Totally agree, the more we get linked with gambles like this one, the more I think that an older, experienced keeper is the way to go for this season.

The Wharton deal is all about the sell on.

Page 666,what's the worst that could happen 🙄

I don't think it's that black and white. If you've a head coach who has knowledge within the game,and they all have, it would be detrimental if not mental to completely disregard his input. There is obviously going to be crossover at certain points. The knack would be for both parties to have trust in each other, although you would expect the recruitment team to have the major share.

He may well not be a target anyway.

My opinion is that if, and we don't know if it's true, but if Eustace wants a former player, then his knowledge of said player would be many times more than yours or mine. Different if he was lumping on someone he hadn't worked with before. As I said the other day, I'm not against signing an experienced keeper at this point. If that's Eustace's opinion, then signing someone he knows and trusts short term would seem logical.

You're looking at it the wrong way round, if Eustace had any doubts about him at all at Birmingham, why would he possibly go out on a limb to sign him for Rovers?

My counter argument is obviously that Eustace has managed him before. What other argument would I use, or do I need?

Don't know why there's such negativity towards Ruddy to be honest, if anyone should know his capabilities/limitations it's Eustace. If he wants Ruddy, then Ruddy it is, Eustace will live or die by his decision. On a side note, Victor Johansson was a much desired potential signing for us. If anyone has seen his "performance" for Stoke at Watford, they might be thinking we've dodged a bullet there.

Ta

Have we actually been linked with him?

Is Broughton coming back to not buy players for Tomasson?

I wouldn't swap back.

I think you can add Haaland to that list, I could be wrong. It's because virtually all the power is with the player,unless under a long contract, meaning a lot of the time, free transfers are often the better players. Which is why, signing a "free" transfer often isn't anything of the sort,although you may well end up with a better player because the fact there's no fee, means he can ask for better terms for himself.

Once again, I agree, but I wasn't t talking about players who cost £5 million,i never was. I compared a £2.5 million player in Yates to a free player in Ohashi. You never answered, but which one would you have? At that level, a lot of money can often get you not very much. That's not to say that we shouldn't be looking to pay for the right player. If Gestede wants to pay a fee, the club should try to support him.

Agree with that, that's exactly what should be happening. It may well be what happens with the Fulham player. The point I'm making is that signing a free or virtually free transfer, doesn't necessarily mean you're signing a lower quality player,it's often the opposite. It isn't justifying cost cutting by Venky’s, it's people doing their job properly.

The concept of signing well scouted, quality players for nothing or very little, like Ohashi and Gueye, rather than lazily signing the likes of Jerry Yates for £2.5 million. Gestede has made a good start, I'm sure he'll use any transfer money well.

You obviously don't understand the concept.

That's just a ridiculous reply,you're picking out the bits that suit an argument and ignoring the rest. A million in wages is the same as a million in transfer fees. The lower the fee, the more you can pay in wages, which may get you a better player.

I've just said that the Fulham player would be a different situation. It isn't black and white, we might pick up a gem for £2 million, but in general you don't get much for your money at that level. Buying 5 players for £10 million wouldn't necessarily appease me any more than 5 free transfers where we may have to pay higher wages to get better quality.

Just as an example, £2.5 million gets you Jerry Yates. Would you right now swap Ohashi for Yates? Also, would you be happier if we'd spent £2.5 million on Ohashi than get him for next to nothing? What I'm saying is, at that low level, with the right scouting, we're as likely to pick someone up of similar or better quality on a free or there abouts. Not sure of the potential fee for Germaine. The link with the Fulham player at £6 million is obviously a different level. You're then looking to speculate to accumulate.

Not necessarily bothered how much we spend, as opposed to getting the scouting spot on. It isn't as if we'll be forking out £10 million on a player, at the level Rovers will be spending, it's as likely we'll get a good player for nowt, or next to now. The money may well be better spent on wages than transfer fees.

You've won

It'll all come out in the wash, as it always does. I've just watched Watford's goals against Stoke, Johansen was a popular choice to come here, no thanks on that performance.

.... and Derby beat Boro today.