Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

We started the window with the unenviable task of having to reconstruct the spine of the team.

Top class CH CM and main striker.

As per the last couple of Windows there's been a bit of tinkering around the edges but arguably the only thing that has changed is that you can now add a first choice keeper to that list, with us having absolutely no idea who we're going to replace Raya with.

I also disagree about Reed, I thought he was top class but the Mowbray mismanaged him terribly by a hunting him out wide.

Reed played his best games for Rovers on the right side of midfield. I don’t think he was great in the centre and he was poor in the second half of the season. I’d much rather have Johnson in CM than Reed.

How do you know we have no idea who we’re going to replace Raya with?

But yeah, imo we need a keeper, CB and a striker. 

Just now, Swanson said:

Don't much about this guy, but he plays in the same position as Evans and Smallwood?

I think he plays further forward tbh. A friend of mine I think managed him. Iv just asked the question...let’s see what he’s says.

Just now, Stuart said:

 

What say ye now chaps?

Still just getting fit?

I still think it’s very unlikely anything will happen with Adam. The last couple of lines in Mowbrays interview in the LT this evening is key for me.

I bet the guy who’s staying at Stanley House is Jacob Butterfield...

Just now, Stuart said:

Would definitely be found out in the Championship. Avoid.

Agreed.

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

That you saying he's the bully not me. I just asked why do you think he called out 2 players in their early 20's but not the more experienced players in our backline? You have obviously surmised from that, that he is a bully. I personally just think he is a coward.  

I just genuinely don’t know where some of you get this stuff from. ??‍♂️??

Just now, roversfan99 said:

Theres a lot of assumption there, his motive for wanting the move could be anything, a desire to play with the goalkeeping coach to improve him (both Spanish), belief that Brentford are more likely to get promoted (spending big on Jansson potentially too), could be a wage rise, could have grown sick and tired of being singled out in the media when the whole defence is shit, could be anything.

Your second to last paragraph is the key however, fully agree.Insert other media

Just hope we start the necessary defensive overhaul soon.

Tbf there’s assumption in every post. Because none of us actually know what went on. This makes it extremely difficult to make any assertions on how it reflects on anyone.

What I can say wholeheartedly is that IF having let Raya go we do not sign an upgrade then Mowbray will be in for it off the fans. And rightly so!

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

He only calls out the young players, never the more experienced ones. Take last season our defence was a shambles the only two he publicly criticised were Nyambe (21) and Raya (23). He didn't call out Mulgrew, Williams, Bennett or Bell even though they were all consistently awful. Why do you think that is?

Ahahaha so he’s bully then? ??? do you guys ever give up? ??‍♂️

Just now, Stuart said:

As a manager I’d expect Mowbray to have plan on place to replace Raya before he tells he’s no longer in his plans.

It’s interesting that some think he jumped and some think he was pushed, yet in both cases Mowbray is blameless.

He absolutely MUST sign a credible goalkeeper this week. Ideally somebody already signed and saying their goodbyes. Because we’ve just handed the bargaining power over to any agent that we now have to deal with - unless their client is currently out of work.

He’s had a conversation with the guy and told him that he’s looking for an experienced keeper to challenge him. I’d imagine he had the same chats with Mulgrew, Williams, Smallwood possibly even Evans and Graham. He’s absolutely within his rights to do so and there’d be no expectation that he would know at that point who, exactly he was signing. 

The fact that Raya decided to push his way out off the back of that conversation is also not a big deal. If I were in his position with a manager who’s obv lost some confidence in me I’d want to go too. It’s no one’s fault and at this stage does not reflect badly on anyone.

What I will 100% agree with you on is that having made the deciision and allowed Raya to leave, he MUST replace him with an improved version. To fail in doing so would be a major failing in Mowbray.

But at this stage, the Raya situation absolutely does not reflect badly on anyone imo.

Just now, The Axe said:

I'm really struggling to recall any Rovers' manager, even the bad ones, singling out individuals for adverse comment. Certainly can't ever remember a young player getting this treatment.

Odd...the players all seem to love him and most of the time he’s accused of being some sort of loyal, lap dog who hasn’t got the balls to stand up to the lads. Then the odd occasion when he does speak openly he’s seen as a tyrant! ??‍♂️

22 minutes ago, Stuart said:

If Raya wasn’t going to be first choice then you would think Mowbray would know who was - or even had someone lined-  up rather than some kind of Jedi mind trick motivation that backfired.

If Raya was told that he would now be competing with Leutwiler to start I could understand why he would have wanted to leave.

Question: does this situation reflect badly on Mowbray or not?

In that scenario TM has lost confidence in a keeper who has made some mistakes and informs him that he intends to bring a direct challenger into the club. Raya decides that isn’t for him (fair enough) and pushes for a move.

I don’t see how this can reflect badly on either Mowbray or Raya? People make choices. That’s just life. 

Any info about why Adam is playing? Thinking he’s just squad filling for these early friendlies? 

Would assume TM will clear up afterwards.

Just now, matt83 said:

Did anyone transcribe that fans forum meeting. Sure we were only going for young players who can add value etc. Most of our signings will be seen getting into mischief in a tin bath round the Yorkshire dales at this rate 

Pretty sure he said they wanted Championship experience in that meeting.

1 hour ago, 47er said:

Come off it. If TM came  out and said "Raya is brilliant and we are lucky to have him. He's going nowhere while I'm here" you would back him to the hilt!!

And you still don't know the difference between a fact and an opinion though I've done my best!

Mate, I think it’s you who is struggling here. My opinion has never changed on Raya. Iv always thought he is a good Keeper who’s prone to mistakes and has the potential to be very good. Iv never whined about him being ‘shit’ or proudly proclaimed him to be the best keeper in the league. 

Would I have sold him? No. Am I particularly upset that we have? No. Do I think we can sign a better keeper for next season? Yes, easily. 

Just now, 47er said:

I don't mind what opinions you hold, just don't pass them off as FACT.

And you were right about the Johnson deal and nobody has ever said you weren't, but that doesn't mean you are right about everything else does it?

My saying that people had changed their minds on Raya to effectively fit their narrative wasn’t fact it was my opinion and I’m comfortable with it. As I am sure many others on here are. 

When I said that Johnson had signed I knew it to be fact. 

But either way, I don’t have any obligation to prove anything to you or anyone else. If that were the case then there would be a lot of people on here spending all their time trying to do so.

3 minutes ago, USABlue said:

I have to agree with the original poster there was.lots of ill will toward Raya need better was used often, combined with slating the GK coach.  I too was a bit surprised how many now think we should not sell.  As for being touted the best in division erm think not.  I will be keeping an eye on his career as I am on the fence on this one, he could get better but I just have a gut feel he does not have it in him to fully develop the attributes he is currently lacking.  Like I said you can only coach so much of it for the top keepers it comes naturally.

Ah mate, he got pelted on here by lots of people who are now seemingly annoyed and upset by his departure. Whatever...

Raya is far from the best keeper in the league. In all honesty the metric isn’t transferable in the way that outfield players are judged. There will be keepers in the lower leagues who are perfectly capable of playing in the Champ. I’m very confident that we won’t miss Raya next season. I’m not as confident that we won’t rue selling him for £3m+ or whatever. But the manager had lost confidence in him and who could blame him? The writing was on the wall.

Just now, Tugay's Right Foot said:

Sad if that happens. Always rated Wharton but granted haven’t seen him play last season. What say our former U23 captain Platt?

Not one who’s regularly talked about like the others.

3 minutes ago, Tugay's Right Foot said:

Now that the other young players are back from loan, Tyler is probably behind players like Scott Wharton, Platt and Grayson me thinks

Not what I’ve heard. Magloire is now at the front of the queue to be intergrated this season along with Buckley and Butterworth.

i wouldn’t be surprised if we sold Wharton and sent Grayson back out on loan.

Just now, 47er said:

Hang on! Most of what's written on here is opinion and should be! But there are facts and fiction nevertheless. 

"most seemed desperate to get him out after each time he made a mistake" is NOT a fact and you ARE rewriting history to have your usual dig at those whose views you usually find baffling. Unless you can dig up those posts to show what you are saying is true, I'll dismiss it as the usual hyperbole I associate with you. What you've written does not match my recollection of the debate.

Most,however, thought he made mistakes during the season which cost us points, particularly after that injury v West Brom. Personally I think he has brilliant reflexes but makes poor decisions at times. Not helped by the state of the defence that's true imo. Good coaching, an elder mentor to learn off and I think he could be the goods.

It seems Tony doesn't think that so it looks like he's off. Whether we live to regret that only time will tell.

Just now, 47er said:

Hang on! Most of what's written on here is opinion and should be! But there are facts and fiction nevertheless. 

"most seemed desperate to get him out after each time he made a mistake" is NOT a fact and you ARE rewriting history to have your usual dig at those whose views you usually find baffling. Unless you can dig up those posts to show what you are saying is true, I'll dismiss it as the usual hyperbole I associate with you. What you've written does not match my recollection of the debate.

Most,however, thought he made mistakes during the season which cost us points, particularly after that injury v West Brom. Personally I think he has brilliant reflexes but makes poor decisions at times. Not helped by the state of the defence that's true imo. Good coaching, an elder mentor to learn off and I think he could be the goods.

It seems Tony doesn't think that so it looks like he's off. Whether we live to regret that only time will tell.

The same ‘hyperbole’ which informed you all that the Bradley Johnson deal was in fact 100%  ‘done’ 12 hours before it was announced by the club? ??‍♂️??

This messageboard (aside from the above type of stuff) is just opinion. You have people talking about us being relegated in the same space as people genuinely believing that we can be promoted. Both ends of the spectrum seem equally ridiculous to the other side. I am free to pass my opinion on whatever I like and based primarily on the content already on there I don’t feel any necessity to provide evidence. If you don’t want to read it then ignore as I do to some on here.

Now, back to transfers...Gally and Darlow announced on Monday? My feeling is that it will be a fee upto £5m (including add ons) and upto £4m for Darlow. Not sure about Gallagher. Darlow would be an upgrade on Raya imo. 

Just now, JacknOry said:

Think you'll have to back that up with some posts as I dont recall 'most' wanting him out at all. A handful at most might have said it a few times.

I said lots not most and I don’t have to back anything up to anyone on here. That’s my opinion.

Just now, Mattyblue said:

Nobody was ‘desperate to get him out’. He was a young lad making mistakes, the coach got as much grief as he did. Everyone saw his potential.

I’m not massively bothered about it, but don’t try and re-write History.

I’m not re-writing anything. This is opinion and I remember lots of people wanting to replace him throughout the season. Now lots of that same group appear devastated that we’re losing him. Some going as far as to compare him to Friedel!? 

Raya is a good Keeper with the potential to be a very good one. But he won’t be hard to replace this season.

Raya sold for £3m plus add ons is about right. Surprised with the change in opinion on him as most seemed desperate to get him out after each time he made a mistake. I rate Raya and I think he has good potential but he won’t be hard to replace imo. The names linked such as Darlow, Ruddy, Carson and Hart are upgrades imo.

Downing and Johnson are solid signings. Both have good pedigree at the level we want to be (Top end of the Championship). In spite of their age they are both generally fit and play plenty of games. Their age is a positive for the group in adding experience as well as allowing the likes of Buckley, Davenport, Butterworth and Chapman to come through.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we went for a PL defender on loan for a season or another 30 odd year old. Because they love Magloire too and want to integrate him in.

i believe they’ll spend their cash on a Striker and a Keeper.

Just now, Beanie01289 said:

What even remotely suggests we will be in a relegation fight. 

Don’t take them on mate. It’s bordering on ridiculous really.

Just now, Sparks Rover said:

I'd drive him to Leeds for 20m if Tony gets to spend it all. Grosicki, Mings and Crouchy with the coin.

I’d love Mings