Can't say for a minute that the Downing link fills me with excitement. Some of the above comments are making me a little more optimistic that this could work out though, sensible wages permitting. 

Links with previous ageing flops are natural, but I think a big difference with Downing is that he won't be expected to be the main man. Murphy and Whittingham were both seen as a class above the leagues they found themselves in, and should dominate at that level, but clearly weren't up to it physically. This becomes all the worse when it turns out  that the rest of the team aren't up to playing the sort of possession based football that they we're brought in for. 

Not saying for a minute that this is going to be a roaring success, but if Downing is brought in for one the three behind the striker, then you'd expect that defenders will be concerned enough about shutting down Dack & Rothwell that Downing would have a bit of room to work with. Might end up being a shrewd move as a Conway replacement with an eye on playing the ball on the deck a lot more. 

Ultimately, we'll be judging the success of the window on getting our defensive issues solved, getting good back up for DG, and probably getting a Reed replacement. So long as we get those bases covered, won't be losing too much sleep over Downing.

11 hours ago, Mellor Rover said:

Not sure I’ve seen him suggested on here... but if we’re after saving a few quid, Ritchie de Laet released from Villa. Good competition for Nyambe in my opinion and absolutely rapid. 

Obviously don’t want us to deal only in freebie’s but I think he would be a decent signing. 

Great shout. Believe he can play all across the back four too? Could be a very shrewd signing.

21 minutes ago, tomphil said:

That kind of money invested sensibly this season might deliver a stab at the play offs.  Why not tie a lump of it up in a good centre half who can serve us a few seasons even if his value might not increase dramatically ?

Keep a player for 4-5 seasons, his value might end up going up substantially just through player inflation

Just now, roverandout said:

What about the young guy at Motherwell. Forgot his name. Scored 16 goals from midfield. He would be available at around 3 million, I've read

This fella? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48471401

No matter what you think about the Scottish league, doing that as a 19 year old is impressive, especially when you're playing for one of the smaller sides.

Even so, I think we're done spending big money on potential, this season has to be about investing funds who can definitely come in and do it now imo. £3million could get us near Luke Freeman, for instance. 

Just now, Fraserkirky said:

I actually thought the article was quite good, calling for continuity. Mowbray has a similar budget to last year which is perfectly fine, 8-10m we have a chance to add a few key players and aim to challenge for top 6. The bed wetting needs to stop on here. 

As a Hibs fan, love McGeouch but he is not what we are looking for, injury prone and lacks athleticism for me. Fantastic passer of the ball though.  Not up to Championship standard in my opinion, should head back up to Hibs or Aberdeen. Wasn't first choice in League 1. 

Shame about Jacob Murphy, but I'm sure he ends up in the Championship somewhere. Right age, position etc, Surplus to requirements with the new sheik.

Next name up for Right Wing is Oliver Burke from West Brom, had a mixed time on loan with Celtic, but there were a few games I saw where he was unplayable. Right age for resell. Don't know if he is available or not. 

----------------New---------------

Nyambe New Lenihan New

--------------Travis New-------

----------New Dack Rothwell

------------------New-------------

I would target 6 new players this summer, with only a few leaving. 

Need new GK to challenge Raya

Need New Dominant Centre Half

Need New Starting Left Back, although I like Bell more than most on here. Fine at RB, with Travis able to cover, Bennett wont be going anywhere, JRC able to play there too.

Get Travis a proper quality athletic partner at Centre Midfield

Need a goal threat on the Right Wing, more of an inside forward, Brereton has been tried here to poor results, but I understand why.

New target man needed desperately.

We have enough depth in the squad and enough quality youngsters coming through the 6 new players need to be good enough to go straight into the starting eleven. 

 

Joe Hart GK (1m Loan Supplement) Them - I don't know how it would work but a season long loan makes sense. 

Jake Cooper CB (4m) Millwall

Jonas Knudson LB (Free) Ipswich

Harrison Reed CM (3m) Southampton

Oliver Burke RW (Loan) West Brom

Charlie Austin ST (1m, 1m wage supplement) Southampton

There is 10m right there, and a team good enough to challenge for top 6.

 

Don't know enough about all the players you mention to say one way or another, but I agree entirely with where you see the squad. Definitely the bit about Bell. He for sure has some more improving to do, but I think one of the missed stories from our bad run from February was that he was getting steadily better, especially in defence.

Cooper is a name that has cropped up a few times with various clubs, seems highly rate and potentially the dominant centre back that we need. 

7 minutes ago, Butty said:

Tommy Elphick and Albert Adomah released by villa, I’d take both. A fully fit Elphick would be a great centre half partner for Lenihan, he impressed on loan at Hull this season by all accounts and Villa fans seem too rate him, had bad luck with injuries that’s hopefully behind him now. Adomah would be a good option on the wing, he’s not the trickiest but he gets up and down and he’s got pace. If we sign either Jon Taylor or Adomah I’d be pleased, if we sign Downing I’ll be fooking fuming. 

Elphick is a great shout. Not usually a fan of signing players over 30, but given we've got a young squad, a player with his pedigree as a foil for Darragh could be a master-stroke. 

Adomah could be quality, but seems to blow hot and cold too much for me. He'd probably expect to start at a club who finished mid table last year, and be on a decent whack, I'd be interested if his wages wouldn't be too high. 

53 minutes ago, Stuart said:

I agree completely.

What I disagree with is the assertion that people want him to fail. And to say that it must be true because someone thinks it is is just crass.

Brereton failing is the worst outcome for this football club. It completely undermines Mowbray’s recruitment ability with the purse holders (if it hasn’t already); it leaves the team without the Graham replacement it needs; and it means no resale value.

But even worse, it means that a huge chunk of money set aside for rebuilding the side has been wasted and may even make this Summer’s transfer thread and bit of a non-event.

Think this is right, at games he's been backed to the hilt (bar the odd frustrated groan). The way everyone celebrated his goal and gave him support generally at Bolton was a really nice moment. 

There's still something to be said for people making their mind up a bit too quickly in my view, and social media & forums really put them under the microscope, but they're different issues that probably relate to 4 or 5 players at every club at any one time.

No reason to believe that this is actually on the cards, but how would people feel about a cheeky bid for Aiden McGeady now that Sunderland are spending another season in the third tier?

If we're playing three behind a lone striker, currently we have Rothwell, Dack, Armstrong, Chapman and at a push Bennett. Seems to me like we're probably one short unless we're asking players to play away from their natural position.

Never really been convinced by his character, but there's no doubt that he can do it at this level and he knows Mowbray from Celtic. 

Just now, Madon said:

FFS, Just logged on and saw 5 pages of transfer chat within the last hour and half, thought we'd signed Assombalonga but it turns out that @JoeHarvey is using it as his personal Whatsapp.

 

Use the DM's mate!

 

Suppose any Assombalonga interest has died with Pulis' sacking. Hard to see how the next Boro manager, whoever it turns out to be, would not try and play to his strengths more than the last one.

Just now, Neal said:

I'd take Carrol on a pay as you play but I can definatley see him at a club like Burnley. 

A gamble with poor odds, but a potentially massive pay out. I'd avoid, but I can definitely see the temptation.

Another tempting one would be Adrien (no idea if that's realistic or not). Dropped the odd howler in the top flight, but could be top class at this level.

Just now, JoeHarvey said:

Exactly. Graham is never going to take us past mid-table... how can you take umbrage with that? It's the truth.

Because I don't agree that our mid-table finish was due to our player of the year not doing his job!

I think 15 goals and bringing Dack, Armstrong, Rothwell and others into play as well as he does is good enough for a top 6 finish if we stop the goals at the other end. He needs help though to be sure.

3 minutes ago, JoeHarvey said:

Graham will never get this team past a mid table season. He’s very consistent, but consistently average. It’s time to move on for me and try something new.

Have to take issue with that, almost all of our attacking play last season went through Graham. Dack & Armstrong relied heavily on him for any sort of platform. Rothwell managed to create for himself towards the end, but Graham's holdup play is up there with the best in the division.

He might not be a 20 goal a season striker anymore (even though 15 at his age isn't at all to be sniffed at!) but his contribution is certainly well above average. Next season is about taking some of the burden away from him having to do it consistently three times a week, not massively upgrading on his quality imo. 

Just now, OJRovers said:

Any idea what sort of budget Tony got when he was in India?

I suspect it will be like previous years' where it is a very small budget, until it is too late and we've missed all the best targets (see Brereton signing).

I'm expecting a flurry of Gladwin-esque signings in early summer to fill out the squad, followed maybe by some bigger signings at the end of the window.

 

Not really, other than the one Nixon story saying we'd probably need to sell before we could afford Gally for 5 million.

Obviously that could mean:

i) our overall budget is less than £5 million

ii) our remaining budget for a striker, after setting aside funds for all the other positions is less than £5 million

iii) Nixon is guessing because he said 'probably need a sale'

iv) Nixon is guessing because, well, obviously he is

I don't really know what I'm expecting. I don't see any Brereton-scale outlays if we're going for players in their prime. If I had to guess I'd say a couple of frees (of which it seems like Fielding could be the first, but lets see), one maybe two transfer fee signings from Europe and maybe one player in the Freeman mould who would cost a few million quid. 

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

See Ross McCormock has got a pay rise from £40,000 to £70,000 per week due to villa being promoted. He hasn't played for them for 2 years. 

I know that's a disgrace, everything wrong with modern football etc. but am I alone in thinking that's hilarious?

Villa supporting mate thought he was rather hard done to under the previous management. Can see him going to a championship club for a heavily subsidised loan next season, think we could do worse personally. 

According to a Sunderland fan I know, it sounds like they're in a position not too dissimilar to where we were last season. 2 or 3 players that are far, far too good for the third tier, other players that are probably top end of L1 but with question marks about how well they could adapt. They've got used to winning again, so maybe exercised a few demons there.

Having said that I get the impression though that they're relying on McGeady and others even more than we relied on Dack & Mulgrew, and the wages are equally if not even more eye watering. Also don't think there's anything that you'd really call a feel-good-factor there either given how they've coughed and spluttered and missed out on the top 2. I don't think they would be in as good a position as we were to compete if they win today, but I think a loss could be disasterous.

I know less about where Charlton are at, but I'd be dissapointed if we'll be concerned about either of them as competition next season.

Just now, pick32 said:

Berahino could be a good option just been sacked by stoke 

Be interesting to see if Stoke take the same moral stance if a player who is actually doing the business gets convicted!

Clearly a very good player in there, but not good odds that he'll turn his career round at this point in my view. He'll go to a championship cub who get desperate in all likelihood. I hope that it's not us.

1 hour ago, Herbie6590 said:

From this morning’s independent

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/premier-league-epl-efl-league-one-two-championship-miguel-delaney-a8926126.html?amp&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&__twitter_impression=true

 

Rovers have “struggled to pay wages” 

They've changed the piece now, just say that we've posted record losses. 

Just now, Oldgregg86 said:

If he's 21 , never played league football and isn't better than Joe nuttall then why bother 

Just now, Give 'Em the Axe said:

Richard Witschge !

Nah - gotta echo the other guys and say Bellamy. That was one hot season. Imagine how mahy he might have gotten if he didn't pick up those injuries? In our memories he was a mainstay in that side but just had a quick look at wikipedia where it states he only made 27 (!) appearances. Pure class for Rovers though. Very good player.

He almost dragged us into the CL that season and only played 2/3 of it!

Remember a friend saying that, having been too young to remember Shearer going, Bellamy to Liverpool for only £6million was the day he 'lost his innocence'!

Just now, oldjamfan1 said:

Possibly Bellamy?

Never get bored of talking about how good Bellamy was. Such a catalyst for our success over that 4 year period, never seen a desire to win like it.

Stead's another obvious one, but more for his hot patch rather than the mercurial ability of the other two.

34 minutes ago, rickard said:

That man was proper shite, wasn't he? Had a look at his wikipedia stats, according to that he's played 150 career games. For 11 different teams. Since 2006. 

Not great, it sounds like the record of the sort of goalkeeper who make careers out being reserves.

I was looking at Alex Manninger's wiki a few days ago, who was inexplicably still playing (sort of) until 2017. Over his career, he's had 5 clubs who he didn't even play for!

3 hours ago, Stuart said:

Agreed. Excellent points by both you and @OnePhilT - which I missed so thanks for quoting.

Halo effect: There seems to be an accepting of everything that the club does while Mowbray is here as positive and right, and anyone who questions anything as negative or irrational. There was a post from someone having a proper rant about the “over-reaction” to basically disappointment about us being “in talks” with a player who even when fully fit was useless. Something which is already contrary Mowbray’s close season rhetoric.

 

This is completely fair enough & I know I'm guilty of it.

Thing is though, the branch of social psychology which the halo effect comes from also finds the opposite mechanism to be true -  the 'forked tail' effect, whereby people who have a negative opinion of someone or something allow that view to spill over into viewing other aspects of them negatively. 

Trying to be reflexive about it, I know I've been overly defensive of TM when it comes to some of the individual decisions that he has made because I think overall he's been great. I also think TM critics have at times been guilty of the reverse though; don't like some aspect of his management, and that has spilled over into over-reactions about things which are either unrelated or not that important.

This is a really good case in point. I personally think it's a good thing that TM is the sort of manager which looks after players in Gladwin's position, but I know full well that if TM had decided to let him go as we all expected, I'd be backing him (in fact I'd probably not even give it a seconds thought). Equally, fans may think rightly or wrongly that TM has been too loyal in his selection of his favourites, and the fact that he's is keeping on Gladwin is demonstrative of why we always be hamstrung with Mowbray in charge because of his blind-spots (even though keeping on in injured player for a few months before letting them go has little bearing on how loyal he has been to players who actually get on the pitch, and doesn't point at all to how the rest of the summer is going to go recruitment-wise). Would TM have got the credit for being ruthless for letting Gladwin go (or Conway & the Canadian for that matter)? I doubt it. 

This obviously gets 10 times worse on a message board where people get even more entrenched in their positions, but I think the irrationality can be found across the piece, not just those of us who get starry eyed about the manager. 

Just now, Sparks Rover said:

Yeah, but on his day in his prime this guy was top notch

So was Vogel in fairness. Probably just came to England a bit too late. 

39 minutes ago, Stuart said:

So which player has a song sung by his own fans about how shit he is?

”Good” is a subjective term. In football terms I view that as being very effective not necessarily their football skills. Smallwood was exactly that.

Think the 'Mokoena's going to break your legs' song had references to how he can't shoot or pass. In fairness, it didn't really catch on.

Just now, RoverCanada said:

I'd be curious if you have a link on that...

Both Swiss Ramble (https://twitter.com/swissramble/status/1105375506868957184?lang=en) and Price of Football (http://priceoffootball.com/aston-villa-2017-18-finances-and-ffp-doctoring-the-tardis/) recently wrote on AV's 17-18 finances, neither mention anything about fresh investment 'restarting the cycle', other than commenting that the new owners could boost commercial revenue. SR projects them to miss the FFP target by £25m, so... the new owners prevented them from falling into administration, but I don't see how it impacts FFP.

This was the last year of AV's parachute payments too, so hard to imagine they won't have to make some significant cuts in some capacity if they don't get promoted regardless. Their CEO's certainly consistently made noises about their confidence in meeting FFP, so could get interesting if they lose the final. If they get promoted, probably will descend into protracted negotiations with the EFL that will end in one of those relatively paltry fines, like Bournemouth.

(I'll be cheering for Derby )

 

Suppose the confidence may come from knowing they can generate plenty of cash from selling Grealish. That being said if they lose Abraham, Grealish & Mings and can't spend much of the Grealish money on strengthening the squad, then hard to see them as competitive as they were this year.

Apparently Woodgate is nailed on for the Boro job. Another untested manager in charge of a team hoping to go up, even for the Championship next year is looking ridiculously unpredictable.