Higgins/Arsenal is a similar story with Tyjon/Man Utd last summer, with the main difference being Higgins is a local lad & Rovers fan, who has been with us a few years. Tyjon had only signed with us a year previously from Rochdale so didn't "owe us" anything But then again, Finneran had been with us since he was 8, so it could go either way

Not seen anything that they have accepted deals at this stage (I am sure they have both been offered contracts) Hoping it will be a similar story to Tyjon last summer and they will announce it at they same time as they announce the rest of the first year scholars Just hope we don't have to wait until July again!

I've included them in the "contracts expiring list" as Rovers have not yet announced the class of 2025 scholars list, so as things stand (officially speaking) they have not yet signed them up for next season. I am not declaring that either of them have already left, or that they are leaving 🙂

Has only turned 18 in March, probably needs a season at a National League North club (Macclesfield/Fylde/Chorley/Curzon/Marine maybe?), as so far a month at Bamber Bridge in the 7th tier is the highest level he has played at

Based on what Gestede has said in his interviews/podcasts, I agree with pretty much all of what you have concluded Just to add I imagine that the 3rd choice left back from the academy will be either Batty or Powell, (I expect both to sign new deals in the summer) with the other being loaned out Your other CM from the academy will be likely be either Dunn or James Edmondson, again with the other being loaned out Due to a lack of investment & options in the youth teams, I think Markanday will be one of our reserve wide players next season I fully expect Gilsenans option to be taken up to get him back to fitness if possible, maybe a loan for him too in the second half of the season I think Garrett (and possibly also O'Riordan) will get another loan rather than be solid If they get good enough offers for Hyam, Travis, Tronstad, Brittain, they will sell them, otherwise they will allow their contracts to expire as we have seen previously

Seeing as contracts were mentioned in the loans thread... I will try and keep this post updated throughout the early summer through to the release of the retention list The following are out of contract from our U21s, & U18s this summer (* = has a year option which can be triggered). Links are to their latest contract extension Gilsenan *, Saadi *, Eastham, Bloxham, Whitehall *, Gamble *, Caddick, Baker, Murphy-Worrell *, R.Doherty *, Bell *, Taylor, Shorrocks, Willis, , S.Edmondson, Ramwell, Shaw, Eze, I omitted - Dolan, Hedges *, Batth, Weimann, Forshaw, Markanday *, Vale * from this list as they are probably deemed part of the first team squad (yes, even Vale) This currently leaves the following under contract as part of our academy teams (barring contract extensions/options being taken up) I included Garrett & Leonard here despite them being overage due to a lack of senior game time this season for both of them. O'Riordan, Pratt & Montgomery will also be overage players if they are part of the U21s next season * = contract offered GK - Michalski, Barrett, Goddard *, Honor, Kahn, Thompson, Wolsoncroft, Holt CB - O'Riordan, Atcheson, Litherland, Pratt, Davies, Olson, Decandia, Kelley-Quinn LB - Batty *, Powell, Pates, Leeming, RB - Duru, Houghton, McIlroy (technically a centre back, but has played right back for the U18s this season) CM - Garrett, Montgomery, O'Grady-Macken,, Dunn, J.Edmondson, Farkas, Vare, Mansbridge, Potter, L.Ball AM/Wingers - Tyjon, Wood, A.Doherty, Strich, Dlamini, Leatherbarrow, Sergeant, McCoy, Clanford, Lister, Mullarkey-Matthews * S - Leonard (presumably to build fitness), Boggan, Mafoumbi, Joseph, Higgins, Cryer Also Odogun, although I am not familiar of his position, from his instagram, it seems like we have taken him from Wolves

Only turned 20 a couple of days ago and seems to have enough promise (and be easy/cheap enough due to his injury history) to get a deal done. Plenty of time for a 3 year deal to be given and if he doesn't step up in a year or two, he could be sold then

Whilst I remember, thank you to all those who offered thanks for these updates throughout the season. I often didn't reply at the time as to not clutter up the thread, but your comments were very much appreciated 🙂

Thanks River Boggan looks a great finisher, hope he can be tied down to a longer contract. This article indicates he either must already be 18, (or will be later this month) so will then be able to sign a longer term deal I think Tyjon will end up as more of a Szmodics type than an out and out striker. Looks to have the movement and intelligence to pull that off but possibly not the physicality to lead the line by himself. Valentin Joseph in the U18s is a real powerhouse no9 though. Will be interesting to see if he can step up an age group as he really bullied U18 defenders this season

Absolutely. Those who cannot adapt, are doomed to failure Even if we were to be extremely charitable to those who run the club and accept that spending money in January and/or promotion/play offs this season was not the plan. It made absolutely no sense to not take advantage of the position that we found ourselves in come the January window. I do not think any of us were expecting us to go for broke and spend £30M, but surely it made sense to invest in a few players who could have strengthened the team at the time, as well as offering good market value contracts to Travis, Brittain & Tronstad etc. If in the end, had that not been enough, then some of those players could have been sold on with several years left on their contracts (& therefore a much higher resale value than we see now), with no negative impact (in fact quite the opposite) on long term finances Instead we ended up with (in the main), money flushed away on short term deals for players who were unlikely to either make a real difference (Forshaw, Sanderson, Woodrow), or be ready to help in a play off push (Dennis).

I wouldn't worry about that, money brought in does not alter the budget according to Gestede

Quick roundup of all (Ithink) outgoing loans this season. Links for each should hopefully link to the individual players stats for the season (I had to find more random sources for anything below the 6th tier) Added my predictions on what I think will happen with them over the summer/next season. Other opinions are also valid (possibly) 😉 Markanday - His initial loan at Chesterfield was a huge success for him, his 2nd loan at Orient less so, will have his option taken up in summer and then either sold, or kept to pad out the squad for a year Garrett - both loans have been a disaster, needs to play some football next season, probably on loan, easy to forget he has just turned 22 in March O'Riordan - hardly featured whilst at Cambridge, was a fixture for Crewe, but his arrival coincided with them dropping from 2nd to 13th in the table, needs another loan next year unless a decent fee can be achieved Batty - seems to have played well when he was fit, but injures restricted him to less than 30 games for Accrington, needs another League 1/2 loan next year Duru - similar story to Batty, broken foot meant he missed the last 2 months of the season, needs another League 1/2 loan next year Vale - spent the majority of the season out injured, playing only 7 games, surely will be released/sold in summer Saadi - seemed a pointless contract extension last summer, strange loan as well unless it is with a view to a permanent move, surely will be released/sold in summer Mafoumbi - didn't play a minute on loan - apparently injured days after signing - strange loan as well unless it is with a view to a permanent move, imagine he will be sold in the summer to free up an ESC slot Olson - very good loan move for him, has been a fixture in a team challenging for the play offs in the 5th tier. I wouldn't expect him to make the breakthrough at Rovers, but this loan should net him a decent transfer to a League 2 or National League team Gamble - didn't really step up when given the chance in the 5th tier, imagine he will be released in summer Powell - decent month on loan at Chorley in the 6th tier, didn't feature for Altrincham in the 5th tier though, probably needs another loan next year Goddard - lost his place after a month at his first loan in Ireland, then broke his finger a week or so after signing on loan in the 5th tier which restricted his appearances. Both of his loan teams were relegated, imagine he will be released in summer Montgomery - 2 loan moves in the 6th tier that played him into contention for a first team squad role, possibly needs another loan (depending upon the summers transfer business) as he cannot be allowed to stagnate on the bench Atcheson - despite a couple of injures, a good half season in the 6th tier for the teenage centre back. Imagine either Atcheson or Litherland will be 5th choice next season whilst the other is loaned out... maybe half a season each? Litherland - filled in at right back (not his natural position) in the 6th tier, did ok. Imagine either Atcheson or Litherland will be 5th choice next season whilst the other is loaned out... maybe half a season each? Bell - the winger barely featured in his month in the 6th tier, imagine he will be released in summer Wood - 3 separate loans (3rd loan) in which the forward scored only once, imagine he will be released in summer Edmondson - was a regular in his month or 2 at a very good (for the 7th tier) Macclesfield side. Would personally like him to go back there for another loan next season as they should be competing towards the top of the 6th tier Eastham - a regular for a side that finished in the 7th tier play offs, season ended a month ago by injury, imagine he will be released in summer Davies - believe he did ok in the 7th tier at both centre back & left back. Possibly needs a long term loan next season, or will be a regular for the U21s depending upon other loans Barrett - did a decent job covering for their injured first choice keeper in the 7th tier, imagine he will be released in summer Michalski - (2nd loan) gained some experience in men's football (7th & 8th tier) at the age of 17 & 18, needs a good loan at a 5th/6th tier side Shaw - gained some experience in men's football (7th tier) at the age of 17 & 18, although seemed to be overtaken at U18 level by Leatherbarrow, Dlamini, Sergeant etc. imagine he will be sold in summer Mullarkey-Matthews - not sure if he was injured or some other issue, hardly featured in his half season loan in the 7th tier, seemed to be overtaken at U18 level by Leatherbarrow, Dlamini, Sergeant etc. imagine he will be released in summer Boggan - didn't feature for Macclesfield in his month long loan in the 7th tier, next season, he will either be an U21 regular or get a loan in the 6th/7th tier Honor - a season of regular starts, albeit in the 8th tier, worth seeing if he can hack it at a slightly higher level next season, or might play for the U21s to allow Michalski to spend the season away on loan Farkas - some useful experience for the young midfielder, albeit in the 8th tier, imagine he will feature for the U21s next year Ramwell - hardly featured in the 8th tier, in the U18 team he dropped behind some of the U16s (notably Alfie McIlroy) towards the end of the season. imagine he will be released in summer Kahn - (8th tier) provided cover for Michalski whilst he was away with England U18s, didn't impress at U21 level, imagine he will be released in summer The only games that remain for our loanees (I think) are: Leyton Orient (Markanday) Semi finals - 10th May, 14th May Final - 25th May Motherwell (Vale - should he be fit at any point this season) 10th May, 14th May, 18th May Ethnikos Achnas (Saadi - who seems to be a fixture on the bench now that they cannot be relegated 11th May

Initial overachievement followed by the now annual "Christmas gift" from those in power at the club of being screwed over in the January transfer window

Starts today for Olson - drew 1-1 - finished 9th Goddard - lost 2-0 - already confirmed that they would finish bottom & be relegated Not involved in matchday squad Powell - drew 1-1 - failed to make an appearance for Altrincham

Comments from Tranmere fans seem to indicate they would be happy for him to extend his loan. Which given his lack of minutes may seem a little odd, but maybe he was similar to Ayari when he was with us last season (albeit at a lower level)

Im pinning all of my hopes and dreams on the fact that they do not seem to want to have any large contractual obligations beyond the summer of 2027 ( O'Riordan & Atcheson - both 2028 would not be on big contracts)

If he wasn't in close proximity to goals conceded then he would be a forward 😉

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25055914.gestede-reveals-five-blackburn-summer-transfer-priorities/ You can use https://12ft.io/ Or its below 🙂 Obviously it all depends on if we take him at face value or not 😉 Blackburn Rovers fans can expect a busy summer transfer window with Rudy Gestede revealing five key positions they want to strengthen. Rovers have a number of players out of contract or returning to their parent club. As a result, there will be a churn in the squad this summer. Gestede has identified some important areas in the squad that they will target. "We need a left-sided centre-back, that's been obvious," Gestede told The Lancashire Telegraph. "Scott Wharton has been missing all season, we don't want to put pressure on him when he's back and expect him to play every week. It will not work. We need someone to cover this position. "On the right, we need cover for Callum Brittain. We have Leo Duru but we need some business in this area. "Right-wing, we have Amario, who is going back. Tyrhys is the only other player in this position. "We want a number eight, a box-to-box type of midfielder and we don't have that at the minute. That's something we need to cover. "We want some power up front to challenge the two strikers we have, we will do some business." Rovers will also look to sign younger players and maximise their Academy, to build sellable assets. That was part of the discussion when appointing Valerien Ismael and a value Blackburn want to return to. "You have to rely on the Academy also, Adam Wharton is an example. He is a rare one but you can do business with the Academy with player-trading," he explained. "What we have seen in the last year, the minutes played by our Academy players has dropped drastically. We used to be over 2,000 minutes for Under-23 Academy players. Last 12 months, 142 minutes. "That affects the value of the asset and we want to go back to that model. That was part of the discussions with Valerien. They have to be part of your squad planning. "We will also go in the market for young players. Instead of one-year deals for players at a certain age, you go younger and buy the assets. You don't have to buy an asset for £5million, it can be a lower fee with more resale value. "That's an exciting time going into the summer. We have to refresh the squad with loans and players out of contract. Now is the right time. "We want to develop players, give a platform for Academy players to shine and attract young players to be on the pitch for Blackburn."

7 or 8, one in each position, as per his podcast with Allardyce

Gestede says we want another as competition/cover for Wharton His full list was left footed centre back right back box to box midfielder right wing power up front

Personally feel he is at least partially responsible for the bad run However, the run at the end of the season has earned him the right for fans to be behind him (not the regime) next season

They seem to have omitted the multiple dates for postponed Venkys v Indian government court cases, which I am sure are the highlight in the calendar for many of us

I was "indoctrinated" from a young age. Thankfully both of my parents were mental about football rather than religion etc 😉 remember being taken to games which I was too young to remember, but the first one I have a memory of beyond "going to the football", was a cup game at Ewood v Liverpool in the mid 80s. I think it was a draw? I was still at primary school so my memory is very fuzzy on any other details