[Archived] Transfer Window - January 2016

[Stuart]

And his contribution in those 9 matches has been ?

Sorry - playing devils advocate - but the truth is a non-scoring Rhodes doesn't normally contribute a great deal.

I hope he proves me wrong on Saturday - but it has been worrying how few chances he has under PL's tactics - when in truth I thought the high pressing game would suit him - but didn't realise it would be inter mingled with so much long ball.

Non-scoring Rhodes creates space.

We used to have someone who could take advantage of it. Although it seems very clear to me that Rhodes made Gestede the £6m player he became. Before him we had CKR who was also capable and was a good foil for Rhodes.

Now we have nobody who can. That used to be because the rest of them played so deep. PL is addressing that with his first two signings and Rhodes needs time to work with them.

I just do not understand this pick pick pick at Rhodes thing. It is very easy to sign up players like Brown who can work hard and put themselves about. It is much harder (and costlier) to bring in a lethal finisher to complement them. We already have the expensive/lethal one (and are now FFP compliant) lets get the right player (on loan if necessary) to do his dirty work but who also knows where the goal is so as to be enough of a secondary threat. Granted Rhodes isn't on form at the moment - but it must be the worst Rovers squad for years that he is expected to carry. If the opposition double up on Rhodes they nullify Rovers as an attacking threat. But some Rovers fans still see this as Rhodes' fault!

[Ribble Rover]

Haters will hate

[ABBEY]

I am surprised more hasn't been posted about this. It's quite clear Nixon has a foot in the Lambert camp. Rather than suggesting Nixon is stirring, it's pretty feasible to me that this may have happened. It's possible that Lambert may been promised funds in January only for Venkys to retract this for whatever reason. Would Lambert have really come if he was told you can sign a couple of loans this season?

Mani had a contact in the previous camp. I remember him posting that they said they would have walked the league if they had been given the transfer chest that Lambert has, or words to the effect. I am not going to dig the post out; Mani can comment if he wishes.

As a paying season ticket holder and regular away attendee, I just feel ripped off again that the club from top to bottom have seemingly thrown in the white flag for this season. From Venkys who have apparently written it off to the shocking performances witnessed recently by players. It must be the 4th consecutive season where it's season over in January. No wonder attendances are rock bottom and the atmosphere is non existent.

Did Lambert himself not say we would only be getting small signings and loans this winter and bigger in summer?

[Tom]

Stuart, Rhodes is a phenomenal goal scorer when on form but he's a fair target for criticism at the moment I would say he is among the worst if not stand alone worst performer recently (Lawrence may save him there though).

He had 4 decent chances in Tuesday so it's all through lack of service, him constantly walking back from offside positions was shocking and he didn't even seem to be watching his line second half.

Maybe something has gone on with Lambert or he just needs a goal to pick him back up.

The silver lining being we know for a fact his history of goals isn't a fluke and it will return at some point - hopefully today.

We don't have the midfielders to pick out through balls so the trick is getting someone to play wth him, brown is bad but should be able to do the basics for him.

[Speedie Dived]

Nixon gets paid for his stirring, half of what he writes never comes to fruition. Find it hard to believe people still hang on his every word tbh.

Just because it doesn't come to fruition doesn't mean someone wasn't trying to make it happen.

We probably only get to hear about a fraction of what actually goes on.

That is of course the obvious reason. But as DB said, and I said yesterday, he is good pals with Lambert, so not sure he'd risk their friendship by putting out stirring tweets just for the sake of it. Then again this is Nicko...

Or more worryingly, Lambert was expecting more this window.

Non-scoring Rhodes creates space.

We used to have someone who could take advantage of it. Although it seems very clear to me that Rhodes made Gestede the £6m player he became. Before him we had CKR who was also capable and was a good foil for Rhodes.

Now we have nobody who can. That used to be because the rest of them played so deep. PL is addressing that with his first two signings and Rhodes needs time to work with them.

I just do not understand this pick pick pick at Rhodes thing. It is very easy to sign up players like Brown who can work hard and put themselves about. It is much harder (and costlier) to bring in a lethal finisher to complement them. We already have the expensive/lethal one (and are now FFP compliant) lets get the right player (on loan if necessary) to do his dirty work but who also knows where the goal is so as to be enough of a secondary threat. Granted Rhodes isn't on form at the moment - but it must be the worst Rovers squad for years that he is expected to carry. If the opposition double up on Rhodes they nullify Rovers as an attacking threat. But some Rovers fans still see this as Rhodes' fault!

You are watching a completely different game to me if you believe the above. Space is one thing Jordan cannot create.

[T J Hooker]

lambert has this himself.

loans for January and then summer is when we buy. It's also 39 million losses over a 3 year period from then so realistically we can spend heavily then.

the trouble is, so can all the other clubs in the league

i can imagine player transfer valuations in this league are going to get even sillier in the summer when every club with money to spend will be chasing the same hand full of players, hopefully PL will have a good list of players from abroad that he can try signing at more reasonable prices.

[Mani]

I am surprised more hasn't been posted about this. It's quite clear Nixon has a foot in the Lambert camp. Rather than suggesting Nixon is stirring, it's pretty feasible to me that this may have happened. It's possible that Lambert may been promised funds in January only for Venkys to retract this for whatever reason. Would Lambert have really come if he was told you can sign a couple of loans this season?

Mani had a contact in the previous camp. I remember him posting that they said they would have walked the league if they had been given the transfer chest that Lambert has, or words to the effect. I am not going to dig the post out; Mani can comment if he wishes.

As a paying season ticket holder and regular away attendee, I just feel ripped off again that the club from top to bottom have seemingly thrown in the white flag for this season. From Venkys who have apparently written it off to the shocking performances witnessed recently by players. It must be the 4th consecutive season where it's season over in January. No wonder attendances are rock bottom and the atmosphere is non existent.

Yes that's right I did. It's entirely feasible that the information being bandied around at that time was wrong but I doubt it. Don't forget there are still strong links between the old and new management team who have worked together in the past...at Rovers.

I just think it's important to hold our nerve as fans. From Lamberts public interviews he has stated that he will utilise the loan markets in January and then pursue 'big hitters' in the summer. But big budgets don't just mean big fees. Big budgets mean the difference between signing Ward and Lowton as Burnley did or signing delfy and Koita as we did...the former are capable of adding to your promotion challenge but will prob cost you £5k more each p/w. The latter...well we know what the latter can achieve.

Similarly, there are loans and LOANS. Tom Lawrence is..ok but must be on the cheap as brought in during the embargo. A loan of likes of Mcgeady and Graham (both linked in the press) represent a significant jump from the last 18 months.

Most importantly, the window (which is notoriously bad) is not closed yet and the vast amount of better signings are made at the end when the big boys buy and then have a surplus..

My take on this is, be patient. There's nothing to suggest that PL is disaffected or that the goalposts have been moved. Venkys DO have the money and I know the aren't scared to spend it. It must be ffp which is driving our frugality.

If we have only signed players of the calibre of Bennett and Jackson come February then we visitor the issue again..

Again, only my opinion.

[Mike E]

Non-scoring Rhodes creates space.

We used to have someone who could take advantage of it. Although it seems very clear to me that Rhodes made Gestede the £6m player he became. Before him we had CKR who was also capable and was a good foil for Rhodes.

Now we have nobody who can. That used to be because the rest of them played so deep. PL is addressing that with his first two signings and Rhodes needs time to work with them.

I just do not understand this pick pick pick at Rhodes thing. It is very easy to sign up players like Brown who can work hard and put themselves about. It is much harder (and costlier) to bring in a lethal finisher to complement them. We already have the expensive/lethal one (and are now FFP compliant) lets get the right player (on loan if necessary) to do his dirty work but who also knows where the goal is so as to be enough of a secondary threat. Granted Rhodes isn't on form at the moment - but it must be the worst Rovers squad for years that he is expected to carry. If the opposition double up on Rhodes they nullify Rovers as an attacking threat. But some Rovers fans still see this as Rhodes' fault!

I'm afraid I don't see Rhodes creating space for anybody. Unless we're suggesting that teams have effectively nullified him throughout this naff run of results, Rhodes hasn't performed.

He is not in form, and I agree he needs help up front, but he doesn't help himself either. Rarely do we see him running or even jogging to get back onside after chasing balls. He's rapidly developing a case of the Scott Dann's where he ducks when jumping for headers. When was the last time he created a goal for himself?

He's been one of my favourite players in these dire years, but right now he's downright pedestrian imo.

[Mani]

The answer is that simple and obvious - not sure why people can't grasp it.

It may be better if you re-visit this mate. The losses are calculated at £39m over three years starting in the summer. Meaning essentially that you can pretty much spend what you want for three years if you want to gamble on going up. You will only be punished at the end IF you lose more than £39m. Promotion eliminates the possibility because of the huge amounts of income. In any case, most in football doubt FFP will even exist in 3yrs...

[Speedie Dived]

It may be better if you re-visit this mate. The losses are calculated at £39m over three years starting in the summer. Meaning essentially that you can pretty much spend what you want for three years if you want to gamble on going up. You will only be punished at the end IF you lose more than £39m. Promotion eliminates the possibility because of the huge amounts of income. In any case, most in football doubt FFP will even exist in 3yrs...

We don't start from scratch though pal. Our last two years loses will be added to next years. We don't start from zero.

[ABBEY]

I'm afraid I don't see Rhodes creating space for anybody. Unless we're suggesting that teams have effectively nullified him throughout this naff run of results, Rhodes hasn't performed.

He is not in form, and I agree he needs help up front, but he doesn't help himself either. Rarely do we see him running or even jogging to get back onside after chasing balls. He's rapidly developing a case of the Scott Dann's where he ducks when jumping for headers. When was the last time he created a goal for himself?

He's been one of my favourite players in these dire years, but right now he's downright pedestrian imo.

He did on Tues especially in the second half.Not saying he or anyone covered themselves in glory but why is Rhiodes always the scapegoat.

[Pedro]

It may be better if you re-visit this mate. The losses are calculated at £39m over three years starting in the summer. Meaning essentially that you can pretty much spend what you want for three years if you want to gamble on going up. You will only be punished at the end IF you lose more than £39m. Promotion eliminates the possibility because of the huge amounts of income. In any case, most in football doubt FFP will even exist in 3yrs...

Sorry, I'm not sure what you are pointing out Mani. I'm of the belief that we just about bought ourselves out of the embargo so that we can pay wages above 10k per week and until the revision of the new rules in the summer, without selling players (which I thought was a possibility) we can't buy big in Jan.

That's what I can't understand people can't grasp. Shaw has said that's the case, the manager has said that's the case, basic maths says that's the case and the rules say that's the case - but still some fans think there's a massive conspiracy.

[Iceman]

Nixon gets paid for his stirring, half of what he writes never comes to fruition. Find it hard to believe people still hang on his every word tbh.

To be fair, most of these rumours are just that. Doesn't matter from who it is. It's designed to either sell newspapers or get people excited.

I don't get your point. Every player in the league is getting paid, those at the top and those at the bottom. We are just paying ours less (Rhodes aside) than the majority in the league.

Point I'm making, is that we are paying players like any job, do actually do that job to the best of their ability. Right now, majority of them are just going through the motions.

[Speedie Dived]

To be fair, most of these rumours are just that. Doesn't matter from who it is. It's designed to either sell newspapers or get people excited.

Point I'm making, is that we are paying players like any job, do actually do that job to the best of their ability. Right now, majority of them are just going through the motions.

I am one of the first to have a go at the players. Honestly think they are giving it their all. Just not very good.

[JAL]

Any links to seeing the back of Kiota or Brown as part of the corrective surgery needed to giving the first team a remote chance of scoring more goals and winning more games ?

[gumboots]

I am one of the first to have a go at the players. Honestly think they are giving it their all. Just not very good.

I agree theyre probably not very good but what we are seeing still is the Bowyer mentality and players falling back into the bad habits they got into. There is no energy about our play, no real apparent desire to win balls that might be hard to win, to chase apparently lost causes, to be first to the second ball. I've watched amateurs and part timers do more with the ball when they have it and put in more effort when they don't. Watching some of the cup games last week, lower league players put in good performances because they refused to lie down and be beaten. If they were going to lose they were going to do it with their heads held high. Now I know we can't run round like headless chickens all the time and playing at that high intensity of a cup tie isn't possible every week, but is it too much to ask for just a bit more more of the time?

[Speedie Dived]

I agree theyre probably not very good but what we are seeing still is the Bowyer mentality and players falling back into the bad habits they got into. There is no energy about our play, no real apparent desire to win balls that might be hard to win, to chase apparently lost causes, to be first to the second ball. I've watched amateurs and part timers do more with the ball when they have it and put in more effort when they don't. Watching some of the cup games last week, lower league players put in good performances because they refused to lie down and be beaten. If they were going to lose they were going to do it with their heads held high. Now I know we can't run round like headless chickens all the time and playing at that high intensity of a cup tie isn't possible every week, but is it too much to ask for just a bit more more of the time?

That's just doesn't add up to me. Lambert doesn't take any messing, this weird myth about the Bowyer holiday camp cannot exist any longer.

[Baz]

Any links to seeing the back of Kiota or Brown as part of the corrective surgery needed to giving the first team a remote chance of scoring more goals and winning more games ?

Yeah theres a heap of clubs wanting to buy them....

I think that it's a matter of paying them off to see them move anywhere else.

[Stuart]

You are watching a completely different game to me if you believe the above. Space is one thing Jordan cannot create.

I must have been watching the same game as Rudy Gestede. A very limited striker had a career-highlight-purple-patch playing alongside Rhodes. That's not opinion, it's fact.

[4000Holes]

Stuart, Rhodes is a phenomenal goal scorer when on form but he's a fair target for criticism at the moment I would say he is among the worst if not stand alone worst performer recently (Lawrence may save him there though).

He had 4 decent chances in Tuesday so it's all through lack of service, him constantly walking back from offside positions was shocking and he didn't even seem to be watching his line second half.

Maybe something has gone on with Lambert or he just needs a goal to pick him back up.

The silver lining being we know for a fact his history of goals isn't a fluke and it will return at some point - hopefully today.

We don't have the midfielders to pick out through balls so the trick is getting someone to play wth him, brown is bad but should be able to do the basics for him.

Shows how much we are missing Cairney. Not gifted with great pace but could certainly pick a pass.

[Speedie Dived]

I must have been watching the same game as Rudy Gestede. A very limited striker had a career-highlight-purple-patch playing alongside Rhodes. That's not opinion, it's fact.

If you can name me one cross Rhodes put in for Rudy I will agree with you.

Space is also created on the deck, not in the air where Rudy did his best work.

[Tom]

I must have been watching the same game as Rudy Gestede. A very limited striker had a career-highlight-purple-patch playing alongside Rhodes. That's not opinion, it's fact.

Harsh on Rudy to put his goals down to Rhodes being there. Defenders will watch both strikers no matter who they are, they don't ignore brown for example.

The notion that Rhodes is good by default even when bad is bizarre to me everyone should be judged on how they are playing.

[Stuart]

If you can name me one cross Rhodes put in for Rudy I will agree with you.

Space is also created on the deck, not in the air where Rudy did his best work.

You are right we do watch different things. Look at what happens with opposition defenders when Rhodes is on the ball. He is immediately closed down, often doubled up on - sometimes more. This automatically creates space. If the ball gets out wide and is quickly crossed in to the other striker then he will have a good chance at a clear header. Rhodes needs support, either from a fellow striker who knows where the goal is or a midfielder busting a gut to get into the box. The last time we had either? Probably Gestede and when Dunn was in his prime.

[Speedie Dived]

You are right we do watch different things. Look at what happens with opposition defenders when Rhodes is on the ball. He is immediately closed down, often doubled up on - sometimes more. This automatically creates space. If the ball gets out wide and is quickly crossed in to the other striker then he will have a good chance at a clear header. Rhodes needs support, either from a fellow striker who knows where the goal is or a midfielder busting a gut to get into the box. The last time we had either? Probably Gestede and when Dunn was in his prime.

Sorry just massively disagree. He is never doubled up on. Fair play on your opinion though.

[Stuart]

Harsh on Rudy to put his goals down to Rhodes being there. Defenders will watch both strikers no matter who they are, they don't ignore brown for example.

The notion that Rhodes is good by default even when bad is bizarre to me everyone should be judged on how they are playing.

Tom, I've already agreed the Rhodes isn't on form. That's not in doubt but I believe he will come good. Should Alan Shearer have been omitted from the Euro '96 squad? (And before some idiot says it, I'm not comparing Rhodes to Shearer).

Go and have a look at Gestede's career stars prior to and post his season alongside Rhodes. He benefitted from working with a striker that defenders feared.