roversfan99

Arent you thinking of Paul Mani who said it? (Well, that people in the club said it) No way is he on that much. Hes an academy graduate so he would obviously have been on a very small wage before, he wouldnt have needed such a large lift to keep him.

If those preparations are true, then that outshines any potential performance issues because if we are cutting corners to save money to that degree, how will we prepare for away games during the season? Embarassing. How did Alebiousu look in the half that he played? Seems like De Neve didnt impress and Tavares didnt have time.

Again the risk would be him coming from a weaker league and whether he could translate his impressive numbers over. Seems more attacking than Baradji. Henriksson has chrons which has caused him to miss games or not finish them: https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/4Bd9eq/axel-henriksson-i-gais-beratttar-om-crohns-sjukdom

I dont think Mowbray ever said that. No way is he on £15k either.

Just a few points on what Ismael said today. Firstly obviously good news that we are close to a second player as well as Miller. We need a lot more but its a start. I was hoping that it would be a right winger but seemingly its more likely to be a midfielder. Our attack is badly short. Ismael suggested that the Brittain sale has helped us in the market. That doesnt fit in with what Gestede has said in the past. The Pears situation is strange. Understand freezing Buckley out, but we need a senior seconr choice, we cant have a kid in that position so if Pears goes then he needs replacing. Wonder if it is related to the hair transplant, or if he has reacted negatively to being potentially second choice. Ismael also again mentioned "mistakes in the past" regarding contracts. He is in fot a shock unfortunately, there is no sign that we will learn from these mistakes. No contracts signed including Hyam who ws "close" weeks ago.

I was going to ask whether as someone who predicted a mid table finish, whether surely 2 or 3 extra bits of quality on top of the 3 you would be happy with could potentially push us up and around the top 6. But then I re-read. Just to clarify. You suggested that 3 signings would be enough including Miller who can cover centre back and right back. I and many others feel we need more. You have then done yet another squad list, where you have added 5 new players, and continued with the same argument?

I have never once suggested that either should never be given a chance. You purposely manipulate what I say to justify us half arsing recruitment and not bringing in enough players.

Our squad is so stretched. We need far more than 3 and we need bodies in ASAP. Cantwell is prone to missing the odd game. We cant just have a 17 or 18 year old with an injury history (and a year left on his deal) picking up all of the slack.

You could surely have said the same about Rhodes though. We get far better results with Ohashi up top on his own. He can link play even if it isnt his main asset and techcnically he is average. I do think that there is scope to potentially improve on Ohashi, or at least have someone providing much stronger competition. But in terms of his best position, I think hes best suited to being an out and out striker. Nullifies his strengths to move him deeper. He likes to play on the last line, and he presses well so it gets us up the pitch. I think gone are the days where you 100% need physicality to lead the line.

Is Ohashi not a lead the line striker? I think thats his best position. His strength is his finishing, pressing and running in behind, all would be harder playing deeper. We win far more often when he plays up front. Doesnt have to be an old fashioned physical brute to play there.

Im not so sure they do. The state that the system in this country is in, it is so difficult to stay up if you go up such is the gap between the divisions. The flip side of this is that Southampton disgraced themselves in the Premier League, yet are very strongly placed to come back up even assuming they lose their best players. Regarding the promoted teams, Burnley have lost Trafford, Egan Riley and Brownhill. Their signings seem to be a bit underwhelming from their perspective. Sunderland were weaker to begin with but have really gone for it in the market, Xhaka is the eye catching one. Leeds had the strongest squad of the 3 and have only strengthened it.

I dont think Mumba is anything special, often shunted around in various positions, usually either full back. We need a right winger who is going to play in that position and can give us a goal threat and some pace. Not someone who can be a jack of all trades.

Its obviously not cut and dry and there are other factors but I dont think its coincidental that our results with Ohashi up top were far, far better than with Gueye. He was unplayable against West Brom which is the game people often refer back to but most of his performances ranged from ineffective to liability. Also, he scored only 6 goals hence why people always say "goal contributions." They dont use that term when an out and out striker has a reasonable goal tally, they might for a winger or an attacking midfielder but Gueye doesnt score very often so they pad it out with his assists which include miss kicks in front of an open net and a header leading to a 30 yard goal of the season. He has useful attributes notably heading but IMO he is not up to the standard we need. But as importantly if not moreso, he requires a total tactical change if he starts, he doesnt suit the rest of the team. If Ohashi isnt playing, we should have someone who is competing who isnt totally different.

West Brom was very much the exception.

Our record with him in the team is far, far worse than without him in the team.

I never said that we need a new third choice keeper. I said the other day that we dont. Im contesting you adding it to this number you are using to prove that after only 3 more signings, we are well covered. I disagree, those numbers include injury prone players, players who shouldnt be starting, young lads who we dont know how many games their bodies can handle. I think we need more than 3, both in terms of quality and quantity to sufficiently cover all areas.

"Even better." Not much to beat.

Its a long season. We repeatedly fall away partly due to a lack of depth. But again, you are just counting them like they are all the same. Forshaw, he shouldnt be starting any games. Carter and Wharton have massive injury concerns which makes us need more cover there. You include Michalski who is 3rd choice keeper, adds to your abitrary number but wont play. Tyjon who has never started a senior football match, we had no idea how many times he can play. Montgomery has but again we dont know fully where he is at in terms of number of games. Hedges isnt good enough to start games. We cant leave ourselves short. But will, I have no doubt.

That last bit sounds more like you are describing us.

Miller cant play at right back and centre back at the same time. Baradji if he signs cant play in midfield and further forward at the same time. Versatility is useful but you cant play one player across 2 positions at the same time so you cant just sign less players. Baradji also seems to be a central midfielder, not a number 10.

Just Baradji, a winger and Miller? Short of bodies in general. But up front, number 10, centre back.

Ordinarily I would be happy to sell Gueye. I dont think hes been a successful signing and crucially I think when he comes in for Ohashi, it causes such a shift in how we play. We have lost our only good crosser so to cut our losses (or probably a profit) on Gueye and sign a more suitable player to really push Ohashi would be better. Obviously, the concern here is that we dont get a replacement. And also the fact that we havent made any attempts to strengthen the attack will leave us short temporarily.

We may or may not pursue with talks with a mystery foreign winger?

Miller was reported as being up here today in the LT so you would imagine today or tomorrow, medical pending. Im guessing the media person/people will be going to Holland so presumably that side is done.

Clearly not.