2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[pick32]

16 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Clearly not true.

Really I’d argue he is worse, since he beefed up lost a yard of pace and ability to turn a man quickly 

[...]

On a plus note the bookies have us at a long shot for relegation lol

[Emerald Isle Rover]

Just now, pick32 said:

Really I’d argue he is worse, since he beefed up lost a yard of pace and ability to turn a man quickly 

Not sure you can argue it his stats prove year on year he’s got better / ever so slightly but still an improvement nonetheless 

I’m not a massive fan personally but will credit him for not downing tools I just think he’s been badly advised 

[Emerald Isle Rover]

1 minute ago, ... said:

On a plus note the bookies have us at a long shot for relegation lol

News to mercer’s ears he will be piling in trying to make profit on any rovers misery 

wonder how much he lost last year on the certain bet 

[Hasta]

2 minutes ago, ... said:

On a plus note the bookies have us at a long shot for relegation lol

What odds?

[RevidgeBlue]

8 minutes ago, Polky said:

121 appearances, 7 goals and 12 assists. 
 

Terrible.

7 goals in four seasons for us.

Mind you it's not as though we didn't know what we were getting when we signed him, at age 29 I think he's scored around 17 career goals.

Dreadful player.

Edited 7 hours ago by RevidgeBlue

[roversfan99]

2 minutes ago, pick32 said:

Really I’d argue he is worse, since he beefed up lost a yard of pace and ability to turn a man quickly 

Why was he more productive last season than ever before?

[cesus]

To be fair to Hedges I'd say there will be statistics that managers score him on and they will be going towards our goal rather than the opponents. He is the one protecting the full back in the air, he has the energy to stop 2 on 1's. 

I'm no Hedges super fan but I don't think any manager he has played for here is scoring him on goals and assists.

[Waggy76]

27 minutes ago, OnionBalaji said:

Have a feeling that the atmosphere by mid September at Ewood could quite quickly turn incredibly toxic - 

Brittain already out the door and a foot into the next one
Travis and Tronstad likely have their bags packed ready 

All three unlikely to be replaced by anyone of considerable value and direct impact on the team. 

A starting 11 likely of: 

Toth 
Duru Wharton Hyam De Neve
Buckley Forshaw
Kargbo Cantwell Hedges
Ohashi 

Can't see where the results will come from - and once we start losing it's amazing how quickly the ewood tide can turn its anger to Pasha, Gestede, Venkys and Ismael 



 

If that is a regular starting eleven .

I can see Ismael ,walking in September !

I don't think he will be here come Feb 2026.

[Neal]

I think Hedges at full back is a good option if he can stay fit. He's quick, and offers good protection defensively. Whilst offers little in final 3rd so, makes a lot of sense to me. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Neal

[RevidgeBlue]

Just now, cesus said:

I don't think any manager he has played for here is scoring him on goals and assists.

You're probably right, but for me it's a bit like saying you dont judge a CB on how many goals the side have conceded.

[Exiled_Rover]

9 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

7 goals in four seasons for us.

Mind you it's not as though we didn't know what we were getting when we signed him, at age 29 I think he's scored around 17 career goals.

Dreadful player.

Honestly I think he'd make a fine LWB - he's quite useful until he gets into the final third. Then it all falls apart for him.

[roversfan99]

5 minutes ago, cesus said:

To be fair to Hedges I'd say there will be statistics that managers score him on and they will be going towards our goal rather than the opponents. He is the one protecting the full back in the air, he has the energy to stop 2 on 1's. 

I'm no Hedges super fan but I don't think any manager he has played for here is scoring him on goals and assists.

The main reason he has played so much has been our repeated inability to sign competent wide players.

2 minutes ago, Neal said:

I think Hedges at full back is a good option if he can stay fit. He's quick, and offers good protection defensively. Whilst offers little in final 3rd so, makes a lot of sense to me. 

It would be a huge risk to suddenly convert him and defending in front of someone is not the same as being a full back.

[Mercer]

50 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Neither of them are ready for more than just an occasional substitute appearance.

Agree and to think some are touting Montgomery as our bottom box midfielder.  Plain crazy.

[roversfan99]

Feels like Gestede being a total novice is really shining through. Clearly has lots of ideas about random targets from here there and everywhere but these contract situations were always the elephant in the room and he seems happy to just push them to the back of the priority list. The likelihood of these situations overtaking this summer was always high and it was avoidable.

There shouldnt be uncertainty now, these players with a year to go should already know our highest offer and we could at least have some closure. That might be the case soon with Brittain but not in the way we would like.

Broughton certainly had his faults but he seemed to actually know in the main what he was doing to an extent. Gestede doesnt.

[Emerald Isle Rover]

1 minute ago, roversfan99 said:

Feels like Gestede being a total novice is really shining through. Clearly has lots of ideas about random targets from here there and everywhere but these contract situations were always the elephant in the room and he seems happy to just push them to the back of the priority list. The likelihood of these situations overtaking this summer was always high and it was avoidable.

There shouldnt be uncertainty now, these players with a year to go should already know our highest offer and we could at least have some closure. That might be the case soon with Brittain but not in the way we would like.

Broughton certainly had his faults but he seemed to actually know in the main what he was doing to an extent. Gestede doesnt.

Bar dolan

[RevidgeBlue]

Just now, Mercer said:

Agree and to think some are touting Montgomery as our bottom box midfielder.  Plain crazy.

It's worse than that Hedges is now being touted as a full back option.

Going for a lie down in a darkened room.

[AVE1875]

21 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

As much as I hate Gestede and co I'm not sure what you're getting at with these figures.

I'm sure the figure is much lower than that 25%, in terms of players linked to signed, when you factor in that we've probably asked clubs about 100 players this summer. We're not Liverpool, Arsenal et al - our conversion rate is never going to be great. 

Coincidentally unlike Liverpool, Arsenal et al there are thousands of players that would easily improve us. There's perhaps a few dozen for them. 

Jesus lads/lasses ... Again, tongue in cheek comment making humour against the comments of wanting 90% of the transfer deals done prior to the start of preseason ... Yes, it is likely a lot lower but I was referring to those we knew of, my comments detail nothing other than highlighting our negligence in the apparent player trade model they once claimed to operate! 🤣

My point is ... We've signed 3 and had a few solid leads adding Kapaudi and Baradji as an example and no where near that 90% conversion rate and so is likely going to piss Ismaël off. 

Some of you lot would argue with a wall!! 🤣

[...]

23 minutes ago, Hasta said:

What odds?

350/1

[AVE1875]

7 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Feels like Gestede being a total novice is really shining through. Clearly has lots of ideas about random targets from here there and everywhere but these contract situations were always the elephant in the room and he seems happy to just push them to the back of the priority list. The likelihood of these situations overtaking this summer was always high and it was avoidable.

There shouldnt be uncertainty now, these players with a year to go should already know our highest offer and we could at least have some closure. That might be the case soon with Brittain but not in the way we would like.

Broughton certainly had his faults but he seemed to actually know in the main what he was doing to an extent. Gestede doesnt.

Had Broughton been working for a competent board, he probably would have done well. 

Gestede was never ready for his role, not in the Championship anyway; utter novice and it is embarrassing but another case of saving the pennies from Suhail & Co... They still haven't replaced Maggot in public capacity, the whole situation surrounding us is of a novice nature! 

It's like they're playing a game of Football Manager. 

[bluebruce]

6 minutes ago, ... said:

350/1

What bookie? Oddschecker isn't showing anybody has relegation odds yet.

[rigger]

20 minutes ago, Neal said:

I think Hedges at full back is a good option if he can stay fit. He's quick, and offers good protection defensively. Whilst offers little in final 3rd so, makes a lot of sense to me. 

But that would be playing to his strengths, so unlikely to happen. 

[NeilInBristol]

5 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Give me the nod and I'll open the new season's relegation thread

We are doomed.

Losing Batth and now probably our CM partnership and RB...

 

We are doomed 

[Hasta]

19 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

What bookie? Oddschecker isn't showing anybody has relegation odds yet.

There isn't one yet. For some reason he's bullshitting. 

[Tomphil2]

Don't mind Hedges at all in the squad every squad needs an old hand or two like him around willing to do the dirty work to let others get the space and credit.

However imo he should rarely be a starter and it is a bit worrying big Val might view him as such but lets be honest he won't last long anyway before he's on the treatment table again.