YESSSSSSS!

Just now, CambridgeRover said:

Need to upgrade on Dolan urgently.

Awful decision maker

Hopefully Siggurdsson!

Could do with them announcing a fan's PTSD helpline alongside any signings 

Nixon claiming this is 'a paid for loan and prospective full move in summer'...

Good point that. Shame it was a mistake that let them back in but sounds like we’ve managed the game well after the red. Big point if we can go on to beat Wigan 

51 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

What some people seem to be forgetting is that along with football being a results business it’s also an entertainment business. Or it certainly used to be. Ponder on that when you decry the attendances at Rovers. If I was an ex season ticket holder considering returning to attending games nothing  I saw yesterday would have me rushing back down to Ewood. Shutting up shop when you’re 1-0 up against the bottom of the league at home with 30 minutes to go won’t get the lost thousands coming back irrespective of our league position.

The passing in the first half was laboured, turgid and un imaginative. Lots of the time we were playing walking football. Always in front of the opposition and so rarely around the sides. So easy to play against, even for a team at the bottom of the league. We should have teams shaking in their boots when they’re walking out at Ewood yet yesterday we let them play themselves in with no problem at all. We never go for the throat straight from the kick off. The couple of times we went out of character and played route one balls we caused them real problems.

The last 30 minutes of the second half had me pulling my hair out. Nearly all the game was played out in our last third of the pitch. Yes, we defended really well and restricted Hudds to speculative efforts most of the time. That was because they are really blunt up front, better teams will make the most of playing 30 minutes in our half. Anybody who thought that last half an hour was entertaining - come around to my house, I’ve got a hammer and some nails - you could knock them through the back of your hand. 
 

Sometimes I think we’ve watched so much shite over the last ten years we’ve forgotten what entertaining football looks like.

Genuine question, what would it have taken for you to be pleased with the season up to this point? 

8 minutes ago, Displaced Rover said:

Completely different situation with Brereton. He was our £7m player and personally (for what that comment is worth) I was far more open to him getting a chance for that reason.

There is no possible way that Hirst will do enough to justify his option to buy price this year. You might be right, maybe he will come good but why should we waste time developing a loanee if he can't contribute now? We don't have room for dead weight and if it comes down to giving development opportunities, clearly they should go to our actual players (Vale, Dolan etc).

Agree BB was right to be afforded more patience than a loan to buy player. just feel that a few games from a low on fitness/confidence Hirst doesn't give us an accurate picture of his ability. Needs the full season (if he can earn his way into the team in training which he must not be doing at the minute) including a run of games before we can see whether there's £5m of potential there. Good having the luxury of the option to buy in case that doesn't happen and he continues as he has been. 

1 minute ago, Miller11 said:

Thing is it was absolutely true about Brereton for at least 2 years. Hirst hasn’t got the luxury of time to become useful.

True. Hirst is a bit more proven though than BB was having done well for Pompey last season, but yeh Hirst is up against the clock to start justifying his future fee. Massive moment missing that penalty, hopefully starts taking his chances the next time he gets on. 

17 minutes ago, Displaced Rover said:

If Hirst scores it's likely to be because the ball has just bounced off him.

He's shite. Should be nowhere near the first team squad and needs sending back (if possible per contract) on 1st January.

Exactly the type of comment made about early Brereton appearances. Far too small a sample size to see half a dozen partial games from a young player without much of a pre-season and claim he's shite. Possibly been shite to date but we shouldn't write him off.

Sharpe saying he’s expecting a mad scramble from champ clubs for Sam Surridge now Forest are signing Batshuayi..

Could see him slotting in as one of the front 4 

2 minutes ago, Paul Mellelieu said:

Anyone think we are done?  

From Sharpe's comments on his live blog it sounds as if we're now happy we've plugged all the gaps, but that an attacker would be a 'nice to have' if one becomes available. 

Sounds as if we're keeping an eye out on who may become available with a view to making a last minute move if so. 

Not sure how that changes if BBD goes. 

Just now, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

JRC likely heading to League 1 on loan according to Sharpe.

Happy with this. Needs to rip it up in League one if he wants any chance of having a rovers career

2 minutes ago, windymiller7 said:

Out injured, on the bench or rested?

Out of the starting 11 makes sense with Hyam coming in as there's no way he'll last playing twice a week but I'd be having him on the bench just in case. That is assuming you don't mean out injured.

Not sure on that, have just been told the info I’ve given, Hedges, Dolan, Dack & Diaz the front 4. 
 

Fingers crossed he’s just being rested as you say. 

Hear on good info that Ayala is out tonight. Hyam and Phillips at CB. A.Wharton gets a start next to Morton, Trav at RB

10 minutes ago, glen9mullan said:

Depends what you count as marquee?

If a player say Bowler for instance (just an example) is £4 million, then thats above our budget. This would need special case putting together with facts figure and possible returns on investment, just like the case which was done for BBD purchase.

Barkley would not fall under this; he was on £200k per week. Unless he wants to accept a maximum of 23k a week that will not happen. Our wage budget will not be raised under any circumstances.

A sale of BBD would mean we dont need to ask for special case money as £5 million of that would be made available.

However the thing we must take into account, our transfer budget is for the season, so if we do spend it all this window, then January will be a non event in terms of transfers.

Also a special case, is not just any player above £3 million, its got to really stack up

Thanks Glen

5 minutes ago, glen9mullan said:

I think we can guarantee though that we will sign players which are leaked from the selling club first, or from whats been posted on here. 

To date local press run with what was already common knowledge or claimed exclusives hours after the name was on here or twitter. I do miss the days of Andy Cryer and Nixon when he genuinely had good sources

Do you know if we are seeking a 'marquee' signing as some have stated the Barkley deal would be?

10 minutes ago, RoverDom said:

12 out 3 in is misleading. 

 

We lost:

JP Van Hecke

Ryan Nyambe

Darragh Lenihan

Ryan Giles

Zeefuik

Brad Johnson

Joe Rothwell

Reda Khadra

 

That's 8 players

 

These players left 

Jacob Davenport - never played even when the squad was stretched beyond beleif

Ian Poveda - injured all season 

Harry Chapman - never played

Tyler Magloire - never played and I've seen people say they'd rather play with 10 

James Brown - one game in a dead rubber match

That's 5 players that have left with no negative impact on squad strength imo

 

We've  brought in, or now have as options 

Brittan

Smod

Morton 

Carter

Phillips

Wharton 

Garret

Vale

Markanday 

 

That's more like 8 out 8 / 9 in. 3 or 4 quality additions over the next week and I'd say we've plugged the gaps. I didn't expect much more from the window there was a lot to do to make this a JDT squad. When he arrived the squad had loads of gaps to fill, I think it was a big ask to fill those gaps AND upgrade the players we did have to the high pressing high energy type player. Too much to do in one window especially when we've got a new structure starting from a standing start several weeks behind the other clubs. 

I know we'd all like it done in one window but maybe it might take more than one window? TM and Co have poisoned words such as 'project' and 'journey' and I'm not advocating another 5 year build to nothing but there's surely some middle ground between that and expecting an instant overhaul and promotion within 12 months. TM left the squad in a state, I was resigned (but not happy about) us having a midtable finish. Anything else would be a bonus. 

100%

2 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Anyone idea of who the third player is?? I presume we must of been in talks for a while if JDT is saying he expects 3 players…

Think Elliott Jackson mentioned the third player will be an ‘attacker’. 
 

Could be another wide forward, personally would want it to be a out and out CF to nail down that position, then another wide forward to replace BBD if he goes 

Rich Sharpe claiming the Hyam bid is 1.5m plus add-ons. Very good business if so 

4 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Celta Vigo are looking to sign BBD. Link to the links thread

Must be a near certainty now that we’ll be selling BBD this window, only question now is to who and for how much £. 

We just need to have faith that we have a contingency plan prepped and ready to go!

Also wonder whether his replacement will be someone ready to hit the ground running with 20+ goals in him, or whether it’ll be a young promising striker with a view to making a profit down the line as per our apparent new strategy.. 

4 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

Obvious to anyone....he's staying until his contract ends.

Simply got to be moved on this window. We're not genuinely expecting to challenge for promotion this season so we have to cash in and reinvest in strengthening the squad now. 

Anyone got access to Nixon’s Patreon? Story on there about us apparently keeping BBD

1 minute ago, Miller11 said:

I think the primary aspect to his job is winning games.

Of course it is. But it’s not as easy as just rocking up and winning every game you look at. If you want a team that produces regular, sustained wins and progression over the long-term you have to forward-plan and build that over time. 
 

Not dismissing the importance of maintaining results short term, that’s why I said we should remain patient as long as we’re not knocking around the drop zone later in the season