Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

I don't think I will ever forget what Raya did against Birmingham when he gave away the penalty. It was one of the worst unforced errors I have ever a player make. Firstly there was absolutely no reason to go for the ball and secondly he completely missed the ball. You could see the other rovers players were shell shocked by what they had seen. Ya De Gea made mistakes, but did he ever make one like that? 

I do like him though. He has amazing reflexes. He has a long way to go to be a top keeper. 

That was one of the worst match day experiences I've ever had. Coasting to a win and we threw it away with pathetic errors. What made it worse was the weather that day. Freezing cold and the rain after the game was mental. My train back to Liverpool wasn't for 3 hours as well. Awful.

Bradley Johnson would be a great replacement for Rodwell (should he buggar off as expected). 

18 minutes ago, Swanson said:

Apart from Assombalonga, who was our targets from last year?

Freeman seems to be the main one who didn't move that window and he's just joined Sheff Utd. 

2 hours ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Darker blue, nicer collar, sponsor that doesn’t overpower the shirt. Classier and smarter imo

That properly takes me back. The one thing I remember being crap about the shirt though was the felt-like sponsor stuck on the front.

Really nice shirt. Pleased with that. 

36 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

Ok, I know someone who's been in with us looking to sign him.  He says that waggot is a pillock, and apparently this is well known.  Let's see how the signings pan out then eh? None at the moment with preseason starting on the weekend.....

Excellent stuff

And you're trying to lay it all on Waggott's feet because of the opinion of one person you know. Good that. 

35 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

You've just fallen for it. Was we not paying him then?

I haven't fallen for anything. I'm capable of having an opinion on something before the club, the LET or other posters try and impose their idea/opinion on to me. 

IMO Davenport and Chapman will both be in and around our starting eleven next season, despite not seeing much game time last season. You've got to factor that in when you consider our recruitment this summer. 

Just now, Sparks Rover said:

It's getting bad, rovers tweeting last summers signings......I think they are trying to claim Davenport as a new signing 

In all fairness, he wasn't available for most of the season. So he will be like a new signing for us. 

On 29/06/2019 at 21:43, S8 & Blue said:

What about this beauty

That was my first ever shirt. Loved it.

The squad is capable of a top half finish, but we've lost Reed and probably Rodwell from that. I think the recruitment over the next month or so will determine whether we can aim for the playoffs as a stretch target, or ultimately miss out on a top half finish. 

1 hour ago, JHRover said:

If we signed Cristiano Ronaldo tomorrow these pages would be full of very happy people even though the window would be open for a while to come. Quite rightly people would express their delight.

As we've done very little business and the manager is now seemingly backtracking people are voicing their concerns, quite rightly in my view given the tragic defence we had last season. 

Only one way to stop that - sign some decent players who will improve us!

Too old. He'd be another Murphy. 

3 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Have to say, I prefer that blue, but the sponsor will probably ruin it. Is it Bet 10 again? 

It is yeah. Hopefully whoever has designed the kit has thought more about how the logo will be incorporated into the shirt this time around. 

Just now, JoeHarvey said:

Much like Wigan (H), when you've not got a decent centre-back pairing, play three of them. Allow a Magloire or a Lenihan to really press in the middle of a three maybe, and the other two stay deeper. Much more solid that a two back with failing wing-backs like Bell - who offer nothing going forward with possession and are clearly shite at defending too given our goals against column.

Fair enough comment. I actually don't buy the idea that our centre backs are terrible. Genuinely think they are exposed more often than they should be due to the lack of quality at full back. 

Just now, JoeHarvey said:

I'd say a midfield of

                                   Travis
                Rothwell                 Davenport
Downing                    Dack                      Armstrong

Would be much more mobile, with Travis and Davenport moving into a midfield two as we push forwards, with Dack joining the striker and Rothwell pushing up.
 

Three at the back? Adventurous.

Just now, roverstdt said:

I think some of the criticism being thrown at Mowbray is a little harsh. The man has so far conducted himself with respect and honor in his role. He got us promoted, almost kept us up! Got us higher than another other League One that got promoted with us that year. Yes there areas that need to be addressed within the team. However, judge a transfer window by the end of it and not half way through it in pure panic. Every transfer window is the same on this board lose if you sign someone and lose if you sign no one.

 

Reality is that yes we need a CB, LB, Striker, Midfielder. We have a lot of the answers within the squad that needs to grow and step up again this season. The Right Back debate should be solved with the young Namibian we have in Ryan Nyambe, he is 21 with plenty to learn. Let that be his spot to learn and make errors, with Lenihan by his side. It is more the left side that worries me...

 

Mulgrew is an asset in his style and i feel like he could almost be the deep lying playmaker we have been looking for. I would almost look at doing 

 

---------------------Mulgrew------------

---------Evans--------Davenport/New

-------------------Dack---------------

 

There is till plenty of time in this window just be patient and give it a go and judge it by the end. It isn't as far doom and gloom as everyone is putting it to be. 

Not sure what Rovers you've been watching, but any team without Travis in it is crazy. He's quite comfortably one of our better players, despite his relative age and experience.

On Payne, I messaged a Bradford supporting mate (also a season ticket holder) out of interest a couple of weeks ago. He responded with the following.

"Payne was easily our best player last season but other teams knew that if you stopped him you’d stop us. When we had amazing form over Xmas and we were beating every 4-0 he was brilliant but as soon as teams worked us out, Hopkin didn’t really know what to do with him.

We spent loads to keep him on and extend the terms of his loan and when he signed everyone was delighted but he didn’t put in one good performance after that. Bowyer ended up leaving him out the team and rightly so.

Sure he’ll do well but he really suffers from being unsure what player he is. Not quick enough to be forward or winger and too small to be a centre mid."

I wouldn't mind Sam Gallagher coming in, as long as it was to play through the middle. I know the going rate for players has risen quite sharply in recent times, but £5 million does sound steep. £3 million would be fair for a player of his calibre and experience. 

Just now, JoeHarvey said:

8 comments now liked so it’s definitely no fluke. Comments such as “Ewood Park is calling” and “Coming Blackburn?”

So looks like Brandon O’Neill rumours could be a true story.

Sweet. Sounds good. Wasn't doubting you. Just can't see the comments section on his profile for whatever reason!

Just now, JoeHarvey said:

Brandon O’Neill from Sydney FC (rumour from the other day) liked a comment from a Blackburn fan on Instagram which read “No he’s on his way to Rovers” and Mr O’Neill is currently in the UK...

Can't find the comments section on his profile. Do you have a screenshot?

It does say however that he's visited London, Leeds, Rotherham, York & Bakewell. 

Now I'm not a UK tourism expert, but surely the odd one out there is Rotherham. Educated guess is saying that he might be moving to Rotherham as a replacement for Will Vaulks. I've called it if it happens!

He was also pictured outside of Elland Road..

Just now, blueboy3333 said:

Only pulling yer pud - although I do think he'll be shite!

Where's he going to play? Out wide instead of Chapman and Rothwell? In the middle? 

I doubt he's come to sit on the bench so Mogga must have promised him something.

I think it's just a car share thing. Mogga wants someone to drive him home.

 

It's a long season, so I'd imagine he'll provide some depth for both positions. As you say, he's probably been told he'll play a lot of football. I can see him being part of a regular 14  (starting 11 and primary 3 subs), whether he starts or comes off the bench. 

Properly cracked me up with that last line. 

Just now, blueboy3333 said:

Yep, good we're only signing shite on short term deals these day

Haha come on now. He might not be what anyone wanted, but I doubt he'll be shite.

One huge positive I'm taking from this is the deal length. We'd have offered him a 2 year deal not that long ago, just to get ahead of any potential rivals for the signature.

I'm open minded towards Downing. It's not particularly an area that needed strengthening, so an experienced head to replace Conway is fine by me as long as his wage is reasonable. I think it's promising that he played as many games as he did for a play off contender. 

For what it's worth I'd also take James Morrison on a free. Gives Mowbray a couple more players he can trust and pads out our squad with some more quality and experience. It should also, in theory, free up funds to spend on our defence. 

Our window is going to be judged on our defensive signings. Money needs to be spent there. 

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Didn't we sign Rhodes on a fans say so ? The fan that hasn't been on this site for years as far as I can see.

Wow, really? That was probably more a reflection of how bloody awful we were at the time though. Not saying things are great now obviously..

2 hours ago, Neal said:

Came from a conversation a fan on here had with Mowbray after the last fans Q&A. He suggested Cooper and Mowbray said it would be one that would interest him... Or words to that effect. 

Ah fair enough. Suppose it's hard to gauge that interest without being there at the time. 

In all honesty I'd be beside myself if Mowbray was taking scouting tips from our fans. If he's a good enough option, he should already be on the radar.