January 2023 Transfer Window

[GhostoftheBok]

Possibly, I don't remember him doing too much defending watching him back in League Two. Hope we're not making the same mistake we made with Sadlier

What's "defending"? He does back flips.

[brommers95]

Another rumour…

[brommers95]

Possibly, I don't remember him doing too much defending watching him back in League Two. Hope we're not making the same mistake we made with Sadlier

What's "defending"? He does back flips.

I’m sold

[BWFC_Insane]

I can’t say I truly understand the logic of bringing in a winger if we’re going to continue with the 3-5-2. Trust the process I suppose…

Played as a right wing back for Exeter didn’t he? Good player. Not sure how it works with Bradley though. Williams has also played on the left….

Possibly, I don't remember him doing too much defending watching him back in League Two. Hope we're not making the same mistake we made with Sadlier

We don’t need defending. We need a wing back who storms forwards….

[The_Gun]

Another rumour…

West Brom have the top scorer in PL2 in their academy - 18 year old striker called Reyes Cleary. Don’t know much beyond the numbers, but the kid can find the net, so I wonder whether he’d be an option.

[Worthy4England]

So for me, I'm probably sat at the top end of my seasons' expectations (safe 3rd would be nice), and generally (again for me) players are probably pulling their weight. So what's amiss?

I think it comes down to the feeling (when we don't win), that this is to do with square pegs and round holes, which are never cited when we do win and the feeling which Evatt hasn't done anything to discourage that there's lots more to come from this set of players - something he's been saying since probably late Sept/early Oct. If he genuinely believes there's lots more to come from the set we already have, then that would put us near the automatics rather than near the "missing out"

There's also our ability (or inability) to break stubborn teams down - ok from def to final third, then it seems to falter and it looks slow and ponderous (probably because it often is). This has been put down to many things over the course of the season - shit long balls out of defence, Bradley not being Fossey, nothing progressive in MF, nothing much on the left, strikers who can't hit a cows arse and wtf is Kachunga doing (which I suspect is probably demonstrated in part by that little set of stats showing we're the highest pressing team in the League)...taken collectively, you could say that's a lot of problems, or you could say we're in 5th which is about where I'd expect. Guess that's whether your cup is half full or half empty.

I think I went for 4th when people asked where we'd finish.

Aside from whatever the hell is going on at MK Dons the season looks basically the way I imagined it would. The teams 1st-3rd are pulling away and 4th-8th are all much of a muchness.

Evatt will believe he can close the gap to 2nd. I don't think we can, but I do think we can build on what we've got and improve markedly heading into the summer. I think we'll be in the play-offs and by that stage we may be the form side - assuming these deals we are now hearing about come off and people stay fit.

I think I'm less worried about the issues in the side as I saw them coming. The strikers were always going to go wrong without fresh blood and we didn't sign a '10' or someone to break lines from midfield. I said I wasn't happy with the summer business and this is why. However, I also don't think it's a big issue. We have more issues on the pitch than I would like, but Evatt has us higher up the table than I'd have expected if you'd told me about all the injury issues in the summer. The huge improvement defensively is the main boon there.

I think it'll be reet

Yeah - I should've added No 10 Dapo it ain't.

Defensively, as you say, we've improved in pretty much all areas. Aimson looks a lot more comfortable with the pig bladder at his boot laces, Toal has been steady until he hit cult status with a header from a corner and Johnston has ironed out some of the defensive frailty we saw last season. We've improved from 37 goals against after 24 games to 20 against. Had we not, I fear we might have been in similar position to this time last year...

[BWFC_Insane]

So for me, I'm probably sat at the top end of my seasons' expectations (safe 3rd would be nice), and generally (again for me) players are probably pulling their weight. So what's amiss?

I think it comes down to the feeling (when we don't win), that this is to do with square pegs and round holes, which are never cited when we do win and the feeling which Evatt hasn't done anything to discourage that there's lots more to come from this set of players - something he's been saying since probably late Sept/early Oct. If he genuinely believes there's lots more to come from the set we already have, then that would put us near the automatics rather than near the "missing out"

There's also our ability (or inability) to break stubborn teams down - ok from def to final third, then it seems to falter and it looks slow and ponderous (probably because it often is). This has been put down to many things over the course of the season - shit long balls out of defence, Bradley not being Fossey, nothing progressive in MF, nothing much on the left, strikers who can't hit a cows arse and wtf is Kachunga doing (which I suspect is probably demonstrated in part by that little set of stats showing we're the highest pressing team in the League)...taken collectively, you could say that's a lot of problems, or you could say we're in 5th which is about where I'd expect. Guess that's whether your cup is half full or half empty.

I think I went for 4th when people asked where we'd finish.

Aside from whatever the hell is going on at MK Dons the season looks basically the way I imagined it would. The teams 1st-3rd are pulling away and 4th-8th are all much of a muchness.

Evatt will believe he can close the gap to 2nd. I don't think we can, but I do think we can build on what we've got and improve markedly heading into the summer. I think we'll be in the play-offs and by that stage we may be the form side - assuming these deals we are now hearing about come off and people stay fit.

I think I'm less worried about the issues in the side as I saw them coming. The strikers were always going to go wrong without fresh blood and we didn't sign a '10' or someone to break lines from midfield. I said I wasn't happy with the summer business and this is why. However, I also don't think it's a big issue. We have more issues on the pitch than I would like, but Evatt has us higher up the table than I'd have expected if you'd told me about all the injury issues in the summer. The huge improvement defensively is the main boon there.

I think it'll be reet

We’ve just beaten play off rivals Barnsley away 3-0. So obviously that makes things feel miles better. But that result came a bit from nowhere and considering the form this group of players had second half of last season it’s been a frustrating season at times. Yes I think league position wise we are about where we’d want and that’s good. But after an encouraging start where we looked solid and hard to beat with just enough to score a goal or two we’ve been more frustrating and many of our issues seem self inflicted. As worthy outlines players being out of position, football that at best has been turgid to watch and worst horrific. We’ve somehow managed to avoid a major slump results wise but there are two factors. One is losing away in tight grounds again. The other is failing to beat teams when we dominate the ball, Derby, Lincoln two recent examples, again.

I don’t think we’ve managed to get the best out of the group. And Evatt seems to agree. And yes we are well placed and yes January might allow us to rectify some issues. But I feel that we’ve gone backwards from where we were last season in the second half with broadly the same group of players. I don’t think we are playing close to as well. However, I will absolutely take our league position and hope we can build on it second half.

[GhostoftheBok]

Yeah - I should've added No 10 Dapo it ain't.

Defensively, as you say, we've improved in pretty much all areas. Aimson looks a lot more comfortable with the pig bladder at his boot laces, Toal has been steady until he hit cult status with a header from a corner and Johnston has ironed out some of the defensive frailty we saw last season. We've improved from 37 goals against after 24 games to 20 against. Had we not, I fear we might have been in similar position to this time last year...

Yes, I agree. However, I think Evatt's got to get credit for it - it's not a fluke. We've tweaked things and got bodies back through the middle to make it hard for teams to get the kind of clear chances we used to give away all the time. We still concede when we lose focus (too often we give up the first goal), but we don't give up many where you think "Uch, that was a tactical issue" these days.

We've got to get the forwards firing, though. Opposition commentators for away games have, more than once, said we look like a load of individuals going forward and I agree with that. We've gone from too regimented at times last season to chaotic this season. I think part of that is injuries and not being able to form relationships in attack, but it's also some obvious personnel and coaching issues.

Dragging it back to the thread, if we get Nlundulu, Williams and another attacker in, I'll be delighted. We've been crying out for pace and attacking guile and it looks like Evatt and Markham have fully understood the issues.

One of out major failings this time around has been not running at and committing defenders. Dapo's dribble success rate has dropped off around 40%, if I recall correctly. The same is true of Dempsey. Charles and Bradley will reliably force defenders to work, but neither is the sort who can stand a man up and beat him. Nlundulu and Williams will both take lads on, which we absolutely need if we are to improve enough to give Evatt an outside chance of pulling of a "miracle" top two finish.

[GhostoftheBok]

I don’t think we’ve managed to get the best out of the group. And Evatt seems to agree. And yes we are well placed and yes January might allow us to rectify some issues. But I feel that we’ve gone backwards from where we were last season in the second half with broadly the same group of players. I don’t think we are playing close to as well. However, I will absolutely take our league position and hope we can build on it second half.

Again, though, we had to expect that.

I think overall we've obviously made progress as a team/squad (so I think we disagree a touch there). We've had injuries to key players and it's not looked remotely like a crisis, which is undeniable progress. We can defend now, for the most part.

I think it was on here (may have been Twitter) that I had disagreements with folk about the forwards. People were saying we had a great attacking line-up and I thought we were walking into a disaster if we didn't refresh things in that area. It's one of the truisms of football that you have to refresh every compartment in a team over a season or people drop levels. Every starter has to feel pushed for their place and every back-up has to feel he has a chance to win a spot. I don't think there's any sign of that competition in attack and we've lost our edge because of it.

There are coaching issues, probably made to look worse than they are by injuries; but I think a refresh will have a significant impact.

The other big issue is clearly Dapo. He's our best attacker when at his best, but he's almost never at his best anymore. Not getting the most out of your best player is a management failure, there's no two ways about it. Not just from a footballing standpoint, but also financially. I think Nlundulu (and others) coming in make help Daps, as they will make space for him by occupying players; but Evatt has got to figure that issue out. Formation change, tweaks to what we already do...whatever. Needs sorting.

[GhostoftheBok]

Another rumour…

Unless we are sending Beck back to Liverpool we are starting to reach the limit of loan-based rumours.

[BWFC_Insane]

I don’t think we’ve managed to get the best out of the group. And Evatt seems to agree. And yes we are well placed and yes January might allow us to rectify some issues. But I feel that we’ve gone backwards from where we were last season in the second half with broadly the same group of players. I don’t think we are playing close to as well. However, I will absolutely take our league position and hope we can build on it second half.

Again, though, we had to expect that.

I think overall we've obviously made progress as a team/squad (so I think we disagree a touch there). We've had injuries to key players and it's not looked remotely like a crisis, which is undeniable progress. We can defend now, for the most part.

I think it was on here (may have been Twitter) that I had disagreements with folk about the forwards. People were saying we had a great attacking line-up and I thought we were walking into a disaster if we didn't refresh things in that area. It's one of the truisms of football that you have to refresh every compartment in a team over a season or people drop levels. Every starter has to feel pushed for their place and every back-up has to feel he has a chance to win a spot. I don't think there's any sign of that competition in attack and we've lost our edge because of it.

There are coaching issues, probably made to look worse than they are by injuries; but I think a refresh will have a significant impact.

The other big issue is clearly Dapo. He's our best attacker when at his best, but he's almost never at his best anymore. Not getting the most out of your best player is a management failure, there's no two ways about it. Not just from a footballing standpoint, but also financially. I think Nlundulu (and others) coming in make help Daps, as they will make space for him by occupying players; but Evatt has got to figure that issue out. Formation change, tweaks to what we already do...whatever. Needs sorting.

Well I agree with you on a lot. I suppose in the summer when I said we’d struggle without proper wing backs and that’s been the case. Bradley is fine but the left has been an issue. Evatt obviously knew this hence Beck who hasn’t really played.

He’s tried changing the system but again because he hasn’t got a back four centre half pairing that’s not been easy.

We’ve been over reliant on Lee as until Barnsley Dempsey has been very poor. And I don’t think he’s a number ten for us. A number eight yes. But as you and I both said we needed another midfield player in the summer ideally and didn’t get them.

The strikers for me have been off form, all four compared to last season. Which is unfortunate but I also think how we’ve played and setup has contributed to that. Charles needs early ball over the top and when he gets it looks a handful. When we play into him he’s useless. It’s that stark. Baka and JDB need delivery from outwide and Bradley is a poor crosser and we’ve little on the left. Dapo just hasn’t really got going and again is a victim of the system.

The fact we’ve not given Sadlier a run somewhere in an attacking role seems a bit criminal to me, whenever he comes on he looks at the very least no worse than those we have on the pitch and often looks better. He can unlike just about anyone else cross a ball (as can Iredale when he has the legs to get up there).

[GhostoftheBok]

Well I agree with you on a lot. I suppose in the summer when I said we’d struggle without proper wing backs and that’s been the case. Bradley is fine but the left has been an issue. Evatt obviously knew this hence Beck who hasn’t really played.

He’s tried changing the system but again because he hasn’t got a back four centre half pairing that’s not been easy.

We’ve been over reliant on Lee as until Barnsley Dempsey has been very poor. And I don’t think he’s a number ten for us. A number eight yes. But as you and I both said we needed another midfield player in the summer ideally and didn’t get them.

The strikers for me have been off form, all four compared to last season. Which is unfortunate but I also think how we’ve played and setup has contributed to that. Charles needs early ball over the top and when he gets it looks a handful. When we play into him he’s useless. It’s that stark. Baka and JDB need delivery from outwide and Bradley is a poor crosser and we’ve little on the left. Dapo just hasn’t really got going and again is a victim of the system.

The fact we’ve not given Sadlier a run somewhere in an attacking role seems a bit criminal to me, whenever he comes on he looks at the very least no worse than those we have on the pitch and often looks better. He can unlike just about anyone else cross a ball (as can Iredale when he has the legs to get up there).

Were we to get Randell Williams (it's just an internet rumour at the minute, obviously) that'd signal for me that we were being more proactive in this window than I was expecting. That, or it'd show we feel we can ship out more than I thought we'd be able to. Williams is a player who could play on the left when we want to be more aggressive, on the right when Bradley needs a rest or come off the bench and have a chance of a real impact. He could flop, as they call can, but I think it'd be an excellent signing.

I don't think we disagree much on where the issues are (I feel they're pretty stark), but maybe we do on how much we can realistically expect to do this window. I'm happy to be wrong if we are really pushing the envelope and want to do the left, midfield and attack now. I felt pretty strongly that attack would eat up our available budget, but if we can shift 4+ players out then there's wriggle room.

Maybe the injuries will force our hand a bit too, I don't know.

There are a number of ways, in my view, to fix what's not working. Evatt just has to pick one and get it right. We can change system, adjust patterns...I don't care. It works or it doesn't. We're not miles off, though. We're 5th and we have some decent players who can and should improve as we bring in support for them.

[BWFC_Insane]

Well I agree with you on a lot. I suppose in the summer when I said we’d struggle without proper wing backs and that’s been the case. Bradley is fine but the left has been an issue. Evatt obviously knew this hence Beck who hasn’t really played.

He’s tried changing the system but again because he hasn’t got a back four centre half pairing that’s not been easy.

We’ve been over reliant on Lee as until Barnsley Dempsey has been very poor. And I don’t think he’s a number ten for us. A number eight yes. But as you and I both said we needed another midfield player in the summer ideally and didn’t get them.

The strikers for me have been off form, all four compared to last season. Which is unfortunate but I also think how we’ve played and setup has contributed to that. Charles needs early ball over the top and when he gets it looks a handful. When we play into him he’s useless. It’s that stark. Baka and JDB need delivery from outwide and Bradley is a poor crosser and we’ve little on the left. Dapo just hasn’t really got going and again is a victim of the system.

The fact we’ve not given Sadlier a run somewhere in an attacking role seems a bit criminal to me, whenever he comes on he looks at the very least no worse than those we have on the pitch and often looks better. He can unlike just about anyone else cross a ball (as can Iredale when he has the legs to get up there).

Were we to get Randell Williams (it's just an internet rumour at the minute, obviously) that'd signal for me that we were being more proactive in this window than I was expecting. That, or it'd show we feel we can ship out more than I thought we'd be able to. Williams is a player who could play on the left when we want to be more aggressive, on the right when Bradley needs a rest or come off the bench and have a chance of a real impact. He could flop, as they call can, but I think it'd be an excellent signing.

I don't think we disagree much on where the issues are (I feel they're pretty stark), but maybe we do on how much we can realistically expect to do this window. I'm happy to be wrong if we are really pushing the envelope and want to do the left, midfield and attack now. I felt pretty strongly that attack would eat up our available budget, but if we can shift 4+ players out then there's wriggle room.

Maybe the injuries will force our hand a bit too, I don't know.

There are a number of ways, in my view, to fix what's not working. Evatt just has to pick one and get it right. We can change system, adjust patterns...I don't care. It works or it doesn't. We're not miles off, though. We're 5th and we have some decent players who can and should improve as we bring in support for them.

Oh I don’t or didn’t think we’d do much this window. So the talk of a few in surprises me a bit. I was thinking one or maybe two loans in and that’s it.

Williams I’d entirely agree with based only on his play at Exeter. He’s exactly what we need. But I don’t know how he’s gone more recently and he’s been seemingly played further forward. But he’s much more a solution at wing back, if he can play on the left than we’ve got now. For the games we need to be front foot for. Iredale away at Sheffield Wednesday for example would make more sense.

[GhostoftheBok]

But I don’t know how he’s gone more recently

I don't think he knows himself, to be fair. He's barely played.

I think it was Grant McCann who took him to Hull with the idea he'd play wing backs and then he got sacked. Since when they've flown through managers and none of them have really had a role for the lad. It's hard enough going from League Two to the Championship without all that going on.

I've not been following his career, I must say, so I don't know if there have also been fitness issues; but just from generally being aware of issues at Hull he's not had much of a chance.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I think I've flagged Randell Williams as a possible for a couple of windows now. He sounds interesting, adaptable, and signable if it works – his original two-year deal ends in summer, and although again they have a year's extension option, they can't keep everyone on board if they're hiring a new manager every six months with big new ownership plans. He's also just turned 25, so is in the stage where he's not too old to improve, and indeed it could be argued that the arrested development of the past 18 months could be misguiding. Given his versatility he's clearly willing to learn and improve.

I've not been following his career, I must say, so I don't know if there have also been fitness issues

Knee injury, Jan to Jun last year.

Latest gaffer Liam Rosenior basically said in November that Williams could go, after not taking him on a mid-season training trip.

I have difficult decisions to make, and I couldn't bring a squad of 35. I think for Randell, who is a very, very good player, but he needs games and I can't offer that. I can only offer that to 11 players of 30-odd at the moment, so I think the best thing for Randell is to be honest and straight and say that it's going to be very, very difficult for him to get into the team here.

He's done nothing wrong, he's a great kid and he's a very good player but at the moment I think the best thing for him is to try and find a club that's going to give him the guaranteed games he deserves.

[GhostoftheBok]

Knee injury, Jan to Jun last year.

I think I remember having this conversation with you previously, actually, and having been aware of that fact before I (clearly) forgot completely.

Anyway, he's a fun player and I'd enjoy seeing him in a Bolton shirt.

As Insane said, we've been a bit turgid at times recently. Evatt's brand is exciting, fun football and we need to get back to that.

[The_Gun]

Randell Williams appears to be left footed, so seems like he could be a nice option for us as an attacking LWB. Let's hope there's some substance to this one.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Randell Williams appears to be left footed, so seems like he could be a nice option for us as an attacking LWB. Let's hope there's some substance to this one.

Attacking LWB but also adaptable winger (can play from either flank) if we ever switch back to more of a 4231/433 - whether temporarily during a game or as more of a tactical reboot.
.

Knee injury, Jan to Jun last year.

I think I remember having this conversation with you previously, actually, and having been aware of that fact before I (clearly) forgot completely.

Anyway, he's a fun player and I'd enjoy seeing him in a Bolton shirt.

As Insane said, we've been a bit turgid at times recently. Evatt's brand is exciting, fun football and we need to get back to that.

Agree with all that except I can't recall that convo – but I did mention him in summer 21 and January 22 transfer threads. But not last summer.

[Worthy4England]

As Insane said, we've been a bit turgid at times recently. Evatt's brand is exciting, fun football and we need to get back to that.

Therein lies part of the problem...To a purist, it may fall into the category of "fun" to see high possession and watching us drag MF's and defences from left to right and back again, with little notion as to how to unlock the final pass. To others, I think they'd prefer to see the keeper worked more and get his jumper dirty...I don't think for a lot of folks, exciting, would be a word that's sprung to mind much this season...which I suspect is why you're seeing some negativity...If you don't deliver "brand" what is it you are delivering...

[BWFC_Insane]

Iredale is out for 4 months probably needing surgery…I’m not surprised as those comments about mysterious knee pain are almost always bad news.

Hastens the need for something in that area and possibly another centre back. Jones will play LWB on Saturday according to the BN.