Summer Transfer Window 2019

[JHRover]

As expected the bar is being gradually lowered on expectations for the summer window. No longer talk of ready made better players with the focus now on frees, loans and padding out the squad.

Worth remembering that we are already 3 down on last season with Conway, Reed and Downing out the door so this talk of 'up to five' new ones actually consists of only another couple of extra bodies on what we had last year. If one of those is Stuart Downing it isn't a good start. 

Completely as expected though. This is why I wasnt taken in by the bold talk early on. 

[CD_93]

Just now, Torgeir said:

Mulgrew is the current Scotland captain

[Bigdoggsteel]

Just now, JHRover said:

As expected the bar is being gradually lowered on expectations for the summer window. No longer talk of ready made better players with the focus now on frees, loans and padding out the squad.

Worth remembering that we are already 3 down on last season with Conway, Reed and Downing out the door so this talk of 'up to five' new ones actually consists of only another couple of extra bodies on what we had last year. If one of those is Stuart Downing it isn't a good start. 

Completely as expected though. This is why I wasnt taken in by the bold talk early on. 

We are 2 down from last year and I am being generous counting Conway and Downing as 1. 

5 new signings hoped for, not a "couple" 

why can't people just stick to what is actually being said and not filling in between the lines themselves or picking certain words or phrases from quotes for exaggeration?

[Torgeir]

1 minute ago, tomphil said:

It's not about thinking in Mulgrews case my friend it's about seeing and last season defensively in the Championship he wasn't good enough for certain periods, similar to last time in this division.  He's an odd one is Mulgrew because he's clearly a very good intelligent football player but the guy is far too lax at times in the bread and butter of it all, his goals were very welcome but covered over a lot of flaws.

Mulgrew started off well but was hampered by injuries during the second half of the season, and really never found his 'old' form back. Sometimes players can play through these kinds of niggling injuries, sometimes they can't. Mulgrews body has a lot of mileage on it despite him being only 33, but fully fit he is good enough to start alongside Lenihan. It's a question of  whether he will stay injury free for long periods of time ever again.

[blueboy3333]

Yep, same bluster as last summer, even down to the '4 or 5' players mantra and 'same budget'. The problem is it turned out to be a load of b0llocks last season as Mowbray's targets went elsewhere. The same is already happening this season. Sharpe is already getting the club's excuses in early:-

"Reaction from supporters to missing out on Patrick Bauer would likely have had as much to do with still not having signed a player than missing out on the German central defender, even though he had been a long-term target for the club"

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17719042.rovers-not-alone-in-transfer-wait-but-something-must-give/

Sharpe speaks for us all 

Mowbray already backtracking from 'experienced players to go straight in the team' to:- 

“Some of those might be free transfers, some might be loans, and some players that we might look to buy, polish them up, and then sell on. We might also have players in the building who can make an impact for us"

Incredible ambition: we MIGHT get players who can make an impact.?

Mowbray - not arsed about promotion just as long as players get a bit better and we get the odd good signing in. 

If everyone's happy to plod along and go nowhere fast then Mowbray is the man to do it. 

 

 

[Torgeir]

Just now, CD_93 said:

Fair enough, but Mulgrew did captain them in their latest European Qualifier away at Belgium (3-0 defeat).

[tomphil]

Just now, Torgeir said:

Mulgrew started off well but was hampered by injuries during the second half of the season, and really never found his 'old' form back. Sometimes players can play through these kinds of niggling injuries, sometimes they can't. Mulgrews body has a lot of mileage on it despite him being only 33, but fully fit he is good enough to start alongside Lenihan. It's a question of  whether he will stay injury free for long periods of time ever again.

He did start off ok and he had his good spells but disagree he's too inconsistent for me if we want a solid base to build on. More of a cultured player than bread and butter and as far as the injuries and his body goes if he wants to prolong a good club career he should jack in Scotland.

Yet again another at Ewood who's on a good number when it comes to understanding his international commitments, admirable but counter productive to the team who pay his wages.

[blueboy3333]

Just now, Torgeir said:

but fully fit he is good enough to start alongside Lenihan. It's a question of  whether he will stay injury free for long periods of time ever again.

He really isn't. The stats on Mulgrew are damning. Watching him play is even worse. He is an accident waiting to happen, and he often obliges.

[Torgeir]

Just now, tomphil said:

He did start off ok and he had his good spells but disagree he's too inconsistent for me if we want a solid base to build on. More of a cultured player than bread and butter and as far as the injuries and his body goes if he wants to prolong a good club career he should jack in Scotland.

Yet again another at Ewood who's on a good number when it comes to understanding his international commitments, admirable but counter productive to the team who pay his wages.

I think 46 Championship games plus cup games (though early exits hereabouts)  and international games is too much for his body to cope with, yes.

 

 

[HowieFive0]

Just now, blueboy3333 said:

He really isn't. The stats on Mulgrew are damning. Watching him play is even worse. He is an accident waiting to happen, and he often obliges.

Take away his penalties and the odd flukey corner kick theres not much more that warrants him a starting place !

[Torgeir]

Just now, blueboy3333 said:

He really isn't. The stats on Mulgrew are damning. Watching him play is even worse. He is an accident waiting to happen, and he often obliges.

Where can I find those stats?

[HowieFive0]

Just now, Torgeir said:

Where can I find those stats?

Goals conceded maybe a good start !

[47er]

Just now, HowieFive0 said:

Goals conceded maybe a good start !

Or losses when he played.

[Bigdoggsteel]

Just now, HowieFive0 said:

Take away his penalties and the odd flukey corner kick theres not much more that warrants him a starting place !

While I agree his defensive performances slipped, I think it is harsh to say those corners were flukey. He has a great set-piece delivery. 

[JHRover]

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

We are 2 down from last year and I am being generous counting Conway and Downing as 1. 

5 new signings hoped for, not a "couple" 

why can't people just stick to what is actually being said and not filling in between the lines themselves or picking certain words or phrases from quotes for exaggeration?

Sigh. 

Mowbray has said he 'hopes' for 'up to 5' which suggests as things stand 5 will be the maximum number and it could well be less than that. We are 3 players down. Reed who was a mainstay of the team and one of our best players will be tough to replace. Downing has gone so at the very least we will need a proper competent CB to replace him as back up for the other two, unless we foolishly go into the season hoping to avoid any injuries. Conway's time was up but he still needs replacing with someone who can cross a ball otherwise we will have lost our only player able to do so.

 

If we don't replace those 3 with at least as good replacements then we are weaker, and that's before we talk about Smallwood, Mulgrew and the CF issues. How can we do all that with 'up to five' players?

 

Edited June 21, 2019 by JHRover

[HowieFive0]

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

While I agree his defensive performances slipped, I think it is harsh to say those corners were flukey. He has a great set-piece delivery. 

He aint going to be scoring from corners on a regular basis though Big Dog? 

More defensive howlers rather him keep bending them in the top corner from corners .

Put it this way ..if we d conceded directly from corners a couple of times .we d be after Rayas head on a stick plus the defender on the near posts head too .

Edited June 21, 2019 by HowieFive0

[blueboy3333]

Just now, Torgeir said:

Where can I find those stats?

They've been posted on here before, in the last few months. Originally posted on another website (Rovers Chat). Points gained far less and goals conceded far more when he's playing is the basic crux of it. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

Just now, HowieFive0 said:

He aint going to be scoring from corners on a regular basis though Big Dog? 

More defensive howlers rather him keep bending them in the top corner from corners .

Put it this way ..if we d conceded directly from corners a couple of times .we d be after Rayas head on a stick plus the defender on the near posts head too .

He scored 3 last season didn't he?

Hey I,m not making a case for him to start, just pointing out his set pieces aren't flukes 

[Bigdoggsteel]

Just now, JHRover said:

Sigh. 

Mowbray has said he 'hopes' for 'up to 5' which suggests as things stand 5 will be the maximum number and it could well be less than that. We are 3 players down. Reed who was a mainstay of the team and one of our best players will be tough to replace. Downing has gone so at the very least we will need a proper competent CB to replace him as back up for the other two, unless we foolishly go into the season hoping to avoid any injuries. Conway's time was up but he still needs replacing with someone who can cross a ball otherwise we will have lost our only player able to do so.

 

If we don't replace those 3 with at least as good replacements then we are weaker, and that's before we talk about Smallwood, Mulgrew and the CF issues. How can we do all that with 'up to five' players?

 

Chapman can be looked at as Conways replacement, no? 

Downing barely played last season, but we do need a centre half, so that's 1 signing. 

Hopefully Davenport can go someway to replacing Reed.

So, that leaves us with 4 more signings to make. Plenty of room to improve there. 

Sigh 

It seems whoever we sign now will be met with negativity. No matter who or what positions we sign, some will find a problem. Like bringing the Smallwood "issue" into things. He barely featured second half of the season, but the way some are talking you would swear he is 1st choice or something. Double sigh 

Edited June 21, 2019 by Bigdoggsteel

[blueboy3333]

@Torgeir

https://roverschat.com/charlie-mulgrew-rovers-record-shows-theyre-better-off-without-the-captain/

[HowieFive0]

Just now, HowieFive0 said:

He aint going to be scoring from corners on a regular basis though Big Dog? 

More defensive howlers rather him keep bending them in the top corner from corners .

 

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

He scored 3 last season didn't he?

Hey I,m not making a case for him to start, just pointing out his set pieces aren't flukes 

No BigD not falling out but he puts the ball in the right area but most teams SHOULD deal with them.You cant just rely on maybe he could nick one yet his vulnerability at the back costs us more times than the chance of a goal from a corner.

Hes a defender .. needs to defend.

[JHRover]

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

Chapman can be looked at as Conways replacement, no? 

Downing barely played last season, but we do need a centre half, so that's 1 signing. 

Hopefully Davenport can go someway to replacing Reed.

So, that leaves us with 4 more signings to make. Plenty of room to improve there. 

Sigh 

It seems whoever we sign now will be met with negativity. No matter who or what positions we sign, some will find a problem. Like bringing the Smallwood "issue" into things. He barely featured second half of the season, but the way some are talking you would swear he is 1st choice or something. Double sigh 

The negativity comes from the constant mixed messages and moving of expectations that we get from the club. Mowbray kicks off the summer saying he's going after ready made players to strengthen our team and wants them in quickly. He wants defenders who will replace those who conceded far too many last season. He wants to tap into the European market. He wants players ready to impact now rather than in the future. 

Fast forward 6 weeks and we're hearing about loans, frees, players to polish and sell on. We've seen a long term target go to Preston and with pre season starting on Monday weve got a weaker squad than the one that finished last season. 

Of course plenty of time to address that but as with last summer we see bold ambitions and claims replaced with something far less impressive. 

As expected talk soon shifts to Davenport and Chapman being new signings even though he didn't play them last season and neither have any sort of track record at this level. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

Just now, HowieFive0 said:

 

No BigD not falling out but he puts the ball in the right area but most teams SHOULD deal with them.You cant just rely on maybe he could nick one yet his vulnerability at the back costs us more times than the chance of a goal from a corner.

Hes a defender .. needs to defend.

Again, I never said he should start or has played well defensively. I said he has a great set-piece delivery. I don't think many apart from yourself disagree with that. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

Just now, JHRover said:

The negativity comes from the constant mixed messages and moving of expectations that we get from the club. Mowbray kicks off the summer saying he's going after ready made players to strengthen our team and wants them in quickly. He wants defenders who will replace those who conceded far too many last season. He wants to tap into the European market. He wants players ready to impact now rather than in the future. 

Fast forward 6 weeks and we're hearing about loans, frees, players to polish and sell on. We've seen a long term target go to Preston and with pre season starting on Monday weve got a weaker squad than the one that finished last season. 

Of course plenty of time to address that but as with last summer we see bold ambitions and claims replaced with something far less impressive. 

As expected talk soon shifts to Davenport and Chapman being new signings even though he didn't play them last season and neither have any sort of track record at this level. 

And why shouldn't talk move to them? They are basically like two new signings. Why can't that be said?  Still want 5 more, but no point pretending those 2 lads don't exist.

 

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Defence worries me more than most areas.

In midfield Davenport will be like a new signing - and TBH so will Rothwell given how little game time he had over the whole season. You can add to that the emergence of Travis as a genuine regular first team player.

On the wings Chapman will again be like a new signing - as he spent most of the time since his signing building up his fitness.

Defensively we need a commanding centre half and more competition in the full back positions - especially left back. Raya needs some genuine competition.

Up front we have Samuel coming back - again like a new signing (though possibly not a signing many would make ? ) - and we saw better things from Brereton when he was actually played in the centre. But given Graham's age we do need another player to bolster TM's options.

Other than central defence - I am fairly relaxed about the current lack of signings.