So Raya's replacement is going to be either a loan or free agent, and we aren't looking like spending money on any defenders. As expected

Inconvenient facts which suggest Waggott's 'policies' perhaps aren't as successful as he would like to think. Up the prices go whilst alienating season ticket holders and putting them on sale at the last minute only going to end one way.

Mysteriously the money from selling Raya (3 million?) will enable Mowbray to go out and make signings yet there's no mention of the money left over from January which Mowbray decided not to spend and no mention of funds Venkys were providing before sales. Personally my belief is they're having us on and there isn't any money. Mowbray has allowed Raya to go so he can raise a few quid to reinvest and other than that it's free agents and loans. I look forward to being proven wrong.

Quite obvious that Dann would be too expensive. One hell of a gamble to go after people out of our financial range in the hope they drop demands down to our level.

Mowbray also seems to be suggesting that the funds generated will enable him to strengthen in multiple areas. Presumably then whatever funds were available before selling Raya weren't sufficient.

Apparently, and I haven't heard his interview, Mowbray has said that Raya wanted to leave. That might be an attempt to pacify unhappy fans with the old 'the player wanted out, there was nothing more we could do' tale but if it is true that our first choice GK pushed for a move to Brentford I'd like Mowbray to explain more - why is it that a player who has been here since a young age, playing every week in the Championship, actively wants to move to a league rival? Money? Better coaches elsewhere? More confidence in Brentford's prospects than ours? Whatever it is it doesn't reflect well on Rovers. Unless it is just Mowbray trying to cover all bases by 'blaming' the player thereby protecting himself from criticism if/when this move doesn't work out for Rovers.

Sounds like Mowbray has confirmed that wont be happening.

Well the club better have a replacement lined up. Selling Raya not a disgrace but doing so without a replacement coming or expecting to give Leutwiler and Fisher the chance is a disgrace. Expect the old 3 million in and 500k out with the difference disappearing to keep the Indians happy.

It is a weaker defence because we've lost players and havent signed any, yet. It's simple. It isn't as strong because two backup options have gone. It isn't stronger because they haven't been replaced with better, yet. So it is weaker. If the season started tomorrow we have the same defence as last year but without the same backup. Weaker.

The Goalkeeping position is unusual. I don't think it was our downfall last season but I do think with a reasonable amount of cash we could improve on Raya. I've no problem letting him go IF we quickly bring in an experienced alternative. If we start trying to give Leutwiler a chance heads should roll. Far more important and urgent that we addressed defence and midfield. It is critical that we sign a quality CB who is going to play and not someone to make up the numbers as 'backup'. We need more goals from midfield and less reliance on Graham and Dack so hopefully Johnson and Downing can help but still think we need more.

With Terry McPhillips quitting Blackpool yesterday I'd like to see him come back to coach the u23s.

How the League can't have decided on a punishment yet is beyond me. Fixtures long since announced and season fast approaching, long since the crime was committed. I half wonder if the League are hoping everyone forgets about it. Let's remember that they broke the rules twice. Firstly by not playing the game when it should have been played, calling it off at short notice to Brentfords detriment, and secondly by failing to rearrange the fixture when directed to do so by the League. Two separate offences should be two sanctions but expect they'll try and cobble it into one and let Bolton off lightly as they have throughout.

Likelihood is that unless upwards progress continues Mowbray will be out of a job before he needs to worry about rebuilding after these players have gone. He needs to do what he can to try and get us up asap. If we don't go up there's a fair chance Venkys will sell anyone of value like they did last time Bowyers project didn't work out.

If Raya is going for 3 million then Darlow at 4 million is a good deal.

Rodwell has gone as his contract expired in June and he hasn't signed a new one yet. I don't think he's been involved in pre season. Whether you think Rodwell and Downing were good or useless or somewhere in between the reality is they were both called upon last season, albeit to a limited degree, and now they have gone and so far havent been replaced. That means we are weaker. Two less CB options to what was already a weak defence. An urgent need to add a couple of defenders.

Worst defence in the league weaker through the loss of Downing and Rodwell and still being coached by the same staff. If Mowbray doesn't address that soon he needs help. Darlow would be an excellent addition in my opinion but without structural changes to the defence it may well be pointless.

I'd much prefer Fraser Forster to Joe Hart. Hart strikes me as someone who has lost the plot and spending the last 12 months with that lot wont have helped. Nor should we be doing any direct business with them. They will probably be delighted if we take him off their hands. Avoid please.

Monk has left under a cloud and strange circumstances from all 4 of his jobs when at the time results weren't particularly bad. Maybe he's the modern Billy Davies who despite good results at all his clubs seems to never last anywhere and falls out with people.

Brentford aren't daft. Far from it. They're one of the best clubs around in terms of recruitment and player progression. Theyre in a different League to us on that front.On that basis I'm sure Raya will be worth a lot more to them than they pay us. Folk trying to inflate the price to 5 million are off their rockers. Take a quick look through Brentford's incoming transfer spending over the years and ask yourselves if they are really going to start throwing around 3 to 5 million on an unproven goalkeeper from Rovers who has a lot to prove. Nope, not having it myself. It'll be 2 million or so at the most. They'll see an opportunity to develop him and sell on for a profit. I suspect this is the evidence of Mowbray having to raise funds and he's decided letting Raya go is ok in the scheme of things. On his head be it but the proof will be in who comes in.

Oldest trick in the Venky book to bring a couple of 'big name' free agents and then out the back door goes a player for a couple of million to cover the outlay. It has been said that the budget for fees AND wages is the same as last year, with authority to move money between the two. With Downing and Johnson in safe to say their wage packets will be a bit bigger than the Rothwells of last summer, so presumably the funds will be coming at the expense of transfer fees.

Presumably to raise the funds needed to bring in Johnson and Downing. Expect to see a freebie or loan keeper come in and then the cash we get for Raya will cover our summer spending.

Mowbray was very clear in the days following the closure of the January window that Assombalonga's wages were the obstacle. Unless he's suddenly decided to significantly drop his wages why would we be back in for him?

Seems strange to me. Surely if there were doubts about him or his character that would be looked at well before terms were offered and agreed? If Mowbray doesn't fancy/rate Smallwood/Evans then they need consigning to the history books NOW, rather than 'by Christmas'.

Everton released theirs today. Very similar 'reveal' to ours with mens players and ladies stood wearing it in the stand. Their shirt has gone down the route of the GK shirt and Hull shirt with a pattern over the upper half of the body. That's the sort of thing i was expecting from ours with the blue at least having a design or pattern in it. Still don't get the point of the miniscule amount of red on the shirt. No problem with having red on the home shirt but at least make it recognisable - red sponsor, red collar etc. rather than just a tiny trim around a small part of the sleeve.

We might be holding out for that but we won't get it. 3 million maximum but probably less than that. Brentford don't pay 4 million for a Championship goalkeeper.