16 minutes ago, DeeCee said:

What a day out that was!

 

Fantastic. Sat on the benches in the sun!

4 minutes ago, Stuart said:

It’s a strange situation we find ourselves in. Ideally, no, I absolutely wouldn’t want Leutweiler blocking the development of a young keeper. I’d also be astonished if Mowbray has signed up Leutweiler for the development squad.

We have to accept that we have signed Leutweiler as first team number 2. Which means we are going to need a ready made Championship keeper to be signed on now. Or assume the Raya talk is just bluster and nothing will change in that area.

I just can’t see us now signing another first team keeper without Raya leaving.

Interesting. I know what you mean but I can see them wanting a more ‘ready’ made option in the 23’s (which are effectively the old reserves now). I also think there’s a strong chance that the club and Fisher want him to go out somewhere and play? With Albinson released maybe they don’t see a replacement from the 18’s.

I’m also pretty sure that the last commentary post which Sharpe did with TM before he went to India. I’m sure Sharpe confirms that we’re looking to sign ‘at least’ one goalkeeper? Maybe that was the biggest hint yet that they’re considering selling Raya? Then adding two senior keepers to fight it out? Just a theory...

9 hours ago, Stuart said:

By third choice you mean as our U23 keeper?

Think the rule is that you can play 3 over age players at any one time as well as an over age ‘keeper. 

Leutwiler in the 23’s with Raya plus one (experienced) other in the first team squad makes that Unit look a lot more capable of dealing with a promotion push, you think?

34 minutes ago, Stuart said:

Agreed. But Mowbray has just re-signed Leutweiler.

No problems. Leutwiler can be third choice. Send Fisher out on loan with Albinson released.

Keep Raya AND sign an experienced keeper like Ruddy. ??

Raya has potential. But he also has a lot of flaws. If the manager decides to sell him and buy someone else then that’s fine by me. If we’re going to judge him on his signings and demand promotion...the crack on Tony!

Just now, Stuart said:

Where did I say it was fact. When I start posting articles on 90.com and linking them on here then you’ll have a point. Unless I post to somewhere off site, or state otherwise, my posts are my opinion or based on logic. Try it.

All of the managers you mention had better football careers than our goalkeeping coach - who finished at junior grassroots level. Except Villas-Boas who was over-promoted and got found out very quickly at each club. Thanks for making my point for me. Surprised you didn’t add Ferguson to your list just to really mug yourself off.

And your last para embarrasses you I’m afraid - and shows your age.

”Pal”

None of them ever played football pal. Perhaps you’re getting forgetful? Showing your age? ????

Have I missed something about the goalkeeper coach? Has anything actually come out about him being no good?

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

Specific calls?

Can you remind me who Ben Benson played for again, I’ve forgotten. I thought the answer was nobody. He’s younger than most decent goalkeepers, let alone coaches.

There’s an old saying round these parts: ‘them as can do, them as can’t teach’.

Stop being obtuse.

I’m not being obtuse. You made a raft of comments about the goalkeeping coach not being good enough etc and that Raya was likely self taught (which is laughable). I wondered if you had any actual evidence of what you were saying...obviously not. So it’s just your opinion then. Fine ??

Oh and remind me again who José Mourinho played for? Arsene Wenger? Villas Boas? Saachi? Houlier? Seem to have had pretty good carreers in coaching..??‍♂️

Oh, and in the interests of clarity...the saying you are referring to is ‘those who can’t do, teach’. Which kiiiiiind of goes against your theory abit pal ?

2 hours ago, Stuart said:

I think he could go either way.

He is capable of a world but other than that is very average. Poor kicking and doesn’t command his box at all.

I actually feel a bit sorry for him. He has been let down in terms of competition and coaching, with both the number 2 and gk coach devoid of experience. The lad is practically self-taught. I imagine he spends an awful lot of time watching videos.

A lot of specific calls there. Have you got a source regarding the standard of the goalkeeping coach? Or that Raya is ‘self taught’? Or even that Raya spends a lot of time watching videos? 

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

That probably makes his signing even more likely now!

So why is Mowbray even here then? If we aren’t aiming for promotion because of the limitations of the manager (and as a result, the players) then we need a new manager.

I find it hard to believe that ‘the club’ do not have an expectations of promotion.

That absolutely has to be the aim now, every season. If Mowbray can’t deliver it then we need someone who can.

I think there’s some confusion here. So to clarify, a few (including myself) were critiquing players we’ve been linked with on here last night. But we were judging them on their ability to excel in a top 6 championship team because THAT is the stated aim for next season.

@blueboy3333 came in accusing us of being ‘delusional’ for believing that we could go up (whatever). So I just pointed out the the context of this particular conversation which was far from delusional. No one was saying we were going up, just judging players based on their ability to impact a top 6 team.

In relation to your points. The ‘club’ (via the manager and chief exec) HAVE stated publicly that they want to achieve promotion and are currently seeking an increased budget from our owners to achieve that. 

BUT there’s a huge difference between a club wanting to go up and a club being committed to going up. And, the blame for not going up is only squarely at the feet of a manager whose club is committed to going up.

4 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

At 22 I thought a composed performance in a great game. 

I agree. But he wasn’t pulling up any trees. I feel like Evans could pull off a performance like that in League 1. He is only 22 so he has time but with Travis and Davenport in that position already I thought we were after a more ‘ready made’ option..

6 hours ago, blueboy3333 said:

I admire the delusion that the manager whose team conceded more away goals than any other league club in England last season is somehow going to get us promoted next season. It's best enjoyed within the context that he's been here 2-and-a-half years and he's yet to sign a good defender or keeper. 

Batshit crazy. 

 

No one on here is suggesting that we are going up next season. We’re judging players based upon the manager and clubs expectations of going up. That’s completely different. 

Wilks looks class for Donny

I don’t think Whiteman or Aribo are promotion chasing championship players. Bauer looks decent...

I retract the Bauer comment. His defending for that goal was shocking!! 

Just now, roversfan99 said:

The player we should be looking at here is Aribo.

I’m not sure any of them look like world beaters tbh

Bauer and Whiteman both playing tonight btw

8 hours ago, BlackburnEnd75 said:

Most times i've seen Rotherham this season he's played as a holding midfielder (and played well) and we don't play with a midfield anchor. I assume if we were interested it'd be as a CB. Is he any good at Centre Back?

Think he’s naturally a CB...6ft 6, absolute giant

Is absolutely love us to sign Ajayi from Rotherham btw. Absolute beast. 

Just now, Stuart said:

So which player has a song sung by his own fans about how shit he is?

”Good” is a subjective term. In football terms I view that as being very effective not necessarily their football skills. Smallwood was exactly that.

I didn’t say that fans sing about ‘shit’ players...I said they don’t exclusively sing about players based on how good they are. Fans love players for many reasons. Sometimes it’s because they player is amazing, sometimes it’s because the fan base naturally warm to them (like Chapman) and sometimes they love them because the player cares and this resonates with them (like Bennett and Smallwood).

22 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

Ok, Ben's been in this week for talks, he's with donny tonight, but I know Hull and Pompey are also interested.  Obviously Pompey are not getting promoted so that leaves us and hull. Only thing is, he's worked with Nigel before at Sheff Utd, and gets on great.

Yeah I get that. What type of player is he mate? Have to admit I’ve never seen him play. He very technical?

35 minutes ago, Stuart said:

Interesting how other fans/clubs view players. In L1 Richie, well backed by Rovers fans (how many current players have their own song?) he was excellent.

In the Championship it’s beyond him physically - both strength and speed.

Yet a League One side, also not good enough for the second tier, don’t want him while Rovers fans continue to make allowances.

I think the reason was more around his suitability for the style of play they want to adopt. No questioning his ability to screen, work off the ball and play non penetrating passes...and it doesn’t make the management at Rotherham right either. 

For my money, Smallwood was in top 3 most effective players we had in league 1. I also don’t think clubs lauding a player and making songs up about them is exclusively based on how good they are.

Smallwood exceeded our expectations that year and he embodied the honesty, grit and determination that had been sadly lacking at our club for years. We loved him for this.

Just now, JHRover said:

More like Sheffield Wednesday are ahead of us in the process and are in a position to crack on with negotiations whilst our senior management team don't know what the score is and have to get back from India before the button can be pressed.

Sheff Wed going harder. Not great technically apparently? Great engine, lad and leader....maybe we don’t really fancy him as TM said we want technical players in their.

He reckons TM really likes Ajayi. Talked about him constantly after both games with Rotherham management team.

He also said the keeper they had from Fulham on loan is fantastic and well worth a look at for us.

Just now, Biz said:

Me neither since he was a big part of our league one success.

To be honest I was surprised. I thought they’d be snapping our head off to get him back. Stranger things have happened and it ticks a lot of boxes. But that was direct..

18 minutes ago, Stuart said:

Source?

Just now, K-Hod said:

Can't imagine why not.....

Apparently, plays like the ‘crab’ and they like to ‘get it forward’...also referred to as a ‘strange lad’ (I don’t know why) still lives in Rotherham though.