Rovers's January transfer needs

[TheKitGuy]

Regarding lost players who we thought we should've kept, 

 

Leonard has 1 goal so far in 9 games

Dolan has 0 goals and 1 assist in 12 games 

 

Good players on their day but their day is once or twice a season. 

 

I'd rather a player with half the talent but consistently puts in 7's and 8's each week. 

[KentExile]

17 minutes ago, TheKitGuy said:

Regarding lost players who we thought we should've kept, 

 

Leonard has 1 goal so far in 9 games

Dolan has 0 goals and 1 assist in 12 games 

 

Good players on their day but their day is once or twice a season. 

 

I'd rather a player with half the talent but consistently puts in 7's and 8's each week. 

Although Dolan is getting regular minutes for a team who are currently sixth in La Liga

[TheKitGuy]

2 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Although Dolan is getting regular minutes for a team who are currently sixth in La Liga

But doing very poorly - if Koleosho was fit I'd imagine he would be starting. Shows the level of La Liga if anything  - i'd imagine 8th and below would be Championship standard and Dolan is treading water. 

[roversfan99]

Leonard and Dolan are not comparable.

Leonard never really had an impact for us and has gone down a division. He was also never available.

Dolan was always available, whether hes up to the standards of a far superior league is irrelevant. He was an important and had become a productive player for us and is a big miss.

[davulsukur]

On 02/11/2025 at 08:25, B16Rover said:

Baradji is like a new signing and has been touted before as right wing cover.  O'Riordan will likely be recalled as the other 'like a new signing'

If that happens, any money we've got left over should go on the best finisher we can afford

Thought Baradji was a centre mid?

I think we need to be getting a centre back with a bit of pace or at least one that can cover a short distance quickly, if we are sticking with the back 3. Wharton, McLoughlin and Miller are too slow and they get caught out most games.

A back up for Alebiosu should be on the list also.

[Exiled_Rover]

They need to resolve the RWB position before January hits - you won't be able to play Alebiosu there for 90 minutes twice a week. 

[chaddyrovers]

11 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Leonard and Dolan are not comparable.

Leonard never really had an impact for us and has gone down a division. He was also never available.

Yes you were never fan of his. 

Leonard did fine here for me. His debut at Huddersfield shown me we had talent on his hands. Injuries stopped his development here. Hope he goes on and smashing it

[RevidgeBlue]

3 hours ago, TheKitGuy said:

Regarding lost players who we thought we should've kept, 

 

Leonard has 1 goal so far in 9 games

Dolan has 0 goals and 1 assist in 12 games 

 

Good players on their day but their day is once or twice a season. 

 

I'd rather a player with half the talent but consistently puts in 7's and 8's each week. 

God - people still moaning about Dolan!

Who then do you think then has been more effective for us - Dolan last season or Moreshita (who we spent £2m on) this?

[RevidgeBlue]

As regards January, a lot will depend on whether we ever see Baradji and whether or not he's any good.

If he becomes available and does OK I'd only really be desperate to add more firepower up front. Maybe a CB if Carter's injury woes continue.

An injury to Gudjohnsen and we're left with two strikers who have only registered one goal between them this season. Two strikers needed imo if Gueye is sold.

[KentExile]

Confirmation from Ismael (if it was needed) that the summer recruitment & pre season was based on Rovers playing a back 4.  Which logically would mean that January's recruitment needs at least 1 extra centre back, a right wing back to cover for Alebiosu, and a striker (just in terms of numbers, without even thinking about improving the quality of our playing squad)

"I wouldn't say it was my system I wanted to play at the beginning of the season but you have to evolve with your player, with the feeling."

Edited 7 hours ago by KentExile

[frosty]

3 hours ago, TheKitGuy said:

Shows the level of La Liga if anything  - i'd imagine 8th and below would be Championship standard

It's very strange that things like that still get trotted out. Loads of Spanish teams have won European trophies or reached finals in recent times (and there isn't a sudden, huge drop off from those teams to ones that are Championship standard). Spain's two goalscorers in the Euros final play for teams currently in the bottom half, etc etc.

You'll get loads of decent Championship players who go to a Premier League club, or get promoted to it, who are then in and out of the side but maybe look quite lively on occasion as Dolan has at times so far. It'll happen all the time. Doesn't mean the standard of the whole Premier League is poor.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

20 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Confirmation from Ismael (if it was needed) that the summer recruitment & pre season was based on Rovers playing a back 4.  Which logically would mean that January's recruitment needs at least 1 extra centre back, a right wing back to cover for Alebiosu, and a striker

"I wouldn't say it was my system I wanted to play at the beginning of the season but you have to evolve with your player, with the feeling."

“ A lot of players play better in their position “ Really , colour me shocked. I should have taken my coaching badges then.  Going back when you had to clear the dinosaur shit off the pitch before you could kick off the plan was always  to find out the players strengths and weaknesses pre-season and design your system around them. Too many managers come into a club with pre-conceived ideas of how to play with predictable outcomes. It looks like Ismael got lucky, but for Cantwell’s injury it sounds like we would have been flogging away at his old system and going nowhere. Anyway I don’t see a problem, just play Cantwell in Henrikson’s place, simple.

[RevidgeBlue]

30 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

“ A lot of players play better in their position “ Really , colour me shocked. I should have taken my coaching badges then.  Going back when you had to clear the dinosaur shit off the pitch before you could kick off the plan was always  to find out the players strengths and weaknesses pre-season and design your system around them. Too many managers come into a club with pre-conceived ideas of how to play with predictable outcomes. It looks like Ismael got lucky, but for Cantwell’s injury it sounds like we would have been flogging away at his old system and going nowhere. Anyway I don’t see a problem, just play Cantwell in Henrikson’s place, simple.

Yes he does seem to have stumbled upon the 3-5-2 system more by accident than by design

Still - better to be a lucky manager than a good one sometimes.

[joey_big_nose]

19 hours ago, AJW said:

Not been that impressed with McLoughlin if we continue with the current formation I would rather play Ribeiro on the left of the 3 

I quite like McLoughlin. He's done well. No way I would be bringing in Riberio.

For me our needs are : 

- Defence : Extra experienced CB, could be a bit of a veteran, and recall O'Riordan so Miller can cover RWB if needed.

- Midfield : Extra experienced Championship CM in his peak years (26-29). Not another inexperienced youth player, or old player who hasn't got the legs.

- Striker : At least one CF in their peak years with a championship or equivalent scoring record.

I imagine we could find players who fit the bill in defence and midfield. Up front is a real problem as I can't see how we will have the money to sign anyone worthwhile. Lets not do the pointless Dennis / Woodrow thing again.

[joey_big_nose]

3 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

They need to resolve the RWB position before January hits - you won't be able to play Alebiosu there for 90 minutes twice a week. 

Yeah I agree. I guess what we are probably looking at is if Alebiousu is unavailable then Miller will play there. But he's not going to offer the same quality. 

But I can't see us spending a lot on an attacking wing back who won't be first XI.

Definitely can see the situation of us going on a bit of a roll over the next few weeks with the 352, then Aleb gets injured, and the whole system falls apart. Very Rovers!

Edited 6 hours ago by joey_big_nose

[jim mk2]

11 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

I quite like McLoughlin. He's done well. No way I would be bringing in Riberio.

 

McLoughlin got the runaround from their No 7 in the first half on Saturday, so much that Ismael took off De Neve, who hadn't been playing badly, at half time and brought Hedges on to give McLoughlin more protection. It worked. McLoughlin's not a good left back IMO

[arbitro]

15 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

McLoughlin got the runaround from their No 7 in the first half on Saturday, so much that Ismael took off De Neve, who hadn't been playing badly, at half time and brought Hedges on to give McLoughlin more protection. It worked. McLoughlin's not a good left back IMO

McLoughlin was playing as a left sided centre back and out of possession De Neve should have dropped in to help him (as Alebiosu was doing). I mentioned to my granddaughter a couple of times in the first half that defensively De Neve was neglectful and hung McLoughlin out to dry particularly against a talented player like Fatawu. 

It was a smart move from Ismael to bring the more diligent Hedges on and his defensive ability pretty much nullified Fatawu.

[jim mk2]

10 minutes ago, arbitro said:

McLoughlin was playing as a left sided centre back and out of possession De Neve should have dropped in to help him (as Alebiosu was doing). I mentioned to my granddaughter a couple of times in the first half that defensively De Neve was neglectful and hung McLoughlin out to dry particularly against a talented player like Fatawu. 

It was a smart move from Ismael to bring the more diligent Hedges on and his defensive ability pretty much nullified Fatawu.

 Fatawu is an out and out winger who hugs the touchline. McLoughlin had to play the left back role to counter him and struggled, getting outmanoeuvred several times and losing several one-on-ones. He lacks pace for that position. I like him as a player but left back against a tricky winger is clearly not his best position. .  

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, jim mk2 said:

 Fatawu is an out and out winger who hugs the touchline. McLoughlin had to play the left back role to counter him and struggled, getting outmanoeuvred several times and losing several one-on-ones. He lacks pace for that position. I like him as a player but left back against a tricky winger is clearly not his best position. .  

Bringing Hedges on who played more as a conventional left back sorted the problem out.

[arbitro]

1 hour ago, jim mk2 said:

 Fatawu is an out and out winger who hugs the touchline. McLoughlin had to play the left back role to counter him and struggled, getting outmanoeuvred several times and losing several one-on-ones. He lacks pace for that position. I like him as a player but left back against a tricky winger is clearly not his best position. .  

De Neve was picked for his energy and ability to get up and down. The down bit of his game was missing at times which meant McLoughlin had to step out wider to get tight on Fatawu. He should never have been 1 v 1 for the reason you said - his lack of pace and mobility.

Ismael deserves credit for his changes.

[jim mk2]

2 hours ago, arbitro said:

 

Ismael deserves credit for his changes.

Which I acknowledged