Striker Michael Chopra believes Town will be capable of competing in the Championship, despite a number of other clubs splashing or likely to splash rather more cash this summer.

The Blues have added only right-back Elliott Hewitt from Macclesfield for an initial £250,000 and keeper Scott Loach from Watford for £150,000 for fees, while Luke Chambers came in on a Bosman free transfer from Nottingham Forest.

The Blues frontman welcomes the additional expenditure elsewhere in the division: “The teams that have come down and Nottingham Forest, who have been taken over, and Sheffield Wednesday, they’re spending big money, they’re after players like Joey Barton at the minute.

“It’s only good for the Championship. I’m like any other player - you want to be playing at the highest level.

“And if you can’t be playing at the highest level, you want to be playing against the next best players and all these good players are coming into the Championship now and you want to do well [against them], and hopefully we can.”

But despite more cash being spent elsewhere, Chopra is confident the Blues are assembling a decent squad: “You don’t need to spend big money on players. You look at the players we’ve got in the team, not many of them have come in for big amounts of money.

“Chambo, who we’ve just signed from Forest, he could have gone up to the Premiership, a lot of clubs were interested in him but we managed to take him.

“He’s a good addition to the squad, he’s a good player, and hopefully the manager can get a few more.”

Photo: Action Images

fussysnake added 16:30 - Jul 21 wise words
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itfc_nik added 16:31 - Jul 21 spending big doesnt mean success, think we could surprise a few people this year.
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canveyblue added 16:34 - Jul 21 Well said Chops. I agree with you nik, could be a good season for the Town.
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Keaneish added 16:45 - Jul 21 'Hopefully the manager can get a few more'... Completely agree chops! We've done well in the market until now but these are the problems areas still... - strength in depth in keepers coming off the bench - another commanding centre half even if a lower league prospect - left midfielder who can deliver and score a few - central midfielder - a boss - strong physical striker - nice to have another striker with pace too and send Murray out on loan - in also worried about right back...still So, all in all - how will only 2 signings solve all this!?

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itfcjay added 16:51 - Jul 21 I agree with Chops and Keanish above . The midfield seems to be in shape but there is still a problem with right back. Although Edwards has done ok he gets sucked in a lot and leaves a lot of space for the left striker . Hopefully Hewitt is more of a natural in that position . We still need another centre half to keep the other 3 on their toes as well as another striker with some muscle . ( although not Heskey ) . Why dont we bid for Jay Bothroyd, him and Chops would know eachother inside out and look how many goals they scored between them for Cardiff .

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craigyboy10 added 16:52 - Jul 21 Well said chopra. I think personally we have done very good business at present. Jewell had stated various times he's willing to wait for some targets. So some might come later. All I know is if someone had told me these 3 players will be here by mid of July for the money we have spent. I would have been pleased. We still have time to sign players, and I really trust us in the transfer market this summer. I think a town side with the fans right behind the team come august could really compete.

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Garv added 17:01 - Jul 21 Keaneish - I think the gaps will be filled with loans, which is fine as long as its just one or two. My prediction is that we'll get a premier league centre half on loan, and maybe a left midfielder, Townsend? Striker will be Heskey it seems. That's three. I'm quite skeptical about having three 'keepers so I'm not worried about that.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 17:02 - Jul 21 We never had any money back in 2004, but it didn't make us any less competitive. Frankly I think it'd do us good not to be one of the big spenders in the division this summer - all it does is raise expectation/pressure where it is often not justified and leads to constraints elsewhere, especially if the money is wasted. As for Sheffield Wednesday, let them throw their money away on the likes of Joey Barton if they so wish. Anyone still stupid enough to think they can get him to make the most of his talent WITHOUT the usual mix of card collecting and prison dodging is welcome to delude themselves.

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Jimmys_Law added 17:14 - Jul 21 @Keanish. So you're saying we still need up to seven players. Well we all know that's not going to happen. I agree that we should be in the market for another keeper and a centre half. However, they don't need to be marquee signings, simply some hungry youngsters that we may get cheaply from the lower leagues or abroad. Again, I agree a pacey, left midfielder/winger and a striker would also be needed. If Kourouma signs, I see no point in getting another central midfielder because we'd end up with 3 sat on the bench every week. Plus I think this should be Murray's year to prove himself and 'swim or sink' so to speak. He's certainly speedy, and if he can't prove to be useful after the end of the year, then loan him out or release him. Lastly, the right back position may seem weak with Edwards being a more natural winger, but we all know that Jewell is insistant on not moving him up he park permanently. With Hewitt fit and eager to prove himself and with Ainsley waiting in the wings, there should be no need for a new right back. Feel free to disagree with me but I just want to see justification for your opinions.

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Vic added 17:19 - Jul 21 Keanish - be patient! Remember that we're now clearly loking longer term so to even try to get players to fill and cover every weakness immediately probably isn't the best thing. gIf we get another couple of improvements in (and it certainly sounds probable that we will) in then I'll be happy ee how things go before looking to build some more in january.
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BLUEBEAT added 17:22 - Jul 21 "Chambo"
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Edinburgh_Blue added 17:50 - Jul 21 @BLUEBEAT. Was just about to post that! "Chambo" - you know he's settling in when he has his own nickname already. :-)
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itfcjay added 18:25 - Jul 21 Although the new signing is likely to be Karouma I feel it possibly could be a Spurs gem. Possibly Townsend may be coming back or perhaps GIo will be back on loan. Now that would be a signings of all signings !!!
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Mark added 22:25 - Jul 21 Let's not forget Hull who have signed striker Nick Proschwitz for 2.5M. Still, we all know from Magilton and Keane's time here that money doesn't buy success, indeed it adds to the pressure. Although like all fans I wish we had more to spend, in some ways I am glad the push for instant success is over and we are finally living within our means and building for the future with the signing of younger players. If they can develop well together and we can have a good team spirit, perhaps that of the underdog, then it could bode well for the future.

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runningout added 22:34 - Jul 21 Too many positive vibes here : / ... know reason not to think we can get 6 points of every team in the championship, that would be asking for us to re-write history 'but hey'
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Sindre94 added 01:52 - Jul 22 Good words chopss
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GibbsITFC added 08:07 - Jul 22 No money seems to be the way forward! Joe Royle worked wonders and got us play offs with nothing!
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s6blue added 08:10 - Jul 22 Well said chops
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irishtim added 09:01 - Jul 22 Another few signings and we will do well. Agree another centre back left sided midfielder a priority. Not too sure on Heskey. Looking forward to the season ahead.
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Tiggs added 13:40 - Jul 23 Good call No Canaries. Only problem is that we had a good manager in 2004, but not now!!!!
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