no luke murphy tho, he wanted to go play with the big boys

Luke who? Big boys? You've lost me sorry.

OOJW thats a fair take on the new season.I think you have been more than generous with the new signings I still have my reservations ,a couple of top signings would have made us into real competitors.Like you I am hoping for the best.COYB

Our transfer activity is getting me down to be honest. Nobody of real quality brought in and nobody to get excited about yet. To be honest I think we're 1 Jordan Rhodes away from another relegation battle at this rate. Have to see how it goes though, at least we've got a stable, sensible manager at long last.

And playing with the big boys at Leeds eh, the man's got a sense of humour. I honestly can't remember the last time they finished above us before last season.

Rhodes will leave!Not that I want him to go,I think someone will come with 8 million and then hes away.Like you I was amazed that they bought a player(the liverpool lad) and then said we must sell a player?To be really blunt,I think that we might struggle again.

Hi BandW and Star, hope you are both ok. You may both be right, as I am also underwhelmed so far with our transfer activity, but feel it is only fair to judge when the window closes. Which I fully appreciate may be way too late anyway!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23096926

Hey oojw, ditto. Getting a season ticket this season?

Said this before so doubtless repeating myself but I think it'll take more than £8m to get Rhodes. The length of his contract and absence of a release clause makes it Rovers decision whether he goes rather than his. And why would Rovers sell him unless its for a decent profit? I'd expect any bid under £10m to be immediately rejected.

Hope your right because he would be sorely missed in the new season!

Hey oojw, ditto. Getting a season ticket this season?

Said this before so doubtless repeating myself but I think it'll take more than £8m to get Rhodes. The length of his contract and absence of a release clause makes it Rovers decision whether he goes rather than his. And why would Rovers sell him unless its for a decent profit? I'd expect any bid under £10m to be immediately rejected.

I have resisted so far, first time in 23 years, not that it is making me happy. Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

Haha yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna cave and get one this season. If nothing else it gives me an excuse not to go out Saturday night and so saves me from playing hungover on Sunday morning.

I just wish some atmosphere would come back to Ewood, the Darwen End experiment seems to be backfiring now as our few remaining singers are split up and at opposite ends of the ground. Whereas the original idea was to have home noise behind both goals, we've now got a situation where its quiet behind both.

On a non-related issue…..anyone know the the Doncaster game was moved from Saturday 17th to Friday 16th August? I checked Sky’s schedule and there not showing it live. Was supposed to be going to the game with the girlfriend and her family (they’re all from that neck of the woods) and can’t make the Friday cos I’ll be stuck in work 

On the plus side…..I don’t have to go to a football game with the missus….

^^^^^ Not sure Wild. Seems odd if Sky are not showing it live. Then again it would seem odd if Sky were showing it live! Rovers v Doncaster hardly rolls off the tongue.

I took my ex-Mrs to 11 games one season in the mid-1990's. Shearer, Sutton, Ripley, Sherwood, etc. Shearer scored in every single game she went to!

Nice post OOJW but I can't share your hopeful enthusiasm, the squad has too many journeymen and a few overpaid oldies. There maybe some decent loanies again like last year but that's a poor way to run a club (assuming that anyone IS running the club!!). Hope I am wrong as usual.

My wife's first Ewood trip was a 5-1 stuffing of Sheff United, Dunn was unplayable, happy days.

Duggy

Hi Duggy, nice to hear from you as always. You and others may well be right, as mentioned we can only really judge the incomings and outgoings when the dust has settled and we know where we are up to. Plenty of movement to come I would wager and let us hope any new additions will be of recognised quality and give us all a reason for looking forward to the season ahead.

The loan market is a very useful area of recruitment if you get it right.

Not optimistic for this season in terms of promotion. I think we'll keep Rhodes - his price is too much for teams to look at - we'd want what we spent on him at least. However beyond that, the quality isn't there. The players we've acquired are not top-notch in this division - aside from I believe Kilgallon is a shrewd signing and Kane looks a promising player - hope we can get him from Chelsea long term if he proceeds as he did last season.

The big question for me is Bowyer. Did well in his stints in charge...but its for a full season. However part of me thinks that he will put together a strong team, greater than the individuals and play a system that works. Would be nice however to see a couple more come in (Spearing would be good) and keep on disposing of no-hopers.

Millwalls star right winger!

I have one fear about the season ahead and Jordan Rhodes. I think that on the last day of the transfer season he will be sold, leaving no time what so ever for a replacement. We need to get someone else in upfront, but who? I can really see Arry or someone like that poaching Rhodes at the last minute leaving us totally fecked.
Rhodes scored 27 last season and someone will gamble on him, even if he was to only score 15 in the prem, its a fairly good buy if other team members pop in goals too,as someone mentioned above the money is massive now in the premier league, well worth splashing out 10-12 million on a gamble. He was our highest goal scorer last year by far, second was Scott Dann with 5 I think. Thats bad.

I'm expecting a better season, the signings have been more sensible.It's good to see some of dross gone and i can't see Rovers selling Jordan Rhodes and i can't see any club offering 10-12 Million.I still think midfield is the big problem some quality is definitely needed