So as we approach the January window, I figured it was time for a look back at our summer transfer dealings. I've done it the last few seasons now, and it's been fair to say that our transfer policy up till now has been a mixed bag. Below are my thoughts on how we did this summer and am interested in the opinions of others. Please note, this is an evaluation based on our half season so far, not just our current great run, nor our 6 game winless run, but hopefully a balanced look at the 5 months. Also factored in to my thinking is cost and squad balance and needs. Walton - 3 A poor signing as the clangers remain prevalent without the extraordinary saves of Raya to help him out. Poor distribution too. What makes this signing worse is that Walton is only on loan, meaning that even if he does eventually develop (doubtful imo) we won't be the ones who benefit. Add in he can be recalled, albeit that is only a drawback because of the incompetence of our understudy, and the fact it's not really building forward and progressing (new keeper next year) and you really question the sense of this signing. Tosin - 8 A few bits hit and miss but we are much more defensively solid with him in the side. Still think we needed a hard nut centre back of our own, but he's the next best thing. Quality distribution is a real plus, and is a big improvement defensively on Mulgrew and Rodwell. We don't have enough centre backs to take advantage of his versatility, and he is only on loan, but despite these minor gripes Tosin has been a great addition to the team. Cunningham - N/A He looked like he would be a good signing and boost the team but an injury early on means its unfair to rate him one way or another. Shame, as I suspect he would have made a big difference, but don't want to criticise or praise TM on an unknown. Johnson - 4 Started brightly but quickly fades. Seems to be the story of his season and every time he plays (bar the last game). A really promising start but attitude and lack of fitness have meant he's now below Evans, and I'm not sure he's much better in Bennett in that role too. Given his age means he's not a long term signing who will improve, and his overall lack of impact on the first team, this seems like a real waste of a wage. He's ok but given we had a couple of other players who can do a job as well if not better there, it doesn't seem like a step up improving the team. Funds would have been much better used supporting the defence then adding another ageing average centre mid in. Holtby - 8 Not fully hit the ground running due to fitness issues, but then if he didn't have said issues he wouldn't be at Rovers. A quality player on the ball, and fits well into our system. Think as his fitness improves we'll see more from him and a bargain on a free. A very clever signing. Downing - 9 A very clever signing. Not had a bad game yet, and done well in a couple of positions. He gives us balance and width on the left and a good supply of crosses for our strikers. He's also proved a reliable left back which is something we haven't had in the squad of late bar a brief dalliance with Cunningham. All in all, performing above and beyond expectations. Shame he is 35 and won't be around for that long. Had we got the rest of our transfer business right I feel that Downing would have been the final piece of the jigsaw that would push us towards promotion. Chapman - 2 Not sure whether it's attitude or fitness but given TM has worked with him before, this can't have come as a surprise. So just a waste of a wage, which was entirely avoidable. Gallagher - 4 Yes, there have been an improvement of late, and yes there are signs of hope. But we needed a replacement ready to take Graham's place and Gally isn't that (yet). Additionally only 3 goals isn't a great return for half a season. Not that TM helped by putting him on the wing on numerous occasions. There's been a fair number of indifferent and poor performances up front and on the wing and given we spent most our budget on him, this really isn't the sort of return that you need. The money could have been spent better - especially on the defence and keeper position, and he hasn't performed like what we should get for a £5 million striker. That said given we own him and his age, the promising signs mean that he could develop and become a good player. The problem is that wasn't what we wanted/needed this season. Overall imo another season of boom and bust. There are issues of the transfers we didn't do - namely a few more defenders and a back up keeper. It only took the Cunningham injury for us to look very thin on the ground, whilst our current keeper is safe as houses regardless of how he plays as he has no competition/competent back up. The positive is that the successes have been very successful, and there haven't been any absolute expensive flops such as Whittingham and Bereton. Some may think I've been overly harsh on Gally and Johnson but I think when fees are considered and what was needed, then they haven't matched up to what is required. That said neither is the utter flop of previous expensive failures, and aren't liabilities, so perhaps that is a step in the right direction. Overall though another season of 50:50 in the transfer window from TM.

Thing is I think a lot of players do, and always have. They come up through the ranks, make a few promising cameos but really, just aren't good enough. We had a lad in the promotion season under Souness (called Thomas I think) who played a couple of games, wasn't really up to it, moved elsewhere then I think sunk down through the leagues. And am sure there are a ton more examples (Marlon Brooms spring, s to mind.) The issue is that in most of these cases they don't take an entire transfer budget and cost £7 million. As you say he looks totally lacking in every way, and its baffling how someone can look so out of their depth and be brought, much less how they command such a big fee.

Yeah I totally can see this and think you are quite possibly correct. On paper I would possibly go with this too. Thing is though Arma's recent form necessitates that he is in the team. 2 goals and 2 assists in the last 6 games is a good return and if we are picking the team on performance levels I'd have to have Arma in there. Great we are debating who is best to go in the team rather than least worst!

Ahem, yes. The 4 changes back to the team that did the majority of the winning run. Not sure the changes made for the last game would have been made had we not had 4 games in quick succession. With a decent rest those who have done the majority of our good run should be ready to play.

Let's keep it simple. Standard back 4 with Downing back in. Not sure I trust Bell to have another good game. Let's go with the stats and get Evans and Travis back together. Also Evans is in the form of his life, which is rare, so let's capitalise whilst it lasts. Dack, Holtby Armstrong for me . Armstrong is on form and therefore merits a place, Holtby I think may have a bit more nous - although wouldn't be disappointed with Rothwell there and his battling brought to the mix -and Dack because he is essential Graham up front because he is better than Gally, more likely to get a goal and has a better partnership with Dack. Keep a winning team where possible and let's keep the run going.

Yeah. Lota of managers lose their way at a club and need a change. Souness by the end has lost the plot here but did great work the first 3 years. Wagner did really well getting promoted and staying up. Not too surprising he is doing well elsewhere. Even Coyle had one success on his record - Ince had several! Most managers click at one club and get something right, the good managers do it at numerous places. As for the odeous one - a comparison with Bowyer is interesting. Both promoted vastly beyond what they expected. Neither had any success (Bowyer did show he was nifty in the transfer market at least.) And yet since then after, imo, being overpromoted and with only Rovers on his managerial CV Bowyer has had several jobs. Kean has had no others in English football. This to me.speaks volumes of the regard he is held in. Equally that no one has gone for him even as a coach is huge. (Understandable mind.) Appleton as others have said has done well as assistant manager. To not be valued - or more likely trusted - as a coach even, again speaks volumes. I suppose he is set up for life after his scam with us but if he is the football man he says he is (although you can't trust a word from the snakes mouth), IF he has the love of the game he professes then I wonder if he thinks his betrayal at Rovers was worth it. He's relatively young and could have had a fair few more years in English football as a coach and perhaps even worked his way up (unlikely but possible). All that's been thrown away on a quick buck and betrayal. Being honest, uncharitable as it is, i do hope he misses English football and realises what he has lost. It'd be scant payment for what he cost us.n

This is a very tough topic which speaks volumes about how bad the decade has been. Think we're handicapping ourselves by going a 4-4-2 because as others have said up front we have an embarrassing number of possibilities. Varney, Brown, Stokes, Goodwiilie all deserve a place in the team they're that bad. That we've had at least 4 in a decade, and they all played a number of games for us, really highlights how bad the last decade has been.

Think this is the right thread - apologies if not and please feel free to move it - but Macclesfield have been docker 6 points for not fulfilling fixtures. I do wonder how those in the football league can actually look in a mirror. A TOTALLY different punishment to Bolton within 6 months of each other. I mean, even for the EFL that seems overly hypocritical and incompetent. Not forgetting the Boro precedent either. It almost seems as depending on their view of the club, your punishment differs. FIFA, UEFA and the leech that is the Premier League are rightly criticised for their avriciousness and corruptness but the EFL is just as appalling it seems.

Even my wife who isn't a football fan knows Leeds always bottle it! HTap on a clip to paste it in the text box.That said I agree this time barring some spectacular event causing upheval/disturbance I think Leeds will get promoted.

So PNE had a run of 4 defeats and yet still sit in 3rd, whilst Forest, Bristol City and Fulham (I think) have all struggled of late. I think this shows that all teams are going to go on good and bad runs in this division. The challenge is keeping the bad ones short and maximising the good ones. In this respect am not sure the break comes at a good time for Rovers. Millwall being top half is very impressive and they're sneakily climbing the table. At the bottom the bottom teams playing each other all drew and.won't be encouraged to see Barnsley win. This championship is rediculously competitive!

Too many changes and too many players in the wrong position and what do I know... Great 3 points and huge credit to TM. Wasn't the obvious team or tactics and was a really hard place.to come to - only lost 2 at home in a competitive season - so credit to TM I'm one of his biggest critics but this was a fantastic result. Winning games like this is the stuff of promotion. I think most people would have taken a point and getting wins in these situations is what makes a promotion team.different from an also ran. It's only 1 tricky game but coupled with a run of home.wins it looks encouraging. Not going to get too excited by Bell, Bereton or Johnson's performances - still not convinced they are good players. BUT it is a hugely encouraging sign that they can and did put in a decent performance. I'd still strengthen in Jan but even these players not being dead weights would be a huge step forward. Encouraging signs, although not getting too carried away yet. Worries - too hunky dorey that we don't strengthen in Jan and the squad still looks thin in places. But when all players even your weaker ones perform well you know you are heading in the right direction.

Horrible, horrible team. In fairness as I posted in another thread can the previously selected players keep going given age and fitness issues of many? That said even if the answer to that question is no the answer certainly doesn't lie in Bennett at left mid and Bereton in any shape or form, much less out of position. Not happy with Bell in the team either but realistically who else have we got who is fit and can play there. At least Nayambe retains his position and we are playing 2 defensive mids.

Pretty torn about last night. On one hand a point when not playing particularly well is no bad thing and given we've (rightly) played the same team in a hectic schedule tiredness must be setting in. We have 2 mid 30s players in the team, Graham and Downing plus 2 injury prone in Lenihen and Evans so that's a third of the team I would imagine feeling the strain of recent games. On the flip side going ahead and having a numerical advantage yet not taking advantage of either is pretty disappointing. Regardless of the result being good on paper, the circumstances mean that the chances of getting 3 points were a bit more readily available and we didn't take it. A better team would have. If we don't get playoffs then there will be a lot more instances that cost us that chance over the game Vs Swansea - the games Vs Luton and Charlton at home or capitulating at PNE when 2-0 up immediately spring to mind. That said given we are playing catch up and in such circumstances letting go of an advantageous situation is disappointing and more significant. I feel like the result Vs Bristol will also shape how we see things and whether we view it as a positive or negative point. That said a win and loss Vs Bristol and Swansea would see us better off then two hard fought draws. However the fact we're disappointed with a point rather than resigned to not winning or relieved to get a point suggests we are on an upward trajectory. Better than what was, but question marks as to whether it is enough imo.

My way of seeing it although given Luton beat Wigan and have had a couple of wins of late perhaps they are more likely to survive of the two? Don't think Boro or Reading are totally safe either.

Charlton are sinking at a scarily impressive rate. Good win for PNE to stop the rot - a dislikeable team but the manager is doing well there overall. The same perhaps could be said of Millwall especially given their budget. Still don't think Woodgate is the right man for Boro despite a decent point - and Forest are certainly showing they are chokers/bottlers after their last 2 games. Decent team but not ruthless enough for playoffs imo. Overall apart from the top 2 there isn't anything to fear in this division. Bit like this year's premiership really...

Us playing Chelsea and De Gouey (so) their Dutch keeper coming up for a corner and getting caught out and us scoring. Pretty sure that never happened, against us at least, but have a memory of watching said event on match of the day. Strange how the memory plays tricks. I think I also remember Steele having a good game but am much more sceptical on that one.

In fairness I think a lot of the uproar about Mulgrew was he wasn't replaced more than the quality of his defending. A lot of concern was also that we would miss his goals and set piece threat. Both of those things remain true. Had we another set piece specialist or brought in defensive cover (no defenders on the bench at the weekend) then there would be little sadness over him going. As it is, he isn't that great defensively and imo done as a centre back in a 2. That said a canny manager might still get a lot out of him as one of three centre backs or in defensive mid imo. Wigan are having him as one of two centre backs (or were when I last checked) and that isn't really working...

Great post. Only thing I would add is that actually fans were demanding Travis had help from his defensive mid. Admittedly not from Evans but there were numerous suggestions that Travis wasn't the only defensive mid in the side.

Yeah I checked to see if had been starting in Wigan's poor run too. No surprises he has and think he is finished as a centre back (but not necessarily at defensive mid). The other thing that struck me was looking at Wigan's team and Luton's how the heck could we have been below them/in a relegation fight earlier in the season given the dross in their teams? Shows that there are some very limited squads out there.

Perhaps they are like Sunderland as in a problem club? After all the current guy clearly has nous and has done well previously, albeit not in this league. But they're getting through a number of managers and all struggling so perhaps the common denominator is the club? Wigan are in trouble loosing to Luton. Their record has been appalling for a while now. And Boro have picked up a bit but you still think Woodgate isn't the right man for them and they'll hover round the relegation zone. Interesting to see those with new managers - Cardiff, Reading and Millwall - aren't pulling up any trees but are getting some points. It seems like average is the watchword of this division.

Oh Tony! Even when you get it right you try to get it wrong. Probably a good reason why we won't go up. His subs have cost us before and it looks like the temptation to mix things up is still there. At least he hasn't succumbed to doing it with the first 11. Good win and a great run. For all the squad frailties and player inconsistencies there's also a rather good team in there as well which is encouraging. Surprised Holtby didn't come on as we seemed to have final ball issues and his composure would've helped. The next 2 games are real challenges for us but we aren't staring into the abyss as we were before which must help the nerves going into some tricky games.

Yeah I see your point. Perhaps it's more his standards/judgement of a quality upgrade which combines with the language used and the treatment of certain players makes me wary as to whether he is actually trying to upgrade us!

I see you are ignoring this post which shows a host of reasons why Dack may be off! In addition to all my other objections what if a manager wants to change their style? How about clubs from abroad? Man there are a ton of reasons why Dack will leave and I,'m sure you quoted on the death of 4-4-2 in other places as well, so plenty of clubs may well want him. In fact he may for into these clubs as a different kind of dropping off forward/in the hole. I'm astounded someone can think that the best a well performing Championship player can do is us.

I see what you are saying but removal from the first 11 isn't the best barometer for success if the replacements aren't good enough! Also given how Holtby had been phased in and out, Gally came in sometimes over a better performing Graham - and some times in the spectacularly unhelpful position of right wing - Tosin only got his break when Williams/Lenihen was injured (admittedly he had his own injuries but it was still slower than it ought). It suggests TM is a bit unwilling to upset the apple.cart. I think he has said as much in interviews as well wanting to keep everyone happy. As for Johnson it seems a lot of wages on a squad player and a bit of a waste imo. Not very succinct from me! I guess what I am trying to say is I have issues with how a few players have been integrated and the creating competition also suggests players of a similar quality rather than those who've significantly better and we've seen that in Johnson Gally and Walton not being of the required standard for us to push on.

Um that's a tallest dwarf situation in a few of those cases isn't it? I mean pushing Leuitweiller, Bell, Bereton, Smallwood etc down the chain isn't exactly difficult and doesn't mean the incoming players are up to standard either. FWiW I think Holtby, Downing, Tosin and Cunningham are improvements to the squad but Johnson, Gally and Walton aren't at the required level. That's a 58% success ratio (ok I guess and his best yet) but also ignores fees, areas we haven't invested in and are threadbare or the long term profile/strategy of the club (arguably only Holtby and Gally will be playing for us next year at this level). So yeah I can see why fans may be worried.