roversfan99

I dont see why it always has to be boxed off as being positive or negative. And I dont think my post about not implicitly trusting this particular recruitment team at this stage has to be perceived as a negative. When I listed the players, some like Kargbo and Toth have barely played yet so I am not saying that they are bad (or good) signings. With Cantwell, I am hoping that a full pre season leads to a much better season. My point was more that they (Gestede, Owen) havent yet (if they ever will, I dont know) made me comfortable enough to just blindly assume that they know exactly what they were doing. I think those comments have been perceived as a negative because you have the mindset that I am a negative individidual, so its confirmation bias. Last season IMO was not really down to having a particularly successful transfer window. It was built on a very talented manager and players either recruited by people who have now left or that came through the academy. I have praised certain bits of recruitment elsewhere, both in terms of speed and individual players, but with more foreign recruitment, a number of signings I dont know anything about. And I dont think Gueye has been a good signing, 6 goals is hardly denting that Szmodics void and I dont think hes up to the level. Mind you, as our second choice striker he replaced Telalovic so I suppose he is an upgrade on him.

But equally, should we be grateful just because we arent one of 2 clubs not to be under embargo and restrictions? That is a low bar. Its obviously down to personal opinion but I dont understand fully trusting this current (an ever changing part of our club) recruitment set up. Im not saying that a strong distrust is necessary, but at best the jury is out for me. Last seasons higher than expected position was built on a very talented (and now departed manager) getting the best out of a core of predominantly pre existing players signed under other regimes, Brittain/Hyam/Tronstad by Broughton, Dolan by Mowbray, Travis obviously as an academy graduate and then Batth who to be fair was part of last seasons recruitment, albeit had Eustace's prints all over it. There are a lot of signings made under Gestede that at best are yet to prove themselves. 3 cost £1m or at least close to, Kargbo only signed mid way through and got injured so we dont really know either way. Toth only played a few games and didnt have much to do in them so again we dont really know. Gueye we have the most evidence on, only 6 goals and not looking up to it most of the time does not bode well. Cantwell was a high profile signing and he struggled. Ohashi is nothing remarkable but he certainly is a very useful player and more than value for money to be fair. Batth was very good, Beck was good, Ribieiro ok and the rest, best not to say. I dont see how that body of evidence leans to having total trust in this recruitment setup personally. Some of them may go on to prove to be really shrewd signings, but at this stage I personally cant understand having full faith.

The most probable reason for him not to sign here is financial. He had 18 months left on a deal signed when he had yet to really establish himself, so safe to say he was on peanuts. Had we offered him a competitive Championship wage then it wouldnt have made sense not to sign. A narrative has been created that he is greedy and big headed which suits the club but seems to me a little unfounded. It isnt greedy to want to be paid what you feel like you deserve.

How has he done him bad? We assume that its down to agent advice but he may aswell hope for a Prem move even if its unlikely, it doesnt mean that its that or nothing. His only decision so far is not to accept the contract weve put in front of him, which presumably is still there waiting if absolutely necessary. But he will easily get a Championship move on a reasonable wage or even a foreign club like this Turkish club who play in European competition.

How? His effort has in no way wained and he has become more effective as a result Fair play to him if hes demanding a 1 million euro salary, so about £16,500 per week. If they or indeed anyone pays it, then hes worth it. I wouldnt be surprised if he could get that or at least close to in the Championship especially with only a compensation fee for the club to pay. Hes a decent Championship wideman who wont have been paid as such here.

The contract situation though is more relevant than just saying that we are owned and run by twats. Its very relevant to what happens this summer. Its probably the most important bit.

I think we need a couple more on top of that. Definitely some competition both at right back and for Cantwell in attacking midfield. Obviously the "if we lose nobody else" bit is the biggest question mark. I dont know if its true but I have seen that maybe PSG have a high sell on % on any fee.

Why would I pay him money to question him? I never said that we dont have interest in either player either. Hes a journalist, its in his best interests to try and make his potential stories as glamorous as possible to get people to pay him, as you do. Like any salesman. Its one thing us having interest in them, but it was mentioned on here that he had said that we have numerous bids in. These stories suggest inquiries and interest rather than us actively having bids in, so he has oversold to draw people in. I dont have a problem with that, its something he regularly does.

Nixon also once said that Venkys had a £50m warchest and we planned to buy Papiss Cisse and Axel Witsel amongst others. Being rumoured to be willing and actually spending it are 2 different things. It seems that he was keen to get people to read his article by telling people we had bids around but these are just inquiries. It doesnt make sense to me for us to be trying to sign a defender aged 27, be unable to bid beyond £1.5m only to then move to a 21 year old who is valued at £3m. Although it seems that we would be willing to pay that either. If Kapuadi is our first choice, surely we would increase that supposed bid from £1.5m considering the gap between that bid and how much our supposed alternative target costs. It is worth highlighting that Gassama is right footed and often comes in from the left. I think I am correct in saying that anyway as they do have Musaba too. Can do a job right but does it make sense to get someone who prefers to play from the left when its the right where we are particularly weak? Its a fair question, I know you cant possibly fathom ever suggesting potential question marks over signings but I think its a fair point. Doesnt mean he wouldnt be a good signing as I would have him down as an improvement on the wingers we have whatever side he played, but I know personally you can never even consider these potential question marks, everything must be perfect. Not an issue, not something you are willing to question and its being negative and moaning if you do. Even if we was to get these 2, I dont think our starting 11 would be stronger. But longer term obviously potentially it would be. Mentioning the contracts isnt moaning for the sake of moaning or irrelevant. Its a fundamental and critical aspect of our summer work, we cant just dismiss it. Seemingly, our club do seem keen to dismiss it.

Also, I love that Nixon was apparently saying that we have cash bids in to try and get people paying for his patreon. Turns out to be 2 inquiries, one we have backed away from due to price.

With Gassama, aside from the big question marks over the authenticity of the interest, and crucially any willingness to pay what the fee is that they would demand. I think he is better from the left drifting in. We have 2 from the left and then only the useless Hedges on the right so would it even make sense? Beyond the point of tentative enquires, supposed interest and going down rabbit holes where it takes us ages to realise that players are unaffordable. We need to start getting players in to get them bedded in and set for the full season, doesnt seem like that is going to happen. We also need to figure out what is going on with Tronstad, Travis and Brittain. No closer there either.

Very much a case of we will (well, most of us) believe it when we see it. Even if its true, means no one is close. No bids close to the actual asking price. Would Gassama not be able to leave for free due to breach of contract? Either way, doesnt sound as if we are close to actually having a bid accepted. He is more of a left winger and is quite erratic, he isnt as productive as Dolan. He is quick and young and would be a good option to have but I certainly wont hold my breath. Centre back stuff makes little sense either. We need a centre back to go straight into the team to replace Batth. Why would we go from a centre back who we have bid £1.5m which isnt enough who is 27 to a 21 year old whose club are demanding £3m? All the while, Brittain, Tronstad and Travis remain the elephants in the room.

Swansea look to be having a bit of a go in the transfer market so may be a bit of a dark horse. Stoke are always a weird team who underachieve although their business so far looks decent and under Robins maybe they will improve. QPR will depend on their new manager but Poku and Mbengue look like good signings.

Yeah I dont think theres too much to read into kit launches. They tend to have say 4 or 5 players per shoot, so youve got to find 12 to 15 players. Obviously they will lean towards players they know will be here. But 4 key players are all still (ridiculously) sat on 1 year left on their deal, and you couldnt just not include them. Am I right in that Travis and Brittain were in the home kit shoot?

No way can the club be criticised. Not the end of the world that we dont have more signings in, more problematic that we still havent managed to get any contract renewals sorted. But we are not even close to what the manager said, its hardly scathing criticism to say we are not where we want to be. A lack of pre season really does impact players, ask Todd Cantwell.

I don't want you to say anything. Although maybe just say, we have failed to give the manager anything close to what he asked for and are in a far weaker position that he or indeed we would have wanted. No contract renewals, 2 players having left that we didnt expect and only 2 signings, one of whom will miss most of pre season. We need contracts to be signed and new players in to get them fit and bedded in, not speculative links.

I presume had the EFL published their TV selections the day prior, he would have been fuming with how insensitive it was. Or maybe not.

Ultimately where Jackson is and what Nixon says is irrelevant. The manager wanted 90% in 2 weeks ago, but like with contracts, you either have signed or you haven't. Cantwell is going on about how he has a full pre season under his belt. All but 1 of our new signings wont now so I presume theyll be the ones coming out with the same interviews next season.

Other Championship teams have really started to get busier this week as they get into pre season. Stoke have today added that Talarevov from Plymouth and also Mubama on loan from City to add to Sorba Thomas. Preston have signed a 6th player of the window, a defender theyve bought who did well at Blackpool last year. Birmingham have had a really busy week that looks like ending with spending over £10m on two Japanese players including Kyogo and Charlton have also brought a few in. Seems there are a few others close to being done too.

To be fair in this instance I think you have misunderstood. "None of us know how good our two signings are."

Hopefully you are right with 2 or 3 by next week. Lets see. "We will" sign them. I still dont get why you are considering progress based on what I may have said I expect rather than what the manager wanted (90% by the start of pre season) or having your own standards. Aside from the lowest possible standards and a staunch defence of anything a continiously awfully run club does.

In further attempts to defend everything the club does, saying weve done 2 which is more than anyone expected and "only" now need 5 or 6 as if the majority of the work is done is a new one.

Mercer esque talk of us being down by christmas is always ridiculous. There are some crap teams near the bottom. But with our continued inability to maintain a strong top half Championship proven core, there is of course a risk of being near the bottom if the aim is just to assemble players from weaker foreign leagues. Birmingham obviously wont be down there so thats one promoted team out of the question. Wrexham are a bit uncertain but youd expect them to spend enough to be comfortable. Charlton are the ones who likely will struggle most out of the 3, Kaminski is a good signing but will be busy, not helped by signing Amarii Bell. Sheffield Wednesday in particular and also now Hull you would think might struggle so there will hopefully be at least 3 teams worse. Looks like Derby, West Brom and Watford are planning on big deals.

I always find it strange when people suggest that Eustace should have just stayed here if he just wants half of our players. One of his demands that wasnt granted was to give our key players new contracts. He clearly rated the core of players that we have here, the Championship proven ones, they had us 5th or 6th when he left. Here, he knew they would all soon be gone. If he can get some of them there, obviously he would like that. Built upon with players like Carlton Morris who I am also sure that he would have loved here if it was possible.

Or Owen Coyle, the messiah.