KentExile

Preview of tonight's U21 game, don't know why its saying Frank Vare might have earned the opportunity to step up to U21 level, he has been a fixture for the U21s for most of the season https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/december/16/preview--rovers-under-21s-v-watford-under-21s/

Isaac Whitehall has joined Billy Barr & Tyler Magloire at Workington (7th tier) Like agloire, has had a shocking time with injuries, hope they both get back on track

Unless they are closet dingles/paid actors/bots/club plants, The only answers to that are either Stockholm syndrome or neophobia.

I thought there was a rule where foreign players could no longer sign until they were 18, and by such time would require one or the other of a GBE/ESC, so who is this France/Africa talent guy watching for the academy? (which is typically U18s) Edit - His LinkedIn answers my question, U18s-U23s apparently, so cheap ESC buys would be my guess I wonder if they are aware that if/when we end up in League 1, we are limited to 2 ESC slots?

yep Although A predominantly left-sided player, with the flexibility to operate anywhere down the flank as well as in more advanced attacking areas, De Neve adds pace, athleticism, energy and versatility to the Rovers ranks. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/june/10/rovers-conclude-dion-deal/ I suppose he has operated anywhere down the left, just not very well

Academy recruitment team "enhanced" Rovers are investing in the future of the club’s youth development pathway with the expansion of the Academy and Emerging Talent Recruitment Department. The strategic growth includes the creation of three new positions – Assistant Head of Academy Recruitment, Recruitment Analyst and an Emerging Talent Scout responsible for France and Africa. Long-serving Rovers staff Michael Cribley (Head of Academy Recruitment) and Chris Brankin (Academy Recruitment Operations and Pre Academy Manager) have now been joined in the department by Finn O'Leary (Assistant Head of Recruitment), Sean Cookson (Academy Recruitment Analyst) and Raphael Sherrer (Scout Emerging Talent France and Africa). These key additions will significantly enhance Rovers’ ability to identify and attract promising young players both locally and internationally. Rovers’ Head of Academy, Paul Gray, said: “Strengthening our Recruitment Department is a vital investment in the future of our Academy. “While our priority will always be to identify and support the very best local talent from the North West, expanding the team allows us to widen the net in a smart, targeted way, across the UK and abroad. “The additions of an Assistant Head of Academy Recruitment, a dedicated Recruitment Analyst and an Emerging Talent Scout covering France and Africa give us greater reach, sharper insight and a more proactive approach to finding players who fit Blackburn Rovers and our values. “By building greater capacity and expertise, we’re ensuring we stay ahead of the game and continue to bring in young people with the potential to thrive here.” It was a proud moment for the Academy on Friday night, as Rovers Under-18s produced an outstanding performance to defeat Southampton 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup, and there will be another notable milestone to celebrate when Rovers face Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, as it will mark 750 consecutive league games with an Academy graduate named in the matchday squad.

Christmas / New Year period, just a template to save me time (and effort) over the holidays Friday 26th Dec, 3pm O'Riordan - score/update Olson & O'Grady-Macken - score/update Barrett - score/update Edmondson - score/update Wood - score/update Monday 29th Dec, 19:45 O'Riordan - score/update Olson & O'Grady-Macken - score/update Barrett - score/update Tuesday 30th Dec, 19:45 Edmondson - score/update Thursday 1st Jan, 3pm O'Riordan - score/update Olson & O'Grady-Macken - score/update Barrett - score/update Saturday 3rd Jan, 3pm Edmondson - score/update Wood - score/update Farkas - score/update Sunday 4th Jan, 3pm O'Riordan - score/update Olson & O'Grady-Macken - score/update Barrett - score/update Tuesday 6th Jan, 19:45 Edmondson - score/update Saturday 10th Jan, 12:15 Edmondson - score/update - live on BBC1 Saturday 10th Jan, 3pm O'Riordan - score/update Olson & O'Grady-Macken - score/update Barrett - score/update Wood - score/update Farkas - score/update - will be his final game unless loan is extended

He started one game just after his loan started, & then came off the bench in the next. He was then absent from their squad entirely for the rest of his loan spell https://fc-utd.co.uk/players/joe-boggan

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/december/14/-it-means-a-lot-to-get-far----joseph/ https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/december/14/-a-dream-come-true----harvey/

Whilst he will be on a lot of money for Rovers, his pay will be less than what he could achieve at more than 15 other Championship clubs.

It would be But it will not happen We no longer pay the going rate for proven/established Championship players

San Diego have named Duru in what I presume is the American equivalent of a retained list. Which I will assume means that they will not be ending his loan early next month

Gives off the aura odour of Kean

His goal record in this country suggests he is equally bad in both boxes

"Todd, can we discuss your contract? How would you feel about halving your salary?" Discussions had

but those options all have bigger appearance bonuses, win bonus, clean sheet bonuses etc than De Neve 😉 Best they save a few quid eh? Also, playing De Neve means you are not paying out win bonuses or clean sheet bonuses to anyone, even more dosh saved.... everybody wins, well only if everybody is Venkys/Gestede/Pasha

They much prefer forcing the managers hand so that they walk, or better yet, either find another club, so that they can get some compo, or offer to buy out their own contract to escape

Something for you to do on Monday then 😉 Have a few more, make sure to include Gestede & Pasha, lol

The only one of those he brought in was Gallagher, Graham was already here on loan and then signed on a free, so pretty sure that the legwork was done in advance for that one Apart from that, Mulgrew was good, Derrick Williams was ok, then it was rubbish like Stokes, Byrne, Samuelsson, Hendrie, a past it Wes Brown, Greer, Feeney Those signings look like the domestic equivalent of this summers signings, some good, most average at best

pretty sure it does 😉 In Gestede's world at least

Did you sack Gestede?

Can we change the thread title, to "The great many needs, & even greater disappointments of the January transfer window"?

Has been playing as the lone forward in a 4-2-3-1 for the past 2 months Was playing as part of a strike partnership in a 3-5-2 for the first part of the season under the previous manager I thought I would ask in their forum how they think he is getting on

and yet they cant even get a new contract sorted for him, that shows just how low the wages we are offering are