2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[USABlue]

On 21/06/2025 at 14:24, roversfan99 said:

Glen thinks we have a 10k self imposed pay cap.

Would explain the struggles getting the main men to renew.

The beginning of the end   Managed destruction from within.

[Paul Mani]

1 hour ago, Rochdale_rover said:

Dolan is bang average. 

The only issues here is letting another contract run down instead of paying the going rate for a championship player and whondo we replace him with.

In the 5 seasons he's played he can't have played well in more than 20 games.

This is my opinion of course. And watching him week in week out he has probably been the most frustrating player I've watched over the last 30 years.

But he does run around alot.

(Although looks like he's running in quicksand )

 

 

 

 

 

Bang on the money. Easily the most frustrating player I’ve watched.

Masks his constant dallying on the ball by running around a lot. His 5 touches and flicks constantly break our attacks down on the transition in build up.

Hes been helped by the fact he hasn’t had anyone tearing up trees around him. So he looks decent sometimes in and amongst Hedges and the like.

My prediction on Dolan is that his career will take a similar path to Nyambe. I remember folk thinking he was a ‘good un’ and the world was ending when he left, then Brittain turned up and they were like, “Ahhh, so THAT’s what a fullback is!” 

[pick32]

Took my misses to two rovers matches last season, she has no interest in football and asked “why does that playing keep spinning around in a circle” summed him up for me 

[Paul Mani]

9 minutes ago, pick32 said:

Took my misses to two rovers matches last season, she has no interest in football and asked “why does that playing keep spinning around in a circle” summed him up for me 

That’s funny, I took my 9yr old daughter last season for the first time. She has never been interested but, like lots these days started following Haaland, watching City and so I got her down to Ewood… she was like “Dad, is he a YouTuber? Like a guest who’s playing for charity?” 🤣🤣

 

[RevidgeBlue]

14 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

Hes been helped by the fact he hasn’t had anyone tearing up trees around him. So he looks decent sometimes in and amongst Hedges and the like.

So basically you're admitting that ( notwithstanding his faults) he is/was still one of our better players?

I have to say that people complaining about Dolan when we've got Hedges on the other side is one of the most bizarre things I've seen in my time watching football.

[jim mk2]

We always played 2 touch football in training - it speeds the game up and forces you as a player to think quicker and get your first touch right 

You have to wonder if Rovers should do the same because it would improve Dolan’s game. 

[Tomphil2]

2 hours ago, roverblue said:

Dolan had a brilliant last few months in a rovers shirt and was probably our best player.
 

Whether that is him improving and becoming more effective or just a blip is a matter of debate. The Dolan of prior seasons I would have been less upset to see leave.
 

He is a an honest and hard working lad though so would like to think it’s improvement rather than him just working a bit harder for a big move.

Definitely be missed next season.

The frustration though is born out of knowing how good he can be on other days.

Personally i found watching the likes of Corey Evans stealing a wage here much more frustrating than a developing player on peanuts putting the graft in.

[RevidgeBlue]

3 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

Personally i found watching the likes of Corey Evans stealing a wage here much more frustrating than a developing player on peanuts putting the graft in.

100%.

Ditto Lowe, Bennett, Hedges, Gallagher etc etc.

Edited 12 hours ago by RevidgeBlue

[Tomphil2]

1 hour ago, Paul Mani said:

Bang on the money. Easily the most frustrating player I’ve watched.

Masks his constant dallying on the ball by running around a lot. His 5 touches and flicks constantly break our attacks down on the transition in build up.

Hes been helped by the fact he hasn’t had anyone tearing up trees around him. So he looks decent sometimes in and amongst Hedges and the like.

My prediction on Dolan is that his career will take a similar path to Nyambe. I remember folk thinking he was a ‘good un’ and the world was ending when he left, then Brittain turned up and they were like, “Ahhh, so THAT’s what a fullback is!” 

But it cost a million quid to replace the homegrown Nyambe who up until last season was a still better defender than Brittain but useless going forwards.

Is there a million quid available to replace Dolan on the same wages ?

[Paul Mani]

25 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

But it cost a million quid to replace the homegrown Nyambe who up until last season was a still better defender than Brittain but useless going forwards.

Is there a million quid available to replace Dolan on the same wages ?

Oh my word. Nyambe wasn’t even the best right back at his house and he lived with his mum and sister! Dearie me…🤣🤣

Joking aside, are you saying that up until last season, the guy who could barely get a game at Wigan or Derby was better than Brittain, at anything!? If so, I’m lost for words…

[Paul Mani]

As for Dolan, I’d be shocked to my core if we can’t find a much better player for £1m.

[47er]

1 minute ago, Paul Mani said:

As for Dolan, I’d be shocked to my core if we can’t find a much better player for £1m.

I'd be thrilled!

[Tomphil2]

1 minute ago, Paul Mani said:

Oh my word. Nyambe wasn’t even the best right back at his house and he lived with his mum and sister! Dearie me…🤣🤣

Joking aside, are you saying that up until last season, the guy who could barely get a game at Wigan or Derby was better than Brittain, at anything!? If so, I’m lost for words…

No i'm clearly saying that Brittain was poor defensively till last season when he seemed to have found a more aggressive robust edge.

Nyambe was decent enough in terms of defence in fact he was a beast at times just totally useless crossing the halfway line. Why hes fallen away who knows but his image of himself obviously didn't quite tally with his actual ability.

He's not the first not to kick on the way he should have and won't be the last.

I see your mental gymnastics and history adjusting are still up to their usual summer standards though, i'm neither surprised nor lost for words.

[RevidgeBlue]

15 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

As for Dolan, I’d be shocked to my core if we can’t find a much better player for £1m.

Generally, £1m doesnt get you much these days.

I'd be surprised if Kargbo who we spent roughly that on turns out to be as good as Dolan.

[Tomphil2]

I think if we spent a million pound on most positions in the team by a good manager and recruitment dept we'd have a better team.

Paul seems to think that's revolutionary for some reason but the reality is we can't and won't anyway because cheap wages and no/low fees are the order of the day.

We aren't replacing Dolan with better for nothing or next to nothing just like to replace a homegrown right back of modest ability with one with better wing back potential cost at least a million and will now cost good wages to keep him.

[Rover1984]

Dolan has his faults. Completely agree he slows down attacking plays with his needless circle spins. Could move the ball quicker,Be more consistent. yet this is the championship and players who have quality and don’t tick all boxes usually end up at that level. On the other hand is his work ethic,determination, gave everything he had despite his performances. These type of players don’t come very often and yes we could replace his ability but it would take more than we can afford.

Edited 11 hours ago by Rover1984

[Rogerb]

14 hours ago, B16Rover said:

Nahki Wells a free agent.  I've not yet checked the stats but hes surely averaging a goal per game based on his Ewood performances 

He is into double figures against us.

[bluebruce]

2 hours ago, pick32 said:

Took my misses to two rovers matches last season, she has no interest in football and asked “why does that playing keep spinning around in a circle” summed him up for me 

 

2 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

That’s funny, I took my 9yr old daughter last season for the first time. She has never been interested but, like lots these days started following Haaland, watching City and so I got her down to Ewood… she was like “Dad, is he a YouTuber? Like a guest who’s playing for charity?” 🤣🤣

 

Pick's missus and Mani's 9 yr old daughter, neither with any football knowledge and barely any interest. Yes, great judges of footballing ability, thanks for that, that's that debate settled then...

[bluebruce]

9 minutes ago, Rogerb said:

He is into double figures against us.

I said many moons ago that we should have targeted him to replace Rhodes. Wish we had, but at 35 I think the ship has sailed. 

[RevidgeBlue]

3 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

 

Pick's missus and Mani's 9 yr old daughter, neither with any football knowledge and barely any interest. Yes, great judges of footballing ability, thanks for that, that's that debate settled then...

To paraphrase Paul on Nyambe however, Mum and daughter are probably the best judges of footballing ability in their house.

🙂

[roversfan99]

I have been critical of Dolan but he has improved this season especially since he has played on the right.

He is a good Championship wide man, not outstanding or stand out but he is our best player by quite a bit in that position. If we signed him for a million from another Championship club, we would see it as a good signing.

Its not impossible that he makes a poor career move and doesnt kick on but some of the crap on here because he is leaving us this morning is laughable.

[Mercer]

22 minutes ago, Rover1984 said:

Dolan has his faults. Completely agree he slows down attacking plays with his needless circle spins. Could move the ball quicker,Be more consistent. yet this is the championship and players who have quality and don’t tick all boxes usually end up at that level. On the other hand is his work ethic,determination, gave everything he had despite his performances. These type of players don’t come very often and yes we could replace his ability but it would take more than we can afford.

If Dolan had put the same amount of effort he showed in the last few weeks of the season into his earlier Rovers' career, I suspect he might have already moved on.  Clearly, put himself in the 'shop window'.

A very frustrating player who, IMO, lacks the two essentials for a forward with PL aspirations - pace (Rhodes had none and bombed in PL) and football intelligence (Adam Armstrong has little and also bombed in PL).

As for 'circle spins', Stuart Metcalfe liked a few though in fairness Metcalfe was a talented footballer who for various reasons didn't make the most of his abilities. 

[RevidgeBlue]

8 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Its not impossible that he makes a poor career move and doesnt kick on but some of the crap on here because he is leaving us this morning is laughable.

Yep. Jilted lover stuff.

[TurkishDelight]

51 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Generally, £1m doesnt get you much these days.

I'd be surprised if Kargbo who we spent roughly that on turns out to be as good as Dolan.

Poku from Peterborough maybe as good as Dolan. Free agent. Likely going to Rangers, but there are players to be found. £1m for sign-on fee and wages... 

You can find them, but it aint an easy task to get them to sign for this lot. 

[K-Hod]

If we do lose Dolan, we won't sign a better replacement.

Venky's are truly in their stingy era.