Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Bertie Wooster]

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... eague-one/

Speedy wingers, a number 9 who runs in behind, durable players and a physical presence.

This is exactly what the majority of fans have been wanting for years, SS says all the right things - let's hope he can bring in the players to deliver this type of team. As with most of what SS says its really refreshing to hear.

[Worthy4England]

That's spot on. Covered all the themes, that we spin wheels on trying to defend sub-par. Never thought I'd be as happy at seeing words like durable, minimum standards, consistency and compete.

The thought of quick transitions hitting a target, is appealing. Feels like he's not entirley convinced by a three at the back.

Bring it on.

[Prufrock]

Hurrah! Wingers? A back 4? No more known crocks? Physicality and mentality.

He really does say all the right things doesn't he. No guarantees and always, but you've got a lot more of a chance if you're trying to do the right things.

And I still believe we've got some very good players in there. As worthy has said, we've signed several tiaras, and neglected the shire horse. But there are a lot more shire horses than tiaras out there. It's going to be a long but hopefully exciting summer. Hope there's still money around....

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Its almost like he's been lurking on here...

[Spartan2]

bUt FoRmAtIoN dOeSn'T mAtTeR bRo!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Hurrah! Wingers? A back 4? No more known crocks? Physicality and mentality.

He really does say all the right things doesn't he. No guarantees and always, but you've got a lot more of a chance if you're trying to do the right things.

And I still believe we've got some very good players in there. As worthy has said, we've signed several tiaras, and neglected the shire horse. But there are a lot more shire horses than tiaras out there. It's going to be a long but hopefully exciting summer. Hope there's still money around....

I suspect we will try to raise some money by making it known certain assets are available. How that will go remains to be seen.

I've said so many times before that I want us to remain formationally (and tactically) fluid but it does make clear sense to me to have a back four as a starting point. I think you'll get at least as much from JDC as a full-back, especially overlapping, as you would as a wingback. JOT can also overlap from RB. On the other side, we need another head but Conway is a contender.

What it means in the cold light of day is that we're looking for centre-backs who can play in a pair, who don't need the solace of a crowd. Being brutal (and acknowledging the need for new blood) that might only be Forino and Toal. I like Johnston and Forrester but they're much happier in a three. Jones the same. Santos is already sitting on his suitcase but even he lacks a key attribute for a back-four centre-back: the ability to mark at corners.

I wonder if without throwing them out of the door, we might make it known that Forrester and Johnston (both contracted to 2026) are available. (As it happens, both Forino and Toal are contracted through 2027, so they'll have a season to impress the new manager that they're worth extending.) I'm assuming we'll get at least one new centre-back, possibly two if Forrester and/or Johnston do move on. (For the record, I expect Jones and Santos to be released.)

[Prufrock]

I think it's the lack of wingers too. Much easier to flirt between 343 and 433 than a 352. So wouldn't be shocked to see your formational flexibility, but as you say from a base of a back 4 (which WF and GJ would struggle with). Think at least one will need to go.

[Worthy4England]

bUt FoRmAtIoN dOeSn'T mAtTeR bRo!

I'm sorta with that, but you still need people to be able to play in the formation you're looking to play (whatever that formation is)

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Can’t remember (sorry) who suggested the Juke but it seems he’s retiring at the end of the season.

[Harry Genshaw]

Was me that. I've since had my head turned by Michael Smith.

I think we've a good manager in Schumacher and I'm confident he can improve us. It might take 2 or 3 transfer windows though. We may have to be patient.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Was me that. I've since had my head turned by Michael Smith.

I think we've a good manager in Schumacher and I'm confident he can improve us. It might take 2 or 3 transfer windows though. We may have to be patient.

• Only one man has scored more for Wednesday this season, so they may well want to keep him
• He's allegedly on £17,500 a week, so we couldn't afford owt like that
• He turns 34 in October.

[BWFC_Insane]

We have a problem with Dempsey who is in effect a walking sick note. I suspect he will need an op. Which might rule him out for a while. Yet still have to pay him. Can’t sell him. This is where I see the problems being. Alongside the expensive recent additions who are not up to it.

If we hadn’t got injury prone players and hadn’t spent money on Randall and McAtee we’d maybe have the resources and space to really get somewhere this summer. But we still feel quite boxed in.

I do think we need to promote some of the younger players. It may not be entirely compatible with promotion but the other side is that if Inwood can do a job it saves money and squad places. Same for Abimbola. Even if they are just squad options. I know it’s good to get them out on loan and build their experience but I just don’t think we are in a place to do that. Same for Conway. If he’s good enough to contribute even as a squad option keep him.

[Worthy4England]

We have a few (british understatement) like Demps, that seem to spend a disproportionate amount of time out.

If we'd bought a scanning machine at the beginning of the glass cannon strategy, it'd have been saving us money two years back.

I think you're right that we're boxed in, in terms of having a slackass clear out, mainly coz Schumacher has said so. I don't really buy the saved money on Randall/Mcatee, we may well have spent it elsewhere.

Schuey has mentioned wingers an No9. He didn't use many words on DM and CD leader types...but I think we'd be up to 5 with that collection and the 9 and wingers might look a bit threadbare in injury season. Any player could get a Stu Holden tackle.

Not at all sure this gets "solved" in one window and there will be a good few where we need to reset their heads.

[The_Gun]

I reckon we can move on at least 2/3 of our contracted players, and I’d anticipate we’ll bring in 3 loanees. So maybe 7 new faces in the summer - should be enough to build a team good enough to challenge for the title.

[Worthy4England]

I reckon we can move on at least 2/3 of our contracted players, and I’d anticipate we’ll bring in 3 loanees. So maybe 7 new faces in the summer - should be enough to build a team good enough to challenge for the title.

Feels about right mate.

[BWFC_Insane]

We have a few (british understatement) like Demps, that seem to spend a disproportionate amount of time out.

If we'd bought a scanning machine at the beginning of the glass cannon strategy, it'd have been saving us money two years back.

I think you're right that we're boxed in, in terms of having a slackass clear out, mainly coz Schumacher has said so. I don't really buy the saved money on Randall/Mcatee, we may well have spent it elsewhere.

Schuey has mentioned wingers an No9. He didn't use many words on DM and CD leader types...but I think we'd be up to 5 with that collection and the 9 and wingers might look a bit threadbare in injury season. Any player could get a Stu Holden tackle.

Not at all sure this gets "solved" in one window and there will be a good few where we need to reset their heads.

Yeah I think we could challenge next season but we need things to go for us. I have faith that Schumacher knows what is needed. I mean he’s pretty much said as much. Whether he can deliver it depends on how good he and the new DoF can be in the market and also on a lot of factors some beyond our control.

I agree the money may have been wasted elsewhere but my contention is it shouldn’t have been spent at all. I remember a conversation on here where I said as much and was told by ghost that we either fully back Evatt with loads of cash or sack him. The problem was that backing him with cash was the worst possible thing to do. Had we not signed Tutu, Schon, McAtee, Randall last summer all for fees reported £500K or greater then I suspect we’d have more loans who could be returned and ones signed on a free who in theory are easier to shift if their wages weren’t too ridiculous. It’s conceivable Lolos could maybe find somewhere harder to imagine someone taking on the liabilities for Randall at this stage for example.

[Worthy4England]

^^ Maybe a little "strangely," he mentioned "a guy he does recruitment with," didn't he?

I can imagine the outcry had he not been backed in either summer or winter...we'd have never heard the end of told you FV would run outta cash. When you decide someone's it, rightly or wrongly, you have to back them as best as able.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I reckon we can move on at least 2/3 of our contracted players, and I’d anticipate we’ll bring in 3 loanees. So maybe 7 new faces in the summer - should be enough to build a team good enough to challenge for the title.

I suspect it might be more, if people are interested at the right price... but yeah, with some contracted players leaving (perhaps some on loan - I'm looking at Lolos) plus a raft of releases/loans ended, I think there'll be enough gaps in the squad for Schuey to reboot. What I'm less sure of is how much money (wages or fees, it matters not) he'll get to fund that.

He may have to balance quality and quantity. If he goes for fewer and better, he may choose to continue blooding youngsters - as far as I'm aware it's only Conway who'd count as overage, and as he's perhaps the best prospect he deserves to get preseason to prove his worth.

[Harry Genshaw]

I reckon we can move on at least 2/3 of our contracted players, and I’d anticipate we’ll bring in 3 loanees. So maybe 7 new faces in the summer - should be enough to build a team good enough to challenge for the title.

I hope you're right but as said on here before, no one has a 100% success rate on transfers. That's before we consider how many will be struck down by the injury curse!

[BWFC_Insane]

I reckon we can move on at least 2/3 of our contracted players, and I’d anticipate we’ll bring in 3 loanees. So maybe 7 new faces in the summer - should be enough to build a team good enough to challenge for the title.

It’s not for me about building a team but being able to bring enough proper characters in to change the culture. Not sure 7 will do that.