January Transfer window

[simongarnerisgod]

4 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

I couldn't more.. Waggotts aim is to safe money, when it really starts going wrong he will be off on his retirement.. 

maybe relegation  is the only way to get rid of the indians???

[RevidgeBlue]

22 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

not this year but sooner or later it`s coming,you stand still in football,don`t invest in decent players and sell everyone of value then you will go down eventually

Yep, as Southampton have eventually come to find over the last couple of seasons or so.

We're sort of like them, (only a division lower) in our current state.

Waggott won't care less. He'll be long gone. At least his plan to devastate our infrastructure and have us training back down at Pleasington playing fields was thwarted.

But he will presumably leave us with c4k adult season tickets holders and no players of any real value left to sell.

Some legacy.

[roversfan99]

Its Venkys aim to cut back as much as possible regardless of the damage it does. Waggott is just someone employed to do as hes told.

[...]

40 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

 

Somehow these Indians have to be removed.. 

SAS rogue heroes perhaps? 

What get the greatest strike partnership to ever grace the premier league to ping balls off their heads from 12 yards? 

 ☎️ 

"Hello is that Alan? Yes, they're still here...."

[RevidgeBlue]

44 minutes ago, Blow-in said:

Raheem?

Yes...he just might work perfectly.

Never rated him particularly but he's allegedly on £162,500 p.w. so I'd be up for sacking Waggott and using the saving to loan the player for 2 weeks.

(It's a joke before anyone starts saying "What are these rumours about Sterling?)

[Rover1984]

We are the only club in world football with owners who have 0% ambition. Could take years for us to get in this position again. We are stuck with staff in our boardroom who’s just kicking back earning a wage. Poison has completely swept all the goodness out of our club. Only thing left is to rot…….. 🎻

[ben_the_beast]

1 hour ago, simongarnerisgod said:

not this year but sooner or later it`s coming,you stand still in football,don`t invest in decent players and sell everyone of value then you will go down eventually

I'm sure our idiot owners look at things incredibly short term. Such as, we've made all this money and are in 7th, therefore there's little correlation between investment and success. 

As well as we've done under Eustice, we really aren't far away from the abyss. In typical Venky fashion though, I'm sure the only time we'll see any investment is when the shit has already well and truly hit the fan. 

The last time they coughed up any kind of money way our relegation to League 1.

[Bbrovers2288]

So we have really not being doing any leg work between windows by the looks of it, standard 

[JHRover]

January 2017, faced with catastrophic (albeit self inflicted) relegation to the third division, sign only Lucas Joao on loan from fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Outcome? Relegation.

29th January 2022, sat 2nd in the Championship & 5 points off top, 8 points clear of 7th. Sign fullback cover on loan in Giles and Zeefuik, a project signing in Markanday and Hedges who never plays. Outcome? Slide out of the top 6.

Mid-January 2023, sat 5th in the table, second most wins in the league. Sign Sorba Thomas on loan from bottom 3 side Huddersfield. Outcome? Slide out of the top 6.

Early December 2023, sat 7th in the table, a couple of points outside the top 6, sign short term McFadzean and Fleck, and Ayari and Chrisene on loan. Outcome? Slide into a relegation battle and survive on the final day. 

So January 2025, sat just outside the top 6, what do people expect to happen?

Dotted among these failed transfer windows are a series of 'project' signings. James Brown, Dilan Markanday, Connor O'Riordan. Occasions where it seems we have been willing and able to part with some cash for permanent deals but have come to very little. Other than that Hedges is the only other one who interestingly came from Mowbray's brother's club and then didn't kick a ball for 6 months until after Mowbray had left. Very strange.

[roversfan99]

When they have been willing to spend a fee, its always been a miniscule one.

Im sure this window will just be 2 or 3 squad players on loan again and it wont be enough to sustain a play off push. The owners are simply not interested.

[Rover1984]

40 minutes ago, JHRover said:

January 2017, faced with catastrophic (albeit self inflicted) relegation to the third division, sign only Lucas Joao on loan from fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Outcome? Relegation.

29th January 2022, sat 2nd in the Championship & 5 points off top, 8 points clear of 7th. Sign fullback cover on loan in Giles and Zeefuik, a project signing in Markanday and Hedges who never plays. Outcome? Slide out of the top 6.

Mid-January 2023, sat 5th in the table, second most wins in the league. Sign Sorba Thomas on loan from bottom 3 side Huddersfield. Outcome? Slide out of the top 6.

Early December 2023, sat 7th in the table, a couple of points outside the top 6, sign short term McFadzean and Fleck, and Ayari and Chrisene on loan. Outcome? Slide into a relegation battle and survive on the final day. 

So January 2025, sat just outside the top 6, what do people expect to happen?

Dotted among these failed transfer windows are a series of 'project' signings. James Brown, Dilan Markanday, Connor O'Riordan. Occasions where it seems we have been willing and able to part with some cash for permanent deals but have come to very little. Other than that Hedges is the only other one who interestingly came from Mowbray's brother's club and then didn't kick a ball for 6 months until after Mowbray had left. Very strange.

You have broke down my Rovers breakdown in one hit 🥺

[rigger]

7 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Dolan? I thought we were talking about Siggy.

So did I.

[Paul Mani]

1 hour ago, JHRover said:

January 2017, faced with catastrophic (albeit self inflicted) relegation to the third division, sign only Lucas Joao on loan from fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Outcome? Relegation.

29th January 2022, sat 2nd in the Championship & 5 points off top, 8 points clear of 7th. Sign fullback cover on loan in Giles and Zeefuik, a project signing in Markanday and Hedges who never plays. Outcome? Slide out of the top 6.

Mid-January 2023, sat 5th in the table, second most wins in the league. Sign Sorba Thomas on loan from bottom 3 side Huddersfield. Outcome? Slide out of the top 6.

Early December 2023, sat 7th in the table, a couple of points outside the top 6, sign short term McFadzean and Fleck, and Ayari and Chrisene on loan. Outcome? Slide into a relegation battle and survive on the final day. 

So January 2025, sat just outside the top 6, what do people expect to happen?

Dotted among these failed transfer windows are a series of 'project' signings. James Brown, Dilan Markanday, Connor O'Riordan. Occasions where it seems we have been willing and able to part with some cash for permanent deals but have come to very little. Other than that Hedges is the only other one who interestingly came from Mowbray's brother's club and then didn't kick a ball for 6 months until after Mowbray had left. Very strange.

This is brilliant. Brutal but brilliant, because it perfectly encapsulates what is happening. We never spent well at Christmas because it’s seen by the board as a continuation of the summer budget and there’s no ‘reaction’ to changing situation. The owners are absent and their representative (Suhail) is a non emotive employee.

Venkys can fund Rovers whenever they like. The directorate about giving a guarantee on the money doesn’t mean they pay twice, it means they’re personal on the hook for the cash.

The reason why several Rovers employees over the years have coined the phrase “they never refuse to sign a cheque” is because those who have had direct access to them have experienced exactly that. IF you can get in front of them, and you ask, it’s granted. They flirted with ‘advisors’ like Shebby, and historically some managers had a direct line into them and those managers had the biggest budgets etc.

All of the instances you referred to, I believe unfolded in the current regime. One where the decision is taken by the board and Venkys representative. 

[BankEnd Rover]

6 hours ago, rigger said:

So did I.

No big deal shag, the conversation at the time was about Dolan, Siggy was abit earlier so I assumed his reply was about Dolan not Siggy.

[TheRevAshton]

It's feeling all too familiar, this waiting around.

Eustace, the best manager we've had in a very long time, has stated the urgency for new signings on numerous occassions.

This is a perfect little gap to bring players in, with us not having a league game until next Wednesday, and so far they've probably all sat there twiddling their thumbs.

We've made north of £35m in player sales in the last couple of years, and we're in a very good state regarding FFP.

Eustace right now should be able to say "Offer Leicester £5m for Tom Cannon"... but the owners just won't want to do that, despite the manager having us around the top 6 after they sold his best players and failed to appropriately replace them.

They're absolute scum. We'll never be able to capitalise on our position without proper investment, we'll never return to the PL under them.

Edited 11 hours ago by TheRevAshton

[BankEnd Rover]

9 hours ago, JHRover said:

January 2017, faced with catastrophic (albeit self inflicted) relegation to the third division, sign only Lucas Joao on loan from fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Outcome? Relegation.

29th January 2022, sat 2nd in the Championship & 5 points off top, 8 points clear of 7th. Sign fullback cover on loan in Giles and Zeefuik, a project signing in Markanday and Hedges who never plays. Outcome? Slide out of the top 6.

Mid-January 2023, sat 5th in the table, second most wins in the league. Sign Sorba Thomas on loan from bottom 3 side Huddersfield. Outcome? Slide out of the top 6.

Early December 2023, sat 7th in the table, a couple of points outside the top 6, sign short term McFadzean and Fleck, and Ayari and Chrisene on loan. Outcome? Slide into a relegation battle and survive on the final day. 

So January 2025, sat just outside the top 6, what do people expect to happen?

Dotted among these failed transfer windows are a series of 'project' signings. James Brown, Dilan Markanday, Connor O'Riordan. Occasions where it seems we have been willing and able to part with some cash for permanent deals but have come to very little. Other than that Hedges is the only other one who interestingly came from Mowbray's brother's club and then didn't kick a ball for 6 months until after Mowbray had left. Very strange.

And just like that, all hopes are lost for this window 🙃

[Old Codger]

It speaks volumes, the deafening silence from the 'recruitment team' down at Ewood. 

Rabbit? Hat? Behind the scenes activity?..... not holding my breath...

Shit Sandwich? Desperation? Disbelief as another manager (this time a decent one with a safe pair of hands and a plan) heads for the exits? ..... if I was a betting codger, I'd probably wager a few quid on one of these scenarios..

Meanwhile down at Ewood.. 

Edited 10 hours ago by Old Codger

[Emerald Isle Rover]

Not sure why people are shocked

doesnt matter who the manager is or what the league position is the owners simply won’t stump up what’s required to progress 

until venkys are gone rovers won’t be anywhere near promotion 

[Rover down South]

The talk of offering a significant fee for Tom Cannon is wishful thinking. It's what other clubs might do to aid in a promotion push, but it's never going to materialise here. We'll do what we have done the last two seasons, and be looking for a new manager in the summer.

Just doing some quick research using the 'soccerbase' website (which could be completely wrong, so stand to be corrected) list the last transfers we have spent over £1m during the January transfer window as:

Ben Brereton 2019 (£7m) 

* Elliott Bennett 2016 (Undisclosed, so not sure on actual fee, but included just in case) 

Mauro Formica 2011 (£3.5m) 

El Hadji Diouf 2009 (£2m) 

Previous windows with the promise of O'Brien and McGuire would have seriously broken this trend, and I just don't see any different this year and we are dreaming if we think otherwise.

If Kent & Schlupp are the best we can hope for, then let's get them in and at least bolster the squad for the run in.

A goalscoring striker is what we are desperate for, but will be hard to come by, so if we have to take a risk on a youth player like Jayden Danns from Liverpool, then why not? Owen Beck hasn't done too bad!

I personally still think Harvey Vale would be a great signing. Young, versatile and practically being pushed out the door on a free by Chelsea to thin their squad. A far better acquisition than another John Fleck type player. Yes he had a disappointing spell at Hull a few seasons back which was hampered by injury, but the Bristol Rovers fans raved about him last season.

[AspRover]

1 hour ago, TheRevAshton said:

 

Eustace right now should be able to say "Offer Leicester £5m for Tom Cannon"... but the owners just won't want to do that, despite the manager having us around the top 6 after they sold his best players and failed to appropriately replace them.

 

 

The weird thing there is that 'out of the blue persuade Barry to spend a chunk of money on a young British striker' is about the only bit of transfer engagement that occasionally does seem to work - but it tends to be basically an impulse buy and utterly divorced from any kind of plan or coherent thinking. To this day I'm convinced that we spent £7m (or whatever it ended up being) on Brereton simply because the manager/backroom team were caught completely offguard that V's were willing to spend that kind of money on anyone and just kind of went 'yeah, alright'.

 

[islander200]

11 hours ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

So we have really not being doing any leg work between windows by the looks of it, standard 

Or we have and the club have sent what they want to do in the window to the owners in India, and we now have to wait until the owners say yes or no when they get round to replying in 3 weeks time 

[RoversClitheroe]

16 minutes ago, Rover down South said:

The talk of offering a significant fee for Tom Cannon is wishful thinking. It's what other clubs might do to aid in a promotion push, but it's never going to materialise here. We'll do what we have done the last two seasons, and be looking for a new manager in the summer.

Just doing some quick research using the 'soccerbase' website (which could be completely wrong, so stand to be corrected) list the last transfers we have spent over £1m during the January transfer window as:

Ben Brereton 2019 (£7m) 

* Elliott Bennett 2016 (Undisclosed, so not sure on actual fee, but included just in case) 

Mauro Formica 2011 (£3.5m) 

El Hadji Diouf 2009 (£2m) 

Previous windows with the promise of O'Brien and McGuire would have seriously broken this trend, and I just don't see any different this year and we are dreaming if we think otherwise.

If Kent & Schlupp are the best we can hope for, then let's get them in and at least bolster the squad for the run in.

A goalscoring striker is what we are desperate for, but will be hard to come by, so if we have to take a risk on a youth player like Jayden Danns from Liverpool, then why not? Owen Beck hasn't done too bad!

I personally still think Harvey Vale would be a great signing. Young, versatile and practically being pushed out the door on a free by Chelsea to thin their squad. A far better acquisition than another John Fleck type player. Yes he had a disappointing spell at Hull a few seasons back which was hampered by injury, but the Bristol Rovers fans raved about him last season.

A loan is stupid when we've brought in £35m+

[Rover down South]

1 minute ago, RoversClitheroe said:

A loan is stupid when we've brought in £35m+

I don't disagree with you, its absolutely stupid, but as I said, for us to spend anything over £1m is going to completely buck the recent trend for the January window historically. I would love that to change, but if we are all going to sit tight and hope they are going to splash £10m in transfers, we are building ourselves up for huge disappointment again. Like most, I was actually duped into believing O'Brien and McGuire were happening. I'm not falling for it again. It just will not happen.

[RevidgeBlue]

2 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Or we have and the club have sent what they want to do in the window to the owners in India, and we now have to wait until the owners say yes or no when they get round to replying in 3 weeks time 

According to the last FF minutes, if you believe what he says, Waggott was in the process of putting together a request for January funding at that point.

Not condoning it, but if things are so slow that that's not early enough to be ready to go on January 1st then any request should be made even earlier. They've been doing it long enough.

In any event it would appear that in the last couple of January windows even after funding was approved  the "Board" at Ewood I.e. Waggott and Pasha pulled the high value incoming deals at the last minute.

 

[alcd]

13 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

maybe relegation  is the only way to get rid of the indians???

I suspect they would be content with a relegation as the wage bill comes right down and the losses IN L1 reduce to the norm of about £5m for the bigger clubs in that league. Absolutely no guarantee that a relegation gets rid.