Tooling up: The summer 2024 transfer thread

[dave the minion]

Really excited for the season now its right upon us.

Some very shrewd & bold business done - even though some inevitably will ('cos its what they do..), but surely its hard to argue with the support the board have given the recruitment team, and the recruitment itself. Surely.....

From memory - as I'm too lazy to check - I make it Forino, Lolos, Schon, Southwood, Horsey-Tutu, Matete, Arfield, Macatee (likely) & possibly one or two more brought in. In anyone's books that's a hell of a window, and even the most ardent doubters amongst us must acknowledge that most problem areas are now covered by quality additions?


There's still no guarantee of going up of course, but we've given ourselves every chance and certainly responded to what some of our peers have been doing this summer. I would imagine every team in the division - including Brum - looking at our squad now and thinking we are odds on for going up...

[Bertie Wooster]

There's still no guarantee of going up of course, but we've given ourselves every chance and certainly responded to what some of our peers have been doing this summer. I would imagine every team in the division - including Brum - looking at our squad now and thinking we are odds on for going up...

There will be a lot more pressure on Evatt given these signings and the squad he now has - he has no excuses, the expectation was high, however with these signings its even higher.

[officer_dibble]

Yeah agreed Dave - even with/without Macatee the board have given the squad top quality backing.

Success potential to me rides massively on the wingbacks - the marquee signing being Schon. Will he give us a consistent outlet down the left - and if not can we keep Randell fit? And does Desmond give us the flair and delivery that JDC doesn’t have in his locker - not that JDC shouldn’t start at RWB but he needs pushing and I think he played as well and as consistently well as could be hoped for last season.

Finally we now have an answer to the midfield issue when Sheehan gets ‘found out’. Get Matete in the team alongside Thomason and it might have league one Holden/Muamba vibes where two can do the job of three, and free up what should now be a very exciting front 3.

[boltonboris]

Really excited for the season now its right upon us.

Each to their own, but I still don't feel quite ready. How last season ended took a lot of me that I've still not got back. Was honestly considering jacking my ST in, not out of petulance, or anger, but I just feel like I've lost my mojo. Not seen any pre-season games, highlights, or content. Just not appealed to me

I hope that changes by the time next Sunday afternoon comes around

[GhostoftheBok]

There's still no guarantee of going up of course, but we've given ourselves every chance and certainly responded to what some of our peers have been doing this summer. I would imagine every team in the division - including Brum - looking at our squad now and thinking we are odds on for going up...

Well, you can look at it another way too.

There are criteria for a top signing at any level:

- Good age
- Reliable recent fitness records
- Proven at your level or above

Without including McAtee, as we've not made the announcement yet, we've not signed a single outfield player who meets all three of those criteria.

Schon and Lolos meet the first two, but not the third. Tutu, Forino and Matete fail on the second. Arfield misses the first one.

I am hopeful, but our "great business" comes with a lot of caveats and these lads have to prove they can stay fit and perform.

McAtee represents our first signing to tick all three boxes.

[dave the minion]

Oi - quit it you. Right now.

Its not your role to be the negative one on here - you're normally an advocate of mine with my (often misplaced...) optimism.

There's plenty of others on here that can drag us all down, we don't need you doing it as well (even if you are just being realistic)

[GhostoftheBok]

Oi - quit it you. Right now.

Its not your role to be the negative one on here - you're normally an advocate of mine with my (often misplaced...) optimism.

There's plenty of others on here that can drag us all down, we don't need you doing it as well (even if you are just being realistic)

Ha, sorry.

Positive take:

Southwood - The vital cover for Baxter, who is a top keeper when fit. Southwood was in the top 6 League One keepers last season.
Forino - The first time we've had real cover for Rico and a good defender in his own right.
Schon - The potential to be too good for this league.
Tutu - Also could be too good for this division and, like Schon, finally gives us dribbling against isolated fullbacks.
Matete - Could be the best midfielder in the division in this system, once up to speed.
Arfield - An experienced player with Premier League quality.
Lolos - Great frame, decent technical game and lovely creativity.
McAtee - BTEC Thomas Mueller. A proper space-finding player with one-touch creativity and a variety of finishes.

We're winning a treble.

[dave the minion]

Thats more like it!!!

[BWFC_Insane]

I think it’s the first time we’ve assembled a squad without obvious gaps in it. Not numbers wise but just attributes and position wise. Two wing backs for each side. Another grafter in midfield. Options up front that aren’t ancient or Dan and cover for the big towering defender.

If I was to be picky I’d say we still lack delivery from wide areas and set pieces - I don’t know till I’ve seen Schon and Tutu but neither sound or appear that type. We went up on the basis of Morais putting it in the right areas from set pieces and open play for half a season and I still think consistent delivery is something we lack. Morley is good on set pieces but doesn’t necessarily play.

[GhostoftheBok]

Sheehan has amongst the best set-piece accuracy rates.

It's the lefty that's the issue. Randell and Schon both take decent corners, but we need a specialist. Same with having a reliable left foot around the top of the 18 yard box.

We're targeting the right kinds of players, so we'll see what we get done. I'd imagine we're all fairly relaxed now.

[BWFC_Insane]

Sheehan has amongst the best set-piece accuracy rates.

It's the lefty that's the issue. Randell and Schon both take decent corners, but we need a specialist. Same with having a reliable left foot around the top of the 18 yard box.

We're targeting the right kinds of players, so we'll see what we get done. I'd imagine we're all fairly relaxed now.

But the delivery into the box from our wing backs has been sub par last season. It’s that ability to get a yard and put a cross just in front of the penalty spot for someone to attack consistently. We’ve never really had that sort of player. Morais, Matty Taylor etc…..

[GhostoftheBok]

But the delivery into the box from our wing backs has been sub par last season. It’s that ability to get a yard and put a cross just in front of the penalty spot for someone to attack consistently. We’ve never really had that sort of player. Morais, Matty Taylor etc…..

It's not how we plan to score a goal. We are going to play for cut-backs. There will be more driven, low crosses this season; but it's not what we'll recruit for.

I'd have suggested we might want to hijack David Keillor-Dunn's move to Barnsley, but the lot around here are confident he's sold on that move now.

Lefties are at a premium, as ever.

[GhostoftheBok]

McAtee official now. Good stuff.

[sonicthewhite]

McAtee official now. Good stuff.

Bloody hell Ghost, you're quick off the mark. Even the BN haven't broken it yet!

[sonicthewhite]

Annnnnd as I typed that last message the buggers go and break it

[truewhite15]

He's got a bloody daft number though. #McAteeOut

If I'm right, that leaves us with 24 players to be registered for 22 places. Leaving out CMG would mean we only have one really awkward conversation to have, but gives us another awkward potential conversation in January when it's CMG would be clamouring to be re-registered.

Unless, of course, the squad size is indeed 25. Or we're about to announce some unexpected exits.

[dave the minion]

He's got a bloody daft number though. #McAteeOut

Is that 45 as in 4+5 = 9 - a hint at where he thinks he will/should be playing for us?

[GhostoftheBok]

Bloody hell Ghost, you're quick off the mark. Even the BN haven't broken it yet!

I think it'll come out that there's not been any doubt about this one for some time, it's just been a case of Luton letting him go and him listening to other offers just in case.

CMG and his brother James have been pretty sure he was coming here for a while.

[HMX]

All aboard? #hms

[BorsdaneWhite]

Mcateematetetutu