Its a bit of a strawman argument this as no one has suggested that twitter opinions will take priority over their own opinions, or that the player wont be judged from his first fixture here. It was merely a point of adding further information and opinions to the signing of someone that prior to a couple of weeks ago, no one had ever heard of. So it adds a bit of discussion to those who would like to discuss how he did at previous clubs and the opinions that their fans held. I made it clear when sending them screenshots that I will judge him in a Rovers shirt, as I do with every single player that signs. Ultimately, if it was strictly "no opinions can be shared until the player plays for us" then this thread is obsolete.

I am not suggesting signing a squad player, ideally I would want a player very much pushing to play every week. We have enough bodies for any position if you just reel off every single youngster at the club! My point is in terms of players that we know can contribute, we have 2 and 1 is injured! Even if you factored in Gallagher and Brereton, that is for. Signing one more wide player would not totally eradicate any possibility of the other players breaking through, but equally at the moment I do not feel that we have enough players within that forward line to feel confident about, especially with the aim of going for the top 6. Assuming that we started Armstrong, Brereton and Gallagher on the opening day, say we need a goal. Do I think for a top 6 side, that Mowbray turning to his bench and seeing Rankin Costello (if hes not needed elsewhere) Rothwell (has done very little and seems to be playing in the midfield 3 anyway) Chapman (has started 1 League game ever for Mowbray, plus big question marks) or the rest of the kids, Vale, Butterworth, Dolan etc (about 40 minutes of senior experience between them) can think "right I can be confident that we have some game changers here?" Definitely not. Chuck one more senior winger into the mix and I'd feel much more confident. And to imply that a solitary signing slams a door shut on any scope for kids to break through? Bollocks.

I always say that I am aware of examples of players being better at certain clubs than other clubs and I will judge in a Rovers shirt but I personally (as are others) am interested to know more about players we sign especially when I had never heard of them prior. You cant comprehend that I can take these opinions on board yet still seperate them from my own judgement which I obviously havent made yet. Just please scroll past. I am unconvinced that Chapman is the answer. The reason that I kept asking him to play is because we had Gallagher and Brereton clearly incapable of playing wide bumbling up and down, we had Rothwell flattering to deceive, we had Holtby not suited there, and a natural winger gathering dust. I have repeatedly asked for a wide player and ultimately if Chapman impressed then there is no reason why he could work in harmony with a new wide men but I feel that we are really lacking in senior attacking threats and I would like one more going into a season in which we want the top 6. If a Dolan or a Vale comes through aswell, perfect, if they arent ready, not a problem. As Tom says you seem to know someone who supports every club in the football league so its only when it suits.

Happy for Williams to go regardless because even at the moment I would play Wharton over him but obviously we are assuming that we can get a couple in which selling Williams may help to facilitate.

Quite a few comments. Posted a couple of more positive ones too. Just to clarify in case me sharing these comments underneath is twisted into me being negative, wanting him to fail etc. I am desperate for him to be a success, I know that there are various reasons why players have different experiences at different clubs and I will judge him as a Rovers player.

Who moans about that? The thing with the 4 players that you mention, is that the first has played about 10 League games for the club, predominantly at full back. Chapman has massive question marks and has made one League start for us 3 years ago, the other 2 have 20 minutes of senior football between them. We have Dack (who may struggle playing in a front 3, and a player you keep saying might not be the same player) and Armstrong who we know can score goals. Gallagher and Brereton too who are senior options but despite the giddiness over the latter getting a couple of (nicely taken) goals against Blackpools second string, have previously not shown that they are up to it. But even if we count all 4 of them as senior options who we are happy with, one of whom starts the season injured, beyond that its all question marks or totally untested kids. For some reason, you dont seem to realise that we could add a player to potentially play in the wide areas, maybe even a loan, someone who has shown competence at senior level, without totally blocking the pathway to the kids, but equally without being reliant on them coming through otherwise if they arent ready then we are looking incredibly light. We are supposedly going for promotion. If the front 3 v Bournemouth is Armstrong, Gallagher and Brereton and we need a goal later on, who is beyond that who we can bank on? As it is, if we did sign an attacking player, you would be right behind the signing regardless so little point in continuing. Of course. Its not a pure indicator, plus for a start, Gent regularly dominate so might be more scope to lose concentration. I will judge on his displays in a Rovers shirt like anyone else, always have done, but just trying to add a bit of meat to the bones regarding a totally unknown player. Scroll past and dont comment chaddy if you have no interest.

Plenty of comments like this from Gent fans which is a little worrying. I am pleasantly surprised to see that his English is so good. That is key. Also, hope Swansea take Williams as soon as possible. Strange from them, if we can get a fee and his wages off the books we can hopefully bring in 2 CBs there and improve.

Dolan might be able to but we need to reign in the expectations somewhat. If he breaks through and starts regularly impact Championship games this season then brilliant but if we expect him to play an important role we are putting all our eggs into a basket and it is risky. In terms of central positions, I would say that Armstrong, Gallagher, Brereton and Dack would all prefer to play centrally ideally. I think we need a first team player in a wide role that we can expect to have more of an impact. If Dolan, Vale etc make themself part of the first team this season impacting games week in week out, bonus. Downing is a loss. He was our best passer centrally and knew how and when to take the sting out of the game. He also created chances far more than anyone else and took set pieces. Losing him weakens us compared to last season, no doubt about it, he was up there for player of the season. Whether he would have been able to replicate that this season, thats a different question. But we will miss him.

Brilliant policy from Stanley and very clear. Good to read about the bubbles etc. Rovers have been a shambles in terms of their communication during this time.

I criticise Mowbray plenty but I just dont understand this assertion that Travis has "had the excitement beaten out of him." He broke through and Mowbray has never had him as anything other than a first team regular since, despite predictions to the contrary from many including myself, and he is very much an all action midfielder (not one who is particularly restricted either, indeed Evans is usually more disciplined than him) who is progressing nicely.

Haha, it has quoted me again for some reason! But indeed I mentioned in the transfer thread, that i think we look light in attacking areas, in terms of an over-reliance on expecting kids to come through and immediately settle. But I would definitely like to see him further forward. When Nyambe is back fit, I would immediately put Rankin Costello on the left and see if he can impact games.

He may be, point being that at this moment in time, we cant be sure (but it would be a huge ask) that he can come in and fully replicate the very impressive standards that Downing set. We cannot expect that from him having never even started a game for us. I like the look of certain aspects of his game but indeed the main 2 stand out contributions were missing a sitter v West Brom and conceding a rash penalty. Downing gave us technical ability, know how, set piece ability, experience, he could be a big loss. That being said, factoring in the obvious need for defenders which the manager has touched on (not that he actually did it last time but thats another matter!) as a given, I would say that the attacking areas, regardless of 433/4231 formation are far more in need of reinforcements than central midfield, which should be back of the line. Say for arguments sake that we do play 3, I would suspect that the first 3 are Travis, Evans and Holtby, then we have beyond that Johnson, Davenport, Buckley, Rothwell and if we were to revert to a 4-2-3-1, Dack. As you show with your list of players and agree with me on. In terms of getting goals, we look light in terms of bodies across that front line. 2 of your list we can rely on in Armstrong and assuming there are no fitness worries, Dack. Gallagher and Brereton have huge question marks but even so, we are assuming that at least one of them will be in the team. Chapman, the massive question mark, and Dolan, a total rookie. Say we go with Armstrong, Brereton and Gallagher on the opening day, who comes on if we need something off the bench?! There cant be any expectation or reliance on Dolan to have an impact in the first team this season. I personally have that same opinion about Vale and the still injured Butterworth. I dont mean we should never give them chances if and when we can (although I suspect maybe at least one of the latter 2 could benefit from a loan spell) but if we expect them to take to Championship football like a duck to water based on nothing but under 23 games, and they dont score or assist when given game time, we are looking round thinking who else can we turn to. I think with the kids, their emergence should be seen as a bonus. As an aside, if we dont sign any attacking players, I think I would personally have Rankin Costello on the left hand side v Bournemouth on the opening day. As a full back, probably doesnt fit the agenda of keeping the goals out, plus we have Nyambe on his side. He is seemingly a more attacking player so I would like to see him played there.

White is not the norm in terms of what would likely happen and O'Connell was let go cheap but he was never played, not even as part of the squad. Do you think with Wharton next to Lenihan would likely have us challenging at the top end of the league? By all means have him ahead of someone like Williams who we know isnt particularly good but we need more quality and experience there if we have serious aspirations, as Mowbray says we need a man there although he said that last year. Is Davenport a ready made replacement for Downing? Downing gave us an element of control, he gave us a set piece threat, he gave us experience (that is lacking somewhat) and he gave us know how and real productivity with assists. Davenport has never started a League game for us. He seems full of energy but also quite rash and constantly at 100mph, hence the penalty at Luton and the inability to compose himself when through v West Brom. There is potential there but we can be far from sure that hes going to automatically replace a player who had such an impact last season. I dont think we have the bodies across the front line, especially if we do change to having 3 across there. It seems that he sees Rankin Costello as a full back and Rothwell as part of the midfield 3. So assume his first 3 are Gallagher, Armstrong and Dack (who isnt even fit yet) and who else is there? Brereton, with his 2 goals in 2 years. Then the enigma that is Chapman and then totally untested kids. Ultimately Gallagher and Brereton were here and I get that they need to step up (that being said it would possibly be foolish to expect it based on what weve seen) but we also had 2 other attackers, who we were correct to let go but for me we need at least another bit of quality across that front line, ideally a wide man. I worry that Mowbray will put (down to finance) too much responsibility on kids filling the gaps that we have in the squad and its a massive risk because we dont know if they are ready. Get a couple of injuries and we could be really lacking.

Is Holtby naturally a holding midfielder? More of a number 10 surely? Of course first of all we cant make conclusions based on a friendly. On the rare occasions that he has played deeper for us, he has not impressed. Barnsley at home last season he was fairly ineffective and Leeds away he was all over the shop. He is good technically but hes not the tidiest on the ball at times, I think hes better further forward sliding passes through as he did for the second. E Rankin Costello definitely is not a left back, he did his best last season but you could tell he was out of place at left back. Of course he will be needed at RB at the weekend but I dont think long term he is defensively good enough to be a full back. I still think that we are short across the front 3 if that is how we are going to play, surely Rankin Costello can have a role to play on the left hand side, assuming that Armstrong will be central and Brereton to the right?

We do need a bit of experience amidst it all though.

Downing was incredibly productive though, regular assists and key passes etc. He has an end product. With Davenport, he hasnt actually started a senior game so theres an element of unknown. Definitely shouls be around the squad but we dont knoe yet how reliable he will be. At the moment Travis and Evans are the go to duo. From when he has played, compared to Downing he is 100mph which is good in a way but obviously can make things a little frantic and sometimes having someone to slow things down is important.

Understand that concept. Have to be sure that we are getting someone better than what we already have. My main worry in terms of youth v experience is if we go into the season with too much youth v experience, we need to ensure we have some know how and we have lost 2 key players in Downing and Graham in that regard. We could do with some at the back for sure.

Central midfield is right at the bottom of the priority list really. We obviously need goalkeepers and centre backs. We need a left back. We dont have anyone proven in wide areas and we could in an ideal world do with a striker all before CM. Garner was being linked with Swansea amongst other teams recently, in the latest rumour round seemingly agent drive the teams seem to be a bit lower, us, recently promoted Coventry and then League 1 clubs so maybe just putting the feelers out. He has only played 2 senior games too. Maybe if we felt that we needed another player in there he would be useful in terms of being a loan just to supplement us, as Johnson is not good on the ball and Davenport has never started a game yet but has shown both promise and also rashness in equal measure, maybe, but not too sure really. The thing is he would presumably be a Downing replacement. Downing gave us crucial experience which we really are lacking. I just hope that a couple of our signings give us that know how, especially one of the centre backs. Downing also took set pieces, not sure we have any set piece takers at the moment.

They are once a generation talents. Nothing to say that these young lads dont have it but we cant be overly reliant on them because there is a good chance that they arent at this moment at their age ready to regularly contribute for a team pushing for the top 6.

Even if they do, it should be seen as a bonus, rather than something you expect to happen.

You want as many players as possible who you know are going to contribute. In attacking positions, we have 2.

You've now seemingly accepted that wingers play a role. But you have named 4 players who have minimal first time experience between them all, bar Rothwell who is getting close to last chance saloon. Dolan is a young kid, I dont think that he will be in the first team reckoning right away. Chapman, yes but his face doesnt fit and we dont know for sure how many goals and assists he can get. We dont have a player who we know from a wide role will be able to get goals and assists. Its all maybes and could dos, which isnt ideal considering that we really could do with a top 6 place, this may be the last season before some players get to the stage where they get itchy feet. I dont think that Martin would play a bit part. I think he would sometimes be first off the bench and sometimes starting down the middle. Id prefer him over Gallagher every day and Brereton too. I accept that we may not be able to sign these players, a winger is more important than a striker in terms of we have Armstrong starting, whereas I dont think we have anything in the way of proven players in wide areas. I have always maintained that wide areas are one we have to improve. Unsure on who, maybe Jordan Jones on loan from Rangers.

Vale can still have opportunities but like I said, we cant be reliant on him being an instant goal scoring success playing regularly. My view would be that the ideal way to go would be to sign a forward and a winger but sadly I dont think that the money will be there. I also think that Vale could benefit from a loan move, send him perhaps to a League 2 side and if he starts scoring plenty of goals then bring him back in January. Otherwise, even without recruits, he will be 4th choice and it will be difficult to be too reliant on him. We do have to use Gallagher and Brereton but if they continue to play as they have so far then they wont get the goals we need. In the absence of any other right sided players, we could do with Chapman being plan A.

Strange example. An influx of youngsters playing led to them finishing at the opposite side of the table. We have plenty of younger players in the core of our team. Travis, Armstrong, Nyambe all regulars. Dack, Kaminski, Lenihan all approaching their peak. Rankin Costello, Davenport, Gallagher, (not that young but youd like to think he can improve) Brereton, Buckley, Wharton all around the team. If anything having lost Graham and seemingly Downing, we could do with a bit more know how and experience to guide us, and to manage games. Thats why I would love someone like Ayala or Van Der Hoorn at CB and wouldnt mind someone like Martin up top.

If we could afford his wages, someone like Chris Martin wouldnt be bad to have around. Experienced, a healthy goal per minute ratio last year, acts as a focal point and a free agent. If we needed a goal on the opening day and brought on Vale, im not sure we could at this stage be confident that he is capable of having an impact.