January Transfer window

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:43, Forever Blue said:

In what way?

Expand  

The pace of it to begin with

alot more need for pressing getting the ball back asap hence the upgrade to more subs

If the same move was to happen with how football is now and Hughes came in I think he would massively struggle 

[roverblue]

  On 10/01/2025 at 10:51, Rover down South said:

 

Current top scorers.

1. Yuki Ohashi 24 apps 5 goals

2. Andreas Weimann 20 apps 4 goals

3. Tyrhys Dolan 23 apps 2 goals

= Danny Batth 22 apps 2 goals

= Lewis Travis 20 apps 2 goals

 

Expand  

Christ, when you see it written out like that its a miracle we aren't in the bottom 3.

[Exiled_Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:46, Emerald Isle Rover said:

The pace of it to begin with

alot more need for pressing getting the ball back asap hence the upgrade to more subs

If the same move was to happen with how football is now and Hughes came in I think he would massively struggle 

Expand  

The pressing is tactic specific - we don't press massively, for example. Guardiola's system and Klopp's system require it. 

The increase in the number of subs was backdoored in during COVID and sadly never went away. It benefits the richer teams, with their deeper benches, so it's something they always wanted. 

[K-Hod]

  On 10/01/2025 at 12:53, M_B said:

Saw Shelvey arrive for transfer talks(Forest?). Ripped jeans, hoodie, walking like he couldn't be arsed.

Wouldn't touch him with a barge pole personally.

Expand  

Afternoon, Tony!

[Exiled_Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:51, roverblue said:

Christ, when you see it written out like that its a miracle we aren't in the bottom 3.

Expand  

We've managed to scratch a lot of goals from all across the team (16 goal scorers was it?) and of course keep a clean sheet at the other end. 

[superniko]

  On 10/01/2025 at 12:53, M_B said:

Saw Shelvey arrive for transfer talks(Forest?). Ripped jeans, hoodie, walking like he couldn't be arsed.

Wouldn't touch him with a barge pole personally.

Expand  

Is that you Tony?

edit: beaten to it by a minute!

Edited January 10 by superniko

[KentExile]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:33, MarkBRFC said:

Not sure that's an option, if the club says you're coming back, then you're coming back!

Expand  

Ok, let me rephrase,

If Baker had been less than enthusiastic about returning to Stoke, so they decided not to recall him, then there is every possibility that in a few weeks, he would be back to sitting on Rovers bench for the rest of the season once Travis returns and then is looking for a new employer once out of contract in the summer, and with a much slimmer chance of someone picking up his alleged £15K - £20K/week salary

Edited January 10 by KentExile

[Forever Blue]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:46, Emerald Isle Rover said:

The pace of it to begin with

alot more need for pressing getting the ball back asap hence the upgrade to more subs

If the same move was to happen with how football is now and Hughes came in I think he would massively struggle 

Expand  

You don’t really need to be able to get round the pitch when you’ve got class. Mark Noble made the mistake of thinking you do when he came up against that ‘scruffy grey-haired old fella’ called Tugay.

Hughes had similar class as he showed in the LC final.

[Bbrovers2288]

Nah game hasn’t changed that much that experienced heads can’t play a pivotal part in a team, look how Danny batth is doing for us 

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:53, Exiled_Rover said:

The pressing is tactic specific - we don't press massively, for example. Guardiola's system and Klopp's system require it. 

The increase in the number of subs was backdoored in during COVID and sadly never went away. It benefits the richer teams, with their deeper benches, so it's something they always wanted. 

Expand  

But the game has changed if you don’t think the game/pace of it has changed in 20 years then I don’t really know what to say tbh

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:57, Forever Blue said:

You don’t really need to be able to get round the pitch when you’ve got class. Mark Noble made the mistake of thinking you do when he came up against that ‘scruffy grey-haired old fella’ called Tugay.

Hughes had similar class as he showed in the LC final.

Expand  

Which was 22 years ago

[Forever Blue]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:59, Emerald Isle Rover said:

Which was 22 years ago

Expand  

Which is irrelevant

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:57, Bbrovers2288 said:

Nah game hasn’t changed that much that experienced heads can’t play a pivotal part in a team, look how Danny batth is doing for us 

Expand  

Fair enough point but I’d argue centre back and probably goalkeeper would be two positions were age wouldn’t be a massive massive factor. Just my opinion - again Danny Murphy prime example someone who was previously so good on the ball - was lost with us couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and that was 10 years ago and it’s went up a level again.

and I’m merely speaking in championship terms in how championship games are chaotic there’s little time on the ball etc

[Forever Blue]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:01, Emerald Isle Rover said:

Fair enough point but I’d argue centre back and probably goalkeeper would be two positions were age wouldn’t be a massive massive factor. Just my opinion - again Danny Murphy prime example someone who was previously so good on the ball - was lost with us couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and that was 10 years ago and it’s went up a level again.

and I’m merely speaking in championship terms in how championship games are chaotic there’s little time on the ball etc

Expand  

Barry Bannan is doing ok and I’m quicker than him. Class will always be permanent 

Edited January 10 by Forever Blue

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:00, Forever Blue said:

Which is irrelevant

Expand  

I’m pretty sure it’s relevant

22 years ago football was more direct 

had loads of number 9s along with big man/wee many partnerships or natural 442 formations with out and out wingers 

how often do we see that now? 

[Forever Blue]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:03, Emerald Isle Rover said:

I’m pretty sure it’s relevant

22 years ago football was more direct 

had loads of number 9s along with big man/wee many partnerships or natural 442 formations with out and out wingers 

how often do we see that now? 

Expand  

It’s player specific. Being slow or old doesn’t mean you can’t perform at a high level.

[TheRevAshton]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:02, Forever Blue said:

Barry Bannan is doing ok and I’m quicker than him. Class will always be permanent 

Expand  

Exactly this.

I guarantee that Jonjo Shelvey will be an absolute beast in this league if Burnley land him, wish we were signing him.

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:02, Forever Blue said:

Barry Bannan is doing ok and I’m quicker than him.

Expand  

There will always be an anomaly of course what I’m saying isn’t full proof I just don’t think it’s as simple as saying Hughes did it in 2000-2002 so means he could do it now 

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:04, TheRevAshton said:

Exactly this.

I guarantee that Jonjo Shelvey will be an absolute beast in this league if Burnley land him, wish we were signing him.

Expand  

And when he doesn’t what will be your excuse?

[TheRevAshton]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:07, Emerald Isle Rover said:

And when he doesn’t what will be your excuse?

Expand  

I'll just put it down to the dingles being shite!

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:08, TheRevAshton said:

I'll just put it down to the dingles being shite!

Expand  

So either way you can’t be wrong then so pointless debate really 

for me Shelveys best days are behind him could do ok but as stated before he’s not what we need and again I’d argue who does he replace?

[Exiled_Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:58, Emerald Isle Rover said:

But the game has changed if you don’t think the game/pace of it has changed in 20 years then I don’t really know what to say tbh

Expand  

I think it's become a lot softer and, therefore, more difficult for defenders. I wouldn't say it's faster or more technical.

[Emerald Isle Rover]

  On 10/01/2025 at 14:11, Exiled_Rover said:

I think it's become a lot softer and, therefore, more difficult for defenders. I wouldn't say it's faster or more technical.

Expand  

Softer absolutely agree the rest I don’t game of opinions 

[Rover down South]

  On 10/01/2025 at 13:55, Exiled_Rover said:

We've managed to scratch a lot of goals from all across the team (16 goal scorers was it?) and of course keep a clean sheet at the other end. 

Expand  

I think that’s what has been pivotal to our success this season, keeping the goals conceded down to 23.

At this stage last season we’d conceded 47.

If we can bring someone in that can score goals, we can be serious about the playoffs. Win that game in hand and we are back up to 5th.

[Bbrovers2288]

Don’t think your judgement should be clouded by Murphy tbh, he had down tooled by the time he got to us in my opinion. He was never blessed with pace to begin with. Plenty of old heads have flourished in the championship. Danny Graham is a recent example for us