[Archived] Transfer Talk Part 3

[oldjamfan1]

They aren't all negative, but tbh I wouldn't take the comments of a fan messageboard as any indication of the quality of a player, if our messageboards are anything to go by!

[martonrover]

Not sure if anyone has a Times subscription but i'm sure i read on here that Bowyer claimed we could accept player swap deals?

Just read on the BBC gossip page:

"Middlesbrough and Sunderland target Jordan Rhodes, 25, will not be allowed to leave Ewood Park as part of a player-exchange deal because of a transfer embargo at Rovers."[/size](Times - subscription only)

Express reporting same story re not being able to accept players in part payment.

Surely it would be okay to do a purely cash deal and arrange the loan part separately though?

Realistically the players coming this way wouldn't be signing permanently anyway.

[chaddyrovers]

Barrow signing, is a concern in terms of the time he will be here. He will be until November, so if he does well, and we are on a good run just before Christmas, then I'm afraid this move will not make sense. If he leaves, then that leaves us having to wait until January to either try and bring him back, or find somebody else. A 6 month loan would have been better.

We can extend his loan move in November to the end of the season I believe.

[Iceman]

If he doesn't do well Chaddy?

[adsfortheblues]

They aren't all negative, but tbh I wouldn't take the comments of a fan messageboard as any indication of the quality of a player, if our messageboards are anything to go by!

Exactly, King got slated by most on here but is now a starter for a premier league club and under a manager who knows what he's doing. Yet the majority went crazy when an average Tom Cairney went to an average championship club in Fulham with no interest from premier league clubs in this "good player".

[J*B]

Passes sideways or backwards, invites pressure, no creativity and doesn't score enough goals?

Welcome to Rovers, Akpan. You'll fit right in.

[Tom]

Passes sideways or backwards, invites pressure, no creativity and doesn't score enough goals?

Welcome to Rovers, Akpan. You'll fit right in.

Oi buggerlugs sort out coming tonight

Oh and something something transfers

[JHRover]

Reports that Crystal Palace have accepted an 'initial' £6 million bid from Bristol City for Dwight Gayle.

All well in the world of FUP when a team that's been in the third division for 2 years can go around spending £6 million (initial) on one player.

[PeteJD13]

Haven't Bristol City released a load of players?, plus they are re developing the stadium so will have bumper crowds for a while on the back of that

[JHRover]

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/hope-akpan-new-signing-blackburn-rovers-2609762.aspx

Akpan confirmed.

[Earlydoors]

I appreciate the games is all about opinions but can anyone explain what Burnley and Palace see in Grant Hanley?

Why do they want him?

For me, Killgallon and Duffy are our best centre-backs.

Killgallon reads the game excellently and takes up good positions. He also distributes well with his left foot.

Duffy can dominate in the air and (although I've heard others disagree) I think he has a great touch

All I see in Hanley, is someone who overcommits and gives fouls away because he isn't fast enough, doesn't dominate in the air and can't trap the ball.

What do they see in him?

[danielwhite813]

Surprised Boro haven't gone for Gayle

[BigBar]

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/hope-akpan-new-signing-blackburn-rovers-2609762.aspx

Akpan confirmed.

Looks to be carrying a bit of timber...

[JHRover]

Haven't Bristol City released a load of players?, plus they are re developing the stadium so will have bumper crowds for a while on the back of that

Their stadium is only half finished. So for the time being their gates will be limited to under 20,000. Even when fully developed, Bristol City have never had big gates, although I suppose they might do a Brighton and get a few more turning up.

We've released a load of players. That doesn't mean we can go out and spend £6 million on a striker. They've just come up from League One so I find it hard to believe that their revenues suddenly allow them to spend such an amount without crossing the threshold.

More likely their benefactor, Stephen Lansdowne, has decided to put his hand in his pocket and the Football League will stand by and allow a local lad to spend what he wants however ridiculous it is just like Steve Gibson at Boro.

[West Yorks Rover]

We'll just have to hope that Akpan turns out like Baptiste, who did pretty well for us, considering how cr&p he was

at Bolton and how their fans couldn't wait to get rid( worst player in a Bolton shirt for years ) etc.,

However Freedman did play him out of position at LB most of the time.

Or am I clutching at straws ?

[joey_big_nose]

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/hope-akpan-new-signing-blackburn-rovers-2609762.aspx

Akpan confirmed.

2 year deal so sounds more than a punt. Hmmm. I suppose it indicates Gaz shares the opinion that Lowe, Evans and Williamson aren't good enough.

Time to shift two out.

[mustard]

2 year deal so sounds more than a punt. Hmmm. I suppose it indicates Gaz shares the opinion that Lowe, Evans and Williamson aren't good enough.

Time to shift two out.

"Errr, hey Leeeee... You know that contract we gave you at the end of last season? Yeah, we're gonna need to take that back..."

[Tom]

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/hope-akpan-new-signing-blackburn-rovers-2609762.aspx

Akpan confirmed.

Hope we don't Akpan him too much if he gets off to a slow start

[unleaded]

Crawley fans opinion on Hope Akpan:

1) Were you shocked that Hope made the move this window, or did you half expect it?

Cant say I was surprised in the slightest, we knew he only had 6 months left on his contract and quite honestly he was far too good for League 1. I expected a few bids for him, and also I hoped to sell him this window as Id rather see him leave for a fee rather than next to nothing.

2) What are his strengths?

He is tireless, and will put 110% in to every performance on the pitch. He knows how to make a challenge, and is a special player in the fact that he chooses at what temp a match will be played at. Hope can also provide a fantastic range of passes, and knows where the back of the net is.

3) What are his weaknesses?

Probably the fact he gives 110% every match, sometimes he tries too hard and you can see when the game is not going his way he gets extremely frustrated. Akpan is a great tackler but at the same time he can make some horrendous challenges, I wouldn't call them malicious, more mistimed or naive.

4) From what I have been reading, his disciplinary record isn't the best, does he have an attitude on and possibly off the pitch?

Don't read in to it any more! As I mentioned previously, yes he does make some poor challenges, but I think this is down to his age and the position he plays, lets call it inexperience. Hope is a player who plays with his heart on his sleeve, and he will commit to the cause, sometimes this boils over to a crunching challenge, Id rather that than a midfielder who is scared to put a foot in. He was sent off against Portsmouth this season, but quite honestly it was a shocking decision, I don't know many Crawley or Pompey fans who will say it was a red card.

Off the pitch I would say he is generally a model professional, I live local to most the Crawley players and have seen many on a night out, however, I have never seen Akpan. He did have one incident off the pitch, when he was charged and fined by The FA for a homophobic tweet. Hope did claim innocence, stating it was a younger family member who got on to his twitter account, we will never know.

5) Akpan is at the tender age of 21, do you think he has the potential to play in the Premier League now or probably in a few years time?

He is good enough for the Premier League now. Reading of course face a fight to stay in the Premier League and with signing Hope I think you have increased your chances in staying up. He will not be scared to go toe to toe with some of the world's best midfielders, and he certainly wont be scared to let them know he is there. I reckon between now and the end of the season Hope will pick up 3 yellows and one red, but he is also going to score 2 league goals.

In years to come, with the greatest of respect to Reading FC and the fans I think Hope will move on to an even bigger club, he started at Everton and I can see him returning and becoming a first team player. You have signed a truly special youngster, and just for the fact that you have signed him, I have adopted Reading FC as my Premier League club. COME ON YOU ROYALS!

[joey_big_nose]

To put this in context the above was written two and a half years ago after Akpan played two seasons for Crawley in League Two.

That said he was clearly rated then. Maybe we can help him to rediscover his form.

[blueboy3333]

Hope we don't Akpan him too much if he gets off to a slow start

i'm sure he'll be able to Ak-panhandle it.

[neophox]

Hope has made 9 starts in Premier League and two seasons in championship! only 23 years old.

[rovers11]

Gayle to Bristol City for £6m?! Sell Rhodes for £14m and get Gayle in for 6m!

[G Somerset Rover]

As with the Delfy signing I will be happy to be proved wrong but IMO I don't think I will be.

[rovers11]

A selection of comments from the Reading board...

Make of those what you will...

Seems like most are criticising him for his technical ability. Use him right and I think he'll be very effective. I.e ask him to sit and break up attacks and then pass to Guthrie, Marshall etc; don't ask him to be a playmaker.