2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[RoversClitheroe]

6 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Injured.

Ah okay thanks for the update.

Lots of promise in him right? Looks a star

[Andy Kennedys Hairdo]

35 minutes ago, superniko said:

Isn't a Skoda brain exactly what you want? Practical, sensible, safe. value for money 

I'd say Ferrari feet and Skoda brain would make a great footballer 😁

(all tongue in cheek obviously)

Admittedly, Skoda tech's come on a bit since the days of Franny Carr. 

[Exiled_Rover]

9 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

That’s because of two things…

1) A striker was not in the plan. Honestly, it feels like an impassioned purchase. Like VI and RG have twisted Pasha’s arm. 

2) The striker will cost much bigger money and was not originally budgeted for.

 

I think from a pure numbers standpoint we need another CF.

Ohashi and Gueye will get injured at some point and / or lose form. You can't then just pick the other as the default starter.

They want Leonard out the door (and he's not a #9) and Tyjon is too young (and not a #9 either).

The balancing act is what player you bring in - you should always be aiming for better than you've got, and it'd be nice to have some pace - but can we afford that?

I've said from the beginning that I'll judge Gueye (Target Man) and Ohashi (Poacher) when they get consistent service - with Kargbo, Morishita, Cantwell et al they might actually get that now. They'll be different propositions entirely this season I think. 

[Admiral Nelsen]

38 minutes ago, superniko said:

I'm not sure he's box-to-box per-se, how often is he busting a gut to the attacking box?

He's a solid championship midfielder but with his limitations (he'd be a league above if he didn't have any).

Most crucially, I could never really see him helping Rovers cross that 6th place, or 2nd place line - it wasn't uncommon for him to go missing in the latter stages of the season. Sam Morsy kept him out of the team at Ipswich, and I think that sort of backs-up Yeti's claim, he'd be more of a squad player for a team with ambition to get out of this league. (judging by Eustaces signings Derby are not that).

I'd obviously much rather he be that squad player here at Rovers, alongside Trondstad, Tavares and Baradji, as firstly, two of these are unproven and secondly it's likely we'll have injury issues and drops in form at some stage.  

 

I think that's a feature of how we set up to be honest. He's shown that he can drive forward with the ball well enough over his time here, if we played 442 (which I appreciate nobody does anymore) or even 433 then we'd see him do that much more I think. 

To be clear, I'm not arguing that Travis gets into every team in the division. Teams going for the automatics will have better options, as will a couple of others. But there are some absolute plodders who play his position in this league - we've had our fair share at Ewood! - so I think saying he's average is seriously underplaying his ability and how easy it should be to replace him. I hope I'm wrong, obviously, and that Tavares and Baradji are a class above! But I'll believe it when I see it. 

[yeti-dog]

For me, Travis is decent but no more than that.

I take off the the blue and white glasses and can't help but think about what went on with him at Ipswich.

Theoretically, he was the last piece of the jigsaw in terms of helping them to get over the finishing line. In reality he was a bit- part player at best. 

I think this season will be interesting and afterwards it'll be either; why were we stupid enough to let him go, or we should have got rid sooner. 

Hopefully the latter as that would suggest a successful season...

 

[47er]

19 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Ohashi and Gueye will get injured at some point and / or lose form.

Gueye hasn't much form to lose! He's more likely to get suspended.

[jny]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Feel really sorry for Travis.

The Club are actively trying to offload him because he's one of the higher earners yet just to rub salt in the wound the manager has taken the very unusual step of coming out in Public  and stating "he's let everyone down" for some unspecified reason.

Not to mention the whole JDT vs Travis debacle that also seemed entirely unnecessary...

Maybe his sticking point with management, but I like that Travis has aggression and I wish we were keeping him, the team always looks like it has more fight whenever he's on the pitch imo. 

[Leonard Venkhater]

2 minutes ago, 47er said:

Gueye hasn't much form to lose! He's more likely to get suspended.

My guess is that they are trying to move him on...

[47er]

2 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

My guess is that they are trying to move him on...

Yes, doesn't look like Ismael rates him. I'd keep him and sign another striker. We are just so lacking up there.

He'd do well in League 1 I imagine.

[Leonard Venkhater]

1 minute ago, 47er said:

Yes, doesn't look like Ismael rates him. I'd keep him and sign another striker. We are just so lacking up there.

He'd do well in League 1 I imagine.

Lol....Misread your comment, as "do well in League 11"

[arbitro]

33 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Ah okay thanks for the update.

Lots of promise in him right? Looks a star

I've only seen him play fleetingly (two substitute appearances) but I know for sure that he is expected to be the shining star from the current crop of first year scholars.

 

[roversfan99]

44 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

That’s because of two things…

1) A striker was not in the plan. Honestly, it feels like an impassioned purchase. Like VI and RG have twisted Pasha’s arm. 

2) The striker will cost much bigger money and was not originally budgeted for.

 

As @MarkBRFC mentioned, it was part of the plan. Gestede said one of the summer priorities was getting someone to compete with Ohashi and Gueye. Then it dropped off.

[DE.]

I personally wouldn't call anyone signed during the Venky era a club legend. We've achieved fuck all in that time save for a 2nd placed promotion from League 1. Outside of that we've either finished mid table championship, spectacularly thrown away chances to get in the playoffs more than once, or narrowly avoided relegation a couple of times. 

Granted the criteria for legend will be different for younger supporters who don't remember or weren't around for the pre-Venky era. I guess the likes of Dack or Trav would be closest to fitting the bill. 

Edited 2 hours ago by DE.

[47er]

4 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

Lol....Misread your comment, as "do well in League 11"

Yea I thought it looked odd when I wrote it. Bit harsh on him!

[roversfan99]

14 minutes ago, yeti-dog said:

For me, Travis is decent but no more than that.

I take off the the blue and white glasses and can't help but think about what went on with him at Ipswich.

Theoretically, he was the last piece of the jigsaw in terms of helping them to get over the finishing line. In reality he was a bit- part player at best. 

I think this season will be interesting and afterwards it'll be either; why were we stupid enough to let him go, or we should have got rid sooner. 

Hopefully the latter as that would suggest a successful season...

 

He joined an Ipswich team already at the top mid season. They weren't going to change their team regardless of the ability of Travis. They had an established duo performing in his position, they signed him to strengthen the squad. It doesn't prove an inability to do anything.

Your second to last paragraph implies that we have actively chosen to keep him. What has actually happened like with many others is that we have failed to offer him a contract sufficient of a player of his standing and ability, it's being made out like we have decided we can do better. We wanted to keep him but with a year left, we can't. So we have had to sell and paint him in a bad light with no real substance as a result.

[Leonard Venkhater]

1 minute ago, DE. said:

I personally wouldn't call anyone signed during the Venky era a club legend. We've achieved fuck all in that time save for a 2nd placed promotion from League 1. Outside of that we've either finished mid table championship, spectacularly thrown away chances to get in the playoffs more than once, and narrowly avoided relegation a couple of times. 

Granted the criteria for legend will be different for younger supporters who don't remember or weren't around for the pre-Venky era. I guess the likes of Dack or Trav would be closest to fitting the bill. 

I know where you are coming from, but in my own ( non premier league) lifetime, I'd say the likes of Field, Metcalfe, Brotherston, Speedie, Szmodics were legends..

[Paul Mani]

3 hours 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

Poor to write Montgomery, Kargbo and De Neve off imo. Haven’t had nearly enough time to prove themselves.

Personally, I wouldn’t write Forshaw, Hedges or Gueye off either in the new regime, but I can see why you would do.

[roversfan99]

Equally, would it not be poor to assume that McLoughlin and Alebiosu are good enough just yet?

[Paul Mani]

2 hours 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 like Trav, he’s been a good player for us. But if he was ‘That’ good, he wouldn’t be signing for Derby at the cost of an average weekend on one of Balaji’s yacht parties.

I don’t think losing Trav will be end of Blackburn Rovers, put it that way. 🙈🤣

[RevidgeBlue]

1 minute ago, Paul Mani said:

I like Trav, he’s been a good player for us. But if he was ‘That’ good, he wouldn’t be signing for Derby at the cost of an average weekend on one of Balaji’s yacht parties.

So if that's the criteria on which we're judging players, Tronstad REALLY isn't that good either then?

Can't even drum up any worthwhile interest in him.

[Paul Mani]

1 hour ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Honestly lost complete respect for Valerian.

Can't believe he'd throw him under the bus publicly.

Be a bit more professional.

Pathetic.

Would it not be more prudent to understand what Travis might have done, before casting said judgement?

Here’s my take - VI doesn’t seem like a bad guy. He also seems quite straight talking. To publicly ‘out’ Trav, he must’ve done something he really doesn’t like. And for him to say he’s let the lads down is HUGE! If he hasn’t done anything wrong, then Ismael is finished with that group, they’ll never trust him again. Which makes me think there’s potentially something in it. That Trav has overstepped the mark…probably come out at some point. 

[RevidgeBlue]

2 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

Would it not be more prudent to understand what Travis might have done, before casting said judgement?

YES!

But that hasnt stopped you obviously!

[TimmyJimmy]

Some really good posts on here recently, enjoying the reading.

On Hyam, the introvert thing is probably why he plays better with a tough guy next to him. He's defo not a shouter and organiser. I like 'nice' people, good for the dressing room. He's a good CB and I hope he stays.

On the Ferrari/Skoda thing (made me howl), I had a conversation with Bill Fox years ago about a player I wanted Rovers to see (they did and he signed but that's another story), my big plus point was that whilst raw he was lightening quick. Bill's comment was and I quote "You can coach a monkey to cross a ball but you can't coach speed, we'll take a look." Ferraris rule I think :-)

On VI, I think I'm in a very small minority here but I really like VI. I didn't but I've warmed to him a lot. He's honest - players know where they stand with him and that's important, he's clear about his strategy and is getting the players in that fit with that (no square pegs in round holes), he's winning matches and those that he doesn't he come close to (dodgy refs mostly). Far from perfect but to damn by faint praise he's likely the best we could have got for this mad house and is exceeding my expectations. He also gives the impression that he actually believes that good times are around the corner, which is nice for a change. I know, hope kills you.

 

[Mashed Potatoes]

5 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

So if that's the criteria on which we're judging players, Tronstad REALLY isn't that good either then?

Can't even drum up any worthwhile interest in him.

Hasn't it been said that he intends returning to Norway at the end of this season ?

[Paul Mani]

19 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Equally, would it not be poor to assume that McLoughlin and Alebiosu are good enough just yet?

I’d say based on previous experiences, I’d be happy to say Mclouughlin is good enough. Alebiosu is defo an unknown.

The real interesting part of that post and why many of us are now Intrigued is because now most of our squad are in the middle ‘not sure yet’ band…which is both exciting and fucking terrifying in equal measure!