Kelvin Wilkins

It was always going to be a challenging transfer window with a lot of talk of outgoings and not much speculation about transfer targets.

I’m disappointed at our losses, although Rudy Gestede was inevitable, and Joshua King would spend most of the time on the sidelines.

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Tom Cairney’s exit was a shock, but I suspect Gary Bowyer wasn’t too disappointed as he always struggled to find a position for him with his reluctance to play him in a central role.  

As for the signings, it would have been easy for Bowyer to jump at any free transfer that showed an interest, yet I’m impressed with his scrutiny and ruthlessness as shown with his rejection of Dean Furman. 

He has managed to bring a good mix of players into the squad offering pace, power, movement, experience and creativity. He now needs to find the right balance to start producing results.  Nevertheless, Gary Bowyer should be commended once again for his scouting ability, whilst working with extreme limitations. 

 

Paul Yates

CAN you make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear?

I’m sure all the new signings are showing promise and have something to prove.

The fact is that they were unwanted by their previous clubs or their parent club feels it can cope without them. I have no great expectations of any of them and if Rovers continue to struggle it won’t be their fault.

The coaching staff at Rovers have a difficult task ahead of them. They need to mould the new recruits into a team that lacks cohesion and consistency.

 

Sam Jones

LOOKING at the obvious facts of Rovers having no money and being under a transfer embargo, the signings are probably about as good as we could have hoped for.

The captures of Danny Guthrie and Hope Akpan could prove shrewd acquisitions given the market Rovers are currently dealing in. However, with Sachi Petshi yet to make an appearance in the squad, not all the free signings may be up to scratch.

Up top, Fode Koita and Nathan Delfouneso could easily become the latest Anthony Modeste or Chris Brown, rather than suitable Rudy Gestede replacements.

I feel Gary Bowyer has not utilised the loan market as he could have, despite taking Modou Barrow and Tom Lawrence on short-term deals.

The likes of Matej Vydra and Adam Le Fondre were available on loan – both strikers who score goals at this level. Either would have been ideal to lift the heavy burden on Jordan Rhodes to score as many (if not more) than last season.

Of course there are the frustrating issues of an enforced wages cap and also being unable to pay loan fees. In addition, there’s the question of whether these players would see Ewood Park as the best option for their career.

Rovers have just one place remaining in their current ‘established’ squad of 23, yet another drawback of the embargo, but I think Bowyer has made a wise choice to keep that space free.

You never know what might happen before January and who may become available.