2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[KentExile]

1 minute ago, Emerald Isle Rover said:

My biggest question is why hasn’t Travis come out with a statement yet? 

Because he is being professional?

Because he is concentrating on getting himself out out an awful situation first?

[JHRover]

Just now, Emerald Isle Rover said:

My biggest question is why hasn’t Travis come out with a statement yet? 

He'll be getting advice not to bother. Firstly he's still officially a Rovers player, so zero chance he's going to say anything at all until the ink is dry on the deal. Then he'll just crack on with the soundbites for his new club, we'll get a 'statement' on social media about thanks for the memories but I'd be astonished if there was a spilling of the beans on what has really gone on. It just isn't done in football with departing players. I suppose there isn't really any need because there's nothing really to be gained and it's not his problem any more. 

[Admiral Nelsen]

51 minutes ago, alexanders said:

We have what looks like a very competitive squad now (who I think willv play this season): 

GK: Toth, MIchalski - Maybe weak here

RB: Alebiosu, Miller, Montgomery

CB: Hyam, Mclouglin, Carter, Wharton

LB: Ribeiro, De Neve, Pickering

CDM/CM: Tronny, Tavares, Baradji, Montgomery, Forshaw

AM: Cantwell, Henriksson, Tyjon

Wingers ish: Hedges, Kargbo, Miro

ST: Gueye, Ohashi

 

I'm pretty confident that, barring a very bad injury run, that there will be three worse teams than that squad. Beyond that, I don't think we can say it's competitive one way or another because we're heavily dependent on the new signings being up to it.

 

They could be - and one or two are showing good early signs - but the Championship is such a relentless league. It worries me that so much of the squad could be physically struggling once we get past Christmas, and that's before making judgements about their quality.

[alexanders]

8 minutes ago, JHRover said:

The difference is the club haven't had to resort to dirty underhand tactics to get rid of Bucko because he wasn't a cornerstone of the team/captain and probably would have quietly sat on the bench for the next 12 months if necessary. Travis is obviously a different case being actively pursued by rival Championship clubs and first name on the teamsheet last season.

The club have had to deploy a hatchet job operation on Travis to paint him as a villain in this sorry saga and, credit where it is due, it has worked with aplomb judging by comments on social media.

All it really took was a win at Hull, a couple of unnecessary and unchallenged comments by Ismael in his post-match press conferences and signing another foreign player who sounds exciting but nobody knows anything about and the job is done. 

Not even a murmur of anger or outrage now about offloading the captain to Derby County less than a week before the window closes. 

It's impressive but shows we've no chance of ever succeeding against this regime when they are able to control the narrative so easily via the Telegraph and media and so many in the support base just swallow it. 

Speaking to supporters of other teams they disagree wholeheartedly and mean that Travis has done everything wrong in this scenario and should have behaved more professional, especially as team captain.

Looking at the timeline;

Mid-july: VI says that contract offers have been given, but not accepted and the club has put them self in a difficult place.

While there have been no formal bids for Travis, three clubs have enquired - one of which is claimed to be Coventry - meaning Travis could either move in this window for a fee, or see out his last season and move next summer as a free agent.

He was also quoted: “Sonny wants to stay at the minute. So he didn’t come to us and say, ‘I want to leave’, or something like that. 

Trav gets picked as team captain against WBA (9th of august). 

12th of August VI says that Travis has asked to leave the club. This has probably (only assumptions) given VI and Rovers a difficult way to handle the situation at the moment. Coming from two losses, heads down and lots of negativity a club captain wanting to leave can't be around the rest of the players because he isn't doing his job as team captain. 

VI stating that he wants to leave gives Rovers horrible negotiation power, but speeds up the process. 

 

 

 

[J*B]

1 hour ago, alexanders said:

We have what looks like a very competitive squad now (who I think willv play this season): 

GK: Toth, MIchalski - Maybe weak here

RB: Alebiosu, Miller, Montgomery

CB: Hyam, Mclouglin, Carter, Wharton

LB: Ribeiro, De Neve, Pickering

CDM/CM: Tronny, Tavares, Baradji, Montgomery, Forshaw

AM: Cantwell, Henriksson, Tyjon

Wingers ish: Hedges, Kargbo, Miro

ST: Gueye, Ohashi

 

My officially unofficial "good enough or not good enough" ratings below, based on what I've seen over the last 12 months:

Good Enough

Toth

Alebiosu

Hyam

Mclouglin

Pickering

Tronny

Cantwell

Ohashi

Unknown

Michalski

Miller

Carter

Wharton

Tavares

Baradji

Henriksson

Tyjon

Miro

Not Good Enough

Montgomery

De Neve

Forshaw

Hedges

Kargbo

Gueye

[roversfan99]

14 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

All fair points. To be clear, I’m not advocating or necessarily in support of the new regime / idea. I’m just intrigued by what’s unfolding.

I wouldn’t put my money on Tavares and Baradji being better than Travis and Sonny either, but I do think they’re probably better suited to what this manager wants.

For clarity, I think they probably planned to clear the deck in stages with VI. First waive out , Bucko, JRC, Pears etc…extend the others (Trav, Dolan, Brittain etc) and add a couple of the foreign lads, then phase the remaining players out. This has been accelerated by those players not extending.

In terms of Dolan, I think they probably tried to extend him, but never offered anything like what he wanted. But I don’t think he had a long term future in this regime either….not enough pace or power. This is aside from my personal opinion as I would’ve gladly just waived him down the road.

The vibe I’m referring to is what changed. It was enough of a change to dislodge JRC and Bucko who have been coasting on nice contracts for years. As I’ve said, lots have been rocked out of their lifeboats and the band of brothers has been disbanded.

I think Dolan was really well suited to Ismael. He improved when Ismael came in and hes really energetic and a good presser.

Some of the players we have signed dont even fit into the remit of pace and power so I dont think its critical that every single player has it or the intention to build a team where everyone has to have it. Morishita is tiny and quite slight, on paper he doesnt fit the mould. No reason he fits and Dolan wouldnt have. McLoughlin is quite a slow centre back, he doesnt fit the mould.

And with some of the current players. Ohashi doesnt fit the mould, but still plays above Gueye who is bigger and stronger but ultimately is crap. Hyam is an important player, as is Tronstad, Ribeiro is a regular too. Hedges isnt really an athlete. None are stand out athletes, so I dont think the intention is to build a team where every single player has to be purely an athlete. You need more than that.

I still also think that Travis as much as anyone was a real athlete and would have suited Ismael down to the ground.

Buckley and JRC were coasting. Certainly neither of those 2 will be a miss. 

[KentExile]

12 minutes ago, alexanders said:

Speaking to supporters of other teams they disagree wholeheartedly and mean that Travis has done everything wrong in this scenario and should have behaved more professional, especially as team captain.

Looking at the timeline;

Mid-july: VI says that contract offers have been given, but not accepted and the club has put them self in a difficult place.

While there have been no formal bids for Travis, three clubs have enquired - one of which is claimed to be Coventry - meaning Travis could either move in this window for a fee, or see out his last season and move next summer as a free agent.

He was also quoted: “Sonny wants to stay at the minute. So he didn’t come to us and say, ‘I want to leave’, or something like that. 

Trav gets picked as team captain against WBA (9th of august). 

12th of August VI says that Travis has asked to leave the club. This has probably (only assumptions) given VI and Rovers a difficult way to handle the situation at the moment. Coming from two losses, heads down and lots of negativity a club captain wanting to leave can't be around the rest of the players because he isn't doing his job as team captain. 

VI stating that he wants to leave gives Rovers horrible negotiation power, but speeds up the process. 

 

 

 

You seem to have ignored everything that we have seen happen at Rovers over the past decade or so.

It is obvious that he was given a lowball contract offer, and a told that it wouldn't be increased, so Travis looked elsewhere once a bid came in

If this wasn't the case, why have Rovers not been able to agree contracts in the past year alone with Dolan, Brittain, Tronstad, Hyam,or even Hedges 

Edited 2 hours ago by KentExile

[alexanders]

3 minutes ago, J*B said:

My officially unofficial "good enough or not good enough" ratings below, based on what I've seen over the last 12 months:

Good Enough

Toth

Alebiosu

Hyam

Mclouglin

Pickering

Tronny

Cantwell

Ohashi

Unknown

Michalski

Miller

Carter

Wharton

Tavares

Baradji

Henriksson

Tyjon

Miro

Not Good Enough

Montgomery

De Neve

Forshaw

Hedges

Kargbo

Gueye

I think you are being extremely harsh on Montgomery and Kargbo specially. I think lots of supporters are envy of Kargbo. His pace and power is extremely valuable. 

Also I think you forgot Ribeiro, who you have to put in Good Enough. 

Besides that I will agree, and The unknowns will be very exciting to watch progress. 

[roversfan99]

8 minutes ago, alexanders said:

Speaking to supporters of other teams they disagree wholeheartedly and mean that Travis has done everything wrong in this scenario and should have behaved more professional, especially as team captain.

Looking at the timeline;

Mid-july: VI says that contract offers have been given, but not accepted and the club has put them self in a difficult place.

While there have been no formal bids for Travis, three clubs have enquired - one of which is claimed to be Coventry - meaning Travis could either move in this window for a fee, or see out his last season and move next summer as a free agent.

He was also quoted: “Sonny wants to stay at the minute. So he didn’t come to us and say, ‘I want to leave’, or something like that. 

Trav gets picked as team captain against WBA (9th of august). 

12th of August VI says that Travis has asked to leave the club. This has probably (only assumptions) given VI and Rovers a difficult way to handle the situation at the moment. Coming from two losses, heads down and lots of negativity a club captain wanting to leave can't be around the rest of the players because he isn't doing his job as team captain. 

VI stating that he wants to leave gives Rovers horrible negotiation power, but speeds up the process. 

 

 

 

He has asked to leave with reports that he didnt want to run his contract down and that he asked to play v West Brom. 

Im still not seeing any substance as to what he has done so wrong.

[RoverCanada]

1 hour ago, Paul Mani said:

100% - I’ve heard the same about Pasha. Bit of an egotistical knobhead. However, I’m always wary about judging based on the opinions of those who have been rocked out of their safety boat.

Charlie Methven was (rightly) mocked for being a bit of a knob and having plenty of David Brent moments in that Sunderland 'Til I Die doc, but I also remember thinking while watching it 'yeah, but his staff do seem pretty useless...'

[J*B]

2 minutes ago, alexanders said:

I think you are being extremely harsh on Montgomery and Kargbo specially. I think lots of supporters are envy of Kargbo. His pace and power is extremely valuable. 

Also I think you forgot Ribeiro, who you have to put in Good Enough. 

Besides that I will agree, and The unknowns will be very exciting to watch progress. 

Apologies, you're correct RE Ribeiro. He's our best left back.

I don't think Montgomery is good enough (yet) based on what I've seen. It's important to remember 12 months ago he couldn't get in the Chorley team.

Kargbo I really don't see. He's quick, but so incredibly wasteful he makes Dolan look like Pirlo. 

[KentExile]

6 minutes ago, J*B said:

I don't think Montgomery is good enough (yet) based on what I've seen. It's important to remember 12 months ago he couldn't get in the Chorley team.

 

Not the case, he was a regular starter for Chorley once he moved there (barring a spell when he was injured) & before that he was a regular starter for Marine during the first half of the season

I would however agree that he is not yet good enough, & that 12 months ago he was playing in the 6th tier

Edited 2 hours ago by KentExile

[alexanders]

2 minutes ago, KentExile said:

You seem to have ignored everything that we have seen happen at Rovers over the past decade or so.

It is obvious that he was given a lowball contract offer, and a told that it wouldn't be increased, so Travis looked elsewhere once a bid came in

If this wasn't the case, why have Rovers not been able to agree contracts in the past year alone with Dolan, Tronstad, Hyam,or even Hedges 

Without knowing I agree that we are giving contracts which in many cases won't be good enough. That's part of life and especially the running costs of a football club. If I don't get a pay increase at my job I can go on with my job, but at the same time see if I can more money elsewhere without making a fuss. Especially being in a leading position it has to go under wraps. I don't believe Travis has done this in a silent manner, and to be frank, it probably has been very very difficult to do it.

I believe Eustace have been tapping up the players he would like to recruit and created an unrest among them. This has made a very strange and unsure atmosphere among the players. 

I don't think Travis started looking elsewhere once a bid came in, but his agent has been pushing him around; He was linked to Birmingham, Derby and Wrexham already in June. Stated that Derby was favorites for the signature. Then Coventry came in to the rumor mill.

 

 

[alexanders]

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

He has asked to leave with reports that he didnt want to run his contract down and that he asked to play v West Brom. 

Im still not seeing any substance as to what he has done so wrong.

He could run his contract down. Do you think the club has been pushing him around or Travis himself via his agent and Eustace has created the fuss? 

[BRFC.]

1 hour ago, alexanders said:

 

 

 

41 minutes ago, B16Rover said:

Putting my happy clapper hat on, imagining I'm an 18-25 year old rovers fan.  Is Travis a legend?  

Seen a few say this, he’s served 10 years and captained for 3 years, personally liked him a lot and will be a miss but not sure a “legend” just my opinion 

[KentExile]

6 minutes ago, alexanders said:

I believe Eustace have been tapping up the players

Im sure he has, I would too in his situation

If Rovers didn't pay in chocolate buttons, then it wouldn't matter how much players liked Eustace, or how much they were tapped up

Edited 2 hours ago by KentExile

[Atko's Engine]

1 hour ago, Torgeir said:

Did you see in the video when he met Baradji and realised they had stayed in the same hotel? 😂

Ah that's who it was is it? I watched it & couldn't think who it might be. I think there's going to be a lot of that this season...

"What a pass, who played it?"

"Great block, who was it?"

"How do you say his name?"

Is this Gestede's idea of excitement?!

TBF, I'm more enthused now than I was even a week ago. Maybe I'm easily pleased but the calibre of players being brought in, on medium-long term deals, SEEMS to be a step up from the likes of Telalovic, Ennis, Woodrow, Dennis, etc & the evidence does point to a clear strategy being agreed across the recruitment team & bring implemented. Whether it works, time will tell.

It's sad to lose Travis, Buckley, JRC etc, but there is some excitement (or at least curious anticipation) for the direction we now look to be taking, which is at least proactive.

I will also add that Gestede's ideal of academy players getting 3000+ minutes of football this season (iirc) looks way off the mark now. Does that point to the need for a quicker transition than expected, or was this just Rudy shooting from the hip under pressure?

 

 

[JHRover]

The club regime controls the narrative with all incoming and outgoing players. Sadly some can't see this and instead leap to the defence of the club regime for being 'truthful' and 'honest' about the situation rather than engaging their brains for a few seconds. 

Take the Travis example - he hasn't been made available by the club for any sort of press coverage since the players returned to training in June. Unless I've missed it, apologies if I have, there hasn't been a single interview with him, either with in-house media or external media. 

That in itself tells me something, because there have been a lot of interviews with players and staff and lots of 'fun and games' with players - but no sit down interview.

Whether deliberate or not the result of this is that nobody has had chance to ask him about the situation, so of course his version of events isn't going to get any coverage. Naturally the regime would dictate the questions allowed in any interview regardless, just look at their conduct in the Fans Forum meeting, but they haven't even gone that far this summer.

They know what they are doing alright and so when Ismael needlessly stacks all the blame for the situation at Travis' door, despite the club admitting already this summer that 'mistakes' were made on contracts in the last 12 months - seemingly contradicting themselves - it is time to ask questions not simply accept it as the gospel truth.

As with every sort of situation involving two parties there are probably two accounts / versions of events. 

I understand a natural temptation by fans to side with the manager/club/directors as it is more comfortable, easier to blame the outgoing party and align with those that remain.

Life is rarely so simple and being a fan does not mean just believing in the most palatable scenario because it is easier or more comfortable. It involves asking serious questions and challenging the narrative being set by untrustworthy people. 

[Admiral Nelsen]

12 minutes ago, J*B said:

My officially unofficial "good enough or not good enough" ratings below, based on what I've seen over the last 12 months:

 

 

I think an issue we have is you could probably take at least two from Good Enough (Toth, Alebiosu) and to be fair a couple from Not Good Enough too (Kargbo, Montgomery, maybe De Neve) and move them into the Unknown category. Which now constitutes a majority of the squad!

 

We've well and truly rolled the dice this window. The law of averages suggests we'll probably get both successes and failures from this current crop, but we'd better hope there's at least four or five more in your good enough section come the spring or we'll be bang in trouble. 

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, alexanders said:

The one thing I have been a bit concerned about is the "family feeling" disappearing. Longstanding, nice guys from our academy such as Bucko, Trav, Leonard and maybe Pears all leaving the club in window.

What fills me with hope is that the characters brought in gives a warm feeling around the place; Yuki is already a legend, Ribeiro is very underrated, Henriksson has a great character, Toth really is a huge step up and I already love Miro.

You have the cultural bearers such as Tronny, Hyam spiced up with Academy graduates; S. Wharton,  Montgomery, Mullarkey-Matthews, Tyjon, Michalski ++ 

The combination of the squad really is ARTE ET LABORE 

It's been like this before. I was devastated when my favorite players Bentley went to Spurs and Roque went to City.

It's a part of the game!

Whenever a door closes,  another one opens!

Make yourself a Rovers legend! 

 

Again, the family feeling died a long time ago.

[BRFC.]

48 minutes ago, JHRover said:

 

All it really took was a win at Hull, a couple of unnecessary and unchallenged comments by Ismael in his post-match press conferences and signing another foreign player who sounds exciting but nobody knows anything about and the job is done. 

Not even a murmur of anger or outrage now about offloading the captain to Derby County less than a week before the window closes. 

 

Absolutely this, I was thinking fans would be absolutely outraged that he has left but apparently (according to some) he won’t be a miss as he’s not “technically good” do some realise you need leaders?

[roversfan99]

13 minutes ago, alexanders said:

He could run his contract down. Do you think the club has been pushing him around or Travis himself via his agent and Eustace has created the fuss? 

Whatever has happened, we dont know. But he is being painted as the villain and its being assumed that hes this bad egg. A narrative pushed by the club but without saying what hes actually done wrong.

[yeti-dog]

In some respects I'm sorry to see Trav go but I also think were he playing for someone else he'd be seen as a bang average championship player.

It'll be interesting to see how he does at Derby. Although they've spent some money they also look bang average to me and I'll be amazed if they get anywhere near the play-offs.

[JHRover]

Just now, yeti-dog said:

In some respects I'm sorry to see Trav go but I also think were he playing for someone else he'd be seen as a bang average championship player.

It'll be interesting to see how he does at Derby. Although they've spent some money they also look bang average to me and I'll be amazed if they get anywhere near the play-offs.

If we were paying millions for a 27 year old captain of a Championship rival with 200+ games in this league under his belt and no record of fitness issues this place would be jumping for joy.

 

[alexanders]

5 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Again, the family feeling died a long time ago.

For me the family feeling was almost gone when it was only aggression, swearing and Steve Kean out in the away end our last game in the Premiership away at Chelsea May 2012.

After that the family feeling has gradually been restored. Mistakes are being done at all clubs, supporters are very quick to be negative with board, management etc. And they are entitled to it. 

However looking at the last seasons we have had a squad with Arte Et Labore. Players taking their time engaging with the fans, players to be proud. Other supporters hating on us for being pedantic or tough to break. Some great moments where we have stood behind the team. The downfalls also creates good memories. Wouldn't be without Leicester away last day of the season two years ago. Adrenaline rush! 

Football swings, and you can from hero to villain or success to failure in a very short time. Creating stability at the same time as developing is the only way forward.

What has impressed me (which goes under radar) is how quickly both JE and VI got appointed. This is a small proof that there certainly is a plan on how we go about things.