Snog, Marry, Avoid: Summer 2023 Transfer Window

[GhostoftheBok]

How often has Olosunde been fit? Preston tried to release him and he turned them down. He's not even got close to the team since they signed him has he?

Just reading an article provided by Doctor Google it seems they had interest in him when they tried to shift him on, but he wasn't keen.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

How often has Olosunde been fit? Preston tried to release him and he turned them down. He's not even got close to the team since they signed him has he?

Just reading an article provided by Doctor Google it seems they had interest in him when they tried to shift him on, but he wasn't keen.

Oh aye there's what he would doubtless call "a bunch of" questions over the fella. Chiefly physical fitness and mental fortitude. I'm just chucking out names – but I'd say you don't get signed by United at age 17 without possessing a certain something. Whether he still has it, or has lost it down the back of the couch, God knows.

[GhostoftheBok]

I do wonder what Evatt and Markham see when they look at that back line. For me it's a case of needing top quality additions, rather than just making signings for depth.

I'd like to see a RWB, LWB and RCB come in who are all a step up.

However, I could see us signing one first teamer (RWB) and a couple of squad players at the back and focusing resources elsewhere.

If first team "plan" is Williams, Johnston, Santos, Toal, plus one...okay.

[The_Gun]

I do wonder what Evatt and Markham see when they look at that back line. For me it's a case of needing top quality additions, rather than just making signings for depth.

I'd like to see a RWB, LWB and RCB come in who are all a step up.

However, I could see us signing one first teamer (RWB) and a couple of squad players at the back and focusing resources elsewhere.

If first team "plan" is Williams, Johnston, Santos, Toal, plus one...okay.

A RCB that's a step up on Toal? Doesn't seem very achievable unless we were to pay a big fee, which seems unlikely.

[GhostoftheBok]

A RCB that's a step up on Toal? Doesn't seem very achievable unless we were to pay a big fee, which seems unlikely.

I like Toal. A lot. I think there are more question marks over some aspects of his game than I have either either Santos or Johnston, but I've no issue if that's the back three next season.

I do think it's possible to improve that area, though. At least in terms of his role as an overlapping centre half.

At 24 there's a lot more to come from him. So if the coaching staff think any kind of step back would stifle his development then just stick with him.

[BWFC_Insane]

I do wonder what Evatt and Markham see when they look at that back line. For me it's a case of needing top quality additions, rather than just making signings for depth.

I'd like to see a RWB, LWB and RCB come in who are all a step up.

However, I could see us signing one first teamer (RWB) and a couple of squad players at the back and focusing resources elsewhere.

If first team "plan" is Williams, Johnston, Santos, Toal, plus one...okay.

Given how we've defended this season our record is up there.

That isn't the part of the team that is problematic.

Its up top. We've got to score more goals.

Charles has scored goals but I'm not convinced he's guaranteed this season every time. The others have not shown the quality required.

At the back, Johnston is in demand. Santos is Santos - debate him because I think he's not as good as is claimed but he will play and Toal is for me the player we have who is able to play at the highest level.

Jones is great and frankly we're a better team with him in. Iredale is back.

What we need is cover for Santos - that could even be MJ retained but if we can sign specialist cover great.

We then for me need really a quality LWB and RWB - Williams might fill a role but again I don't think he's quite what we need.

[GhostoftheBok]

Given how we've defended this season our record is up there.

That isn't the part of the team that is problematic.

Its up top. We've got to score more goals.

Charles has scored goals but I'm not convinced he's guaranteed this season every time

The attack and defence are part of the same unit. We defend well because of the team and we attack poorly because of the team.

Not having enough from the overlapping centre backs when we attack is one part of why we don't score enough goals.

This is Charles' second 20+ League One season in the past 3 seasons. The one where he didn't get 20 he was frozen out at Accy and came to us to deliver 1 in 2 for goal involvements.

I'm not sure there's any way to be more of a guarantee at this level. He's delivered every opportunity he's had for 3 years straight.

[Worthy4England]

The attack and defence are part of the same unit.

Witch!

Burn the heretics!

[GhostoftheBok]

MK Dons have announced their retained list.

Mo Eisa has had an extension triggered.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

MK Dons have announced their retained list.

Mo Eisa has had an extension triggered.

So has LCB Zak Jules. Not that it matters – I would be very suprised if the back three is a focus this summer.

Released: Edward Gyamfi, Jack Davies, Bradley Johnson, Lewis Johnson, Sullay Kaikai, David Martin, Josh McEachran, Franco Ravizzoli, Tennai Watson

Returning loanees: Jamie Cumming, Henry Lawrence, Paris Maghoma, Anthony Stewart

Cumming (aged 23 until he's 24) was on loan from Chelsea, won MK's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, and is entering the last year of his contract. This was his secopnd successive League One season, after spending last year split between Gillingham and MK Dons*. Shot-stopping percentage 67.9%, 18th out of the 34 "qualifying" keepers.

*speaking of which, Jack Tucker is still under contract

[GhostoftheBok]

So has LCB Zak Jules. Not that it matters – I would be very suprised if the back three is a focus this summer.

It may need to be, to some extent.

Depending on where Jones and Iredale are slated for we are either a bit short at the back or very short at the back.

We wanted a player back there before we lost Aimson in January and then we got a loanee to cover losing him. So from that point of view we are maybe two short.

If Iredale and Jones are both nominally centre backs we might risk going with just 5 for 6 positions, but I'm not sure why we would after the issues we've had there this season.

So that means we need at last one and could need three. If we only want one centre back we probably need three wing backs - two on the right and one on the left.

On the plus side, the flexibility in the squad means we can afford to be very picky.

[boltonboris]

MK Dons have announced their retained list.

Mo Eisa has had an extension triggered.

Can imagine there was some ‘interest’ in him! Eh! Eh!

[brommers95]

Wouldn't mind us offering something to Tennai Watson. He's looked a decent L1 player to me from what I've seen (but I haven't watched loads of his match footage), think he'd offer decent competition at the RWB spot. Only just turned 26 and has good L1 experience.

[BWFC_Insane]

Given how we've defended this season our record is up there.

That isn't the part of the team that is problematic.

Its up top. We've got to score more goals.

Charles has scored goals but I'm not convinced he's guaranteed this season every time

The attack and defence are part of the same unit. We defend well because of the team and we attack poorly because of the team.

Not having enough from the overlapping centre backs when we attack is one part of why we don't score enough goals.

This is Charles' second 20+ League One season in the past 3 seasons. The one where he didn't get 20 he was frozen out at Accy and came to us to deliver 1 in 2 for goal involvements.

I'm not sure there's any way to be more of a guarantee at this level. He's delivered every opportunity he's had for 3 years straight.

Yes but it’s pretty obvious that we can pick a back three we are happy with but struggling to find a partner for Charles that Evatt is happy with. And whilst you are correct that overlapping centre backs help the biggest problem is not the back three which I think is pretty competitive. The problem is further forward on the pitch for me. Our supply - which wing backs hopefully fix and an addition in midfield. But we still don’t have miss a few. Charles included.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

So has LCB Zak Jules. Not that it matters – I would be very suprised if the back three is a focus this summer.

It may need to be, to some extent.

Depending on where Jones and Iredale are slated for we are either a bit short at the back or very short at the back.

We wanted a player back there before we lost Aimson in January and then we got a loanee to cover losing him. So from that point of view we are maybe two short.

If Iredale and Jones are both nominally centre backs we might risk going with just 5 for 6 positions, but I'm not sure why we would after the issues we've had there this season.

So that means we need at last one and could need three. If we only want one centre back we probably need three wing backs - two on the right and one on the left.

On the plus side, the flexibility in the squad means we can afford to be very picky.

I hear you on all that. I think we might go with Johnston/Iredale LCB, Toal/Geth RCB and Santos covered possibly by the rehabilitated MJ (adding the flex of which you speak), or maybe in truth by Toal - presumably currently pencilled in as Rico's longterm replacement.

I'm not sure Iredale and Geth are what we want from regular wingbacks, and certainly not at Champo level if we get there (although I suppose Jack's more defensive skillset might be more useful there in that case). I still think wingback is the summer's second most important recruitment area after GK, although I hear you on the '10' and I wouldn't kick a top-class 9 out of bed for farting.

As we've said before, it also depends who's available. If a game-changing wide centreback comes available, maybe we take the risk of underinvesting in other places. But I think there are holes to fill before we start upgrading on the sufficient.

[truewhite15]

Yep. Order of priority has to be, for me:

1) GK
2) RWB
3) CAM
4) Striker
5) Squad fillers - back-ups to the above, plus CB

As others have said, if anybody absolutely stand-out becomes available on our budget, then yes, absolutely go for them - but I'd be astonished if we haven't already been sounding out options for priorities 1 and 2, at least...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

MK Dons have announced their retained list.

Mo Eisa has had an extension triggered.

Can imagine there was some ‘interest’ in him! Eh! Eh!

Somebody's got the Friday feeling

Wouldn't mind us offering something to Tennai Watson. He's looked a decent L1 player to me from what I've seen (but I haven't watched loads of his match footage), think he'd offer decent competition at the RWB spot. Only just turned 26 and has good L1 experience.

85 third-tier games since being released by Reading (he was recommended to Dons by his former Royals teammate Zak Jules, him again). Maybe he'll end up back in biscuitland, as they'll need some free players, they've come down to his level, and he's a local lad.

I don't know him but if he played a few for a Manning side at wingback you expect he'd know what to do for us. Interestingly, seems to have played on the left against us in their 2-0 win last term.

[brommers95]

Wouldn't mind us offering something to Tennai Watson. He's looked a decent L1 player to me from what I've seen (but I haven't watched loads of his match footage), think he'd offer decent competition at the RWB spot. Only just turned 26 and has good L1 experience.

85 third-tier games since being released by Reading (he was recommended to Dons by his former Royals teammate Zak Jules, him again). Maybe he'll end up back in biscuitland, as they'll need some free players, they've come down to his level, and he's a local lad.

I don't know him but if he played a few for a Manning side at wingback you expect he'd know what to do for us. Interestingly, seems to have played on the left against us in their 2-0 win last term.

Yeah he seems to have a bit of positional versatility which is no bad thing. Has played LB,CB, RB and RWB this season according to WhoScored.

Screenshot 2023-05-19 at 17.37.55.png (100.23 KiB) Viewed 326 times

[GhostoftheBok]

I hear you on all that. I think we might go with Johnston/Iredale LCB, Toal/Geth RCB and Santos covered possibly by the rehabilitated MJ (adding the flex of which you speak), or maybe in truth by Toal - presumably currently pencilled in as Rico's longterm replacement.

I'm not sure Iredale and Geth are what we want from regular wingbacks, and certainly not at Champo level if we get there (although I suppose Jack's more defensive skillset might be more useful there in that case). I still think wingback is the summer's second most important recruitment area after GK, although I hear you on the '10' and I wouldn't kick a top-class 9 out of bed for farting.

As we've said before, it also depends who's available. If a game-changing wide centreback comes available, maybe we take the risk of underinvesting in other places. But I think there are holes to fill before we start upgrading on the sufficient.

I agree with all that.

The most important fixes are elsewhere.

In the same way, if we can sort out the mythical 30-a-season 9 then fair enough, put the money there.

The gaps in our play are both flanks, creative play from the wide centre backs, that Rice role in midfield and at 10.

As always, fixing every issue is unlikely; but we need to fix most.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yeah he [Tennai Watson] seems to have a bit of positional versatility which is no bad thing. Has played LB,CB, RB and RWB this season according to WhoScored.

Six-footer, so that helps.