Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Little bit of a muscle-flex from Fergal Harkin: “I am delighted to have him join my team."

I do like Harkin’s style so far.

[KeyserSoze]

Little bit of a muscle-flex from Fergal Harkin: “I am delighted to have him join my team."

I do like Harkin’s style so far.

I'm impressed that they managed five individual mentions of Fergal Harkin (and derivations thereof) in a press release of 300 words on a subject that isn't him. The phrase "This appointment, which was overseen by Harkin" seems particularly shoehorned in!

[BWFC_Insane]

Little bit of a muscle-flex from Fergal Harkin: “I am delighted to have him join my team."

I do like Harkin’s style so far.

I'm impressed that they managed five individual mentions of Fergal Harkin (and derivations thereof) in a press release of 300 words on a subject that isn't him. The phrase "This appointment, which was overseen by Harkin" seems particularly shoehorned in!

Done deliberately but I think it helps clarify the structure and plan. Which is always a good thing.

I note in his first interview to introduce him to the club on the official club website and video Markham was asked what his role would entail and his answer was ‘I’m not going to give it away we have a culture here of doing then telling not telling then doing’. Or words to that effect. Which I think is maybe instructive as to what happened subsequently and potentially why Harkin is being pushed far more prominently forwards and being very very candid and open.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Little bit of a muscle-flex from Fergal Harkin: “I am delighted to have him join my team."

I do like Harkin’s style so far.

I'm impressed that they managed five individual mentions of Fergal Harkin (and derivations thereof) in a press release of 300 words on a subject that isn't him. The phrase "This appointment, which was overseen by Harkin" seems particularly shoehorned in!

ha! I guess that is partly an attempt to avoid “Schuey hiring his mates”/“jobs for the boys”/“Evatt hiring Ormerod” squeals, but obviously it hasn’t stopped some of Twitter’s mouth-breathers holding forth.

[The_Gun]

Bolton news report…never heard of the lad.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ty-jacobs/

Blimey, it’s been a thoroughly uninspiring set of links thus far, eh?

Another one I’ve never seen play, so I’ll hold off making a final judgement, but a 24 year old who couldn’t get a game for a relegation threatened Hull isn’t exactly the profile I hoped we’d be going for.

[Worthy4England]

Bolton news report…never heard of the lad.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ty-jacobs/

Blimey, it’s been a thoroughly uninspiring set of links thus far, eh?

Another one I’ve never seen play, so I’ll hold off making a final judgement, but a 24 year old who couldn’t get a game for a relegation threatened Hull isn’t exactly the profile I hoped we’d be going for.

Hear you, but isn't this almost precisely the profile we said we'd likely be going for?

[BWFC_Insane]

Bolton news report…never heard of the lad.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ty-jacobs/

Blimey, it’s been a thoroughly uninspiring set of links thus far, eh?

Another one I’ve never seen play, so I’ll hold off making a final judgement, but a 24 year old who couldn’t get a game for a relegation threatened Hull isn’t exactly the profile I hoped we’d be going for.

I mean he’s played 20 odd championship games which is more games at that level than most of our squad isn’t it?

Depends how you look at it. Won’t have anyone jumping up and down with excitement but then as worthy says isn’t that exactly what we’ve been told we need? The solid citizens who can do a job each week?

[Bertie Wooster]

Does anyone really think that we will get a really exciting signing or two ? personally I'm not so sure.

Its early days I know, but its all a bit flat IMO.

[BWFC_Insane]

Does anyone really think that we will get a really exciting signing or two ? personally I'm not so sure.

Its early days I know, but its all a bit flat IMO.

I don’t think we will but then we’ve had a load of exciting signings last few years and I’m sick of it.

We need people who turn up each week not flash Harry’s.

[Bertie Wooster]

Does anyone really think that we will get a really exciting signing or two ? personally I'm not so sure.

Its early days I know, but its all a bit flat IMO.

I don’t think we will but then we’ve had a load of exciting signings last few years and I’m sick of it.

We need people who turn up each week not flash Harry’s.

By excited I'm not talking flash Harry's or more half socks type players, I'm meaning a couple of signings that we think will significantly improve us the areas of the pitch most needed in regards to previous experience, mentality, stature etc.

[BWFC_Insane]

Does anyone really think that we will get a really exciting signing or two ? personally I'm not so sure.

Its early days I know, but its all a bit flat IMO.

I don’t think we will but then we’ve had a load of exciting signings last few years and I’m sick of it.

We need people who turn up each week not flash Harry’s.

By excited I'm not talking flash Harry's or more half socks type players, I'm meaning a couple of signings that we think will significantly improve us the areas of the pitch most needed in regards to previous experience, mentality, stature etc.

Yeah but I think the plan is to get those sorts without signing the obvious ones everyone else is trying to.

[The_Gun]

Bolton news report…never heard of the lad.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ty-jacobs/

Blimey, it’s been a thoroughly uninspiring set of links thus far, eh?

Another one I’ve never seen play, so I’ll hold off making a final judgement, but a 24 year old who couldn’t get a game for a relegation threatened Hull isn’t exactly the profile I hoped we’d be going for.

I mean he’s played 20 odd championship games which is more games at that level than most of our squad isn’t it?

Depends how you look at it. Won’t have anyone jumping up and down with excitement but then as worthy says isn’t that exactly what we’ve been told we need? The solid citizens who can do a job each week?

Yeah, but 22 games in the Championship and 31 in National League North is the sum of his league experience. That’s not very much by the age of 24.

[BWFC_Insane]

Bolton news report…never heard of the lad.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ty-jacobs/

Blimey, it’s been a thoroughly uninspiring set of links thus far, eh?

Another one I’ve never seen play, so I’ll hold off making a final judgement, but a 24 year old who couldn’t get a game for a relegation threatened Hull isn’t exactly the profile I hoped we’d be going for.

I mean he’s played 20 odd championship games which is more games at that level than most of our squad isn’t it?

Depends how you look at it. Won’t have anyone jumping up and down with excitement but then as worthy says isn’t that exactly what we’ve been told we need? The solid citizens who can do a job each week?

Yeah, but 22 games in the Championship and 31 in National League North is the sum of his league experience. That’s not very much by the age of 24.

It’s not and it’s a worry. Can only hope the judgement is right this summer. And we get a bit of luck.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yeah, but 22 games in the Championship and 31 in National League North is the sum of his league experience. That’s not very much by the age of 24.

Seems to be a lot more of this type nowadays. Spurs just released a goalkeeper who’d been there a decade, played for them once and only had two loan spells. He’s 26.

It’s understandable to ask if Jacob’s a better bet than Conway, who was POTY at a fourth-tier club. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

[TonyDomingos]

He must have potential: Hull gave him a three year contract last year and the BN reports that three other clubs are interested in signing him.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

He must have potential: Hull gave him a three year contract last year and the BN reports that three other clubs are interested in signing him.

Yep I would hope there’s something there. But Hull’s not a brilliantly run club, the foreign club could be in the Isle of Man for all we know, and the other League One clubs interested could be Burton and Northampton.

I’m not hugely down on him and if he comes he’ll get a fair crack from me, but it’s not exactly a hugely exciting first signing. I agree with BWFCi that we don’t need Hollywood signings but there’s a bit about this that doesn’t feel very promising - from the outside.

[TonyDomingos]

He must have potential: Hull gave him a three year contract last year and the BN reports that three other clubs are interested in signing him.

Yep I would hope there’s something there. But Hull’s not a brilliantly run club, the foreign club could be in the Isle of Man for all we know, and the other League One clubs interested could be Burton and Northampton.

I’m not hugely down on him and if he comes he’ll get a fair crack from me, but it’s not exactly a hugely exciting first signing. I agree with BWFCi that we don’t need Hollywood signings but there’s a bit about this that doesn’t feel very promising - from the outside.

Pay attention at the back! We've been told not to expect "exciting".

Also, if I was doing the club's comms, I'd advise starting with a couple of "meh" signings - for example, a loan 'keeper and an anonymous full back from 'Ull - before ramping up a bit with a known senior type and then, BOOM!, Jatta rocks up in early July. By that point, we'll all have our berths on HMS P!ss the League.

[BWFC_Insane]

He must have potential: Hull gave him a three year contract last year and the BN reports that three other clubs are interested in signing him.

Yep I would hope there’s something there. But Hull’s not a brilliantly run club, the foreign club could be in the Isle of Man for all we know, and the other League One clubs interested could be Burton and Northampton.

I’m not hugely down on him and if he comes he’ll get a fair crack from me, but it’s not exactly a hugely exciting first signing. I agree with BWFCi that we don’t need Hollywood signings but there’s a bit about this that doesn’t feel very promising - from the outside.

Pay attention at the back! We've been told not to expect "exciting".

Also, if I was doing the club's comms, I'd advise starting with a couple of "meh" signings - for example, a loan 'keeper and an anonymous full back from 'Ull - before ramping up a bit with a known senior type and then, BOOM!, Jatta rocks up in early July. By that point, we'll all have our berths on HMS P!ss the League.

Jatta is league two. Exciting would be getting someone with experience from the prem. One can dream.

[Bertie Wooster]

In terms of strikers I wouldn't mind Jatta or Dalby at all, both better No9's than we have - but exciting for me would be a Michael Smith type or someone who has numerous championship starts.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

In terms of strikers I wouldn't mind Jatta or Dalby at all, both better No9's than we have - but exciting for me would be a Michael Smith type or someone who has numerous championship starts.

I get what you mean but I suspect Smith, 34 in October, would be a huge financial risk. For me, Niall Ennis would be an exciting signing, so would Nathan Lowe on loan. I know we need a left-back and they’re rarely thrilling captures per se, but I think even a six-foot defensive midfielder might be more widely applauded as a signing. But, again, clubs don’t really get to choose which order their signings are made…