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

[GhostoftheBok]

I think if we'd signed Humphrys and they'd signed McAtee we'd be here asking why we hadn't signed a winner like Macca and were stuck with Humphrys who hasn't changed the mentality.

[dave the minion]

It’s no surprise to me the only game we are missing santos for we actually battled aand fought for a point. It’s criminal it’s come to that with this level of investment of course.

Sorry - not having that. Santos was one of our best players yesterday (low bar admittedly!) and didn't do much wrong at all. He didn't miss a sitter that a 6 year old could have put away. He didn''t let his man just wander into unmarked space for their winner. He didn't completely disappear as a midfield 3 for the whole of the second half. He had a tougher time of it when Humphreys came on, but he didn't put many feet wrong all game in reality - and - low bar continuing - was a shout for our MOTM I thought (if there can be such a thing in such a turgid performance)

There was so much wrong for that 2nd 45 minutes yesterday, but singling individuals out - and in particular Santos - is utterly ridiculous I'm afraid

[GhostoftheBok]

Sorry - not having that. Santos was one of our best players yesterday (low bar admittedly!) and didn't do much wrong at all. He didn't miss a sitter that a 6 year old could have put away. He didn''t let his man just wander into unmarked space for their winner. He didn't completely disappear as a midfield 3 for the whole of the second half. He had a tougher time of it when Humphreys came on, but he didn't put many feet wrong all game in reality - and - low bar continuing - was a shout for our MOTM I thought (if there can be such a thing in such a turgid performance)

There was so much wrong for that 2nd 45 minutes yesterday, but singling individuals out - and in particular Santos - is utterly ridiculous I'm afraid

This is correct.

[dave the minion]

If Evatt and that fraud Markham are allowed to spend more money in the next window I’d put that decision up there with anything of the Anderson’s. It would be utterly irresponsible to let them spend yet more money given they’ve wasted more money than any Bolton setup I can remember.

Sharon should be considering what funding is available for next season if/when season ticket sales tank. Because that’s a very plausible business scenario right now.

On what basis do you know Markham to be a "fraud"? How do you actually know SB is "Spineless". Why is IE such a horrible man???

I don't get it. Something is clearly not working at the club. Something most likely has to change. All that is fine. However, what is it with people being determined to think that everything is a conspiracy and the people involved are pure evil?????

[Bertie Wooster]

I think if we'd signed Humphrys and they'd signed McAtee we'd be here asking why we hadn't signed a winner like Macca and were stuck with Humphrys who hasn't changed the mentality.

I don't get this at all, Humphrys would have changed the mentality and plenty would have been happy with a player like him, we need players like him,

I think most where happy with the McAtee signing, but a winner ?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Bertie, I suspect other teams' players always look better because we remember their good games (and Humphrys has had a few against us). But there must be a reason why Humphrys - and Cosgrove, perhaps the division's definitve Big Lunk Up Front now that Michael Smith has gone - couldn't get in the first XI of a side who got beat 4-0 at home last time out. Maybe it's his 4 goals in 21 games this season.

McAtee is a scrapper, more so than many of our squad, but that's not a very high bar.

[GhostoftheBok]

I think most where happy with the McAtee signing, but a winner ?

That was precisely the view of him at Barnsley amongst most fans and their staff. Bulletproof attitude and constant drive to win.

He was the player most Barnsley fans wanted. Humphrys was generally seen as a poor man's alternative who wouldn't offer the same winning attitude. McAtee was the bright spark in what they saw as a bad season. This time it's Humphrys in a similar role.

Why would Humphrys have had any more impact on the collective will than McAtee?

[jimbo]

I think if we'd signed Humphrys and they'd signed McAtee we'd be here asking why we hadn't signed a winner like Macca and were stuck with Humphrys who hasn't changed the mentality.

I don't get this at all, Humphrys would have changed the mentality and plenty would have been happy with a player like him, we need players like him,

I think most where happy with the McAtee signing, but a winner ?

I think the point Ghost is making is that we’re not getting the most out of the players we’ve signed. Players looking like world beaters elsewhere, underwhelming here.

[officer_dibble]

It’s no surprise to me the only game we are missing santos for we actually battled aand fought for a point. It’s criminal it’s come to that with this level of investment of course.

Sorry - not having that. Santos was one of our best players yesterday (low bar admittedly!) and didn't do much wrong at all. He didn't miss a sitter that a 6 year old could have put away. He didn''t let his man just wander into unmarked space for their winner. He didn't completely disappear as a midfield 3 for the whole of the second half. He had a tougher time of it when Humphreys came on, but he didn't put many feet wrong all game in reality - and - low bar continuing - was a shout for our MOTM I thought (if there can be such a thing in such a turgid performance)

There was so much wrong for that 2nd 45 minutes yesterday, but singling individuals out - and in particular Santos - is utterly ridiculous I'm afraid

Didn’t go or watch fella so I’ll take your word.

You won’t change my opinion though that he’s Evatts on field leader and a “leader” (ha) in the dressing room. I think the bunch is rotten to the core and he’d be one of the first out the door for me.

[Bertie Wooster]

I think most where happy with the McAtee signing, but a winner ?

That was precisely the view of him at Barnsley amongst most fans and their staff. Bulletproof attitude and constant drive to win.

He was the player most Barnsley fans wanted. Humphrys was generally seen as a poor man's alternative who wouldn't offer the same winning attitude. McAtee was the bright spark in what they saw as a bad season. This time it's Humphrys in a similar role.

Why would Humphrys have had any more impact on the collective will than McAtee?

McAtee may have been a scrapper with a great attitude, but I'm not seeing any of that at BWFC - now that could be down to the poor ineffective manager and his instructions, management style, but Humphyrs every time he's played against us (Rochdale, Wigan & Barnsley) has been a player with that winning attitude & desire and has always had an impact on the game, and he's also quite skillful. IMO he's exactly the type of player we desperately need, plus a couple of others like him.

[GhostoftheBok]

I think the point Ghost is making is that we’re not getting the most out of the players we’ve signed. Players looking like world beaters elsewhere, underwhelming here.

Morley being the main example right now.

Loads of our fans were claiming he was a League Two player and all hype. He's gone to Wycombe and been asked to play a role that suits him. So now we're seeing a key player in a top two team.

So many players in their squad would be star men in other League One sides. Plenty would also be seen as winners and battlers - as Morley is at Wycombe, McAtee was at Barnsley, etc.

As the performances have got worse, Evatt seems to have become more controlling. I don't think he can open the windows and take the shackles off now. A new man could let them play a bit, but Evatt seems to have completely lost it.

It's all gone a bit Henry VII.

[GhostoftheBok]

McAtee may have been a scrapper with a great attitude, but I'm not seeing any of that at BWFC - now that could be down to the poor ineffective manager and his instructions, management style, but Humphyrs every time he's played against us (Rochdale, Wigan & Barnsley) has been a player with that winning attitude & desire and has always had an impact on the game, and he's also quite skillful. IMO he's exactly the type of player we desperately need, plus a couple of others like him.

That's the point, though. The same was true of McAtee. Why would Humphys winning attitude and desire have had more of an impact than Maccas did?

If you're saying we add him to the group and maybe having him AND Macca starts to "move the needle" then maybe, sure. The more lads of the type you'd assume the better. However, I still think that if we'd swapped them we'd have people demanding we sign McAtee and bemoaning Humphrys.

Most Barnsley fans I know view Macca as a better player, but like Humphrys as "Macca with a bit less ability."

They generally think their squad isn't as good as it was and are hoping for a boost in January.

[Worthy4England]

Humphries might look more of an average player for us, than against us. He knows how we play, knows he can take the piss and enjoys it. Like Cosgrave. That doesn't necessarily translate to "they'd be a great player for us."

[Bertie Wooster]

Was is the 'case in point'....we haven't seen that player at BWFC - perhaps with a new manager we would but at the moment I would prefer a couple of Humphrys type players than a current McAtee.

[Bertie Wooster]

Humphries might look more of an average player for us, than against us. He knows how we play, knows he can take the piss and enjoys it. Like Cosgrave. That doesn't necessarily translate to "they'd be a great player for us."

We don't need them to be 'a great player for us', just a player or player with that winning attitude & desire and 'take the piss' mentality - I'd settle for a few good players with Humphry's mentality than a load of potentially great players who are weak as piss, and continually shrink and get out thought and out fought by slightly lesser players with a much better mentality & attitude.

[Worthy4England]

Humphries might look more of an average player for us, than against us. He knows how we play, knows he can take the piss and enjoys it. Like Cosgrave. That doesn't necessarily translate to "they'd be a great player for us."

We don't need them to be 'a great player for us', just a player or player with that winning attitude & desire and 'take the piss' mentality - I'd settle for a few good players with Humphry's mentality than a load of potentially great players who are weak as piss, and continually shrink and get out thought and out fought by slightly lesser players with a much better mentality & attitude.

Don't disagree with the sentiment, Bertie. You mighta thought Matete, Arfield and McAtee would give us some of that...but not to be.

[GhostoftheBok]

If the current issues can be solved with signings then great. We have some hope for January.

[jimbo]

At the moment I’m of the opinion that we change the manager but keep the players. Granted there are issues with the players, but on the whole they’ve shown that they’re more than capable for this level in the past. Currently as individuals and a collective they are a long way below that.
I’d like to see whether a new manager can get them performing between now and summer, and then reassess.
My worry would be that we ship out players who are under performing now, to see them thrive elsewhere.

[GhostoftheBok]

My worry would be that we ship out players who are under performing now, to see them thrive elsewhere.

Almost certain to happen.

You can't really say loan players doing well is a bad thing, but the fact we have lads out on loan that many people wrote off and are playing well in the division shows that it's likely lads who leave will improve at their new hunting ground.

Morley was supposedly "found out", but he's one of the best mids in the division at the minute. Nlundulu was lucky to be a professional footballer, but he's doing well enough in a poor Cambridge side. Conway should be off to non-league on loan, but is getting great reviews for promotion-chasing Crewe.

The lads we sell in January will probably do better than many expect.

That should probably also mitigate criticism of our recruitment department. If they're handing good players to a coaching team then that's their responsibility done with. The fact the coaches can't get a song out of them is that department's fault.

[BWFC_Insane]

The problem is that rating people solely on the basis of their individual ability rather than taking into account the intangibles, mentality, character and indeed ability to physically put yourself through it week in week out means we’ve assembled a squad of absolute charlatans. Being technically good does not qualify you as a footballer. We lack basic physicality and running and pace for a start. You look at other teams and they press hard - we can’t because most of ours won’t do the running or can’t. And you see teams with 6fters who maximise their set piece ability and make games into a battle. Again we can’t do that. We lack physicality and ball winning ability. We have very few players who cover ground. Kieran Lee an example of the sort who could cover all over the pitch. We just don’t have those. We don’t have defenders who can read the game and concentrate and mark for 90 minutes. These are the basics that have been ignored in construction of a squad that is all icing and no cake.

Where are the players with character? The grafters? The leaders? Those who will week in week out run through brick walls? I doubt we’ve outrun any single side this season. We are supposedly a pressing side yet bar Charles nobody else bothers. We play a system to accommodate a bloke who can’t defend, can’t read the game and concentrate and is too bone idle to deliver the basics.

I could go on and on but these aren’t new issues. They’ve been there since Evatt abandoned the side he got promoted with as he fell out with them all.