JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

2 hours ago, 4000Holes said:

It’s the Sun.  who works for the Sun who is always trying to sell our players?  For those who want th3 answer,  Nikko 

where is Chaddy when you need him.

Player breaks into first team - and clubs after him - sounds like somebody's agent after a new deal for his client ?

[Oldgregg86]

6 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Uhh those are exactly the positions we expect you to sign people for, Tony. Except we mean wide midfielder and his comments imply centrally. Also we would be thinking two defenders not one.

The realistic amongst us don't expect us to sign all four in January, at a quality good enough to improve us, at the right prices. But I'm worried he doesn't seem to at least want to target getting say two of those positions sorted, even if it doesn't come off.

I'm seriously starting to doubt if he has any intentions of improving key areas.

The 11 we have now simply isn't good enough to challenge the top six. If he is only going to sign depth and bring players in to push the starting 11 then we aren't going to improve enough to get were we need to be, all the while dacks feet get itcher, rothwell gets restless and mulgrew and Graham get a year older. Players like Travis will start getting attention and won't want to stay at a mid placed team going nowhere and the cycle starts again.  

 

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by Oldgregg86

[RevidgeBlue]

4 hours ago, Ewood Ace said:

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17366433.tony-mowbray-on-the-difficulties-of-strengthening-in-January/

 

Some comments here from Mowbray that worry me. He says "I wouldn’t want the fans to think we are going to sign three players who are going to play up front, in midfield and one at the back and be better than Mulgrew, Evans, Reed or Smallwood, or better than Dack or Graham, because I like the team."  Whilst it may not be possible to get anyone as good as Graham we certainly need someone who is capable of doing Graham's job when he is not on the pitch. Also rather worrying that he singles out Smallwood and Evans because I would say if we want to progress from mid table then we need to improve on those two in central midfield, hopefully Mowbray will see Travis as one of those upgrades. 

He also says "Reedy can play central midfield, he can play wide right, wide left, or right back, and we’ve also got Nyambe and Bennett who can play that."  It's not a case of Reedy can play central midfield he is by head and shoulders our best central midfielder disappointing that Mowbray doesn't see that but see him as more a utility player. If that is how he views Reed I would say Reed is unlikely to want a permanent stay. As for him saying Bennett can play right back I think its clear to everyone that he is not good enough to play right back yet after numerous poor performances there this season Mowbray still can't see that. 

 

Surprised people aren't making a lot more of these comments. With the exception of Reed ( not even our player anyway) and Dack the players he has mentioned are specifically some of the ones we will need to improve on and replace if we are to progress. We need experienced 27 or 28 year old replacements for Mulgrew and Graham and Smallwood and Evans aren't good enough.

If TM is just making these sort of comments as some sort of man management to keep the existing staff happy until better players come in fair enough. If as I suspect he believes what he is saying in that we can't do any better I think we're in serious trouble. We're coming across as an old boys club, not a professional team looking to improve and win matches.

[JHRover]

I'll come back to what I said earlier this week. In the last 6 months following promotion Mowbray has awarded new, improved contracts to Smallwood, Evans, Graham, Mulgrew, Lenihan, Conway and Bennett. Now some, including me, applauded most of those decisions and I still think most of them deserved at least improved terms if not longer contracts (not sure on Smallwood and Conway but the rest all good enough and needed keeping for our first season back at this level) and I think most of them have done very well this season.

Lets try to imagine for one minute the reaction from Madame and Mr Desai if Mowbray rings them up and asks for millions of pounds in transfer fees and wages to bring in a raft of new players to replace the above and consign them to the bench for the next 2 years.

First question he gets asked is 'why the hell did we go through with dishing out all those new contracts Tony?'

Edited January 17, 2019 by JHRover

[bluebruce]

23 minutes ago, JHRover said:

I'll come back to what I said earlier this week. In the last 6 months following promotion Mowbray has awarded new, improved contracts to Smallwood, Evans, Graham, Mulgrew, Lenihan, Conway and Bennett. Now some, including me, applauded most of those decisions and I still think most of them deserved at least improved terms if not longer contracts (not sure on Smallwood and Conway but the rest all good enough and needed keeping for our first season back at this level) and I think most of them have done very well this season.

Lets try to imagine for one minute the reaction from Madame and Mr Desai if Mowbray rings them up and asks for millions of pounds in transfer fees and wages to bring in a raft of new players to replace the above and consign them to the bench for the next 2 years.

First question he gets asked is 'why the hell did we go through with dishing out all those new contracts Tony?'

Because if you keep your best players and buy better ones, you improve.

[RevidgeBlue]

24 minutes ago, JHRover said:

I'll come back to what I said earlier this week. In the last 6 months following promotion Mowbray has awarded new, improved contracts to Smallwood, Evans, Graham, Mulgrew, Lenihan, Conway and Bennett. Now some, including me, applauded most of those decisions and I still think most of them deserved at least improved terms if not longer contracts (not sure on Smallwood and Conway but the rest all good enough and needed keeping for our first season back at this level) and I think most of them have done very well this season.

Lets try to imagine for one minute the reaction from Madame and Mr Desai if Mowbray rings them up and asks for millions of pounds in transfer fees and wages to bring in a raft of new players to replace the above and consign them to the bench for the next 2 years.

First question he gets asked is 'why the hell did we go through with dishing out all those new contracts Tony?'

I disagree completely. Nothing wrong with giving them a wage rise on being promoted. However  I don't know when everyone's previous deal expired but of the players you mentioned, with the exception of Lenihan, none of them needed a deal beyond the end of this season. If they didn't like it "See you later."

We're not a Charity although we're certainly acting like one.

 

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

I disagree completely. Nothing wrong with giving them a wage rise on being promoted. However  I don't know when everyone's previous deal expired but of the players you mentioned, with the exception of Lenihan, none of them needed a deal beyond the end of this season. If they didn't like it "See you later."

We're not a Charity although we're certainly acting like one.

 

The problem we have is 2 fold:  The current crop of players are competitive.  They are not on ridiculous contracts and most look willing to fight for 90 minutes.  Compared to the '7' years or so of footballers prior.  I don't dislike any of them personally or feel they are 'bad eggs' or taking the piss out of the club -like some we've witnessed.  I'm sure they are a good group to 'manage'.  

However, they are (one or two aside) technically and physically (in terms of pace/height/strength etc),  limited players.  This is why we invariably are on the losing side of close games - or in some instances, get completely dominated.

Mulgrew, Dack, Graham, Reed and -at a push - Evans,  are all proficient enough to mount a promotion challenge around but 2 of those are in the twighlight of  their careers and one (or more) will be gone in summer).   The rest are either young and inconsistent or simply not at the required level

Raya, Lenihan, Nyambe, Travis, Armstrong  could (IMO) form part of a promotion squad but not necessarily first 11.  

Bennett is limited but a dependable squad player and a good egg to have around a squad.

After that, I'm struggling to think of anyone else that would be of the required level to get us out of this league.  

The second problem is this much vaunted 'way of playing' that TM is so keen to introduce.  The current squad clearly arent capable of whatever it  is he is trying  to implement. He has said as much, yet wants to see how far they can take us.  We don't seem to have a preferred system, so our transfer approach seems scattergun at best (although they must be young and make us money in the future - as they seem the only transfers sanctioned - despite the talk of experienced players last sumner).  The apparent lack of system means we don't sign specialist players for positions.  

As much as I like Mowbray as a person, no way do I think he is astute enough to get a  limited team out of this league (like a manager such as  Warnock may do).  He may get us promoted,  if like last year, he has a superior first 11 than the rest of the league (or realistically - most of).

If he is being remotely honest about trying to get the team at a level to get promoted, he needs 5 first teamers at the level of (Dack, Graham,  Reed and Mulgrew).  

If he doesn't use this window, that gives him summer and next winter to make those purchases (on the timescale of windows he set).  

This window needs to see at least one good player added (preferably permanently but minimum loan with a view).  If we fail to add any, citing summer as the time to recruit, I cannot see us getting anywhere near promotion in the timescale he set. Especially  given the very limited success of last summer's window, where we could not get the players we wanted. 

We all know that Venkys often change the rules, renauge on promises etc which may have an impact on TMs plans.

This is a massive year for Mowbray. The football has been pretty turgid as a whole.  Grinding out results and getting a few spankings.  But if the mission was to stay in the champ, then we definitely will achieve that.  

To get to the next level though, his transfer dealings are going to have to be absolutely spot on.  

 

 

  

[Fraserkirky]

5 hours ago, JHRover said:

I'll come back to what I said earlier this week. In the last 6 months following promotion Mowbray has awarded new, improved contracts to Smallwood, Evans, Graham, Mulgrew, Lenihan, Conway and Bennett. Now some, including me, applauded most of those decisions and I still think most of them deserved at least improved terms if not longer contracts (not sure on Smallwood and Conway but the rest all good enough and needed keeping for our first season back at this level) and I think most of them have done very well this season.

Lets try to imagine for one minute the reaction from Madame and Mr Desai if Mowbray rings them up and asks for millions of pounds in transfer fees and wages to bring in a raft of new players to replace the above and consign them to the bench for the next 2 years.

First question he gets asked is 'why the hell did we go through with dishing out all those new contracts Tony?'

It really is the big question mark surrounding the team at the minute. What’s the direction here?

Conway has been poor for 2.5 years now(apart from a godlike performance vs Sheff Wed). I think it’s nuts he got offered a new contract.

Smallwood, is a tough one. I don’t mind him as a squad player, but shouldn’t be first choice. 

Bennett, he just drives me nuts. He is a good lad but has played poorly in many games in the last year and a half. Bench player in a good championship team.

Evans, I like him, he is a tenacious little bugger, wish he could get up the pitch more.

Graham - Fine

Lenihan - Great

Mulgrew - Great

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Fraserkirky

[47er]

5 hours ago, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

The problem we have is 2 fold:  The current crop of players are competitive.  They are not on ridiculous contracts and most look willing to fight for 90 minutes.  Compared to the '7' years or so of footballers prior.  I don't dislike any of them personally or feel they are 'bad eggs' or taking the piss out of the club -like some we've witnessed.  I'm sure they are a good group to 'manage'.  

However, they are (one or two aside) technically and physically (in terms of pace/height/strength etc),  limited players.  This is why we invariably are on the losing side of close games - or in some instances, get completely dominated.

Mulgrew, Dack, Graham, Reed and -at a push - Evans,  are all proficient enough to mount a promotion challenge around but 2 of those are in the twighlight of  their careers and one (or more) will be gone in summer).   The rest are either young and inconsistent or simply not at the required level

Raya, Lenihan, Nyambe, Travis, Armstrong  could (IMO) form part of a promotion squad but not necessarily first 11.  

Bennett is limited but a dependable squad player and a good egg to have around a squad.

After that, I'm struggling to think of anyone else that would be of the required level to get us out of this league.  

The second problem is this much vaunted 'way of playing' that TM is so keen to introduce.  The current squad clearly arent capable of whatever it  is he is trying  to implement. He has said as much, yet wants to see how far they can take us.  We don't seem to have a preferred system, so our transfer approach seems scattergun at best (although they must be young and make us money in the future - as they seem the only transfers sanctioned - despite the talk of experienced players last sumner).  The apparent lack of system means we don't sign specialist players for positions.  

As much as I like Mowbray as a person, no way do I think he is astute enough to get a  limited team out of this league (like a manager such as  Warnock may do).  He may get us promoted,  if like last year, he has a superior first 11 than the rest of the league (or realistically - most of).

If he is being remotely honest about trying to get the team at a level to get promoted, he needs 5 first teamers at the level of (Dack, Graham,  Reed and Mulgrew).  

If he doesn't use this window, that gives him summer and next winter to make those purchases (on the timescale of windows he set).  

This window needs to see at least one good player added (preferably permanently but minimum loan with a view).  If we fail to add any, citing summer as the time to recruit, I cannot see us getting anywhere near promotion in the timescale he set. Especially  given the very limited success of last summer's window, where we could not get the players we wanted. 

We all know that Venkys often change the rules, renauge on promises etc which may have an impact on TMs plans.

This is a massive year for Mowbray. The football has been pretty turgid as a whole.  Grinding out results and getting a few spankings.  But if the mission was to stay in the champ, then we definitely will achieve that.  

To get to the next level though, his transfer dealings are going to have to be absolutely spot on.  

 

 

  

That's as good a summation as any I've read. In total agreement. 

[OJRovers]

Momentum is a huge factor in this league. If we finish the season bottom half with a poor last few months, this is going to be carried forward to next season.

I think we need a couple of additions just to freshen it up, give us a boost to finish the season strongly. Look at the impact Travis had. A pacey winger and maybe another striker would lift everyone. 

[JHRover]

If we sign nobody this window does it count as one of Mowbray's two/three/four windows he needs to build or do we defer it until the summer and add another one on afterwards?

[Sparks Rover]

1 hour ago, OJRovers said:

A pacey winger and maybe another striker would lift everyone. 

Mackay-Steven at Aberdeen would fit us perfectly at the moment 

[arealbrfcfan]

On 16/01/2019 at 17:12, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I thought Wigan would finish slightly higher than Rovers.

Me too, I thought they were so much better than us last season. Unbeatable at times.

[roversfan99]

4 hours ago, Fraserkirky said:

It really is the big question mark surrounding the team at the minute. What’s the direction here?

Conway has been poor for 2.5 years now(apart from a godlike performance vs Sheff Wed). I think it’s nuts he got offered a new contract.

Smallwood, is a tough one. I don’t mind him as a squad player, but shouldn’t be first choice. 

Bennett, he just drives me nuts. He is a good lad but has played poorly in many games in the last year and a half. Bench player in a good championship team.

Evans, I like him, he is a tenacious little bugger, wish he could get up the pitch more.

Graham - Fine

Lenihan - Great

Mulgrew - Great

 

 

 

Certainly needs to be more drive in terms of continiously signing players to improve. Dishing out contracts to the likes of Williams and Smallwood as "rewards" for promotion is totally sending out the wrong message.

I agree on Bennett and Smallwood too. Mowbray overstates Bennetts versatility as he has shown really that he cannot play as a right back, and I'm even more sure that he cannot play left wing back. He is a midfielder, and one who should be chosen on merit dependant on form etc rather than at the moment where he is one of the first names on the team sheet, with the form and availability of the others chosen to pick the team determining where he actually plays!

Both Bennett and Smallwood have parts to play going forward and are very good to have around due to their characters, their experience and the trust Mowbray has in them but if they remain automatic picks regardless then we will struggle to progress much further in the near future.

[rovers11]

I agree with TM that I’d only go and sign someone if they’re actually better than what we’ve got. If not, I’d rather see the young players given a chance. We’re in a comfortable league position so we don’t need to take  a gambles on signings. 

[AllRoverAsia]

11 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Uhh those are exactly the positions we expect you to sign people for, Tony. Except we mean wide midfielder and his comments imply centrally. Also we would be thinking two defenders not one.

The realistic amongst us don't expect us to sign all four in January, at a quality good enough to improve us, at the right prices. But I'm worried he doesn't seem to at least want to target getting say two of those positions sorted, even if it doesn't come off.

The Mowbray quote again reaffirms why he and Waggot did not need to go to Pune. There will be no cash puchases of any quality players in this window.

All done by SMS in 2 minutes months ago:

Q: Can we have some cash in January

A: No

[markhayhurst]

Few points:

1) Newcastle loss against largely youth team proved major investment and HUGE squad overhaul of to compete in premiership.

2) Realistically are we going to make premiership via playoffs this yr. though possibility- if honest unlikely.

3) Are we safe from relegation. On current performance/form/squad. More than likely.

4) will loans to buy in January be what’s needed to push for promotion next yr? Is this the right time to buy?

 

I expect minimum investment/loans and consolidation on a good solid return to championship this transfer. In all reality if asked at start of season if I would be happy with our current position, squad and performance I would unreservedly have said yes.

 

[AllRoverAsia]

11 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Surprised people aren't making a lot more of these comments. With the exception of Reed ( not even our player anyway) and Dack the players he has mentioned are specifically some of the ones we will need to improve on and replace if we are to progress. We need experienced 27 or 28 year old replacements for Mulgrew and Graham and Smallwood and Evans aren't good enough.

If TM is just making these sort of comments as some sort of man management to keep the existing staff happy until better players come in fair enough. If as I suspect he believes what he is saying in that we can't do any better I think we're in serious trouble. We're coming across as an old boys club, not a professional team looking to improve and win matches.

Of course it is and has been for a while, he even said recently he has an elite player team he frequently consults with.

[Leonard Venkhater]

2 hours ago, OJRovers said:

Momentum is a huge factor in this league. If we finish the season bottom half with a poor last few months, this is going to be carried forward to next season.

I think we need a couple of additions just to freshen it up, give us a boost to finish the season strongly. Look at the impact Travis had. A pacey winger and maybe another striker would lift everyone. 

As someone posted a while ago, stand still and we go backwards.

I am concerned that we are going to waste any momentum from last year and that the powers that be have decided on maintaining the club, bobbing around lower/mid- table.

Even in the pre Walker days, we spent many seasons challenging for the top positions.

In the 6 years since 2012, we have never been remotely in contention....just saying...

[markhayhurst]

6 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

As someone posted a while ago, stand still and we go backwards.

I am concerned that we are going to waste any momentum from last year and that the powers that be have decided on maintaining the club, bobbing around lower/mid- table.

Even in the pre Walker days, we spent many seasons challenging for the top positions.

In the 6 years since 2012, we have never been remotely in contention....just saying...

How much money/ overhaul to be in contention. We couldn’t beat Newcastle who are fighting relegation and who put out a youth side despite our players giving all/ gritty performance.

so is this at the moment a realistic expectation??

[oldjamfan1]

14 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

Of course it is and has been for a while, he even said recently he has an elite player team he frequently consults with.

This is fairly standard practice, in most sports and in the business world too. Mowbray is certainly not above criticism for some things but this is nit picking in my opinion.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

29 minutes ago, markhayhurst said:

Few points:

1) Newcastle loss against largely youth team proved major investment and HUGE squad overhaul of to compete in premiership.

2) Realistically are we going to make premiership via playoffs this yr. though possibility- if honest unlikely.

3) Are we safe from relegation. On current performance/form/squad. More than likely.

4) will loans to buy in January be what’s needed to push for promotion next yr? Is this the right time to buy?

 

I expect minimum investment/loans and consolidation on a good solid return to championship this transfer. In all reality if asked at start of season if I would be happy with our current position, squad and performance I would unreservedly have said yes.

 

Position -yes, happy. Squad - not really happy. Performance - not happy.

[Leonard Venkhater]

36 minutes ago, markhayhurst said:

How much money/ overhaul to be in contention. We couldn’t beat Newcastle who are fighting relegation and who put out a youth side despite our players giving all/ gritty performance.

so is this at the moment a realistic expectation??

 

That is what really grates about splurging so much on "one for the future/possibly never/certainly not now" etc

[Guest]

1 hour ago, starscascade said:

Me too, I thought they were so much better than us last season. Unbeatable at times.

2 points

[tomphil]

It's fair enough Mowbray saying that and I agree but the problem he won't sign anyone like that he's more or less admitted it because of his loyalty to this group. Probably could have pushed the boat out for someone in summer as a reward for promotion but we somehow ended up with Brereton.

He only seems to want to sign back up players not direct competition for key areas or if possible somebody better than we have. In a certain number of positions in the team it wouldn't take millions and twenty grand per week to upgrade so he really should be looking and using these windows for the improvement.