Who opened the door? My money is on Janus! 2024 January transfer thread.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Ramsay clipreel

[officer_dibble]

Hope Matheson gets out to league two on loan and gets some games. Could be good for him.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Hope Matheson gets out to league two on loan and gets some games. Could be good for him.

Fully agree - but for whom? Really you want a team playing wingbacks. From what I can see it's a formation used by Wrexham, Barrow, MK Dons, Notts County, Gillingham, Bradford, Colchester, Crawley, Walsall and Newport, so we've a few to aim at... but I'm sure we'll carefully check out his potential digs.

[KeyserSoze]

Googled 'Ramsay Bolton' and it didn't bring up much about football. In fact if that's what he has been up to then it's a disgrace he's here tbh.

[DJBlu]

Googled 'Ramsay Bolton' and it didn't bring up much about football. In fact if that's what he has been up to then it's a disgrace he's here tbh.

[sonicthewhite]

Googled 'Ramsay Bolton' and it didn't bring up much about football. In fact if that's what he has been up to then it's a disgrace he's here tbh.

Sausage, anyone?

[TonyDomingos]

Here's to hoping that Wrexham do the business tonight because if the Dingles are knocked out then Ennis MAY just push harder to get away to us on loan.

….although it may give Wrexham more money and reinvigorate their interest in Collins?

Ennis was an unused sub in a 4-1 win.

[sonicthewhite]

Here's to hoping that Wrexham do the business tonight because if the Dingles are knocked out then Ennis MAY just push harder to get away to us on loan.

….although it may give Wrexham more money and reinvigorate their interest in Collins?

Ennis was an unused sub in a 4-1 win.

Which to me, is quite telling. If you can't get a run out in a Cup game against lge 2 opposition, when the game is already won, then you're clearly not wanted.

[sonicthewhite]

Evatt confirms that we won't be signing a CB this window;

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... k-january/

[GhostoftheBok]

Evatt confirms that we won't be signing a CB this window;

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... k-january/

Honestly feels like they've made the right call.

I really, really don't like the idea of leaving the window without another addition at the back - but if the call is either Calvin Ramsay or a centre half I'll take the wingback.

For me we don't need a first choice centre back when people are back, but we did need to improve the options out wide quite badly.

If we get a week beyond the window and we lose a centre back for the rest of the season then it'll look like a bad decision; but the same would have been true if we lost Cogley without Ramsay in.

We're potentially fighting fires until we get a couple back, but the general quality in the squad (and the impactfulness - a word I may have just made up, but which should exist - of the bench) is going up.

Equally, we've avoided overstocking any position past the summer.

Sounds like all the money is being pumped into that striker, whoever they eventually are.

[boltonboris]

Googled 'Ramsay Bolton' and it didn't bring up much about football. In fact if that's what he has been up to then it's a disgrace he's here tbh.

This is why we need that Like button!

[BWFC_Insane]

Evatt confirms that we won't be signing a CB this window;

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... k-january/

Honestly feels like they've made the right call.

I really, really don't like the idea of leaving the window without another addition at the back - but if the call is either Calvin Ramsay or a centre half I'll take the wingback.

For me we don't need a first choice centre back when people are back, but we did need to improve the options out wide quite badly.

If we get a week beyond the window and we lose a centre back for the rest of the season then it'll look like a bad decision; but the same would have been true if we lost Cogley without Ramsay in.

We're potentially fighting fires until we get a couple back, but the general quality in the squad (and the impactfulness - a word I may have just made up, but which should exist - of the bench) is going up.

Equally, we've avoided overstocking any position past the summer.

Sounds like all the money is being pumped into that striker, whoever they eventually are.

So I understand the theory. My issue at the back is more one of balance. It’s fine saying Cogley can cover right centre back. I can see that. But I think we are in trouble if either Santos or Toal are out for any period. Because for me they are our only ‘true’ centre halves of the ‘head it, scrap the striker, kick it out’ variety. And although we have a lot of possession we also have a habit of relying on defending our box for periods in most games.

Teams that are good at set pieces or throwing the ball into the box are held off when Toal and Santos are on it. And I think the two of them give that balance to us. We aren’t the biggest side generally so we do rely on it. As we would if we were playing a more traditional two centre halves at the back setup.

If either is out for a while I think we become unbalanced in that aspect. Jones, Forrester, Cogley, Iredale can all do roles in that back three but I don’t think any can do the traditional centre back role. We rely on that even in home games against Cheltenham for example.

[The_Gun]

Yeah JDC playing at CB is a stretch for me - he's 5'7.

I think we'll be fine when Forrester and Jones are back, but these next few weeks are concerning. Tonight, for example, we don't really have the choice to rate our back three, when ideally we'd be resting all of them.

[GhostoftheBok]

So I understand the theory. My issue at the back is more one of balance. It’s fine saying Cogley can cover right centre back. I can see that. But I think we are in trouble if either Santos or Toal are out for any period. Because for me they are our only ‘true’ centre halves of the ‘head it, scrap the striker, kick it out’ variety. And although we have a lot of possession we also have a habit of relying on defending our box for periods in most games.

Teams that are good at set pieces or throwing the ball into the box are held off when Toal and Santos are on it. And I think the two of them give that balance to us. We aren’t the biggest side generally so we do rely on it. As we would if we were playing a more traditional two centre halves at the back setup.

If either is out for a while I think we become unbalanced in that aspect. Jones, Forrester, Cogley, Iredale can all do roles in that back three but I don’t think any can do the traditional centre back role. We rely on that even in home games against Cheltenham for example.

I agree.

Our back three works best when we have two proper centre backs and one quasi fullback.

I think I disagree about who constitutes a proper centre back from amongst our options, but not enough to argue about it. Personally I'd have at least Forrester on that list, in addition to Toal and Santos.

It's all academic now. This is what we're doing, so let's hope lads stay fit.

[Prufrock]

I think you're right about Forrester in open play, but I do think set pieces would be an issue. We often pick a team where the only outfield over 6 footers are Toal, Santos and Tommo.

Height doesn't necessarily = aerial ability, and the other lads clearly work hard to do their own jobs, but it's tough to see how you'd handle a Burton away with just Tomo in there. But then, Toal and Rico are two of our best players full stop. And if you lose two of those you're going to struggle no matter what.

[GhostoftheBok]

I think you're right about Forrester in open play, but I do think set pieces would be an issue. We often pick a team where the only outfield over 6 footers are Toal, Santos and Tommo.

Height doesn't necessarily = aerial ability, and the other lads clearly work hard to do their own jobs, but it's tough to see how you'd handle a Burton away with just Tomo in there. But then, Toal and Rico are two of our best players full stop. And if you lose two of those you're going to struggle no matter what.

Again, I don't disagree.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think you're right about Forrester in open play, but I do think set pieces would be an issue. We often pick a team where the only outfield over 6 footers are Toal, Santos and Tommo.

Height doesn't necessarily = aerial ability, and the other lads clearly work hard to do their own jobs, but it's tough to see how you'd handle a Burton away with just Tomo in there. But then, Toal and Rico are two of our best players full stop. And if you lose two of those you're going to struggle no matter what.

Especially when you consider Thomason is 5’9!

[GhostoftheBok]

Especially when you consider Thomason is 5’9!

He's what now?

I'm taller than Thommo, but surely he's not 5'9"? Must have been wearing heels. He's bout Vic's height, no?

[BWFC_Insane]

Especially when you consider Thomason is 5’9!

He's what now?

I'm taller than Thommo, but surely he's not 5'9"? Must have been wearing heels. He's bout Vic's height, no?

He’s listed as 177cm which quick maths is about 5’9” isn’t it? Maybe he’s more 5’10-11 but definitely not a 6 footer!

[GhostoftheBok]

He’s listed as 177cm which quick maths is about 5’9” isn’t it? Maybe he’s more 5’10-11 but definitely not a 6 footer!

The heights online are often wrong. To be fair, club website heights are often wrong too - especially for keepers, who are often taller online.

I've not measured the lad, but I'm not having him as 5'9" in a month of Sundays.

Will be taking my tape to the next preseason game