[Archived] Transfer Window - January 2016

[bob fleming]

Dogging. It's a disease people.

Indeed. "11 o clockers" have an entirely different meaning these days. Filthy business.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Still feel Henley has potential. If his positioning was better to compensate his lack of height, he'd do a lot better. He just seems to get caught up when teams play long balls near him. Feel he's definitely a confidence player and hasn't improved as he should have done over the last couple of years. I feel he does better when he gets forward and runs at people. He's got the pace to skin people, he just needs the confidence. Would like to see him get stuck in a bit more too.

I think all modern fullbacks play too narrow but that's probably how they're told to play to support the centre halves. A long diagonal ball will always catch them out.

[RevidgeBlue]

Reading the board has been frustrating recently. Not sure who some supporters think we are and who we should be signing but some criticisms of Lambert and his signings have been unusual, especially considering the defence of Bowyer when he was here. The signings haven't set the world on fire but looking at them individually they aren't bad at all...

Bennett - ex-Prem player who may be yet to find his feet but has done well wherever he's been previously. Surely as good an option as Taylor, etc?

Jackson - short term contract for a position where we have 3 players injured (3 pretty tosh players signed by the previous manager). No risk.

Graham - a loan deal (I imagine with a view to buy). Experienced at this level and at the end of the day an ex-Prem player. No risk.

Ward - an experienced centre half to fill in for injuries. Kilgallon contract up at end of the year and he's injured far too often for a back-up centre back. Ward essentially fills his position.

Considering the financial restrictions we are under, they aren't bad signings, especially when compared to the previous regime. Gone are the days where we could chuck £1mill at a winger (Marshall) and £850k at a centre midfielder (Evans) like we could under Bowyer pre-embargo.

I notice now results have gone sour, more of GBs fans are returning to stick the boot in. Unfortunately, the squad is plagued with the same old problems and until there is a big clear-out in personnel, results won't change all too much. That's why I'm waiting til summer before getting too antsy. Clear out any/all of our centre mids and start again, then we might see some improvement. Unfortunately we are too soft-centred, a legacy left by the previous regime. I believe a couple CMs, an attacking mid, a right back and a left back (assuming Olsson leaves) and we will be ready to compete up the top end of the table.

Lambert has inherited a squad that is not his own, and without time and funds to put his stamp on things, it's difficult to hold expectations too high. I haven't enjoyed watching Rovers recently and do believe improvements are needed on the field, but it will take Lambert time to find the right formula. No use me speculating on signings but CM and LB are priorities. Spurr isn't good enough to fill Olsson's void and we are in dire need of a decent CM, but we may have to wait until we can ship on some of the jack-of-all-trades who fill the centre of the park for us at the moment. Doubt anyone would take them though...

Whilst I'm fully behind Lambert I'm disappointed by the signings coming in thus far, I think it probably stems from the obviously mistaken expectation that either PL wouldn't have taken the job without a shedload of money available to spend in January or that he would have had extensive contacts as a result of his time abroad etc etc.

On the other hand if there is decent money available to spend in summer and this is merely an attempt to temporarily put a speedboat in the stagnant pool as Holloway so eloquently and correctly put it , or pack the dressing room with the right sort of characters, I'm fine with it. Long term though I can't see the incomings are any better or even as good as GB's signings.

[mustard]

Whilst I'm fully behind Lambert I'm disappointed by the signings coming in thus far, I think it probably stems from the obviously mistaken expectation that either PL wouldn't have taken the job without a shedload of money available to spend in January or that he would have had extensive contacts as a result of his time abroad etc etc.

On the other hand if there is decent money available to spend in summer and this is merely an attempt to temporarily put a speedboat in the stagnant pool as Holloway so eloquently and correctly put it , or pack the dressing room with the right sort of characters, I'm fine with it. Long term though I can't see the incomings are any better or even as good as GB's signings.

Look at Bowyer's freebies and loans. I'd say they were of a worse standard. As I've said, gone are the days when we were chucking money at players. We wasted resources in the past and no doubt Venky's are hesitant in freeing up too much funds. I'd imagine more movement in summer as January is a difficult time and I'd rather us wait than do what we previously did and waste our resources on average/poor players (£850k for Evans, yikes). Bennett hasn't started well but he's got good stock. Graham may be getting on but he's an improvement on Delfouneso etc.

Two of the players brought in are short term to cover injury, another is a like-for-like replacement for our other ageing centre back (who is injury prone) and the other has solid credentials. Still early doors and I think expectations are a touch high at the moment. No use us blowing money on players who turn up here and there, like was done previous (Duffy, Marshall etc).

[K-Hod]

January is a notoriously difficult month in which to do good business. That's why I think any significant improvements will be made in the summer.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Whilst I'm fully behind Lambert I'm disappointed by the signings coming in thus far, I think it probably stems from the obviously mistaken expectation that either PL wouldn't have taken the job without a shedload of money available to spend in January or that he would have had extensive contacts as a result of his time abroad etc etc.

On the other hand if there is decent money available to spend in summer and this is merely an attempt to temporarily put a speedboat in the stagnant pool as Holloway so eloquently and correctly put it , or pack the dressing room with the right sort of characters, I'm fine with it. Long term though I can't see the incomings are any better or even as good as GB's signings.

Kiddo had a shed load of money. Fat lot of good it did us. Gordon Lee and Howard Kendall had to shop around but they did us proud.

[unsall]

Steele is fine in the way that John Filan was fine before we brought Brad in.

. You are spot on there,think most of us thought Filan,and back up keepers were ok,and when Souness brought Brad,in we all thought,do we need another keeper,how right was Souness,and how. wrong everyone else,he spotted a weak link straight away,also decided he needed a midfield genius(Tuguy) top manager..

[Amo]

Whilst I'm fully behind Lambert I'm disappointed by the signings coming in thus far, I think it probably stems from the obviously mistaken expectation that either PL wouldn't have taken the job without a shedload of money available to spend in January or that he would have had extensive contacts as a result of his time abroad etc etc.

On the other hand if there is decent money available to spend in summer and this is merely an attempt to temporarily put a speedboat in the stagnant pool as Holloway so eloquently and correctly put it , or pack the dressing room with the right sort of characters, I'm fine with it. Long term though I can't see the incomings are any better or even as good as GB's signings.

Would you not concede, Rev, that just like some of us, Lambert might have overestimated the ability, as well as the attitude, of the team? Perhaps he thought he could hit the ground running, but once the novelty wore off he realized he needed to bolster the dressing room with some of his former players?

[tomphil]

Didn't know he was a golf enthusiast, as well.

Wheels a tartan bag around the greens for a chubby guy who tells a lot of lies apparently

[DE.]

. You are spot on there,think most of us thought Filan,and back up keepers were ok,and when Souness brought Brad,in we all thought,do we need another keeper,how right was Souness,and how. wrong everyone else,he spotted a weak link straight away,also decided he needed a midfield genius(Tuguy) top manager..

The problem we have at the moment is that we have weak links across the entire pitch, and not a huge amount of money to address them with. Goalkeeper may not be a strong point for us, but I'd suggest left back, right back, right/left wing and centre midfield (x2) are weaker points that need addressing first. Defending isn't a huge problem for us, but we're woefully short of any creativity or pace which is why we are in huge trouble if we concede even one goal.

Even with the best defence in the league, we'll inevitably concede goals every so often. Being unable to score goals is losing us more points at the moment than letting them in, imo.

[unsall]

The problem we have at the moment is that we have weak links across the entire pitch, and not a huge amount of money to address them with. Goalkeeper may not be a strong point for us, but I'd suggest left back, right back, right/left wing and centre midfield (x2) are weaker points that need addressing first. Defending isn't a huge problem for us, but we're woefully short of any creativity or pace which is why we are in huge trouble if we concede even one goal.

Even with the best defence in the league, we'll inevitably concede goals every so often. Being unable to score goals is losing us more points at the moment than letting them in, imo.

Yeah your right,different circumstances now,can't just splash the cash,think midfield is first concern then left back and another pacy winger

[Amo]

To be fair, Friedel didn't cost us anything.

[RevidgeBlue]

Would you not concede, Rev, that just like some of us, Lambert might have overestimated the ability, as well as the attitude, of the team? Perhaps he thought he could hit the ground running, but once the novelty wore off he realized he needed to bolster the dressing room with some of his former players?

Undoubtedly, as did I.

Judging by his comments when he came in about not accepting mediocrity etc think he probably thought he could get a much better tune out of them than he has simply by being unwilling to accept draws at home as good results and being unwilling to accept playing for 45 mins in a game etc. Again as did I. It worked for the "honeymoon period" but long term the players appear unwilling to be shaken out of their previous comfort zone.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Undoubtedly, as did I.

Judging by his comments when he came in about not accepting mediocrity etc think he probably thought he could get a much better tune out of them than he has simply by being unwilling to accept draws at home as good results and being unwilling to accept playing for 45 mins in a game etc. Again as did I. It worked for the "honeymoon period" but long term the players appear unwilling to be shaken out of their previous comfort zone.

That's why he's had to bring four new players in.

[Pedro]

. You are spot on there,think most of us thought Filan,and back up keepers were ok,and when Souness brought Brad,in we all thought,do we need another keeper,how right was Souness,and how. wrong everyone else,he spotted a weak link straight away,also decided he needed a midfield genius(Tuguy) top manager..

My memory is that before we had Friedel we had Kelly in the first team (and Fettis wasn't it?) and we were desperate for a proper keeper.

Filan was great when he first came in, he was for a spell even better than Flowers. He was capable but never quite the same for us after breaking his arm.

[Neal]

Steele might be ok as a number 2 but certainly not promotion quality.

[chaddyrovers]

according to twitter the Derby Olsson offer is

£250k + £100k if go up, £150k if go up & 10 apps, 250k if go up & 20 apps + 20% profit sell on #rovers #brfc #£750k

also on twitter

Mr Transfer Deals ‏@MrTransferdeals 7 hrs7 hours ago

Blackburn Rovers are hopeful of signing Everton midfielder Darron Gibson on loan. #BRFC #EFC

[VinjayV4]

My memory is that before we had Friedel we had Kelly in the first team (and Fettis wasn't it?) and we were desperate for a proper keeper.

Filan was great when he first came in, he was for a spell even better than Flowers. He was capable but never quite the same for us after breaking his arm.

Fettis left shortly before Souness was appointed. Fettis actually had the nerve to state after he left that he wasn't given a chance and had no respect. Tony Parkes in the understatement of the century said "As for not getting a chance, he had a spell in the side, but it did not prove too successful."

What keepers do people think Lambert should be looking at?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

according to twitter the Derby Olsson offer is

£250k + £100k if go up, £150k if go up & 10 apps, 250k if go up & 20 apps + 20% profit sell on #rovers #brfc #£750k

also on twitter

Mr Transfer Deals ‏@MrTransferdeals 7 hrs7 hours ago

Blackburn Rovers are hopeful of signing Everton midfielder Darron Gibson on loan. #BRFC #EFC

Gibson's not exactly what I had in mind when I said we needed someone to direct the traffic. Having said that is he better than what we've got ? Definitely. Will he give us a goal threat from midfield ? Definitely.

Steele might be ok as a number 2 but certainly not promotion quality.

We're not looking at promotion at the moment we're looking at survival.

[koi]

which keeper was married to a bird off Brookside?

[Mattyblue]

Alan Miller?

[imy9]

Gibson is a good player but has played 130 odd games in his entire career and he is nearly 29!

[Blue Cabbage]

Gibson is a good player but has played 130 odd games in his entire career and he is nearly 29!

Really?!

That is shocking considering his supposed stock

[BlueMonday]

Would you not concede, Rev, that just like some of us, Lambert might have overestimated the ability, as well as the attitude, of the team? Perhaps he thought he could hit the ground running, but once the novelty wore off he realized he needed to bolster the dressing room with some of his former players?

We are all learning a stark fact here. The squad was simply never challenged under Bowyer (can't believe we are still discussing a mediocre manager) I think the bigger factor for this squad was/is attitude. Lambert, obviously did his homework and assessed the ability of the squad and obviously thought he could move them on. However, they clearly haven't got the stomach for a challenge and can't handle change.

Lamberts on a big job and needs time to weed out the dross.

[Neal]

We're not looking at promotion at the moment we're looking at survival.

Agreed but my post was in relation to my previous post about only signing players with the potential to get you out of this league... Not just players who just "do a job". To be honest Steele hardly even does his job that well.