Tooling up: The summer 2024 transfer thread

[GhostoftheBok]

Will be amazed if Gethin or Iredale are to be sent away. Forester I rate but hard to see him playing too much.

Morley is cover. But if we were to sign a midfield player then maybe he could go.

Dan - last year of deal. Would be a hard one to find a taker for and likely be the end of his time here.

Coleman. I would assume.

Dan has two years left. Coleman doesn't need to be registered, as he's a keeper.

[BWFC_Insane]

Attack is currently where we are lightest.

We have two per position and additional cover everywhere except the 10 positions.

Who is cover for Thomason? As in replaces the game and stuff Thomason offers in midfield?

[BWFC_Insane]

Will be amazed if Gethin or Iredale are to be sent away. Forester I rate but hard to see him playing too much.

Morley is cover. But if we were to sign a midfield player then maybe he could go.

Dan - last year of deal. Would be a hard one to find a taker for and likely be the end of his time here.

Coleman. I would assume.

Dan has two years left. Coleman doesn't need to be registered, as he's a keeper.

Yes in terms of registrations but I can’t imagine we want to pay for three senior keepers.

[GhostoftheBok]

Is he good enough to be worth the risk?

Genuinely can't answer that.

Bochum signed him to be their main right-sider in the top division. He was brought in by Thomas Reiss, who had a very specific style of play. When Reiss was sacked after an awful start to the season Tutu's face didn't really fit. That, plus injuries, mean you'll struggle to find anyone who has seen him play more than a couple of games in 18 months.

Talent-wise, yeah. Fast, skilful, inventive, etc. Does his job defensively.

The best version of Tutu is probably a Premier League player. Certainly Ghana thought they might have an international there. How much of that potential is left I've no clue.

What he's not is "A team's best player" and "Someone we have to prise out of a club", as per Evatt's reasons for a slow window.

If you told cam back from the future and told me he was the best player in League One this coming season I'd believe you. I'd also believe you if you told me he'd done an Amaechi.

[truewhite15]

Attack is currently where we are lightest.

We have two per position and additional cover everywhere except the 10 positions.

I make it four players for the two #6 slots, plus one likely to head out on loan and one potential utility - Sheehan, Thomason, Dempsey, Morley, with Khumbeni and Arfield as potentials.

Whereas there's five, plus one crock, for the two #10 slots - Collins, Adeboyejo, Lolos, Arfield, Nlundulu, plus CMG.

Admittedly, a lot of those #10s are also back up for the #9, but there's rotation inherent there.

[The_Gun]

Is he good enough to be worth the risk?

Genuinely can't answer that.

Bochum signed him to be their main right-sider in the top division. He was brought in by Thomas Reiss, who had a very specific style of play. When Reiss was sacked after an awful start to the season Tutu's face didn't really fit. That, plus injuries, mean you'll struggle to find anyone who has seen him play more than a couple of games in 18 months.

Talent-wise, yeah. Fast, skilful, inventive, etc. Does his job defensively.

The best version of Tutu is probably a Premier League player. Certainly Ghana thought they might have an international there. How much of that potential is left I've no clue.

What he's not is "A team's best player" and "Someone we have to prise out of a club", as per Evatt's reasons for a slow window.

If you told cam back from the future and told me he was the best player in League One this coming season I'd believe you. I'd also believe you if you told me he'd done an Amaechi.

If there was no fee involved then perhaps it’s a risk worth taking.

[GhostoftheBok]

Admittedly, a lot of those #10s are also back up for the #9

Therein lies the issue.

You'd got Vic in there, who is very much a #9, and CMG who is dead. Dan is much more a utility forward who is primarily a #9 in this system.

We have Lolos and Collins as genuine #10s, with Arfield as an option.

We are well short, as things stand.

[truewhite15]

Admittedly, a lot of those #10s are also back up for the #9

Therein lies the issue.

You'd got Vic in there, who is very much a #9, and CMG who is dead. Dan is much more a utility forward who is primarily a #9 in this system.

We have Lolos and Collins as genuine #10s, with Arfield as an option.

We are well short, as things stand.

I was going off what I've seen of them all in pre-season, plus what I've heard of their positions at previous clubs.

Vs Stoke, in our final home friendly, Vic most definitely played that #10 role behind Charles towards the end. He's also played wide, cutting in, at previous clubs including Barnsley, I believe. So it's a position he's used to.

Nlundulu came off the bench vs Fiorentina as a #10, and looked very lively indeed. It's a position where he can see a lot more of the ball, where he'll feel more involved - I can't be the only one to notice how frustrated he becomes when playing up front solo.

I don't think either of them are ideal for that position, and they're likely to slip down the pecking order if we get one of our aforementioned targets, but they can and have played there. #6 is genuinely light on even utility players who could "do a job".

[GhostoftheBok]

#6 is genuinely light on even utility players who could "do a job".

6 isn't light in terms of numbers. Thommo, Sheehan, Dempsey, Morley and Arfield have all played there successful. So have Lolos and Johnston, for that matter.

What's missing is very specific skillsets if we lose Sheehan.

So we have 2 dedicated bodies per position, plus a utility player, plus versatility.

Whereas at #10 we just have the 2 dedicated bodies for 2 positions, plus the utility and versatility options.

[Worthy4England]

We'll be a long time dead, waiting for perfect. Time for the gaffer to make the difference (possible incomings notwithstanding).

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Dempsey is a bit hot and cold and Morley has largely been lukewarm. I know nothing much of Arfield, so to me it feels like a relatively weak area for us compared to further up the field.

[GhostoftheBok]

We'll be a long time dead, waiting for perfect. Time for the gaffer to make the difference (possible incomings notwithstanding).

Yup.

This is looking like it will be a very good squad for the level. Lots of redundancy and different kinds of options.

We can dislike individual players, but not many League One clubs have third options in any position, let alone players like Arfield and Nlundulu in those roles.

Assuming Desmond shows up we are 2-3 quality players short and should have enough to make a fist of it regardless.

[Prufrock]

I'd assume the player we'd be getting in to merit the new space would be at 10, so we'd have them there too.

If you let a CM go you'd need to replace them so unless a kid I can't see that. Could be a defender but I think he thinks they all offer something.

Most likely candidate I'd expect was one of our 3 number 9s. Dion or Vic because we need the money, or Dan because he's the one I just can't see even at second choice in any position.

Would be a bit of a blow to the gaffers ego though so not sure if he sees it like that.

That's my best bet, but far from certain.

[GhostoftheBok]

If we could get McAtee and a replacement for Paris then Dan going on loan might be doable.

Long term someone will have to move on. Likely more than one someone.

If we make the two attacking signings we want we'll have 8 players contracted beyond this season for the 3 spots.

The two new guys plus - Vic, Charles, Dan, Collins, Lolos and CMG.

That's without any B-Teamers proving their worth or looking to improve through recruitment for the following season.

We can't be precious about anyone. The only thing that matters is improving.

[GhostoftheBok]

I took the time to watch some of Tutu's games in Greece. Two with him playing left wing and one at right back.

He played well in all three games. From right back he made 6 chances in one game - none were put away. The pace is still there - genuine speed and rapid acceleration. He was kicked several times and rode nasty tackles. No moaning and didn't go into his shell. Rode a fairly bad tackle that took him off his feet, scrambled up, beat another man and floated a good cross with his left.

Genuinely two-footed. Gets his head up and finds free men.

Defensively a bit naïve and lacked aggression. He's stronger than he used to be, though.

Generally impressed. Looked very good at that level.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I took the time to watch some of Tutu's games in Greece. Two with him playing left wing and one at right back.

He played well in all three games. From right back he made 6 chances in one game - none were put away. The pace is still there - genuine speed and rapid acceleration. He was kicked several times and rode nasty tackles. No moaning and didn't go into his shell. Rode a fairly bad tackle that took him off his feet, scrambled up, beat another man and floated a good cross with his left.

Genuinely two-footed. Gets his head up and finds free men.

Defensively a bit naïve and lacked aggression. He's stronger than he used to be, though.

Generally impressed. Looked very good at that level.

Interesting, thanks. Do you think his two-footedness means he could play LWB, or would you see him more as the inverted left 10? Not that I'd be keen to throw him in the latter position.

Also - how would you say the level compares to League One? His loan team finished bottom, and (not unlike many other leagues) there's a huge gulf between the top teams and the rest. I'm not expecting him to be bossing opponents who are Champions League regulars, but who were his oppos?

[GhostoftheBok]

Interesting, thanks. Do you think his two-footedness means he could play LWB, or would you see him more as the inverted left 10? Not that I'd be keen to throw him in the latter position.

Also - how would you say the level compares to League One? His loan team finished bottom, and (not unlike many other leagues) there's a huge gulf between the top teams and the rest. I'm not expecting him to be bossing opponents who are Champions League regulars, but who were his oppos?

I'm not sure there'd be a huge difference for him in our system on the left or the right.

He could probably play as a #10 in a pinch, but it wouldn't suit him. He wants to be wide.

I watched him play Atromitos twice and OFI once.

The standard in Greece is spotty, I agree, but it's higher than (for example) Hungary, where Schon...er...shone.

OFI would give better League One sides a game. They were probably unlucky to finish as low as they did. They got a draw in Crete against Pana, which is no small thing. They went one better and beat PAOK at home too, as I recall.

[GhostoftheBok]

Worth noting, he also took corners. Not top class delivery, but accurate and shaped.

He was very unlucky over the course of the three games not to register any assists.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Good to hear that he could also cover LWB. I mean, Cogz is said to be able to cover that side too, but I wouldn't call him two-footed.

If he settles and is fit, that makes it easier for Conway to go out. I note Evatt (via BN) saying "it is important that he gets a full season under his belt somewhere because it will mature him” - so it doesn't sound like we intend to hoik him back in January.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ays-evatt/

We have had a lot of phone calls about Max and Nelson in particular, some from League One, and we need to make the right decision for their development. Max has done incredibly well during pre-season. We have really needed him to and he has stood up to the challenge. He has got a really good future here but it is important that he gets a full season under his belt somewhere because it will mature him.
We're not doing it to get him out of the way, we are doing it to develop him. Whatever department that might be in – psychologically, physically, technically, it will help him and bring him on for our team because we think he has got a future here, with Bolton.

I think Evatt's opening quote - “There is nothing at the moment, certainly nothing that will be happening right away" - may have been answering a question about outgoings more generally, not just the kids. He also says:

As is the way in football when you get players in and people are not getting regular minutes, then they start to get itchy feet. Perhaps we can look at that then? We just have to be fluid, to be honest, and then see what happens with the players coming in.

Maybe he's waiting to see who gets the 'ump if the XI settles without them - or, possibly, who we might get offers for at a price that renders them dispensible? In August we've got four league matches plus Mansfield League Cup, although the last league match is literally the 31st. They're also all weekend games, so there'll be no real need for midweek rotation.

[GhostoftheBok]

We have to expect that a team might get desperate late in the window and come in for Charles, Thommo or Vic.