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

[Bertie Wooster]

One player in every position. Except keeper.

Surely we don’t need another striker?

Yes we do, we need a big physical striker (a better version of Bodvarsson) who can hold the ball up and bring others into play - but we need to get rid of at least one of our existing strikers or No10's

[The_Gun]

One player in every position. Except keeper.

Surely we don’t need another striker?

Yes we do, we need a big physical striker (a better version of Bodvarsson) who can hold the ball up and bring others into play - but we need to get rid of at least one of our existing strikers or No10's

Evatt seemed to be pretty clear that there won’t be any significant outgoings, so I don’t think we’ll have space to bring another central forward in.

For what it’s worth, my opinion would be that we need to concentrate on creating more chances for our existing strikers.

[Bertie Wooster]

One player in every position. Except keeper.

Surely we don’t need another striker?

Yes we do, we need a big physical striker (a better version of Bodvarsson) who can hold the ball up and bring others into play - but we need to get rid of at least one of our existing strikers or No10's

Evatt seemed to be pretty clear that there won’t be any significant outgoings, so I don’t think we’ll have space to bring another central forward in.

For what it’s worth, my opinion would be that we need to concentrate on creating more chances for our existing strikers.

We do need another midfielder, but as many have said in past windows its a big physical central midfielder we need - therefore for me its two players we need in this window, a big physical striker & a big physical central midfielder, this team needs more physicality and pace if possible - also both could possibly be loans from either the prem or championship, we need at least 2 players that would be certain starters i.e. better standard than what we currently have.

Obviously we need to create space in the squad especially if Morley is being recalled, so perhaps sell Adeboyejo and loan Lolas ? - if it was me I'd also try and get rid of Gethin Jones but Evatt likes him so that's not going to happen. I also have a suspicion that perhaps Sheehan and / or Santos may go in this window.

[The_Gun]

Sheehan just signed a new contract, and Vic’s value is surely currently below what we paid for him, so can’t see either of those leaving.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Whilst the forward line has its faults it is defence and midfield that are the big problems. Fix midfield and we'll likely create the chances the forward line are lacking. Also means not having to play McAtee in midfield. We also need to stop conceding. I'd spending whatever we have in midfield/defence in January.

[The_Gun]

Yep, that’s exactly where I’m at, AT. Midfield is by far our biggest area of need at the moment, both in terms of protecting the defence and creating for the forwards.

[TonyDomingos]

I thought I'd read somewhere in the last few days a quote from Evatt along the lines of: we're looking to bring in up to three new players for the starting XI. Or did I dream it?!

[irie Cee Bee]

Whilst the forward line has its faults it is defence and midfield that are the big problems. Fix midfield and we'll likely create the chances the forward line are lacking. Also means not having to play McAtee in midfield. We also need to stop conceding. I'd spending whatever we have in midfield/defence in January.

Agree with this 100%. We concede too much and not creating enough chances for our forwards. I would start there and if someone comes in for Ade, let him go and get a better #9 in who can jump, have a good first touch and also hold the ball up, all of which Ade is struggling to do.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I thought I'd read somewhere in the last few days a quote from Evatt along the lines of: we're looking to bring in up to three new players for the starting XI. Or did I dream it?!

He did, but I suspect he added the "one two three?" on the hoof after realising he'd said "ones".
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ry-window/

We are pretty clear on what is going to happen, at the moment, but things can change. We have recruitment meetings happening all the time and there are meetings going on with agents and clubs to see how we strengthen the squad. Is there going to be huge change? No, but whatever we do in this window has to move the needle. It has to make the team better, we are clear on that. It is not about deepening the squad, it is about making the starting XI better. That is where our focus is, to make sure the ones we bring in – one, two, three maybe – it makes the XI stronger than what it is at the moment.

Same story, Ilesy says Evatt doesn't expect to lose any first-team players, whatever that means.

Normally within football those conversations have already started. It's very rare that something will just happen off the cuff and you've only just heard about it. Normally you'll get whispers or agents phoning me about ‘what price are you thinking’ or ‘what’s the cost of this and that?’ – we've had none of that so far. I would be amazed if something just came up out of the blue. There's still two weeks left before January and anything can happen at any stage but, yeah, at the moment I would be pretty confident we're not going to lose anyone crucial to us.

Define "crucial"...

[Harry Genshaw]

I'm not sure I want him to be given any more money. There's enough in the current squad to be doing much better than we are. I'd be happy though to sell Jones, Johnston, Vic, Arfield and Matheson and replace them with better.

[Bertie Wooster]

Arfield may be paid up to create a spare space in the squad ?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I'm not sure I want him to be given any more money. There's enough in the current squad to be doing much better than we are. I'd be happy though to sell Jones, Johnston, Vic, Arfield and Matheson and replace them with better.

Quite. Feels like he needs some loan favours - but even they aren't cheap any more.

[Prufrock]

If there's money there it should go to the manager. If they don't want to give it to the manger, that answers a different question.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If there's money there it should go to the manager. If they don't want to give it to the manger, that answers a different question.

I hear you but isn't that the sunk cost fallacy writ large, with fans' money?

I get it - Sharon stands by her man like a bespectacled Tammy Wynette - but she's also made clear the task is promotion. At that point, should we be entrusting the incumbent with multi-year contracts?

[TonyDomingos]

If there's money there it should go to the manager. If they don't want to give it to the manger, that answers a different question.

I hear you but isn't that the sunk cost fallacy writ large, with fans' money?

I get it - Sharon stands by her man like a bespectacled Tammy Wynette - but she's also made clear the task is promotion. At that point, should we be entrusting the incumbent with multi-year contracts?

The incumbent is on a multi-year contract that looks for all the world like it's going to be honoured (by the club at least). I expect SB to allow IE to spend whatever has been budgeted for in this window, inc some or all of any income generated/saved through any outgoings.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If there's money there it should go to the manager. If they don't want to give it to the manger, that answers a different question.

I hear you but isn't that the sunk cost fallacy writ large, with fans' money?

I get it - Sharon stands by her man like a bespectacled Tammy Wynette - but she's also made clear the task is promotion. At that point, should we be entrusting the incumbent with multi-year contracts?

The incumbent is on a multi-year contract that looks for all the world like it's going to be honoured (by the club at least). I expect SB to allow IE to spend whatever has been budgeted for in this window, inc some or all of any income generated/saved through any outgoings.

Maybe – I think Sharon's "Our collective focus must remain on achieving our ultimate goal: winning promotion to the Championship" was a barely-veiled warning - but that would at least make January interesting.

What I don't want, if we fail again this year – and let's be clear, as the chairman has reiterated, the aim is Championship football so Legaue One is failure - is for the next manager to be too saddled with Evatt's baggage.

If we sign three excellent players who win us promotion, great. If we sign three who don't and stink the place out, less so.

[irie Cee Bee]

I don't trust Evatt in his transfer dealings given the recent windows. He simply recruits for his system. That system will not take us up in this league as it has been found out by most teams. Players at this level are not good enough to play it. What will he do different in January?

[Mar]

I don't trust Evatt in his transfer dealings given the recent windows. He simply recruits for his system. That system will not take us up in this league as it has been found out by most teams. Players at this level are not good enough to play it. What will he do different in January?

I don't think it's solely down to Evatt's discretion. It'll be a club decision and a fair few people will be making the call as to whether we sign a player.

Call it Evatt's baggage if you will, but I think there are more people making the decision.

[TANGODANCER]

A couple of good wins and the Manager protocol will soon fade away some. Our league position takes priority over all and it isn't exactly dire. Let's be fair, Dempsey, Tutu and Sheehan are our creative players and together with Toal and Santos are surely making us light right now., which makes yesterday's point more creditable.

That said, I'm a bit unsure about Santos at times. Yesterday we showed some teeth and energy in defence, and Santos is more "Lazing on a sunny afternoon" than Kung-Foo Fighting", and whilst he's a giant in some games I.E. has got to realise which horses for which courses we're at. Whilst world class horses, Red Rum would never win the Derby or City of Troy the Grand National. The proof of a good manager is in knowing the difference.

[irie Cee Bee]

I don't trust Evatt in his transfer dealings given the recent windows. He simply recruits for his system. That system will not take us up in this league as it has been found out by most teams. Players at this level are not good enough to play it. What will he do different in January?

I don't think it's solely down to Evatt's discretion. It'll be a club decision and a fair few people will be making the call as to whether we sign a player.

Call it Evatt's baggage if you will, but I think there are more people making the decision.

While I understand that other people would be involved in the financial decisions in a transfer, I would hate it if I was a manager at a club where the playing staff is not my decision to make since I am accountable for the results on the field.