I just find it strange that we are potentially bringing in kids on loan in positions we are well stocked in when we are very short in other areas.

Now Javier Mascherano has gone out, is there any player left in the tournament as deplorable as Neymar? His reaction was embarrassing.

Hope its just as accurate as the rest of the transfer rumours thus far, based solely on his profile. We have Smallwood, Evans, Whittingham, Rothwell and Bennett, all of whom cover central midfield. Why we would need to sign a youngster on loan there makes very little sense to me, if it was permanent then maybe more understandable.

Scunthorpe fans seem sad to see him go on social media. Suppose there are always rumours flying round. Apparently Gladwin has a bad attitude but again I cant judge based on tittle tattle. Maybe that is why weve stayed away, maybe we did offer a contract that was less, we will never know.

People arent moaning that nothings been said, people are moaning that nothings been done signing wise, presumably. We arent all yearning for some facebook randomer to make stuff up to give us something to talk about. Still, it is the off season, and people do seem to get off on it. Shame, pacy, a winger, free, young, ticked every box. Hope Mowbray has someone better lined up and hasnt been sitting on his hands.

How would a random person know? Haha

Who said that?

He nearly got the ball, so I think there was a genuine attempt to get the ball. Professional fouls are part of the game. If it had been Denmark kicking someone down on the half way line to stop a counter the word justice wouldnt be used.

How is it justice? The rules state thats what the outcome is for a professional foul, Modric then missed the penalty, the correct decision was made. Denmark played miles better so maybe justice would have been them winning.

I think it is still a red if there is intention, but I might be wrong. Obviously if that is the case, the ref thinks Zanka made an attempt for the ball.

Double jeopardy rule. Penalty considered enough of a punishment.

Is there anyone in the tournament that you arent sick of, for being overhyped/lucky?

Agreed. What Bennett did give us was energy that with Smallwood allowed us to press high. Hes only of use if we are playing at a high tempo and intensity in there. Id maybe have doubts that he has the passing ability or ball retention throughout a match to be effective at Championship level. Agreed, especially as he did get I think 4 goals in the half a season he was in the team in the Championship, and he has produced decent crosses/assists in the past too. I do understand his popularity, maybe thats why people get so defensive over him, but we know he can score goals and create assists, so why such low numbers at a much lower level satisfy anyone, I dont understand. I don't like it when Mowbray constantly mentions defensive wingers, for me you have to have some attacking threat and output when you are a winger, and its why I was against re-signing Conway. If you just want your winger to defend (which nullifies your own counter attacks and invites pressure) surely play a full back there.

In the first half of the season, on the wing, he didnt contribute nearly enough for a man of his ability at that level. Very few assists and no goals until Wimbledon away. When he moved to the centre of midfield, and latterly right back, his performances were very good. I never said he was one of our weaknesses, his problem is what position suits him best. That said, half of the people who voted for him as player of the season including reasons such as his social media usage, his fist pump etc, which should have nothing to do with anything.

From this, i've taken that you believe everything you read, and that you have far lower standards if you feel that Bennett LAST SEASON, Samuel or Gladwin contributed enough and made you happy. In Bennetts defence, he has performed better previously.

I think your problem is you believe what people like Alan Nixon say, even though its total shite you believe it and judge based on that. Just judge on what hes done, hes signed Rothwell so far and not sold anyone so little to judge. If thats the case, its more understandable, but we would still need 2 new wingers. The whole debate is hypothetical and getting stupid really. Im sure Mowbray isnt stupid enough to sign a player to play him out of position, and Bennett didnt contribute nearly enough from that position, again at a higher level, and was more effective in central midfield and at right back. If both of them would be above Chapman, an actual winger with pace who did contribute with goal contributions in his rare minutes on the pitch, then there would be something wrong. He's never played 3-4-1-2 before (he played 3-4-2-1 to be pedantic) so no reason to think that, dont want a debate on it but hope he doesnt play 3 at the back full stop. And Chapman wouldnt feature then anyway. Starts etc, I dont know, if hes not getting chances then there is a problem of his own making as our other attackers had chances. My point is he hasnt done anything to suggest he will step up and be good enough. He didnt pre-Rovers and his meagre contributions at Rovers, nothing is saying hes definitely capable if he gets a chance. I agree on Whittingham, im not saying he will be a success, there are big question marks, but he at least HAS proven that he is more than capable at Championship level in the past. Samuel has no track record.

But I feel like whats being missed is how good (or otherwise) Lenihan was when he played in midfield for us. His ball retention was nowhere near good enough, and he struggled to maintain a starting place despite the competition being Lowe, Akpan, Guthrie etc. He moved back to centre back and him and Mulgrew struck up an excellent partnership, and are 2 of our key players and consistent performers. I feel like their actual defensive contribution is underestimated, neither are giants but they are decent aerially and they would be a lot less effective and leave a massive gap if they moved into midfield.

Not sure they are the calibre of players that will keep us in the Championship. Baldwin in particular. Maddison is a very good shout.

You've not given me any examples or any historical evidence that Gladwin is anything but useless but we can leave that there. I know what hes been doing but you said you are happy with what hes done this summer, he hasnt actually done anything! So does Alan Nixon in your mind... Please can you look at my unanswered points below: Im not saying that Chapman is the finished product. (Although in his only start we kept a clean sheet) Or that Mowbray is dishonest. I dont understand why you or Mowbray would be in favour of signing him to be a sub only. Surely you sign hin to fight for his place like any other position? We have no wingers bar a past it Conway who is also coined as a sub. We need 3 new wingers if one of them is Chapman as only a sub. As a general rule of thumb, we need to sign players that IMPROVE us, not players to make up the numbers ie signing new subs. Enough to score more than 0 after November! He didnt score enough or assist enough at League One level or perform consistently enough to suggest to me that he can score/perform regularly at Championship level. Presumably because Whittingham has a career full of seasons proving that he can be a big asset at Championship level. Only question is his age but hes never been fast anyway.

His distribution is the weakest part of his game, he was really underwhelming when he was playing in midfield to the extent that he couldnt get a guaranteed place amidst the shite group of central midfielders we had at the time. He moved up a level when he went back one to centre back, his athleticism as @Ladyboys of Bank Top allows us to push up a bit due to his recovery. He is also very brave and hes the reason I find our constant yearning for an old school centre back slightly puzzling, when we have Lenihan who will put his head where it hurts but also has that athleticism. Theres also the added dynamic of why would we want him in the "Smallwood role" when we have Smallwood?! Lenihan stepped up his game a lot when he moved back to centre back. He is a good centre back at Championship level whereas he leaves a lot of be desired in midfield.

So most of the games you have enjoyed yet you arent interested? The World Cup is always exciting when it comes around and this time it has been brilliant. Quite surprised youll happily watch some of the crap on offer in League 1 but turn your nose up at the World Cup.

Gladwin played in them and was horrendous again, yet you seem reluctant to acknowledge his incompetence for some reason. The point in bold was addressed to me but has absolutely nothing to do with my points on Chapman, Samuel or why Whittinghams track record gives me more hope of him stepping up. I never at any point bemoaned our slow progress in the transfer market. How do you know all this? Just seems like estimating and guesswork.

How do you know they were one sided if you didnt see them? Haha. South Korea and Mexico both beating Germany, Spain held by Morocco and only just beat Iran who also drew with Portugal. Switzerland drew with Brazil who also didnt score v Costa Rica until injury time. France just beat Australia. Iceland drew with Argentina who also toiled v Nigeria. Uruguay just beat Saudi Arabia. Barring the odd exception (Panama) the smaller countries held their own, creating a lot of interesting games. Part of the beauty of the World Cup group stages are David v Goliath ties and now we are at the serious stage, and already Germany, Portugal and Argentina are out. Been fascinating.

Did you not see him in for example the Checkatrade games at Ewood? Or the Burnley game? A few more too. If you think he was decent in any of them games then youre in a minority of 1 id suggest. He hasnt done anything this summer bar sign Rothwell? Im not saying that Chapman is the finished product. (Although in his only start we kept a clean sheet) Or that Mowbray is dishonest. I dont understand why you or Mowbray would be in favour of signing him to be a sub only. Surely you sign hin to fight for his place like any other position? We have no wingers bar a past it Conway who is also coined as a sub. We need 3 new wingers if one of them is Chapman as only a sub. As a general rule of thumb, we need to sign players that IMPROVE us, not players to make up the numbers ie signing new subs. Enough to score more than 0 after November! He didnt score enough or assist enough at League One level or perform consistently enough to suggest to me that he can score/perform regularly at Championship level. Presumably because Whittingham has a career full of seasons proving that he can be a big asset at Championship level. Only question is his age but hes never been fast anyway.

Been football of the highest quality, as you saw with France v Argentina. Agreed on the next World Cup.