2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[TimmyJimmy]

Apropos of nothing - watching Hyam on the various videos, he comes across as an extremely cold and detached person.

Never came close to meeting him so maybe the camera just doesn't like him but he doesn't really look like he wants to be here.

Anyone seen him full of the joys of spring?

[Exiled_Rover]

59 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. 

Ismael (who I'm on record as not particularly liking) was asked a question about Travis and answered honestly - he's asked to leave and he's let the team down. I have no problem with that. 

It's not a hatchet job. 

Travis' camp's reaction tells you they're very unhappy with that as they were trying to quietly slip out of the door into Eustace's arms as the hard done to hero. 

 

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, K-Hod said:

Nicely put.

But, I still think a simpler explanation is that Ismael was told that he needed to get rid of players we could get a fee for and replace them with players that cost and earn less.

Exactly - a spirited defence of the regime of the sort we've come to expect at around this time every transfer window from Mr. Mani.

But you can summarise it all by saying the alleged "upgrades" (the T2000's) are slightly cheaper to purchase and a lot cheaper to run than the originals (the T1000's)!

Will it work?  Who knows? I doubt it myself, I think we're more likely to end up in League 2 or lower than achieve any success. But you can see why we seemingly had trouble sourcing a new manager before we happened upon VI who was happy to work under these conditions.

"So Gary" (O Neil)

"What we're going to do is get rid of all the established players with Championship experience and use a Moneyball type approach to source value out of players such as ones who have just been relegated from the more minor European Leagues."

"Gary?"

"Gary?"

"You still there Gary?"

[chaddyrovers]

8 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

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.

I think our biggest loss will be Brittain but each of those should be replaced their quality. We see if we had. 

But I'm looking forward and intrigued to see how Baradji and Morishita start. Alebiosu and McLoughlin have look good so far but it's Far too early to call any good or bad signings. 

On those who leave, thanks for good performances and effort..Enjoy your next club and good future..

 

Both former head coaches did a good overall. But you choose to ignore Eustace's move to Derby and his comments when he knew about the approach. I cant get past that. 

[JHRover]

2 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Ismael (who I'm on record as not particularly liking) was asked a question about Travis and answered honestly - he's asked to leave and he's let the team down. I have no problem with that. 

It's not a hatchet job. 

Travis' camp's reaction tells you they're very unhappy with that as they were trying to quietly slip out of the door into Eustace's arms as the hard done to hero. 

 

That's your opinion based on what Ismael and the club have released. 

You don't know that as a fact. 

My opinion is there are two sides to the coin and I'm inclined not to believe what the regime says given their track record. 

You and nobody else knows that Ismael answered honestly, or more importantly that the information he has been given by others including the lying Venky stooge, is accurate. 

Nobody knows with certainty other than those directly involved in the mess.

[alexanders]

1 minute ago, JHRover said:

That's your opinion based on what Ismael and the club have released. 

You don't know that as a fact. 

My opinion is there are two sides to the coin and I'm inclined not to believe what the regime says given their track record. 

You and nobody else knows that Ismael answered honestly, or more importantly that the information he has been given by others including the lying Venky stooge, is accurate. 

Nobody knows with certainty other than those directly involved in the mess.

When Trav was linked with Derby beginning end of May? Who started that? 
I guess we were hoping that Trav would sign his contract or even run it down, but he made it impossible to carry on. 

[chaddyrovers]

Elliott Jackson on his podcast said Ismael and Gestede were keen on Baradji all summer. Also on yesterday Rovers BTS video with Morishita and Ismael been on him for a few weeks

[RoversClitheroe]

Can anyone explain what's happened to Higgins for Rovers? Is he still here? Is he not?

[Exiled_Rover]

38 minutes ago, J*B said:

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. 

He makes Dolan look like he's standing still.

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Jackson's article today suggests that a midfielder is being chased but that a striker is far from a guarantee. Surely those priorities should be swapped.

💯

[MarkBRFC]

2 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Can anyone explain what's happened to Higgins for Rovers? Is he still here? Is he not?

He signed a 2 year scholar deal in the summer so you would presume so.

[RevidgeBlue]

3 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

He makes Dolan look like he's standing still.

Not aimed at you specifically, but I swear some people would prefer it if we signed Usain Bolt in his prime over Tugay in his prime.

Pace is useless unless you can do something with it.

Edited 3 hours ago by RevidgeBlue

[alexanders]

13 minutes ago, TimmyJimmy said:

Apropos of nothing - watching Hyam on the various videos, he comes across as an extremely cold and detached person.

Never came close to meeting him so maybe the camera just doesn't like him but he doesn't really look like he wants to be here.

Anyone seen him full of the joys of spring?

Think he is. Think he is just a shy and quiet guy. Probably why didn't suit being team captain. 

[Admiral Nelsen]

3 minutes ago, 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.

 

Game of opinions, but I think this is selling him well short. 

If you were a team managed by a Russell Martin type (or even a JDT type, even though they're very different) then I can see how Travis isn't the sort you want. He's technically decent - much better than people give him credit for - but asking him to play one/two touch football isn't playing to his strengths. 

But if you want a classic box-to-box type, how many are better than Travis? I'd say he'd be a key player for at least half of the teams in this league (much in the same way he is for us).

[alexanders]

4 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

He makes Dolan look like he's standing still.

I can understand why Dolan ran his contract down and moved to Barcelona. He has played quite well for Espanyol and looks like he is in the first XI going forward. 

Watched him last match and have to agree I did miss him in Rovers color. At the same time he did all his twists and turns and put himself into situations where he was losing the ball way to much.

[Exiled_Rover]

22 minutes ago, 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.

He's the type of player that keeps you in a game, but he doesn't win games for you. 

He's also a paper tiger - tries to play the hard man, but we all know he's soft. He's not an enforcer.

[alexanders]

1 minute ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

 

Game of opinions, but I think this is selling him well short. 

If you were a team managed by a Russell Martin type (or even a JDT type, even though they're very different) then I can see how Travis isn't the sort you want. He's technically decent - much better than people give him credit for - but asking him to play one/two touch football isn't playing to his strengths. 

But if you want a classic box-to-box type, how many are better than Travis? I'd say he'd be a key player for at least half of the teams in this league (much in the same way he is for us).

I was thinking that Batth still had something in his locker, but he has been horrible for Derby since moving there. Brittain has also been bang average for Boro. 

It will be very exciting to see how Trav does in Derby. He did play very well under JE in Rovers and as I have said earlier in the summer. He had his best football days under Eustace and they seem to be a very good fit with each other. I guess this also affects the desire to leave Rovers for Derby. 

[Exiled_Rover]

42 minutes ago, BRFC. said:

 

 

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 

Could you imagine him trying to play against Tugay? 🤣

[Exiled_Rover]

42 minutes ago, Atko's Engine said:

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?

 

 

I'm definitely at the point of double checking the spelling of names before posting - hopefully they become second nature before Christmas.

With regards to the outgoing players - Travis is a loss, but Buckley and JRC (he never recovered that form he had during JDTs first season) aren't and quite frankly I'm glad we've been ruthless and moved both on. 

[Exiled_Rover]

26 minutes ago, TimmyJimmy said:

Apropos of nothing - watching Hyam on the various videos, he comes across as an extremely cold and detached person.

Never came close to meeting him so maybe the camera just doesn't like him but he doesn't really look like he wants to be here.

Anyone seen him full of the joys of spring?

I get the impression he's an introvert - which is why he's not a good captain

[RoversClitheroe]

Is anyone able to confirm? Has the recent pressure from the fans forum meant that Pasha and Co have changed strategies? 

What are you hearing @glen9mullan?

[Torgeir]

31 minutes ago, JHRover said:

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.

 

He's had a few injuries but by no means injury prone. Knee surgery, hamstring injury last season (no wonder though...).

[Exiled_Rover]

22 minutes ago, JHRover said:

That's your opinion based on what Ismael and the club have released. 

You don't know that as a fact. 

My opinion is there are two sides to the coin and I'm inclined not to believe what the regime says given their track record. 

You and nobody else knows that Ismael answered honestly, or more importantly that the information he has been given by others including the lying Venky stooge, is accurate. 

Nobody knows with certainty other than those directly involved in the mess.

He's definitely answered honestly.

We've also definitely not offered him a suitable contract extension.

We're both in the wrong and both in the right. 

[Herbie6590]

31 minutes ago, TimmyJimmy said:

Apropos of nothing - watching Hyam on the various videos, he comes across as an extremely cold and detached person.

Never came close to meeting him so maybe the camera just doesn't like him but he doesn't really look like he wants to be here.

Anyone seen him full of the joys of spring?

I interviewed him for the 4000 Holes podcast ahead of the Watford fan takeover game (remember when we used to do stuff like that?).

Anyhow, I found him to be extremely likeable. Grounded, intelligent, articulate & perhaps dare I say it...introverted for a modern day footballer. 

A lot has happened since then & if he's only been offered an extension on existing terms after playing every single minute last season I'd be fairly hacked off with my employers too...

[Emerald Isle Rover]

1 hour ago, JHRover said:

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. 

I have to disagree on this if your a player who has played at a club pretty much their whole career and has captained them and you feel there is wrong doing from the club regarding events and possibly damaging your rep/image at the club then why not say something? If that’s me and I ‘haven’t’ refused to play and the club has ‘suspended’ me for pretty much nothing then I would be looking to set the story straight. Plenty of players in the past have called out their club/manager regarding their situations I don’t see why this should be any different 

I do agree there’s two sides to every story but if the other side is never told then it’s hard to come to any confident conclusion