Welcome to Bristol Rovers and Oxford United

[Indian Dan]

Fuck off, stool boy!

 

[Indian Dan]

Genuine question for Rovers fans.

Why, with all the supposed wonga you now have, have your signings so far been so boringly bang average (if even that).

Some right old crap tbh

 

[Gashead]

Genuine question for Rovers fans.

Why, with all the supposed wonga you now have, have your signings so far been so boringly bang average (if even that).

Some right old crap tbh

Boldened your key word there. Bear in mind that the decent players in League 1 are signing for the big boys on huge wages for big transfer fees (did I read that Charlton were supposedly paying a combined £1.3m for Ajose and Holmes?!), I'm not sure who else we could sign given we've just come up.

I don't particularly judge players until they've played for us a few times tbh. Northampton fans thought we were silly signing Bodin last season and he did well, let's just see how these two 'crap' signings we've made get on.

 

[Indian Dan]

So, is there any money with your new owner or not?

My take on the signings is just that they're hardly the shining lights of other sides and don't appear to be the kind of signings that are likely to be much improvement on what you've already got

 

[Gashead]

So, is there any money with your new owner or not?

My take on the signings is just that they're hardly the shining lights of other sides and don't appear to be the kind of signings that are likely to be much improvement on what you've already got

Just because there's money doesn't mean we're going to spunk it on a few high wage Championship players, a la Orient a few years back. Plenty of clubs fail going down that route, and I think it would be doing a disservice to the players who have seen us up twice if we signed Darius Henderson and Jobi McAnuff x11. It would also be an assumption that the likes of Hartley weren't on good wages before.

On paper they aren't spectacular signings, but they're solid. We need L1 experience, and it compliments the players we already have. You only have to look at our signings last year, none of them were amazing on paper but DC got the best out of them. Until that stops happening I trust the bloke.

 

[Indian Dan]

Fans don't want 'solid' though. Even though promoted clubs say they'd be happy consolidating, League 1 is still a league where money spent will get you promoted.

we've just spunked £400,000 on a GK!

 

[Gashead]

Fans don't want 'solid' though. Even though promoted clubs say they'd be happy consolidating, League 1 is still a league where money spent will get you promoted.

we've just spunked £400,000 on a GK!

That's true, Burton and Walsall prove that

I think our fans are quite relaxed at the moment. We've got a decent side and we're willing to give them a chance before we tear them apart in favour of £400k goalkeepers and the like.

 

[Gassy]

Yep, agree with the above. The chairman and new owners have always said we won't throw cash at this, especially as we didn't expect to go up this season so we have an extra year to invest correctly and build slowly from there. Even if we were in the championship, isn't there a rule that after 3 seasons and you don't have an all seater, you get demoted? So realistically, let's build back the club and take things from there.

Considering we were in the conference 2 seasons ago, I doubt many will be unhappy with a 16th place finish in league 1 next season.

 

[ComeOnIrene]

So, is there any money with your new owner or not?

My take on the signings is just that they're hardly the shining lights of other sides and don't appear to be the kind of signings that are likely to be much improvement on what you've already got

Hartley has a few years League One experience and is probably an upgrade on both Parkes and McChrystal, whilst Moore has played in this division for several years and is coming into his prime after overcoming personal tragedy a couple of years ago. Personally I'm optimistic about the signings we have made so far.

You're right that we aren't splashing the cash in the way people from afar will have expected, but why change something that isn't broken? Darrell Clarke has created a superb team spirit amongst our squad and gets the best out of his players. If he keeps that going there is no reason why we can't have another good year.

 

[joethegill]

That's true, Burton and Walsall prove that
.

True, but the fact still is that the team with the most money last season won the league.

 

[Indian Dan]

Hartley has a few years League One experience and is probably an upgrade on both Parkes and McChrystal, whilst Moore has played in this division for several years and is coming into his prime after overcoming personal tragedy a couple of years ago. Personally I'm optimistic about the signings we have made so far.

You're right that we aren't splashing the cash in the way people from afar will have expected, but why change something that isn't broken? Darrell Clarke has created a superb team spirit amongst our squad and gets the best out of his players. If he keeps that going there is no reason why we can't have another good year.

You could be in for a shock if you think the squad you had last year will hack it in L1 without a few decent upgrades.

Can't understand why a few quid thrown at the right players, when you've got an owner with more cash than a cow's got c***, isn't a given.

Surely if you've bought a club, are loaded and got a bit of momentum why settle for 'solid'.

 

[Gashead]

True, but the fact still is that the team with the most money last season won the league.

You could be in for a shock if you think the squad you had last year will hack it in L1 without a few decent upgrades.

Can't understand why a few quid thrown at the right players, when you've got an owner with more cash than a cow's got c***, isn't a given.

Surely if you've bought a club, are loaded and got a bit of momentum why settle for 'solid'.

For every Bristol City or Wigan, there is Coventry (last year) or Sheffield United. Money isn't the be all and end all at any level.

Just in recent years, Chesterfield's signings after they got promoted under Cook weren't anything special - they got into the play-offs. Rovrum didn't make huge, impressive signings, play-offs. I'm not saying we'll be anywhere near that, but the idea that we can't hold our own without splashing the cash is crazy. Orient 2014-15 show if anything dismantling a good group can have the opposite effect.

Just because we have new owners doesn't mean we'll be foaming at the mouth if we're not storming the league at Christmas. We were preparing to play Nuneaton and Alfreton two years ago. We need to give the group who got us out of that a chance. And DC for that matter.

 

[Ciderup]

You could be in for a shock if you think the squad you had last year will hack it in L1 without a few decent upgrades.

Can't understand why a few quid thrown at the right players, when you've got an owner with more cash than a cow's got c***, isn't a given.

Surely if you've bought a club, are loaded and got a bit of momentum why settle for 'solid'.

In their defence, their owner, Wael something, said on taking over that he would invest in infrastructure and tools to enable sustainable growth. Given he is seeking investors for the UWE, he appears to be doing exactly that. Wether he has the funds to invest heavily in the playing staff in the future remains to be seen but he is doing what he said he would do thus far.

 

[Indian Dan]

So, in essence, there's a good chance it's all The Emperor's New Clothes?

Is Josie Wael just a property speculator

 

[JJH]

Genuine question for Rovers fans.

Why, with all the supposed wonga you now have, have your signings so far been so boringly bang average (if even that).

Some right old crap tbh

Still remains to be seen how wealthy 'Wael' is individually. There's no actual figure that you can find anywhere on his value individually, but the Rovers fans I have spoken too reckon their whole family are behind it, who are supposedly very well off.

Hartley and Moore are hardly inspiring signings, but they're solid enough. Without going into too much detail because I'm absolutely no expert on Rovers - they've just lost Parkes to Orient, so Hartley is a sensible and most probably better replacement on a free. As for Moore, he plays on the left doesn't he? Rovers have Montano and Lawrence on that side; Lawrence hasn't even signed a new deal yet and was largely uninspiring from when he joined so I'm told, so it's sensible to have another option on that side.

We'll see how rich this Jordanian fella is this summer, I expect them to make a marquee signing or two somewhere along the way.

 

[Indian Dan]

Rovers marquee signing

 

[Forestgas]

Still remains to be seen how wealthy 'Wael' is individually. There's no actual figure that you can find anywhere on his value individually, but the Rovers fans I have spoken too reckon their whole family are behind it, who are supposedly very well off.

Hartley and Moore are hardly inspiring signings, but their solid enough. Without going into too much detail because I'm absolutely no expert on Rovers - they've just lost Parkes to Orient, so Hartley is a sensible and most probably better replacement on a free. As for Moore, he plays on the left doesn't he? Rovers have Montano and Lawrence on that side; Lawrence hasn't even signed a new deal yet and was largely uninspiring from when he joined so I'm told, so it's sensible to have another option on that side.

We'll see how rich this Jordanian fella is this summer, I expect them to make a marquee signing or two somewhere along the way.

JJH do u watch rovers because i coudnt off summed that up better myself

 

[JJH]

JJH do u watch rovers because i coudnt off summed that up better myself

Raised in North Bristol mate, I speak to a fair few Gasheads every now and again!

 

[BRFC_Gas]

If we changed the whole team following promotion back into the league last season, we probably will still be in L2.
They may not be the most gifted of players (this is L1 level after all) but they have a togetherness and know each others game inside out, and also they do play some very decent stuff and create a lot of chances.
I don't see the point pushing the boat out at the moment when we have no news on the new ground. You are effectively spending money to get into the Championship where you have to spend even more money just to survive, and with no new ground the attendance limits to 10-11k anyway.
I said this last season but a comfortable mid-table finish would suit, saying that though there are no teams we should fear.

 

[Indian Dan]

But you hardly pissed L2 did you. If you were a Cobblers fan saying that there may be some merit in it.

Saying that, I'm sure there are at least 4 teams worse than you - hope we aint one of them, though!

My main point is that with the promotion momentum and supposed wealthy owner, it'd be prudent to invest now and keep it going.

 

[Agombar stool]

But you hardly pissed L2 did you. If you were a Cobblers fan saying that there may be some merit in it.

Saying that, I'm sure there are at least 4 teams worse than you - hope we aint one of them, though!

My main point is that with the promotion momentum and supposed wealthy owner, it'd be prudent to invest now and keep it going.

Yes but don't forget that Oxford finished more than a dozen points behind cobblers, yet Appleton claimed they were the best team in the division.

So on that logic, you could argue that perhaps Rovers did indeed, piss league 2.

 

[Indian Dan]

The promoted teams have to build on what they have. If the 'main' players leave the chances are their replacements will not be as good.

Oxford have already lost Hylton, are expecting Roofe to go and maybe also O'Dowda. Teams at our level just cant replace these type of players, irrespective of how much money they get for them.

We saw first hand how that worked for us last season

 

[BRFC_Gas]

But you hardly pissed L2 did you. If you were a Cobblers fan saying that there may be some merit in it.

Saying that, I'm sure there are at least 4 teams worse than you - hope we aint one of them, though!

My main point is that with the promotion momentum and supposed wealthy owner, it'd be prudent to invest now and keep it going.

We didn't piss the conference either and still followed it with another promotion.
I'm not saying L1 will be that easy, but DC seems to know how to change things as the last 2 seasons we have started very slowly and progressed into excellent winning form.
I have to admit to being underwhelmed by the 2 signings so far, mainly as i'd identified what I think are better options on our own forum, but you cant knock a manager who has picked us up from our lowest ebb and dragged us by the balls back to our natural level within 2 seasons.
Interesting to note the FFP is different to clubs entering the league for the first 2 seasons, I understand the percentage of income is more in our advantage than the rest of L1 but only for this season. This would be tempting to take advantage of, but then again without a new stadium where is the sustainability the owner quoted to us when he took over?

 

[Indian Dan]

But if he's got the gadzillions he's supposed to, why is he still relying on 'other' investment re a new ground?

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

The promoted teams have to build on what they have. If the 'main' players leave the chances are their replacements will not be as good.

Oxford have already lost Hylton, are expecting Roofe to go and maybe also O'Dowda. Teams at our level just cant replace these type of players, irrespective of how much money they get for them.

We saw first hand how that worked for us last season

We have been fairly open about our business model being one where we bring in young players to develop and plan to sell them on. It's (presumably) why we are happy to run a loss like we do when we are not selling players.

I'd be pretty disappointed if we made our whole operation about selling players on and didn't have any clue what to do with the money afterwards.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

But if he's got the gadzillions he's supposed to, why is he still relying on 'other' investment re a new ground?

As others have said we don't know how much money he has got, although his family as a whole are worth a lot. He has never said he planned to chuck money at the playing side, but has indicated that the way forward is to get a top training base and youth system, as well as a new ground.
Its not unusual for rich owners to seek investors to help with a ground build, they aren't rich by spending £40mill of their own cash on a (then) L2 outfit, especially as they have no previous connection with the club.
The ground is key, Lee Johnson admitted players were put off signing for them because of the state of Ashton Gate, imagine their faces if they rolled up at the mem!
I was quite happy with Wael and family coming in to replace a piss-poor board and clearing our loan debts, anything else was/is a bonus in my book.

 

[Indian Dan]

Tbh, that's how most clubs at this level continue to survive. But as we found out last season, and no doubt the likes of Walsall and Gills will also discover, getting close to promotion is usually followed by an exodus of the players who got you so close, followed by the usual drudgery the next season.

 

[joethegill]

Tbh, that's how most clubs at this level continue to survive. But as we found out last season, and no doubt the likes of Walsall and Gills will also discover, getting close to promotion is usually followed by an exodus of the players who got you so close, followed by the usual drudgery the next season.

We don't have that many players that higher placed teams will be keen to snap up though. Certainly not as many as Walsall or yourselves did.

 

[Indian Dan]

Surely, Dack and that terrific RB you have will be off?

 

[joethegill]

Surely, Dack and that terrific RB you have will be off?

Jackson won't be going anywhere I'd imagine. Dack will almost certainly be gone, but as of yet no-one has bid (as far as I'm aware) except for Bristol City, but then again they bid for everyone. Egan has left the club and will join Brentford, but fantastic though he was as a player, we actually had a better defensive record when he was injured and El-Abd was in the side. Other than that, Josh Wright may well go somewhere on a free, but that's really it.