ben_the_beast

I'd rather he say he was eager to get his head down, work hard and give his all in chasing down a top 6 finish. It's just an interview and he'll be judged on the pitch, but when someone says they like the banter, doing tricks and having fun, but they don't like the weather it makes me a bit concerned. Especially when said player hasn't played a competitive minute for 9 months.

Sorry... a 2.5 year contract. If the fee is £1m he's our 2nd most expensive signing since the summer of 2023. What the eff is that contract all about?

Cissoko was brilliant when we played Plymouth earlier in the season. First half anyway. Slightly anonymous in the second. If it were a permanent deal I'd be delighted. On loan, had this deal been done at the beginning of the month I'd have been pleased.

The thing I'm least looking forward to is when the window slams shut, we've brought in a couple of no-marks / super cheap kids on loan and we hear Waggott crooning about how we've supported the manager. I'd almost rather us bring nobody in. It'd be a shot in the arm for all the Venky apologists. Even if we pulled a couple of big signings out the hat, it does feel too late after the January we've endured.

I don't think there are many clubs where a decent chunk of the fanbase accept the excuse "it's really hard". I'm sick to death of the club spinning the "January is a difficult month to make signings" line.

To be honest this is probably the main reason we're looking at Kargbo. He's both the quick winger and striker rolled into one. Efficiency (cheap).

Will Kargbo even be any better than Sigurðsson? Not that I rate Sigurðsson, but he's out of contract at the end of the season. Whether he particularly wants to be here or not, it's in his best interests to put some effort in to strengthen his hand for a good contract elsewhere. Kargbo really strikes me as a signing for the sake of it. Waggott can say we supported the manager. He's looking to spin than narrative on the cheap, however its pointless if he's poor quality. Waggots problem is Kargbo is turning out to be more expensive than anticipated. The clubs problems are endless.

Given the high turnover of our recruitment team, there's every chance he was scouted by Greg's lot at the same time as Telalovic.

Last season Pears became one of our most important players. Not because he was any good, but his replacement in Wahlstedt was doubly abysmal. We'd have been relegated if he was our number 1 all season. This season Pears has come on leaps and bounds. He still makes me nervous, but he is a Championship level goalkeeper these days. It'd be a huge risk selling him, unless people at the club were supremely confident Toth was ready to step up, and I've no trust in those making the decisions. The only opinion I'd trust is Eustice, and he's picked Pears every time this season, which says all you need to know.

Imagine if we still had Szmodics. There should have been no reason to sell unless an exceptional bid came in, after the Wharton sale in January. We did not sell him for exceptional money. Once again, it was just to keep the lights on because Venkys don't want a penny of their money going into the club if it can be avoided. Sure he'd have been a bit disgruntled, but another £5m ontop of what we got wasn't unreasonable. The price we sold him for was only appropriate for a 'selling club'.

I'd go for Damien Duff

Agreed his actual words say nothing at all. But we all know Waggott. The only reason he's released this statement is prepping us that we'll spend naff all. The clues: 1. John wants to keep the squad intact. - Waggott is spinning a success narrative (even though nobody wants any of our players). 2. Other positions/options that can cover our players whilst they return from injury. - Excuse for bringing in loans with no long term financial commitment. 3. January is difficult. - Just making the excuse in advance of the backlash. Waggottout / Suhailout / and most of all VENKYSOUT

Worth keeping in mind that wages demanded by Kargbo will likely be low and offset any fee paid. Everything is pointing to no money. I suspect the cost of Sanderson's and Forshaw's wages are roughly equivalent to that saved on Baker. We're also seeing zero contract renewals. Other recruitment will be deadline day loans, negotiating the lowest possible financial outlay by pointing out any Prem youngsters coming in are likely to see plenty of game time. Not a pot to piss in.

I'd say 500k is on the high end. I'd be expecting more like 200k with certain clauses taking it towards the 500k figure, which as you say, he likely won't.

Exactly. Almost strikes me as a political signing. "See John, we did back you. The recruitment team worked hard to find a diamond in the rough for you." For the likes of Waggott, the tiny outlay someone like Kargbo would cost, would be worth it, just as an attempt to pacify people for a short period.

Unlikely, but it would be very typical Venkys to release some funds on the last day of the window, catching everybody out and the first time in years, the inexperienced Gestede spaffs it up the wall on total dross.

Watched a video of Kargbo. I usually don't put much stock in them, but it did appear he was often playing centrally, rather than out wide. Looking at his stats, if he really does play as a support striker or centre forward, the fact he's not scored since October is very worrying. As is the fact he's not an automatic starter for a middling Serie B side. The fact he undoubtedly cost absolutely peanuts will go in his favour. Always willing to give a player a chance, but if he is one of our main targets it looks like pure desperation. Telalovic style gamble, based on some underlying stats, conveniently ignoring that he's playing in a shite league.

The remainder of the recruitment team will be compiling lists of players with pretty looking stats. Maybe attach a YouTube compilation for good measure. On the off chance we get the okay from Waggott nobody will have a clue how to make it happen, until Rudy pops up with the genius idea off popping said target a DM on Instagram to see if he fancies it.

It's always an early symptom of the current state of play at Rovers. No contract renewals equals no money. Joining those dots is a far more reliable source than any 'journalists' like Nixon.

We're hitting a point whereby deadline day loans will be a complete waste of money. We'll likely be out of touch by then. Would rather see the money invested in transfers or contract renewals. Sham of a window thus far. Zero faith in those negotiating deals, that they've the expertise to get anything substantial over the line.

I actually think Aasgaard and Cantwell being similar types of players could easily benefit the both of them. Class players want others on their wave length. At the same time, it's easy for the opposition to nullify Cantwell. It's not as though they need to worry about Ryan Hedges doing a pirouette past a couple of players. Cantwell needs help badly.

Still remember the stories which were pushed in the media when Mowbray was in charge and we were second in January. Back then it was that Venkys had committed to £10million worth of bonuses to the players if we went up. Yet they coughed up sod all to actually help us get there. Their promises are always for tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes.

To be honest, I'd take 0-0 draws in any of our upcoming matches. Feels as though we just need to hobble on until a few players return from injury.

We're decimated by injuries. I've put decimated in italics since most squads would be able to cope with the absences we've got, but with £40m sales and close to zero reinvestment over the last 2 years, our Venky overlords created a streamline (wafer thin, inadequate) squad. Bristol should be confident. We've got this far through organisation and graft. Eustice has performed miracles. Now we're in a position whereby the players who aren't injured look utterly knackered after being flogged death. Get a goal and you'll win. We're still hard to break down. Would snap your hand off for a 0-0 draw right now.

There's no need to be so condescending. I quite clearly wasn't stating their purchase of the club has been a profitable acquisition. I was simply pointing out that they are not currently pumping in £20 odd million a year in our current situation and haven't done for some time. This is what your original post alluded. Your final paragraph is exactly why I and the majority of others are making the counter argument. Modest reinvestment of funds spent wisely creates assets, meaning the levels of investment required, even just to tread water are lower. It's not rocket science mate!