So you're saying Sek's appeal is somewhat limited as he tries to land a spot with Big Sam's bunch? Understandable.

Not sure what to make of Derby's results. The Rams are leaking a lot of goals, which was their problem for much of last season. But there are a number of new faces in the back, so perhaps that should be no surprise. Plenty of "gel" is needed or it's going to be a hairy start to the season.

Thanks Stan, I'm not sure how to reconcile the desire for sexy footy with the equal need for clean sheets, but we do need to improve foreplay and quit scoring at both ends, McEveley.

Big Sam's encouraged Gallagher to think that his loan days at Preston, Stoke & Plymouth are over. Under Souness, Mark Hughes & Ince he's been a Blackburn striker in name only, but Big Sam's persuaded him the job's his if he works hard. This make-do-and-mend approach applies to the Clough/Davies situation too, eh Nige?

"Steven has all the ability and attributes to be a Championship and above player, but he has to start putting 90 minutes together week-in week-out. If he does he will be getting a starting shirt rather than coming off the bench."

Gone are Andy Todd, Paris Simmons, Nathan Ellington, Mile Sterjovski, Tyrone Mears, Przemyslaw Kazierczak, John Eustace, Nacer Barazite, Barry Bannan, Liam Dickinson and Tito Villa, going are Roy Carroll, Claude Davis, Jordan Stewart and Martin Albrechtsen, so what's left are getting pretty motivated. The strange combination of bloated but sexy that characterised Paul Jewell's managership is becoming a distant dirty memory, eh Nige?

"It was not sustainable. The size of the squad, the wage bill and the amount spent on transfers - money was spent and it did not work so now we start again." Yes, Jewell, the size of your squad isn't everything.

New boys are Winger Lee Croft, 24, free from Norwich, 26-year-old defender Shaun Barker for £900,000 from Blackpool, left-sided Dean Moxey, 23, from Exeter, Jake Buxton, 24, from Burton and probably keeper Saul Deeney from the same club. Ben Pringle has also arrived from Ilkeston and Cloughie is waiting to hear from a couple of Premier League clubs about season-long loan deals. Crewe Alexandra defender John Brayford could be in once we've shed a couple more. To avoid the hairy start, Stan, it's a question of where and when the parting should be, then Nige will reveal the results of all that combing of the Premier for loan deals.

Big Sam's gone relatively quiet. Last night the Reserves beat Leigh Genesis 2-0. Interesting was Canadian (eh?) David Hollett, on Rovers' books since he was 13, only just received a work permit, linking well with Van Heerden against the Unibond outfit. Rovers: Brown (sub Fielding 71) Marrow Olsson (sub Jones 76) Khizanishvili (sub Flynn 71) Gunning Judge (sub Morrissey 76) Doran (sub Haworth 73) Gallagher (sub Lowe 71) Blackman Hoilett (sub Santa Cruz 73) van Heerden (sub Marshall 71).

Speaking of Accrington Stanley, as Nige was, with regard to Sven & Notts County, they're the next opponents for Rovers Reserves on Friday. Last night Hoilett scored both goals. Let's see how Sam does - if he turns up - on Sat'dy when they visit the Owls at Hillsbrough, a friendly (!); could it be he hasn't got the hump, but will come in parading his new Kamel Ghilas, the Celta Viga striker for under £2m?