has long since outstayed his welcome, and who becomes more and more confused. But this summer is on Venkys. I wouldnt want us to go near Wickham either, injury prone would be a huge understatement.

How can you know that he can finish if he has never scored a senior goal? He obviously could point to a lack of game time to begin with, but his end product is at this stage a mystery really. As with Clarkson, it is essentially a stab in the dark.

Sadly, it seems that Mowbray has his arms tied behind his back under an unnecessarily strict budget, he keeps saying that he would like more experience but that we can only afford loans whereby we are giving players experience, even loans of more experienced players or free agents seem beyond our financial grasp, and we do need the quantity as well as the quality. Venkys make no sense, I totally appreciate that we make losses, that there is FFP and that the situation is made worse due to Covid, but we have brought in a big fee and have considerably cut the wage bill this summer, even if it was a couple of loans, 2 or 3 freebies to give us a bit of experience and 1 or 2 for fees who we can eventually sell, we would still be financially so much better off. I expect that Poveda will compete with Dolan centrally, or some equally bizarre nonsense.

Is it just me or is everyone else totally unenthused by the prospect of the market that we are working in? I have always tried to remain open minded about loans, I appreciate that it can and has in the past allowed us to get players that we otherwise couldn't afford, the priority should always be to improve the team. But we are solely trying to sign kids on loan simply to boost the numbers out of financial necessity, without a base of players with the required experience and ability to build upon. It is difficult not to look back to the summer under Coyle when we signed players like Jack Byrne, Martin Samuelsen, Stephen Hendrie and Sam Gallagher just to fill gaps, the first 3 were horrendous. If we for example signed Poveda and Clarkson alongside 3 or 4 permanent additions, even if they were mainly freebies, then that could give us a sprinkling of quality on top. As it is, its just making up the numbers. Comparing Poveda to Khadra, the former I find slightly more exciting as I have seen him play, he has had a fair few cameos in the Premier League and he has always looked like a bright spark. That being said, it is again a stab in the dark as he hasnt scored or assisted at senior level and I find the comments from Leeds fans who have watched him regularly to be worrying, some similar themes, no end product, lightweight and cocky with a poor attitude. He has yet to score or assist in senior football I think, so the regular questions about his end product seem valid to me until as and when that changes.

I think Dolan is well off at this moment in time, was a bit of a whirlwind when he broke through but faded in general he rarely impacts games and his decision making and end product is poor. I think based on recent performances, he should be behind even Chapman in the pecking order, although that implies that both are judged as wingers which is clearly not the case. Gallagher out wide has never made sense. Brereton definitely does, and it worked on occasion with Gallagher wide and Armstrong central, indeed whilst I never liked Gallagher out wide, you can understand why Armstrong was prioritised centrally. Now, we are sorely lacking in that area. We definitely need an upgrade on Gallagher though, he isnt really a goalscorer, his touch is poor, he doesnt bring others into play and the timing of his runs is poor. He is powerful once he gets into his stride and he isnt totally without his uses, but if we are dependant on him and Brereton to get our goals this season, it is going to be tough. Poveda has looked talented when I have seen him with cameos off the bench at Leeds. Questions would surround a potential lack of end product. We only have 4 loan spaces left though, and both are very similar. We need a left back, a centre back and a central midfielder who can break forward and score goals, as well as of course a striker. I personally think it would make sense for the owners to at least be flexible enough to bring in a striker for a small fee and maybe fill one or two of those aforementioned vacancies with free transfers, but it seems to be a kids on loan only policy. If it is true, then it is an incredibly restrictive policy. There is no reason why we can't invest even a small proportion of the Armstrong money to buy a replacement, but it would be typical Venkys if they didnt allow the logic of bringing in a replacement who can be then sold on for profit again at a later date.

The answer to our striking situation is not within the club, Brereton is not a central striker, he is suited coming in from the side and Gallagher should only be considered as a central striker but is not particularly good. We need a first choice striker. Armstrong's loss cannot be covered up with wingers, although we do need at least one winger to cover the loss of Elliott too.

I think he is full of pace and trickery with little at the end of it, always looks exciting when he comes on for Leeds. Him AND Khadra would be strange. I suspect that the money has vanished. Although why our manager has to abide by such a strict rule (no over 24s) is counter productive. I sense that we are going to be bullied quite a few times this season, we have such a young and soft team. Thats why I said the other day that Johnson who is far from his best may become more important than is ideal. A team of academy graduates and kids on loan is never going to provide balance. My guess is that we wont sign a striker permanently.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19530342.blackburn-rovers-expect-busy-transfer-market/ "I would hope, as I’ve said from the very start, that that we could at least fill our loan quota of five and bring people in to help this group.” Based on what he has said, I cannot see any permanent signings being made. This doesnt sound too promising either: "fees could be paid for the right target and fitting in with an expected recruitment policy of players under the age of 24." Poveda-Ocampo has impressed when I have seen him for Leeds, usually off the bench. Although I would find it strange if we used 2 of our remaining loans on wingers with Khadra too, so if there is any truth in that, maybe it is due to Khadra being injured? Doesn't fit the criteria set out by Waggott regarding the imminent signing as he is only at Leeds and he is not a number 10.

Would he start here when we already have a loan who plays the same position, plus Travis, Johnson, Rothwell, Davenport and Buckley, then potentially a new attacking central midfielder.

Of course, not a criticism of you and worth sharing for sure.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/blackpool-eye-transfer-approach-for-league-one-ace/ Seems like Blackpool want Dale from Crewe. Perhaps as seen many times before, 2 and 2 has made 5 based on social media activity. Was it that Schmidt last year or the year before in which an imminent loan deal was presumed because of twitter activity?

I don't think it is unreasonable to question the performances of a player who has started slowly at Rovers, no one has suggested a preference for a "washed up loan" instead and the line about Robertson/Shaw is a straw man argument really. We signed him for a decent fee and he came highly regarded, but on here all games will be judged and critiqued, and I can understand the worries without writing him off which most haven't. I personally think that both defensively and going forward, there have been small red flags. Defensively, he seemed a little hesitant a couple of times at Millwall, I felt that he allowed Zinkernagel inside too easily to get his shot (and goal) away midweek and he was ball watching for the second yesterday. Going forward I have been a little underwhelmed, he got the assist for Ayala's goal which took superb improvisation to stoop so low, against Swansea he repeatedly hit the first man I would qualify all of this by saying that the standard of left backs in recent years has been so low and I am sure that Pickering will settle in time but just that I don't think his opening 5 games have been particularly impressive. I watched the highlights of the League on Quest last night and I was reminded of the feeling of watching Bell amble about as the ball hit his teams net, one of which he could have potentially prevented had he been switched on, so that isnt a sight I miss.

Longstaff is a decent player but probably in the one position that we need the least. We have Travis, we have Johnson who although I would have released him, I actually think that his return is important to give us some leadership and experience, we have Clarkson who is not an attacking midfielder, we have Rothwell, Davenport and Buckley. We do need to add one which has to be someone to offer us a goal threat. Everywhere else, a new recruit could be argued for. We have no serious alternative to Kaminski if he gets injured. We only have Pickering at left back, and at right back, Nyambe is injury prone, as is Rankin Costello who also may play further forward. We need at least one centre back, we need a goalscoring midfielder, we need width and we definitely need a striker. I doubt we will get all of that but the last 3 are priorities. I bet we wont get one in.

Is that 3 getting enough goals do you think? Not sure they would get 5 between them.

Didnt have a clue where Phillips was for what turned out to be the winner. Unconvinced thus far I must say.

One player we are definitely better without is Elliott Bennett. Seems that he has not started well at Shrewsbury, 4 losses from 4 including a 3 nil home loss to Plymouth, Bennett looking all at sea for the third. Wonder if Luton fans have changed their opinion on Bell after a 5 nil battering at home to Birmingham. Chong looks like a brilliant loan signing for them.

He played there when he broke through but he didnt stand out even amongst the dross of Akpan, Lowe etc. His attributes are suited to being a centre back, he is brave and powerful in the air, we win more when he plays there, but he is really poor on the ball and ponderous.

Who is getting us goals from midfield?

It doesnt work like that, if he played 38 Premier League games in full, the evidence doesnt say that you can extrapolate a short sample of goals within a series of predominantly sub appearances, add up the minutes and then expect that over a season. Mind you, I suspect that we wont bring in a permanent striker at all.

Lets face it, letting any of those go on frees is poor and they wont be adequately replaced, even though I don't think that any would be stand out targets for teams very far above us, certainly none in the Premier League. But I would possibly argue that those 2 are the most important of the 4. Lenihan is key and if we sign him, with Ayala here for this and next season and Carter and Wharton pushing beyond that, we look ok there moving forwards. And I suspect that Brereton's value has been artificially inflated by this Chile business, somehow we have got to the stage whereby he is our best chance of a goal too. Although Nyambe would also be a big loss and even though Rothwell generally flatters to deceive, it is one bit of remaining excitement gone. This idea about midfielders chipping in is nice in practice, but do you genuinely think that Buckley, Rothwell, Travis etc will start scoring a decent amount of goals? Who was that? Lenihan in midfield with how poor he is on the ball?

Definitely, 2-1 flattered us today, we were well short. We lack quality in attacking areas. Dembele would seemingly be more ready but even then, the resources need to mainly go on a central striker. I hope this mystery attacking midfielder happens and can score goals from midfield as the current bunch wont hit 10 between them, and he isnt played in a false 9 role. The balance of the team was wrong today.

We definitely need a goalscoring striker with the very average Gallagher as an alternative to him. We do also need at least one wide man and a goalscoring midfielder, we look short of ideas up front.