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Eustace had us punching above our weight last season. Once he left the points per game was more realistic and he's took half the team with him. The season before we stayed up on the last day despite having the league's top scorer and Adam Wharton for half the season. We're a bottom end of the league team.

He's part of it all. He must have known what he was letting himself in for. He must have known that we were letting players go who wouldn't be replaced like for like. But he took the money anyway and no-one could blame him. And players are always going to follow the money---that's how we won a Premiership.

Because when he came he showed some glimpses and plundered a few goals but since then, from the back end of last season he's gone alarmingly backwards. Certainly hasn't looked comfortable at all under this coach and his offside antics are ridiculous for a pro footballer. So i think we've got another big lad in so it's best all round to move Maktar on and get some money back or at least let him get some regular action somewhere. I think if you plonked him in lge 1 or 2 under the right system he'd get a bag full.

On a personal note I've said he's a donkey even when scoring. He has zero control over either himself or the ball, just occasionally it works for him.

He was loaned out a week before Carter was injured, maybe he would not have been loaned out if Carter had been injured beforehand. However, is now playing regularly just one tier below where Rovers currently are, and is on a similar trajectory to Scott Wharton & Hayden Carters pathways. He still has a fairly long contract, and can come back and be a part of our squad next season, when Hyam no doubt leaves

Hyam replacement sorted

He’ll be great for us in League One next year

I find it bizarre Connor O’Riordan is getting rave reviews and a tall commanding Cb but was never given a chance here

I think, there is a lack of footballing intelligence , throughout the team .

Interesting they think it's a masterclass, given that it's 0.9 million less than they paid for him a year ago...

Or tomorrow !

I think paying about 2 million for him is a much clearer sign they think he's the real deal. Quite frankly, if we sign anyone at that age on shorter terms than 3 years with an option, we shouldn't even bother signing them.

Pretty good.

This is probably the most intriguing or ambitious signing we've made in years. It can go both ways. He's either an unmitigated disaster or a rovers legend. Players previous goal scoring exploits don't always add up to their new club. For example when we signed Martin dahlin I thought he'd be a huge success. So just because of a player's previous record doesn't always translate to how he'll do at his new club. I'm optimistic about him but we'll only lose him to a bigger club

Plus he learned his trade under the great Raul in the real madrid youth team

Completely agree on this.

Indeed. This Baradji lad better be good and have the ability get fit. That being said, CM is the one area where a lack of Championship pedigree will bite us on the arse big time. IMO.

3 year contract with 12 months option. Someone is certain he’s the real deal. They’d better be right.

I like to please 👍

Fair enough. Maybe included cup games. Still not good though. I was not making a point. I was showing stats which seemingly included cup games so @MarkBRFC has updated. My opinion is that my gut feeling is that Ismael isnt a good manager. A huge downgrade on Eustace. Do we look well coached? Not particularly. He is here for the duration either way as he was given such a long contract that we cant afford to pay off. Not that I am saying that we should sack him at the moment before you twist it. Obviously you have lost your credibility on the issue considering your huge u-turn.

I will only say that whatever is going on at Rovers is clearly toxic. I don't think Ismael has anything to do with that, but I it does seem to me as though he has been frank with the supporters. I think that deserves some credit. @RevidgeBlue says Ismael has had 14 games, which is true (give or take, I haven't counted), but I was referring to the new players having only had four league games to gel when I said "they". Everyone has their own threshold, but 4 games is still too early for me to solidify any sort of final judgment. They deserve a bit of time to settle in, and we need this window closed so we can move on from another chaotic transfer window. I'm not over-enamoured with Ismael in terms of results. At the same time, I can see from here that he's in the midst of a squad upheaval. Yes. I know. We've had transitional periods, turmoil, and whatnot since day 1 of the Venky's. They are poor custodians on that front, and it goes without saying. The only way that we (the supporters) will ever get to a point of being united and happy again is if they sell up and we're run by, let's say, normal people who get involved and show some form of care or passion. On transfers, even if we have been signing younger players from abroad, we have at least been proactive and done our business quite quickly. That can't be said too much of transfer windows gone by. The jury will obviously be out on all players (and my take is that they deserve more than just four league games), but with our budget and losses, surely everyone can see that we can't just splurge every player sale back onto other players. The numbers just won't add up. Anyway, that's my brief take. I've got a bit more patience in the tank, but Ismael certainly needs to turn results around on the pitch, that's for sure.

Unplayable against West Brom last year. I've haven't seen Yuki look unplayable in almost a year....... or ever.

Poor track record and his club’s fans not impressed and glad to take the money. Another gamble along with all the other new boys by the look it. He might come good but you have to say it’s highly unlikely

On Gueye...he needs some games for the reserves to get sharp.. there will be games when he will get us points ala Sheffield w and WBA away last season.

I am sure all his agents are delighted. Agents Pasha, Gestede and Owen, along their friends behind the scenes, obviously think it is a great idea to sign an injured player