2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[Mike E]

I’m going to half-hold my hands up here. The addition of our long-term target (Baradji) and seemingly a major piece of our jigsaw (Moroshita) has started to make this window overall quite an exciting one.

Only two things would tip it above 8/10 for me:

Forshaw out in favour of Travis (I know that won’t happen).

Bring in a striker worthy of the name.

I feel like we have otherwise answered many of our problems either with competition, adequate replacements or actual improvements. The irony that it is pretty much the model Broughton and JDT wanted to implement, albeit with a different style.

With ALL of that being said, I cannot get excited because we’ll throw it all away after Christmas as we have done now for three successive years.

Venkys Out. Pasha Out. Gestede Out.

[Tomphil2]

The transition to a cheaper squad has suddenly maybe become a revolution.

I'd say someone somewhere has been rattled and let the brakes off a bit but we'll see by the end of the window.

Agents payments in the next set of accounts will be eye watering.

[SuperBrfc]

22 minutes ago, Mike E said:

I’m going to half-hold my hands up here. The addition of our long-term target (Baradji) and seemingly a major piece of our jigsaw (Moroshita) has started to make this window overall quite an exciting one.

Only two things would tip it above 8/10 for me:

Forshaw out in favour of Travis (I know that won’t happen).

Bring in a striker worthy of the name.

I feel like we have otherwise answered many of our problems either with competition, adequate replacements or actual improvements. The irony that it is pretty much the model Broughton and JDT wanted to implement, albeit with a different style.

With ALL of that being said, I cannot get excited because we’ll throw it all away after Christmas as we have done now for three successive years.

Venkys Out. Pasha Out. Gestede Out.

I agree, this is what JDT and Broughton were trying to do. I think this is also what Luke Griffin and the rest of the newly formed recruitment team was trying to do at the time.

It seems as though they and the head honcho couldn't agree on matters, hence what we saw play out. It feels different this time as the trio seem to be on board with the current strategy.

The real test of this will come in January, if we find ourselves in or around the top six by that point. I think Val and Rudy will fancy it and will want to push on. Not so sure about the other fella right now, but let's hope we are in a position to find out.

[Armchair supporter supremo]

5 hours ago, davulsukur said:

Genuinely think he'll be back in England in 6 months time.

Playing for derby in division 1 next season 

[Armchair supporter supremo]

3 hours ago, J*B said:

Forshaw signed because he’s English, so helps that quota, is happy to sit on the bench and if we need someone to bring on when we’re comfortably winning he can do a job?

Completely forgot we've (re)signed Forshaw 😅 can't see him getting much game time tbh, probably be loaned out or released at Christmas 

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

You’re doing that direct comparison thing again mate, I get it because you’re a logical thinker but it’s not that straight forward.

You could probably apply it more if JE had stayed and then we’d lost Dolan, Travis, Brittain, Batth, Buckley and Weimann. But with VI coming in and having watched us at the back end of last season and early this season, I’m genuinely glad most of them didn’t sign and I can understand why others have left.

Its a new world now and rightly or wrongly the profile - in particular the physical attributes of the signings we’ve made are like night and day to what we had.

So, the ‘glaring holes’ you refer to are really hard to justify. Tavares would’ve replaced one of Travis or Sonny in Val’s new midfield. Not because they’re not good players, because he wants bigger, stronger athletic types.

It’s done now, this is the biggest shift we’ve had in years. 

 

But we are at a point where as you have said, we have barely if at all seen the new players. So all we can do really is speculate and also discuss what we have lost. Even if they wouldnt fit into the new way, if we are comparing the quality of the respective squads, regardless of styles, its worth noting key personnel that has left.

Take Batth. He is seemingly potentially starting to decline. And I dont think he would have suited our style as much now anyway. We didnt want him to go though, Ismael wanted him to stay, he turned us down. But I would be amazed if we keep as many clean sheets this season as last. So it is a fair direct comparison still.

People are downplaying the quality of those who have left too. 

You mention Travis. Ismael seemingly wants to play athletic, high energy stuff. That would have been right up Travis' street. Full of energy, a great presser, in your face. I dont get why you think Tavares would have knocked him out of the team. You also consider the intangible differences. Travis in the team against Birmingham doesnt show the same naivety that Tavares did.

Dolan, a player I know you really did not rate. Again, Ismael really wanted to keep him, and his form was possibly the only player to actually improve when Ismael came in. Loves to press, high energy, and started to become more and more productive. So he is again a big loss, both in terms of comparisons to last season AND as someone who would have really suited Ismael.

And obviously he had great success with Brittain before and he was another key player.

You also say you can understand why most have left. It isnt out of choice. We tried to keep them, they just didnt stay because the club has a continued inability to get players to sign new deals. This summer hasnt gone to plan, the plan was to sign 6 or 7 and Ismael has said numerous times that we have had to "transition" and sign more players than initially planned due to unwanted departures. Travis, Brittain and Dolan in particular would have not only been key features of the team had they stayed but perhaps would have suited Ismael as much as anyone. 

Which of the players that have left are you NOT glad that they have left? Ie which do you think would have thrived and improved in an Ismael team?

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

What happens if you are over estimating it? 

We will see over a season whether it's been problem or not so much. Also need factoring in the changes tactical that has happened this season. 

Im not over estimating that compared to last season, some really crucial players and also some very useful players have left the club.

That doesnt mean that some might not be adequately be replaced or some new signings might not improve us. They may very well do that. Thats a seperate argument. 

But we dont have to pretend that some of the players that have left have done based on our decision. They left when we didnt want them to. 

Nor do we have to pretend that some of the players that have left were not as good or as useful as they actually are. They do leave big gaps. Whether those gaps are filled, time will tell. But those gaps are still left nonetheless.

Brittain, Travis, Dolan, Batth. You wanted them all to stay. I wanted them all to stay. Now they are gone, similar to your trick with managers. It is of little surprise that you will downplay their quality or their influence. Its what you do. As soon as anyone heads through the Ewood exit door, in your eyes they become 50% worse. Eustace, JDT, and now a series of key players.

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

I’m going to half-hold my hands up here. The addition of our long-term target (Baradji) and seemingly a major piece of our jigsaw (Moroshita) has started to make this window overall quite an exciting one.

Only two things would tip it above 8/10 for me:

Forshaw out in favour of Travis (I know that won’t happen).

Bring in a striker worthy of the name.

I feel like we have otherwise answered many of our problems either with competition, adequate replacements or actual improvements. The irony that it is pretty much the model Broughton and JDT wanted to implement, albeit with a different style.

With ALL of that being said, I cannot get excited because we’ll throw it all away after Christmas as we have done now for three successive years.

Venkys Out. Pasha Out. Gestede Out.

Another key objective to make a successful window has to be to tie down Tronstad and Hyam to new deals. 

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, SuperBrfc said:

The way deals are happening without much or anything leaking, Morishita being the latest example of that, is what makes this a potentially exciting end to the window.

No sarcasm when I say that. We don't know what might be lined up and despite Rudy's words on the budget being unaffected, it's obvious they have raised quite a bit of money from sales. A percentage of this being added to the pot isn't a wild thought.

I agree with Duncan's view that Rudy has more of an understanding with Pasha than any other before him. This could be to our benefit. It appears they are all together as it stands and that they are trying to improve the team by meeting what the manager wants.

The encouraging sign for me is the creativity being shown and most of the new signings clearly having something about them. We can't call them successes yet, but these aren't in the same mould as the likes of Paul Taylor (who?), Varney, Brown, Fode Koita, Edun, Mola, Telalovic etc where you're thinking 'wtf!' (even after seeing them play).

Personally, I can't wait to see Baradji driving forward from midfield and our Japanese attack linking up. I think Baradji is going to be one of those where we go 'wow'.

Sentiment aside regarding Academy and English players, I particularly like the ruthless way 'wooden' players are being moved on. This needed to happen years ago.

JRC and Buckley, despite given chance after chance, have demonstrated, IMO, that they are not good enough to play for us. In Buckley's case he has gone backwards as a player. I wish them well at their new clubs and this isn't personal. We need better. It looks like Rudy and Ismael actively want better too and I'm pleased about that.

I also wouldn't blink in moving Leonard, Pears and one or two more out too if we have the opportunity to replace them.

"But they are Academy lads".

Yeah, and? We've been out of the Premier League for 13 years now. This game is about winning and trying to win.

Only my opinion, but sentiment shouldn't come into this. These guys aren't good enough for where we need to get to. If we can bring in better, move them on.

You won't hear Newcastle fans saying "Aargh, I wish we had kept Longstaff, I wish we had kept Elliot Anderson...they were Academy lads" when they can do a lot better and ARE doing a lot better.

Even with these owners and Pasha being here, we can do better than those we are allowing to leave.

We definitely shouldnt hold on to academy lads purely because they came through.

But 2 exceptions to what you say. Newcastle fans were gutted to lose Anderson who has been excellent for Forest, he only went due to FFP rules.

And the likes of Buckley and JRC are not big losses. But Travis is a giant on.

[USABlue]

6 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

He's one player, if he could refind his love for the game, I wouldn't mind us having a buy back option on because there is a real talent in there somewhere, his main problem seems to be the six inches between his ears.

You are not meaning what's in his mouth are you?

[USABlue]

5 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

I still think that people are underestimating the holes that some of the leaving players have left.

They might not be fancy exotic names with youtube highlight reels but they were crucial players in us doing so well. Travis is a leader but hes not just that, he might not be a silky player but hes an intelligent one. He reads danger, he protects the defence, he wins the ball back high up, and he manages games well. If he played instead of Tavares v Birmingham we win that game. Hes also not as bad on the ball as people make out.

I think McLoughlin might be our best signing and I think he will do better than Batth does at Derby, but not as good as Batth did for us last season. He was superb. Brittain is the best right back in the league, I think both of our new ones show promise and our sub RB will be much stronger this season, but our starter will be weaker. No shame on either, but its going to be so hard to equal Brittain. Dolan has his critics, he isnt stand out at this level, but he is a good Championship winger who had a productive season. Beck and Weimann played lesser roles but still important.

I am not saying that some of the new signings arent quite exciting and some could go on to be really shrewd pick ups. But there is a lot to just equal the side we had last season, never mind eclipse it which has to be the aim.

Only tome will tell.  Too bad about Bucko, he seemed to have it in there it just was rare to see it.  It was always like zinwas wondering ok maybe this is the game when he pulls it together.  I just don't know why he never progressed.  Good luck to the lad he's done nowt wrong cept for bouncing a ball of a opponents.head.  Possibly the STUPIDEST sending off I have ever seen.  Ref was.cold on that one get a sense of humour.

[Tom]

4 hours ago, DutchRover said:

Garrett has a torn groin and is out until at least Oct/Nov I believe. Might get a loan in Jan I guess, but yeah never quite kicked on as we all hoped after JDT left.

In theory he's a good fit for Ismael, 6'2 and athletic, hard working with some ball playing ability. Next summer will be decision time I think.

I sadly think he’ll have the same trajectory as Willem Tomlinson, hope to be wrong of course.