Think it depends with Villa/Leeds, if they are flying (which there starts suggest they might be) then I can see them both filling at least the lower tier. I can't see many other sides filling it though, Preston maybe depending on how they are doing, Stoke/WBA other possibility's but doubt the latter. After that I'm struggling.

McGinn was never going to happen though was it? Can't help but feel the link was used to drive up Celtics bids.

The way I see our current "links" Bauer - 40/60 chance, reading all the comments by everyone involved, I can see Charlton trying to make a point over this one and keeping him, maybe one to watch in Jan. McGinn - Absolutely no chance, complete non starter. Chapman - I think Boro have sold Traore this week, so I think he will get a chance there now, disappointing as he has obvious potential, judging by Mowbrays comments it sounds like we could have had him for relative peanuts early on in the window, I think we should have maybe taken a gamble with him. Gallagher - Has he ever been linked properly or is he another message board one like Maddison? I think we'll see two more come in before Thursday, and I'd bet it is players that we have never been linked with.

I haven't seen much of Bauer, but looking at him from the outside the clips I have seen he seems to be a "proper" defender, he's a good age, would add some much needed height to the team, and we have the number 5 shirt all ready and waiting for him . Could be shrewd business for 500k?

Yeah i said in a previous post that we switched to it in a couple of games last season and it appeared to work quite well, no issue with that as you have to have another plan up your sleeve. I just hope we don't start with it again.

Because it has every other time we have started with it. It's not suddenly going to click now because we have Armstrong and Palmer in the team.

No, would be my guess.

Looks good on paper, you can bet it would be a complete disaster if it was put on the pitch though.

Started the first two with 3 at the back and it was a complete disaster, think we started with it at Charlton too at the end of the season. Then in a couple of games, Portsmouth away and Oldham at home we changed to it mid match when we were pushing for equalisers/winners and it worked quite well. I'd personally be horrified if we went back to starting with it though, although I do still think that formation is in Mowbrays long term thinking.

I wouldn't get your hopes up about McGinn. I think he will fall into the same category as Maddison, not even on our radar.

Forest/WBA got moved to Tuesday because it clashed with the Cricket at Trent Bridge on the same night. Middlesbrough/Sheff Utd got moved because Middlesbrough/WBA got moved to the Friday night for Sky on 24th August. (from the 25th August). Both games were originally scheduled for Wednesday 22nd August. (Same night we play Reading at Ewood).

Yeah usually that is the case, however I bet that we won't dominate the possession in midfield next week against Millwall. Smallwood runs around a lot and puts pressure on opposition, but isn't great with the ball. This is Corry Evans 6th season with us and I still don't know what the hell he does in there, not a lot for me. Someone like that Hibs lad would be ideal to compliment a Smallwood/Bennett in there but I don't think we'll sign someone in that role because we are well stocked there.

That would be a hell of a coup, really, really can't see it though.

That volley only went in because it took a huge deflection! Not sure i buy that, especially with Evans & Samuel, they weren't key players last season. If we go into this season scared to replace a couple of the weak links with better players because of "team spirit" then we will deserve to struggle, that would be really weak management.

Williams, Evans & Samuel wouldn't start for me. I'd like to see Bennett back in the middle with Smallwood, and two new lads (Armstrong & ? Do not say Maddison/Chapman, they aint happening!) either side of Graham, with a new alternative to come on/in for whenever Graham is unavailable, which i think might be a lot this season.

5 last minute goals that were winners/equalisers under Coyle in 31 games. If you count goals from the 85th minute though, that more than doubles.

Yeah that was a wrong phrase for on here really as like you say bar the odd post there hasn't been that much on here, i'll take that one back. I have read a lot on my social media timelines in the last hour or two though so i think thats what prompted it. I actually agree with Mick McCarthy on soccer saturday today, we haven't got the required experience/quality for when our better players leave the pitch, i really hope that is addressed this week as we'll get punished a lot more this season if we resort to sitting back on leads.

To put this mass hysteria of today into context, in Tony Mowbrays 62 league games in charge (including today), we have conceded 6 last minute goals that were winners/equalisers for the other team. I wouldn't say that was too bad to be honest.

Why are we still talking about Maddison? We haven't been linked with him once!

Depends how you read it, looks like a load of gobbledygook to me. Certainly doesn't suggest that we're in for him.

Because he hasn't signed.

I reckon we'll still be talking about whether Armstrong is joining us or not on Thursday.

Nixon reckons Armstrong is as good as signed. As it's come from him, I have to say I don't believe it for a second. Fully expect Rich Sharpe to come out this morning denying everything about it!

Logic points to a draw, but I think we can start off here with a win, would be our first on the opening day since those idiots rocked up. Can only remember one win down there in my time following Rovers, which was back when we won the league in 94-95.

They are, but part of the deal is that Sky are allowed to show all Championship midweek games too. Not everyone who subscribes to Sky has ifollow, and vice versa.