roversfan99

I also dont think he is as good as Batth. Batth was outstanding, McLoughlin struggled for a regular spot at centre back and was played at left back. If he signs, I do feel like as a 4th signing, they are all filling necessary voids in the squad rather than improving our best 11. We needed some additional width, De Neve fills that, but we need someone to really improve the first 11 with Dolan having gone. We needed a strong 3rd choice midfielder which hopefully Tavares can do as opposed to Buckley and Forshaw who arent good enough. If either of the main 2 go, that becomes a different story, they would then need directly replacing. We needed right back cover, we got that in Alebiosu, but if Brittain goes and isnt directly replaced, we are weaker there. And now potentially McLoughlin, a good player to have around, but still think we need another centre back and we still look weaker than last year there. We need some players to actually come straight into the starting 11, mainly along the front line, as well as needing to ensure that if any of our best players leave, which is incredibly likely, we dont just try and make do with what we have.

Was indeed the same player.

That would be purely to save on wages then. Montgomery is a young midfielder who got sent off in his only start filling in there.

I dont believe that Miller story personally, at best its outdated prior to Alebiosu signing. We definitely need a right back when Brittain goes, but we wont be bidding amidst the uncertainty, I wouldnt think.

I can see the upside to McLaughlin. An experienced Championship defender, good age, left sided, and fairly well regarded. Decent on the ball too. We will be presumably going abroad again for players further up the pitch so some extra Championship know how to build upon would be useful. There are question marks on quality. He wasnt able to start regularly at centre back at Hull and was shunted to left back where seemingly he did well. The reaction fans from Hull is mainly positive although it seems partly based on him playing at left back and leaving them short there, factoring in their transfer ban, rather than his abilities at centre back. Hes not quick either so it might be a problem if we want to play a high line. Certainly doesnt seem like part of the plan of what they wanted to be honest. All of our main targets were abroad and it may be that we stumble upon needed experience somewhat by chance. I think back to when Broughton tried to bring in Batth, that seemed to be when we had identified the need for experience and all planned out, until Venkys meddled. Obviously this is assuming he signs, which we dont know. Advanced means nothing here and the source is flawed. If he is now our target, just get it done soon because he will need to go straight in.

Doing "what they can?" Is the "negativity" not understandable? We havent improved our attack which badly needs it, we have lost our best CB and currently only have one fully fit one, we have lost Dolan, lost Weimann, Brittain wants out, no contracts signed. Doesnt seem unreasonable.

Very much an article where he knows too much time has passed not to write something. But he has absolutely no further information.

I know you are reknown for hyperbole but can you explain why you think it would be "terrible." I'd get underwhelming perhaps if you said that or something similar, terrible is a strong word. Profile wise, good age, experienced but not over the hill, he is left footed, he hasnt ever stood out but he is a centre back playing for Hull and I have never seen him and thought he is a disaster either or a mistake waiting to happen. Hull fans in the main seem like they would rather not sell. All of our other signings have never played at this level before, he has plenty of times and could help to slightly fill the void of experience leaving. Probably not true as the source is dodgy and advanced talks means little with us anyway, but still.

Do we open the club shop after match days? Wouldnt shock me if we showcased our new kit v Everton then the shop was closed after.

But if he now gets a £15k a week contract, which isnt unrealistic for someone who has been a Championship regular for years, then its 2 years £2k a week and then say 4 years at £15k. It isnt "dumb" to reject a contract at lower than his worth just because its more than the tiny contract he was already on. I am not even saying that its definitely the right decision. But declining our offer doesnt make him this greedy, badly advised money grabber that many fans seem keen to prematurely label him as. The club will be happy with that reputation though. If he gets a Championship move or a move abroad on a competitive wage, then I would say his decision has been justified.

But surely it shows that the contract offered 2 years ago was not at the level it should have been. Why would anyone agree to a pay rise if that pay rise was still up to a wage well below what similar players would expect to receive at this level, and then he would be tied to that amount for multiple years. Just using random figures, I am not saying these are reflective. But say he was on £2k and was offered £6k for 5 years. And the average regular Championship winger is on £12k. You wouldnt tie yourself down when your rise would still have you well below the average. Also, I might be wrong. But dont players get a months worth of pay following the expiry of a contract?

And getting close to the point where any new signings become unlikely to be fully ready for the season. Doesnt appear that we will have any to go away to Spain with. Ismael wont be happy as he wanted 90% in 3 or 4 weeks ago. We have made no improvements to our weak forward line, have a huge hole at centre back, have no clarity on the contract situation and have lost a couple that we expected to say. Looking threadbare.

Perhaps. But not the one in question.

Before stumbling into League 1 at which point their fans seemed delighted to let him move on.

If players similar to Amarii Bell are what we want, then seemingly we are building a team of crap.

Dolan was more than a squad player, Brittain was more than decent and Batth was far more than just height.

Sounds a bit underwhelming. When targetting players from weaker foreign leagues you want them to be stand out or close to. De Neve didnt seem to be, surprising journalists with his move. Tavares was in and out at his mid table team and Alebiosu was surplus to requirements, although did admittedly have a productive loan spell in Scotland. It seems the motive to go abroad is purely to reduce costs. Seems like it is only an enquiry at this stage, and to be fair its not like you have said he is a bad player, just not stand out or that you are sure he could do it at this level. How is he for pace and what is he like in the air?

How does he compare to our current centre backs?

They also would have to agree a compensation package with us ideally to avoid a tribunal. But either way, all this stuff about his agent feeding him a fairytale at this stage is unfounded rubbish. Why have you got the impression that he and his agent see him as this hot property?

Because hes only in mid July not yet decided on his next move having rejected our no doubt pitiful offer? He must have been "sold a fairytale?" I dont get why this narrative has grown legs like it has.

Where did you see these? Both right footed so dont fit the criteria we want.

No football clubs are good investments.

I dont really get your comments financially. Even if you spent a reasonable amount in the Prem but that season would still be far better financially than treading water in the Championship. In League 1, the wage bill would drop considerably and that is by far our biggest expense so that would outweigh the reduction in income. The Championship is possibly the worst league to be in financially.

If you got promoted, your wage would automatically go up considerably, you would potentially be offered a bumper new contract. You would be expected to be relegated again but that promotion would also be great on your CV to get you future jobs. And worst case scenario, the club sacks you and you are left being paid out for the now increased contract that you have. It makes absolutely zero sense for any manager to not want and strive for promotion. They all do, some just dont have the competence.