roversfan99

What relevance does that have? People weren't buzzing when Szmodics signed. But surely he left a big hole because of what he did do, not what the fans consensus was when he joined. Utterly bizarre logic.

The common consensus on Batth was that he was outstanding all season. So how has his departure raised his stock?

Or more likely considering he is one of many players in recent years that have not signed new deals, that we aren't paying market rate.

What has what people said last summer about Weimann and Batth got anything to do with that question?! Batth in particular did do well, and thus both leave holes we seemingly didn't expect to have to fill. What people posted on here when they signed months before Ismael joined is totally irrelevant. Ismael wanted 90% of business done by now, his words, so with 2 in, 2 more out than expected and still none of the key players' futures resolved, I suspect he probably isn't overly happy.

If these posts were aimed specifically at Mercer, then that is fair. He is beyond parody. As you said, people should be able to say they like/don't like a signing, as long as they change that opinion if they are wrong.

He didn't "probably want" a couple more in. He wanted 90% of the business done (realistically or otherwise) by the start of pre season. We have 2 signings in, so probably about 25% and a hell of a lot of uncertainty. He would have expected Batth and Weimann to sign, or at least hope. So we have 2 in, those 2 and Dolan and the expected loanees all departed, and crucially huge question marks over the future of 4 key players with still none tied down or even with offers in front of him. He also will publically endorse every single signing we make.

One that he would accept.

Erm, ok. So we can conclude that the primary reason why we are looking in lesser foreign leagues (often at the bottom of) is for financial reasons. And the reason that we aren't extended contracts is again financially driven. Don't get why Dolan is any different. Had we stuck a reasonable contract offer in front of him, he likely would have signed it. It clearly wasn't a reasonable one.

Does this argument only apply one way? Ie, anyone who says that x or y is a good signing, should that not also be said for fear of them turning out shite? If people actually wrote off these players, for example Batth and Weimann, then they would be beyond being able to acknowledge that actually, they were good signings.

I don't really understand that argument. Players do better or worse than we initially think, and our opinion can change. You don't have to keep the same opinion.

And why do we want to "explore overseas?" Cheaper wages. I very much doubt that Eustace's only grievance was transfers. Im not convinced there is a self imposed wage cap but I am pretty sure that its an unwillingness to offer competitive wages (throw in some general incompetence at all levels) that means that basically all of our key players have 0 or 1 year left and dont seem close to anything new.

Because Suhail clearly prefers to be the dickhead he is with as little attention as possible.

What a healthy setup. Suhail with the power and this cretin just doing the admin for him.

Yes. But again, we havent managed to get any of them to sign new deals. So if we cant offer more than 10k specifically, or at least are limited in what we are willing to offer, that is probably why.

Im not saying it is true, I dont know. But if it is presumably from this summer, then it helps to explain the difficulty in getting Travis, Hyam, Brittain, Dolan and Tronstad to extend their deals. Either way, the main reason we will be struggling to tie down our best players is for financial reasons.

Glen thinks we have a 10k self imposed pay cap. Would explain the struggles getting the main men to renew.

Not sure any of the ever changing models weve gone for in the last 15 years are workable either to be fair.

Apologies, my mistake. Although does in my defence have a very similar posting style and opinions.

I think many were for the Porto B side though. Although it does seem like they are in the second tier in Portugal. I think he played at Ewood when they played our under 21s. As you touch on. If hes to supplement Tronstad and Travis (or replacements) then all good. If hes expected to replace either, a worry.

I dont know why you believe that account, similar if not worse accuracy than his account on here. Even less so do I get why you post without just saying thats where you got it from so people can believe/discard as they see fit.

It wasnt meant as a criticism of him. Just that he has very little senior experience.

He always does this, just throws stuff like this out there with no source. Presumably in desperation to share the story first. Its that Howard RV/Mercer twitter account it seems that has suggested this. An account that has a track record of making stuff up.

It feels comparatively proactive to have 2 signings in at this point but considering Ismael wanted most business done by pre season, we are still well off. At right back, we need to sort 2 things out. At least one signing, and a conclusion to the Brittain deal, in which case potentially a replacement. At centre back, we still need 2. In central midfield, we need to sort out 2 contracts or replace. We need an attacking midfielder and a right winger, and we need another forward. So 6 signings, or maybe up to 9 if players leave. Goalkeeper, left back and left wing are the positions we have sorted and even then there are questions. Also a bit of trimming with Buckley and JRC becoming surplus to requirements. The inability to even offer contracts never mind sort them either way before this summer is a real issue.

I think its fair to have question marks over both, based on what we can ascertain. Tavares has very little senior experience and struggled to maintain a place in a mid table Portugese league team. He made 15 league starts, completed only 2 full games and theyve sold him a year after joining. We need attacking players who can help us to score more goals, on the face of it, De Neve doesnt have a track record that suggests he can help to rectify that. A versatile left sided player who was often played at full back, and has minimal goals or assists. Belgian journalists seem a bit surprised that a Championship side has come in for him. He has more senior experience than Tavares but doesnt seem to have pulled up any trees. Equally, to say they "are not good enough" seems totally unfounded and unfair. They are both quite young, and it may depend on what role they are expected to play. Seems a huge step up based on what they have done before to expect them to be regular starters on paper. We need to either keep hold of our key core of players or directly replace any departures.

Support is a very loose term.