Just now, chaddyrovers said:

The job still being advertise on Rovers website. 

have you heard anything about domestic buys or bids? 

I think next week we sign 2 players. gut feeling

Only some potential interest in Jordan Archer.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Can you say more about the under 23' head coach job please?

who are these foreign players we are putting bids in for? 

RE: Damien Johnson. It was more a general comment.
He was promoted a month ago today and we are still yet to replace him.

We have made enquiries/low bids for defenders in Germany and Holland (mostly Germany). But not pushed through with it.

I only know of 2 names. One of which I mentioned the day before yesterday and one that is already widely known.

Just now, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Yep - the going rate for decent defenders now is extremely high, even for the championship. He said recently that there was a decent budget regardless of the Raya sale, so let’s see it go on a proven centre half Tony.

I really don't buy that argument.

We have a loan space still open for instance and plenty of decent affordable defenders have moved during this window.

We spent a good 6-9 months scouting Europe, particularly Holland and Germany. Now we are fudging about with silly low offers and halfhearted enquiries.

Hell, we are even making a pigs ear of replacing our U23's head coach.

Last season Derby County scored 69 goals (5 goals more than us), but conceded 54 goals (15 goals less than us).
That is the margin of error in terms of competing for either automatic promotion or play-offs.

3 defenders have departed this summer:

• Ashley Cole (played 9 games for them last season in the Championship)
• Marcus Olsson (played 0 games for them last season in the Championship)
• Alex Pearce (unused sub a handful of times last season and didn't play for them in the Championship)

Today they have added highly talented defender Matthew Clarke on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, signed equally talented defender Krystian Bielik from Arsenal for £7.5 million rising to £10 million.

If Mowbray thinks we are going to do better than teams who have improved on an already solid defence without significant improvements being made to our defence, he is living in cloud cuckoo land!

Just now, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

You seem to have your finger on the transfer pulse at Rovers; any murmurings of further defensive reinforcements?

I agree by the way; this City kid alone isn't going to suddenly sure up our back-line. We're still a Lenihan injury (more than conceivable given his previous) away from being utterly screwed IMO.

Lots of inquiries and low offers. No reward as yet.

The last 48 hours it has been really difficult to find anything out bar what Mowbray said in the presser.

Just now, AllRoverAsia said:

Comes across as quite a well balanced WBA fan view

https://roverschat.com/the-verdict-west-bromwich-albion-supporter-tells-us-all-about-rovers-new-signing-tosin-adarabioyo/

"Most of his football at the Albion was at right-back. Whilst putting in some solid performances, it was never a position which he looked comfortable in – especially when required to provide width going forwards. His best performances will no doubt come at center half alongside a steady, solid, no-nonsense defender alongside him. I do see traits of him being a good defensive midfielder however as opposed to a center-half"

God help us if he partners Mulgrew at the back! ?

Just now, DavidMailsTightPerm said:

Did Downing not leave at Christmas ?

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

No, apparently not. It seems he was a crucial defender all last season. I just missed that completely. 

We could have recalled him. Could have certainly renewed his contract come the end of the season as well.

Just now, DavidMailsTightPerm said:

We have lost Rodwell, and replaced with a genuine centre back - not certain how that makes the back line vastly weaker than last season ?

Don't get me wrong - we need vast improvement in this area - but with the addition of Johnston and Downing to help solidify the midfield defensively we may be actually better than last season.

The fact of the matter is we are a CB down.

Rodwell/Downing out.

Tosin in.

We have too many numbers in midfield and not enough at the back for my liking.

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

No, we signed a new goalkeeper too. 

Yes I know that obviously. I meant defensive, as in defence.

Would you feel more comfortable if I'd said back-line a couple more times?

Can't help but go into his season a little bit baffled.

One core thing we learned last season was that our defence was as leaky as the Conservatives budget. 64 goals scored, and 69 against.
The first thing Mowbray did in response was allow Paul Downing to leave for a minimal fee to Portsmouth and Rodwell departed not terribly long after.
It took one full month from the departure of Rodwell, and two full months from the departure of Downing for Mowbray to bring in any defensive reinforcements. That defensive reinforcement is a loan with a season's worth experience at this level. So a loan replacing two players on a long-term contract. In fact if you recognise Wharton as a 1st team option you could argue his departure on loan has left us further weaker.

It's worth reminding ourselves that Tosin has been our only defensive reinforcement this summer (if you exclude Mowbray's line of thinking that Downing can play along the back-line)

When you take into account defensive injuries last season that saw us playing Magloire and the departures we have already seen. The only conclusion is that our back-line is vastly weaker than last season, following a time when the manager said that was his main concern.

I can dismiss playing forwards as wingers (to a degree). But I am never going to be sold on playing wingers/midfielders at right-back/left-back. That special privilege can only be held by Brett Emerton and maybe at a push Ben Marshall.

The end of the last January window left us scratching our heads in terms of defensive reinforcements. Another full summer without defensive reinforcements at least being done early enough to participate in pre-season training with the team should give everybody pause.

Just now, bluebruce said:

Thanks for your info, but, do you honestly believe that?

Between Armstrong, Rothwell, Chapman, Gallagher and Brereton I'd wager we have the fastest set of options for the flanks in the entire league!! Definitely the fastest for us since we got relegated.

Have highlighted the players who aren't actually wingers.

Would feel a heck of a lot more comfortable with actual pacey wingers on board. Prefer not to make do.

Just now, neophox said:

Markovic is still available on a free, just saying.

209 games in his professional footballing career. 32 goals scored and 27 assists.
Not a brilliant record for a winger who has played in some decent squads over the years.

Still find it mind-boggling that he was signed by Liverpool for £20 million and within 5 years been released on a free. He was then released on a free again by Fulham 12 months after signing for them having played ONE game!

Just now, neophox said:

Ok?

Theres a reason They released him and got Bialkowski. Stay away!

3 mins earlier...

Just now, neophox said:

Markovic is still available on a free, just saying.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

any names? 

can you name this keeper?

Waldemar Anton (sure he's a player of interest) and of course Robin Bormuth.

I am pretty certain there is a Holland based defender of interest as well. But haven't got any names.

I suspect Jordan Archer is of interest to Mowbray.

Just now, neophox said:

Adrian, mate. 

Not a chance in Hell.

Mowbray: More irons in the fire

Tony wanted a centre back and he's got one, and the boss says he's looking at further additions

Quote

Some players we enquired about early on in the window who weren’t available now are available. Why? Because teams want loads of money for them at the start, realise those big bids aren’t coming in, and then they do become available.

Just now, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

What on earth has he done to warrant that value?

He won the European Under-21 Championships and has over 100 appearances some of which are in the Bundesliga for Hannover 96.

Just now, Swanson said:

So some CB's from Bundesliga and 2 with contract's ending next year :

Bejamin Stambouli - Schalke 04

Robin Knoche - Wolfsburg

Stefan Bell - Mainz

Andre Hoffmann - Dusseldorf

Kyriakos Papadopoulos - HSV

Robin Bormuth - Dusseldorf

Florian Hubner - Union Berlin

Patrick Mainka - FC Heidenheim

and Eredivise :

Jan Arie van der Heijden - Feyenoord

Eric Botteghin - Feyenoord

Mike te Wierik - Groningen

Maximillian Rossmann - Heracles

 

One of the names I have heard (from a journo and somebody in the sport) is not on your list because his contract expires in 2021. I don't think we have a chance of signing him due to his reputation and credentials. He currently plays in 2. Bundesliga after relegation last season and looking at his data on Transfermarkt his market value is huge. He's got mixed nationality and played up until this year in the German U21 team and has been a nailed on 1st teamer for his side.

If we pulled off that signing it would be an amazing coup. But cannot see it happening myself. 

1 hour ago, OJRovers said:

Would the GK target come in to be number 1 above Walton?

Walton is being looked at as Number 1 by the club and that is certainly what Brighton expected from his loan spell. But the player who is being talked about has way more experience and age to him. It would be Walton's jersey to lose.

1 hour ago, Harry The Bass said:

 

Not a chance with his wages.

37 minutes ago, Swanson said:

Both the top leagues in Germany?

And running down their contracts means players that have ending contracts next year?

From what I gather. The players Rovers are looking at ply their trades at the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga and the Eredivisie.

Think Mowbray wants the next signing to be a goalkeeper.

The club are bouncing some low-ish offers off of clubs in Germany and Holland for CB's who are running down their contracts.

Bit of a bizarre move to make at this late stage of the transfer window. For me, if we don't tie down at least another CB and Winger, we have left a risk going forward into January with a lack of pace on the wings and a commanding CB for when Mulgrew has a patch of poor form.
 

Current goalkeeper target is out of contract and has been mentioned on here before.

Just now, Bbrovers2288 said:

Good info, where you get this from? Also been told there is a few being looked at from Holland and Germany, max clarke being one 

The Tosin info came from a Manchester based journalist.
The transfer info from somebody else.

Honestly what a shambles!

What are we even looking for right now? A CB? Is this a CB as Mowbray said at the beginning of the club who doesn't just make up the numbers, but is going to force his way into the team or is it just going to give us options.

The message keeps changing as often as our targets do.

Quite obvious now that we have waded through our list of plan A's, B's and C's. The club is now seemingly in panic-buy mode!

Just now, Mattyblue said:

Things happen in the run up to a season, having a picture taken in a kit, probably in May doesn’t mean much.

£5 bet for Help For Heroes that he will still be in a Rovers kit come the beginning of the season?

Just now, Mattyblue said:

Ha! Like that means owt! Went merrily on holiday after Euro 96 after seeing Shearer modelling our new ‘CIS’ kit... 

I know you aren't conflating Evans with Shearer. But Shearer was always going to have attention.

Evans on the other-hand won't have attention considering the excessive wages he is on.

Just now, Roverinbelfast said:

I hear big Ben's goal was a smasher tonight. I have high hopes for him this season

Rothwell's goal was a 25 yard thunderbolt.

Brereton's was a well taken bullet-header.

I doubt very much we will see Corry Evans go during this window when you consider he has been used in the new marketing campaigns for the new shirts.