JHRover

But how many of those other clubs have released their back up CBs, signed no defenders and ended up in February with no fit CBs at the club?

There really is no room for him to wriggle out on this one. It's there for all to see and hear. Even if he hadn't said those things 99% of us know the defence isn't good enough. Stats back that up. If he fails to strengthen or add to the defence he's going to be in big trouble as soon as results dip.

Up a level as in Fulham, Middlesbrough or Brighton like our last assets were sold off to? Reinvest? Nice idea but unlikely to happen with this lot.

Yeah I was focusing on those who have appeared since relegation whereas Dann was a Premier League signing. Very concerning looking at the list above.

Nyambe- academy graduate Bennett - converted midfielder Caddis - free Lenihan- academy graduate/converted midfielder Mulgrew- free/converted midfielder Downing - free Elliott Ward - free Hendrie - loan Rodwell - free Olsson- free Spurr - free Kilgallon- free Wes Brown - free Gordon Greer - free Michael Keane- loan Alex Baptiste- loan Todd Kane - loan Ben Marshall- converted midfielder Jason Lowe - academy graduate/converted midfielder Grant Hanley- academy graduate Adam Henley - academy graduate Sam Hart - free Tommie Hoban - loan Derrick Willaims - 200k? Amari Bell - 200k? Shane Duffy - some sort of fee I'll go out on a limb now and say that our defensive issues will be 'addressed' internally or with loans/free agents. Remarkable that all those managers have chosen not to invest into proper defenders. Almost as though there's a common denominator here.

Armstrong for 1.5, Brereton for 7 and Gallagher for 5. All strikers by trade yet none will be playing there. Meanwhile in February we had no fit CBs and had to throw Magloire in. Makes no footballing sense and I refuse to accept Mowbray is entirely responsible for this. Its Venky policy.

We signed him as a left back. Without him coming in we wouldn't have had anyone to play there as we got shut of Spurr and Kilgallon. It really was needs must time as the season approached and we couldn't put a defence out so spent a bit on William's and gave Mulgrew a multi year deal.

Will do. But Mowbray himself has said defence is not his priority any more which is a massive about turn on his earlier comments. Let's wait and see but we carry on leaking goals he's going to have nowhere to hide.

If they dont trust him to spend to the extent that he's unable to sign any defenders then he shouldn't be the manager.

I imagine we'll end up with a vague 'similar to last season' comment, which will mean less but they won't admit it or put a figure on it. A massive failure to deliver a decrease in sales given all the 'positivity' of the Mowbray era. Can only push people so far.

The fact that Mowbray started the summer off by boldly stating to the entire fanbase at the consultation meeting broadcast on Radio Lancashire that defenders were coming, make no mistake suggests that he was in no doubt as to the priority. The fact we are now in mid July, have now got a weaker defence having lost adequate cover in Rodwell and Downing and added nothing, and we're seeing frequent stories which appear to suggest defence is not going to be addressed, is a massive concern. It is my belief that something happened in India and Mowbray is unable to address the defence. Very concerning. Of course still time but it doesn't look good. For me if there is no work done to address the defence then Mowbray's credibility will be severely undermined and he will have nowhere to hide should we repeat last season's defensive effort.

It was about 7500 at the last count.

Spot on. Notice when we sold our best players they went to rival clubs, seemingly shoved out the back door (Cairney) or hawked around to try and attract bidders. Nobody at this level can resist selling players to the Premier League. Different story with what we did. Brentford have come on leaps and bounds as a club, have a new stadium nearly ready and are in good shape. Put their money to good use.

I see Sheffield Wednesday followed Derby and Villa in selling their ground to themselves to avoid FFP breaches. Good to see the rules making clubs more sustainable.....

I think some of the negativity or disappointment with the Gallagher deal is it doesn't really feel as though we've progressed or moved on. Mowbray has done a lot of talking over the last 2 years about progressing the club on and off the pitch, scouting, recruiting smartly, yet here we are in summer window number 3 spending weeks pursuing players either the manager knows from the past or has worked with before. In the case of Gallagher that was during a dreadful and painful time for the club that we all want to forget. I actually like Gallagher, think he'd fit in well and could end up being an asset for us. But it does feel very much 'meh'. He's not a signing that will get people excited or believing in a bright new future. Not when we look at what has happened to other recent signings in his position. I also agree that the focus really should be on keeper and defence and the comments and lack of activity there is a real concern. Is Mowbray repeating past mistakes in neglecting that area or is it his bosses instructing him on which areas to invest and not sanctioning expenditure on defence, where the margins for profits are less?

Think Leeds are away in Austria so will likely be one for the kids left behind.

Presumably playing half the squad in each then, or perhaps a younger team at Leeds given it is unusual to play a league rival pre-season?

Don't remember a Bruce managed side at this level ever struggling. Birmingham, Hull, Villa always there or thereabouts around the top 6, four promotions and a play-off final, very decent record at Wednesday last season too. Maybe not promotion ready but certainly won't be in relegation trouble under him. In the Premier League he struggles but in the Championship I'd class him alongside McCarthy and Warnock as extremely good at what he does. Maybe not easy on the eye but results speak for themselves.

Think it needs someone with a bit of gravitas either as a player or manager. Johnson had 'been there' as a player. I'd like to see Terry McPhillips get the job but if my suspicions are correct we'll get someone more low profile than that. Probably another internal promotion

From our point of view I hope Bruce gets the Newcastle job. If he's at Wednesday I think they'll be there abouts this season. Without him probably mediocre.

Rumoured to be selling Kauzer or whatever he's called to Villa for 12 million. Now that's a scouting system paying off. Not noticed them collecting academy players. A clear strategy and good at it. Bit different to the muddled and mixed messages here.

Could you enlighten me as to what any of those players have brought to the party since arriving here some time ago?

Correct, and thus can only be classed as good signings when the manager that signed them plays them.

Presumably their pitch work was planned some.time ago and people on here were raising it as a major concern a few weeks ago. Therefore there was time to call it off or arrange an alternative. Also known some.time ago were the rugby fixtures that seem to take priority judging by Rovers' website.

Chapman, Rothwell and Brereton in their cumulative 3 years at the club have contributed next to nothing. Cant really go any further than that at this point. How much do you reckon Brereton is getting paid? Bearing in mind his contract at Forest, England youth appearances and substantial transfer fee. Reckon he'll be cheap? He needs a new agent if he isn't one of our bigger earners. Anyways, we aren't going to agree. You seem to think everything is hunky dory and all going to plan and I think it's a shambles.