Other clubs do it differently. They might not commit to as large fees as we have with Brereton and Gallagher but when they sign a player they do so for that player to immediately improve their team, not as a 'project'. They might sell someone every 12 months to offset it but then reinvest. Last time we moved in a 3 season cycle. We spent good money and signed quality under Bowyer, let it grow and then slashed and burned in no time at all, refused to reinvest anything and ended up getting relegated. So we have done the selling part - bringing in more cash than most clubs will have done at this level - we just did it all at once with no ability to strengthen after it. You must be confident in Venkys if you don't think similar could happen next summer.

I thought the plan was to be promoted by next summer?

A good buy in isolation yes. But not if that's all our money gone and we aren't going to see similar invested into essential areas and are now resorting to Ffp excuses. If Ffp is a problem preventing us from addressing GK and defence then we shouldn't have bought Gallagher.

I think Bilic is the appointment of the summer and will probably lead them to promotion this season. A top drawer appointment for a Championship club.

And it would need less careful management if we hadn't splurged £12 million or whatever it is on players who almost certainly won't be playing against Charlton. If Venkys actually ran the club properly then we could be like Leicester, or Wolves, who have benefited from foreign 'billionaires' whereas this mob have brought absolutely nothing good to this club other than people being grateful they haven't bankrupted us like Bolton and Bury. Great.

Last summer we chose to spend £7 million on a teenager who wasnt ready to play games. We were told that we were Ffp compliant and were not risking breaking those rules. If there is an issue with Ffp that deal will have gone a long way towards that. Mowbray or Waggott were responsible for allowing that deal to go through.

So Richard Sharpe has confirmed a 3rd kit will be needed but doesn't know any more details. Slightly better than the embarrassing turning out in the previous year's away shirt but still unnecessary.

Yes. I'll bow to Mowbray's decision making as he's the boss and in control of recruitment (allegedly). But if we don't see a defensive improvement my patience will be exhausted. It's his choice how to play it, he knows the consequences. I'm amazed to be honest after how his time at Coventry unfolded.

You reckon he'll be in the team from the off? I wouldn't put my money on it.

Another story about some supporters wanting to challenge the -12 penalty. I'd love to know on what basis they think that's going to happen. Outrageous that the Bolton/Brentford issue still hasn't been dealt with 2 weeks before the start of the season. Either they're hoping it will blow over and people will forget about it or they're waiting for the takeover then they can settle on a compromise with the new owners.

Very disappointing if so. Mowbray and the staff will have a lot of work to do to coach the team to defend better.

I notice Michael Morrison has joined Reading on a free transfer after leaving Birmingham. Was their captain last season. Cant help but think that should have been one for us. No nonsense, no frills, free transfer, experienced CB who was a captain elsewhere in this league. Trouble is it wouldn't be viewed as a sexy signing as he wouldn't be coming on loan from Man City or Liverpool and he wouldn't be a project for Mowbray to develop. He would be a ready made player who would expect to go into the team. No good for us.

I think the rumours of Hart and Forster etc. are fantasy stuff because of the wages they would command. I can't see us paying them. Carson perhaps do-able as he'll be in a bracket below the others. When people say surprise it would be nice for that surprise to be a positive one but I won't get my hopes up on that front.

The first time I've heard of this series being made. Really looking forward to it coming out next year. Fantastic that there will be focus on this region and its central role in the development of the game.

I've been wondering why the shift towards more appearances of the monochrome badge. On the away shirt this season, last season, on the training gear this season and last season too. Also featured a few years ago. I presume it is cheaper to produce our badge in the 'monochrome' format or as a plastic sticker as it has been on the training gear than it is to produce the full badge which is relatively detailed, involves lots of different colours in small amounts and is probably quite difficult compared to most clubs to produce. Football clubs have moved towards more simple badges using less colours as they are easier to replicate on their merchandising. Our badge must have blue, white, red, green, yellow, black - all different colours, suspect it is more expensive to make than others.....

People said similar about Stoke last summer. I was one of them. Spent heavily and had a really strong team on paper. Not so easy, Fulham have a very strong side on paper but a rookie manager. Owt could happen.

Not cheapskates just completely puddled and still don't get it.

I actually don't mind the pattern, it's the colour that does it. Revolting and silly when we won't be able to wear it in numerous away games. I reckon the same shirt but black with red pattern or yellow with blue pattern could have been a classic.

That appears highly likely. Coupled with the focus on loans now it seems we've effectively broken even on spending and that's the end of the matter. I wonder where the left over dosh from January has gone....

None of those were available on heavily subsidised loans though.

No, we knew Raya wanted out long before he actually went. The awarding of an extra season to Leutwiler shows that. In any event we had time to line someone else up before sanctioning his departure. To not do so was very dangerous. Hard luck excuses like 'other clubs might not want to let players out' won't be enough when we're struggling. We've had ample time to deal with this and work through our list of targets.

Clock is ticking. Soon enough time will be up. Positions like GK and CB are not ones that can be neglected or 'put off' to a later date as we've tried doing before. Especially not with our record of goals against. A dangerous game to sell Raya without someone already here to replace him. 2 weeks on and no arrival is alarming to say the least. 2 weeks to go. Leutwiler or Fisher v Charlton will be completely unacceptable.

Completely agree. But after Mowbray's defensive u turn and Waggott's lies about season tickets and pitch investments I've just about given up listening to either of them.

Careful, some think it's all made up in your head. The evidence is there for all to see. The same thing happens time after time regardless of manager. No other explanation for Mowbray's u-turn on defenders. Venky policy doesn't allow for it. Therefore no experienced proven CBs to come straight in are allowed. But he can sign a loan or two on heavily subsidised wages who can cover a couple of gaps in the squad. People live in la la land accusing others of being negative or conspiracy theorists but it's there in black and white when looking through past dealings. Obviously bringing in a couple of decent free agents on good wages for a season or two whilst shipping out a keeper that nobody gets upset about to offset what we spend gets people more amenable to not properly addressing the defence. Others just prefer not to face up to uncomfortable truths and heads go into the sand.

Not really interested in how much City are paying him. Kasey Palmer will have been on good money and that one was a waste of everyone's time. Yes the fact he played regularly in a half decent side last season is a positive and leads to hope he'll be up to more than the Byrne's, Harper's and Hendrie's we've ended up with. Still expect him or whoever comes in to be 3rd choice filling in when injuries arise rather than a new CB who will be built around.