Is the team stronger or weaker after the transfer window?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I’ll know better after Saturdays game,  it’ll be the first time I’ve been able to see them in the flesh in a competitive game. Ipswich will provide a proper test.

[Exiled in Toronto Mk2]

I’m mildly optimistic, not least because by far the biggest upgrade in my eyes is the defence. Credit to VI who didn’t fanny about on dumping Pears, there’s 10 soft goals not conceded straight away. But equally important is how much Pears’s indecision with the ball stunted our play. Add in, hopefully, a season of Carter and Wharton (I don’t buy the “made of glass” mantra, they have 300+ appearances between them) a beast of a RB and an extra half season of Ribeiro vs Pickering and I think we are miles better at the back.

As to all these thousands of championship appearances we sold, not one of them achieved anything. Cantwell’s experience at this level is far more valuable imo. Not all 10 signings will succeed, they never do, but finding out will at least be more interesting than another season of highly predictable nothingness.

[Leonard Venkhater]

Honestly, we just won't know until the season builds up-Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday etc...

I am absolutely positive that a risk assessment carried out on this season's squad would show a likelihood of key injuries ( e.g. to centre halves) as pretty high and the the severity of the consequences of such injuries, as very high.....

Meanwhile, I was delighted for Scott and Hayden....

And I have just listened to the LT podcast and talk of supporters needing blind faith.

The problem is that Blackburn Rovers is an earthly business -not "the panting heart of Rome"!

Edited 5 hours ago by Leonard Venkhater

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

I’m mildly optimistic, not least because by far the biggest upgrade in my eyes is the defence. Credit to VI who didn’t fanny about on dumping Pears, there’s 10 soft goals not conceded straight away. But equally important is how much Pears’s indecision with the ball stunted our play. Add in, hopefully, a season of Carter and Wharton (I don’t buy the “made of glass” mantra, they have 300+ appearances between them) a beast of a RB and an extra half season of Ribeiro vs Pickering and I think we are miles better at the back.

As to all these thousands of championship appearances we sold, not one of them achieved anything. Cantwell’s experience at this level is far more valuable imo. Not all 10 signings will succeed, they never do, but finding out will at least be more interesting than another season of highly predictable nothingness.

But we have lost a hell of a lot in defence. And that defence did really well last season and earnt lots of clean sheets. Hyam, Batth and Brittain were all excellent last season.

Of course there is something to the injury concerns between Carter and Wharton. Carter has repeatedly picked up muscular injuries over the last 2 seasons and picked up another 30 minutes into pre season. Wharton missed 16 months with a terrible knee injury. But the issue is compounded with only having one other senior centre back.

If theres any area of the team that is most likely to be downgraded, its the back 4.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

18 hours ago, Displaced Rover said:

Club propaganda is getting more obvious by the week…

It has been noticed..incredible what a few wins can do.

[aletheia]

2 hours ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

As to all these thousands of championship appearances we sold, not one of them achieved anything.

7th.

[aletheia]

2 hours ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

but finding out will at least be more interesting than another season of highly predictable nothingness.

I predict worse than last season -nothingness of mid to low table. (And let's see if we can get beyond the quarter final of the cup).

Edited 3 hours ago by aletheia

[Admiral Nelsen]

I'm happy enough to say that I'm pleasantly surprised by some of the early performances. First impressions can obviously be misleading (in both directions, as anyone seeing Andre Ooijer's debut would testify!). But Alebiosu has impressed me more than a lad with his pedigree had any right too. Gudjohnsen and Morishita appear to have something about them. McLoughlin looks better than you'd expect for Hull City's fourth choice centre back, and even Tavares has had his moments which suggests he could have a pretty high ceiling. 

 

But stronger than last year? I seriously doubt it, and we can only really say one way or another when we see the sorts of performances they're capable of in February after they've had some exposure to a Championship winter and regular three game weeks. 

[M_B]

Despite signing 10,only 3 new players started on Saturday. Obviously injuries and suspensions will be a factor, but it will be interesting going forward to see how that changes. It will maybe be a good indication of just how successful the window was.

I'm more intrigued than anything, beyond Dolan and Britain, can't say I'm too fussed about the ones who've left. 

[Exiled_Rover]

21 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

We finished 7th last season. I cannot conceive that this squad will finish as high as that. 

Hope to be proved wrong. 

I think that was down to the manager more than anything. 

[Exiled_Rover]

4 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

But we have lost a hell of a lot in defence. And that defence did really well last season and earnt lots of clean sheets. Hyam, Batth and Brittain were all excellent last season.

Of course there is something to the injury concerns between Carter and Wharton. Carter has repeatedly picked up muscular injuries over the last 2 seasons and picked up another 30 minutes into pre season. Wharton missed 16 months with a terrible knee injury. But the issue is compounded with only having one other senior centre back.

If theres any area of the team that is most likely to be downgraded, its the back 4.

However we've improved tremendously between the sticks so it'll probably roughly even out. 

I also think Hyam's best ability was availability (50 consecutive starts is a heck of an effort). He was a mid-table CB - too soft and quiet for mine. 

Edited 33 minutes ago by Exiled_Rover