The January 2026 Transfer Window

[Andy]

5 hours ago, Ricky said:

I feel that winning the battle in the middle of the park can help set the tone for the whole team. We can’t do that with the current players. Baraji looks skillful on the ball but doesn’t have any fight at all. Loses the ball and watches the player run away from him, Cantwell does exactly the same. 

Yeah, this was one of my takeaways from recent matches, especially last night.

Games are won/lost in midfield and we can't rely on players ilke Cantwell and Baradji to be that type of player in the middle of the pitch.
Tronstad as the deep/holding player works well, but we need at least one Travis-style player in there - high energy, box-to-box.

[JCRovers]

What squad building / transfer recruitment should look like: 

- Pace on the flanks

- Experience in both boxes

- Good set piece taker 

- Leadership / organiser at the back

What we currently have:

- Pace on one flank (Alebiosu) but he often lacks support. We play with wingbacks because there's no pacy wingers in the squad besides Kargbo (whose decision-making is awful anyway).

- No experience among the strikers. Gudjohnsen seems to have a poacher's instinct inside the box but he's poor in many other areas including holding off challenges, compete in the air and link play with his teammates.

- Poor set piece takers. Feels like Cantwell should do better with his technique but there's either a lack of concentration from his part or they don't work on any set piece routines in training.

- No leadership at the back, which often leads to breakdown in communication. Despite his age and Championship experience, McLoughlin is not a leader.

 

What's the end result of poor recruitment? Answer is: we concede silly goals, can't defend our box properly, are too slow in transitions moments / counter-attacks and we can't score from set-pieces unless it's a penalty. 

I would say we should focus on:

- Getting a new (and pacy) left wingback

- Getting an experienced centre back with leadership qualities. Someone who has a presence, can organise a defence, shouts instructions to his teammates and motivates them. 

- Getting an experienced striker who can compete with centre backs.

- Work on set pieces in training

 

Edited 7 hours ago by JCRovers

[bigbrandjohn]

57 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

I think we have a few bigger problems than where Hayden Carter decides to spend his evening to be honest.

Clearly out social media people have done a lousy job briefing players on how not to wind up fans at the wrong time. 

[RoversClitheroe]

Rumours of Harry Pickering to Reading

Ryan Nyambe too.

[roversfan99]

Can we have some actual substance please, where are these rumours from?

Link/screenshot?

[toogs]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Can we have some actual substance please, where are these rumours from?

Link/screenshot?

Dictionary

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

 

 

 

 

 

 

rumour

/ˈruːmə/

noun

1. a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
    

   You want specific details about something with the above definition?

    

   Look yourself if you are really that interested. 

[Elrovers]

If we need a left wing back we should be going for someone like Harry amass. Seems likes he’s joining Norwich on loan. Would work out for him here as it’s closer to Manchester. 

[bluebruce]

28 minutes ago, Elrovers said:

If we need a left wing back we should be going for someone like Harry amass. Seems likes he’s joining Norwich on loan. Would work out for him here as it’s closer to Manchester. 

After last night's matches I'd much rather get on the train to Norwich if I were him.

[RoversClitheroe]

36 minutes ago, Elrovers said:

If we need a left wing back we should be going for someone like Harry amass. Seems likes he’s joining Norwich on loan. Would work out for him here as it’s closer to Manchester. 

I rate Powell.

He's better than De Neve by a mile, he looks classy

[Ossydave]

1 hour ago, Elrovers said:

If we need a left wing back we should be going for someone like Harry amass. Seems likes he’s joining Norwich on loan. Would work out for him here as it’s closer to Manchester. 

You would have thought we’d have a decent relationship with City given their location. I’m willing to bet they don’t really want their youngsters coming to take part in the Ewood circus though. They invest a lot of time in tracking their progress and have clearly got wind of what a mess we’re stuck in. Brighton seemingly happy to send players up though. 

[RoversClitheroe]

This window has been absolutely comedy, same with the summer window.

The leaks of Rudy Gestede too.

If you don't laugh you'll cry.

50% drop in price in a few seconds, I've not heard anything like it in my life.

[bluebruce]

1 hour ago, RoversClitheroe said:

I rate Powell.

He's better than De Neve by a mile, he looks classy

Low bar

[bluebruce]

47 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

You would have thought we’d have a decent relationship with City given their location. I’m willing to bet they don’t really want their youngsters coming to take part in the Ewood circus though. They invest a lot of time in tracking their progress and have clearly got wind of what a mess we’re stuck in. Brighton seemingly happy to send players up though. 

They were happy enough to send a few in the past to our Venkys circus. Tosin, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jack Byrne...

Edited 1 hour ago by bluebruce

[Ossydave]

8 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

They were happy enough to send a few in the past to our Venkys circus. Tosin, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jack Byrne...

Exactly! In the past! They ain’t gonna entertain dealing with Rudy and the current shit show. 

Edited 53 minutes ago by Ossydave

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, toogs said:

 

Dictionary

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

 

 

 

 

 

 

rumour

/ˈruːmə/

noun

1. a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
    

   You want specific details about something with the above definition?

    

   Look yourself if you are really that interested. 

What do you mean "look yourself?" Obviously I cannot see the rumour anywhere hence why I made the reasonable request to know where the rumour had been seen.

@RoversClitheroe please could you share from where you saw that Pickering could be going to Reading.

[toogs]

19 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

What do you mean "look yourself?" Obviously I cannot see the rumour anywhere hence why I made the reasonable request to know where the rumour had been seen.

@RoversClitheroe please could you share from where you saw that Pickering could be going to Reading.

There’s a search engine called google that will help. Here’s the link…

www.google.co.uk 👍