roversfan99

England are miles away from the worlds best. Defensively so poor and confused and imbalanced in attack.

I dont think I was too unfair, especially as I essentially reserved judgement on 2 of the 4. Gueye for the majority of the season was really poor. He did have a decent run of games but that proved the anomoly and it didnt last for 3 months. I dont rate him personally, he only scored 6 goals and of our 19 league wins, only 6 came in the 23 he started. Toth in his initial games was really shaky but looked much better in the last 4 or 5 games, albeit he was rarely tested as we reverted to being excellent defensively. Like with Kargbo, there is something to cling to in terms of something to build on but neither has proven themselves as a success yet, for circumstances beyond their control. Either way, I certainly dont see evidence in our foreign recruitment to just assume theyll get it right. I disagree. As mentioned above, poor goal record (worse than all but one of your mate Gallagher's seasons here), we won significantly less games when he started and he was a liability more often than not.

We need to have at least 2 options in every position but particularly in attacking areas. You need options off the bench more than ever, especially if Ismael plans to play a pressing game, he is known for regular subs on the hour mark once he has run his players into the ground. Kargbo and De Neve can presumably just rotate with one starting and the other coming on. Im not sure theyve worked out to the extent that we just give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that their judgement is really good. Ohashi has been a good pick up for the cost, Gueye a poor one and both Toth and Kargbo have not really played much. Hopefully this lad will be a shrewd addition.

Based on the limited we know, hardly an inspiring and exciting signing. The Belgian journalist in the Lancashire Telegraph seemed surprised with big question marks over his quality and an expectation that he would stay in the Belgian second division. That being said, he is apparently quite quick and we have sorely lacked any speed in our side for a while. One player who seems to be stunted more than anyone by this was Cantwell who needs movement and pace around him to thrive I think. And hes still quite young so hopefully he can improve at a higher level. I wonder if the plan is that Kargbo will be first choice on the left and De Neve will be competition as Kargbo himself appears to be very raw. We need goals in the attack as we didnt score enough and the attack isnt good enough. Hopefully that will come through signings right across the front line which needs an overhaul, we need a first choice winger as well as needing a striker and number 10. It is imperative that we keep and extend the deals of the core of the side (Tronstad, Travis, Brittain and Hyam) amidst trying to find value abroad which on its own makes a lot of sense. It wouldnt warrant praise as deals should have been sorted long ago for these players but for lots of excuses. I fear that the plan is to allow at least some of the higher earning key players mentioned to go and replace with foreign players on cheaper wages. But lets see. And to qualify everything. Like anyone else, will be judged on how he plays here, obviously.

Im not the only person to conclude that.

Im not defending Waggott. Im blaming the owners you even now continue to protect and deflect blame away from. 2 seasons ago we had 3 deals wrapped up very early with both Waggott and Broughton in charge. Just before Venkys then decided to freeze all further business for most of the summer and further cut the budget.

Slow business has been a common theme with the odd exception throughout the Venkys reign. The common denominator is not any individual. Venkys often make people go over to India after the season has finished to sort the budget because they havent the interest to actually come here or agree using technology. Incredible that anyone hasnt joined the dots yet and continue to deflect from the source of our problems.

Yes, now Waggott has gone we should run very smoothly under these owners.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25225237.expert-reveals-blackburn-will-get-dion-de-neve/ This isnt the most positive. Seems to have surprised the locals who expected him to stay in the Belgian second division. Doesnt score, doesnt assist, poor end product, hasnt really developed and inferior to Bocat who Stoke signed and has struggled.

We supposedly wanted a left footed centre back before it became clear that Batth is likely to leave.

Why have we waited so long to offer anyone new deals? Totally unacceptable no matter what excuses they throw up. Should have been sorted long ago. If Travis offer a lot more than we do, then of course he will go. We have hardly showed that we are keen to keep him, we havent even bothered to put a contract in front of him. And Wrexham are far more ambitious than us.

It isnt.

Says in the Lancashire Telegraph that there is still no contract offer on the table for Travis. With mention of his wedding! Absolutely no excuse to get into these situations, theres always an excuse. Mid way through the season, dont know what division we will be in, focusing on signing players, a bloody wedding. Tying down key players long term is as important as anything.

I am (within reason) one of his biggest critics. But he obviously should be within a million miles of a professional football club. Probably at League 1 level.

The Brittain part does, if he stays.

I think Gestede said we want a right winger "to replace Cozier Duberry." Probably another untested kid on loan I suspect.

No one has said that they wouldnt prefer to win a trophy over finishing higher in the league. Its just that some people think that the overall performance of the club this season predominantly results in the league season make it understandable why the club have decided that Ange isnt best placed to take it forward and understand the sacking.

I have a question for you. Would you take a season here where you have to accept relegation but we win the League Cup? And would you keep Ismael if that happened? I would take that for a memorable trophy win, but also want Ismael out as he would have failed to demonstrate the ability to get results week in week out.

I dont get why this Wigan comparison keeps coming up. I think most would agree that this season for Spurs will be a memorable one and they wouldnt swap it in isolation for a much higher league finish and no trophy. That doesnt mean though that the manager should stay. Results across the whole season have been awful and Ange has not demonstrated that he is the man to take them forward. They would essentially be keeping him on the result of one game against United.

And the club is run by billionaires. They shouldnt require volunteers or fan funded standing sections.

Exactly, you surely cant just absolve yourself of any responsibility in the league. Trophies are more important than anything so I do think that their season has to be seen as more successful and more memorable than the 16 years (?) prior. That being said, merely just winning that trophy doesnt automatically mean that he must be the manager best placed to go forward. Its not even as if they finished 9th or 10th and won a cup where there might be an argument to justify keeping him, a team who more often than not finishes in the top 6 finished 17th, thats not a minor underperformance. The league is the best barometer when deciding and they did pathetically, humiliatingly badly. The cup win doesnt mean that he is going to repeatedly win trophies either, they wont be in that competition for a start but cups unlike leagues are much more influenced by luck. I think him going benefits everyone. The fans will forget how shockingly badly they did in the league and he can go as a hero with a big pay out, and the club can potentially get someone to get the players performing on a far more consistent basis in line with where they should be at based on the squad and resources.

How would Kargbo fit in though? A player who the club seemingly spent ages trying to sign. And also, Gestede was quoted as saying a right winger is on the list of positions he wanted to fill.

I dont have much of an opinion, I dont have any opinion on the quality of the player. I am just speculating as to where he may fit in. You are questioning me and only me as if I have said he is shit and I am appalled by his potential signing.

Left back. Strange.

I get questioning what type of player he might be etc. I dont get how you can just flippantly come to that conclusion.