Had a vision today. Rovers finish 6th. Beat Frank Lampard FC to the media's disgust. Then we played Leeds in the final and Ben Brereton stepped up to send the BTEC Liverpool fans home.

After the game. Ben had a gold statue commissioned and was labelled bargain of the century.  

6 hours ago, Biz said:

I harbour plenty of hope for promotion, the difference is I don’t think gambling is necessary at this point.

As others will point out - a large group of posters seem completely oblivious to the other side of the coin. Only 3 teams go up, no need to go over the result of parachute payments running out in this league, we should all remember that.

The irony is, many of these posters are advocating the club drops its prices, or takes a hit to get more fans in the ground. 

“Give me more, and charge me less”. Nah, not even a slight bit over entitled.

 

You gamble either way. Build slowly risk your best players leaving and not being able to replace them.

Push the boat out and miss by a small margin and have to find money the season after to balance the books.

A lot of posters aren't worried for no reason. We've been in this position with bowyer with a better team. Then missed out and everyone was sold.

I'm more in the camp get up as quickly as possible in the hope better owners will offer silly money to ditch these clowns and we have genuine stability again. What we have now is a mirage.

Are we still signing Britt?

Just now, Tugayisgod said:

So Huddersfield, Fulham, possibly the Dingles, Cardiff are all bigger than Leeds, Sheffield Utd, Derby,?

Right o

Your forgetting teams like Southampton, Crystal palace, Newcastle and Brighton? All within a few points of the drop zone.

All the teams mentioned will have more money to spend as well. Your also gambling on the owners being interested next year. Don't be fooled twice it's happened before.

3 minutes ago, Biz said:

I personally don’t think going from league 1 to the premier league in 2 seasons is “ambitious” I think it’s flipping hopeful at best, and downright ridiculous at worst.

By the same token, some fans said Dack would be gone last summer too, and a few of those who are looking to stick the oar in “a lack of ambition” for only adding Chapman wanted rid of Mowbray a month ago..

It’s up to you if you want to complain and moan if we don’t sign a striker or get promoted though. Have a blast.

Southampton did it a good number of years ago? In the summer staying up was the aim but to stand by that and not have a good is very foolish. Football's a momentum game. Strike while your on the way up or tumble back down.

On the Dack point. Who in the premier league was really going to take a gamble on a league 1 player? Now you look now. He's in double figures for goals and also assists plenty. Why wouldn't a west ham have a gamble on him or if Fulham came down to then get them back up. 

Again. Lack of ambition for me. But you sit on your mediocrity. Seems to suit you well. 

Just now, roverandout said:

Thats rovers all over..not much ambition. Its spread to a lot of supporters too

Nail on head post. A lot of fans seem to think that our better players will be here next year especially Dack and Reed. It was exactly the same under bowyer. Get into a good position then rest on it in the "hope" of kicking on.

Look at the teams who could come down and then the teams who may not get up. We could be fighting even more larger teams next year. 

A key signing now can and probably will push us into 6th position. It's not just the quality that's brought in but the message sent. Boosting our players confidence and scaring a few teams in and around us.

Buy a bloody striker. I'll be waiting for the usual stop being negative reaction though.

7 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

You said instead of Gallagher not Brereton. But again cannot give a proper answer. So any answer to the Original question? Who would ypu have potential sign this window instead of Gallagher which is likely to loan with view permanent signing in summer? 

Yes Che Adams would have been good signing in the summer. Maybe we tried but Birmingham didnt to sell..

 

If your looking at now, can you say there's a massive amount of difference between John Marques at Doncaster and Sam Gallagher at Southampton?

Ones going to cost you 1-2 million. The others around 7 million. I honestly don't think there's a massive difference especially with Gallagher having something like 15 goals in 2 seasons at championship level. 

Obviously he's got more potential growth though.

We signed Britt yet? No, must be them 50k per week wages.

1 hour ago, JacknOry said:

All this talk of unsettling others due to their wages is quite nonsense really. The best players should earn more - take Dack as an example who must already be on parity with the top earners but is now seemingly negotiating being the best paid player. Would anyone in the squad bemoan him of this or at the very least have a justified argument against it happening? 

There is no doubt that BA is one of the best strikers in this league and with his goal return alone would justify being one of our best paid players. As others have mentioned, if he were to help fire us to the PL, you can bet that most of our other players would benefit financially too. Whether thats merely a promotion bonus or being given a new contract on PL wages, they will all benefit.

Oh god don't start off the wage debate again. I've already lost hope in explaining the potential issue with it.

Anyway since we are signing strikers left right and centre. How about a crack at Watkins. Maybe swipe Abraham or go all out for Afobe. That Roofe is alright and it'll piss off the leeds fans at the same time. Call that a two for one deal. It's not the line-up tombola now. It's the striker version.

Seriously though if two players were genuine options. It'd be between Austin as a like for like to Graham or Bowen as another technical player who plays two roles.

What's the odds of being linked to Chris Wood next? We could really do with Bielsa's spy up and down the training grounds of clubs reporting us info.

Any update on the illusive man that is Britt? No, okay I'll check in again later on. See someone else tried to provide some sort of evidence for his suggested wage. Butttttt I guess that's only speculation. Can't have it being potentially true. Shout the guy down!!!

Que the drum roll announcement of Gallagher at the eleventh hour. 

That Chapmans not a bad signing though. He's got a nice sledge too. He's also claimed himself the nutmeg king. Hamstring might have gone though. Get Vince Grella in for counselling now.

Also who the hell plays the championships best "potential" signing on the wing. Your as bad a Mowbray the mogga. It'll be Graham in goal next.

Anyway ............. continue wage discussion it's keeping me informed. 

10 minutes ago, JeffRover said:

Oh look, it’s gone up by another 10k now!

Think your confusing my comment for being negative. Everyone here is a Rovers fan myself included. Would I like a very prolific striker for this league at this club. Yes every day of the week.

That doesn't mean I think it will happen. I can't see how our manager who goes from signing players like Chapman and Brereton to this guy whose arguably in the top 3 prolific In this league.

How much do you think he's on? Our top earners are around 15k aren't they? Mulgrew, Dack, Evans and Graham? 

Britt was bought for big money at a club who spend big wages. I honestly can't see him being anywhere near our top earners. There's more chance he's on double at least.

Do I doubt the source. No. I don't think it's lies either but how will he fit? Unless it's a loan to buy with a 50/50 wage contribution then he will be on far more than any of our best players.

If he's on as high wages as I think and he brought in. How can the manager justify to his best players the difference in pay? 

Just now, Mellor Rover said:

50k behave yourself. Every comment since the story broke has inflated his wages slowly but surely. We'll be at 100k before we know it.

Think you'll be surprised how much Middlesbrough players are on. He's not on 30k I can bet you that. He's been reported to be on 50k-60k per week

Britt is most likely a smokescreen for Gallagher to show Southampton that we won't pay over the odds. Almost saying take our deal or we walk away kind of scenario.

No chance he's coming here on less than his 50k per week wage which means everyone else would have a pay gap of at least 25k which would upset a few. They aren't going to give everyone else more money either.

23 minutes ago, Scratch Andy said:

I bet Tom is great fun talking football over a pint !!

Fair enough I probably over stated what I meant. The lad is a good player and all this we are building young and for the future is the right way to go.

But and there's always a but. Will the owners see through this long term job? It's great if we have Dack, Reed, Travis and the likes in 2-3 years but our owners are well know for cashing in to early. 

That the only reason I'm edgy about building long term because it's if it's allowed to happen.

2 hours ago, Fraserkirky said:

Some players just fit with certain clubs. 

I see Harry Chapman as a huge reason why we get promoted next season.

I think you'll be disappointed when Dack leaves in the summer and Reed goes back.

Chapman's more than likely a busted flush who will stay on the treatment table more than the pitch. Vince Grella mk2

6 hours ago, deryck guyler's spoon said:

Comparing Mowbray with Kean and Coyle? You should be more circumspect when bandying adjectives like 'shit' around. Also you don't get a say on what people like.

 

He's not saying they are on the same level. I have a little respect for Mowbray but his achievements are increase ten fold because he's liked. Not because what he's done is some miracle. 

There's a lot of managers out there who fail left right and centre but have long careers because they know the right people or have the right reputation. Steve McLaren is one of them and I honestly do not rate our manager as highly as some do.

Best budget in league 1, with Danny Graham, Bradley Dack and Charlie Mulgrew who was also a Scotland international along with a few others. Finish 2nd and that looked in doubt for a while before the obvious clicked and he started playing effective football. Which many on here at the time stated.

This year, he's had over 10 million to spend so expectations go up. It's inevitable and unreasonable to state otherwise especially from a manager who keeps saying we are building slowly yet doesn't seem to want to buy anyone this window. Another thing I don't agree with.

When you look at the players you say he's assembled together, who in the team did he bring in? Armstrong, Smallwood, Dack and sometimes Bell along with Reed as a right winger.

Now look at how many he's signed. Whittingham, Gladwin, Hart, Caddis, Davenport, Rothwell, Chapman and the list goes on. Many on here could name more.

I'm afraid you have your blinders on when it comes to this manager all because he's nice and slightly stable. He will never get us up as he is not good enough. Prove me otherwise I'd say and give reasons why what I've said is a load of rubbish.

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

When you say “good all round”, you are presumably not including Sunderland in that...?

I don't think there is a massive difference between the two players, and as a lot of scouting is just as much on reputation as it is seeing someone play then it would be the best deal Sunderland could get.

The lad Maja has only done well for half a season in a poor division. He's scored 15-16 in adult football all together. 

Compare that to Brereton who is around the same age who has scored 8-10 in adult football in a higher league.

A lot of people and pundits seem to think that Sunderland with a young striker with 6 months left on his contract who has publicly stated he won't sign another will get 5-6 million for him. It won't happen.

Missing a trick with this Maja lad. 1.5-3 million plus Brereton on loan would be good all round

6 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

I said in the summer that Chapman would be a low risk/high reward option. This was before the injury, but even so I don't see any reason to change my mind. He'll be as likely as not be on buttons, and as unlikely as it seems now, we know how good he can be if he stays fit and can progress.

Totally get why people wouldn't take him, but I still think it makes sense as a low risk investment.

I think it makes sense business wise as long as another player for the wing is brought in as well.

Gambles like this is what Rovers have been built on over the years. Santa Cruz, Bentley, Benny McCarthy and in more recent times Bradley Dack who could have gone down the drain if his attitude got the better of him.

If it was Chapman, Bauer and Edwards on loan that would be a good window for me with some of the younger lads out on loan.

Just now, AllRoverAsia said:

Mowbray is on record as saying he has an "elite player" team that he regularly consults with on team/playing matters.

I commented adversely about a week ago and was politely slated and told it was common practice in sport and business (ok I follow that part) , in sport look no further than Aussie cricket.

Anyway who's in this "elite" group, any ideas.

Evans, Mulgrew, Graham and Smallwood along with William's 

12 minutes ago, HowieFive0 said:

How long is a piece of string? Could say we need ten ..just in case.

 

Better to be over prepared than under. I don't care if a youth kid from the premier league plays. Just that he's an option if needed. They can sit in the stands for 6 months for all I care.

Missing a trick not going for it this year. It's a piss poor division and it's there for the taking. Do people generally believe Dack or Reed will be here next year in the championship? 

Another bowyer I'm afraid to tell you all.

1 hour ago, Madon said:

I think Doncaster fans are gonna be chuffed this afternoon, Rovers fans not so much ?

Is it Brereton on loan for the rest of the season? To get game time.

1 hour ago, blueboy3333 said:

Who would you have like to have seen dropped to accommodate King, 20-goal Rhodes or 20-goal Rudy?

I'd ask you another question. Name one team in recent history that had a strike partnership of around 40 goals together that didn't get in or near to the top 6?

I would have dropped rhoades for the simple matter of the entire team had to play to his way. Burnley went up with a simple set up of a big lad and quick lad up front and everyone else working hard in a solid system.

The fact we didn't get into the playoffs or promotion that year was criminal. All to fit the worst England youth captain of all time into the team.

1 hour ago, blueboy3333 said:

Times certainly have changed if a Championship club £120m+ in debt can afford to splurge £6m+ on a pub footballer. 

We probably spent a good more than that on Dickson Ethuhu and Danny Murphy not to mention every youth player in Portugal and Jason Lowe's 10k plus a week contract.

3-1 Rovers. Armstrong 2 Dack 1 Bowen 1 

46 minutes ago, philipl said:

You have got to put a premium on pace against this current Hull side.

Pace and power gets you out of this league. There are very few technically gifted players who would compete in the premier league.

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

I was just highlighting how totally shyte Williams is by saying Benno would be better, and he would.  Benno is a much better footballer than Williams and would cope better

Need to be real?  Have you seen Williams.  If he starts at Left back, their manager will put their best players Bowen and the polish chap on him and they will tear him to shreds.  He offers nothing going forward and this is also a reason that the opposition tend to push up against Williams, rather than Bell who does show forward intent.  I would question Mowbray as a manager if he chose to start Williams in any championship game, there will be better cover for Bell in the reserves than Williams.

If he starts on Saturday, mark my words he will be the cause of our defeat.

I've seen William's, Bell and Mulgrew and in all honesty. None of them are great defenders. Mulgrew has that quality on the ball no doubt but lacks pace massively.

Our manager for the game will play Armstrong as the left winger which means no defensive cover will be provided. Given this a basic level of physical quality is needed. Bell is quicker and fitter. William's is quicker and fitter.

You can't just stand on a line at left back and get through a game. He'd be tested down the line. In behind and one on one. 

They aren't better players but for that position with the players we are talking about then Mulgrew would be the worst choice to play there.

If Rodwell hadn't done as well as he has recently while Mulgrew was out would people genuinely be saying we've to play all three of our centre halfs in defence? Not a chance, they'd drop Rodwell for Mulgrew not stick him at left back.