sharpysharps86

Southampton look quite nervy. I suppose its unsurprising given how their confidence will have been shot to pieces after last season.

On Travis - I do expect him to go this window, not based on anything other than a gut feeling. I imagine that the likes of Suhail and Gestede aren't overly fond of him because he was such a supporter of Eustace, and he appears to actually care about the fans and the club...something neither of those two seem to give two hoots about. Trav to Derby makes a lot of sense. I'd be gutted if he went there though, probably more so than any other championship side. I don't really have any ill feeling towards Derby, but the fact that they've taken so many ex-Rovers now is just so disappointing, especially when it could've been so easily avoided. Outside of that situation and the obvious need for a RW, we appear really short up front. They've not replaced Weimann or Dolan really, while Leonard looks unlikely to ever make the step up either. Where will the goals come from if Ohashi and Gueye are not firing?

In an ideal world Miller and Axel are both good to start, but I suspect Miller will only make the bench. Axel has a better chance of starting probably. Axel to start with Cantwell missing? Or will Tyjon get the nod? Ohashi in the number 10 role with Gueye leading the line is another option, but then that leaves Rovers with very little in the way of a plan B off the bench in regards to attacking options. I'm going for Axel to start. Seems to be a very confident type and wouldn't be phased about being thrown in. I'd love to see Kargbo start, but I just feel with it being away from home and Rovers expecting to probably be under the cosh for extended periods, that Ismael will favour De Neve. Having said that. The counter attack would be something else with Kargbo's pace.

Yeah the Cantwell thing is weird. Maybe its simply because of how the club has treated several other players previously, but 'fit but not ready' sounds to me like 'we're trying to ship this guy out'. Oh and look, we now have Henriksson to be a direct replacement. Said it the other day, the club will never look to build on what they have, only replace what they lose.

I know what he said, and I'd still be surprised. What the head coach wants and what the club does will not always sync up, especially at this club.

Ismael saying we're only after signing one more player is quite a statement. If that player is the Japanese fella then it's a decent buy. I'll still be very surprised if we have no loan incomings by the time the window closes.

We definitely need a RW, for sure. That should be the priority for the remainder of the window, as well as if they do decide to ship Travis off, in which case I imagine they'll take the risk on Baradji (if they can also get shut of Mafoumbi).

Anniversary shirt perhaps? Or is it too soon for that given the anniversary game is in November.

Why on earth is one of those Rovers twitter / X accounts banging on about Mahrez as a potential signing!? 🤣😂 It's giving Netflix Sunderland documentary

1. Winners of the Championship Ipswich 2. Automatic promotion (runners-up) in the Championship Birmingham 3. Four Play off semi-finalists in the Championship Leicester, Southampton, Coventry, Middlesbrough 4. Three relegated sides from the Championship Sheffield Wednesday, Hull, Preston 5. Where will Rovers finish in the Championship? 15th 6. First Championship club to change manager (after the season starts) Wrexham 7. Winners of the Premier League Manchester City 8. A notable wild card prediction of something that will happen in the Rovers universe during the season (e.g. Donald Trump visits Ewood Park) Derby County will accidentally forget their kit for the trip to Ewood and have to wear Rovers away kit.

He left when they got relegated. From the prospect of playing in League One to playing in the Bundesliga, I imagine he was keen for the move. Having said that, did not appear to do amazingly for Bochum and they got relegated. Relegated sides in European leagues are our favourite thing. 😁

I reckon you are probably right. So yeah, basically its just replace what you lose and never try to build on what you have. Brilliant 🥲

Miller and Henriksson definitely appear to be better signings than the ones that have come in earlier in the summer. Just a shame Miller is a direct replacement for someone and not actually an attempt to build on and improve the squad. Pleasantly surprised that Henriksson has a decent length of contract.

I think if Baradji ends up signing as well (somehow) then yeah I think there will definitely be a departure of either Travis or Tronstad. One thing I'm considering is that they fully expect to lose Tyjon imminently, who is currently the only player that seems like competition for Cantwell. Haven't Arsenal been making offers for him recently?

Probably drags on until closer to deadline day while the club try and flog Travis 🥲

He's not played as much pre-season as Montgomery. He joined after pre-season started and didn't feature at all before the trip to Spain. I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I am predicting Ismael will favour Montgomery. Hopefully Alebiosu turns out alright though. Neither are Brittain's replacement btw...Miller coming from Hibs is that.

This is the team that I predict Ismael will pick, not my preferred 11. Who are you putting at RB? The options are a guy who has never kicked a ball in the Championship, looks as raw as they come and couldn't get a game at the relegated Belgian side Rovers have signed him from....or Montgomery, who at least has some minutes in the Championship. On Kargbo, I don't think Ismael trusts him to start games and do the defensive side of the game, so I predict Ismael favours De Neve to start ahead of him. As I say, they're just predictions and not my preferences.

Haven't followed WBA's transfer activity at all but new, young manager, renewed hope in front of a home crowd. I recall they won comfortably in Mowbray's first game back there last season, so wouldn't be surprised if they come racing out of the blocks. The key will be to contain them in the first 20-30. That aside, maybe it was just yesterday's performance but I am very fearful going into this game. None of the new signings so far look like they improve us from last season, in fact I'd argue we look worse. Suspect neither Miller or whoever the other player they're close to signing will be ready for this one. As such I'm predicting this to be the starting 11: Toth Montgomery Hyam McLoughlin Ribeiro Hedges Travis Tronstad De Neve Cantwell Ohashi Does not look like a very good team at all. Very few goals in there. WBA 3 - 1 Rovers (Ohashi)

Hull away and Norwich at home aren't exactly bankers either. Could be a very difficult start to the season.

Noticed on Bluesky that Nixon has said Rovers had someone at the training ground yesterday, presumably it is the other player the club is close to signing. If Baradji isn't in the squad for his club today then perhaps it's him. Like the sound of the Swedish fella, hopefully they can do both, but that probably means Travis or Tronstad is off. Hopefully they can get shut of Mafoumbi as well, just pay the lad off, he'll be on peanuts anyway.

Loans are a necessity for pretty much every championship club, it's just a very mixed bag what you get from premier league youngsters. I'm sure we'll end up bringing in a couple as we did with Beck and ACD last summer.

Trav

3-1. Poor. Some awful finishing in this half, Kargbo's goal aide of course which was well taken. Gueye and Travis both guilty. Rovers look a bit of a mess in this one.

Ok, my apologies for the confusion but I'm talking about the official squad and not a list someone on here has put together that's completely subjective 😂. Noticed you didn't acknowledge the point on squad quality. As I say, its not just about numbers....it's about having players who are good enough 🙂.