roversfan99

Of course, its not 100% linear, but I dont think anyone would argue that our attack is the weakest part of our team. So if we have more money to strengthen it, great. If not, surely you would question where we have spent it to date. We have lost our second and third top scorer. Beck ceetainly wasnt as integral as Batth and crucially Eustace. I agree.

But we didnt have enough for the play offs and that (on the pitch) was down to a subpar attack. Defensively we were very good but 3 key variables (Eustace, Batth and Beck) have all gone. And our attack is considerably weaker than last year. They mentioned a figure of £4-5m being spent last year (which I remain unconvinced about) but they said a similar budget this season and in terms of fees, we cant be that far way. Hopefully some of the work done/about to be done really bolsters us but the attack desperately needs reinforcements and it would not make sense if we have blown the budget or most of it elsewhere.

Not sure that your mates being a team of fine players in their day is relevant. But either way. You suggested that midfielders are just there to press ie the ball will be going over their head. Since Barnsley, he has moved away from that direct style. We werent quite as direct as we had been when he came in. Therefore I am not convinced that your suggestion that midfielders are just there to press is an accurate one. It may have been under an Ismael team 5 years ago. My point was not about his competence, he hasnt been as successful when trying to play more on the ground.

Is that based on that Barnsley spell where 99% of people think he did really well but you and your mate had him down as doing a terrible job? He is into his 3rd job since and hasnt really replicated those direct tactics. That has led to a decrease in success, but thats beside the point.

Wasnt it more that there was nothing in that he was having a medical? Wonder why he was in Manchester.

Baradji (presumably), Toth, Ohashi and who else.

I wonder what happened to that Saudi winger who was in Manchester earlier in the week.

If it is the last permanent signing then serious questions need to be asked about how those resources have been used. Our weakest area last season was our attack, we didnt score anywhere near enough and that was with Dolan and Weimann. We surely have to pay a fee for at least one attacking player, surely 2 but definitely a right winger, and then also a centre back. Otherwise, big questions would surely arise as to why we spent fees on 2 midfielders instead. Buy 3 more aswell as these and then youve got a group that hopefullt boost us short term but that we have long term too.

This player seems to have had an unusual career but does seem to have had a strong personal season attracting interest despite being another incoming upon relegation. In isolation, potentially quite exciting. It does seem a bit strange though that we are signing another central midfielder and perhaps asks more questions. - Does this mean Travis and/or Tronstad are imminently leaving? - Why did we re-sign Forshaw? If its just for token experience, surely you dont get it in a position which with new signings is already bloated - is this the majority of our summer spending in terms of fees done? In which case, why spend such a big chunk on as it stands 3rd and 4th midfielders when our issues are at the front of the pitch, and also we need a centre back - We did need depth and hopefully these can really bolster our squad. Do any get in our best 11? - a more minor question but are Buckley, Garrett and Montgomery imminently leaving? You will get the usual "negative slayers" shutting these questions down as I have already seen on social media but I think they are fair questions and not in any way dismissing the potential qualities of the player.

But Ismael didnt play that in either of his subsequent managerial roles, as far as I am aware. De Neve is a wide man equally comfortable on the left wing and was compared to Owen Beck who Ismael played in front of a left back when he was fit. We need 3 centre backs if we want to play 3 at once.

Its been reported that we only want one centre back. Im not sure why people are presuming that we are going to change to a back 3/5.

Do our new Belgian second division feeder club have any Swiss players?

So likely 3 signings and all seem to fall in the same category. It seems like they are signed as squad players and all of them have question marks regarding their career to date. They all are almost certainly on low wages too. De Neve has often played at left back, has seldom scored/assisted and surprised Belgian journalists with this move. Tavares has made very few senior starts beside a spell in the Porto B team and this right back couldnt even make the team that De Neve was in (Gestede really loves a player contracted to a relegated Belgian team) although seems to have had a really brief spell in Scotland where he impressed. I can sort of understand and see a pattern in these signings, aside from the financial one. All of a similar if not the same age, not at their peak and should bring some athleticism to a one paced squad. Permanent deals are ideal too. Hopefully something has been seen in them that we can develop and they can really push and provide actual competition before then taking over in the first 11. This right back obviously replaces (at a profit) JRC and a £750k move to Charlton might suit all parties. He has ability but has struggled for a while. There were numerous aims coming into this window. We have lacked quality in depth which has cost us repeatedly for years, lets hope these 3 are a start at rectifying that and they arent just cheap shite. We dont know either way at this stage. We also needed to tie down a core of strong Championship players, no progress there. We also needed to improve our best 11 especially getting far more goals into attacking positions. No progress there yet. Lots more to do, hopefully very soon.

We are signing players from teams which will have very little coverage which makes it much easier.

Jackson rams it down our throat with an exclusive transfer story 😂 But a sub right back again from a Belgian relegated side.

Its the only way. Short term, not reinvesting is obviously financially beneficial. Beyond that immediate window though, it is more often than not more costly.

If he has absolutely no contacts then he is hardly a journalist is he. He is a reporter who regularly spits out articles riddled with spelling errors and unnecessary cliches. I am unsure how you span it back to saying how wonderful "Nicko" is.

But reinvesting a chunk would perhaps lead to a small loss in that year but give us assets to then sell in the future and continue the cycle. But they dont have the care to think like that. Look at Brentford and what they did. Regularly selling big money strikers, reinvesting and continuing to churn out big sales.

That brfcprivy seems like a proper attention seeker. Using that eye emoji and also defending the owners. Has had a couple of bits of correct info though.

Its pretty piss poor how the journalist for our local paper instead of investigating these potential rumours, he writes about which ex rovers players have changed teams this summer.

The thing is, its not just a case of them putting that money in. Its an investment, not just putting money in. Thats how successful trading clubs operate. The money you reinvest is spent on assets that you can then sell on. Reinvesting can actually be the only way to REDUCE losses if you do it properly.

They are 2 players who have proven themselves to be top performers at this level. They also bring experience and character to allow you to potentially bring in younger players around. You speak about their age like they are 35. Both have a good number of years at this level and are at their peak. They are the sort of players youd want to build your side around.

There is definitely a growing snobbery towards players as soon as they hit 30. Especially in this (at times flawed) data driven modern day recruitment culture, with obsessions over projects and resale. There is no reason why Tronstad couldnt perform for a good number of years yet. Only 30 and not reliant on his physicality, but his excellent footballing brain and good use of the ball. Also brings experience which projects and data dont really seem to place much importance in.

Do the noises around Brittain sound positive? I also think you underestimate the importance of Travis and Tronstad. Especially losing both at the same time. We already needed a midfielder so if they both go we need 2 more on top of the one we already have.

Theres no way that we spend fees on 2 midfielders and keep Travis and Tronstad. Although if we did keep Travis and Tronstad, which considering we havent bothered to offer a deal to either which makes it incredibly unlikely. It would be a stupid allocation of our limited resources considering our weaknesses elsewhere. Especially our weak attack.