25 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

Cannot but help think Mowbray is storing up trouble for the club in the years ahead. Johnson is 32, Downing 34/35, both past their sell-by date, Darlow at 28 is not old for a keeper but not young either.  Ageing squads suddenly need wholesale restructuring as these players lose it,  and we have enough older players on the books already. I hope we have some very good youth players coming through, because these old legs will need the youngsters to do the running for them. Ideally, we should be signing quality players in the 24-26 age bracket, people like Harrison Reed for instance. 

No, he expects Davenport, Buckley and Butterworth to replace them. In fact if we were signing 24-26yr olds then therefore be a good case to say he was blocking their progress imo.

Just now, Mike E said:

I'll say the same thing as last season. Isn't it refreshing to not know about signings until a day or two beforehand instead of weeks of sagas?

100% agree. Kept under wraps until the very last minute.

Just now, davulsukur said:

I hope Johnson signing spells the end of Smallwood.

It does.

Just now, danger19_80 said:

Well done mate. Can you tell us who it was now?!

Not if you want me to have a chance of ever being able to pass on anything again mate.

Just now, danger19_80 said:

Johnson signs!

Ahem...so it was done as I was told. Didn’t think this one could be wrong with who it had come from tbh.

Just now, 47er said:

But where have we moved to?

Maybe Assombalonga? Would tie in to some of the stuff we’ve been hearing on here about Venkys pushing the expenditure / chaos etc. Links nicely with the LT article about moving on and there was a poster in here who mentioned Assombalonga...hope that’s the case. Would be a huge statement imo 

Just now, RV Blue said:

Can’t see anyone paying money for him, we’ll be lucky to let him go for free without having to contribute to his wages.

I think there are teams who’d pay a fee for Corry Evans. International player with vast championship experience. 

I also don’t see a problem with him being in and around a squad with the likes of Travis, Buckley, Davenport breaking through. There’s no suggestion either that he got a pay rise. Often in these situations the club offers slightly lesser terms over a longer period to allow room for other wages. Evans at his age would have been the perfect candidate for that type of deal. 

Smallwood was rewarded with a new contract after promotion. Mowbray is loyal but his consistency around changing the way in which we play will begin to phase these guys out. They then have the option of hanging around or moving in.

Just now, alderson777 said:

Not done just yet.

Expecting Johnson tomorrow, 2 others interested and also expect to have talks with them

Butterfield, offered to club among other clubs numerous times over summer.

Pretty sure it is done based on how close this person is to the deal. The context of that convo was that if it wasn’t already done this morning then they might not have done it..if you get me? ?. But the fact that he’s not been announced today suggests you could be right...

Just now, AllRoverAsia said:

I hope all that comes to pass, plus a CB or 2

Do "they" expect Ben "to step this season"?

Smallwood and Evans consigned to the history books by Christmas - how does that work when they are on wages?

 

Only spoke about the midfield off the back of Johnson

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

Would be great news if it happens. 

How long do their latest contracts run for though?. What a criminal waste of money that was, especially in Evans' case.

Not sure. 

Just now, JHRover said:

Seems strange to me. Surely if there were doubts about him or his character that would be looked at well before terms were offered and agreed?

If Mowbray doesn't fancy/rate Smallwood/Evans then they need consigning to the history books NOW, rather than 'by Christmas'. 

Exactly my question. Looks to have moved quickly once Lampard confirmed out and Cocu in (done yesterday).

Just now, bluebruce said:

Is that last part your opinion or something you've heard/read?

Interesting if so. I've not seen this area as being as much of a priority as others have (I'd rather just stop playing two DMs and strengthen the defence and get a striker with the budget), and my opinion has been either buy someone utterly class or very cheap but definitely a step up on everyone who isn't Travis. Hopefully this counts as the latter. Probably only get one good season out of him but that gives us time to see how the kids progress and what's needed. If he's up to it.

If there is a similar budget to it, we now have the vast bulk of it for a CB, striker and whatever the 'up to' 5th signing is.

Heard anything on the price? My guess was in the 300-500k range?

Heard nothing on the price. But I think the signs that none of us have picked up on is this ‘change’ in the way we play which basically excludes Smallwood and Evans. Focus is now on the young lads Iv mentioned to play on the half turn talinhbthe ball from centre halves.

Johnson seen as an upgraded version of Smallwood and Evans...

Just now, roversfan99 said:

Wheres that from? Didn't Mowbray say nothing is imminent?

Argh, I really can’t say. They’re so touchy about this stuff now...was ‘done’ by this morning apparently. 

Im more excited by their belief in the young lads. They LOVE Buckley. “He’ll definitely play in the Premier League”

Bradley Johnson is done ✅ 

Club were putting feelers out last night asking about him, his character etc. Opinions were passed and they were told this morning that the deal is done. Only surprise is that it hasn’t been announced today.

Also they expect Buckley, Travis, Davenport and Butterworth to step this season. 

Edit: Smallwood and Evans consigned to the history books by Christmas.

Just now, CambridgeRover said:

Selling Raya is madness. I have a bias for academy products but still think we would be letting him go early when he has bags of potential

I like Raya. He has good potential and I wouldn’t sell him, but I think he’ll be quite easily replaced if needs be.

Just now, Fraserkirky said:

Gee I wonder why Derby are getting rid of their third best player??

Not sure, seems as if he was getting an extension until Lampard left? Maybe the new manager has others in mind?

3 minutes ago, Neal said:

This Johnson one I'm not keen on. Seemed like a decent player at Norwich but for the most part has been trash at Derby. I think people are just choosing to look at his peak thinking he still has that ability but I think its long gone. 

34 appearances and 3rd highest rating last season...?

Just now, roversfan99 said:

Johnson would be a decent addition, adding some experience in the middle, but Butterfield certainly wouldnt be an improvement, crap player who ended the season on Bradfords bench.

Don’t read too much into that. Butterfield is a class act. Needs a fresh start, regain fitness and a bit of love. Has that killer pass off both feet. Get him playing and you’ve got a really good player imo.

At this time it’s all about adding quality. Is Bradley Johnson better than anything else we’ve got? Imo, yes! 

Butterfield is the one I really like out of these links...real quality 

41 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Shows the rapid lowering of expectations being disguised as positivity on the forum. Nobody would have been suggesting Payne in May. As well they shouldn’t have if we have any kind of aspirations.

Couldn’t get into our third division side and has just spent the season getting relegated to the fourth division. 

 

No one is ‘suggesting’ him now mate. He’s been linked this morning (probably by a lazy journalist) as a potential transfer target so it’s apt that we discuss him on the transfer thread, right?

Nothing to do with lowered aspirations!

33 minutes ago, Stuart said:

Any pedigree Hanley’s has is from being an ex Rovers player.

When he has played more than 10 games for anyone else he has shown himself to be mediocre.

Moving back to Rovers would be a backward step for both parties but it would be better for Hanley than Rovers.

The guy has been with two clubs who’ve been promoted out of the league and has 200+ appearances in the Championship. He’s 27yrs old and fits the type of cb profile we need with the added bonus of knowing the club. Agree to disagree.

31 minutes ago, Swanson said:

A bit disturbing that we keep seeing the same names over again. How nice and encouraging it would be to be linked with some fresh faces from Europe for once. If Mowbray's scouts have been out for weeks, they must have some names! Hopefully kept under wraps for now.

I agree. Last years signings, bar Armstrong pretty much came out of the blue. I think a lot of these ‘linked’ former players are either lazy journalists or agents trying to get things moving.

Just now, Stuart said:

Just don’t think he’s up to it. He has chased the money and has been happy to be on the bench at clubs higher up the league. He played 9 games last season; Norwich got promoted without him. He was also a really poor captain when he was here.

When he’s older he’ll look back on his career and think what might have been. But at least he’ll have made lots of money.

I agree about him not having played a lot of games and the risk. But he’s an improvement on what we’ve got and has much better pedigree than Bauer.

5 hours ago, Crimpshrine said:

Hanley had a good final season for us but the year before he was pretty awful. He hasn't played regularly for a while so not really able to judge his recent form. Definitely some boxes not ticked - could go either way if he came back.  Would Mowbray be able to offer him a guaranteed starting place or would he also be a squad filler?

 

I accept that he’s not played much. Maybe he’s the guy on holiday who was groaning about having to do a trial? 

As for being a starter or a squad filler...the answer is that very few players ever sign for any team as a dead cert starter...the cb issue and our lack of physicality in there is one which needs addressing