Presume everyone would have preferred this deal. Including me.

I still think we're going to sign a centre half for a fee. Combination of hunch and hope. Cooper and a left back and I would be getting excited. That left back position is a big problem in my opinion but I don't see Mowbray replacing Bell.

Perhaps but he did imply that money was intended to be spent on a defender after the Rangers game. Hopefully that's the case. Ayala and Cooper have to be stand out candidates, although I bet Cooper will be on lower wages than Ayala.

Aye just seen that and it raised my eyebrows. Ayala ticks a lot of typical Mowbray boxes though...

If we're speculating that a centre half we're after might be one in the last year of his contract, then this is a list of championship players with a year left on their contracts... https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB2

You can only take him at his words, if he doesn't follow up then he'll likely and rightly get the stick he deserves.

I wouldnt disagree that it seems unprepared and disorganised. At the end of the day the purpose of the window and what the manager will be judged on is to make the first 11 better... We can't judge that until the window has closed. I'll be massively p*ssed off if no investment is made into the defence.

I'm just going off what Mowbray said after the Rangers game in which he implied we're looking to spend money on a centre half.

Will people still be up in arms if we invest into a good quality centre half? If someone gave me the option of selling Raya and replacing him with someone as good loan and buying a decent CB I would of definately taken that than keep Raya.

Slag.

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibernian/oli-shaw-wanted-by-wigan-and-blackburn-amid-interest-from-several-english-clubs-1-4969339 New name. The one Myers was alluding to?

Agreed. He just doesn't have it. From what I briefly saw yesterday I really hope they don't loan out Hart.

From what I saw yesterday... Yes.

Just got home after a good trip out with the old man... We can talk all day about formations and signings BUT... If that back 4 starts for us in the league there is NO CHANCE we will improve this season, never mind threaten the top 6 as the manager says. I'm trying to not get carried away as it's pre season but if Bennett and Mulgrew start and he reverts back to putting Rothwell on the bench then I will be on the manager from the first game of the season to go. I hope its just a team that's been picked for a pre season game and nothing more. Few more thoughts: Travis changed the game, did more in 5 mins than any of our other midfielders, drove forwards well, looks like one of our main players now. Bell is beyond shite, not a footballing brain in his head and gave the ball away all the time, absolute dogger. Sam Hart looked a miles better player than Bell when he came on. Got forward well, looked tall, athletic and more capable than Bell. Keep you're eye on this one, I think this lad could be the dark horse to break into the first team. I was impressed... Or maybe it was just Bell was that shit.. Or a bit of both. Dack looked knackered and out of ideas, much the same as the last 3rd of last season, I hope he can find form. I thought Leutweiler generally did well. Johnson looks HEAVY and pretty immobile, hopefully other attributes will shine through and he will sit in and do a good defensive job protecting the back 4. Buckley was tidy but for all of the plaudits he got he didn't actually really do anything. Touched the ball a lot in ineffective areas of the pitch, didn't give it away but didn't really offer anything either. Other than that no one did anything else to report.

Buying would make most sense. I think all things considered it would be one of the better options after Forster. A better and more direct replacement for Raya.

3pm I think. It being shown on Rangers TV.

If Nicko is right it won't be a long term option because it's a loan.

Just some stuff on twitter from a dubious Southampton account. Wouldn't read to much into it. Would definately be our best option.

A loan would be the only option realistically, he isn't going to walk away from that contract. A signing of that standard would really raise expectations.

I somewhat agree but it depends on how they're looking at it. If we offer to pay 10k of his wages that's over half a million saved for a player who's played once for them in going on 2 years. This is why we will want 2 keepers because for players like him there will be a recall clause and we don't want to be left without a decent 2nd keeper... I just trying to convince myself though probably.

This is my preferred choice but I very much doubt that will happen considering the coin he's on.

Shouldn't do though if that's what they're going with. Lawrence is decent, one of their better players but they well over paid and I'm not sure he'd get in our side. Waghorn is crap and a waste of 8 million quid. Keough is past it. Bogel has potential but still just a kid. I fail to see how many of theirs would get in our side to be honest.

Are you for real? Dack, Rothwell, Lennihan, Travis would get in their side. Arguably Graham and Nyambe too. There is a lot of crap in that 11 since they lost their loan players.

I don't disagree. If we get a decent centre half, keeper and left back then expectations should be to aim for promotion.

Got to say, I think our side is better than that.