Just now, rigger said:

Manager ?

Touché

Just now, Tormund said:

Depends who it is.

Well Ayala has to be an upgrade on any other CH at the club (and I include Lenihan in that bracket).

Kaminski is an unknown, but the bar wasn't set very high by last seasons number one.

And I won't waste my time talking about Bell.

Well if indeed a LB has finally signed on the dotted line. Then at least the 3 weakest areas have been addressed.

 I don't know what they're paying at QPR, but I wonder if there's any chance we could nab Ryan Manning off them. 

I know he's been linked with some PL and Championship clubs, but there's been no movement yet. 

He's been frozen out at QPR, due to the contract stand off. Best as a left back and also decent playing left midfield. 

5 minutes ago, DE. said:

I believe he was asking for something like £20k p/w which the club rightly refused to pay. I imagine if he'd been more realistic with his demands he would have been kept on. Forunate for us that he wanted far more than he was worth. 

Jesus christ. Just imagine, he'd be one of our top earners nowadays. ?

10 hours ago, JacknOry said:

Makes you wonder if he was the 'first' project. Youth international, captained England at youth level, and was the next on the production line after a certain Phil Jones. 

I'm pretty critical of him, but fair play to Tony Mobrawy to be honest. If we'd have been relegated to L1 under any other manager during Venky's reign - you imagine he'd have been given a new deal. But within a few months - he's seen as not good enough and is moved on.

You do wonder if that may have been part of the catalyst for an improved academy. If he's the best we could produce at the time - it doesn't say much does it.

Personally I would've expected someone of Ayala's experience and ability out of our price range before today, and I think most of the board would agree with that. 

That alone shows you how good a signing it is on the face of it. An experienced centre half we can call our own (a huge bonus) , with vast experience in this league. 

I imagine it's a free transfer most fans at every club in this league would be happy with.

I wonder if he's the trigger for this so called domino effect with new signings. 

Looks like the dingles aren't too pleased about it. ?

Just now, West Yorks Rover said:

How did Kaminski do on the goal, any fault ?

One on one, got something to it but don't think he could've done much more. 

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Either Lenihan or Nyambe should track that run

I think Nyambe points at Lenihan, half tracks his run and ends up playing him onside. 

Another angle too is that Kaminski and Ayala are our players. No need to worry about being back to square one in 12 months time (all being well). 

And still opportunities to use the loan market, although I'd rather concentrate on using that for other areas such as CM, RB where we could do with cover. 

Also will not need to quarantine according to Rich Sharpe. 

If Evans is injured, this is why I'd get rid of him. He's probably one of our higher earners and we can't get 5 games on the trot out of him.

14 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Quite a high risk move for us financially I'd say given his likely wage, potential fragility and age, the Nixon tweet above would suggest Ayala wasn't happy with the deal we offered him originally, perhaps he's getting another year. I was told Grant Hanley wanted a 3 year deal twelve months ago but apparently the owners would only sanction 2 years.

Sounds like we've gone back to the owners for permission to push the boat out on this one to me. Let's see if it comes off.

Yup, sounds as though we've probably given him an extra year.

For what it's worth, I thought I'd ask Rich Sharpe on twitter if there was any indication we'd improved terms. He suspects there's no wiggle room on the wages, so likely an extra year to entice him in. Not too adverse to that as he'll be 32 in 3 years. So still has some left in the tank you'd hope. 

To be fair, we've needed an experienced head back there for a while now. And some experience for the likes of Wharton and Magloire to learn from can't be bad. 

2 minutes ago, RovingRover said:

Daniel Ayala might be back on.

Snag is he has been abroad so will need to quarantine.

If that's true and we can get him in budget, then we need a left back and we're laughing. 

Just now, joey_big_nose said:

There is a chance we will be better - if the two or three of the young lads (JRC, Dolan, Buckley, Downing, Wharton, Magloire) make a significant impact, and if either of Brereton or Gallagher offer something (as they didn't last year). Plus obviously hope is Kaminski is significantly better that Walton.

So some cause for hope there. But we are an injury to Lenihan or Nyambe away from disaster. And left back is already hopeless. We need to sort that.

Yes, my biggest concern is at the back. 

I think going forward we are relatively well covered, even if its with players that have minimal experience. 

As you say, it's a disaster waiting to happen at the back. And I am not comfortable potentially having to rely on magloire, Wharton (just yet) - if Darragh is out for an extended period. 

Just now, Mashed Potatoes said:

It wasn't aimed at you; it was an observation of general application.

Genuinely meant to write isn't, I'll blame autocorrect ?

5 minutes ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

Yes, perish the thought that supporters would concentrate on what happens on the pitch rather than the musings of the CEO.

I know the CEO comment isn't aimed at myself.

But it's been 52 days since we finished 11th. With a solitary signing since. Im not exactly chomping at the bit for the season to start. 

Just now, Mashed Potatoes said:

And yet last week we matched the team that came 5th in the Premier League - sets my pulse racing.

Ahh, sorry, I didn't realise we were using a single pre season friendly as a benchmark....my bad. 

Just now, Mashed Potatoes said:

Mate, we are football supporters and if on the opening day of the season we can't have a little bit of hope I don't see the point of doing it.

It's a bit difficult to look at today with optimism when we are well aware how short we are in certain areas. 

Realistically it's a squad either equal or worse off than last seasons, which finished 11th. Hardly sets the pulse racing does it? 

3 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Did I? Or just I just accept the poster comments cos he wouldn't lie on here. 

Clearly we had no official bid in for the player at that time. 

We will see if he comes here. 

So which one is it Chaddy? 

1. We had no official bid in for the player at the time. 

Or

2. We clearly had a bid accepted if he's to come in for talks. 

I have no personal issue with you Chaddy and its clear you're rovers through and through. But you do tie yourself into knots at times. 

15 minutes ago, Mercer said:

Really!?!?:

Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent, often simply known as Ghent or by their nickname De Buffalo's, is a Belgian sports club, based in the city of Ghent, East Flanders. 

 

Okily Dokily. 

2 minutes ago, RovingRover said:

Because he's refusing to sign a new contract.

Without this we wouldn't be able to afford him.

He signs a new contract. We can't sign him.

He refuses to sign a new contract. We shouldn't sign him because he has a bad attitude.

Anybody want to remind themselves how we signed Dack for £500,000. Would any of us have rejected him as he "has a bad attitude" for not signing a new contract?

It says in the article that Nyambe has been having fitness issues and could leave at the end of this season as his contract is expiring. Surely best to plan ahead when an opportunity arises.

May have misunderstood here, but are you talking about Edwards? If so, he signed a 4 and a half year contract with Stoke less than 12 months ago.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50181844

26 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Please no, will stop the growth of Dolan and he's not going to improve us

The Dolan part I can agree with, the won't improve us part is wide of the mark.