January window, are you worried?

[Essex2Wessex]

That is what I am hoping clubs will think when they look at Matty Stevens...normally he can't hit a cows backside with a banjo...his form this season is truly flukey, expecting him to run out of goals really soon.

(In truth, Rob Edwards has unlocked the true potential of Matty, his partnership with Jamille Matt is one of the most joyous things I can remember since I started following Rovers. In the past we have often had one decent striker, Doidge, Mangan and Fleetwood to mention just three, but never really two at the same time).

Dunno if Stevens' form this year is flukey or not. (Not sure I see him playing at a higher level than 4th tier though). I think it's more that he is now accepting playing within his limitations (and strengths), rather than wasting energy running all over the pitch as he used to do so that his supporters could enthuse about his (previously largely fruitless, goal-wise) "fantastic workrate". That and having a manager who not only encourages him to play to his strengths but that also has the basic decency not to humiliate him in post-match interviews or send him out on loan to a team not generally regarded with respect or as necessarily having much of a future in the EFL...

Aaron Collins also briefly came alive for us, and looked almost like another player, after Cooper left.

Basically Cooper was a great scout, but much less good at getting the best out of those whose talent he had initially identified. Too much time on the naughty step....or in Stevenage....

 

[Chris FGR]

The weird thing is Stevens did nothing at Stevenage either, and along with Aitchison spent most of his time there on the bench.

So basically they’ve both gone from bench warming at a bottom 6 side to starring for team top of the league.

 

[Greenacres]

The weird thing is Stevens did nothing at Stevenage either, and along with Aitchison spent most of his time there on the bench.

So basically they’ve both gone from bench warming at a bottom 6 side to starring for team top of the league.

OK, so me referring to Stevens as flukey was a bit of an attempt at humour...either way he has been really decent this season...guess much of it is down to playing him in the right position, though I'm not sure what happened when he or Aitch were at Stevenage. I would love to see the telemmetry for Stevens, reckon he must cover as much ground during any game, constantly hounding the opposition defenders.

On the subject of Aitch, I am just hoping that Barnsley don't have a recall on him...he has really grown as the season has progressed, with Ebou moving further back he has made the position behind the strikers his own, and could be pretty important when he (Ebou) heads off to the African Nations. When that happens I would expect Regan Hendry to resume his position in front of the defence...if that makes sense!

 

[Casey]

Well, if any mid table National league sides have some spare cash we could lose a couple.

I could see Mark Marshall and Joel Lynch getting a proper deal elsewhere as they are only on monthly contracts here.

The one I would worry about is if Will Ferry is recalled by Southampton to go on loan higher up the pyramid. We're a different side when he plays and he is definitely a cut above this level.

Casey

 

[Soup Ladle]

From the look of it it's going to be harder to get loans in Jan which is what we seemed to be settling for, shock horror.

 

[MadJohn]

I'm more worried / cynical about a lack of incoming business than I am about potential player losses. Raj Singh withheld a large amount of the budget (believed to be £250-300k) he'd agreed with Dave Challinor. On top of that we received a six figure sum by way of compensation when DC left, another six figure sum from (still ongoing) cup runs, and another from the sale of Brad Young to Leicester, all while attracting larger-than-expected home crowds. We should have a hefty war chest, even with just the remaining budget. And yet we hear Graeme Lee talking about improving the players we already have, strengthening the squad in January "if we feel we need to", and targeting young loan players. I hope to be pleasantly surprised but I'm sceptical.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Not particularly worried. There has been a very sensible, yet optimistic, press release/statement from our board confirming that we're somewhat ahead of forecasts financially (due to transfer fees incoming and a TV game) and there is some scope for strengthening. No players will be sold unless our valuation and terms (i.e. % of future profit) are met.

I'd hope to see a sensible deal to make Corey OKeeffe's loan move from Mansfield permanent (fee + % to Stags if the lad blossoms and gets sold on). Likewise, amicable discussions with Birmingham, Coventry, Reading and Sheff U about our other four loanees, who have all done well and (sometimes) looked more than useful, but who are not necessarily regular starters for us.

As for the "non-borrowed" squad members, if another club identifies a need for someone, then we'll have to negotiate terms. Perhaps the most likely one to move might be Matt Done, who has been a great servant for Dale throughout his three separate spells (and already brought in 500k+ in his two outgoing transfers, so owes us nothing) but has had limited game time this season, and might do a useful job signing for Keith Hill for the fifth time and improving Scunny's team in the process...

 

[masi51]

Yes worried we buy some shite from you lot in lge 2

 

[BRFC_Gas]

More worried about the summer when our best 2 players are out of contract and best defender goes back to Stoke