“Going to be six signings”” – Bristol Rovers transfer prediction made

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more.

Things are too close to call at the bottom of League One right now, with a number of sides looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation places below them.

With Burton Albion showing signs of resurgence, Bristol Rovers are among the likes of Peterborough United, Exeter City and Northampton as clubs who will be finding life more uncomfortable than they had been in recent months, and will need to pick up points at a steady rate to avoid dropping into the bottom four before too long.

Inigo Calderon’s side will want to maintain their third tier status so they can kick on in the following campaign, following a disappointing season at the Memorial Ground where results have proven hard to come by.

With that in mind, we spoke to Football League World’s Rovers fan pundit Ziggy Carter about what players he can see leaving the club this summer, with plenty of changes expected in the West Country.

Bristol Rovers goalkeeping options analysed

Rovers had a steady pair of hands in between the sticks for the first-half of the campaign, with West Bromwich Albion loanee Josh Griffiths proving his worth before being recalled by the Baggies during the January transfer window.

Alex Palmer’s move to Ipswich Town had a domino effect on Rovers in that regard, with Myles Roberts being drafted in from Watford as another option to don the gloves, while academy graduate Jed Ward takes up the mantle.

While Ward was playing his part in Forest Green Rovers’ promotion charge in the National League before returning to Rovers, life in League One has proven a tougher task, with no clean sheet in his four performances to date, and Carter believes that needs to be addressed over the summer.

When asked about potential additions this summer, the Rovers fan said: “Looking at the squad, I feel like there is going to be six signings. Not to suggest the players going out, but I feel like there are a few positions where we need to improve.

“One of those needs to be the third choice goalkeeper. Instead of a young, up-and-coming goalkeeper, I feel that we need an experienced player. We were interested in Cameron Dawson who eventually went to Rotherham, but we need someone with experience to help Jed Ward – one of our own – come up.

“He has been taken out of the National League after Josh Griffiths got recalled, and he is a great goalkeeper but maybe not at the level yet, so he might get a loan to League Two next season.

“I would also buy another goalkeeper, maybe on loan, just to compete with Jed just to we have options in goal. We have that now thanks to the loan signing of Myles Roberts, but once he goes back I think we should get another one.”

Bristol Rovers urged to consider full-back options

The full-back position has been a problem position for Rovers this season, with players swapping and changing on a regular basis in the hope of finding a lineup that works.

Bryant Bilongo started the season in the side before being loaned to Harrogate Town in January, while summer signing Joel Senior has also fleeted in and out, leaving Lino Sousa and Jack Hunt [pictured] lining up on either flank in recent matches.

Sousa will be going back to parent club Aston Villa this summer though, and Hunt’s contract is coming to an end, so the need for defensive options in wide areas will be paramount for the season to come, whichever division Rovers find themselves in.

Carter continued: “I would also go for another right-back and a left-back, Bryant Bilongo is another player that we will be hoping to sell on for more later, but he is not quite at the level.

“He was quite good at the start of the League One season, however, it was quite clear that sides were targeting him. He is incredible going forward but defensively – which is what we needed to rely on him a lot for – he is not quite there.

“So I would bring in a right-back and a left-back, as Joel Senior who we bought from Morecambe has failed to impress so far.”

Impact of Bristol Rovers loan players praised as midfield, striker options assessed

Since joining the club on loan last month, Matt Butcher has offered a steady present in the centre of the park for Rovers, with the 27-year-old always trusted to do the basics right in the engine room.

It is no surprise that Carter craves a permanent deal for out-of-contract Wycombe Wanderers man this summer, while Gatlin O’Donkor’s performances on loan from Oxford United have also caught the eye.

“I would also bring in a defensive midfielder. Matt Butcher who we have on loan is out of contract at Wycombe in the summer, so I think that would be a great coup, he has been fantastic for us so far,” Carter added.

“He is a different type of player to Kamil Conteh, so it is not a direct replacement, but I think Grant Ward could do a great job in that role.

“I would also buy an attacking midfielder to push Isaac Hutchinson on a bit more, and I would also bring in Gatlin O’Donkor, who we currently have on loan at the moment.

“Promise Omochere is quite injury prone and has been out for pretty much the entire season, and Chris Martin is getting on a bit, so I feel like we can’t rely on him as much anymore.”