roversfan99

All comes down to standards.

Sometimes its worth looking into the "injury crisis." Wrexham yesterday had no Keiffer Moore, Josh Windass, Ryan Hardie, Danny Ward, James McLean, Lewis Brunt and 1 or 2 others. Also like us had a key wing back at AFCON. Sheffield Wednesday had more injuries than us. We had 2 summer signings yesterday who couldnt get any minutes despite the "injury crisis." We had another summer signing stinking the place out up front. We had another senior player signed by Gestede who has been dreadful and whilst being available, wasnt seen as worth including. And you look at those who are out, how many are out if you ignore those who are of little no use or those whose injuries were predictable? Wharton and Carter, we cant whinge about those as their injuries could be seen a mile off. Kargbo, Forshaw, Montgomery, Tavares, do we miss any of them? The main issue is not injuries. The squad we have "built" was never going to have the quality or depth needed and so it has been proven. You can either buy the narrative of hard luck or challenge it. But at least we are supposedly "prepared" coming into this window. Hopefully a rejected bid can score the winner against Charlton.

I think the Swedish league is well down the list of coefficients in terms of quality. Not doubting his effort but in terms of attributes, havent seen anything at all.

What are the flashes? What attributes has he shown to suggest that there is something to work with?

This club keeps dropping to new depths. Absolutely woeful, shameful and embarassing performance. One of the biggest things to show how desperate we are is the suggestion that we need to put Gueye back in the squad. That anyone is even suggesting that such a clown could improve us shows how bad things are. We need to totally gut this squad and it wont happen. Miller and McLaughlin were both terrible. A proper defender was outstanding at the other end. We do need a left wing back. Baradji looks like another dud. Cantwell was awful. Ohashi again rubbish, not a very good player. Henriksson I think has won a competition to play.

He is crap but he is not worse than Kean or Coyle.

I cant ever remember a set of players as shit as this.

Phillips has probably accelerated his development by playing more since leaving than he probably would had he stayed. Wharton is a special case, not the norm.

Why would I have info on transfers? Ismael might be prepared and have agreed to sign x, y and z. So were previous managers. He isnt the reason many fear a slow and/or poor window.

We also could do with more natural cover for Alebiosu for when he comes back, just because he is so important. I would rather see Litherland play at centre back. You can tell he isnt a wing back. I appreciate on the cheap that its hard especially as its essentially back up but I think we need to take a look.

Alan Nixon's ego would grow even bigger if he heard anyone say that this thread would be dead without his rumours. Its a thread of opinions. What do people think we need, where we are short, which players we would sell etc. And as and when players are signed and let go, what people think. Its hardly reliant on Nixon gossip. The Cleary rumour didnt even start with him.

I am not contesting that we have bid for Cleary. I will assume that we did. But we havent signed him, the bid was not at an acceptable amount so it doesnt mean anything. Until if and when we sign him or indeed anyone, I am not convinced that we are all ready and well prepared. Similar guff comes out of the club before every window, we want to get players in early, players get linked etc. It doesnt mean anything. I cant say that I have ever seen Cleary play so I dont know. Seems to have impressed at Barnsley for half a season which is all there is to go on. Young and fairly untested, but seemingly quick and likes to do something alien to the rest of our squad and run with the ball. But big question marks around his position as I have touched on. I couldnt possibly say if he would be good or bad, and until he actually signs its an irrelevance. Neither Bowyer or Mowbray received continious backing by any means. We are also clearly desperate to cut the wage bill as much as we can.

Was the Millwall clean sheet our first at home?

You said the following: "Of course we are ready. We are putting bids in for players. The research has been done Its the first 5 words which almost make everyone else seem ridiculous for doubting that everything is ready and set to go to plan. Ismael said he wants the deals done by the Hull game. He said maybe 1 will drag but most should be done early. Whether that happens and the quality of those deals if they do, we shall see. Maybe this phone call to the cretins is going to make a revolutionary difference and we will buy loads of quality. I doubt it though.

Sick of hearing that and the window hasnt opened yet.

Is O'Riordan back available for tomorrow? Not seen anything mentioned by Rovers at all. You would think he would be recalled immediately to help bulk the squad out slightly.

"Of course we are ready." Have I been following a different club for 15 years? We will see come next week how ready we were.

Dont talk rubbish. We have our "top spy" on the job.

That is true.

Again, would make more sense to sign 2 more natural strikers in my opinion. 3 Rather than someone who maybe can do a job there but has been playing as a winger. Can you see us signing 2? You dont even think we should sign 2 if i recall correctly. Its all hypothetical. Not convinced that Cleary ends up here.

To an extent, but in reality you just end up with players who are at least somewhat uncomfortable or unnatural in at least one of those formations. The current formation tends to need more specialist players. Because we have signed 2 duds in De Neve and Kargbo, and because Morishita is probably better central, we would have to do a much deeper revamp of the squad to start playing wingers. If 352 is the way forward, I would rather that we recruit in a way where all recruits slot naturally into that formation. I think a traffic cone would be more effective than Henriksson, that is a very dangerously low benchmark! He seems well thought of and talented, but signing players in this way (based on attributes, supposedly flexible) hasnt really worked. It would make more sense to me to sign an actual striker. Sense long left the building at Rovers though. Against Sheffield Wednesday, Ohashi as he tends to do was often seen wide and we had no presence in the box.

It would make more sense to me to actually sign a natural striker. Our team/squad seems to be a growing collection of square pegs in round holes.

Isnt it logical to question the idea of signing a winger when we play a formation that doesnt include wingers?

Great counter argument.

We tried for a big chunk of the season. Ismael has mentioned for example signing a wing back as if we will be playing 352 going forward. Hence why I am asking, why would we sign a winger when our current formation doesnt include wingers? As I suspect you know and are just being obtrusive.