In, Out, Shake It All About: January 2025 Transfer Window

[Mar]

Yeah look, I think everyone can agree that Etete looked a poor signing on paper, and has worked out even worse in practice. In my opinion him getting injured will probably have very little bearing on us making the playoffs, though.

There's a strong possibility that he'll not get over the injury and that the only contribution he'll have this season is the penalty give away.

I suspect we signed him to give us a big lump option up top and ease some of the fans ire of Charles going.

Either way, I just hope that if he does turn out to be utterly useless, that we haven't already got him signed to a contract for next season, ala N'lundulu.

[TonyDomingos]

Either way, I just hope that if he does turn out to be utterly useless, that we haven't already got him signed to a contract for next season, ala N'lundulu.

As has been mentioned, he's very recently signed a two year extension with Cardiff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... til%202027.

[jmjhb]

I struggle to get worked up about the loan signing of a fourth-choice striker being somewhat inauspicious.

[TonyDomingos]

I struggle to get worked up about the loan signing of a fourth-choice striker being somewhat inauspicious.

Indeed. He's only with us for three months.

He's Prime Drogba though (I've laid the bait; will DSB respond? )

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I struggle to get worked up about the loan signing of a fourth-choice striker being somewhat inauspicious.

Indeed. He's only with us for three months.

He's Prime Drogba though (I've laid the bait; will DSB respond? )

[TonyDomingos]

I struggle to get worked up about the loan signing of a fourth-choice striker being somewhat inauspicious.

Indeed. He's only with us for three months.

He's Prime Drogba though (I've laid the bait; will DSB respond? )

[The_Gun]

Trusted Twitter source, ‘Agent McGee’, is suggesting Markham might be on his way out.

[nicholaldo]

Trusted Twitter source, ‘Agent McGee’, is suggesting Markham might be on his way out.

I'm not sure he's quite the trusted source he claims to be but it does seems to be correct.

[The_Gun]

Trusted Twitter source, ‘Agent McGee’, is suggesting Markham might be on his way out.

I'm not sure he's quite the trusted source he claims to be but it does seems to be correct.

Yeah I was being sarcastic, but this does seem to be gaining some internet momentum.

[Bertie Wooster]

Trusted Twitter source, ‘Agent McGee’, is suggesting Markham might be on his way out.

I'm not sure he's quite the trusted source he claims to be but it does seems to be correct.

1 or 2 saying that Markham's already gone ?

[Worthy4England]

One thing I have noticed, is every interview so far, Schumacher has clearly been badged as Head Coach. Not sure whether that's an indication that there will be a replacement, but if not, then I suspect they'd have to change his business cards...

[BWFC_Insane]

Why would they let Markham lead on recruitment of a new manager then let him go? That makes no sense. Neither part of it makes sense.

[dave the minion]

Agree with that - was just about to post the same thing.

However, to counter it slightly, most Bolton fans wanted Shumacher as the preferred candidate, so how much actual leading on it did Markham have to do? SS was already identified, presumably applied, and I can imagine the interview went something along the lines of:

CM: so, do you want the job or not?
SS: yeah, I'd love it please. There's possibly an issue with my compensation and untangling it all from Stoke etc though?
CM: OK, leave that with us, we'll sort
SS: Great. Thanks. And what about signings? I assume I'll be able to make a few at some point?
CM: Yeah, don't worry about that. it'll be reet....
SS: Excellent. Where do I sign?

[Bertie Wooster]

Why would they let Markham lead on recruitment of a new manager then let him go? That makes no sense. Neither part of it makes sense.

Let's be honest since Wembley there has been quite a bit that's gone on that hasn't made sense. The positive is that we've now got Schumacher and for me the more decision making he's allowed the better.

[BWFC_Insane]

Why would they let Markham lead on recruitment of a new manager then let him go? That makes no sense. Neither part of it makes sense.

Let's be honest since Wembley there has been quite a bit that's gone on that hasn't made sense. The positive is that we've now got Schumacher and for me the more decision making he's allowed the better.

Oh don’t get me wrong I don’t think Markham at least from the outside has been a positive. Indeed I’m sorry but I just think a manager should run it and appoint their own recruitment team - I’m old fashioned I know.

But I’m not seeing rumours people say are there as having much logic given we know Markham effectively was tasked with picking a manager. Unless Iles mis reported that it makes no sense. And Schuey was asked specifically about the recruitment process and Markhams role by Iles early into his role so one assumes that Markham was very much not leaving at that stage.

Something isn’t adding up to me. Unless Schuey has come in and said ‘sorry this ain’t working’ which he has form for doing.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Something isn’t adding up to me. Unless Schuey has come in and said ‘sorry this ain’t working’ which he has form for doing.

[citation required]

I do agree it'd be odd. And I think a fair few people who might be celebrating now could also be angry if we get to summer and get told recruitment has been delayed by the change in set-up.

I think during Markham's time we've made some good signings and some bad signings. It happens. I also think that if the model is, as we've been told, "gaffer suggests player type, gets list of possibilities" then that's more on the gaffer than Markham. If that's true, it's not Markham's fault Evatt wanted Randall, or that the board signed the cheque then sacked the gaffer.

To take another example, Schumacher said he approved Etete, so it's not as if Markham forced the signing. True, maybe he could have suggested other names and actually I hope he did, cos that's his job, but for some reason everyone involved in the process kept okaying Etete. Now, that might speak to Worthy's fears about buck-passing and groupthink, but it doesn't (to me) mean Markham has been ruling with an iron fist and overpowering all opposition.

I get that giving the manager more say gives him more power, but what if your shiny new Sam is more Lee than Allardyce? The point of the structure is to make continuity easier. Must we really rip it up and start again every, what, three years? Two?

[jmjhb]

I haven't heard a thing, so can't comment on its veracity.

I hardly think the signing of a fourth choice striker would tip the scales in this regard.

Maybe, after bringing in the first choice replacement for manager, he fancies a new challenge and has been offered a role elsewhere?

[BWFC_Insane]

Something isn’t adding up to me. Unless Schuey has come in and said ‘sorry this ain’t working’ which he has form for doing.

[citation required]

I do agree it'd be odd. And I think a fair few people who might be celebrating now could also be angry if we get to summer and get told recruitment has been delayed by the change in set-up.

I think during Markham's time we've made some good signings and some bad signings. It happens. I also think that if the model is, as we've been told, "gaffer suggests player type, gets list of possibilities" then that's more on the gaffer than Markham. If that's true, it's not Markham's fault Evatt wanted Randall, or that the board signed the cheque then sacked the gaffer.

To take another example, Schumacher said he approved Etete, so it's not as if Markham forced the signing. True, maybe he could have suggested other names and actually I hope he did, cos that's his job, but for some reason everyone involved in the process kept okaying Etete. Now, that might speak to Worthy's fears about buck-passing and groupthink, but it doesn't (to me) mean Markham has been ruling with an iron fist and overpowering all opposition.

I get that giving the manager more say gives him more power, but what if your shiny new Sam is more Lee than Allardyce? The point of the structure is to make continuity easier. Must we really rip it up and start again every, what, three years? Two?

Maybe I was a bit unfair - just talk he fell out with sporting director Walter’s at Stoke that led to him going as it was ‘either or’. But that’s just talk.

I think the problem is that my experience is that an overarching blueprint with a sporting director tends to not work because sometimes you need different things. You might go up and need a different approach. And managers are responsible for results so the buck stops with them whereas as worthy says the issue with a sporting director on top is it means different things in different clubs and responsibilities and buck passing can end up in built.

I agree you are needing a good manager but you do in either model. We don’t know for sure what Scheuy thought with the signings he’s not going to come out and say ‘look I said Kion was an injury waiting to happen but he’d already signed so I’m stuck.’

But broadly not sure whatever rumours people have heard seem to stack up with the logic based on the reporting round Schuey’s appointment. So I’d assume that the rumours are unfounded tbh.

[The_Gun]

‘Overarching blueprints with sporting directors’ are in place at every single successful club* I can think of.

Go down the Premier League table and you’ll find 20 clubs with that structure.








*and also the unsuccessful ones

[BWFC_Insane]

‘Overarching blueprints with sporting directors’ are in place at every single successful club* I can think of.

Go down the Premier League table and you’ll find 20 clubs with that structure.








*and also the unsuccessful ones

I get that. But a few years ago every club was trying to emulate pep and Man City. Everyone. Including us. Now nobody is. Modern football is filled with everyone trying to copy the same trends regardless of whether they actually make sense or even work. And as I say sporting directors are not all equal.

Wrexham for example don’t have a sporting director or director of football. They have people who know the game well running it and then an experienced manager. A model that worked well for decades I might add….