The "Nothing to see here"Transfer thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

In terms of centre halves. I'm sure Dougie and the coaching staff can make perfectly adequate Championship centre backs out of Mills and Wheater.. Don't forget, when Mills was fit, Coyle was the gaffer. He'd struggle to make Franco Baresi look competent.

Decent pre-season, some ego-massaging and we, in my opinion, still have a decent set of defenders

Well it's nice to hear you be complementary, Boris - praise not readily forthcoming from your quarter. Ignoring all caveats about not having seen them in training &c, which of the candidates would you choose if the season started tomorrow?

For all the coaching improvement, even if DF can reduce their mistakes-leading-to-goals per game to one or fewer, and for all the individuals' talents, I still fear that a centre-back combination of Knight and Wheater would be unable to stop any centre-forwards more mobile than a bus.

[Bijou Bob]

Against Boro Ameobi had a great first 35 minutes, but he seemed to lose interest and faded out of the game as he was required to play deeper. he's scored some decent goals for Boro but his consistency is allegedly poor. We could be talking about his big brother. I wouldn't get excited about him as a signing, I suspect he's one we'd have to carry. As an impact sub he might work well after 70 minutes against tired legs.

[LeverEnd]

Comment posted in wrong thread. Can't seeme to delete post so i'll write this instead!

[boltonboris]

In terms of centre halves. I'm sure Dougie and the coaching staff can make perfectly adequate Championship centre backs out of Mills and Wheater.. Don't forget, when Mills was fit, Coyle was the gaffer. He'd struggle to make Franco Baresi look competent.

Decent pre-season, some ego-massaging and we, in my opinion, still have a decent set of defenders

Well it's nice to hear you be complementary, Boris - praise not readily forthcoming from your quarter. Ignoring all caveats about not having seen them in training &c, which of the candidates would you choose if the season started tomorrow?

For all the coaching improvement, even if DF can reduce their mistakes-leading-to-goals per game to one or fewer, and for all the individuals' talents, I still fear that a centre-back combination of Knight and Wheater would be unable to stop any centre-forwards more mobile than a bus.

Allardyce made decent defenders out of Ben Haim, Nicky Hunt and the like. I'm confident, that Dougie can get them disciplined and more positionally aware, which is where the problem lies for me. Wheater is probably as mobile, if not more so, than Dawson was and he never had anything in beind him. We defend quite deep which helps. He can't perform miracles, but I'm sure he could get plenty out of Wheater if he can keep him on the pitch.

I wouldn't be gutted if we start with Knight and Wheater. Mills as back up and Baptiste can also shift over as we've got Mears, Riley and White as back up at full back.

[boltonboris]

Aswering your question about personnel choice. If the season started tomorrow, I'd go with:

Mears, Knight, Baptiste, Tierney

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Cheers - interesting. You argue cogently that DF can make men of the current centre-backs... then pick as few as possible for your XI. But I know you have been a strong, if frequently lonely, voice defending Mears, who must surely be hoping for a call from Coyle considering we've signed two right-backs this summer...

[boltonboris]

I picked that defence purely based on the fact that neither Wheater or Mills have kicked a ball since 1973.

If they were all at 100%, then Baptiste (not really seen much of him, but he's the second coming of Christ, apparently), Knight (just ahead of Mills), Wheater and Tierney.

[ChrisC]

I wonder if we will try 3 at the back at any point during pre season?

Dougie did his coaching in Italy didn't he? Also seems to set his teams out with the Italian mentality. Never lost by more than one goal since Dougie arrived.

[Norpig]

Stop giving away stupid penalties which contributed to last seasons against column would help. This happens due to being out of position and then having to dive in. Knight gave 2 penalties away last season with very clumsy tackles. Knight did improve when playing with Dawson IMO this is because Dawson was a talker and shouted at Knight to get into position. Baptiste by all accounts is a similar type of talker on the pitch so hopefully will help Knight ans with Wheater being a good leader, I am hopeful of a solid defence this season??

Mills & Mears have been particularly unimpressive so far. Mills is too slow and ponderous but good in the air. Mears has good pace going forward but no end product and is probably the worst tackler in the team!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I picked that defence purely based on the fact that neither Wheater or Mills have kicked a ball since 1973.

Truish, dat.

Mills came on for a minute or two on April 2nd, at home to Huddersfield (replacing Eagles to protect a 1-0 lead - MEGSON OUT!) and was available for the last game, but DF preferred Ream as Dawson's replacement. He hasn't started a game since early December at Huddersfield.

Wheater made four cameos from February onwards – all as a third centre-back replacing a forward player to defend a lead, apart from a Ream like-for-like against Blackpool. He hasn't started a game since May 2012.

Cian Bolger, for the record, has only played six games above Division Four level - during his first loan at Bristol Rovers, who were thereafter relegated to the basement. Let's hope he kicks on, though.

[LeverEnd]

I'm not entirely convinced he'll start with Wheater over Ream. I thought he would last day but he surprised us all so no guaratess. Certainly hope it's Wheater, Burnley will be rubbing their hands if Ream's name is on the sheet.

[BWFC_Insane]

Just seen Nixon posted a link up a while back saying that the Beckford deal problem is Leicester owe him £3M as a pay off and are stalling on paying.

Can't say I blame them!

[boltonboris]

feck me.. So the guy is on around £30,000 a week at Leicester?

[BWFC_Insane]

feck me.. So the guy is on around £30,000 a week at Leicester?

Yeah, I think more than £30,000 a week.

[ChrisC]

I think I seen 32k quoted in the press.

[ChrisC]

I wonder what is happening with this Mills to Leeds business? I thought a season loan was happening?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

feck me.. So the guy is on around £30,000 a week at Leicester?

Yeah, I think more than £30,000 a week.

They signed him with 40 minutes on the transfer window left. Panic in haste, repent at leisure – but it's a shame that his future career could be hampered by his contract haggles with his current employer, who are surely hoping that either we'll take on the debt they ridiculously agreed to or that he'll opt to write it off. Would you? The contract they signed ends in 2015, so Leicester owe him two years of money – which at £30kpw is just over £3m.

[Bijou Bob]

I see Charlie Austin's £4.5 million move to Hull has just fallen through after he failed a medical by some margin. That's another one out of the frame for us then.

[ChrisC]

Just posted this in Ask Dougie topic but think it belongs in here aswell.

Official BWFC ‏@OfficialBWFC 52s
DF: "I believe that is the case, but we have not got an option on which player. We're back at improving other team's players again."
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Stu ‏@horwich__ 16m
@OfficialBWFC Have we still got the option of a chelsea player on loan from the cahill deal? #Askdougie

[LeverEnd]

Steady on Dougie lad!!

Dougie would be prepared to make 'sexy' loan move
.
12:00pm Tuesday 9th July 2013 in Sport By Marc Iles.

WANDERERS may investigate the loan market this summer – but only for the most attractive propositions!

Dougie Freedman has his eye on two or three more arrivals before the close of the transfer window and is understood to be looking at a couple of attacking options.

But while the Whites boss has been reluctant to use the loan market unnecessarily in the past, he admits he could be tempted if a couple of eye-catching names were to become available.

“I think we are a few players short – a couple of signings and maybe a loan if a sexy one came up, but that’s where we are at,” Freedman told The Bolton News.