Paul Mani

Maybe VI has been promised a ‘Cantwell-esque’ marquee signing?

Hmmm…in fairness, the Cantwell signing was a similar ilk. Let’s see.

….for now. I think we’re keeping the Baradji deal warm to do if / when Trav goes. Mafoumbi is probably being hawked out to possible suitors to clear up that ESC spot. One thing that was interesting in the podcast was that Elliott suggested they might be building towards a marquee type signing in that forward / RW spot. He claimed it was his ideal scenario but I got the impression it may have been spoken about.

The signings certainly point to this type of set up. Especially when you consider the profile of the fullbacks. On the left side we have two solid ‘stay at home’ type full backs, so a De Neve, more defensive LwB makes sense. Meanwhile, on the right, both Alebiosu and seemingly Miller will bomb forwards and create the width meaning the Right sided attacker can invert and create an overload in between the lines. Having listened to Elliot’s podcast this morning, he tipped Tavares to be the signing of the season based on what he had seen briefly in Spain. Also confirmed fee was 1.5-2m. Thinking about that, I do think Baradji is being lined up as Trav’s replacement. We’ll finish up with Sonny, Tavares, Baradji, Montgomery and Forshaw for those two positions.

Agreed re the quality (seemingly of those three) FWIW - Those who’ve watched us seem to think in possession, that we become 3421, meaning the RB (Miller) pushes into midfield, the left side (De Neve) stays in situ, and the LB (Ribeiro) becomes a LCB. What it also means is that the RM tucks in an attacking position, next to Cantwell and behind O’hashi. If this is correct then Henriksson and Baradji perfectly fit that RAM birth. So we wouldn’t need a RW.

The £10m thing came from a Everton scout who I met at a game. There were a number of others in the players lounge / directors box and most were there to watch Buckley. I hadn’t seen that much of him at the time and so asked what all the hype was…it was common knowledge that Rovers price was £10m and at the time, the guy and a Liverpool scout were relaxed with the fee…. I’m pretty sure Mowbray did come out, completely independently around that time whilst discussing Buckleys rise, that he was “a £10m player…” At that time (pre Wharton), Buckley was very much seen as the jewel in the academy crown. At his best, he’s neat and tidy, can play on the half turn and sees a pass. He just never kicked on and in the last few years seems to be regressing further and further back. Shame.

Lewis Miller is a RB / CB cover, 2 for 1. Itll be Baradji and a winger and then we’ll be done. Is my bet.

Maybe - fwiw I don’t think it’s going to happen immediately. Wouldnt surprise me if we’ve transitioned by Christmas though.

I have a feeling Miller might be seen as a RB and cover for CB. Would make sense and doesn’t overload. For the record, I am fairly sure VI is transitioning us into a 343. I’ve suspected it before, and he defo had his most successful stint as a manager playing 3 at the back. But when you look at the signings it’s pretty clear to me. De Neve and Alebosu are wing backs. The recent interview on the LT confirmed it. McLaughlin is a LCB and Miller it would appear is a RCB. Plus, we’re now devoid of any true wingers. Toth Miller. Hyam. Mclaughlin Alebiosu. Trav. Sonny. De Neve Kargbo. Yuki. Cantwell Incoming…..

Lewis Miller is the Aussie apparently - Fee approx £1.5m and can play RB and RCB - big, powerful and highly rated. Seems a good signing if it happens.

We are in managed decline and there’s nothing positive to draw from Venkys reign….but I still can’t get comfortable with anyone be “sure” that we’ve had a bad window. And just because you don’t know a player, and he doesn’t cost millions doesn’t mean he’s rubbish. It’s different if the club hadn’t signed anyone or if they were signing players we’d been watching for years and could say unequivocally that they were crap!? But I’d put money that most of us haven’t seen any of them play before, including McLaughlin. So I just don’t see how anyone can be so sure that we’ve had a bad window.

Disclaimer - I’m not saying we’ve had a good transfer window. I still believe we’re in Managed decline and Venkys need to go! But - How do we know that recruitment has been poor so far? We’ve signed 4 players, and haven’t seen much of any of them yet. Surely we’d have to watch them play before deciding if they were better or worse than what went before them?

Bearing in mind most of the players signed were / are unknowns (to us), I’m not sure how anyone can argue we’ve strengthened or weakened those positions. Add in the context of a managerial change and the fact that we’re clearly not done buying or selling, I think it’s virtually impossible. At this stage last season under Eustace, we were massively weaker (on paper) than the season before having lost Szmodics. The outlook appeared bleak and no one predicted the season we ended up having, the notion of finishing one place outside the playoffs would’ve been laughed and ridiculed out of here. Now there are obvious gaps in the squad and the manger has said he wants a CB, RW and AM. To my mind, all we can do is see who we sign, review how they play when watching the matches and THEN judge if we’ve strengthened or weakened in any position?

I don’t see Cantwell as a #10. He doesn’t assist regularly enough, or have the composure in front of goal to score regularly. I think Cantwell ‘assists the assist’ more often than not. He’s very good technically and I think he would play best deeper as part of a midfield three, alongside Trav with Sonny sat slightly behind.

He is actually a CM tbf. As in that’s his natural position.

This is a fair assessment. I don’t think you’re far wrong. The one which is causing the most discussion is probably the CF. Personally, I saw enough from Yuki and Big Mak last season to believe one or both of them could get 15+ goals this season. Seems VI has a similar opinion. So, who will back them up? Listening to the manager and RG, it seems they aren’t targeting one, which means they’ve seen enough from one of Tyjon or Leonard to give it a run. My guess would be that they’re banking on the former rather than the latter and I can see Leonard getting out on loan. For me, you’ve gotta trust the manager, the guy who’s watching them everyday and if he believes they have enough, then we crack on! It sounds like they really fancy Montgomery as the 4th / 5th cm behind Trav, Tron and Tavares. In rank of need, I’d say RW, CB (Cheap foreign), and Baradji will be our lot, assuming no one leaves. If / when someone leaves, we WONT reinvest the money (as per RG’s comments early in the summer). So I’d expect us to bring loans in to cover those sales. Maybe a freebie or two.

Yeah, assuming no exits, a CB, RW and an attacking midfielder (Baradji) would do it. Im keen to give Yuki and Big Mak a chance up top. Any exits will be covered by loans is my guess.

Correct. 😁

Mate, ffs….since when was there an “expectation that people hold their hands up when they’re wrong” ?? The amount of absolute shite that gets peddled in here and then is consigned to history the day after is huge. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen anyone accept anything! 🤣 One thing is for sure though, a low risk (basically free) move to Espanyol is NOT proof that Dolan is any better than Rovers or any other mid table Championship team, and with due respect I trust my own eyes over 100+ games over your opinion. On a personal note, I would’ve been 50/50 on whether I offered him a contract at all. Same with Hedges. Poor players. So once again, why don’t we wait and see if this all works out or he’s on loan at Derby by January.

Crazy, you spend your whole life preaching that everyone is entitled to an opinion and then suddenly because Dolan gets a move to Espanyol, then the people who doubted him are “wrong”. Listen, for the very last time. I hope to god I’m wrong, because there’s no doubt he’s a great lad. But in 100+ games, I’m saying he’s crap. He won’t be the first crap player to get a great move. He’s extremely low risk in terms of wages and fees so it’s probably best if everyone sits back and sees how things work out for him there before we start deciding whether anyone was right or wrong. Eh?

We shall see. 👍🏼

Brilliant move for TD. He’s obviously a great lad and what an opportunity to be the player he believes he can be and to experience another culture. After watching him play 100 times at least, no one can convince me that he’s anything other than a mid championship plodder. But as I’ve said before, I’d be delighted to be wrong this time. Time to step up Ty, no hiding out there, the white hanky’s will be out before Halloween!! 👻

Awwww….you ok hun? 😩🤣

We had 200 games to judge him. I’m completely fine with mine. Respect you may not agree. That’s ok.

Come on Kenny, who’s the mystery winger!?