Bijou Bob's Bargain Basement Buys - Jan transfer thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Joe Riley has got a good move. He obviously has a good chance of cementing a regular first team slot in a lower league, something which wasn't going to happen here if the manager preferred a midfielder in his position.

Frees up more wages (probably not by that much) and Lennon seems capable of moving players on.

TBF Riley was at Oxford until January 3rd, but he's obviously not done enough to convince NL. Seems Lennon spoke to him immediately about his future and although
Oxford wanted him back he's opted to stay local, for which you can't blame him.

Hayden White is also back in the building after his Bury loan - wracked with suspension and injury – ended last week; the bucket-Shakers wanted him back, but now Joe's gone there instead...

[TKIZ!]

Boo this thread!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Boo this thread!

I apologize.
I took the piss out of yours.
I was wrong.
Yours was a paragon of activity compared to this, Bijou Bob's effort.

[malcd1]

I have just visited one of the Oxford United football forums. Not many people are gutted that they haven't re-signed Riley. Some saying it is a bit of a shame others saying they are not that bothered. Seems like he did a fair job down there but perhaps not great.

[CrazyHorse]

I'm wondering what sort of backing Dougie Freedman was promised on joining Bolton? .....

But I doubt they will.

Dunno what he was promised to be honest, but presumably his side of the bargain didn't involve delivering the worst start to a season for 100 years?

[General Mannerheim]

Spearing to Watford it looks like. im guessing he's a (the?) top earner atm, so should finally clear the way for some action...

bit of a bastard tho; bloke at work lives next door to Jay on the Wirral, he was gonna sound him out about some tickets for the Liverpool game but this may scupper my chances now...

[officer_dibble]

Must be clearing the decks for a loan signing, hopefully today!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Joe Riley has got a good move.

Certainly well above average for Academy players (generally, not just ours). There's some interesting research in The Times - it'll be online but behind Murdoch's paywall - on the ones who don't make it. According to XPRO, a charity for former players:
* 96% of scholars signed by clubs in England & Wales at the age of 16 will not play again from the age of 18
* of those who do earn professional contracts, only 2% will still be professionals past 21

The piece also interviews Peter Morrison, a name I vaguely remember (fear not, it's not Peter Harrison). He was a winger for our Academy in the late 90s, moved to Scunthorpe, career ended in his early 20s after a double leg break. So far so sad but the piece reveals that "one of his contemporaries at Bolton, Lee Pryers, had committed suicide age 31." RIP...

[Lord Kangana]

Was Peter Morrison the one with curly black hair?

And wasn't it spelt Lee Pryors, or am I confusing him with someone else?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Picture searches are inconclusive on the hair front. Surname reported as Pryers rather than Pryors in the Bolton News and other local papers upon his death.

As for our outgoing captain, he's still under contract for another season after this one. Spearing is to Lennon as Andrews was to Freedman: someone else's overly expensive idea.

Onto matters cheerier: Riley has "a hefty sell-on clause included in his contract" (BN), which is as it should be with players we release from contracts. We've done the hard work training them, and I dare say if we were scratching around in the fourth division he'd be playing for us, so it's not fair that receiving clubs should get all the potential upturn. Positive quotes too from David Clitfroth about Joe taking a pay cut, being able to play full-back or wing-back, etc.

And Liam Feeney may not be the most popular - wingers rarely are, operating as they do in a position with a low success percentage – but there's a few things in this morning's BN interview to soothe the soul.

[bobo the clown]

I'm sorry it hasn't worked out for Riley. His emergence in that Stoke game was eye-opening in the way Clough's was last week and his injuries have had something of the Joey O'Brien about them. His 28 game run in Oxford's team seemed to have put those fears aside and I suppose I hoped he'd be able to return and slot into RB and release Vela to his natural position and be a replacement for the vastly more expensive Spearing and Medo.

I'm assuming Lennon and his men have watched him, seen film, had reports and know what we currently have available or lined up and didn't fancy him. Surely our Cardiff loaned is fit again now ? I still have plenty enough faith in Lennon and Mjalby to assume they're making a sound judgement. Still ... a shame but good luck to the lad.

Spearing to Watford ... I hope he can turn it around there. Seems a nice enough character. He & Lennon have obviously not seen eye to eye (loads of joke opportunities there) but his form's been poor for a year now ... almost since becoming captain. I'm assuming he's pretty expensive too. So, the General's selfless ticket dilemma aside it's best all round I guess.

Chungie is going to serve out his contract on the sick I suppose , which will really be the worst of both World's. I am not having it that he'll be back from a (albeit 'hairline') fracture in 3 weeks. Also we're likely to see the mentally frail version we are more used to when he does return. Bit of a bugger that.

But a fee for Spearing and his, Medo's and Riley's wages off the books and 3 vacancies allows Lennon a bit of latitude. Eaves too can't have much longer on our books and has Mason actually gone back yet ? I remain hopeful Moxey and Trotter may find suitors. Fck ... if we were daft enough surely someone else will be.

[General Mannerheim]

cant see him getting shut of his mate Trotter?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I love these creative presentations of data - bravo to the author and to DSB for finding and sharing...

You might also like https://twitter.com/stats_snakeoil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Championship fan

[jaffka]

Blackburn are looking at a loan.

I imagine we're not. Do we need to shave the wages or get some cash in hand?

From the BN article, his proposed move to Watford is a loan.

Could be that Lennon is happy to get shut any way to free up his wages.

He is looking like a wheeler dealer.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

He is looking like a wheeler dealer.

Or, perhaps, a desperate man trying to get rid of other people's signings to get any kind of wage leverage. A bit like Freedman, except that he was so desperate that he tried to get rid of his own misguided signings (Baptiste, for example).

I’m running out of patience. This week I want some players in. I have to start pushing now because we are very, very short.

#insertspearingjoke

[jaffka]

Iles saying that it could be permanent, loan and possibly a loan from them.

Lloyd Dyer's name is being mentioned.

Iles also taking the mick out of the Beeb for saying we are interested in Commons, like it's breaking news.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles saying that it could be permanent, loan and possibly a loan from them.

Lloyd Dyer's name is being mentioned.

Dyer's not being mentioned by Iles, as far as I can see, but the folks "below the line" who frankly don't know shit from clay. Doesn't mean it won't happen, although it's worth mentioning that Lloyd Dyer is 32.

Iles did tweet this:

Just to clarify - couple of options on table for Spearing and #bwfc but currently a player swap looks more likely. Movable feast

[Enoch]

worth mentioning that Lloyd Dyer is 32.

A veritable spring chicken.

[jaffka]

Commons is that age as well.

If they play well and do the job it doesn't matter what age they are.

[StaffsTrotter]

so does this mean our recruitment policy has shifted from 'young and hungry' to 'old but still not full' ?