briansol

Some fair points, though I would probably say the squad is somewhat unbalanced for both formations. The 3-5-2 works well with current fit core group, but as you rightly point out the coverage is thin or leave players unsuited (Pickering/Ribeiro). Lewis Miller's best position is probably right of a three, also according to the Hibs fans and where he played the last part of his spell there. On the other hand, the 4-2-3-1 had bigger problems with the current squad. Especially in the winger positions which is very weak. There has been a large improvement in wing-play with Alebiosu and the De Neve/Hedges combo. We don't have a good focal point for the lone striker role, which has been somewhat offset with the two striker combo of Ohashi and Gudji. Coverage in all central positions looks in general very limited in numbers or ability. The Baradji case is strange, Rudy and Ismael must really have a lot of faith in him. They knew he was injured and would take a lot of time. In addition Rudy admitted he didn't quite fit the new transfer profile when it comes to speaking English. On the positive side, several players have made positive strides from what looked like a relegation squad: Toth - Hugh upgrade from Pears, game-winning saves and yet to make a big fumble (as far as I can recall) Alebiosu - Biggest positive so far. Paid peanuts, had a poor CV and was behind on match-fitness. Have replaced one of the best Championship right-back and many will claim he might even be better. Wharton - Brought much needed leadership and the central position suits him better in avoid being caught out for pace. Miller - Looks much better suited for a back three and seemed to have much better decision making and less rashness. De Neve - Probably the biggest turn-around from the first matches. Didn't expect him to play again and be shipped off, but has really stepped up as a capable wing-back. Which was probably his best position anyway. Somewhat limited but I love the endless energy and full pace both offensive and defensively. Also seem capable of putting in a cross while running at pace a bit like Wilcox. Hedges - New lease of life as a wing-back. Strange that he's been a forward/winger when his obvious attributes is much more suited a more defensive role like wing-back/full-back. Gudhjonson - Unlike Gueye, clearly has a football brain. Was unsure if he had many goals in him as his first outings was spent outside the box and rarely getting into the right positions. Latest matches has shown a predatory side which looks very promisinig. Montgomery - Two positive contributions from the bench. Probably the only option from the midfield that can drive forward with the ball. There is an argument for him learning on the job with his lack of experience, but for now he looks the third best option of the players available. Negative: Trondstad - Has looked off a couple of games. Haven't been his usual consistent self, but still too important to get dropped. Morishata - Can clearly see there is a ball player there, but going to need time to adapt to the pace and physicality. Had hoped it would be an easier transition coming fully-fit and European experience.

He did address this in his pre-match interview. Confirmed that Baradji came with an existing injury and was going to be assessed this week. So basically they don't know the time scale yet.

Well I hope so, given the cards he's been dealt. Avoiding relegation should be the baseline, any thing else is probably a bonus. As somebody rightly pointed out, wage budget usually correlate strongly with league position so that should put us in 18-20th place. Add to that the dysfunctional club management with power struggles, lacking contract extensions, owners who don't care. I don't see how many manager can be expected to perform a miracle here? Ismael was clear before the summer that he wanted to keep the core and add to it. It didn't pan out that way with Dolan, Brittain and Travis. The gradual transition has now been a full blown revamp of the squad. I'm an optimist but also a realist based on facts and data. There is no doubt that there is a high risk of this going badly. Statistically not a all transfer work out, even when you are spending a lot more than us. (ref Man United). Our wild card approach will be even riskier as for most of the players, the Championship is a step up. It's very likely that result wise it will get worse before it gets better. Just hope that the club sticks with Ismael for some time to see through the rebuild.

There is no chance in today's football to get a proven striker for this level for 2 million, they will all be a gamble. Modern football with just one striker has limited the pool significantly as it also puts higher demand of the attributes to fill the role. Another aspect is that the extended European competitions has caused an influx of more money to sub-par leagues which has increased the transfer sums and especially for strikers. Gudjonsons profile is very similar to Aune Heggebøe, who WBA picked up for 5+ mill this summer. He's a 24 year-old striker with a 1 in 3 goal ratio including spells in the second tier in Norway. Judging by the top scorer table in the Championship last season, finding a 20 goal striker looks pretty grim: - Not a single player scored 20+ - Only 2 strikers hit 15 or more (Piroe and Sargent, both expensive transfers when bought)

I find the approach incredible limited. You are limiting yourself to average players without any potential upside from average clubs. Probably paying a lot more than you need as well. Derby will get exactly what's on the description, a mid-table finish. They will probably be happy with that considering last season. Been vocal about this topic before, but a club adapting their philosophy and transfers to whichever manager they appoint are mostly doomed. A well function club has a clear strategy philosophy on how they want to play, they appoint managers that fit their approach. Their scouting will be able to track and identity players of several years that fits their profile. Brighton is a good example here. Here in Norway you have Bodo/Glimt who have gone from being a second division team to totally dominant. They've been wildly successful in Europe, reaching the semi-final in the Europe League last year, and yesterday qualifying for the Champions League group stages. Their players as individuals are average, very few would hack it in the Premier League. However they have an incredible performance culture, a well drilled team and some look like super stars in that system. When they get sold on, they usually falter and many end up back in Bodo. No chance Rovers can replicate that with our owners and management, but at least there is some comfort in that there has been a clear strategy in the transfer approach, and replacements has been identified when players have moved on this summer.

Garett is probably a League 2 player, but won't be as bad as Tomlinson. Tomlinson had massive attitude and off-pitch issues and responsible for his own downfall despite obvious ability to have a career as professional footballer. Nothing to suggest that Garrett is similar. I saw another poster refer to him as athletic, he is not. He started out as a defender but lack of pace and strength meant he was moved into midfield which he is much more suited for. His strength is being on the ball, good passer and worked well for the U21 as a holding midfielder. His lack of pace and intensity/strength is not covered up by some wild crunching tackles.

There is certainly a player there. Saw quite a few games when he was in the youth team with Wharton etc. Good fotball intelligence, decent on the ball and good finisher. Clocked him then as someone who would probably be effective when he's older and bulked up. Might end up like Danny Graham, who dropped down a league to Carlisle, bulked up and made his way back up again. Whether Rovers is going to wait for that, remains to be seen, but I'm certain he is going to have a career in pro-football and might become Championship material in a couple of years.

Horrible end to the game. De Neve should never let him go on the outside for the penalty and very naive corner with no security for the second ball. Otherwise I thought it was a good performance against a promotion contender. Get Travis out, and this group will at least try to put up a fight.

Probably isn't fit before January anway 😉

Spot on. Of the players left (including Travis) you could probably say Brittain is the only top-end Championship player. The big issue is the impact on the dressing room. We had the same problem 2 seasons ago when we almost got relegated. The squad was young and experienced without any leaders. Last season Travis was back along the experienced heads of Bath, Weimann which has been highlighted in interviews by other players.

lol, that's a great one. Loosely translated they sing "Don't waste your goal chance, pass it to Henriksson"

Even if I'm probably in the half-full camp, I would agree that the loss of experience is a concern and we have a weaker squad for the first part of the season. That said I was probably even more pessimistic last season. Losing Smodiczs, Wharton and Gallagher from a team that barely avoided relegation I couldn't see any quality or goals left. Expected a struggle and the team certainly overperformed. The incoming was all over the place with a reported power struggle. In came some random foreign strikers, 2 old has-beens without legs with little playing time and winding down their Championship careers, a couple of loans and a Todd Cantwell with the potential to disrupt any harmony. This summer has at least shown some resemblance of a transfer strategy bringing in people of a certain profile, before pre-season and quickly replacing Brittain.

Guesswork based on Transfermarkt and quoted sums from different media outlets it's pretty even so far. including the Brittain sale, but excluding the Henriksson capture as it's not been confirmed. Probably spent 5-600k more so far. Would expect Henriksson to cost in the 1-1.5 range and add to the spend. https://www.transfermarkt.com/blackburn-rovers/transfers/verein/164/saison_id/2025 Of course all those numbers are uncertain as nothing is disclosed. I would assume they include clauses and installment payments, but that applies to both incoming and outgoing. Don't think any transfer is paid in full upfront anymore.

Think this is spot on. For once it seems that there is a strategy and execution around the recruitment, targeting more athletic profiles in an age group where they have first-team experience but young enough for growth and resale value. Too bad the financials means it has to be a high degree of gambling. Given that it takes probably at least 6 months or more to adapt to the Championship, we're probably not going to see much impact from them before the latter part. That's if they are able to cope at all. Still I prefer this approach to scrambling around deadline for some second rate Premier League youngsters and some veteran cast-offs where the legs has gone. For the upcoming season I would be satisfied to avoid a relegation struggle with this squad, the ultimate bonus would be to finish above Derby

Almost feel sorry for Brewster. Touted as the next big thing as a kid in Liverpool, had a serious injury where he probably lost some pace. He then came back with a good loan spell for Swansea. Surprisingly for Liverpool fans, Klopp decided to cash in and he moved to Sheffield United to become their main man for staying up in the Premier League. Flopped completely and has never established or performed their despite staying 4 years. 9 goals in 119 games is an awful return. From being a central striker, he now seems to be deployed in different forward positions. Has looked a broken man at times and move to Derby might to him good without the baggage carried by his big move to Sheff Utd. Probably his last chance to get any sort of decent career.