1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

What noises suggest we done have sufficient funds? Everything coming out at Ewood  is very secretive and not leaking transfer targets. Rothwell signing was unexpected and no daily link for weeks. I was at Pizza Hut at Blackburn when we signed him. Phone was buzzing and tweeting mad

Mowbray has said we are waiting for prices to 'lower'.  The Waggot interview mentioned out of contract players.  Put the 2 together and we clearly don't have a competitive Championship budget.  Yes we will sign players but Mowbray will have to unearth some gems if we are to do anything but battle relegation.

10 minutes ago, pomster said:

Whose Jack?

 

 

 

You know Jack

8 minutes ago, Biz said:

To take those teams and suggest “relegation fodder” is pure missing the point WWWM. As I said they are the teams we have “without investment”. Nobody said that would be our starting side, nobody said we won’t add more, it was merely an effort to point out what’s in the club at the minute.

I think it’s difficult to argue that they are worse than the team that came down last time, especially considering the mentality had to be built from the ground up. Would I take Dack, Smallwood, and Raya before Emnes, Lowe and Steele? 

Still stand by the idea that those setups would scrap survival under TM, but the point you missed; we will likely be adding quality to what is already a decent squad with plenty of options.

A better starting place. Is it perfect? No, if we started the season with just those teams and picked up 1/2 key injuries - we’d be relying on some pretty young backups or Whittingham, Caddis and Gladwin.

 

Better team spirit, definitely.  Better calibre of player than those relegated? ...not convinced yet.  

We have a spine of Raya, Mulgrew, Dack and Graham.  Two of those are in the twighlight of their careers.  

We will make additional signings; whether they will be good enough is the debate.  To bring in at least 5 players of sufficient quality will cost.  The noises suggest we don't have sufficient funds to compete.  Mediocre signings will see us struggle.  

For me, loan signings that you can't make permanent area waste of time.  If we had signed Chapman, Armstrong and Payne last year.  Two or three signings this year would ensure a good season.  

As it is, our squad is weaker than the league one squad of last year.  

It needs 3 players of equal quality to those above plus another two or three to improve on that league one squad.

4 hours ago, Biz said:

Another missing the point- the whole post is to show that we aren’t in a bad starting place, a few others seem to think we need serious investment or we will be relegated.

 

 

Not missing the point.  That 'starting place', without serious investment in 5 or 6 champ quality players, is relegation fodder. 

Just now, Paul Mani said:

Can’t beleive the amount of people writing Samuel off. The lad is 23 years old, 6ft 1in and pace like an express train. His personal trainer decision shows he’s hungry to do well. He’s a confidence player for me. Needs to score early and get a run. But he has all attributes to do well in the Championship imo. Good luck to the lad.

There seems to be a rumour that Samuel is quick.  Have we signed a new player? The lad is faster than most of our squad but I would imagine Bell and Nyambe are comfortably quicker.

An express train he is not.

2 hours ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

I agree. I am just so relieved we got that promotion. There were so many games I saw, where were were unconvincing for large parts. Many others have said the same thing. I know what I saw!

I don't think I felt that about any of my five  previous Rovers promotion sides, although we did win ugly a good few times during Kendall's promotion.

For me, it is a bit of a paradox in that last year's team showed moments of genuine "poetry"to brighten up passages of turgid prose..

That said, I admit I also see games-or moments in games-through blue and white glasses. I don't think I will ever got over that one!

Nail on head.  Last season we played well in patches.  Normally a couple of 20 minute spells or one half. It was usually enough at that level but won't be this year.  

6 hours ago, Biz said:

Just a look at whats currently on the books;

                             Raya

             Lenihan Mulgrew Williams

Bennett    Rothwell    Smallwood        Bell

                              Dack

                     Samuel Graham 

Subs/backups;

GK Leutwiler, Fisher

Defence; Nyambe, Downing,

Midfield; Evans, Whittingham, Travis

Forwards; Gladwin, Conway, Nuttall.

Thats a version of that team without any signings from this point on. They mentioned 5 today in the LET, but do we honestly need that many?

The u23s from last season might see some loan time but perhaps Tomlinson, Platt, Magliore etc could be added to the backup?

A version without further investment for alternate 4231;

                         Raya

Nyambe Lenhihan Mulgrew Williams 

           Evans            Smallwood

Samuel            Dack          Conway

                     Graham 

Subs/backups;

GK Leutwiler, Fisher

Defence; Bell, Downing,

Midfield; Rothwell, Whittingham, Travis, Bennett

Forwards; Gladwin, Nuttall.

In the “352” be happy to see investment at Centreback to push Mulgrew to LCB (as mentioned earlier in summer, a big powerful style to counter anything and improve attacking/defending set pieces) and the obvious- wide attackers, to supplement the 4231 variant of our tactics from last season.

As for the “4231”, I think this is currently weaker, without seeing Rothwell in his role and reliance on Samuel/Conway - hence why id be looking at some investment in those areas. Chapman and Armstrong would be two who instantly improve both versions of our recent tactics imo.

Either of those line ups is relegation fodder. 

We need something. Preferably pace out wide and up top to hit teams on the counter.  Just too many pedestrian players in there.    Sounds like we are keeping our powder dry until clubs are prepared to accept less than market value for their players...

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Arent they investing like 3 or 4 million pounds but not stupid amount of cash like Forest and Leeds have in the past to zero achievement and still in this league. 

 

No sign of that amount being invested in new personnel to date.

On 22/06/2018 at 19:53, Oldgregg86 said:

I think the Armstrong ship has sailed. I never thought we could afford him and nothing suggests otherwise. We need Chapman in and the equivalent on the other side and a nippy striker that knows where the net is. They are necessities. Any improvements or squad depth after that is welcome but the above has to be priority. Shame about Armstrong he would be ideal. 

Couple of big Lads required.  Team small as it is.  

Is he quick?

3 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

it depends what Newcastle want for the player. I was talking to Nixon who suggested that Newcastle were asking for too much for him and beyond our means

I would imagine we have the funds for the right sort of player

Makes sense.  He would be expensive by our standards.  Shame though - as Newcastle seem to want to let him go.  One of those who only needs one good season at champ level for his value to double/treble. 

I fear a lot of decent players will be out of our reach.  I expect most signings will come from league 1.

There's some decent ones there tbh but even some of those won't be cheap - like that Charlton CB.

You would expect that if we were serious about buying Armstrong permanently, then that deal could have been done.  More time passes, less likely that becomes.

1 hour ago, 47er said:

Dear oh dear! Getting off to a flyer IN THE NEW SEASON! (on account of having all our ducks in a row as opposed to waiting for closing time on the last day of the transfer window.)

When did we last do that? 

Pretty certain Shrews had a flyer - winning their first 7 games.  Set them up well for the season.  Hit the ground running is where we want to be - not scrabbling round like previous seasons.  

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

I dont personally think that the 22 points in 15 argument is a totally fair point in that I do feel that its impossible to extrapolate that over an entire season. Many of the teams we played in that last 15 games had nothing to play for, take the last 2 games v a Villa side on the beach with a Darwen End full of their fans cheering us on, and Brentford.

I dont actually think that weve actually added loads of new players capable of excelling at Championship level either. There's Dack whose obviously our star man. Smallwood I think can step up but some understandably have question marks. Bell and Downing have it all to prove but I think they can be squad players. Then theres Samuel, Gladwin and Hart who for me all are sub standard.

The biggest boost arguably, bar Mowbray and also the momentum of a promotion, is whose left since. Lowe, Akpan, Guthrie, Mahoney, Gallagher, Hoban, Hendrie, Emnes, Brown, Greer, Henley and since, Ward and Feeney, have all gone. None of them players are nearly good enough at Championship level. Players like that had a catastrophic impact on our relegation.

You missed out calamity Steele

6 good quality signings then great.  Not convinced Mowbray has worked out who he actually wants to sign though.

I imagine, as we are no longer the big fish in a little pond, he is finding it a lot harder to attract better players -without paying more than he wants to.

2 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Funny how differently people can see things. Obviously the transfer window has yet to pan out and will be key, but at the moment I'm expecting us to end the season somewhere around mid-table. If we assume we get at least Armstrong back, and make just a couple of decent signings, that is. The squad we finished the season with was far better than the one which got relegated, in my view. That, combined with the positive momentum at the club right now to hopefully get us off to a good start, and the fact that in our relegation season we had a thoroughly disenchanted fanbase, a horrendous manager for most of it and were still very unfortunate to go down, and I'm feeling fairly confident for the season. I've had a pretty good record predicting our seasons before they start lately...I predicted we would get relegated the season we got relegated, and my summer prediction for last season was 2nd place!

Hopefully I get it right again...I also have a feeling we might surprise many and push in or around the playoffs, at least in patches, but that will largely depend on how stellar our business this summer is.

Here in lies the rub.  The squad that finished the season (including Payne, a fit Chapman and Armstrong) is stronger than the one that came down but those loanees are no longer here and there are no guarantees they will be back. Lets be honest, I've seen some optimistic fees banded about for Armstrong but realistically, if he was our player, would you let him go for less than £3 million plus add ons?  Chapman, World Cup honours for England under 20s.  Can't imagine a tribunal fee would be low.  We got £400k for Mahoney and he hasn't the pedigree of Chapman.  Jack Payne is another who would likely command a 7 figure fee.  On top of that, we definitely need another  3 first team players.  Everyone knows we need to add height and pace. As others have said, Graham is a decent proposition for 1 year.  Conway isn't unless it is very low wages.  

Our Talisman is Dack.  The first contract renewal announced should have been his.  Keep the positive momentum going.

 Last year was a pivotal one, could we stop the rot?  We did and gained some momentum and belief back.  This season is massive.   We could end up with a competitive side that may bloody a few noses and have us sniffing around the playoffs - like the Rovers of old or, conversely, we could see Dack refuse to sign, Lennihan run his contract down and the players we were all enthused about signing, drift off to teams ready to spend the money.  Followed by a relegation battle.

Hoping for the former - as I've renewed!  I'd love to trust Mowbray to deliver on his pre season musings, but the cynic in me isn't convinced he will get the finances.

Final point.  From a marketing perspective,  you would want to announce the 'big' signings/news after the early bird offer has closed.  That way any exciting signings will negate the negativity of the price hike!

I know we don't venkys bash any more.  Lots of talk about a decent budget, doing business early etc. However, maybe the funds aren't in place yet?... Wouldn't be the first time.  I still don't trust Venkys to follow through on anything positive!

Bolton seem to think they're getting the little Turk Otzumer.  Decent player to have on the bench that lad.

A motivated Graham is probably worth a 2 year deal.  His game doesn't rely on pace.  However, given the likelihood of him being one of our top earners, perhaps it will be a financial choice between Graham or Armstrong permanently (who I assume will be on decent money at Newcastle)?

We can't rely on Mulgrew staying injury free...and there's every chance Lennihan has had his head turned after internationals. 

2 strikers 

2 wingers 

1 cm

And I would also agree with another commanding CB.

So 6 big dog!

9 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Straight into the first team where? 2 wingers, yes. A centre midfielder and arguably a striker. Where do you get 5?

We need 2 strikers.  Graham gets any kind of injury or drops off the pace (as has been known) then we don't want to be left with Samuel and Nuttall as main strikers

'upto 5 new players permanently'.  They will all need to be good enough to go straight into the first team.  

3 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Not sure I'd agree on the merits of Fielding v Raya but my point would be more along the lines that hypothetically we could also blow the rest of our budget boosting the squad depth by bringing in players as back up almost as good as our other best players such as Dack, Mulgrew and Lenihan but I' sure no-one would want us to do that. I'd far sooner see us replace the likes of Williams, Evans, Conway and Samuel with quality rather than worry about bringing in competition for Raya which to me seems pretty unnecessary.

On the other hand, it could also indicate a healthy budget to play with...

Or that we've had a good offer for Raya?

The Wagggot Q&A suggests we are looking at out of contract players -certainly initially. Fits.  Venkys seem happy to absorb wages but not fees. 

7 figures for Antonsson? Good grief.  Avoid.