Personally, I’m disappointed we didn’t get Brereton in. He is exactly the sort of player we need to be a replacement for Graham. Strong, fast, great ball control... he will keep improving and has a bright future ahead.

Checking Transfermarkt, Brereton and Chapman appear to have the same agent. Would love both players to come on loan with a view to buy in the next few weeks.

1 minute ago, S8 & Blue said:

Would love to see the reaction on here if we sign someone in the next couple of hours, or if we have signed someone earlier in the day.

 

I’ve been on here long enough to know that it wouldn’t matter. You’d find a bunch of people still complaining that we only signed 1 when we were promised 3 or 4.

2 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Cant be throwing points away like that.

Both full backs started shakily but Nyambe did really step up after that. Williams got the run around by Edwards.

Felt like Evans was better than Smallwood.

Dack shouldnt have been taken off. Needed his ball retention. Palmer had to score that chance, badly cost us in the end.

Samuel not up to it, we all knew that. Another hold up player needed, again we all knew that.

Very dissapointing, feels like a defeat.

Great summary, agree that Evans looked better than Smallwood. Would like to see what Davenport can do in the next match.

Thought we looked second best throughout the game, especially in the first half (despite scoring 2 goals). Ipswich’s passing and movement was on a different level to us. Edwards is some player for them and a great signing, he will no doubt go on to have a fantastic season.

Despite comments on here, I thought Williams was excellent in the first half, but was caught out multiple times by Edwards in the second half. 

Lenihan is a colossus at the back for us and one of the few players who’s cemented a place in the squad I think. Raya, Nyambe and Mulgrew all looked solid enough defensively throughout the game, but had some moments of uncertainty which are a bit worrying.

Our weakest area was in midfield and out wide I thought. Samuel was dreadful and Bennett didn’t offer much either. Evans and Smallwood seemed fairly anonymous in midfield as well. 

Dack and Graham delivered the goods when it mattered as usual and had good games before being subbed.

Not much to say about the subs... Palmer, Nuttall and Conway all offered very little. We definitely need a better front man to come on for Graham. Nuttall isn’t ready for Championship football.

Overall, pleased with the result. Point against a decent side away from home. A lot of work ahead for the team and Mowbray though, but at least the drive and desire is there.

17 minutes ago, Stuart said:

Which is exactly why I’ve not been over the moon with our signings. It’s odd to bring in players in the Championship who aren’t better than the existing L1 players and who can’t displace any of them.

But...

Bell not better than Williams?

Wasn’t Rothwell supposed to have been good in preseason?

More likely is that Mowbray is being loyal to his old guard.

Tbf Mowbray has always maintained that the team that won promotion will be given a chance this season. We’ll see if they can raise their game in these first few games. I’m sure we will see the likes of Davenport, Rothwell, Bell, Travis and Palmer introduced into the starting 11 if others can’t hack it.

I think we struggled at times last season without Armstrong’s pace and Payne’s creativity, so it will be interesting to see how we go against much better opposition.

40 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Man.... are you ever grasping at straws now trying to defend this transfer window.

I said I wanted two quality strikers to come in leaving Graham as a decent third oprion plus at least one wide man who could go straight into the first eleven as well. How is that wanting "competition for places?"

I think deep down you know as well as well as I do we're headed for serious trouble if we go into the season with 33 year old Graham plus Samuel and Nuttall as our striking options plus Conway and Bennett as the wide men.

Still seven days plus change left until the permanent deadline so let's hope we can do something about it.

I feel like you are ignoring the fact that we’ve already signed Palmer and Rothwell who Mowbray will most likely play out wide.

I agree we need 2 more quality signings up front and out wide to have a truly strong team that’s able to compete this season, but not at the expense of team spirit and Mowbray has got it right with his current approach to signings.

Signing “two quality strikers” and immediately relegating Graham (one of our key men last season) to third choice before a ball has even been kicked this season would be a disaster. 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

The points I made about Mulgrew, Nyambe and Bell were all hypothetical. Reasons why I personally think the 3 at the back formation doesnt suit our current squad. 

Personally I think Mowbray has signed versatile players and we have versatility throughout the squad to play both formations well. I don’t really see that as an issue. We had bad games last season playing 3 at the back, but we also had some fantastic games playing it as well.

I’m sure Mowbray will play whatever system he feels best suits the game and the players available at the time, and sometimes it will come off and sometimes it won’t. What impressed me about Mowbray last season is he knew when things weren’t working and could change it around to great effect (not always, but more often than not).

Is this game streamable via iFollow?

Nice to see that both Nuttall and Wharton continue to feature in pre season. Hopefully they can push on and make the step up.

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

3 added minutes there must have been a 5 minute delay just for the penalty.

Yea absolutely ridiculous. 

Think the ref had to give it after going to VAR. He thought about it for a while.

It would be a real shame if it proves to be the winning goal as it would be a really poor end to a fantastic World Cup.

4 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I think you are actually being extremely understated by saying you are "underwhelmed" by the window to date. We are in urgent need of one maybe two quality strikers who can find the net at this level and the same as regards one maybe two pacey players in the wide positions. There's no sign of these priority positions being addressed so far and the only 2 additions are 2 lads who I'm sure will be viewed as providing competition for places initially.

Note the key phrase here is 'to date". It could all change in 2 or 3 days. But by God it needs to!

I agree, 2 quality forward/wingers are imperative in this transfer window. If we fail to sign them I would be worried where the goals would be coming from.

I’ve said before I’d be happy with Armstrong/Chapman, but both are unproven at this level really. So I’d love us to make a big statement and sign a proven goal scorer as a marquee signing.

3 hours ago, tomphil said:

Ben Marshall to Wolves is a good example of the Bauer situation.  Rovers asking for about 3 mil at first wasn't it even though his contract was running down ?

Behind the scenes he wanted out and they needed him off the payroll and wanted a fee, any fee. In the end he goes for about the same he cost.

This one will run a while I think and how he performs in preseason might determine it, has his head been turned enough ?

I’d like us to sign Bauer as he seems a good player with a lot of potential, but we are not exactly desperate to sign defensive players at this stage, so I think that’s why Mowbray is being patient with this one.

Mulgrew and Lenihan are our first choice pairing in the centre, so any defender who comes in would have to settle for a place on the bench and take his chances when either one of them is injured or in poor form.

We have Williams and Nyambe who can play at centre back, especially if we play 3 defenders, plus Downing, Wharton and Platt competing for spots as well. 

Interesting that both England and Belgium have played similar formations this tournament and have easily dominated lesser teams, but I feel both teams are being found out against stronger opposition like France and Croatia.

Even if England win here, I think they will seriously struggle if they persist with the same system against France, just as Belgium did. 

Croatia look tired right noe. They have gone to extra time in all of their games now. Surely has to catch up to them at some point.

Either way, can’t look past a France World Cup win. 

Just now, AdamRochina said:

Giroud missing so many chances..  imagine leaving benzema at home and taking bloody giroud 

No idea how he’s still starting for France. Surely someone else deserves a chance up front for them. He has been their worst player every game.

Fantastic contest so far. 0-0 but it’s been end to end. Belgium have been really exposed at the back and if they didn’t have world class defenders I wouldn’t be surprised to see them a few goals down by now.

France looks the better team. Belgium are struggling to gel in this weird formation and a lot of their moves are breaking down as a result.

Belgium has gone all out attack it seems tonight. I can’t see it ending well... France have players that can do some real damage on a counter attack.

Anyone know if game is available to stream from somewhere? Doesn’t look like it’s on iFollow.

N’zonzi coming on for France now. Crazy to see a player we signed nearly 10 years ago for about half a million go on to represent one of the best teams in the World Cup.

46 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Will anyone leave do people think? Some of the under 23s will definitely go on loan. Then after that, I'd say Gladwin might leave if there are any takers. Whittingham too if there were takers. I honestly think Whittingham will be a useful player to have around if he stays fit, so not too bothered about that. We are going to have a big enough squad. Great for competition. 

It's great that we don't have to live in fear of players been sold this summer. Having said that, I reckon a sizable bid will come in for Dack. Probably(hopefully) not enough to be accepted though. Realistically this will be his last year in a Rovers shirt though. We may enjoy it. 

The 2 I would probably want to see leave are Hart and Caddis. They are too far behind the other players in their positions.

Gladwin will probably go if there are any takers, but given our lack of attacking players at the moment, I wouldn’t be against giving him another chance.

Whittingham has a lot of competition in his position so I’m not sure if there’s sense keeping him. His experience may be handy to have around the squad though.

The colours and emblem of the French jerseys had me confused for a second thinking I was watching a Tottenham game...

22 minutes ago, tomphil said:

Looks to me like they are just after back up players rather than ones to immediately challenge the established ones or add instant quality to the first 11.  The strongest starting 11 pretty much picks itself aside from TMs constant tinkering and rotating so it'll be as you were I think with maybe the back ups mostly being our own signings now instead of loans.

Squad will be a bit stronger maybe but not much different quality wise.

I’ve got the same impression from what Mowbray has said in the past. It sounds like the team that won promotion will be given a chance next season and players will be brought in to challenge them for spots, rather than replace them.

It seems like sensible squad management to me, especially when you have such a good team spirit throughout the squad. Thanks to iFollow I got to watch Rovers games for the first time since we got relegated from the Premier League, and I have to say I love this current team. I know that a lot of them may not be cut out for the Championship, but I hope that they do manage to up their game and do well next season.

The area where we obviously need to sign players ready to come into the first 11 is up front and on the wings, where we are seriously lacking in players. The quality in midfield was a bit worrying as Evans was poor until the last few games last season and Gladwin and Whittingham were unimpressive, but I think the signings of Rothwell and Davenport addres that problem. The rest of the side I’m not worried about that much.

I think Uruguay will struggle up front tonight without Cavani, so can see this one going to penalties, especially if France fail to break through what is probably the strongest defence in the competition.

Cant wait for the Belgium v Brazil game later tonight though, as it promises to be an absolute cracker. Have to stay up til 5am to watch it, but think it will be worth it!

What happened to Bauer? Would be a great addition to Rothwell and Davenport who have already come in. If Armstrong and Chapman sign as well, I would be pretty happy with the business done in this transfer window. Wouldn’t really expect any more signings unless some players leave.

Aguero is the king of last minute goals. 

Incredible. This really has been a fantastic World Cup. 

Now THAT is the goal of the tournament.