briansol

I think the reason is pretty clear, he wasn't automatic first choice anymore. As I've said earlier, Rovers were looking to bring in another keeper before Raya left. Mowbray is keen to provide competition to Raya and Leutwiler, and add to his goalkeeping department, with a more experienced ‘keeper at Championship level on the wishlist. The boss has made no secret of that, with ex-Rover Frank Fielding eyed last summer https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17649944.raya-receives-interest-as-rovers-consider-keeper-options/

Wages would be a massive issue. Strange that you buy a defender for 15 mill and give him 1(!) PL match.

It's been well documented by Rich Sharpe on several occasions that the club was looking to bring another goalkeeper. If I remember correct that was the case before last season as well when we were linked with Fielding. It seems pretty clear that he would bring in another keeper this summer, Raya didn't want to be a backup choice, so fair play to both parties I guess. I would've liked Raya to stay and compete, but I can see being the main man at Brentford appeals to him. For us we needed a more commanding option whether Raya had stayed or not. As rightly stated, he didn't get much help from inept defending of the box, but we need a keeper that will do his part as well.

I agree. Saw quite a few U23 games last season, and he was the best player in almost every game including top PL oppositions. Very exciting player, combination of workrate, going past player and picking a pass. Don't think we had similar type before.

If nothing else, the academy produced a 3 million keeper. Hasn't been many keepers from own ranks that has made something of themselves. Apart from Frank Fielding carving a decent career, you probably have to go back to Shay Given I think.

Does people here do any research at all? He did not have a nightmare on loan. https://roverschat.com/loan-watch-how-did-andy-fisher-do-at-fc-united-of-manchester/ Rovers chat has done a great job on checking up how our loan players have done by contacting the loan club's supporters. Verdict on Fischer: “Andy Fisher has been a breath of fresh air between the sticks since coming to FC. It’s been quite some time since the fans have had a keeper which it seems we all have full confidence in. Andy has been a huge improvement on our contracted goalkeeper and this has allowed us to send our contracted goalkeeper out on loan. We are still conceding goals at an alarming rate but this cannot be attributed to Andy who to his credit has put in some brilliant performances behind a very shaky defence and ever-changing midfield. I am very confident that Andy will go on to have a bright future in the professional game.”

That's a good overview. Seems there are several approaches to getting a 20+ goal goalscorer. 1. Youth product - McBurnie was bought as a 19 year old and had several loans before establishing himself. Bowen has become better and better. 2. Lower league - Che Adams and Billy Sharp. Adams needed a season to establish himself in League one before hitting form. Ipswich tried the same this season with Kayden Jackson and that Bristol Rovers guy who both failed massively, Omar Bogle also springs to mind. Bit risky play. 3. Top loans from PL like Gayle and Abraham. Both proven goalscorers in Championship and with massive wages, 60-70k reported on both. Although Gayle was a swap loan deal with Rondon. Not within our reach financially. We would compete more for the likes of Nchema that Preston had on loan. 4. Foreign finds - Maupay and Pukki. This is the most interesting option, which I've been a big supporter of. Doesn't seem we are up and running on that front yet. Pukki is the most suprising for me. Who would have thought a 29 year old free from Danish league with a less than great goal record would be such a success? While I'm a fan of Gallagher and think he will come good, I would agree that scouting wise it's a bit lazy.

It's well established that he is quick, you might be right on the other attributes. Some divided opinions: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/heres-what-southampton-birmingham-city-14901383

Nah, he's far better in the air, scored quite a few headers in his time here (see video). Mobile, good work-rate and quick as well. I don't think there is a lot of options available in England for 5 million, when even centre backs from League One moves for 6 million. Would have to do a foreign gamble to find better for that money I think. Not a spectacular choice, but an improvement of the squad. Would probably fit a lot better to our new playing style with more pass and move, than as a target man.

Preparation doesn't mean much if you can't execute as found out against Rotherham long throws/deadballs

Imagine Raya in the Brentford goal defending an inswinging corner from Mulgrew....

Agreed! Palmer was showpony with little to show, I think Chapman can do that better. Reed is a real loss, have some hope for Davenport though.

Interest seems legit from the Derby forum. Also mentions Jacob Butterfield.

Totally agree. I'm not suggesting we should stand still, I expect progress this season from Mowbray. Last season was resultwise pretty much could be expected, neither more or less. From an objective standpoint, quite a few clubs are worse off financially this season, and Mowbray needs to use that edge to improve results. I expect a top 10 push, although I think promotion is out of reach. We have quite players that should be improved this season like Rothwell, Bell, Armstrong, Brereton, Travis, Davenport etc. However we're still too many players short in central areas, esp defence to mount a real promotion push.

Some fact about the relegation in 16/17 and Mowbray: - Mowbray took the helm in February 22, with a squad inherited from Coyle and a closed transfer window. We had 29 points from 31 games at that time. Under Mowbray we took 22 points from remaining 15 games averaging 1.5 point pr game which would equal a 69 point total over a whole season. I struggle to see which "decent" manager who could do much better. - I don't think Mowbray is perfect. He is far too loyal against the current players, conservative in the transfer market. But he has brought stability to the club, a squad that wants to play for the club, youngsters coming through, and established ourselves a mid-table side again. In addition he has the trust of the owners which we know is critical. I want to see us progress further under Mowbray. And who could you realisticly replace him with? Berg, Appleton, Coyle proves it's far more likely to get it wrong than right. It's fine to want more and for us to better, but we are a mid-table sized club with mid-table resources. Realisticly we will end mid-table unless we can overperform.

Not suprised by Mangala, couldn't handle our U23 attackers when Rovers beat City 3-1 in March. Not that many could, second half of the season they played some wonderful stuff.

Very harsh. His dad left years ago and he's made a little career for himself. Captain for the U23 and seems to have a good attitude to improve. Grayson is good enough to carve out a career at League 2 (maybe 1). A poor man's Mulgrew with a great left foot. Not mobile or aggresive enough for Championship but very sure he'll have career in the lower leagues. I think Buckley has the greatest potential of the U23 group. Butterworth is also very exciting, probably the most exciting attacking talent in a few years, though the competition isn't great. They might both benefit from a loan to get used to men's football with regular football. Magloire needs a loan as well. He's having it to easy in the U23 against lightweight attackers. Experience some more robust attackers in mens football will do him a world of good. Probably one of if not the quickest footballer there has been at Rovers

Forget Bidwell, Rovers should pick up Haitam Aleesami on a free. His contract just expired with Palermo. Has a good pedigree with Palermo in Serie A/B and regular for the Norwegian national team. Modern left back that can defend and attack. 27 years and wages within our structure. Doubt the scouting team are aware. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitam_Aleesami

Bristol City sold Loyd Kelly to Bournemouth for 13 million which explains where their money is coming from. The information from interviews and Rich Sharpe suggests: - We have a similar transfer budget as last year (Which means at leat 6-7 million) - Our wage structure is mid-table. (Steve Waggott was recently quoted on this) Which means while we are probably one of the few clubs that can spend without selling, we are going to have a hard time convincing players on good contracts (PL, upper Championship) to take a wage cut to come here. Leaving us with lower league, smaller Championship clubs and foreign players. It's fairly obvious that we need to get the scouting network up and running. Brentford and Norwich has really utilized the foreign market to good effect. I think The Championship is the 6th biggest league in Europe now and much easier to attract talent. Here in Scandinavia you can probably take your pick between 500k - 2mill for any player. Wages not an issue.

He might in a back three, unsure of him as a centre half. He struggles in the air and not sure of his positional awareness in that position. Magloire is quite similar, very quick and good one-vs-one. I saw Magloire totally dominate Rhyan Brewster at Liverpool in U-23 football, but struggled badly against Joe Garner/Steven Fletcher in the air.

My thought so far: - Raya. I like him, he's quick, agile and a modern keeper. Also think his kicking is decent. However ironicly he's probably better suited to Premier League or another less physical European league. Championship will a lot of times be battle, and he doesn't have the stature to command the area. Unfortunatly Leutwiler is even worse. He will not come of his line and was well known for this when we bought him. We need another keeper who can command the area, but at least shouldn't let Raya go without a better option lined up. - Charlie Adam. Doesn't take the rumour too seriously. With Downing signed I think we have the experienced playmaker covered. Downing is still quite mobile, Adam is not. Much rather have someone like Reed who can do box-to-box and worked very well with Travis. Probably hard to find. - Gallagher. Yes please. I liked him last time and think he will be a good option considering what we got. Not sure if there are any better options for our budget out there, unless we get unearth a foreign gem. - Mowbray. Pretty disappointed he is backtracking on the defensive needs. It wasn't just a blip, without Lenihan we are going to ship a lot of goals. Mulgrew can't defend and unless one of the youngsters like Wharton really step up, we are paperthin. I think he's a great honest man, but could be more tactical when selling the club. Why could he tell Bauer he would compete for a place on the same line as others? - Few rumours are probably a good thing. The club is a lot better keeping the transfer work under radar now. They probably have enquired about 10-20 players for each position, very little is leaked. It all comes down to actually comes in the door, which judging by last year is an everchanging landscape as they further down the list. In general it seems like there is very few transfers going on both in the Premier League and Championship. Will probably be mayhem the last two weeks before the deadline when desperation hits.

Yes you are right, I don't think Gallagher is being brought back as winger. Our "new" passing game would mean less reliant on a target man, and I think someone like Gallagher would be seen as a more mobile option to lead the line. Knowing how Mowbray likes his players to cover several position, I would also expect to see him deployed on the right wing as well at times. I know he was deployed as winger at times in his Birmingham spell too.

Yeah I think you are right. Seem to remeber the last match against Brentford we played Mulgrew as a left back pinging cross field balls to Gallagher at the right wing. He dominated the full back in the air. Probably more suited to the wing than Brereton, but needs to be Grahams understudy. Gallagher is quite mobile, good pace and decent in the air infront of the goal. Doesn't have Grahams know how as a target man, but more potential in that role than Brereton. Would be a decent buy IMO.

Don't think it's true Twitter account is generating random rumours: Football Rumour Bot Tired of football rumours generated by people "in the know"? Why not see if a random number generator is any better?!

Big yes from me. Big, strong and commanding. Very good championship quality and knows the club. Not sure how much better we can do given our status. He might be similar to Lenighan, but that's what we need. Our downfall occured when Lenighan was injured and we need at least one more centre back with strength.