2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[Torgeir]

2 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

The keepers, regular defensive unit (Plus Carter, Pick and Wharton) and the regular midfield base (Trav and Sonny) have proven they are top half championship players for me.

The question marks are all around those top four forward positions and there’s a few who’ve proven not good enough in terms of goals and assists. I’m hopeful that Gueye, Ohashi, Kargbo and Cantwell can kick on under Big Val next season.

I’m strongly in the camp that Hedges and Dolan aren’t good enough as demonstrated over a few hundred games in Rovers colours.

The annual drop off is mainly down to squad depth when injuries and suspensions kick in.
We don’t have enough depth and we don’t have enough firepower due to lack of funds.

I think we’ll target a GK, CM, Wide forward and a striker in the summer. Expect Buckley, JRC, Pears and Dolan to go. Then maybe a couple of loans and promote some young lads to flesh things out.

Dolan did a lot of running under Eustace but we struggled to find an outlet most of the time as we were sitting so low. The last few games he's really shone under Ismael and shown he can definitely do a job here. He's better suited to the high press and a lot better ball carrier than he gets credit for. I've been highly critical of Dolan many times, but have had a bit of a wake-up call lately. Might be the separation anxiety kicking in - I don't know. 

[roversfan99]

Pears is a top half player but Dolan isnt good enough? 

[MarkBRFC]

4 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

We don’t have enough depth and we don’t have enough firepower due to lack of funds.

I think we’ll target a GK, CM, Wide forward and a striker in the summer. Expect Buckley, JRC, Pears and Dolan to go. Then maybe a couple of loans and promote some young lads to flesh things out.

Not a lack of funds, an unwilling to part with said funds.

Depends if you believe him or not, but Rudy said in his pod with Elliot that the targets will be a right back, left footed centre half, "box to box" midfielder and a striker.

[davulsukur]

15 hours ago, DutchRover said:

Few links to Dan Gore from Man Utd in last few days, likely nothing in it. Talented by all accounts but also an injury nightmare which I don't know if I'd want to risk.

Maybe we can offer a swap for Pears....

Definitely looks like one to avoid. Been on loan twice, got injured on his debut twice. 20 years old and has 3 first team appearances to his name, got injured in 2 of those apps.

[paullarrygher]

A young John Fleck, Waggott will be all over it!

[chaddyrovers]

I expect us to sign a new keeper, centre defender, centre midfielder, 2 right wingers and striker. 

Expect Pears, JRC and Buckley to move on this summer

[joey_big_nose]

5 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

The keepers, regular defensive unit (Plus Carter, Pick and Wharton) and the regular midfield base (Trav and Sonny) have proven they are top half championship players for me.

The question marks are all around those top four forward positions and there’s a few who’ve proven not good enough in terms of goals and assists. I’m hopeful that Gueye, Ohashi, Kargbo and Cantwell can kick on under Big Val next season.

I’m strongly in the camp that Hedges and Dolan aren’t good enough as demonstrated over a few hundred games in Rovers colours.

The annual drop off is mainly down to squad depth when injuries and suspensions kick in.
We don’t have enough depth and we don’t have enough firepower due to lack of funds.

I think we’ll target a GK, CM, Wide forward and a striker in the summer. Expect Buckley, JRC, Pears and Dolan to go. Then maybe a couple of loans and promote some young lads to flesh things out.

I'd really challenge that Dolan isn't top half... he's always available, puts a massive effort defensively and contributes a decent amount offensively. I am sure his new club will be one that is top solidly half. Wouldn't be surprised if a well resourced parachute club takes him.

Hedges is more debatable, but if/when he leaves I would fully expect him to get a sideways move to another mid table side.

[KentExile]

1 hour ago, MarkBRFC said:

Not a lack of funds, an unwilling to part with said funds.

Depends if you believe him or not, but Rudy said in his pod with Elliot that the targets will be a right back, left footed centre half, "box to box" midfielder and a striker.

I am possibly splitting hairs here but from memory, I think he said "forward" rather than "striker", which in this day seems to be inclusive of wide players as well as out and out centre forwards

Edited yesterday at 10:21 by KentExile

[K-Hod]

39 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I expect us to sign a new keeper, centre defender, centre midfielder, 2 right wingers and striker. 

Expect Pears, JRC and Buckley to move on this summer

Out of interest, why do you expect the first part with our budget?

If that's what you think we should  sign, fair enough, but it's not very clear.

[TugaysMarlboro]

49 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I expect us to sign a new keeper, centre defender, centre midfielder, 2 right wingers and striker. 

Expect Pears, JRC and Buckley to move on this summer

I actually agree with your original number of needing 9 players (8 with Ribiero extending). We've seen that we run out of steam as always towards the final 3rd of the campaign and we've less academy prospects able to adequately step up for an extended period with the necessary quality imo.

[davulsukur]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

I expect us to sign a new keeper, centre defender, centre midfielder, 2 right wingers and striker. 

Expect Pears, JRC and Buckley to move on this summer

Do we need a CB with Hyam, Batth, Carter and Wharton all back for next season? Not sure if there are any coming through the academy?

I appreciate that Carter and Wharton are prone to a lengthy injury though.

[MarkBRFC]

13 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

Do we need a CB with Hyam, Batth, Carter and Wharton all back for next season? Not sure if there are any coming through the academy?

I appreciate that Carter and Wharton are prone to a lengthy injury though.

Rudy (I know i know!) said that they don't want to put any pressure on Wharton which is why a left footed centre half will be looked at.

I always think you need 5 centre backs to be fair, I dont think O'Riordan will be good enough, and i'm guessing they will hope to find a good league 1/2 loan for Litherland.

[47er]

We’ll sign the number of players we need alright—-they will be League 1 standard or on loan.

And in a  year’s time we’ll do it all again.

[bluebruce]

7 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

The keepers, regular defensive unit (Plus Carter, Pick and Wharton) and the regular midfield base (Trav and Sonny) have proven they are top half championship players for me.

The question marks are all around those top four forward positions and there’s a few who’ve proven not good enough in terms of goals and assists. I’m hopeful that Gueye, Ohashi, Kargbo and Cantwell can kick on under Big Val next season.

I’m strongly in the camp that Hedges and Dolan aren’t good enough as demonstrated over a few hundred games in Rovers colours.

The annual drop off is mainly down to squad depth when injuries and suspensions kick in.
We don’t have enough depth and we don’t have enough firepower due to lack of funds.

I think we’ll target a GK, CM, Wide forward and a striker in the summer. Expect Buckley, JRC, Pears and Dolan to go. Then maybe a couple of loans and promote some young lads to flesh things out.

I find it staggering to suggest Pears and Pickering are good enough but Dolan isn't, personally. But to each their own.

[bluebruce]

35 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Rudy (I know i know!) said that they don't want to put any pressure on Wharton which is why a left footed centre half will be looked at.

If that's the rationale, presumably they will only be on loan.

[MarkBRFC]

15 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

If that's the rationale, presumably they will only be on loan.

I imagine most of our business will be loans to be honest.

[CaptainBeanfart]

8 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

I imagine most of our business will be loans to be honest.

I'm not sure about that. Listening to Gestede, the club wants to bring players in that they can sell on for profit and stop Venkys having to put money in to plug the gaps. 

I think we'll use loans as a last resort because it's dead money and takes away minutes from academy grads (again probably so they get some transfer value). 

I think Kargbo/Gueye/Ohashi/Ribeiro type signings will be bulk of the business because they offer the most potential in resale if they get one or two right. 

[roversfan99]

I cant see us signing a keeper. Gestede didnt mention it and we have 2 keepers on longer contracts. Quality is secondary how we are run.

We need more than 4 or 5. If we start plugging some of the gaps with the likes of Forshaw, Hedges and also a number of graduates then when the injuries hit next season we will end up with the same problem.

[roversfan99]

.

Edited yesterday at 12:21 by roversfan99

[Lucimo]

24 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

I cant see us signing a keeper. Gestede didnt mention it and we have 2 keepers on longer contracts. Quality is secondary how we are run.

We need more than 4 or 5. If we start plugging some of the gaps with the likes of Forshaw, Hedges and also a number of graduates then when the injuries hit next season we will end up with the same problem.

I think we may have to. Can't see Pears being happy as a number 2 now he's had a good run as a number 1. Think. he'll be on his way should he have any suitors. That said he won't get a first choice gig any higher up the ladder.

[KentExile]

17 minutes ago, Lucimo said:

I think we may have to. Can't see Pears being happy as a number 2 now he's had a good run as a number 1. Think. he'll be on his way should he have any suitors. That said he won't get a first choice gig any higher up the ladder.

He may well get a gig on £40K a week, doing a few days training and getting weekends off for one of the big boys as a 3rd/4th choice keeper.

Quadrupling his wage may just about make up for him not being first choice 😉 

Edited yesterday at 13:02 by KentExile

[roversinmyblood]

21 minutes ago, KentExile said:

He may well get a gig on £40K a week, doing a few days training and getting weekends off for one of the big boys as a 3rd/4th choice keeper.

Quadrupling his wage may just about make up for him not being first choice 😉 

Let’s hope we actually get some reasonable money for him. 

[wilsdenrover]

3 hours ago, K-Hod said:

Out of interest, why do you expect the first part with our budget?

If that's what you think we should  sign, fair enough, but it's not very clear.

In fairness he didn’t say any of them would be good.

[MarkBRFC]

7 minutes ago, roversinmyblood said:

Let’s hope we actually get some reasonable money for him. 

Why?

[Lucimo]

47 minutes ago, KentExile said:

He may well get a gig on £40K a week, doing a few days training and getting weekends off for one of the big boys as a 3rd/4th choice keeper.

Quadrupling his wage may just about make up for him not being first choice 😉 

Yep he may well do. That's why I said he wouldn't be first choice. Obviously the money will keep him sweet.