January Transfer Window.

[BankEnd Rover]

What a chance we had. We won’t get chances like this for a very long time - shambles.

[TheRevAshton]

Tom Carroll anyone?

[Penwortham Blue]

3 minutes ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

This is hugely serious for O'Brien as Romano has confirmed Forest are definitely signing Ayew, meaning Lewis O'Brien will not play first team football for six months.

Jesus Christ, poor bloody lad.

Yep, really feel for him. It is really quite disgraceful and heaven knows what he thinks about this 😡

[DE.]

9 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Agree to disagree. There's no goals in Gallagher and Dolan should be a 20 minute impact sub. Dack and Brereton-Diaz are our only 'consistent' goal scorers, but one of them hasn't found the net for 11 games.

Replacing Vale / Gallagher with a goal scoring #9 (of any variety really - target man / quick, whatever) would have seen us win the Boro and Rotherham games quite comfortably. 

Agree, Gallagher has given nobody any reason to think he'll score regularly. Lad is not up to it at all. Put him up front at City and I doubt he'd even get into double figures. He just doesn't have that natural striker's instinct. Of the only two at the club that do, one is off on a free at the end of the season and the other is an attacking midfielder still recovering from two horror injuries. LOB would have been great, but unless he's able to bag 10-15 goals on top of running the midfield it would not have been enough. 

Edited February 2, 2023 by DE.

[JHRover]

One of my theories is that we were entirely caught out by the sudden possibility of O'Brien coming here. It was something that we never seriously thought would happen, so when it became a realistic prospect certain forces ensured that it would not be allowed to go through.

Now call me a mad conspiracy theorist but it makes sense to a point.

It was obviously something that came about very much at the 11th hour and hadn't been on the radar earlier in the window. Supposedly we were behind Sheff Utd and WBA in the queue so probably didn't expect both of them to fall by the wayside. Then Forest are content to send him here all of a sudden and the player is willing to get game time. Sudden panic. Here we are having to make good on our talk, actually deliver for once and get an expensive deal over the line.

Despite everything falling into place for bizarre reasons we suddenly forget (having completed dozens of loans over the years) how to complete a registration.

It might not sit easy with people but I wouldn't be surprised that with Broughton having done the leg work and got the deal done 'other forces' intervened to prevent it going through. Lo and behold we don't have to commit to substantial wages for the next 6 months.

Those expecting an explanation or apology from the Club need to lower their expectations. We will, if lucky, get a Club media or Telegraph filtered interview with Broughton being made into the fall guy.

I don't blame him - why? - because we've been putting up with these shenanigans every January for the last decade.

[glen9mullan]

Swaggott will spin this to the owners that he has made them £10 million by not spending it

[Exiled_Rover]

6 minutes ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

This is hugely serious for O'Brien as Romano has confirmed Forest are definitely signing Ayew, meaning Lewis O'Brien will not play first team football for six months.

Jesus Christ, poor bloody lad. Players, club and agents are gonna avoid us like the plague.

To be honest they should avoid Forest too - they only signed O'Brien in the summer for £9m and now they're not even registering him. 

[glen9mullan]

Just now, JHRover said:

One of my theories is that we were entirely caught out by the sudden possibility of O'Brien coming here. It was something that we never seriously thought would happen, so when it became a realistic prospect certain forces ensured that it would not be allowed to go through.

Now call me a mad conspiracy theorist but it makes sense to a point.

It was obviously something that came about very much at the 11th hour and hadn't been on the radar earlier in the window. Supposedly we were behind Sheff Utd and WBA in the queue so probably didn't expect both of them to fall by the wayside. Then Forest are content to send him here all of a sudden and the player is willing to get game time. Sudden panic. Here we are having to make good on our talk, actually deliver for once and get an expensive deal over the line.

Despite everything falling into place for bizarre reasons we suddenly forget (having completed dozens of loans over the years) how to complete a registration.

It might not sit easy with people but I wouldn't be surprised that with Broughton having done the leg work and got the deal done 'other forces' intervened to prevent it going through. Lo and behold we don't have to commit to substantial wages for the next 6 months.

Those expecting an explanation or apology from the Club need to lower their expectations. We will, if lucky, get a Club media or Telegraph filtered interview with Broughton being made into the fall guy.

I don't blame him - why? - because we've been putting up with these shenanigans every January for the last decade.

How do we explain the Rochdale lad not being signed?

[Exiled_Rover]

4 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

What a chance we had. We won’t get chances like this for a very long time - shambles.

We said that last year too...

If you put out an organised side in this league you'll be there or there abouts. You can't win it, but you can sneak into the Playoffs and then it's a roll of the dice. 

[Boroblue]

It’s a disgrace and has reduced our chances of a play off position. It’s not just the loss of a player but the loss of the financial opportunities of the premiership. The lot of them should be ashamed.

I don’t feel sorry for the player he edged his bets till the last day hoping for a move to Sheff Utd or West Brom only when those collapsed did he appear here.He gambled and it went wrong tough tit.

If I was strong enough I wouldn’t go again but I’m weak

[Exiled_Rover]

6 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

The faces change but the calibre of people employed by the owners don't be it Shaw, Agnew, Senior, Waggott, Broughton etc these aren't the calibre of people which a club that should be striving for the Premier League should be employing. This O'Brien transfer with the clauses/obligations are the sort of thing that a club aiming for the Premiership or trying to survive in the Premiership do in the January window and we have made a pigs ear of it but not only of this but of the whole January Window.

Steve Waggott has no business being at a club wanting to get to the Premier League, he was at Charlton for 2 years during which they were relegated to League 1, he was at Coventry when they were in the bottom half of League 1, then he was at Gillingham. There aren't many £10 Million deals if promoted to the Premier League done at those clubs. 

Then you look at the Director of Football who bragged about how prepared we were for this window, that was him not for the first time talking a good game but not for the first time he failed to back those words up. You also have to ask what credentials does he have to be Director of Football at a Championship club from what I can see all he has ever worked in previously is academy football.

The owners have not learnt a thing in the last 12 years they still put their faith in cheap blaggers who in reality are out of their depth. There is no chance of us ever getting back to the Premier League until they are gone, I've always had my doubts but the shambolic last 2 January windows when we have been in positions of strength have confirmed that for me. 

In Broughton's defence he's literally THE most qualified person at the club.

He's failed to get any of the striker signings over the line, which is very poor, but unfortunately we're a small fish these days and beholden to others - Undav didn't fancy it, the french lad was coming until his club said otherwise etc.

After all that he managed to get O'Brien and Brierley lined up on deadline day until the Club Secretary / CEO failed to do their job. 

As I've said previously, the most disappointing thing is that neither he or JDT have brought in a Scandinavian player based on their background - you'd think they'd have a whole Rolodex full of them. 

[Guest]

Don't think we've heard the end of this just yet. I think we can appeal it. I'm not sure if that was our first appeal already, or if it was a case of getting documents sent over after an indecision, but this might go on for another day or so.

The sad thing is that it's a loan for a newly-promoted Forest reject. Maybe I'm spoiled, but it's depressing compared to the Rovers I grew up with.

Also, what about Brierley? Is that off the cards, too? Feel sorry for him if so.

[Exiled_Rover]

9 minutes ago, TheRevAshton said:

Tom Carroll anyone?

I would much, much rather just play Garrett / Buckley / Wharton and Travis. Use that spare wage bill (if there is any!) on a free agent striker - whoever that is.

[MarkBRFC71]

Having not lived in the UK since early 2016 I'm kinda glad I don't have to make a conscious decision to not go watch a team and club I used to be proud of, but that has steadily has become a shambolic, utter joke of an organisation.  I'm back home in 2024 so I hope (but doubt) we will be at least respectable and moderately well run by then instead of this absolute shitshow we are right now.

Edited February 2, 2023 by MarkBRFC71

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Shambles from top to bottom.No longer is this the proud,fan friendly and well administered club that I grew up with.

Never thought I would look on enviously at those at the cobbled end of tbe M65.

A complete clusterfuck.

[Fraserkirky]

Did we do an interview and pics with the lad? 

I wonder if he will take legal action, 24 years old should be getting looked after by the governing boards. It's pretty disgraceful.

I dont understand the motive from the EFL, I get there is deadlines to adhere too but if its minor paperwork issue and everything else is done, why would they hurt the two clubs and more importantly the player. Dont get it.

[RoverKyle]

1 minute ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I would much, much rather just play Garrett / Buckley / Wharton and Travis. Use that spare wage bill (if there is any!) on a free agent striker - whoever that is.

Agreed. I know Travis has come in for some fairly justified stick recently, but I'd rather see him play himself into form, than Morton. At least we get a bit of passion from him. When Morton gave the ball away against Birmingham for their first goal, he covered up his mouth like he was doing one of those annoying YouTube reactions. I've got absolutely no time for him and he's not one of ours. Give Buckley/Travis a run of games, then if that isn't working drop the worst one for Wharton when he's fit. 

[ElTwis]

Does anyone know what Nickos patreon actually says beyond the headline?

 

[Ewood Ace]

1 minute ago, Exiled_Rover said:

In Broughton's defence he's literally THE most qualified person at the club.

He's failed to get any of the striker signings over the line, which is very poor, but unfortunately we're a small fish these days and beholden to others - Undav didn't fancy it, the french lad was coming until his club said otherwise etc.

After all that he managed to get O'Brien and Brierley lined up on deadline day until the Club Secretary / CEO failed to do their job. 

As I've said previously, the most disappointing thing is that neither he or JDT have brought in a Scandinavian player based on their background - you'd think they'd have a whole Rolodex full of them. 

Qualified for what? As far as I can find he never held a job in senior football until we appointed him. The manager is more qualified than him he had 15 year playing career at the top of the club and international game. And as a manager he has won league titles and competed in the Champions League.

[RoryRoversIreland]

Maybe over dramatic. But I was a full explanation from the club. Waggot and GB need to explain what happened. 
 

Mistakes happen and that is fair enough. But not on deadline day. Not with promotion on the line. No with the best midfielder in the league at stake. The reason is now a right off. Then we scrape a few signings over the Summer. We do not have a right to get promotion, opportunities do not always present themselves and we are now staring down the barrel of years in mid table. 
 

For all of us, we live and breathe the club, this feels like a dagger to the heart.  Mistakes are not ok, there is too much at stake. 

[phili]

Just now, Fraserkirky said:

Did we do an interview and pics with the lad? 

I wonder if he will take legal action, 24 years old should be getting looked after by the governing boards. It's pretty disgraceful.

I dont understand the motive from the EFL, I get there is deadlines to adhere too but if its minor paperwork issue and everything else is done, why would they hurt the two clubs and more importantly the player. Dont get it.

Everything is complete, pics, interviews, social all completed before 11pm on Tuesday.

[phili]

2 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

Qualified for what? As far as I can find he never held a job in senior football until we appointed him. The manager is more qualified than him he had 15 year playing career at the top of the club and international game. And as a manager he has won league titles and competed in the Champions League.

Coaching wise, I think GB is the highest qualified coach we've had at the club for over 10+ years

[booth]

3 minutes ago, phili said:

Everything is complete, pics, interviews, social all completed before 11pm on Tuesday.

It really is shocking. I keep having to say it but, a new low.

[Ewood Ace]

Just now, phili said:

Coaching wise, I think GB is the highest qualified coach we've had at the club for over 10+ years

That's all well and good but he's not working for us as a coach.

[bluebruce]

13 minutes ago, Boroblue said:

It’s a disgrace and has reduced our chances of a play off position. It’s not just the loss of a player but the loss of the financial opportunities of the premiership. The lot of them should be ashamed.

I don’t feel sorry for the player he edged his bets till the last day hoping for a move to Sheff Utd or West Brom only when those collapsed did he appear here.He gambled and it went wrong tough tit.

If I was strong enough I wouldn’t go again but I’m weak

In fairness if we were the only clubs making offers, he was going to end up not playing whether he gambled or not. If he had said nah I wanna stay he would be in this same position. It does suck for him though, and it's our fault.