[Archived] Summer Transfer Window

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Nothing 'bizarre' about it at all, would be nice to have something positive and of interest to talk about regarding possible tranfers coming into the club and their relative worths rather than worring about players leaving.

'How do you know we aren't being bullish in the transfer market?' ...... can you tell me any different with the lack of info coming out of the club at the moment?

Nobody is judging Mark Hughes,he's done a superb job to date but I would like to see him backed right now with hard cash that he deserves to take this club forward.I have a feeling the possible takever of the club is not helping matters either though.

[philipl]

Might not be bizarre but it is totally illogical.

It does not follow that minimal noise mean either minimal activity or minimal money.

[Fife Rover]

I have to disagree Herb, from what I have seen Matty will become a star, perhaps not in the Henry sense of the word with the silky skills but he will become a prolific scorer if he continues to develop as quickly as he has. Just my thoughts, and hope I am not wrong. Remember it's not that long ago the lad was playing for 'Arrod.

I second that. I can see Matt becoming another Michael Owen type of player given the right coaching and development opportunities which he will get at Rovers under Sparky & Co.

[Hughesy]

I also agree - at 1st when he played i thought, he isnt ready, but the more games given, the better he has got and he has really shown determination to take his chance - unlike Gally!

[Manchester Blue]

Nothing 'bizarre' about it at all, would be nice to have something positive and of interest to talk about regarding possible tranfers coming into the club and their relative worths rather than worring about players leaving.

'How do you know we aren't being bullish in the transfer market?' ...... can you tell me any different with the lack of info coming out of the club at the moment?

Nobody is judging Mark Hughes,he's done a superb job to date but I would like to see him backed right now with hard cash that he deserves to take this club forward.I have a feeling the possible takever of the club is not helping matters either though.

What you are basically saying is that because of the limited noise coming out of the club we can assume either of two things, stuff is going on but they are keeping it under wraps or nothing is going and they all have their feet up. You choose to assume the latter as it's easier to be negative for some people I suppose.

Why is it some fans are so negative and almost hysterical at every opportunity? If we fail to sell out for any game you are demanding pubic floggings for stay aways, one day without a link to a signing and it's doom and gloom.

[Wolves_Rover]

It does get a bit tiresome to wake up every day only to see established first teamers (McCarthy, Savage, Nelsen, Roberts so far) constantly being linked with moves away.

But I'm an optimist - I believe Rovers will strengthen and not weaken their ranks in the next 8 weeks.

[RevidgeBlue]

I think SG is partially right, there is generally no smoke without fire when it comes to transfer market rumours. Last close season for example we KNEW we were chasing Mido for what seemed an interminable length of time before finally giving up, and then we KNEW we had switched our attention to Benni.

I suspect that the reason there is absolutely nothing coming out of the media in terms of Rovers related gossip is that by and large the manager is fairly happy with the existing squad and isn't looking here there and everywhere.

I also suspect he has one main target (no prizes for guessing who) and if he doesn't get the full backing of the Board in that regard I'm not sure what will happen in terms of incoming faces.

As good as the current squad looks, I think its important we make a couple of quality additions - conventional wisdom is that it is essential every year to keep things fresh if nothing else.

[cravenblue]

i'm sure we have the same discussions every close season about not hearing about any transfer targets, or am i imagining things? its just the way conduct things ath rovers. every other club is linked with players that havent a cat in hells chance of getting. at least we havent got our hopes up of signing some big star, then dashed when it doesnt happen. i have evry faith in the board and hughsey.

[stowell]

i'm sure we have the same discussions every close season about not hearing about any transfer targets, or am i imagining things? its just the way conduct things ath rovers. every other club is linked with players that havent a cat in hells chance of getting. at least we havent got our hopes up of signing some big star, then dashed when it doesnt happen. i have evry faith in the board and hughsey.

*coughBECKHAMcough*

[cravenblue]

that one excepted!!!

[Fife Rover]

I think SG is partially right, there is generally no smoke without fire when it comes to transfer market rumours. Last close season for example we KNEW we were chasing Mido for what seemed an interminable length of time before finally giving up, and then we KNEW we had switched our attention to Benni.

I suspect that the reason there is absolutely nothing coming out of the media in terms of Rovers related gossip is that by and large the manager is fairly happy with the existing squad and isn't looking here there and everywhere.

I also suspect he has one main target (no prizes for guessing who) and if he doesn't get the full backing of the Board in that regard I'm not sure what will happen in terms of incoming faces.

As good as the current squad looks, I think its important we make a couple of quality additions - conventional wisdom is that it is essential every year to keep things fresh if nothing else.

Hopefully MH will get the backing of the Board for whatever plans he has made. IF, (and it's a big IF) he does not, I would imagine that would be the beginning of the end for MH's reign at Ewood. In those circumstances I could see him starting to keep his eyes and ears seriously open for offers from elswhere.

[USABlue]

I was as excited about Gally and Stead as you are about Matty....

So was I, I can't help it if I am a perennial loser heh heh. If I was good at spotting talent I wouldn't be doing what I do now for a living.

[USABlue]

As for the comments about Rovers doing nothing, the operative words are saying nothing publicly.

We have a class act at Ewood that is using the club's low press profile to its advantage.

You know that right?? Hey have to love your optimism philip, you pushing for a PR job at Rovers by any chance? I do like that we go quietly about our business but even when we have been stealthy about checking on players news has still broken about it. So have we got better at keeping quiet or is there little going on. Either way, starved for something of meaning that is rovers related going on.

[philipl]

I will simply tell you how I am feeling which is should have a good summer, maybe a very good summer.

Whether that feeling is informed or deluded, let's see but if things don't go right, it won't be for want of strategic positioning, good management and excellent negotiating from a united team. Don't think for a moment that Mark Hughes is unappreciated or unsupported.

There is absolutely no reason for anyone to get worried or distressed at this stage.

[den]

I think SG is partially right, there is generally no smoke without fire when it comes to transfer market rumours.

AArrrggh! If ever there was a stupid saying, it's that one. So EVERY rumour has some foundation to it eh? Absolute garbage.

[Manchester Blue]

Was going to post something similar Den. Was talking with someone who worked in the press who said they regularly post rumours based on nothing and will then follow up with a story about how the said club had just missed out on the player. You have to also remember these days you have agents either trying to engineer a move or a better contract for players.

[USABlue]

I will simply tell you how I am feeling which is should have a good summer, maybe a very good summer.

Whether that feeling is informed or deluded, let's see but if things don't go right, it won't be for want of strategic positioning, good management and excellent negotiating from a united team. Don't think for a moment that Mark Hughes is unappreciated or unsupported.

There is absolutely no reason for anyone to get worried or distressed at this stage.

No doubts in my mind we are in the hands of one of, if not THE, best management team in the prem, so it's not that, not worried or distressed, just BORED, wanting summat to get all in a tizzy about.

[RevidgeBlue]

AArrrggh! If ever there was a stupid saying, it's that one. So EVERY rumour has some foundation to it eh? Absolute garbage.

By the same token, just because every single rumour doesn't come to fruition doesn't mean there hasn't been interest expressed at some stage either!

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Most simply want Rovers to be active in the tranfer market and strengthening this side for a good season, what chance the purchasing of more quality players could see the likes of McCarthy finally realise Ewood is the place to be?...we want positive news and vibes coming from Ewood, we have had the increase in ticket sales news now lets push on with matters on the field.

Like you say Fife, it would be near criminal for the board not to back Hughes with at least 10-15 million this summer after the hard work he has put into the club.

Is that positive enough for thee MB?

[RevidgeBlue]

I will simply tell you how I am feeling which is should have a good summer, maybe a very good summer.

Whether that feeling is informed or deluded, let's see but if things don't go right, it won't be for want of strategic positioning, good management and excellent negotiating from a united team. Don't think for a moment that Mark Hughes is unappreciated or unsupported.

There is absolutely no reason for anyone to get worried or distressed at this stage.

My word, I wasn't overly worried, but now, with your track record in the prediction stakes.....................

[tcj_jones]

Was going to post something similar Den. Was talking with someone who worked in the press who said they regularly post rumours based on nothing and will then follow up with a story about how the said club had just missed out on the player. You have to also remember these days you have agents either trying to engineer a move or a better contract for players.

Obviously things like that do occur, but I am definitely of the argument that there "is never any smoke without a fire," as it were. The rumour of Roberts wanting to move back to London is probably not true, but I have since heard that he has had family problems or something of that nature and his family do live in London. Doesn't mean he's going to move, but there is probably a little bit of truth in the rumour that he'd like to be close to his family. He might want to in the future.

Most of the time clubs get linked with players left right and centre and never sign them. That's probably because many have sent scouts to watch them, asked about their availability, made offers and subsequently been told by agents that the player's wage demands are too high, that the player is still wanted, have found a better alternative etc etc. I bet Premiership managers are on the phone every day enquiring about players availability. Therefore, it doesn't surprise me the number of players that clubs get linked with. In circumstances such as Spurs being linked with MGP or us being linked with Bellamy then I definitely think their is substance their despite neither, to my knowledge, having made a bid for the said players. I would think that Bellamy is our top trransfer target and I'll bet Hughes definitely had his eye on Rigters.

As for the idea of the club not being linked with players week in, week out, being a reflection our lack of transfer related activity, I don't buy that at all. Some coubs work in more discrete circles than others. Although, in January, we signed two left backs, a centre back and a centre midfielder. We have two exceptional centre halves, two top quality wingers, one of the league top goal scorers and, generally, a very large squad. So, you can understand why we aren't being linked with anybody but strikers right now and why the papers might find it difficult to fabricate stories related to us signing players. Nevertheless, I bet Hughes has a long list of targets with several fall back options despite probably only wanting to bring in one or two faces. For the most part, I reckon if we were to be linked with a name, it is probably written somewhere on Hughes list. That doesn't mean that we are going to sign them or that the report is rubbish. I think Beattie is a good example.

[philipl]

Spot on tcj. There were whinges galore about lack of transfer movement on here in the first week of January yet Rovers were the most active club in the Premiership in the January window. A fact now being overlooked by the whingers this summer.

Premiership list of released players.

Today is the first business day of the transfer window. Here is the Times' list of clubs and state of play.

Yesterday I totted up the value of pre-Window "done" deals and over £150m had been committed in transfer fees by Premiership clubs.

Meanwhilst the price of Bellamy keeps falling- but there is a catch.

[neekoy]

Zenden for cover at left back, Wright cover Brad and Kanu would be OK

[brfc fan]

Spot on tcj. There were whinges galore about lack of transfer movement on here in the first week of January yet Rovers were the most active club in the Premiership in the January window. A fact now being overlooked by the whingers this summer.

Premiership list of released players.

Today is the first business day of the transfer window. Here is the Times' list of clubs and state of play.

Yesterday I totted up the value of pre-Window "done" deals and over £150m had been committed in transfer fees by Premiership clubs.

Meanwhilst the price of Bellamy keeps falling- but there is a catch.

Good links.

[John]

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes is in line to sign rising young Dutch star Marco Rigters for a bargain £350,000 - scuppering the hopes of Newcastle and Celtic. (Daily Mirror)

But Celtic will scupper the hopes of Hughes and Blackburn - by signing Rigters for £400,000. (Daily Record)