rovers11

I agree it's a blow to lose him but it's really not a surprise. His leadership and championship know how will be missed more than anything. Tavares is very highly rated and far superior in terms of technical ability than Trav. Baradji too is very highly rated and has been watched by much bigger clubs. Both have high ceilings whereas Trav is and always will be a championship battler.

I don't really get the sudden outcry on social media of Trav leaving. It's been obvious all summer that he'd be leaving, with Derby a very plausible destination all along with Eustace in charge. This is just confirmation of that. I think he's very replaceable and Tavares is a very adequate replacement, and Baradji will be too if that deal gets done. The real problem is the sheer amount of championship experience we've lost in one summer. Weimann, Batth, Trav, Brittain, Dolan. Probably Buckley and Pears too. Possibly even Tronstad and Hyam. You just simply cannot lose that amount of experience in one window. I actually think the new signings are half decent and it's not been a bad window in terms of incomings. However, they're replacing very established championship players and that's a very difficult task when this is the first time many of them have played in this league. You can see the reality of the situation is now dawning on VI. He cuts a frustrated figure like all those before him

100% There's no way Trav would want to leave Rovers if it was a functioning club. The fact that not a single senior player wants to sign a new contract must be an alarm bell for even the most positive of supporters.

I thought the academy players really struggled tonight and none of them are ready to be part of the first team squad this season, but they will be and that symbolises the problem. Montgomery, in particular, is nowhere near ready. I actually thought the new signings looked decent. Miller was excellent and my MOTM. He'll be one picked up by a more ambitious championship club in 12 months. Tavares also very good, and you can see Henriksson has talent but not used to the pace of English football yet. He'll be a more impactful player than Cantwell imo. McLaughlin we already know is a good championship performer. Alebiousu was one of the better performers at the weekend. De Neve is a big no and a poor signing. The problem is up top. Gueye is never a footballer; Kargbo, Tyjon, and Henriksson are a work in progress; Hedges and De Neve are plodders; Leonard an injury write off. Cantwell and Ohashi are the only two who are "ready" to perform consistently. I simply don't see where goals are coming from this season. I would hazard a strong guess that we'll be one of the lowest scores in the entire 4 leagues this season.

We have a team of battlers who put a shift in. But the majority of them have very little ability - because they cost money and our glorious owners are not willing to invest in the squad.

The club is simply not good enough at any level right now. A squad built on a shoe string. Well done to Bradford. Fully deserved the win.

Nearly 2 games in and it's very clear we're toothless going forward. But we only need a RW apparently...

A terrible start but improved as the half went on. I feel like the game is as much about testing out some of the youngsters and new signings as it is about progressing through to the next round. Of that list, Tavares has been the standout. He looks very good and championship standard. Henriksson looks like a very tidy little player who will be very good once he's fully up to speed. Really like Miller too, he's the type of no nonsense defender that I think does well here. De Neve is not up to it and never will be. Can run all day but has no ability and plays it safe by going backwards everytime. Montgomery doesn't look up to the standard required either. Tyjon does but physically not quite there. The GK is nervous, that's very clear. Hard to judge him on his error.

Derby will stump up the required money for Trav. That will get done over the next week I'd imagine.

Cheap, low wages, no championship experience, and no other clubs in for him. I'd say it's a very credible link on that basis. Although he does look like a decent player tbf.

We can write off the Miyoshi deal now, it won't be happening. The last ESC spot will go to Baradji once Trav is sold. Mafoumbi will be released at that point to make room. Bucko will go out on loan and we'll get a loan midfield to replace him, who will then be back up to Tavares and Tronstad whilst Baradji undergoes his operation. That's my strong gut feeling. We are crying out for attacking talent and will flirt with relegation if we don't add a striker and RW. I still don't understand how a striker was a huge priority in Jan and we ended up getting an expensive one on loan. Yet, come the summer we no longer see it as a priority area. Although a great character, Gueye is not good enough, and Ohashi is still relatively inexperienced in this league. Leonard is an injury write off.

In terms of the new signing, I thought: - The two new RBs looked very good - McLaughlin had a very composed debut and looked good - De Neve looks to have nothing to his game and a pointless signing - Henriksson was anonymous. Only the WBA GK touched the ball less according to Sky. He was thrown in at the deep end though and think he'll turn out to be a good signing - Tavares had a brief cameo but looks far more mobile than Trav or Tronstand Desperately need a striker and RW.

Where on earth are the goals coming from this season? Did OK second half but never once looked like scoring.

We look dross so far but completely expected with the lack of investment and quality. De Neve is another Ryan Hedges. Toth looks worse than Pears. At least McLaughlin and Alebiosu have looked decent though. Henriksson not had a kick yet (only at WBA players!). Feels like another season we can pack up and go if we concede the first goal. Powderpuff.

Had a relegation release clause. Would be a good signing. Did Nicko's article suggest it's close or just one we're interested in?

I agree, I think he'll be a useful player away from home where we need to keep shape, be disciplined in your position, and press the opposition. Also at home when you're protecting a lead. He won't be a player who creates many chances or opens teams up. He's the polar opposite of AK in many respects. AK is dynamic, explosive and can produce something out of nothing. But you wouldn't count on him to keep shape, track back, or do his defensive work. That's why he's not a starter yet imo.

Up to 5 years shows we have very high hopes for this guy. Think he'll be a firm fans favourite.

I expect Axel to be announced today. I think Axel and Miller will be very shrewd signings and our best two this summer so far. If Baradji ever gets done, which I think he will eventually, then that's a trio of smart signings. Aggressive, physical players who have the right mindset and physical traits for the Championship. I think Tavares is also a shrewd signing and McLaughlin is solid. De Neve I'm not convinced about but, equally, don't know too much about him. Doesn't look to have the physicality for the Championship and not known for his technical ability either. Purely workrate and versatility; perhaps a better version of Chris Taylor. A decent squad player but the issue for us is that he looks like he's going to be a starter. Alebiosu is someone who I think will be out of his depth at this level and will be shipped out within 12 months but I could be wrong!

I strongly suspect we'll be linked with a marquee type signing before the close of the window just to appease the fans and to appear like there's some kind of ambition at the club. Of course, we won't sign them and never will have intended to. If it does get anywhere near a done deal then the paperwork will be left in drafts again 'accidentally'.

We won't be signing him for now. In other words, we've spent the Brittain money on Miller and Henriksson so we now need another sale before we can bring in Baradji or any further additions. I.e we're skint.

Absolutely Ismael would have wanted to keep him and I don't think it's a case of the board not listening or wanting to keep Brittain, it's simply that the player wanted to go to a more ambitious, well run club that pays a higher wage. Under this current ownership, we're just not able to compete financially or operationally with ~80% of the other clubs in this league.

Miller is a decent signing but he's not as good as the player he's replaced, so ultimately we're weaker now.

Telling words from Brittain on his move to Boro. In reference to why he joined: "It's clear everyone is pulling the same direction". A subtle dig at how things are run at Rovers I suspect. Not the first time a player has said that upon joining a new club.

Then Buckley will have to move to league 1 as he's not getting in anyone's first 11 in the Championship. Already flopped at Sheffield W.

I think he's got potential to be a prem league player in the future hence why some bigger clubs have been linked with him, but they probably want to see him perform at a higher level first. He has all the right attributes.