Exactly my question. Looks to have moved quickly once Lampard confirmed out and Cocu in (done yesterday).

Heard nothing on the price. But I think the signs that none of us have picked up on is this ‘change’ in the way we play which basically excludes Smallwood and Evans. Focus is now on the young lads Iv mentioned to play on the half turn talinhbthe ball from centre halves. Johnson seen as an upgraded version of Smallwood and Evans...

Argh, I really can’t say. They’re so touchy about this stuff now...was ‘done’ by this morning apparently. Im more excited by their belief in the young lads. They LOVE Buckley. “He’ll definitely play in the Premier League”

Bradley Johnson is done ✅ Club were putting feelers out last night asking about him, his character etc. Opinions were passed and they were told this morning that the deal is done. Only surprise is that it hasn’t been announced today. Also they expect Buckley, Travis, Davenport and Butterworth to step this season. Edit: Smallwood and Evans consigned to the history books by Christmas.

I like Raya. He has good potential and I wouldn’t sell him, but I think he’ll be quite easily replaced if needs be.

Not sure, seems as if he was getting an extension until Lampard left? Maybe the new manager has others in mind?

34 appearances and 3rd highest rating last season...?

Don’t read too much into that. Butterfield is a class act. Needs a fresh start, regain fitness and a bit of love. Has that killer pass off both feet. Get him playing and you’ve got a really good player imo.

At this time it’s all about adding quality. Is Bradley Johnson better than anything else we’ve got? Imo, yes!

Butterfield is the one I really like out of these links...real quality

No one is ‘suggesting’ him now mate. He’s been linked this morning (probably by a lazy journalist) as a potential transfer target so it’s apt that we discuss him on the transfer thread, right? Nothing to do with lowered aspirations!

The guy has been with two clubs who’ve been promoted out of the league and has 200+ appearances in the Championship. He’s 27yrs old and fits the type of cb profile we need with the added bonus of knowing the club. Agree to disagree.

I agree. Last years signings, bar Armstrong pretty much came out of the blue. I think a lot of these ‘linked’ former players are either lazy journalists or agents trying to get things moving.

I agree about him not having played a lot of games and the risk. But he’s an improvement on what we’ve got and has much better pedigree than Bauer.

I accept that he’s not played much. Maybe he’s the guy on holiday who was groaning about having to do a trial? As for being a starter or a squad filler...the answer is that very few players ever sign for any team as a dead cert starter...the cb issue and our lack of physicality in there is one which needs addressing

Agreed. 100%

Oh god, this is maybe worse than I thought! Please no.

The suggestion here is that this is how fans have reacted to Bauer. Iv not seen much evidence of that particular sway. I for one think Bauer could’ve been a good signing, maybe even a fantastic one! But I refuse to throw my toys out of my prom as if we’d just missed out on Harry Maguire!

Why wouldn’t you want us to sign Hanley? Championship pedigree, club captain of a newly promoted team, big, ugly, uncompromising, knows the club. I’d say he is the most ideal signing we could make. Permenant or loan...basically ticks every box?

I think this is very fair. Agree that the changes feel slow at times. I’m not particularly bothered about Bauer. If we can’t find better than him this summer then we’ve failed massively. Contrary to what some on here think. I couldn’t give a shit about Mowbray. I only care about my club. Imo he’s done a very good job and I don’t accept 90% of the criticism that’s been levelled at him. But, he has stated on several occasions that he expects to be in and around the top 6. That he needs to strengthen in several areas and so if he doesn’t we don’t then I will be looking for answers and ramifications against the manager.

Mate, you don’t know anything about Mowbrays personality. Only what a friend of a friend told you about a meeting with Ben Whiteman.

Oh my god!!! ??? He isn’t ‘chasing a squad player’. He’s chasing a player who he likes and making it known to the player that they are not guaranteed to play if they do not perform / work hard. I have my own suspicions about the budget too btw...but there’s no suggestion here that the issue with Bauer was financial.

Mate, we’ve been interested in signing the guy for a year because we think he’s a good player...so what? He came in, was told he would need to work hard in order to get in the team and decided he preferred to be knighted on Preston town hall steps! ?? What on Earth is wrong with Mowbray telling any player that they’ve got to work hard to get into his team!? I’m baffled by your stance tbh.

I’m not missing any point. Mowbray likes the player. Sees him as someone who could be good for us. But the guy is a league one defender and has just been asked to earn his place. If he would rather be the king of Preston then that says more about him and Preston than it does about us...

Who’s said he’s incapable of dislodging them? The manager is saying to Bauer that he needs to train well etc to get in the team!!? Jeez can’t believe what I’m reading here... If we’d missed out on Sol Campbell in his prime id be worried. This guy is a 26yr Old from League 1. He absolutely would need to earn his stripes!