Just now, Tom said:

City watch are guessing!

I didn't say they weren't!

Charlton Athletic have passed on Elliott Ward which could end any hopes we had of signing Patrick Bauer

City Watch seems to think the young Man City player we want is Lukas Nmecha

Portsmouth close to agreeing a fee in the region of £1.5m for Cheltenham United's exciting forward Mo Eisa. Sunderland had a bid of £1 million plus add ons rejected. He was someone we might have been linked to mentioned last week.

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Saw Jack Doyle liking a tweet (I know!) suggesting that he was a trialist playing for Oxford and scoring in a friendly earlier today.

Isn't that the Preston NE player Eoin Doyle that is currently trialing with them?

38 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

And you really think we have funds for both Armstrong and Maddison? 

Feeney and Ward are off the wage-bill.

We also have the collective loan bill of Harry Chapman, Marcus Antonsson, Rekeem Harper, Adam Armstrong and Jack Payne off the wage structure with only two brought in who won't be on huge wages.

28 minutes ago, pick32 said:

Lee Tomlin is surplus to requirements at Cardiff we should bring him in if the financials make sense, offers a lot that Dack does but can play anywhere in a 3 behind the striker 

Has similar fitness question marks to Caddis.

I know this is going to sound incredibly naive. But is anybody else sick of 'make do' signings as opposed to signings that really excite people?

Yes we have some 'make do' signings last season that surprised many (Smallwood). But the only signing that I can think of from recent history that has genuinely got me excited has been Bradley Dack and even that came with a certain amount of risk.

If anybody from Venkys reads these forums (which is highly unlikely) it would be nice if they took on board the absolute apathy when it comes to expectations come transfer window time. Apathy can affect players who become fans of a club that they are playing for as well, not to mention it seeping down from the terraces.

Maybe being pleasantly surprised with not too high expectations is a good thing. But quality going into the Championship is essential and people can't help but worry.

I have tried to stay positive and compare the number of signings we made at this point last summer to now. But I don't think think Venky's are aware of the gravity of improvement that is needed for us to hold steady in the Championship this coming season.

I invite Venkys to prove me wrong.

3 minutes ago, Butty said:

Imagine starting a league game with Conway on one wing and Cotterill on the other. Jesus god the thought of that makes me sick. I love Conway he's been a great servant but if you're going too start him you need someone with pace on the opposite flank. David cotterill would be an awful signing. Truly hope we aren't looking at him. Wouldn't be keen on any on that list except Bauer. Holmes did well last season but I can't see where he'd fit in to our side. 

Hector would be alright as an alternate to Bauer, but he wouldn't come to us as a bench option.

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

Here is 5 realistic possible signings. Good sensible names. Cotterill at Bolton trying to earn a contract there. Holmes would be decent. Hector, Bauer and Kent linked already

https://roverschat.com/five-players-rovers-could-realistically-sign-in-the-summer-window/

• David Cotterill - Pass
• Duane Holmes - Uncertain (not sold on him)
• Patrick Bauer - A good option at the right price
• Michael Hector - Why would we need him AND Bauer when we have Mulgrew, Lenihan and Downing?
• Ryan Kent - Hyped up due to the club he is contracted at... We can do better!

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

We badly need a striker to support Graham. We can have all the wingers going, but if Graham is injured that first 11 lacks a real goal threat. 

We scored 82 goals last season.We would need at least 70 to get into the play offs next season. 

 

Disagree. We badly need a striker for Graham to support!

Alan Nixon has the social skills of a man-eating lion. But he does from time to time have some valuable input. For instance when we were linked to Davenport it was suggested we would be signing him on loan. Nixon correctly said we would be signing him on a long-term contract.

I am a member of the Alan Nixon blocked club by the way.

35 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Sharpe still saying on Twitter will be two permanent and two loan signings brought in on top of the two we have signed already 

Still don't think that will be enough.

1x CB
2x Wingers (pacey)
2x Forwards

= Minimum.

32 minutes ago, 1864roverite said:

2.5m for AA? He has 12 months left on his current NUFC deal! 24k a week for BD? Get a grip, he hasn’t kicked a ball in the Championship and is only an established L1 player at this very moment. The average wage for a L1 player must be 400k at best pa. 

why fans beat them up over such drivel is beyond me just ctfo 

Armstrong's contract at Newcastle United expires 30.06.2020. So actually he has 23 months remaining on his current deal.

3 hours ago, Angry_Pirate said:

So contract wise, going off comments here, we have the following players entering the last year of their deals:

Mulgrew, Whittingham, Caddis, Evans, Conway and Graham. Were Galdwin, Hart and Leutwiler only 2 years when signed? That's 9, anyone else?

Out of contract at end of this season (2019):
Jayson Leutwiler (Option for 1-year extension), Paul Caddis, Paul Downing (Option for 1-year extension), Sam Hart, Charlie Mulgrew, Craig Conway (Option for 1-year extension), Corry Evans, Ben Gladwin, Willem Tomlinson, Peter Whittingham and Danny Graham (Option for 1-year extension).

Out of contract at end of next season (2020):
Amari'i Bell, Ryan Nyambe (Option for 1-year extension), Scott Wharton, Elliott Bennett, Bradley Dack (Option for 1-year extension), Richie Smallwood and Dominic Samuel.

Charlton Athletic plan on playing Elliott Ward in two pre-season friendlies this week before deciding if they want to offer him a contract. The end result might potentially see Patrick Bauer making his move.

1 minute ago, DE. said:

So far this summer we've only signed Rothwell and Davenport. No players sold as of yet, but realistically we're going to need a stronger squad if we want to compete at the higher end of the table. Imo it's more likely we'll be fighting it out with the likes of Burton, Bolton, Ipswich, Rotherham, etc at the bottom end of the league.

Who would we realistically want to see go out on loan or permanently depart with replacements:

Loan:
- Jack Doyle
- Matthew Platt
- Scott Wharton
- Stefan Mols
- Joe Rankin-Costello
- Willem Tomlinson
- Joe Nuttall

Long-term departure (would need replacements):

- Paul Caddis
- Sam Hart
- Corry Evans (maybe?)
- Ben Gladwin
- Peter Whittingham
- Dominic Samuel (Mowbray seems to have plans for him)

About right?

16 minutes ago, Tom said:

Liverpool for example have played a few friendlies and some of the players featured may not have done with a full complement.

Correct me if I am wrong. But didn't Liverpool only have four players out at the World Cup. 5 if you include the newly signed Xherdan Shaqiri?

2 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

More confirmation from Mowbray that we are looking at loans...........

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/july/tony-were-playing-the-waiting-game-right-now/

What have players and teams being out at the World Cup got to do with our summer transfer exploits?

We won't be signing players who were out at the World Cup. Clubs continue to operate parallel to the World Cup buying, selling and loaning out players.

As has been said before. Mowbray said he wanted to sign players on long term contracts and not have to rely on loans. That seems exactly what we are doing now? Ie: Relying on the loan market.

Could it be that Mowbray is working out exactly what he can get on loan before devoting transfer funds to longer term signings? If so this might make sense.

Are we aiming for a higher quality of player or has our working budget been cut?

Looking at the players we had on loan, the players we have released and what we have brought into the club coupled with our struggles to bring in additional numbers. Something really doesn't make sense?

Just now, islander200 said:

I think it's smart only giving him a 12 month extension.

Smallwood was excellent last season certainly In the first half of the season before his form tailed off.

You have to remember when with Rotherham in the championship they didn't think him good enough and he was loaned to league one. 

There are question marks over whether he is championship standard so I'm happy the club have only given him a 12 month extension

Fair point. Although it might have made sense to have an optional 12 month extension to his contract tacked on...

Just watching the Smallwood interview on IFollow on the Rovers site. Really interesting.
Seems like there was an undercurrent of annoyance from Smallwood not only about how long it took to get the new contract finalized, but also the length of the contract.

The contract is essentially a 12 months extension to his contract with likely increased wages. Personally I'd have liked him to get a longer deal and wonder why it wasn't a longer deal.

Has anyone else seen this interview, if so what do people think?

Elliott Ward is close to agreeing a contract with Charlton Athletic. Wonder if that could free up Patrick Bauer to come to Rovers.
 

Sheffield United and Blackburn Set For Battle Over Premier League Strike Ace

Just seen this on Twitter.

54 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Blackburn Rovers after Southampton Sam Gallagher on loan.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/6780129/southampton-transfer-news-danny-ings-liverpool/

I would be very happy with this. Good player

Striker number 2 signing maybe? I wouldn't like this as our primary signing.

Armstrong and Gallagher wouldn't be awful.

Just now, AdamRochina said:

Elliot ward on trail with charlton.. Bauer to rovers confirmed 

By whom?

Might be looking to deeply into this but...

Quote

while Paul Caddis was not deemed fit enough to feature.

From: Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray satisfied with Vale workout (Lancashire Telegraph article)

I know there was a question as to Caddis's attitude, fitness and weight last season.
Has he returned to summer pre-season overweight and unfit?

If this is how it is. Surely the club should look at cutting ties with him and bringing in someone who has a better attitude.