January Transfer Window.

[rover23]

It does seem strange that we haven’t even been linked with anyone.

There also seems to be a lack of ITK people in relation to Rovers nowadays. Even the ever so popular Mr Nixon doesn’t have much. 

[TheRevAshton]

4 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Lowe off to QPR, would have been ideal!

I just hope All this waiting around is worth it mr Broughton…

Just saw that, having a medical I believe.

This likely reduces the chances of Dembele going out on loan, one I know a few of us were hoping for!

[bigbrandjohn]

Looks like Liverpool see something in Tyler that  some on the thread don’t. 
 

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-talent-signs-new-contract-25950713

[roversfan99]

You could say the same amount Leicester and Hirst.

[Dreams of 1995]

13 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

He definitely would get into our midfield though at the moment and is much better than Szmodics.

That's a matter for debate

Rothwell's last season with us was an outlier to his usual performances. Quite regularly he had returns of 2/3 goals and similar in assists. His 10+ assists last year was unusual for him

Szmodics, although typically playing further forward has contributed to far more goals throughout his playing career. At the same age Szmodics has 3x as many goals as Rothwell

And let's not forget that Rothwell played much further forward for most of his time at Rovers

Sammie's goal vs Hull gave us the three pts in a tricky fixture

To be fair I am going to give him more time before I start saying he's definitely not as good as Rothwell. Sammie's having a better first season than Rothwell had for us. It took Rothwell 3 years before he found some consistency, and almost as soon as it began it ended, which culminated in pissing off players and supporters alike with an uncaring attitude

Rothwell could get you off your seat on occasion, on others he would frustrate beyond all belief. I don't see much in either of them at present, at least not enough to draw a definite conclusion like this

[Gamst]

I’m glad we were much better prepared for this window…. 

[AspRover]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

The most obvious misconception is how you saw the state of the team going into the season. Prior to the first game, only Brittain signed in time to play. Within our first 11 going into that game, Kaminski, Ayala, Wharton, Pickering, Travis, Buckley, Hedges, Brereton and Gallagher all started, as did Vale but only because Tomasson specifically picked him over Dolan, Dack and Markanday.

You look at the signings, 2 have been woeful and at least one has/will be sent back as soon as was possible, 2 have been really injury prone (Brittain a good player when fit, Szmodics a squad filler) and that leaves only 2 regulars, one of whom has been no better than ok.

I mean yeah, you're not wrong, but before the new management team came in I would have looked at that 11 and thought that Ayala was done, Brereton would be sold by the start of the season and that Hedges was untested and generally perceived on here to be a bad signing who wasn't up to this level. I also thought that Dack was probably finished, Markanday coming back from a serious injury and to be honest I thought that the performances of Pickering, Dolan and Gally (and the rest to be fair) in the second half of last season were poor. So you are correct - I did misjudge the squad. I don't think unreasonably though, and I don't think I was the only one.

At the end of last season I thought our lineup would be something like

 

Kaminsky (good)

Journeyman - Kid - Wharton(good) - Pickering

Travis - Buckley

Hedges - ? - Dolan

Gallagher

 

With a bench of kids and free league 1 pickups.

My point really was that JDT and Broughton aren't doing a terrible job overall, strengthened fine and have actually done a good job at improving the players we have and bringing through youth sensibly. Hyam, Brittain and Szmodics all filled the gaps in the above that I was most concerned about. I also would have absolutely no faith in the previous management to have done as well.

Again, I'm not saying that things are all sunshine and rainbows, we need the next couple of transfer windows to be decent, the players we have to keep improving and frankly we need to improve the performances, but I think overall this season is a long way from being disastrous from where we were.

[ItsRoverZ]

Only the 11th Jan but my bum is starting to itch a bit

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

Rothwell flattered to deceive, that's for sure

When under the cosh I bet he's a nightmare to play with. He didn't get back often enough. And his head dropped from January onwards which raises serious questions over his teamwork

Then there's the rumours of the problems that he caused in the dressing room, with players increasingly frustrated with his attitude. Even if you are ultra sceptical over dressing room talk his performances on the pitch post-January showed his lack of endeavour for Rovers' success

But this season there's also been times when we've missed his direct running. Problem is in his years here it came too few and far between. I can see the pros and cons of a Rothwell, who I consider a bit of a luxury player, but nevertheless his attitude has tipped me into the camp of him being one to avoid

He didn’t do enough often enough for me.

[Theaxe15]

8 minutes ago, ItsRoverZ said:

Only the 11th Jan but my bum is starting to itch a bit

Could just be haemorrhoids 

[roversfan99]

39 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

That's a matter for debate

Rothwell's last season with us was an outlier to his usual performances. Quite regularly he had returns of 2/3 goals and similar in assists. His 10+ assists last year was unusual for him

Szmodics, although typically playing further forward has contributed to far more goals throughout his playing career. At the same age Szmodics has 3x as many goals as Rothwell

And let's not forget that Rothwell played much further forward for most of his time at Rovers

Sammie's goal vs Hull gave us the three pts in a tricky fixture

To be fair I am going to give him more time before I start saying he's definitely not as good as Rothwell. Sammie's having a better first season than Rothwell had for us. It took Rothwell 3 years before he found some consistency, and almost as soon as it began it ended, which culminated in pissing off players and supporters alike with an uncaring attitude

Rothwell could get you off your seat on occasion, on others he would frustrate beyond all belief. I don't see much in either of them at present, at least not enough to draw a definite conclusion like this

I suppose we don't know if Rothwell had a one off season, I would suspect that it is development into a more consistent and intelligent player with age but being out of the team at Bournemouth means that it is difficult to know.

Rothwell is only half a year older than Szmodics so that first season came when the former was not at his peak like Szmodics should be.

24 minutes ago, AspRover said:

I mean yeah, you're not wrong, but before the new management team came in I would have looked at that 11 and thought that Ayala was done, Brereton would be sold by the start of the season and that Hedges was untested and generally perceived on here to be a bad signing who wasn't up to this level. I also thought that Dack was probably finished, Markanday coming back from a serious injury and to be honest I thought that the performances of Pickering, Dolan and Gally (and the rest to be fair) in the second half of last season were poor. So you are correct - I did misjudge the squad. I don't think unreasonably though, and I don't think I was the only one.

At the end of last season I thought our lineup would be something like

 

Kaminsky (good)

Journeyman - Kid - Wharton(good) - Pickering

Travis - Buckley

Hedges - ? - Dolan

Gallagher

 

With a bench of kids and free league 1 pickups.

My point really was that JDT and Broughton aren't doing a terrible job overall, strengthened fine and have actually done a good job at improving the players we have and bringing through youth sensibly. Hyam, Brittain and Szmodics all filled the gaps in the above that I was most concerned about. I also would have absolutely no faith in the previous management to have done as well.

Again, I'm not saying that things are all sunshine and rainbows, we need the next couple of transfer windows to be decent, the players we have to keep improving and frankly we need to improve the performances, but I think overall this season is a long way from being disastrous from where we were.

I don't think the recruitment has been any better than it was under Mowbray's time, one of six signings can be categorised as outstanding, the other 2 IMO range from good starter to average squad filler that you mention but they don't plug gaps effectively if they spend half of the time injured, Szmodics had numerous injuries prior to joining too. Then you have 2 total failures and a third loanee who has consistently played and I would categorize as ok.

I don't think that Broughton has done much to impress really, an average window in slightly difficult circumstances. Judgement will come starting now really.

I said recently that I don't necessarily even think that many players have shown massive individual improvement under Tomasson, but I am naturally more impressed by him because acknowledging the numerous horror shows and the inability to come back in games or attack with much effectiveness, we have been built on a base of clean sheets and with a level of organisation that has us in a very healthy position in third.

[ItsRoverZ]

6 minutes ago, Theaxe15 said:

Could just be haemorrhoids 

I did just run out of cream..can't be a coincidence 

[chaddyrovers]

18 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Fair attitude. We are third so why try and improve, we are already good enough.

I think we can improve things in the final third by bringing in another striker, creative midfielder like Cantwell and back full back. I am more than happy with our centre midfielder options as I have said previously. 

3 hours ago, goozburger said:

Mola and Edun are training with Rovers today. Could that suggest Mola isn't having his loan cut short?

If either are going surely we would bring in another back up left back first. Also if Mola is off to Rotherham surely we would do after we played them

3 hours ago, davulsukur said:

Morton has signed a new, long term contract at Liverpool. Guessing he won't be off to Dortmund now.

Liverpool clearly rated him highly and think he will be good enough to be part of the Premier league squad in the future

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

He was very good until January last season and a key part of our success. He definitely would get into our central midfield now which IMO is by far our weakest area.

He has been injured for the majority of this season.

centre midfield is our weakest area? 

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

I think there is definitely a distinction between Rothwell for the first 3 years who was at best a luxury player, to the one that for half a season was really good in a much more disciplined role, even thriving in a 2. In the second half of the season when our idiotic owners decided to force him to stay even ahead of the managers wishes, his performances went downhill as fast as his value and raised questions about him as a person.

He definitely would get into our midfield though at the moment and is much better than Szmodics.

So did our previous manger not played in centre midfield earlier in the 4 year spell here? 

Szmodics isn't a centre midfield either. 

1 hour ago, rover23 said:

It does seem strange that we haven’t even been linked with anyone.

There also seems to be a lack of ITK people in relation to Rovers nowadays. Even the ever so popular Mr Nixon doesn’t have much. 

Maybe cos Rovers are looking into the foreign market this window then maybe that the reasons for less links with people. 

[bluebruce]

7 hours ago, Danny O.Brien said:

What makes you so confident we'd see any of the money, if he was sold? Maybe a tenth of it like with Armstrong.

The club can afford to lose a certain amount under FFP. We often skirt close to that line as the accounts show. If we sell him for 10 million, that is going to make a difference to how we operate.

I get that football fans are often impatient, don't think of the wider picture of running of a football club, and want to see flashy multimillion pound signings, but not every benefit to a football club is seen, or seen so obviously. 10 million in the coffers might only mean, for example, that we don't later have to also sell Hyam and Kaminski to make up the shortfall. Or that we can afford to maintain the stadium and pitch properly, invest in facilities, not lay off staff, boost the scouting, maybe with a Hyam type signing thrown in, and without failing FFP.

Any of that would be preferable to the scenario: have Brereton for six months and still not get promoted. Of course, the gamble is that he does get us promoted, and we all hope so. But if he doesn't, the gamble failed, it's that simple. Same conundrum as the Rothwell situation last winter, but more money on the line.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

14 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I think we can improve things in the final third by bringing in another striker, creative midfielder like Cantwell and back full back. I am more than happy with our centre midfielder options as I have said previously. 

If either are going surely we would bring in another back up left back first. Also if Mola is off to Rotherham surely we would do after we played them

Liverpool clearly rated him highly and think he will be good enough to be part of the Premier league squad in the future

centre midfield is our weakest area? 

At the moment our centre midfield is weak and that’s were lots of games are won and lost. What we have at the moment is all of a muchness, they can all run a bit, head it a bit, tackle a bit, pass it a bit. What we really need somebody who can create chances. IE a Berkovic style player.

Edited January 11, 2023 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[DE.]

7 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

I get that football fans are often impatient, don't think of the wider picture of running of a football club, and want to see flashy multimillion pound signings, but not every benefit to a football club is seen, or seen so obviously. 10 million in the coffers might only mean, for example, that we don't later have to also sell Hyam and Kaminski to make up the shortfall. Or that we can afford to maintain the stadium and pitch properly, invest in facilities, not lay off staff, boost the scouting, maybe with a Hyam type signing thrown in, and without failing FFP.

Agree with the general point, but I'm sure I remember reading that ground maintanence and stadium investment in general are not factored into FFP calculations - so the only thing stopping Venky's from spending decent money on general upkeep is Venky's themselves.

[rigger]

21 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I think we can improve things in the final third by bringing in another striker, creative midfielder like Cantwell and back full back. I am more than happy with our centre midfielder options as I have said previously. 

If either are going surely we would bring in another back up left back first. Also if Mola is off to Rotherham surely we would do after we played them

Liverpool clearly rated him highly and think he will be good enough to be part of the Premier league squad in the future

centre midfield is our weakest area? 

Central midfield is our weakest area mainly due to the fact that we usually only play two against three in there.

[chaddyrovers]

12 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

At the moment our centre midfield is weak and that’s were lots of games are won and lost. What we have at the moment is all of a muchness, they can all run a bit, head it a bit, tackle a bit, pas it a bit. What we really need somebody who can create chances. IE a Berkovic style player.

I would look to add the creatively/pace in the final third I think we need now

I like the five midfielders we got and I think that area we are more than fine with. 

[chaddyrovers]

1 minute ago, rigger said:

Central midfield is our weakest area mainly due to the fact that we usually only play two against three in there.

that's why Dack has been dropping in there when defending to make it more of 3 man. Dack has down it well so far. deserves credit for that

[Craigman]

Todd Cantwell

 

Revealed: Blackburn named as mystery club chasing Norwich man, with formal bid submitted

TEAMtalk staff 23 minutes ago

 

 

https://images.teamtalk.com/content/uploads/2023/01/11163628/todd-cantwell-and-max-aarons-celebrate-norwich-goal.jpg

Blackburn Rovers are the mystery club who have had an offer for Todd Cantwell turned down by Norwich, TEAMtalk understands.

Cantwell, who has made 19 appearances for Norwich this season but is yet to score, will become a free agent in the summer as his contract is running down. As such, Norwich are willing to listen to offers for the attacking midfielder this month.

Blackburn have set their sights on Cantwell to try and aid their Premier League promotion bid. Rovers currently sit third in the table, behind leaders Burnley and second-placed Sheffield United.

As such, TEAMtalk has been told Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson sanctioned a £2million bid to Norwich for Cantwell. However, this has been rejected by the Canaries.

New Norwich boss David Wagner is still willing to let Cantwell move on before the close of the transfer window. Such an exit would improve his transfer funds and make room in his squad for potential new arrivals.

But Blackburn will have to put more money on the table if they wish to sign the four-time England U21 international.

Scottish giants Rangers are also interested in landing Cantwell. Ibrox boss Michael Beale publicly admitted he is a big fan of the 24-year-old recently, when discussing potential moves for Cantwell and Everton midfielder Tom Davies.

Beale said (via Glasgow World): “Todd was an excellent player when he was young and playing against my Liverpool Under 23s. I thought he would go on and have a fantastic career. He had that at the start and he is maybe just looking for a move to re-ignite it but I think he is a fantastic player at a good age.

“And Tom Davies, he used to kick my Liverpool Under 23s team all around the place. There’s a bit of John Lundstram about him. But again, two really good players. Not confirming anything with those two, but there’s a lot of players we are speaking to at the moment.”

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

4 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

that's why Dack has been dropping in there when defending to make it more of 3 man. Dack has down it well so far. deserves credit for that

Yeah, Dack’s done ok in that role but another player capable of doing similar things would be handy. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

4 minutes ago, Craigman said:

Todd Cantwell

 

Revealed: Blackburn named as mystery club chasing Norwich man, with formal bid submitted

TEAMtalk staff 23 minutes ago

 

 

https://images.teamtalk.com/content/uploads/2023/01/11163628/todd-cantwell-and-max-aarons-celebrate-norwich-goal.jpg

Blackburn Rovers are the mystery club who have had an offer for Todd Cantwell turned down by Norwich, TEAMtalk understands.

Cantwell, who has made 19 appearances for Norwich this season but is yet to score, will become a free agent in the summer as his contract is running down. As such, Norwich are willing to listen to offers for the attacking midfielder this month.

Blackburn have set their sights on Cantwell to try and aid their Premier League promotion bid. Rovers currently sit third in the table, behind leaders Burnley and second-placed Sheffield United.

As such, TEAMtalk has been told Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson sanctioned a £2million bid to Norwich for Cantwell. However, this has been rejected by the Canaries.

New Norwich boss David Wagner is still willing to let Cantwell move on before the close of the transfer window. Such an exit would improve his transfer funds and make room in his squad for potential new arrivals.

But Blackburn will have to put more money on the table if they wish to sign the four-time England U21 international.

Scottish giants Rangers are also interested in landing Cantwell. Ibrox boss Michael Beale publicly admitted he is a big fan of the 24-year-old recently, when discussing potential moves for Cantwell and Everton midfielder Tom Davies.

Beale said (via Glasgow World): “Todd was an excellent player when he was young and playing against my Liverpool Under 23s. I thought he would go on and have a fantastic career. He had that at the start and he is maybe just looking for a move to re-ignite it but I think he is a fantastic player at a good age.

“And Tom Davies, he used to kick my Liverpool Under 23s team all around the place. There’s a bit of John Lundstram about him. But again, two really good players. Not confirming anything with those two, but there’s a lot of players we are speaking to at the moment.”

I hope this isn’t true. The lad has lost his way completely. We can’t afford to be re-habilitating players at this point in the season. A loan would be bad enough but no way should we be signing him permanently. The new Marcus Maddison.

Edited January 11, 2023 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[BankEnd Rover]

4 minutes ago, Craigman said:

Todd Cantwell

 

Revealed: Blackburn named as mystery club chasing Norwich man, with formal bid submitted

TEAMtalk staff 23 minutes ago

 

 

https://images.teamtalk.com/content/uploads/2023/01/11163628/todd-cantwell-and-max-aarons-celebrate-norwich-goal.jpg

Blackburn Rovers are the mystery club who have had an offer for Todd Cantwell turned down by Norwich, TEAMtalk understands.

Cantwell, who has made 19 appearances for Norwich this season but is yet to score, will become a free agent in the summer as his contract is running down. As such, Norwich are willing to listen to offers for the attacking midfielder this month.

Blackburn have set their sights on Cantwell to try and aid their Premier League promotion bid. Rovers currently sit third in the table, behind leaders Burnley and second-placed Sheffield United.

As such, TEAMtalk has been told Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson sanctioned a £2million bid to Norwich for Cantwell. However, this has been rejected by the Canaries.

New Norwich boss David Wagner is still willing to let Cantwell move on before the close of the transfer window. Such an exit would improve his transfer funds and make room in his squad for potential new arrivals.

But Blackburn will have to put more money on the table if they wish to sign the four-time England U21 international.

Scottish giants Rangers are also interested in landing Cantwell. Ibrox boss Michael Beale publicly admitted he is a big fan of the 24-year-old recently, when discussing potential moves for Cantwell and Everton midfielder Tom Davies.

Beale said (via Glasgow World): “Todd was an excellent player when he was young and playing against my Liverpool Under 23s. I thought he would go on and have a fantastic career. He had that at the start and he is maybe just looking for a move to re-ignite it but I think he is a fantastic player at a good age.

“And Tom Davies, he used to kick my Liverpool Under 23s team all around the place. There’s a bit of John Lundstram about him. But again, two really good players. Not confirming anything with those two, but there’s a lot of players we are speaking to at the moment.”

Fair play, I personally would take him for ability & his age alone. Rumours of an attitude problem but that hopefully could be helped.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

13 minutes ago, rigger said:

Central midfield is our weakest area mainly due to the fact that we usually only play two against three in there.

That doesn’t help, that’s for sure.