I totally agree that we need to get into a position whereby our academy graduates are not only providing assets (Travis, Lenihan, Nyambe, Raya) but also padding out the squad to a degree too. I also agree that the league is But I would actually say that people overcompensate for our academy graduates at times which I can totally appreciate. Take Rankin Costello. He has been ok at left back, a role he admittedly is not used to. In terms of stand out qualities, I havent seen much. No crosses that I can remember bar mishit ones. Bit of naivety sliding around in the build up to one of Readings goals, but again, not a full back. But he seems to be right in strong contention for man of the match by many. Would that be the case if he wasnt an academy graduate breaking in? Not sure. Think hes one who can provide competition as you alude to, out wide as his natural position. We are still a little in the dark as to how much impact he can have there. Also take Carter. If a senior player put in the performance he did, he would have been absolutely slated and rightly so. All over the shop. Im all for having more patience but for me it showed that hes not ready yet. Wharton hasnt proven that he is ready playing in League 2 but regularly excelling there, standing out, surely he is well above of Carter at the moment. Because he isnt on the inner circle on terms of having gone out on loan, he shouldnt be forgotten about. Buckley is maybe a little more complex, he seems to be like marmite, due to his lack of physicality. Hes victim of his position at the moment. That being said, understandably I think he would evoke more patience/praise than say a Holtby for a similar performance. I suspect that it is unrealistic to expect a further sudden surge of academy graduates all breaking through next season. We are already very reliant on our academy in fairness. Maybe sometimes we underappreciate our more experienced players at times. For example, Evans despite his good performances and relationship with Travis, has almost been written off. Davenport seems the flavour of the month. Downing again, written off.

Very true. Plus I can sort of understand it if the only 2 options are stay on a higher wage or go further down on a lower wage, we would all find it difficult to cut thousands of pounds a week away. I think we can focus on the clubs perspective more and query why we are handing out new deals as rewards as if they are going out of fashion. The line "hes looking after them as humans" doesnt cut it.

Perhaps, I think the last sentence is definitely a figment of a supporters imagination at times.

Cant see Ayala touching us with a barge pole or us affording his wages. Not sure why the whole Barnsley squad is on there but I dont think Woodrow for example is out of contract. Going to be a tough market with so many teams reliant on freebies plus us at a disadvantage actually agreeing on a budget. Quite a few on there that take the eye but probably out of our league financially, Lyle Taylor, Jordan Ibe, Jackson Irvine, Steven Fletcher, Jack Colback etc. Suspect that Morgan Fox, Brad Smith, Demetri Mitchell and Steven Kingsley are the most obvious left backs, again youd ask if any are going to improve us. Tom Lockyer is available for nothing from Charlton, Welsh International CB. Maya Yoshida, experienced CB. Danny Ward from Cardiff up front. Just feels like these players are very much scraping the bottom of the barrel, suspect we will need to be a little more imaginative if we want to improve. Surely our new, famous European scouting network will pick gems off the continent and we wont even need to look at this anyway...

In an ideal world perhaps, but due to the negligence around the defence, we only have one competent centre back. Undoubtedly need a partner of quality, difficult to find on minimal budget but without that we could struggle so I am sure it is a priority. If we want to keep a young defender around the first team, it has to be Wharton. Not to start. Carter looked well off it in his dress rehearsal. No matter what Wharton did in League 2, as you suggest there is always a limit to what you can read from that, but a third promotion, individual awards, plenty of praise and a desire to keep him in League 1 suggests that he does have something.

Yep, very important in League 1, not a Championship level player but just what we needed when we went down. Don't blame him for sitting on his contract either, anyone would struggle to rip up a years worth of wages higher than he could have got anywhere else, we handed out far too many to average players when we got promoted, Smallwood, Williams, Bennett, Mulgrew etc, I suspect that all of them could be off the payroll now had we not done that.

As I said, I think you are trying to read between the lines to see what you want to see. I read the quotes at face value, plus obviously we know what our disinterested and backwards owners are like. Links and rumours are one thing but pretty meaningless at this stage. Some get excited about the merest whiff of a rumour which is fair enough. Even if there is truth in any of them, having no budget doesnt mean that Mowbray isnt interested in players anyway. Just that he is stuck in limbo. One thing I am sure of is that central midfield is well, well down the list of priorities.

Im always skeptical of transfer rumours because 99% of the time they are false and Sparks Rovers even said that it might just be a meeting (ie not post budget agreement) because Mowbray said the night before that he has no clarity on the budget. Also Mowbray said hes not looking for a CM so must have been a change of mind in that regard. If you or anyone chooses to believe that there is a strong interest or that he likes the player I can understand, to then assume a decent transfer kitty seems a massive stretch to me. Regarding our need for a central midfielder, I dont discount that one might be useful, but certainly not a priority until defence and goalkeepers are sorted, plus a winger or 2, if there is any room left after that. Certainly no considerable fees there. I suspect it will be loans and frees considering the economic climate. Evans injury problems are a concern although his last 2 have been unfortunate, fractured skull and broken toe. There is also Downing who is certainly no longer a wide man. Agreed on priorities, I would be amazed and concerned if Mowbrays first signing was a central midfielder for a decent fee.

Rumours being the operative word at this stage. Do you really see it as realistic that we spend a fairly considerable fee at all during this window? If we had one to spend and it was spent in central midfielder, to be fair the manager has history for defensive negligence but even so it would be surprising. Travis and Evans has to be our first choice partnership in midfield. We know that works well. Unsure why Evans would be one of your first to go. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-rovers-davenport-midfielder-progress-18590307.amp Whilst I am yet to be convinced by Davenport. Mowbray said the other week that "We're not out there searching and scouring for another midfield player because we've already got the one that we need in the club." Maybe that Whiteman rumour is put to bed for now?

Was it? It has always seemed the same to me but then again, im not one for the over the top social media, the new player videos, the emojis, maybe I am old beyond my time though. I am just wondering what sort of things people want/expect/enjoy on social media. Main reason I look at it is when teams are announced to be honest. I always found it odd when people gave so much praise to the twitter guy during the promotion season.

?

10 grand?

To provoke cashflow at a time when it is in short supply.

And when you think that we had Mulgrew at CB for most of last season, and Adarabioyo this, considering that I think the difference between them is more than 6 goals conceded, we really have plenty of work to do!

Agree with the decisions on contracts, Downing has a role albeit probably a more reduced one youd like to think. But has been a very good signing. The others, sadly for Graham who has been a good servant, need to be moved on. Gallagher and Brereton now need to push Armstrong, all 3 central strikers. Just a shame that Bennett, Mulgrew and Johnson remain and are unshiftable. My mate who is a Preston fan doesnt rate Ripley at all. Happy to see him go. Would be an easy link especially considering his dad and presumably coming in as number 2.

@Mattyblue @JoeH "Its just the way Venkys work" "Venkys have lots of other businesses that are more important" "The pandemic has affected them more than anyone else" Surely you should now and accept all of these points rather than questioning why a club whose cash flow was bad enough to beg season tickets not to ask for refunds (yet was able to give Smallwood and Sam Hart extensions but we will ignore that) but not bad enough to utilise a very obvious way of improving that situation?

He may well do but its far too soon to predict that. He needs to play at a lower level for the time being but 21 is not old no matter which world class talents you bring into the conversation. Have you seen much of him? Or based on others peoples view on him in training like Buckley? Looked good in a cameo v Bolton but spending so much time injured during development years is not ideal at all. I dont recall many last ditch challenges. The goal was a difficult one to react to, possibly saw it more than Johnsons but would like to think that he felt he could do better. Then I dont know if it was having had his confidence taken a blow from scoring an own goal, but he played a square ball (I think trying to play it left) that was cut out and caused a counter attack. And then especially in the second half I think they targetted him because there were a few times when he looked all at sea. They had a good chance which was dragged wide at the end that came from him misreading the flight of the ball. I just personally think based on what I have seen, and it was right to give him a chance, that he is well off at the moment. If we are going to keep a prospect to push the centre backs, considering how I felt that Carter really, really struggled, I think Wharton would make more sense. League 2 form is always a weak indicator but he has not only seemingly coped there but excelled, 3 promotions, individual awards, plenty of praise and a desire to keep him into League 1. That being said, we need some more experience above him. Walton is a poor keeper. Not sure he was responsible for all 4 goals though, think thats harsh. Mind you, definitely over 10 during the season and was summed up right at the end when he comically allowed the ball through his hands and legs, thankfully not in the immediate vicinity of goal.

There was a few similar that he did like that, im guessing you mean the one at the end though? Definitely looked out of his depth. Only a boy but not ready for Championship football in the near future.

I would have to disagree. The own goal he has to take some blame for and there were numerous times when he either cheaply gave the ball away or especially on the turn looked all over the place, a few times especially in the second half. Just looked a bag of nerves throughout. 6 goals in 2 games doesnt reflect well either. I personally think that there is understandably an element of reluctance to criticise him because hes a kid from the academy but I dont think he is anywhere near ready.

I think its a myth that Bell is an effective attacking full/wing back. Nyambe is better going forward and its a weakness for him, Bell is the king of dithering.

We definitely need at least one new centre back but I can only see an inferior replacement at best coming in probably on loan (or maybe a free) for Adarabioyo so there is a big worry that we will be defensively worse next season. In terms of having a bit of competition, as far as I am concerned, Carter has proved that at this moment in time, he is well, well below what you need to play in the Championship. I have always got the impression that Mowbray is quite dismissive of Wharton, and if I had to guess, Carter will be here next season and Wharton wont. But I think you look at Wharton and he could only do what he has, stood out in a promotion team, got a player of the month award and seemingly has really made an impression there with his consistency: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/view-press-box-alternative-cobblers-awards-201920-season-2906657%3famp "Not many loan signings prove as successful as Scott Wharton. Excellent and so consistent on the left side of Town's back three. A real classy prospect and one to keep an eye on for the future. Can Cobblers get him back next year?" I think id much rather have him as 3rd choice certainly over Carter and indeed we know how bog standard Williams is. Might even give Mowbray the chance to try another formation he loves, Wharton as the left of a three and Rankin Costello at right wing back.

Would you play with wingers?

The thing is, you keep speaking as if Mowbray's usage of players in wide areas has been successful and shouldnt be contested. Brereton, Samuel and Gallagher especially are repeatedly played there and it doesnt work. Rothwell sometimes plays there and achieves diddly squat. Holtby and Buckley are sometimes played there and stunted because it isnt natural for them. I want players that are actually comfortable there, heaven forbid. As @ewoodace says how do you know that we want our full backs to provide the width anyway as they havent to date. We need our defenders to bloody defend first and foremost. Nyambe albeit not perfectly is one of only 2 players we have back there who can do this. I am sure the defence will be neglected again and we will concede too many goals if Mowbray stays in charge. Especially if we start converting wingers (who from the sound of it has played as a wing back, not a full back, with the kids) into a back 4 and drop an actual competent albeit imperfect full back in Nyambe. I cant say I am counting down the days until the new season no, with limited attendances, probably a key player or 2 sold, little money and in my opinion becoming stagnant on the pitch, I'm not. I am sure I will go but thats not the point. You bring it up when it is not relevant and you have nothing constructive to say when people doubt our current direction under the manager, its a case of, I dont have an answer to this, I'd better reiterate how excited I am to go again. As I say, you can make your excuses for them or you can believe that everything is completely in hand, plans are being made, we are making bids, we have players coming in for meetings, Venkys are regularly in touch and keenly interested, and that theyve grasped online calls, thats your decision. Based on Mowbrays quotes last night and more pertinently the history of Venkys, I think deluded wouldnt be a strong word for such beliefs.

Just doesnt make any sense to me, considering that the manager said less than 24 hours ago that he isnt even in a position to offer a contract to Downing such is the lack of clarity from the owners. And even then, even for him it would be careless to spend on a midfielder considering what we need the most. The rumour has been around for a year or so now. Maybe there is a meeting, just seems a bit pointless to me and a bit illogical to have one when there is a big chance that we cant afford him and even if we can, we have no defence or goalkeepers. If it does end up happening, fair play. Will hold my hands up. Then it just wont make sense considering his position, or maybe it will with Mowbray signing a cheap loanee in net last minute!

If that was a senior player, you would be very critical. I understand that he is a young player, I just think that he is nowhere near ready to be playing Championship football based on what he has shown. If I had written him off totally you might have a point. I just think that it makes sense to loan him out, because he shouldnt be featuring for a Championship side supposedly with promotion in its sights. I dont expect the finished article but equally I am not going to tell you that he looks up to it when I certainly dont think he does. As a player with a reputation of having a good delivery, I have been disappointed in the crosses from Rankin Costello, albeit he is on his weak side. He put at least two in yesterday straight high into the stand. Why are converted winger full backs a thing? We only have 2 competent players in the defence/goalkeeping areas, and you are suggesting dropping one for a winger. We have 2 big gaps out wide, if Rankin Costello wants to get into the side, it makes sense to give him a chance there. I am skeptical at the moment as to whether he has the tools but i would like to see him in his natural position. He hasnt let us down or looked out of his depth at all (like Carter) but equally he hasnt really done anything to make me think, wow lets get him in more. Superfan as in using the "cant wait until next season" line whenever anyone suggests anything other than an optimistic outlook going forward under Mowbray, and a total blanket ban on criticism of young players performances regardless of competence. Like I said, if you or anyone wants to believe that we have got a plan and that Venkys have suddenly become proactive and interested owners who have been in regular contact regarding a budget, then that is up to you. They never have before, even last year summoning Mowbray to India at the end of a season which was all but over 6 weeks before it actually ended. Throw a pandemic and restrictions of travel into the mix, have they suddenly grasped video calling? I suspect not. Baring in mind that Mowbray also said last night that he is not in as position yet to offer a contract to Downing etc, I think you are looking too much into his quotes. I suspect that even if there have been chats with Whiteman, it wont come to anything unless he is a replacement for an outgoing Lewis Travis. Spending over a million (which will be more than we spend over the whole summer I suspect) on a central midfielder when we have no contracted goalkeepers and barely any defenders would seem negligent but I suppose unsurprising.