January Transfer window

[BlackburnEnd75]

22 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Looking a bit more closely at Dennis' career, he seems to be a roughly 1 goal in 4 games striker. Over his whole career he averages less than this (verging on 1 in 5) but on the whole I'd call it 1 in 4 (when you factor in that some of those games he was very young, and that he has spent most of his time in top tier leagues including the Prem and Bundesliga). His spell last season with Watford, he got just under a goal in every 4 in this league, so I think that's a fair expectation to apply.

I'm not sure that's quite enough tbh, but if we extrapolate it, assuming he played every game he would notch 3 or 4 goals in the remaining 15 games (can't play tonight), if he played every match. If that's right, and hopefully he proves this wrong and bags 7 or 8, I hope they come at key times to win us points. He may also add more than that in terms of his general play of course, and we need pace like he supposedly has, to stretch teams for tactical reasons.

Side note, FM 24 has him down as being quicker than Kargbo (85 acceleration and 90 pace, out of 99, compared to 80 acc and 75 pace). That's really rapid tbf, and I know it's only a computer game but they do their research, consulting fans and scouts, and aren't usually too far out. Those are easily his stand-out attributes on there, followed by bravery (80), agility (75), then aggression, flair and penalties (all 70).

Fm24 also has him down as a right winger. 

Transfermarket has him down as not playing on either wing a lot over the last few seasons

[onlyonejackwalker]

Eustace said there was money available. Eustace said he wanted experienced Championship campaigners. Eustace said he wanted pace outwide and upfront. Eustace said he wanted some quality and more of a threat in front of goal. Eustace said he wanted proven re-inforcements to give the group a lift.

Six new players brings a lot of drive and positive energy to the team. It will create healthy competition, cover for injuries, change the dynamic and inject belief. 

It's largely a short term strategy, but im ok with that. Sixteen cup finals. A large number of these players and possibly the manager, won't be here anyway if we don't achieve the play offs and win promotion. Just focus on the opportunity we have here and now.

Could we have done more? Of course. As could everyone. But at least we have given ourselves a chance and i'm pleased for Eustace and our stand out, star performers. They have given everything this year. 

We are better than we think. We have been a well kept secret all year. The standard is relatively poor. Can we keep our nerve, can someone go up a gear, or can a new signing make the difference? We need 10 more goals from somewhere and to remain miserly in defence.

 

[bluebruce]

5 minutes ago, BlackburnEnd75 said:

Fm24 also has him down as a right winger. 

Transfermarket has him down as not playing on either wing a lot over the last few seasons

Transfermarkt shows him as playing 9 times last season as LW and 2 as RW, with 6 at CF, so nearly twice as much on the wings. And pretty much the same time on the wings as CF the season before, plus a couple of games at AM. The season before, more games at RW and LW combined than at CF. So I don't know why you think they have him down as not playing there a lot? FM seem to go off the most recent season/s, and they probably picked right over left for their position suitability as he's right-footed.

Course, all a bit complicated by the way wide players are used these days...he's actually down on FM as AMR primarily, which is further upfield than traditional 'wingers' played, though has 'Winger (Attack)' as his most suitable, but not necessarily best, role (rather than position), followed by 'Inside Forward (attack)'. The lines between wide players, wingers and forwards have been blurred a lot in recent years so I think we can forgive the discrepancies, but something like pace is a pretty straightforward assessment. Albeit the general category of speed on FM is broken up into pace (max running speed), agility (how quickly you can shift direction) and acceleration (how quickly you can go from standing to max speed).

The point really was just that he's assessed as being pretty rapid, by a game that goes quite far to get broadly accurate assessments of players and has even at times been used by professional clubs. I expect him to be quick, although since he's been out of action for so long I don't think we will see all of that right away. Oh and I expect whilst here he will primarily play CF, although that may depend on how long Gueye's form continues. He may have to play wide to begin with when they're both on the pitch.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

4 hours ago, joey_big_nose said:

In a straight choice I am sure given their comparative records 95% of people would choose Armstrong over Dennis. Since 2018 Armstrong has 70 odd Championship goals in 130 appearances. He's one of the great recent scorers at this level and still only 27.

But would Armstrong have fitted into the team ethos that Eustace has obviously developed. I know strikers have to be single minded but at times Armstrong took that mantra to extremes.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

4 hours ago, bluebruce said:

None of the indications are that we avoided it. We won't know of course, but all the press talk had us very interested, but that the player chose Sunderland. The fact a team in 4th place and 13 points ahead of us took him on despite knowing about his back, suggests he won't be out long.

You can never tell with back injuries. I speak from personal experience.

[DeeCee]

2 hours ago, Tugayisgod said:

Nixons view on Rovers window - Agree or not ?

 

You lost me at supremo Steve Waggot 🥴

[islander200]

44 minutes ago, BlackburnEnd75 said:

Fm24 also has him down as a right winger. 

Transfermarket has him down as not playing on either wing a lot over the last few seasons

He hasn't played a lot in any position over the last few seasons 

When iv watched him his best games have come from the right hand side of the 3 behind a central striker 

[roversfan99]

3 hours ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

No it isn't an exaggeration

Woodrow is "crap"; Gueye is "crap". It's easy to use the forum search function roversfan and tbh we all know it's what is wrote as we read it ourselves

But nevertheless my post wasn't aimed at outing individuals. It's a general overview of what I see. There's been a negative perception of our recruitment over the past 3 / 4 seasons. It is easy to see why - the big names go elsewhere these days. We all wax lyrical about Baggies signing Armstrong, or Boro signing this man, or Hull signing this man

It's quite common to see the words "ambition" used when speaking of other clubs

But here we are, competing and at times bettering those around us whilst spending quite a lot less than them

And for me, that is down to what must be an incredibly productive recruitment team. Or else what is it - luck?

If we do manage to make the play offs then it is a consolidated team effort, driven by a manager who has recognised the way this bunch of players are required to play and has drilled them well. Not one man, not ten men but all involved - even Gueye, who as far back as 4 weeks ago had 1 wooden leg and three left feet in the eyes of some

I am not saying that people are being negative "for the sake of it". People will see a negative for many reasons - some may think we should 'think bigger'. I'd agree with that. For others it may be that they have a general dislike of the player bought; think we need players in other areas; but sometimes people may just be a glass half empty type. The theme remains though - a general negative outlook. I suppose, if you don't consider yourself as a negative poster, then what I wrote has no bearing on you. And if you think I am saying people are being negative simply for the sake of it, then my post is not explained very well.

It is that it has become quite clear that certain fans' expectations are not aligned with the resource we have. You can set yourself up window after window for disappointment, or you can look at it for what it is. That we are continuing to achieve more than the sum of our parts; and that for all of the players that come from crap leagues, with no ambition, or are crap, they continue to perform beyond expectation despite all the obstacles in their way

I think if you are specifically targetting the recruitment team then you have a fair point.

My personal frustration again lies at the feet of the owners and the lack of funding. Im not expecting comparable budgets to some above us but equally I find it impossible to compartmentalise the budget and the success or failure of the window. Im annoyed that again the lack of budget may not have provided the manager with enough but hopefully this time will be different. If he does achieve it its in spite of them.

Within those restrictions our last 3 managers have managed to massively overperform and some of our recruitment has defied the budget considerably yet in the past never enough to sustain a top 6 finish.

[...]

1 hour ago, bigbrandjohn said:

I agree. If/when we get to the Premier League then we would need replacements for most of the out of contract players anyway. The court case will also have a bearing.

Chances are all three promoted clubs will come back down again this year  

It is  a brutal step up which requires a vigorous  spin of the dice and a hastily arranged squad to hang on for dear life in the first season promoted. 

So perhaps Prem or bust is a strategy of sorts. If we dont make Eustace will probably be off and a new manager will want to rebuild anyway. 

And if rhe court case goes south,  all bets are  off. 

Exactly. Prem and hang on to Eustace with a view to develoo the team, or sag back Into mid table and lose what is essentially our greatest asset right now. The gaffa.

[DeeCee]

Nixon bulling Swag up so he can get a few snippets 💯

Asked this yesterday (maybe early hours of today) but when will be certain that these transfers have officially gone through?

[Old Codger]

Hmm. that didn't go well!

 

[K-Hod]

2 hours ago, JBiz said:

Re the specific terminology in bold, I’m not sure that’s how it works. Previously they just allotted shares to the tune of our losses, but now we’re not making a loss so they’re not putting their own cash in.

They have no interest in us, and are shit: however it’s important to use facts, they don’t take money out. They never have.

 

 

Substitute ‘club’ for ‘team’ in my post and you’ll understand what I’m getting at 👍.

They’ve sold all our best players and not used the proceeds to replace them, which is the least they could do.

[JBiz]

33 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Substitute ‘club’ for ‘team’ in my post and you’ll understand what I’m getting at 👍.

They’ve sold all our best players and not used the proceeds to replace them, which is the least they could do.

I think where me and you disconnect on this is I don’t see the Rao’s (ergo ”They”) as running the club.

I see a club that’s currently having to live within its means, and whilst you me agree that the people they pay to run the club are shite, I’d rather not rely on them ever again.

[K-Hod]

2 minutes ago, JBiz said:

I think where me and you disconnect on this is I don’t see the Rao’s (ergo ”They”) as running the club.

I see a club that’s currently having to live within its means, and whilst you me agree that the people they pay to run the club are shite, I’d rather not rely on them ever again.

But if we sell all our best players and don’t replace them, what’s the point of it all?
Why should we be the only football club in the world where winning football matches and success isn’t the ultimate goal?

[47er]

2 minutes ago, JBiz said:

I see a club that’s currently having to live within its means

But those "means" have been drastically diminished by the decisions of the owners over more than a decade, so much so that they have long since ceased to be viable.

[BigHoz]

Wish we signed a decent CM. Buckley ain’t that man in a 2 man midfield. 

[chaddyrovers]

I think we had a decent window overall. very happy with Dennis signing. Woodrow, the more I think, I can see why we make that signing and gives us more attacking options. With Rovers having Eustace as head coach and our league position has help us signed these 2 players

Sanderson, I think is a decent signing

Kargbo, I don't know enough about his talent and ability to comment but look forward to seeing him soon in a Rovers shirt. 

Forshaw s ok squad player and replacement for Baker. Its a short term signing. 

Riberio. I don't know anything about him. 

7 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Do you think those 2 teams have had better or worse windows than us? If you had to put the 3 clubs in order of the business done, what would it be.

Both of them have lost key player to their team and for me, not really replacement them. They had very different window to us and who on the better window, Its been less than 24 hours since the window ended so we won't know the really answers for a few weeks

7 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Boro for me have undoubtedly had a better one. Latte Lath is a big loss, but Iheanacho is obviously a far more eye catching signing. They have also added Whittaker and Iling Junior which blows us out of the water and their attacking options are really strong. You love Giles, im not convinced by him, but Travers is a very good signing who should help them to concede less goals. Overall, they end the window miles stronger.

 don't agree they ended miles stronger after their window. They should sold the main striker FFS How can you end the window stronger when that happen. I don't think Iheanacho is that great and I am surprise they didn't sign a permanent striker. 

I like Giles as the left wide player and putting crosses in especially if you set your team with 2 wingers and 2 strikers. 

Illing Junior, I don't know much about. 

 

7 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

West Brom are obviously reliant on the Armstrong deal. They have spent big fees on 2 players who I know little about and also have loaned Lankshear. The keeper is a loss even though the one theyve recalled is very highly rated and has done well in League 1.

They lost the number 1 and not replaced him. Surprised me. Mowbray has signed 3 attacking players so that show you what he thought of their attacking options. 

[JBiz]

45 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

But if we sell all our best players and don’t replace them, what’s the point of it all?
Why should we be the only football club in the world where winning football matches and success isn’t the ultimate goal?

We’ve replaced all the players over the last season, but did you expect like for like or near in fees? Also how fierce would be the competition for a ready made Szmod? That’s part of the previous post - a club that’s currently not relying on a billionaire to cover the 150% turnover to wage bill ratio can’t afford to spend all the proceeds. I don’t want us to rely on them personally.

On second part, If you believe that our manager / team aren’t trying to win, or that there’s some sort of agreement with directors / owners that to hold us back, that’s up to you but I think it’s nonsense. Childish, paranoid and simplistic bollox to more precise.

Sometimes the most obvious and answer is the truth you know? For example; careless disinterested owners hired directors who are shit at their jobs?

[JBiz]

1 hour ago, 47er said:

But those "means" have been drastically diminished by the decisions of the owners over more than a decade, so much so that they have long since ceased to be viable.

This is the January transfer thread, whilst I agree that their mismanagement has caused us untold grief, could we try and focus on recent times? Does every discussion need to relate back to the same problem? 

[K-Hod]

1 minute ago, JBiz said:

We’ve replaced all the players over the last season, but did you expect like for like or near in fees? Also how fierce would be the competition for a ready made Szmod? That’s part of the previous post - a club that’s currently not relying on a billionaire to cover the 150% turnover to wage bill ratio can’t afford to spend all the proceeds. I don’t want us to rely on them personally.

On second part, If you believe that our manager / team aren’t trying to win, or that there’s some sort of agreement with directors / owners that to hold us back, that’s up to you but I think it’s nonsense. Childish, paranoid and simplistic bollox to more precise.

Sometimes the most obvious and answer is the truth you know? For example; careless disinterested owners hired directors who are shit at their jobs?

Other teams seem to manage it 🤷‍♀️.

If they can’t afford to buy players to replace ones they sold, they shouldn’t own a football club.

[Leonard Venkhater]

7 minutes ago, JBiz said:

This is the January transfer thread, whilst I agree that their mismanagement has caused us untold grief, could we try and focus on recent times? Does every discussion need to relate back to the same problem? 

Yes. 100%..

Venky's are like a millstone...

Edited 1 hour ago by Leonard Venkhater

[islander200]

42 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I think we had a decent window overall. very happy with Dennis signing. Woodrow, the more I think, I can see why we make that signing and gives us more attacking options. With Rovers having Eustace as head coach and our league position has help us signed these 2 players

Sanderson, I think is a decent signing

Kargbo, I don't know enough about his talent and ability to comment but look forward to seeing him soon in a Rovers shirt. 

Forshaw s ok squad player and replacement for Baker. Its a short term signing. 

Riberio. I don't know anything about him. 

Both of them have lost key player to their team and for me, not really replacement them. They had very different window to us and who on the better window, Its been less than 24 hours since the window ended so we won't know the really answers for a few weeks

 don't agree they ended miles stronger after their window. They should sold the main striker FFS How can you end the window stronger when that happen. I don't think Iheanacho is that great and I am surprise they didn't sign a permanent striker. 

I like Giles as the left wide player and putting crosses in especially if you set your team with 2 wingers and 2 strikers. 

Illing Junior, I don't know much about. 

 

They lost the number 1 and not replaced him. Surprised me. Mowbray has signed 3 attacking players so that show you what he thought of their attacking options. 

Why I'd 

 

11 minutes ago, JBiz said:

We’ve replaced all the players over the last season, but did you expect like for like or near in fees? Also how fierce would be the competition for a ready made Szmod? That’s part of the previous post - a club that’s currently not relying on a billionaire to cover the 150% turnover to wage bill ratio can’t afford to spend all the proceeds. I don’t want us to rely on them personally.

On second part, If you believe that our manager / team aren’t trying to win, or that there’s some sort of agreement with directors / owners that to hold us back, that’s up to you but I think it’s nonsense. Childish, paranoid and simplistic bollox to more precise.

Sometimes the most obvious and answer is the truth you know? For example; careless disinterested owners hired directors who are shit at their jobs?

We haven't spent on a fee over a £1 million in 4 windows. Majority of incoming players are short term deals or loans .

The team management and recruitment have done very well with such limited resources but longer term only way we are heading is down the leagues 

Nobody is saying we should go out and spend £10 million on a player but only paying fees of £1 million or short deals or loans isn't going to work long term if we don't want to eventually drop leagues 

Travis,  Brittain, tronstad  hyam etc all going into their last year in the summer and they will be replaced by cheap buys or loans on young players which can go either way 

[Blue blood]

Put it this way - the last 3 strikers who have scored the goals have all cost over a million - Bereton, Armstrong and Sammi. If you don't invest anything of note you are very very unlikely to get replacements. 

[JBiz]

25 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Other teams seem to manage it 🤷‍♀️.

If they can’t afford to buy players to replace ones they sold, they shouldn’t own a football club.

You mean those with 100m+ year wage bills with parachute payments? Btw if you took them out of the equation we would 2nd.

[K-Hod]

Just now, JBiz said:

You mean those with 100m+ year wage bills with parachute payments? Btw if you took them out of the equation we would 2nd.

When we’ve received £41 Million in transfer fees in the last 18 months, our owners are billionaires and we’re 5th in the league, yes, I expect us spend more money on incoming transfers.

How did Middlesbrough manage to find £6 Million for Morgan Whittaker?