The 2 situations are totally different. As you say, Graham is our player of the season so deserves to start the season. Defensively, new signings should be able to and need to just walk in because our current defence has proven itself as unfit for purpose.

Cardiff have a squad packed with proven Championship quality, especially in defence, but also with plenty of attacking quality (Bobby Reid, Hoilett, Murphy, Mendez-Laing and now Whyte and a new striker from Germany) and most importantly, a proven manager at this level. Hard to look past them for me.

Adarabioyo is capable of playing anywhere across the backline, but Mowbray's only aim is to play the 21-year-old in his natural position - at the heart of defence. “He played in both full back positions at West Brom as well as at centre half," the boss added. "I spoke to Darren Moore at length about Tosin and he said that his versatiliy was a real strength. “Darren couldn’t speak highly enough of the kid and said that he felt Tosin grew into the season with them. “Do I envisage playing him at right back? Not really. I think maybe in emergency cases, if we have injuries, he might, but we’ll look to have him as a centre half." https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2019/july/added-championship-knowledge-makes-us-stronger/ Happy to see Mowbray say that.

You've literally twisted my words into a sentence with a totally different meaning. I'm saying that I can have an opinion on a player based on seeing him for other clubs and what their fans thought of them. Conversely, does that mean I cannot be happy about the Bradley Johnson signing? I will still judge the player on his performances in a Rovers shirt, if I was so indifferent to players past history then I wouldn't bother the a transfer thread. There could be reasons for players over or under performing at previous clubs, playing in the wrong position, style of play, team mates, in Johnsons case some Derby fans felt his high price tag wore heavy on him. Brereton has yet to come close to justifying blowing such a large proportion of our budget last season, and was IMO justifiably heavily criticised. What was the reaction in the stadium when he scored v Bolton? Universal relief and happiness for him.

You could say that about anything, that any criticism of a potential signing is irrelevant because a professional manager does rate him. May I again ask why you frequent the transfer thread of a forum if that is your ignorant stance on the matter and peoples opinions? I have never confessed to thinking I have the knowledge of a professional manager. The common feedback I have found (not just one singular bloke on twitter) has been that he was poor at West Brom. I am clinging mainly on to the hope that it was caused by being out of position. I am "negative" because in my opinion based on the admittedly limited times I have seen him before, combined with the opinions of those who have seen him more regularly at West Brom suggest hes far from the answer (but as of yet the only addition) to a dreadful defence last season. What would I get out a player not proving to be a successful signing, or in fact anything happening that isnt positive to the club, considering I spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds a year and hours and hours of time supporting the club? Researching a players previous career and letting him play before making your mind up in a Rovers shirt dont have to be mutually exclusive.

No one has suggested that they wont judge him in a Rovers shirt, but as with any signing, people want to know what sort of player we are getting and how hes done and been received at previous clubs. Makes sense to me.

You are totally twisting my words, I never said they are more important but these fans have seen him week in week out, and I have seen him myself a few times, 2 important things to base my post on. If you dont value the opinions of other supporters, and are being so incredibly rude and patronising about them, why do you come on here in the first place? The whole managers know more than your strawman argument essentially invalidates any need or purpose for supporters having opinions of their owns and sharing them on a messageboard. Ive never, and no one has ever claimed that they have a fraction of the knowledge of Guardiola.

You can be as childish as you want with your replies, or go down the route of seemingly suggesting its in anyones best interests for him to fail, which makes no sense. Johnson is the main signing we have made that impressed me. He was really poor at Ewood and got hauled off. When I saw him, he was rather ungainly and clumsy, and neither as elegant as youd expect coming through at City nor as imposing aerially as his height would have you hoping. Of course, I didnt see him week in week out, hence me checking what those who did at West Brom thought of him. In the main, West Brom fans seem very much of the opinion that hes not very good. Look at the replies to these: I actually tried to suggest that hopefully thats just a positional thing. May I ask, if people like me and my opinions are so insignificant compared to actual managers, why do you come on an internet forum?

Walton Nyambe Lenihan Adarabaiyo Bell Travis Johnson Armstrong Dack Rothwell Graham Subs: Leutweiler Mulgrew Gallagher Brereton Downing Buckley Evans A game we really should be winning.

Not overly excited about the Adarabayiyo deal. Nearly every comment ive read from West Brom fans back up what I saw both against us and when they were on TV last season, he looked like bambi on ice. My main hope is that was just being out of position, as he has some attributes. Mowbray loves an out of position player but he referenced him as a centre back so I hope he only plays him there. Definitely needs to be the first of 2 or 3. Concerning that hes not ready to slot right in because a defence of Bennett, Lenihan, Mulgrew and Bell/Downing is the defence we all dreaded.

Youd lose decent money then.

Preston have Nugent and Bauer, Wednesday have 3 as do WBA, those figures are wrong. That being said, the recent uproar has been not about the timing of the deals, but on the back of Mowbray himself saying that he wants one centre back (presumably Adarabioyo) in because any more could cause problems with *insert list of defenders who Mowbray rightfully said have shown they cant do it.*

Mulgrew is finished. Across the whole of last season, he had a considerable negative effect on both points accumulated and goals conceded when he played. Theres no way that Bauer is a worse defender than him. If he was, its beyond me why we even ever looked at him.

As a pairing, in terms of Mulgrew being part of that pairing. I do think Lenihan is overrated somewhat, by far our best defender but he can be incredibly rash. Theres definitely a defender to polish there, and im definitely happy to see him in our team. Mulgrew is well past it though, the stats over the whole of last season show how we perform with him in the team. Even if he played 46 games injury free, that isnt the main problem necessarily.

Rhodes scored 20 goals every season. He was more than anyone the player who was very much doing his job consistently. Strongly disagree. They have proven not to be good enough at this level. Mulgrew is past it no matter who he is next to. Agree with the rest of your post though in general.

If he doesnt have another change of heart then ultimately I think his defensive negligence will be what costs him his job, as we will be nowhere near the top 6 with the defence we have now, plus the City kid on top. He knows full well that we need defenders, he said it publically and absolutely correctly in May that our current defence has proven that it cannot defend at this level. Nothings changed, but now hes wittering on about not upsetting the aforementioned senior incompetent defenders. Hes also mentioned converting our only competent right back into a central defender. Deckchairs and the titanic spring to mind. Its a blind spot hes had throughout his career, it was a major factor in his failure at Coventry and it will be the undoing of a very exciting set of attacking players. Absolutely infuriating.

If we are to assume that its our second team tomorrow and our main 11 as it stands on Saturday, id go: Walton Bennett Magloire Mulgrew Bell Rankin-Costello Evans Buckley Downing Gallagher Brereton tomorrow then on Saturday: Walton Nyambe Adarabyio Lenihan Hart Travis Johnson Armstrong Dack Rothwell Graham Assuming Adarabyio signs, we dont have our main CB in for the weekend and that Chapman is not considered for Blackpool, otherwise id stick Armstrong in tomorrow instead of Rankin-Costello. May aswell give Walton both games. Obviously it doesnt matter who plays in friendlies, more trying to figure out where we stand in terms of our best and second best teams.

He played almost exclusively at right back (not sure them stats below are correct positionally, Dawson and Hegazi where the main 2 for WBA in the centre) and West Brom fans seem almost exclusively glad to see the back of him. He was replaced by Holgate in January. I do hope that the fact he was out of position is the reason for his poor form. Ive seen little if any criticism of the Johnson signing.

Theres not a chance that Leutweiler would go to another club in the Championship and get first team football. Hes hopeless.

Cardiff and Leeds have the best managers so Id fancy them to be up there. Warnock knows how to build a solid defence, Morrison, Flint, Bamba and Nelson is an embarassment of riches along with some very good full backs and a goalkeeper at this level. Plenty of attacking players who can get goals in Bobby Reid, Hoilett, Murphy and Mendez-Laing, just need a striker and I'd have them as favourites. Bielsa pushed them 10 places up the table last year, the Helder Costa signing is superb although they will really miss Jansson. Fulham have taken a massive risk with Parker and seem to have a glass defence but also a front 3 plus Cairney in behind thats as good as anything in the league.

If not being Bury/Bolton is genuinely a reason to be thankful to Venkys then thats more depressing than anything.

Few things: - What makes you suggest that Evans "has half a season, max?" Mowbray played his strongest 11 yesterday, Evans played. Unlike Smallwood who didnt play as much in the second half of last season, Evans wasnt at all phased out, has a new contract and seemingly id a big part of Mowbrays plans. - Where does Dack fit in your 433? We cant play a formation that doesnt suit our best player. - Thats a massive, massive assumption. 50-75m is quite frankly ridicilious for 5 players who all are young and have scope for development, but none have really any evidence that they can or will ever justify the massive figures youve just plonked on their collective heads. - If you also are so focused on stockpiling young attackers, you remove yourself from actually the primary objective of short term success, if we dont equally focus on the rest of the team at the same time. For example, we continue to neglect the full back area. You have to understand why defending Venkys is always going to be a touchy subject considering what theyve done. Theres nothing to be grateful for.

As in you think its good or bad? I presume seeing as Mowbray said we are using the Raya proceeds for other positions that Walton is a loan.

Leutweiler is shocking, made a few camera saves but flaps at everything and very lucky Morelos was offside. Defence is not anywhere near good enough, we all know as does Mowbray from what he has said. New signings looked pretty poor, Johnson gave away so many passes and Downing looked so lethargic, hopefully fitness rather than age. Rothwell a breath of fresh air, no loose passes, always desperate to make things happen, one twos, trying to get through. Travis also so much better than Evans, and Buckley looked tidy too.

Its not, in fact im fed up of a growing trend of posts such as your earlier one, as @Mattyblue sums up "moaning about moaning" unwilling to tolerate any criticism, no matter how constructive or realistic. Whether it makes My opinion on Evans is that he has a part to play but I'd be very dissapointed if he started the season over Travis. (or Johnson) Smallwood I think should be moved on, but is not playing today.