[Archived] Clearout begins at Rovers

[perthblue02]

http://m.arabianbusiness.com/gulf-investors-caught-up-in-football-fund-legal-battle-500942.html

Thought this article was interesting , especially as this was Formicas original destination , and the unknown Arab who came to Rovers a couple of weeks back by surprise to many .

No doubt a bit more hamster cage bedding will be available soon from Kentaro's former business partners the FA, as an outcome of their three monkey investigation into their still fully approved agent.

[Gav]

They're all cast offs and no marks! Pissing in the wind if we have expectations from that lot IMO.

With perhaps the exception of Kilgallon, we've signed a load of crap.

Been saying the same for a few weeks now, but keep getting called negative. Bottom line is you can be enthusiastic, some baby steps in the right direction have been made, but you can't hide from the fact we've bought average players that are simply not good enough.

[AggyBlue]

Been saying the same for a few weeks now, but keep getting called negative. Bottom line is you can be enthusiastic, some baby steps in the right direction have been made, but you can't hide from the fact we've bought average players that are simply not good enough.

I agree. The players that have been brought in aren't as good as the ones they are replacing IMO.

I've read on here that we've made 11 signings this window. I'd much rather we had signed two or three better quality players.

[Parsonblue]

More than MGP could be bothered to do Gordon.

In the absence of any incriminating photos, how on earth do you think he managed to wangle a new 4 year deal in 2010?

Must have been his agent showing JW a DVD of his client from 2-3 seasons previously with a sales pitch something along the lines of:

"Take a £10m punt on wages over the next 4 years and he might get back to this!"

To be honest Rev, I only wish we had JW sorting things out now. The contracts he gave out seemed to ensure we retained Premier League status whilst Venky's seem to be handing out contracts that have seen us slide to the brink of League One. We have now signed another lad who has been shown the door at Watford and looked very ordinary in the Pre-season games. Quite why we need another young centre-half when we have farmed O'Connell and Edwards out on loan and have a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international in O'Connor here is a mystery. If Dann or Hanley aren't sold where do Kilgallon and Songo'o fit in and why add another young lad to the wage bill who is unlikely to break into the senior team?

As for MGP, Rev, at the time he signed his contract he was an established international who many, I know that doesn't include yourself, thought he was playing well and deserved the deal. Personally, I still believe he would be an improvement on what I have seen thus far this season.

[Mercer]

Agree totally WYR. Only once did I see Brotherston meet his match. Viv Anderson at Forest punced him black and blue in a League Cup tie at The City Ground and we lost 6-1.

I went on the train that night with my Dad, as was the norm in those days, just to rub salt in our wounds, most of the train carriage windows were put through by over exuberant Forest fans making it a draughty ride home! These young 'uns don't know they're born!

A young Kenny Samson put Noel in his pocket when Palace visited Ewood on one occasion. Never saw the Irishman look so clueless and frustrated.

With perhaps the exception of Kilgallon, we've signed a load of crap.

Spot on.

The one that really irks is Judge and those who are raving about him. I think he was a scuffler when he left and he has barely improved. Deceptively busy but achieves very, very little.

[Guest Norbert]

Simon Barker, central midfielder. Went to QPR for a club record 400k in the mid 80's. Would walk into this team.

Yes of course. Wasn't really reading all the posts through laziness.

[tonyoz]

Last year we had two players in the Actim Index top 100 players in the Championship. Rhodes finished 2nd overall to Murray of Crystal Palace. We also had the overall-rated top defender too. Go on - guess!

Yep! he finished 9th in the table. No wonder 3 Premier League teams are after him.

This year Actim seem to have handed over the duties to "Whoscored.com". Out of 412 players rated so far this season, we have the 410th and 411th! Who do you think? Poor old Jordan has fallen into the abyss at 348th!

Here is the full list:

91 Dann 7.01

137 Judge 6.81

139 Best 6.81

142 Rochina 6.80

143 Spurr 6.80

175 Hanley 6.70

BIG GAP!

275 Cairney 6.37

303 Taylor 6.25

312 Lowe 6.23

314 King 6.22

325 Kean 6.18

348 Rhodes 6.08

376 Marrow 6.00

378 Evans 6.00

410 Kane 5.75

411 Dunn 5.72

Hmm! We really are crap!

[RevidgeBlue]

To be honest Rev, I only wish we had JW sorting things out now. The contracts he gave out seemed to ensure we retained Premier League status whilst Venky's seem to be handing out contracts that have seen us slide to the brink of League One. We have now signed another lad who has been shown the door at Watford and looked very ordinary in the Pre-season games. Quite why we need another young centre-half when we have farmed O'Connell and Edwards out on loan and have a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international in O'Connor here is a mystery. If Dann or Hanley aren't sold where do Kilgallon and Songo'o fit in and why add another young lad to the wage bill who is unlikely to break into the senior team?

As for MGP, Rev, at the time he signed his contract he was an established international who many, I know that doesn't include yourself, thought he was playing well and deserved the deal. Personally, I still believe he would be an improvement on what I have seen thus far this season.

I agree with you on the young centre half Parson. As someone else said, what's wrong with our own lads?

On MGP I do have some sympathy for JW and SA because under the Trust there was never any transfer funding available to replace underperforming players so to some extent their hands were tied and they had to keep dishing out new contracts to players who weren't good enough, not doing the business or past their best -MGP, Emerton, Nelsen post injury and 5 goal a season Roberts. That's where the Trust's business model was fatally flawed imo

[tonyoz]

But, as was mentioned earlier - Sam reckoned MGP was worth 6 million to us. Then again, he also paid 6 million for Kalinic.

[imy9]

A young Kenny Samson put Noel in his pocket when Palace visited Ewood on one occasion. Never saw the Irishman look so clueless and frustrated.

Spot on.

The one that really irks is Judge and those who are raving about him. I think he was a scuffler when he left and he has barely improved. Deceptively busy but achieves very, very little.

Evans is a top class signing in this division, as we will see this season. DJ, Spurr and Taylor will also prove good additions. I don't think the signings are worldies but neither are they are as bad as people are making out.

[tonyoz]

We have now signed another lad who has been shown the door at Watford and looked very ordinary in the Pre-season games. Quite why we need another young centre-half when we have farmed O'Connell and Edwards out on loan and have a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international in O'Connor here is a mystery. If Dann or Hanley aren't sold where do Kilgallon and Songo'o fit in and why add another young lad to the wage bill who is unlikely to break into the senior team?

I can't remember if it was Black or Berg or Appleton who said that we wouldn't be buying anyone unless he was going to be an improvement on what we had. We seem to have gone completely to the other extreme. There seems to be no limit to the number of unremarkable fringe/cover players that are being accumulated. Yet we have a wage bill problem? Is GB trying to build his empire from scratch? If so, does he believe that the new guys are better than our own youngsters? Well I guess he should know if our youngsters are any good if anyone does. I find it all very baffling. A lot of the new signings are never going to get a game.

Evans is a top class signing in this division, as we will see this season. DJ, Spurr and Taylor will also prove good additions. I don't think the signings are worldies but neither are they are as bad as people are making out.

I actually agree with you on this (haven't seen Evans yet) But I am always optimistic!

[Roverthechimp]

Does Bowyer think the new guys are better than our own youngsters - yes.

Is that a guarantee that we will see them in the first team - no.

If he has been working the youth setup for a few years then he should be acutely aware of who is coming through and supplementing them with players that improve the group is sound business - it only takes 1 player to make it to fund the system for 5 years.

More questionable is our first team transfer policy but looking at the incomings over the summer - lower wages, harder working, fitter and a 50% success rate would be very acceptable given that we are shopping in the bargain bins...

[tonyoz]

If he has been working the youth setup for a few years then he should be acutely aware of who is coming through and supplementing them with players that improve the group is sound business - it only takes 1 player to make it to fund the system for 5 years.

And, if I remember correctly, this was the policy Desai promoted when she first came on the scene?

[ABBEY]

Does Bowyer think the new guys are better than our own youngsters - yes.

Is that a guarantee that we will see them in the first team - no.

If he has been working the youth setup for a few years then he should be acutely aware of who is coming through and supplementing them with players that improve the group is sound business - it only takes 1 player to make it to fund the system for 5 years.

More questionable is our first team transfer policy but looking at the incomings over the summer - lower wages, harder working, fitter and a 50% success rate would be very acceptable given that we are shopping in the bargain bins...

You keep saying harder working and fitter?

And, if I remember correctly, this was the policy Desai promoted when she first came on the scene?

They also promised 5 million a season, beckham and co, champions league football, a cup win and to be looked after their baby.

Worked wonders .... She's a clueless fat owd hag.

[West Yorks Rover]

You keep saying harder working and fitter?

They also promised 5 million a season, beckham and co, champions league football, a cup win and to be looked after their baby.

Worked wonders .... She's a clueless fat owd hag.

It was £5m per window Abs and I think most of us probably believed that bit, even if we knew the rest was pie in the sky.

Well Mrs where is the money ?

[broadsword]

Perhaps she meant 5m rupees?

[blue_n_white99]

You keep saying harder working and fitter?

They also promised 5 million a season, beckham and co, champions league football, a cup win and to be looked after their baby.

Worked wonders .... She's a clueless fat owd hag.

She's not that attractive Abbey

[Sparky Marky]

I'd give her one.

[rovers11]

I find it astonishing how everyone was asking for a clearout last season and now there is one some fans are moaning about it.

Would people prefer a midfield of Pedersen, Murphy, Etuhu and Bentley or Judge, Cairney, Evans and Taylor? At those players prime, there's no doubt which one is better but I know which one I'd prefer this season.

Pedersen was geting criticised left, right and centre last season and now he's been told he can go some fans are saying he should be in the team! Pedersen has been hopeless for years. He is a passenger from open play and was only useful for his thrown ins and set pieces. We have other set piece specialists now so don't need him.

With the cost of clearing these players out, there was nothing going to be bundles of money to re-invest in the team. Can't have it both ways and it is why getting Rovers back to where they belong is no quick fix. Fans need to start realising this.

For what it's worth, actualy think Bowyer has been very clever and astute in the transfer market with the funds available to him.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

I find it astonishing how everyone was asking for a clearout last season and now there is one some fans are moaning about it.

Would people prefer a midfield of Pedersen, Murphy, Etuhu and Bentley or Judge, Cairney, Evans and Taylor? At those players prime, there's no doubt which one is better but I know which one I'd prefer this season.

Pedersen was geting criticised left, right and centre last season and now he's been told he can go some fans are saying he should be in the team! Pedersen has been hopeless for years. He is a passenger from open play and was only useful for his thrown ins and set pieces. We have other set piece specialists now so don't need him.

With the cost of clearing these players out, there was nothing going to be bundles of money to re-invest in the team. Can't have it both ways and it is why getting Rovers back to where they belong is no quick fix. Fans need to start realising this.

For what it's worth, actualy think Bowyer has been very clever and astute in the transfer market with the funds available to him.

Everyone wasn't so that's your first problem. People think this board is fickle and everyones changing their minds from one minute to the next. That's not the case in my opinion, what happens is there is always a minority that disagree with what the majority just assume is a universally accepted view. That minority keeps quiet until things start going wrong, and then feels its able to speak up.

I'd prefer the first midfield you listed because in my opinion the first midfield has the potential to promote us under the right manager. The second midfield isn't good enough full stop, I could never imagine that being a PL midfield and I can't imagine it would get us there either.

Well that's your opinion on Pedersen, personally I disagree. He's been worse than when he first came for years, but appalling compared to what? I might not have started him back when we had Hoilett and an in-form Olsson in our ranks. But he's more ability in his little toe than 90% of this league. Our set pieces have been appalling this season, a few corners have even gone straight out of play.

If its costing us money to clear players out and we're not going to spend any of it on anyone else, then what's the point in getting rid of them? May as well just let their contracts run out. Well the proof is in the pudding, these clever and astute signings just had 1 shot on target against a former league 1 team. Give it a month or 2 and see if you change your mind.

[Plastic Head]

Does that not make those two "local" to Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers respectively? By "local" I was thinking someone from Blackburn or the Blackburn postcode area like Dunn. I don't see why anyone from Preston should have any more loyalty to Blackburn Rovers than someone from Prestatyn really but I agree anyone who's come through our youth system (Barker) may have more of an affinity towards the Club.

The Blackburn postcode area includes Burnley, Colne, Barnoldswick and Rossendale.

[Roverthechimp]

You keep saying harder working and fitter?

Well twice actually - once on this thread and once in a different thread. Are you suggesting that Gomes, Murphy, Etuhu, Orr, Best, Dunn et al worked harder and were fitter than our recent signings? (Rhodes i will give you - he was fit and worked hard from day 1 and MGP has always been fit - hardworking can be debated)

[yoda]

The Blackburn postcode area includes Burnley, Colne, Barnoldswick and Rossendale.

wash your mouth out,

or do you mean we own them

[ABBEY]

Well twice actually - once on this thread and once in a different thread. Are you suggesting that Gomes, Murphy, Etuhu, Orr, Best, Dunn et al worked harder and were fitter than our recent signings? (Rhodes i will give you - he was fit and worked hard from day 1 and MGP has always been fit - hardworking can be debated)

Im saying the players put in no effort on friday.

[DanLad]

The Blackburn postcode area includes Burnley, Colne, Barnoldswick and Rossendale.

I should imagine that it is a constant source of irritation for them. They can't send a letter without being reminded of Blackburn.