An organised club will have seen this happening weeks ago, along with knowing what fee they are likely to get. This hasn’t happened over night and should not be a surprise to anyone. The recruitment team *should* have targets lined up in each position, along with a very good idea of what each will cost ready to trigger these deals on the completion of the Szmodics deal. In venky world we start looking for replacements now and chop and change our budget over the next two weeks before blaming anyone other than themselves as to why we were unable to get deals over the line before the deadline.

It doesn’t take large amounts of spending. It takes smart recruitment in the right players. NOBODY predicted Szmodics meteoric rise apart from Ben Rosen of all people- who persuaded the club to part with less than 2 million. We need 3/4 players on good length contracts with the potential to improve firstly us as a team and secondly hopefully increase their own value as assets. We can’t begrudge the club taking the money (he’ll never be worth more than he is now) but we must start investing part of these transfer fees in good young and hungry footballers. That is the difference between us and the “Brentford “ model. Some will prove a success, others will get moved along…

Fee agreed, medical in the morning for SS. Good luck to him, earns his move through hard work and effort. Have a lot to thank him for, pretty much kept us in the league last season.

I think SS situation is the reason behind our dry spell. If he stays we will probably be restricted to loans, if he goes we may see a few low fee buys to fill our 4 vacancies in the squad. For what it’s worth I don’t think we need any more than 4 players. GK, left sided defender, central midfielder and a winger. That’s regardless of those who have recently left on loan. If we were to lose a first team player (SS/Siggy/Buckley) maybe these need replacements. SS needs resolving this week one way or the other. Ipswich coming up with the fee we want on or close to deadline day would be a disaster but very possible after all the messing about.

There is a definite change in strategy this year in terms of young players. Adam Owen/ Rudy clearly keen to have them out on loan playing rather than playing u21s or no football. Garrett/O’Riordan/Markanday and probably more to follow.

They will be trying to move Siggy on because of his salary and the fact he has a year left. Bet he’s another of the 15k a week brigade. Surely not worth the money to miss so many games with injury and sit on the bench.

Yeah it looks that way. Probably clearing the way for a player who can play left back or cover at centre half. Been looking all summer for someone of that ilk.

Pears showed frailties again last night even with the limited amount he had to do. 2 more goals from set pieces!!! Going forward I think we looked excellent. Gueye worked hard, held the ball and Dolan took his chance when the game was tight. Szmodics, Ohashi and Weimann showed their additional quality when the game opened up. JDT used to speak about needing 4 players on the pitch who can attack the ball from defensive set pieces. We had 3 when Gueye was on and 2 when he went off. My idea of a left back we need is a Derrick Williams style, decent in the air, can fill in at left back or centre half, can’t afford to keep shipping goals from set pieces, don’t think they had a clear cut chance otherwise.

I agree, but are there any other proven championship goal scorers in this league? I can think of a few who are likely to score 10-15 (Latte-Lath, Rutter, Sargent, Conway) but there aren’t any stand outs. Must be 18-20 clubs without a proven goal getter who are hoping someone steps up.

I actually think we aren’t far off a decent championship squad. A couple of unknown quantities but also a couple of older heads that are tried and tested at this level. We desperately need a first choice goalkeeper, and some width and cover for JRC/Hedges. We need 4 players, GK, left back, 2 wide players. Team for tomorrow night Pears Brittain Carter Hyam Pickering Trondstad Travis JRC Dolan Hedges Gueye. Subs; Hilton, Batth, Siggy, Ohashi, Tyjon, Buckley, Duru, Weimann Not far off IMO. I don’t buy all this “We lost 6 so we need minimum 6 to compete”. Moran non contributor second half of the season, Koumetio non contributor, Ayari looked promising but didn’t really play, Gally a trier who couldn’t trap a bag of cement (worst pass completion of any player in Europe) despite running around and heading defensive corners away for 20 out of 46 games offers very little and hasn’t for years. We need a couple of exciting players who offer us something different going forward. Bring on tomorrow night. Imagine if we could go and spend 50% of the Wharton/ Raya money 😳

Describes the club as a “mid table” club in the daily mail article. He’s from Chester and is only 18. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s us or Preston. Will surely be a cheap loan.

Wonder which championship club Lewis Koumas is off too. Comments on twitter saying he’s signing a long term deal before signing for a championship side on loan next week.

De Lange is frustrating. Clearly a good goalkeeper as Ajax and now Marseilles after him, I’m sure there are others around and one needs to be found quick.

Agree with this one, Actually feel that starting eleven looks pretty solid. Only a matter of time before the goalie throws one in and JRC/ Hedges pick up injuries though. New goalkeeper and depth in wide areas required over the next couple of weeks.

My concern is his availability and fee he’s available for is now very public. There will be others who have looked at him and now it gives them opportunity to get in there ahead of us, for the sake of what? 2 weeks worth of losses on running costs? If it’s really an extra 400k for a first choice goalkeeper, surely just pay it and secure him. No issue with us playing hard ball with Szmodics. We hold all the cards with him having several years on his contract. If we are selling him, get every penny we can.

They are trying to bring one in from Sweden but not been able to so far. They have Josh Vickers, who’s never played in the championship and is generally a number 2. They are looking for a number one

Derby no goal keeper either… hope they don’t swoop while we penny pinch.

I presume Dolan is asking to join the group of top earners on circa 15k a week to sign a new deal. Tough decision for the club, give it him and look daft in a few months if he doesn’t do much? Don’t give him a new deal at that level, he starts the season well and we look daft come September…. The type of decisions a good board of directors generally get right…

I think we are too far down the line with de Lange, I think there’s been a change of TACT and they probably think he’s someone who will develop and they will be able to sell on.

Don’t think it’s a coincidence we struggled so much last year without a top goalkeeper compared to the two seasons before. We also struggled pre-kaminski. I think a top goal keeper can earn 12-15 points a season. I feel like there was a spell at the turn of the year where it felt like every defensive set piece we were going to concede. What were we doing? As much as JDT did a decent job and wasn’t supported, that spell was an utter disgrace. His toys had well and truly been thrown from the pram.

Fee yet to be agreed but expected to be between 2 and 2.5 million euros.

If it’s about immediate cash flow why are they making cash signings? I think the “push” is about selling players at their highest stock, regardless of how it affects the team. Rovers want rid of Szmodics for this reason and if they are trying to offload Travis I imagine it’s for the same reason, regardless of what the manager wants.

I would surprised if he’s anything other than a major upgrade on Pears. Ajax academy player and played every game in the Eredivisie over the last couple of years. A couple of million they probably won’t loose on a 27 year old goalkeeper. If he has a solid season clubs WILL come calling for a player of his pedigree.

Don’t think so, showed everyone else’s face and the audio changed to “shots fired” when it showed whoever it is. Unless they are announcing a new deal for him 😂

Yeah I think that’s a new player at the end. Certainly not Travis