Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Preston coming down would’ve been great, alas, they appear destined to be the Championship’s nothing men for the rest of time.

They’re wrestling with Stoke for that. PNE have longevity - they’ve just finished their 10th successive second-tier season, never finishing higher than 7th or lower than this season’s 20th. Stoke’s seven-season stranding is slightly shorter but notably duller - they’ve finished 16th, 15th, 14th, 14th, 16th, 17th and now 18th.

[Harry Genshaw]

Personally, I was hoping Hull would come down. There's ownership and financial issues there that could make them next year's Reading and it's a good away day. A financially laden Luton may be next seasons Brum.

[irie Cee Bee]

Thought about it for a while. I don't think there's many that could feel hard done by if they were potted this summer, but for what it's worth, my run down on the squad, divided into Keeps, Don't Renews, Transfer List and Listen to Offers:

Baxter - wouldn't be averse to him staying, but would have thought we're looking for better in a #1. Don't Renew.

Jones - thanks for the memories, but has looked miles off it for months. Don't Renew.

Murphy - not good enough. Ta-ra. No Loan Extension.

Thomason - a rare bright light. Wears his heart on his sleeve. Wants it. Keep.

Santos - still think that he'd be a standout as a no-nonsense defender, taking the responsibility off him. But it doesn't sound like he's interested anymore. Don't Renew.

Johnston - performed well today. Still question marks over his physicality though. Think any daft offers would have to be considered, but he wouldn't be the first one I'd kick out the door. Keep.

Mendes Gomes - done nothing since he's signed, even when he isn't taking up space on the treatment table. Transfer list.

Sheehan - got a lot of stuff, but needs someone else to do his tackling for him. Listen to Offers.

Adeboyejo - could have a proper future as a bona fide number 9 under Schumacher, but hasn't shown enough to guarantee him that. Listen to Offers.

Dacres Cogley - powered by Duracell. Usually gives you at least 7/10. We need better as first choice, but he's definitely worth having in the squad. Keep.

Coleman - he's practically gone already. Don't Renew.

Osei-Tutu - if he can stay fit, he's a real asset. Keep.

Forrester - hit a great run of form, but he does spend an awful lot of time injured. We have a squad that's overloaded with centre backs, and not one of them is the beast we need. Listen to Offers.

Morley - great passing range. Much more robust than Sheehan. Keep.

Lolos - has shown very little. Not exactly one for the future. Another #10 in a squad stocked with them. Transfer List.

Toal - hoping that he's not becoming a sick note. Got massive potential if he can stay fit. Keep.

Collins - scores goals out of nowhere. Top scorer this season. Attitude can be questioned, but he's the closest we've got to a maverick. Keep.

Southwood - probably a slightly better all-rounder than Baxter, Shot stopping sometimes questionable. Squad player. Keep.

Forino - like Forrester, hit decent form but spent a lot of time out injured. Could a Toal-Forino centre back partnership see us promoted? Not sure. Listen to Offers.

Dempsey - another one that keeps breaking down. Solid midfielder when he's fit. Forward looking. Needs to stay fit. Keep.

Schön - good engine. Wants the ball. Needs better end product, but plenty of time to grow. Keep.

Matete - shown nowhere near enough. No Loan Extension.

Etete - ha. No Loan Extension.

Randall - Waste of a signing. I really hoped that he'd come good. Transfer List.

McAtee - clearly has potential. Does he have the application? Could come good if he has a big man to work off. Keep.

The B-Team Lukes - Matheson can go. I'd offer terms to Hutchinson.

Massive surgery needed over the summer.

Just about where I am too TW, especially for a 4-2-3-1 formation, except that I would keep both Forino who I think is a leader in the team and Randall who needs some weights lifting over the summer to get stronger. He is so lightweight but he has the passes in him for the fast wide runners in this system. I would keep him as a #10.

[irie Cee Bee]

The challenge will be finding buyers for Dan "Ivan Toney" Nlundulu, Lolos and CMG. Dan and CMG contract expire next year so they can go for a free. Lolos is on a 3 year contract I believe and therefore much harder to shift. This is not going to be easy as apart from the expiring loans, currently only 2 outfield players are readily available for replacement this summer (Santos and Jones).

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The challenge will be finding buyers for Dan "Ivan Toney" Nlundulu, Lolos and CMG. Dan and CMG contract expire next year so they can go for a free. Lolos is on a 3 year contract I believe and therefore much harder to shift. This is not going to be easy as apart from the expiring loans, currently only 2 outfield players are readily available for replacement this summer (Santos and Jones).

It probably wouldn't be announced as a free transfer as such, but it's definitely a possibility that we loan out those unwanted players whose contracts are elapsing next summer, with the recipient club only paying a percentage of their wages. (The difference is that we'd probably have to pay up their wage difference in bulk and in advance.)

Looking at when contracts elapse:

2026: Southwood*, Forrester, Johnston, Dacres-Cogley, Osei-Tutu, Dempsey, Mendes Gomes, Adeboyejo, Nlundulu
2027: Toal, Forino, Sheehan, Thomason, Morley, Schön*, Collins, Lolos, McAtee
2028: Randall
(* BWFC have +1yr extension option)

You could make a case for a whole load of the 2026 lapsers being loaned out thusly, assuming (1) Schumacher doesn't want them and (2) someone else does. I suspect he will keep Southwood, Dacres-Cogley, Osei-Tutu and Dempsey but listen to (ie request) offers for the others.

The 2027 lapsers are a different beast. You might be looking to sell those for a return on investment, and clubs will know they can't just wait and see. I suspect Schumacher will want to keep Toal, Forino, Thomason, Morley and Schon but may take/seek offers for Sheehan, McAtee and perhaps even Collins.

Lolos I would just expect to see transfer-listed, or at least actively punted and shunted. It's possible that he will be loaned out - as Nlundulu has been in his own 'second-last' season - more in hope than expectation of him coming good. (Dan is 18 months older than Klaidi; at 26 and 24, neither is 'young'.)

Randall? Technically our biggest balance-sheet asset, in that he's still got three years on his contract, but let's be honest we haven't got a wet wipe in hell's chance of making the money back this summer. Maaaaybe Schumacher sees him as a 10. Maybe they'll, again, try to loan him to see if it kickstarts him. He's 25.

[jmjhb]

Randall? Technically our biggest balance-sheet asset, in that he's still got three years on his contract, but let's be honest we haven't got a wet wipe in hell's chance of making the money back this summer. Maaaaybe Schumacher sees him as a 10..

Football finances, hey. There might be a podcast in that one day.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Relegated BRISTOL ROVERS first out of the divisional blocks with their released list. They've sacked the gaffer and will release nine, mainly 30something players - forwards Scott Sinclair (36), Chris Martin (36) and Jevani Brown (30); midfielders Grant Ward (30), Luke McCormick (26), Romaine Sawyers (33) and Jerry Lawrence (20); defender Jack Hunt (34); and goalkeeper Matt Hall (22).

[Worthy4England]

We should buy Martin just to stop the fckr knowig how easy it is to score against us..

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

We should buy Martin just to stop the fckr knowig how easy it is to score against us..

Heh. He's actually long-term injured. Rovers have kindly allowed him to rehabilitate with them.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

HUDDERSFIELD clear the decks, including their top scorer (Dion Char... only joking, Josh Koroma), the permanently linked (and now crocked) BW old boy Danny Ward, and a few experienced defenders.

Released: Jonathan Hogg (36), Danny Ward (34), Tom Lees (34), Matty Pearson (31), Ollie Turton (32, inj), Josh Ruffels (31), Josh Koroma (26), Scott High, Loick Ayina, Anthony Gregory, Danny Isaac, Donnell Garrick, Oliver Riva, Zak Abbott, Fope Deru, Cian Philpott, Conor Falls, Michael Stone.
Retired: Chris Maxwell (34)
Offered extension: Neo Eccleston
Loands ended: Tawanda Chirewa, Joe Hodge, Nigel Lonwijk, Callum Marshall

[BWFC_Insane]

HUDDERSFIELD clear the decks, including their top scorer (Dion Char... only joking, Josh Koroma), the permanently linked (and now crocked) BW old boy Danny Ward, and a few experienced defenders.

Released: Jonathan Hogg (36), Danny Ward (34), Tom Lees (34), Matty Pearson (31), Ollie Turton (32, inj), Josh Ruffels (31), Josh Koroma (26), Scott High, Loick Ayina, Anthony Gregory, Danny Isaac, Donnell Garrick, Oliver Riva, Zak Abbott, Fope Deru, Cian Philpott, Conor Falls, Michael Stone.
Retired: Chris Maxwell (34)
Offered extension: Neo Eccleston
Loands ended: Tawanda Chirewa, Joe Hodge, Nigel Lonwijk, Callum Marshall

I suspect he’s a year too old and too much a Hudds man by mutual Hogg is the sort of player we need in that defensive midfield role.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I suspect he’s a year too old and too much a Hudds man by mutual Hogg is the sort of player we need in that defensive midfield role.

Well, he's carried on playing - 34 lge appearances this season, 34 last season, after 30, 31, 37 and 37. He's not exactly the towering monster but he's definitely a general type. But yeah, turns 37 in December, we'd be wary of the Arfield effect.

I've mentioned Matty Pearson and Josh Ruffels as possibilities, but there's a fine line between "seen it all" and "journeyman". Depends if you win, I suppose.

You also wonder if Josh Koroma is the sort of wide goal threat Schuey would like...with him and Mallik Wilks, we could pop over the Pennines and come back with a couple of free-transfer goalscorers who can play across the front three…

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

STOKE release Norn Iron midfielder Jordan Thompson (28), five-and-a-half seasons after he joined from Blackpool. Also USA international winger/wingback Lynden Gooch (29) plus defenders Michael Rose (29) and Enda Stevens (34).

Schuey's old club, so I wonder if any of them got on well with him.

EDIT Thompson - a left-footer who can play in defensive midfield or at left-back - played in 25 of Schuey's 32 games, amassing an impressive 10 yellow cards (plus 2 goals and an assist). Interesting....

Centre-back Rose played 21 of Schuey's 32 (he was injured toward the end), Stevens just 8 (he was injured quite a lot).

[nicholaldo]

Koroma's a name that stands out.

I guess the difficulty is I think we get the best out of Collins by playing him wide left, which seems to also be where Koroma is most comfortable.

[Mar]

Koroma's a name that stands out.

I guess the difficulty is I think we get the best out of Collins by playing him wide left, which seems to also be where Koroma is most comfortable.

I'd be happy if we were checking out Koroma. Though that being said, there must've been a reason they're parting company, especially given his record at the end of the season, perhaps the drop off of Charles was probably helping there.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

EXETER? Might as well.

They're releasing eight players - goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald, defenders Cheick Diabate, Ben Purrington, Vincent Harper and Angus MacDonald, plus youngsters Mitch Beardmore, Gabe Billington and Max Edgecombe.

They've offered contracts to Caleb Watts, Jake Richards, Pedro Borges and goalkeepers Harry Lee and Frankie Phillips, and triggered options on Jay Bird and Josh Magennis (booooo).

They've invited Pat Jones, Kevin McDonald, Demetri Mitchell and Yanic Wildschut (oh yes) back for pre-season training to see if they're any good.

[BWFC_Insane]

I suspect he’s a year too old and too much a Hudds man by mutual Hogg is the sort of player we need in that defensive midfield role.

Well, he's carried on playing - 34 lge appearances this season, 34 last season, after 30, 31, 37 and 37. He's not exactly the towering monster but he's definitely a general type. But yeah, turns 37 in December, we'd be wary of the Arfield effect.

I've mentioned Matty Pearson and Josh Ruffels as possibilities, but there's a fine line between "seen it all" and "journeyman". Depends if you win, I suppose.

You also wonder if Josh Koroma is the sort of wide goal threat Schuey would like...with him and Mallik Wilks, we could pop over the Pennines and come back with a couple of free-transfer goalscorers who can play across the front three…

Isn’t Koroma wildly inconsistent?

[Mar]

I suspect he’s a year too old and too much a Hudds man by mutual Hogg is the sort of player we need in that defensive midfield role.

Well, he's carried on playing - 34 lge appearances this season, 34 last season, after 30, 31, 37 and 37. He's not exactly the towering monster but he's definitely a general type. But yeah, turns 37 in December, we'd be wary of the Arfield effect.

I've mentioned Matty Pearson and Josh Ruffels as possibilities, but there's a fine line between "seen it all" and "journeyman". Depends if you win, I suppose.

You also wonder if Josh Koroma is the sort of wide goal threat Schuey would like...with him and Mallik Wilks, we could pop over the Pennines and come back with a couple of free-transfer goalscorers who can play across the front three…

Isn’t Koroma wildly inconsistent?

He's got a 1 in 4 record, which is what we're getting with McAtee at the moment. If the intention is to buy players to sell them on for more money, then Koroma's probably a more cost effective bet than we're getting for McAtee.

[BWFC_Insane]

STOKE release Norn Iron midfielder Jordan Thompson (28), five-and-a-half seasons after he joined from Blackpool. Also USA international winger/wingback Lynden Gooch (29) plus defenders Michael Rose (29) and Enda Stevens (34).

Schuey's old club, so I wonder if any of them got on well with him.

EDIT Thompson - a left-footer who can play in defensive midfield or at left-back - played in 25 of Schuey's 32 games, amassing an impressive 10 yellow cards (plus 2 goals and an assist). Interesting....

Centre-back Rose played 21 of Schuey's 32 (he was injured toward the end), Stevens just 8 (he was injured quite a lot).

Right now here we go - Thompson maybe.

But Stevens - 150 odd championship games and 70 odd premiership ones. I’d say that’s the exact profile we need. And we need a left back. And he’s 6ft.

[TonyDomingos]

STOKE release Norn Iron midfielder Jordan Thompson (28), five-and-a-half seasons after he joined from Blackpool. Also USA international winger/wingback Lynden Gooch (29) plus defenders Michael Rose (29) and Enda Stevens (34).

Schuey's old club, so I wonder if any of them got on well with him.

EDIT Thompson - a left-footer who can play in defensive midfield or at left-back - played in 25 of Schuey's 32 games, amassing an impressive 10 yellow cards (plus 2 goals and an assist). Interesting....

Centre-back Rose played 21 of Schuey's 32 (he was injured toward the end), Stevens just 8 (he was injured quite a lot).

Right now here we go - Thompson maybe.

But Stevens - 150 odd championship games and 70 odd premiership ones. I’d say that’s the exact profile we need. And we need a left back. And he’s 6ft.

And he's 35 in July, so that ought to be the enda that.