50 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

That's awful. especially when you consider how important full backs are these days. It seems it's all Pep signs at City. 

We need better if we have any hopes of top 6. 

It actually reflects well on Bennett by comparison. That is pretty bad from Nyambe now. I know he is young, but no goals and 2 assists in 3 seasons, wow. Bell clearly improved going forward last season, I'd say he will have a few goals and assists in him going forward. Hopefully he gets better at heading crosses clear or blocking them at source as well.  I am not surprised at all about Williams, he isn't a left back and it's an indictment of where we were/are that he plated there so often. Was the goal where he did the ridiculous dab celebration not last season though? 

Nyambe stays back for every single set piece. Bell goes up for every single set piece. Bennett has played in the 10, centre mid and on both wings. Stats like this don’t really paint a full picture.

1 hour ago, Mercer said:

Some have posted on here that Raya wanted to leave.  Full stop.  The question is why?

IMO, the main reasons why Raya wanted to leave:

• His game wasn't developing as fast as it should.  IMO, that is down to 'boy' Benson our goalkeeping coach, the kid who started work in Carlisle Community Team and has never (as far as I'm aware) played professional football.  Coaching a goalkeeper is a specialist art - you need someone who's done it and got the tee shirt, a mentor who knows the art inside out from having played the game and a mentor who can build confidence and resonate with the difficulties and hurdles a young goalkeeper will face.  Hasn't Rayna already said the goalkeeping coach at Brentford is a good reason for going there - equally, I think you could interpret that Benson was a good reason for Raya wanting to get away from here.
• Was made a scapegoat for Rovers' defensive woes.  Hasn't Mowbray done that again in his LT comments?  Last season, I can recall Mowbray openly criticising Raya and Nyambe (easy targets) but don't recall a word against Bennett who, IMO, was horrendous at right back or Williams / Bell at left back who, IMO, were persistent accidents waiting to happen, and boy did they happen!  Time and time again, our defence was ripped to shreds leaving Raya exposed.  If Mowbray, Venus and Lowe were capable of organising a defensive unit, bringing in appropriate reinforcements where needed, this would not have happened.  So, IMO, Raya's inexperience has become an easy shield for Mowbray to hide behind.

Was Raya the finished article?  Not by a long way but he has all the attributes to develop into a top class goalkeeper which I think he will.  As for crosses, I think your comments are completely wrong.  You learn by analysing, working on the the training field and putting into practice - for that, you need a goalkeeping coach with the know how and an ability to build confidence in the goalkeeper.  If the goalkeeper respects the goalkeeping coach for what he himself has done in the game and brings to to the table in terms of player development then you have a very decent chance.

I’d also question how much we as a team worked on crosses during training. We always like very susceptible to them defensively and barely ever utilise them in our attacking play.

Just now, S8 & Blue said:

These are just cheaper replacements for two fantastic centre halves that they’ve sold though.

Tykes fans are gutted and getting deja vu from when they last came up and flogged Winnall and Hourihane etc... 

Time will tell.

They seem to be playing the market really well though. The players they lost had an air of inevitability about them, and have gone to ‘bigger’ clubs for decent fees. They haven’t hung about, seemingly cast their net wide and are quickly re-investing. 

Just had a look at a look at a highlights package they put together on announcing the Diaby signing... lad looks a beast! We all know the potential pitfalls of getting too excited over a bunch of clips, but I can’t help thinking I wish we had someone like that.

Just been having a look at the business other teams in the league have done. One team that really stood out was Barnsley.

Not unlike Mowbray, Stendel has done a bit of a raid on his past club, Hannover rather than Middlesbrough in this case. But as well as a couple from Germany they have also bought in what look like two big young centre halves from Denmark and Belgium. I don’t profess to know anything about these players, and they might not be any good, but while no doubt helped by the fact they have a manager from Europe, their scouting network clearly stretches a lot further than ours.

Just now, Stuart said:

“Well son, your going to have to fight for your place with young Jayson but if you are up for it the challenge is there”.

The worst thing about all this is that replacing Raya like-for-like doesn’t address the fact that there is no real competition for the number one shirt (lack of motivation) and a coach who knows less about goalkeeping than the guy who comes in (lack of development).

It’s a shame we can’t spend this “same budget as last year” on a package deal for a number one, number two and a decent coach. Marshall or Kuszczak, plus Fielding and Kiely (or Freidel), in. Leutwiler to the U23s and Fisher loaned out to a L1 side. All a pipe dream obviously.

Oh and we still need a cb.

Jordan Archer was released by Millwall - he looked really good there for a while but lost his way (and place) this season. I think he’d be one who could give a good no.1 a challenge.

Just now, JonSnow said:

 

 

Twitter is a notoriously poor platform to base opinions on, with regards to footballers leaving/joining a club.

 

Here's the Derby forum views:

 

https://dcfcfans.uk/topic/32903-jacob-butterfield/page/2/#comments

Yeah, that’s true. The Derby fans on that forum seem to think there’s something about him.

His career seems to have gone down a David Bentley-esque path... albeit on a smaller scale.

Comments from the fans of his previous clubs on here say a lot

Just now, JacknOry said:

That is definitely not AS miffed as Raya - that's furiously miffed. What is it? Our acadamy starts bearing some fruit and we finally get some value into our squad and they sell them all off. 

Well before they reach their peak and actualise their potential value. Sounds about right.

Just now, Bbrovers2288 said:

Sorry had a long drive, name I got was Travis with some prem interest , mowbray considering to strengthen elsewhere as we are stocked in mids but he is reluctant to sell as he likes him 

That would be disastrous! Serves me right for asking!

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

How would you be more furious about those 3 leaving than Dack or Lenihan?? I would actually be furious if Graham left too the be fair 

Because I think if they do leave it will be to Premier League clubs for big money. Obviously I don’t want to see them go as they are our best players, but we are where we are and we wouldn’t be able to stand in their way.

Just now, Mattyblue said:

On the surface Bennett has it made.

New contract 

Plays every week

Popular in dressing room (seemingly)

Good relationship with fans.

 

Only reason would be he’s been told he is now down the pecking order...

I reckon he has been told he will be first choice right back and captain.

Just now, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

You have to summise that it's somebody who came through the academy.  Nobody would be bothered if either Mulgrew or Evans left!

Guessing Nyambe -after being sidelined for Bennett (bit like the Raya scenario).

Bit more left field could be Magloire after his moment of fame being faster than Mbappe brought him to prominence.

Travis would = meltdown.

Out of the rest of the squad, Armstrong may be the one who could split opinions and actually get a fee.

 

 

My reactions would be something like this...

Mulgrew, Williams, Bell, Evans, Armstrong, Brereton, Chapman, Wharton, Samuel, Nuttall, Davenport, Hart - indifference.

Lenihan, Dack - Grudging acceptance

Bennett, Smallwood - relief

Rothwell, Magloire, Buckley, Butterworth - annoyance

Nyambe, Travis, Graham - Fury

Just now, Neal said:

Hope the unlikely departure is Evans. He's probably one that might bring a fee, being a full international at a decent age too. 

Can’t see too many being miffed with that one.

Come on @Bbrovers2288 don’t leave us hanging!

Just now, deryck guyler's spoon said:

I see that Raya is on the way to saint status and a hybrid of Joan of Arc and Gordon Banks. I'm shocked.

There’s just as many painting a picture of a Rudolph Hess and that fat lad who got in trouble for eating a pie on the bench hybrid to be fair.

If Raya has been told he’s not going to be first choice, I’d fully expect him to push for a move to a club where he was. He’s been a regular for 2 seasons so dropping back to the bench wouldn’t be seen as an option to him I wouldn’t have thought.

Also hearing a bit of a rumour (nothing more than that) that he wasn’t happy with the terms of his contract. One of our lower earners and wanted a bigger wage which we weren’t prepared to give him.

13 minutes ago, JoeHarvey said:

Or I clearly meant signing on fee, clarified and edited to that at the time and there’s no need for you to constantly quote things I say to have digs for no reason ?

Every time I’ve a notification with your name on it, it’s either moaning or just constantly correcting and disagreeing with people.

It isn’t necessary and neither was this.

Or you were trying to pass bollocks off as a reputable story?

Can’t imagine you get that many notifications with my name on. Constantly is definitely a stretch. Any examples? The ones I can think of were correcting (actually questioning is a better description of what I did) you when you claimed Nuttall had played a lot more than Brereton. Someone else corrected you. And I disagreed when you said Brereton should be starting ahead of Graham. Still do. 

If you want to make claims that aren’t challenged or discussed, and want everyone to agree with everything you post I’d recommend twitter.

19 minutes ago, Tugay's Right Foot said:

Would you be ok with Andy Fisher? Promising keeper already here. Started today’s game

Replacing Raya with Fisher would be utterly ridiculous. One of the most idiotic decisions possible... therefore I think it’s plausible it could happen.

Just now, Adam1875 said:

To be fair to them they are Hospital volunteers not professionals 

Yeah, I’m being harsh. Barrow fans as well so the talk of their ground/squad etc to be expected.

Just now, philipl said:

"Charlie Dack"

That and Brethererereton were annoying me. And the fact mentions of the game seem to come in 20 second bursts every 7 minutes

4 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

Commentary is on live at Radio Lonsdale

http://radio-lonsdale.co.uk/show/sportzone-with-adam-johnson/

Be warned, it’s not great!

Just now, blackburnravers.com said:

 

Jesus Christ...

I can see him scoring two worldies, everyone getting a bit excited, him getting a contract, then becoming the next Danny Murphy.

Just now, JoeHarvey said:

Absolutely no way that the Darlow fee will be more than the Raya fee. Darlow in last year of contract, older, not played as much football and Newcastle are prone to clauses and bonuses (much like the Armstrong deal). The reported £4m has been completely plucked out of thin air for me.

Bit like the “pretty small fee” you claimed was a done deal for a free agent who is now at Millwall?

15 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Quite technical in my opinion but I might be biased. He'd be better than any of our current CBs imo.

Definitely better than any of our current lot, Lenihan included.