Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Thomason inspires a (to me) truly surprising level of hatred from some of our fans.

BWFCi's right that everyone has a price and you can't dictate demand, but I would have thought he's one of Schuey's preferred players. He works hard, which is clearly a non-negotiable. He's been happy to adapt to different positions and different tactical demands. He's left-footed, which is a bonus. He has technical ability, as shown with some of his goals and passes.

Against that, he clearly has issues with discipline and with form. Personally I think they could be largely ironed out if we've got a decent defensive shape/organisation and a decent squad to pick from. He's also singled out for misplaced passes, and sometimes his pass selection has been risky, particularly under Evatt's rotational possession policy, but I think a stronger structure could help him there: I can imagine him curling a through-ball in front of a pacy winger. He certainly wouldn't be among the first I'd seek to shoo out.

And it's also a worry that it's Huddersfield that want him. Yes, they're on a shopping spree, but they've picked up some good players and my main hope is that their coach is a duffer like Duff. We were perhaps lucky once that Charles flopped for them, and also that Collins has gone to a rich lower-tier team. But players that are good enough to be appreciated by rivals - plus Bristol City, whose financial MO is to pick up players they think have high ceilings - not to mention the last four Wanderers managers, all wildly different - might be the metaphorical baby in the bathwater.

[Bertie Wooster]

Thomason inspires a (to me) truly surprising level of hatred from some of our fans.

BWFCi's right that everyone has a price and you can't dictate demand, but I would have thought he's one of Schuey's preferred players. He works hard, which is clearly a non-negotiable. He's been happy to adapt to different positions and different tactical demands. He's left-footed, which is a bonus. He has technical ability, as shown with some of his goals and passes.

Against that, he clearly has issues with discipline and with form. Personally I think they could be largely ironed out if we've got a decent defensive shape/organisation and a decent squad to pick from. He's also singled out for misplaced passes, and sometimes his pass selection has been risky, particularly under Evatt's rotational possession policy, but I think a stronger structure could help him there: I can imagine him curling a through-ball in front of a pacy winger. He certainly wouldn't be among the first I'd seek to shoo out.

And it's also a worry that it's Huddersfield that want him. Yes, they're on a shopping spree, but they've picked up some good players and my main hope is that their coach is a duffer like Duff. We were perhaps lucky once that Charles flopped for them, and also that Collins has gone to a rich lower-tier team. But players that are good enough to be appreciated by rivals - plus Bristol City, whose financial MO is to pick up players they think have high ceilings - not to mention the last four Wanderers managers, all wildly different - might be the metaphorical baby in the bathwater.

What hatred ?

I haven't seen any comment anywhere about anyone hating Thomason, some rate him, some don't, some think that its worth selling him for a decent sum of money, some don't think that we should sell him to a possible competitor, some don't think that we should sell him at all....but hatred towards the lad absolutely not.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

What hatred ?

I haven't seen any comment anywhere about anyone hating Thomason, some rate him, some don't, some think that its worth selling him for a decent sum of money, some don't think that we should sell him to a possible competitor, some don't think that we should sell him at all....but hatred towards the lad absolutely not.

Twitter.

[Worthy4England]

Thomason inspires a (to me) truly surprising level of hatred from some of our fans.

BWFCi's right that everyone has a price and you can't dictate demand, but I would have thought he's one of Schuey's preferred players. He works hard, which is clearly a non-negotiable. He's been happy to adapt to different positions and different tactical demands. He's left-footed, which is a bonus. He has technical ability, as shown with some of his goals and passes.

Against that, he clearly has issues with discipline and with form. Personally I think they could be largely ironed out if we've got a decent defensive shape/organisation and a decent squad to pick from. He's also singled out for misplaced passes, and sometimes his pass selection has been risky, particularly under Evatt's rotational possession policy, but I think a stronger structure could help him there: I can imagine him curling a through-ball in front of a pacy winger. He certainly wouldn't be among the first I'd seek to shoo out.

And it's also a worry that it's Huddersfield that want him. Yes, they're on a shopping spree, but they've picked up some good players and my main hope is that their coach is a duffer like Duff. We were perhaps lucky once that Charles flopped for them, and also that Collins has gone to a rich lower-tier team. But players that are good enough to be appreciated by rivals - plus Bristol City, whose financial MO is to pick up players they think have high ceilings - not to mention the last four Wanderers managers, all wildly different - might be the metaphorical baby in the bathwater.

What hatred ?

I haven't seen any comment anywhere about anyone hating Thomason, some rate him, some don't, some think that its worth selling him for a decent sum of money, some don't think that we should sell him to a possible competitor, some don't think that we should sell him at all....but hatred towards the lad absolutely not.

We might be back on "upsetting ourselves on Twitter, again!" FWIW, I'm net neutral on anyone Schumacher wants to sell, we were that bad last year, he just needs to have the space to re-shape our squad to what he thinks is required. We managed 8th last season. Sure it could be baby out with the bathwater, but the bathwater didn't exactly return us shiny and pink and ready for tucking in. Within that there were plenty who's ceiling looked nearer the bottom than the top of L1. I'd be disappointed if we couldn't make something out of Thommo, but I didn't think he moved forwards last season and maybe he's not really a Captain and that weighed on him.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Sample quotes:

"Me if we finally get rid of that spastic Thomason: <celebration gif>"
"hopefully George Thomason has f*cked off by this time next week. He’s absolutely shocking"
"Would literally drive Thomason to Huddersfield, plays football like the pitch is upside down. Pashun merchant with the technical ability of a German shepard"
"I still don’t understand how Thomason has a job as a footballer"
"4 words for you Schuey... GET. RID. OF. THOMASON"
"Get rid"
"Please take him, thanks"
"I'll start the car"

etc and so on

Doesn't upset me, but it's IMO blind to say there's no hatred, as these things quickly move "IRL" once people feel vindicated

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

FWIW, I'm net neutral on anyone Schumacher wants to sell, we were that bad last year, he just needs to have the space to re-shape our squad to what he thinks is required. We managed 8th last season. Sure it could be baby out with the bathwater, but the bathwater didn't exactly return us shiny and pink and ready for tucking in. Within that there were plenty who's ceiling looked nearer the bottom than the top of L1. I'd be disappointed if we couldn't make something out of Thommo, but I didn't think he moved forwards last season and maybe he's not really a Captain and that weighed on him.

I think it would help to remove the armband. But for whom?

[BWFC_Insane]

FWIW, I'm net neutral on anyone Schumacher wants to sell, we were that bad last year, he just needs to have the space to re-shape our squad to what he thinks is required. We managed 8th last season. Sure it could be baby out with the bathwater, but the bathwater didn't exactly return us shiny and pink and ready for tucking in. Within that there were plenty who's ceiling looked nearer the bottom than the top of L1. I'd be disappointed if we couldn't make something out of Thommo, but I didn't think he moved forwards last season and maybe he's not really a Captain and that weighed on him.

I think it would help to remove the armband. But for whom?

A future signing? I like Thomason but think it pretty much stank giving a young lad captain in the circumstances we were in. The senior players should have taken responsibility but didn’t.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I think it would help to remove the armband. But for whom?

A future signing? I like Thomason but think it pretty much stank giving a young lad captain in the circumstances we were in. The senior players should have taken responsibility but didn’t.

I think we can all imagine a wise old leader being recruited at CB. Trouble is that would leave us with too many in that position - New Skipper, Forino, Toal, Taylor, Johnston, Forrester would make six for two slots. Taylor plays LB but clearly that wasn't the plan when we were targeting Jacob (with Conway also on hand).

Two players for every position is a useful rule of thumb – both for EFL squad rules and for wage bill. And remembering we need space for kids to grow into. But then, getting rid of players was always going to be a slower process. I like Will Forrester but I'd be much happier with him joining Stockport than Tomo going to Huddersfield. Each to their own but if Forrester stays and plays, I won't be screaming at him.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Now we're being linked with Palace's Danny Imray who's a player I saw a lot of last season (on loan at L2 Bromley). A RWB with pace who had the ability to change a game. In the January window, Wycombe reportedly had a £1m bid for him turned down.

He's a bit on the small side and I find it difficult to see him ever turning out for Palace in the Prem. But, L1 might be his level.

Hope not:
.
https://x.com/BlackpoolFC/status/1945045804202520698

[TonyDomingos]

Now we're being linked with Palace's Danny Imray who's a player I saw a lot of last season (on loan at L2 Bromley). A RWB with pace who had the ability to change a game. In the January window, Wycombe reportedly had a £1m bid for him turned down.

He's a bit on the small side and I find it difficult to see him ever turning out for Palace in the Prem. But, L1 might be his level.

Hope not:
.
https://x.com/BlackpoolFC/status/1945045804202520698

Thanks. I'll be interested to see how he gets on.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think it would help to remove the armband. But for whom?

A future signing? I like Thomason but think it pretty much stank giving a young lad captain in the circumstances we were in. The senior players should have taken responsibility but didn’t.

I think we can all imagine a wise old leader being recruited at CB. Trouble is that would leave us with too many in that position - New Skipper, Forino, Toal, Taylor, Johnston, Forrester would make six for two slots. Taylor plays LB but clearly that wasn't the plan when we were targeting Jacob (with Conway also on hand).

Two players for every position is a useful rule of thumb – both for EFL squad rules and for wage bill. And remembering we need space for kids to grow into. But then, getting rid of players was always going to be a slower process. I like Will Forrester but I'd be much happier with him joining Stockport than Tomo going to Huddersfield. Each to their own but if Forrester stays and plays, I won't be screaming at him.

Maybe there is a captain material LB about?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Maybe there is a captain material LB about?

Possibly but I've had a look and nobody springs to mind. Enda Stevens mighta been a contender (acontEnda?) but he's barely played for a long while now.

Full-back might also be a much more demanding role for an oldie than centre-back - they've been working hard on snapping back into defensive shape, so there'd be absolutely no room for a Declan John-style 'coaster'. Could possibly do the thing where 'one stays and one goes' - so either JDC or Tutu fly forward from RB while our LB stays home - but those tactics always strike me as one-dimensional if you're not rotating the threat.

Merging the two convos, it's possible we'll get a warhorse in defensive midfield and sacrifice Thomo if he's the only CM arousing interest. But again - I'd say the current roster of midfielders is more flexible in-game than if one of them is forever stationed in front of the back four. Simons can play much more box-to-box if need be, so can Thomo and Morley, and maybe Sheehan too. But as ever, depends who's available.

[irie Cee Bee]

Would be sad to see Thomo go as I like him as a player, but everyone has a price. We need to fund strikers as it stands now.

Thomo had a poor last season by his standard which to me coincided with 2 things.
1. Being made captain
2. When he reigned in his natural aggressive game to reduce his card intake (indiscipline).

His game suffered as a result, mainly because of #2 in my opinion. He is the type of player we need in our team this season and would be a tough loss, and hard to replace if he is sold because he gives his all out there, always willing to adopt (LCH, #10, #8, he would keep goal if asked) and puts 100% out there everytime.

[Worthy4England]

Sample quotes:

"Me if we finally get rid of that spastic Thomason: <celebration gif>"
"hopefully George Thomason has f*cked off by this time next week. He’s absolutely shocking"
"Would literally drive Thomason to Huddersfield, plays football like the pitch is upside down. Pashun merchant with the technical ability of a German shepard"
"I still don’t understand how Thomason has a job as a footballer"
"4 words for you Schuey... GET. RID. OF. THOMASON"
"Get rid"
"Please take him, thanks"
"I'll start the car"

etc and so on

Doesn't upset me, but it's IMO blind to say there's no hatred, as these things quickly move "IRL" once people feel vindicated

Not something I condone, as you know, and you might count up to a couple of hundred muppets which is still too many, for me the top 4 of those might be a bit choice, the bottom 4 maybe less so, "Get rid" doesn't smack me of seething hatred - it's just someone's opinion. There were 16,000ish ST's last season, having some that are idiots is still a small, if unwanted, percentage.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Been looking through free-transfer centre-backs, 30+, British/Irish. And there's not much.

Maybe you can stretch to a Premier emigre like Craig Dawson (now 35) or Ben Mee (36) - or one who's working his way down, like Grant Hanley (33). But would they justify what for us would be a huge wage and what for them would be a huge drop? Would they stay fit? Can they even play in a back four these days?

Then there are those who never quite made it at the top level but have certainly seen a lot, and are freshly available this summer. Men like Tom Lees, 34 and released by Huddersfield - he's played 493 Champo games. Or Harlee Dean (33, Reading) – 315 Champo appearances, 144 League One. Or Shaun Hutchinson (34, Millwall) - 261 Champo, plus 121 Scottish Prem. But each man played less last season as their bodies creaked...

Beginning to think it's more likely we'll get someone still under contract but not really wanted - and that may take another month to become clear, as teams above us strengthen and push elder statesmen toward the door.

[Spartan2]

Thomason is one of the very few players from last season that I would want to keep, along with Cogley and Morley, the others not so much. Three good players there that managed to do their jobs despite a disaster of a manager and a disaster of a season.

[TonyDomingos]

Matete anyone? He's in the final year of his contract at Sunderland, but has been advised to find a new club. I assume it would be a free transfer.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I would assume nobody knows where Hutch’s ceiling is, so that would seem a good idea.

He needs to play regularly this season, so perhaps the idea was always to send him out. I can certainly see the logic.

It'll be interesting to see what level of loan he gets - my guess would be National League.

If it's not at least National League, it's a poor indication. But as with Eze, it might be better for him to go tier-5 and play every game than be a spare part in League Two (remembering that goalkeepers, unlike attacking midfielders, are rarely rotated in and out).

Goalkeepers' age doesn't matter as much as outfielders' but Hutch isn't young any more - he's 23 in six weeks. If goalkeepers counted against EFL squad limits this would be his second overage season. He's six months older than Sharman-Lowe and Xavier Simons, a year older than Max Conway, 18 months older than Charlie Warren, 3yrs older than Sam Inwood, nearly 5yrs older than the lads who've just signed their first pro terms. I wish Hutch all the very best - I hope he goes to say Rochdale, Alty or Halifax and smashes it, forcing us to a big decision ahead of his final year with us. But he really really needs a run of games, somewhere.

Luke Hutchinson loaned to Alty, for the season. Go get 'em, mate.
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... cham-loan/

[Worthy4England]

Matete anyone? He's in the final year of his contract at Sunderland, but has been advised to find a new club. I assume it would be a free transfer.

Not sure Schumacher is a big fan?

[sonicthewhite]

Got a funny feeling that our next captain is already here. Forino.