January 2022 Transfer Thread

[TANGODANCER]

need better players or better coaching and given they aren’t binning Evatt we need better defensive players in midfield and the back four.

And a partridge in a pear tree..! A song being sung other places than round a Christmas tree. Right now we're struggling to turn a team out. Let's get what we have fit and it'll be a start. We're not exactly a team of duck-eggs. Sam Allardyce is a distant memory.

[Prufrock]

I agree. We signed something like 20 players in that first window, with the Phoenix nonsense too. Jan was great. Last summer was fine, could see the logic and tough to know budgets. 7/10 overall for me on recruitment.

Main criticisms for me were undue loyalty to the likes of Tutte, gamble on Gordon and Brocky as full back cover (though both of those might be explained by budgets) and his keeper blindspot, which can't, IMO.

[Bertie Wooster]

Merry Xmas all.

The players linked so far Charles, Sadlier are better than we currently have IMO in regards to experience in League One , Charles although 'apparently' a one season wonder is rated highly by almost everyone who has managed him (Kevin Davies has said some really good things about him today) & has attributes that most of our squad don't have i.e. pace, power, works his socks off, won't be bullied.

Sadlier looks ok but do we really need another winger, but IMO is probably better than Amaechi in regards of being ready & not a young prospect. I still think that Dan Crowley at Cheltenham would be a very good signing, but we do need to address the powder puff defensive & goalkeeping issues and bring in a couple of no nonsense hard men, including a combative, big ball winner in midfield.

[GhostoftheBok]

Plus side, even if we are paying more than I'd like, is that we look to be getting a key player in early. It's hard to criticise us targeting a player and getting it done.

Hopefully we can do the same with a right back and the others we need.

Regarding his 'keeper blind spot, Pruf, yeah. I think Evatt still believes that his sides need a sweeper more than a 'keeper. He's dead wrong

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

It's hard to criticise us targeting a player and getting it done.

Plenty will have a go though

[The_Gun]

It's hard to criticise us targeting a player and getting it done.

Plenty will have a go though

And they would be well within their rights to do so. We don’t have to agree with everything the club does.

[GhostoftheBok]

And they would be well within their rights to do so. We don’t have to agree with everything the club does.

I don't know whether Charles will work out (assuming he signs) or not; but I would be pleased to see the club get their primary targets, as that shows basic competence in one area. We've been a trainwreck for a while now and I'm pleased to see us just get lads through the door early.

Whether they make us better (or actually good) is another issue. Being able to get the deals done on a consistent basis will be a good step. Hopefully that goes hand in hand with them being well scouted targets, but if not we will have to make changes down the line.

Right now we have Evatt and his team drawing up lists and all I want to see is him getting the players he wants. If he messes it up then I'd like to see that competency maintained for the next manager to benefit from; though I think Evatt will be okay.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

It's hard to criticise us targeting a player and getting it done.

Plenty will have a go though

And they would be well within their rights to do so. We don’t have to agree with everything the club does.

Nope, everyone has the right to disagree, and some pursue that right enthusiastically

[TANGODANCER]

Problem with new players isn't whether they are good, but whether they will fit into the side. We've seen potential world beaters oft times who just couldn't hack it in our squad.
We don't need any Madisons and the numbers of Brattens etc, are too many to count.

[GhostoftheBok]

Nope, everyone has the right to disagree, and some pursue that right enthusiastically

There are some on social media who saw the 80s milk advert and still aren't having it that we would ever look to Accrington Stanley for players. You have to hand it to the Milk Marketing Board.

[GhostoftheBok]

Problem with new players isn't whether they are good, but whether they will fit into the side. We've seen potential world beaters oft times who just couldn't hack it in our squad.
We don't need any Madisons and the numbers of Brattens etc, are too many to count.

I think Marcus's issues were a bit more than not fitting into the side. It was more of a Sordell situation. I wouldn't like to speculate on Charles' mental health, but I don't see any reason to think he'll have issues there. Throw in that he's local and already living in the area with connections to the staff at the club and I'd say he has a better than average chance of settling in well.

I think a lot of us (me included) were hoping for more of a Lukaku than a Suarez, but if he can add some spark in the attack then I'm all for it. The "give it to Dapo" strategy is no longer cutting it.

[The_Gun]

And they would be well within their rights to do so. We don’t have to agree with everything the club does.

I don't know whether Charles will work out (assuming he signs) or not; but I would be pleased to see the club get their primary targets, as that shows basic competence in one area. We've been a trainwreck for a while now and I'm pleased to see us just get lads through the door early.

Whether they make us better (or actually good) is another issue. Being able to get the deals done on a consistent basis will be a good step. Hopefully that goes hand in hand with them being well scouted targets, but if not we will have to make changes down the line.

Right now we have Evatt and his team drawing up lists and all I want to see is him getting the players he wants. If he messes it up then I'd like to see that competency maintained for the next manager to benefit from; though I think Evatt will be okay.

I get the point you’re trying to make, but I would suggest that it doesn’t matter how decisively we act if we’re pursuing the wrong players for the wrong prices.

Ultimately if £300k is below what Charles is worth in next month’s window then it’s a good deal. Markham and Evatt must feel very strongly that this is the case. It’s certainly a bold move, and of course I hope it pays off, but it doesn’t look a sure fire home run to this, admittedly ignorant, observer.

[TANGODANCER]

Problem with new players isn't whether they are good, but whether they will fit into the side. We've seen potential world beaters oft times who just couldn't hack it in our squad.
We don't need any Madisons and the numbers of Brattens etc, are too many to count.

I think Marcus's issues were a bit more than not fitting into the side. It was more of a Sordell situation. I wouldn't like to speculate on Charles' mental health, but I don't see any reason to think he'll have issues there. Throw in that he's local and already living in the area with connections to the staff at the club and I'd say he has a better than average chance of settling in well.

I think a lot of us (me included) were hoping for more of a Lukaku than a Suarez, but if he can add some spark in the attack then I'm all for it. The "give it to Dapo" strategy is no longer cutting it.

I think you may have misunderstood me on fitting in, Ghost. I'm talking pure football and adapting to our style of play. That said, old-fashioned as I undoubtedly am, the said style of play we adapt is winding me up. We allow ourselves to be pushed back and penned in our own half, and to often our own box, game after game. Almost every game now we're scored against often by Moss Bank Park soft goals and we can't make any impression on opposition defences despite chasing he game..I'm only stating what every fan already knows, but the facts remain.

We've played what, twenty odd games in this league? ..and won one of the last five. Teams/managers, know how to beat us.That's the reality of it against what might have been. We were up the top end and now are 15th of 24. Injuries and Covid taken into account, we can't afford to lose many more, and that's a stone cold fact..All these are reasons why we need team players rather than superstars.

[Mar]

Problem with new players isn't whether they are good, but whether they will fit into the side. We've seen potential world beaters oft times who just couldn't hack it in our squad.
We don't need any Madisons and the numbers of Brattens etc, are too many to count.

I think Marcus's issues were a bit more than not fitting into the side. It was more of a Sordell situation. I wouldn't like to speculate on Charles' mental health, but I don't see any reason to think he'll have issues there. Throw in that he's local and already living in the area with connections to the staff at the club and I'd say he has a better than average chance of settling in well.

I think a lot of us (me included) were hoping for more of a Lukaku than a Suarez, but if he can add some spark in the attack then I'm all for it. The "give it to Dapo" strategy is no longer cutting it.

I think you may have misunderstood me on fitting in, Ghost. I'm talking pure football and adapting to our style of play. That said, old-fashioned as I undoubtedly am, the said style of play we adapt is winding me up. We allow ourselves to be pushed back and penned in our own half, and to often our own box, game after game. Almost every game now we're scored against often by Moss Bank Park soft goals and we can't make any impression on opposition defences despite chasing he game..I'm only stating what every fan already knows, but the facts remain.

We've played what, twenty odd games in this league? ..and won one of the last five. Teams/managers, know how to beat us.That's the reality of it against what might have been. We were up the top end and now are 15th of 24. Injuries and Covid taken into account, we can't afford to lose many more, and that's a stone cold fact..All these are reasons why we need team players rather than superstars.

I'd like to think that we've played thr majority of the top teams in the league already and got a lot of the lower table sides left to play. Add to that the unfortunate injury scenario and we would likely have a better chance this season.

The seasons all good when we're aiming for something ala last season. I think we'll struggle when motivation isn't there and there's a dawning realisation that we may end up midtable. That being said we're not a club that is known for lingering in midtable mediocrity, we're either up or down. Can't imagine us not trying for the playoffs this season, even if we don't manage to kick on to the next level

[GhostoftheBok]

I think you may have misunderstood me on fitting in, Ghost. I'm talking pure football and adapting to our style of play.

That's why I said there was more going on with Maddison than not fitting in as a player in the 11. I don't think the type of player he was was the issue, I think they failed to appreciate how much he was struggling with his mental health.

Any time a team isn't playing well people will get frustrated with aspects of play. The same things that have people purring when it works often has people complaining when it doesn't - as it's end results that matter. Teams do know how to beat us, so we need tools in the toolbelt that make us better at the basics and less predictable in the final third.

As I say, I don't know if Charles will work out or not - but I do think he'll make us less predictable in that 30 yards around the opposition goal. It's one cog in the machine. We need a lot more in. If I had to bet I'd say the lad will do well here, but it matters what we get in around him. Just putting Charles in the current lot won't turn us into a good side, we have too many issues right now for one player to fix.

[TANGODANCER]

I like and agree with your hopes Mar, but it has to happen sooner rather than later. The fans are the all-important element with any club, and they're impatient right now. What we really need, in my opinion, of course, is a midfield/defender hard man. A Dave Mackay, Jimmy Case,Tommy Smith, Kev Nolan, Rudock ...in short, a fighter who doesn't hang about shadowing players, a pit bull who wants the ball and frightens the opposition into mistakes. Possession is fine as a statistic, but it doesn't win game, scoring goals does and our pat-a-cake passing at the back means nothing at all when the final whistle goes and we've lost 0-1 again. Right now we're as frightening as fairy cakes at a barbecue. We're being bullied in a tough league, so even an Andy Todd would do no harm right now.

[Mar]

I like and agree with your hopes Mar, but it has to happen sooner rather than later.

In general, I think it'll all be fine as long as we're on an upward trajectory. Take Evatt's philosophy at the start of last season with the likes of Brandon Comley. Things weren't working and people were frustrated to the point where we would think it's not going to work long term. Reality of the situation is we weren't a million miles away from converting the possession dominance into points. Same story this season. If we keep the possession for large swathes and prevent the opposition from doing their thing then the right personnel should ensure that we're heading in the right direction.

And yes, I get it that not everyone agrees with stats as the be all and end all of football, but as far as i'm concerned its the best metric we have for defining success and those who are calculating success of teams (the gambling companies) seem to see Evatt's tactics as heading in the right direction.

The fans are the all-important element with any club, and they're impatient right now. What we really need, in my opinion, of course, is a midfield/defender hard man. A Dave Mackay, Jimmy Case,Tommy Smith, Kev Nolan, Rudock ...in short, a fighter who doesn't hang about shadowing players, a pit bull who wants the ball and frightens the opposition into mistakes. Possession is fine as a statistic, but it doesn't win game, scoring goals does and our pat-a-cake passing at the back means nothing at all when the final whistle goes and we've lost 0-1 again. Right now we're as frightening as fairy cakes at a barbecue. We're being bullied in a tough league, so even an Andy Todd would do no harm right now.

I'm intended to agree here and i'm sure most would agree, even Evatt. Sarcevic getting binned definitely didn't help. Covid has bought us a decent amount of time to refresh the squad and get people back from injury. We're a bit of a soft touch in parts. I don't think the signings have been bad, far from it, but I do think that we're missing an edge that would make us that bit more effective.

[Worthy4England]

Fairly simple to me on the signing side. Manager knows who he wants, how much he's got, what they cost and what's expected of him. He signs who he can within that. They make us successful, people will forget a few twitter posts...they don't and I'm sure, as it always it'll get mentioned in dispatches...

[nicholaldo]

The Irish Independent is reporting that St. Patrick's Athletic are exploring the possibility of signing Doyle.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

EDIT beat me to it Nicko!

Irish Independent:

St Patrick's Athletic are lining up an ambitious January move for Bolton Wanderers striker Eoin Doyle.

Doyle (33) is first choice striker with the League One side and still has 18 months remaining on his contract but he has always spoken of his desire to come home with his family and finish his career in the League of Ireland.

The Saints are hopeful of making it happen next month but the primary stumbling block would be the length remaining on the Dubliner's current deal.

Bolton would need to source a replacement and also be happy to reach an agreement with Doyle that would allow him to depart.

However, it is believed that there is a determination from the Irish side to explore all options.

Doyle played with new Saints boss Tim Clancy during their time in Scotland with Hibernian and the pair enjoy a strong relationship.

After the shock departure of Stephen O'Donnell for Dundalk - a move that is now the subject of legal proceedings - Saints owner Garrett Kelleher is determined to give strong backing for the 2022 season.

It's understood that the budget is there to bring in a quality striker if he becomes available.

More: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer ... 93055.html

So... would you?