Is this meant to be getting announced today then?

3 minutes ago, Swanson said:

Who would people prefer, Lindsay or Kipre, if they had to choose ?  Is Lindsay still an option btw ?

Based on current reputation & perceived value, I'd prefer Kipre. If we went for Lindsay and could get a tune out of him, he could be a shrewd signing. 

3 minutes ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

Mate, our wage bill is over £20m a year. He doesn't mean total budget. He means summer transfer budget INCLUDING wages. So of that GK costs £500k and he's on £10k a week that's another £500k = GK costs £1m for the year. We then have £2m left. 

Definitely the way I understood that. It's tight but hopefully enough to sort out the GK, a CB and a LB.

1 hour ago, JoeH said:

Would like to see Gallagher through the middle tonight. Not because I enjoy watching his play much but mainly because people often discuss his "out of position"ness as an excuse for his goals and assists record. Through the middle, up top where he should be, against League One opposition, let's see how he does in my opinion.

Sounds like you're banking on him having a poor game. If only to justify your views on him. 

24 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

Not sure we need a young centre mid, certainly wouldn't be a priority. 

He's had a few outings for United, so they must think he's decent despite his age. 

16 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

Not sure why we'd want him

Centre mid. Seems to be highly rated.

7 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

He's a LOT better at centre half than left back that's for certain. He would also make a good backup option, but the side issue there is he's forever picking up injuries. No point having a backup player who's a crock himself, especially when he's on a few quid too.

If we can get a few quid for him, thank him for his efforts and move him on. You'd imagine that would be a decent wage saving if you replaced him with Wharton. 

Just now, Admiral Nelsen said:

 

Purely speculatively, if we were getting several hundred thousand for him then I think that we could probably put that to better use - not least because he picks up injuries a bit too often for me. Otherwise, perfectly decent back up option. 

Yeah I agree with that. He does tend to be out a fair bit of the season. We probably wouldn't be worse off if we got a small amount of money to play with and have Wharton step in as a back up CB.

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

So Swansea, a team who got in the play-offs, want Williams? Probably another that isn't as bad as people on here make out. I would keep him as a CB option. 

I wonder how much they bid 

I think he's better than most people give him credit for. I think as a back up, he's a decent option.

29 minutes ago, JoeH said:

From two visits myself, Newcastle isn't silent.

During the Prem years I went to most of our away games in Newcastle from 2004 and the crowd certainly wasn't as loud/vocal as they're made out to be. I also went to quite a few Newcastle games during university (2008-2011) & through the years and have been disappointed in the crowd/atmosphere if anything. They tended to get vocal when things weren't going their way, as opposed to genuine support for the team. 

6 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

Mowbray's quotes don't read to me that he has been offered a deal.

 

 

I can definitely see where you're coming from in terms of his quotes, but given that the club site (when the retained list was released) and several LET articles & tweets refer to him being offered a deal, I think it's safe to assume he has been. It may well be the case that given the current circumstances (COVID & the budget limitations we appear to have) we've offered him a deal on terms lower than he was anticipating, so he's keeping his options open. I'm taking Mowbray's comments that Downing may still sign that deal - but they aren't necessarily expecting him to - and if they get to a stage where they've done their business in defence, they could look to offer him improved terms should he still be available and we have the budget to do so.

18 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

Seems like Downing hasn't been offered terms then. No surprise that it sounds as though money is very tight.

It states that he has been offered a deal. 

2 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

I remember him being offside twice, and the second time Wharton took a long while to get the ball in the channel, the run could've been well timed. 

He'll always be an inelegant player, but hopeless is way too harsh on today's showing. 

I could swear I counted him offside at least 3 or 4 times, which is a lot for one half of football. I wouldn't want to watch it back and check though. Not the easiest half to watch. 

7 minutes ago, JoeH said:

Just not true. Missed a penalty like an abolsute lemon but he wasn't awful, himself and Chapman both linked up fairly well...

And it's not a needless dig at Gallagher, it's a point to be made that we looked really good (esp. second half), without him.

He was caught offside countless times and his pressing was lacklustre. He didn't create or do anything of note, so I'd personally class that as awful. The penalty miss was to be expected. He was walking away from it before he was told to take it. The lad isn't a goalscorer. Would love it if he proved me wrong. 

In the same token, you could say that we don't need Dack as we looked really good without him. Fair enough if you don't like Gallagher, but I don't see why he should be written off before he's kicked a ball this season. 

14 minutes ago, JoeH said:

Rovers win 4-1 and over half of the comments are digs at the manager and his systems. Crikey. Just wait til the actual season starts!

Good run out today.

Eastham > Fisher
Rothwell poor and then injured
Chapman beginning to redeem himself

But most imporantly, Sam Gallagher shouldn't be anywhere near that side, we showed we're better without him today IMO.

Agree with everything up to the last paragraph. Seems needless to dig out Gallagher. He deserves as much chance as the rest of them to show what he can do before the season starts. 

If anything, you could argue we could've done with him in the first half as Brereton was awful. He certainly wouldn't have been any worse than him. 

2 minutes ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

I'd play him in a 3 man midfield, a bit more advanced than the other two. He's technically very good, can spot a pass and can take the ball on the half turn. 

I'm not enamoured by him but he is neat and tidy with the ball. I also like that he's quite good at knicking the ball back. It's not a trait you tend to see from a more attacking midfielder.

Thought both Chapman and Wharton came out of that half with a lot of credit.

Just now, TruRover said:

Struggle to not get excited by this signing! Has some great pedigree and is coming at the perfect age imo, 500k could be a bargain when you look at prices elsewhere. Have to say that it’s a relief to see that our scouting network actually exists.

anyone know how tall he is?

6ft3 apparently.

Just now, bluebruce said:

My memory must be playing tricks on me, when did we sign a keeper for 5 million quid? 

Did we pay that for Robinson when Friedel departed? 

5 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

I'm struggling to think how.

The problem isn't having Bennett as a back up RB option. It's that Mowbray can't resist playing him there every now and then even when Nyambe is fit. As a back up you'd only expect him to play the odd couple of games to cover for Nyambe's injuries or suspensions. Bennett has shown on occasion that he can fill in reasonably well when it's the odd game, but he should never be considered as a starting option when Nyambe is fit.

11 minutes ago, JoeH said:

I guess it all depends on whether you class Bennett as a right-back, because really we only have one right-back and cover may be needed in the future.

I think given where we are in terms of finances and where we need to strengthen, a back up RB could wait until next season. We could do worse than Bennett as back up at RB, but I agree that he needs to be replaced in the squad. I doubt Liverpool would loan Williams as cover and he wouldn't be ours beyond this season anyway. 

Just now, JoeH said:

I thought he operated on the left? If he's right sided then yes maybe leave that one. 

Yeah plays on the right. He's the sort of player we'd realistically get from Liverpool though. The likes of Curtis Jones & Rhian Brewster - who would both improve our starting XI considerably - are potentially out of our reach given their successes in the first team and out on loan. 

5 minutes ago, JoeH said:

Neco Williams has signed a new long term contract at Liverpool, be happy with him on loan, seems a decent talent.

He'd probably do OK in the Championship, but whenever I've seen him play, he's struggled. Also wouldn't really want him taking Nyambe's place at RB. 

7 minutes ago, Richard Oakley said:

Agree with you, if he's available on a free. That's one simple phone call or email to find out. Could we afford to pay him 20k a week? Does he represent an upgrade on JRC playing there as temporary cover?

Yes, 100%.

Just now, JoeH said:

This is the Summer transfer window thread so here's some stuff to read through if you have some interest in it. Most links make for depressing viewing, players out and players not coming here in a nutshell across the board. 

Dominic Samuel's move to Rotherham is now off the cards, rumours of a failed medical 
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18651457.samuels-proposed-move-championship-new-boys-off/

Ipswich Town set to take supposed Rovers target David Cornell from Northampton's bench
https://the72.co.uk/186464/ipswich-town-in-advanced-talks-with-blackburn-rovers-and-swansea-city-target/

Danny Graham talks with several league one clubs reportedly fallen flat due to salary cap introductions at League 1 & 2 level
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2020/8/14/21368013/roker-roundup-is-danny-grahams-mooted-move-to-sunderland-now-off

Southampton look set to take once Rovers rumoured Kamil Jozwiak on a permanent multi-million pound move
https://tbrfootball.com/report-southampton-want-poland-international-kamil-jozwiak/

Hull City fans don't know what they've bought in Richie Smallwood as their supporters react poorly to his addition
https://therealefl.co.uk/2020/08/12/whats-going-on-unimpressed-fans-react-as-hull-announce-signing-and-mccann-reveals-transfer-update/

Galatasaray also rumoured to be interested in Kamil Jozwiak, who Mowbray supposedly chased in January
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18645399.rovers-january-target-interesting-clubs-across-europe/

No further updates on Aynsley Pears but the original Teeside Live report can be found here
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aynsley-pears-middlesbrough-blackburn-rovers-18743814

Northampton reject four+ bids for Charlie Goode, waiting to see if they can have Wharton back first
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/northampton-charlie-goode-middlesbrough-transfer-18761895

Dillon Phillips confirms that he won't be signing a new deal at Charlton, & chairman admits he's more likely to leave than others with only a year left
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/exclusive-charlton-transfer-chief-on-speculation-surrounding-striker-macauley-bonne-and-goalkeeper-dillon-phillips/

 

Nice round up Joe. Not particularly bothered about 'missing out' on the players mentioned. Think we'd be missing a trick not going in for Phillips though given our goalkeeping situation and his situation at Charlton. Should be an affordable solution to our main issue.