January 2022 Transfer Thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Indeed, however, when I've raised it previously I usually get met with an Evatt-esque 'not our area of greatest concern', which may be true, but it's definitely an area of concern.

Both sides are right there, I think. We can stay up with Dixon, but we definitely can't go up with him - not unless he has a level we're yet to see.

Evatt is consistently taking the cheap option. I think that's because, ultimately, he's arrogant enough to think his side shouldn't need a top 'keeper. Hope I'm wrong, but it's how it seems.

He's not the only one.

Guardiola signed Claudio Bravo for £17m, roughly a quarter the cost of a typical City signing; he was shite, Chelsea won the league. So that summer, Pep spent twice as much on Edersen, making him the second-most expensive goalkeeper ever; they won the league for the next two seasons, and it's looking a lot like four of the next five seasons.

Klopp signed Loris Karius for £4.75m and made him Liverpool's first-choice keeper. He lost them a Champions League final in quite spectacular gif-making internet-breaking style. So that summer, Jurgen spent up to £66.8m on Alisson; Liverpool finished second, won the Golden Glove, the Champions League and, the following year, the league title they'd lost a generation earlier.

Obviously those are ludicrously high comparisons. But I've noted before that lots of very well-regarded managers have more hits than misses. Wenger and Fergie bought some shocking shot-non-stoppers. And while every great side needs at least a very good goalkeeper, finding ones that are good with their feet as well as their hands is a doubly/trebly difficult/expensive thing.

Despite all that, I do think Evatt has undervalued the position's importance. I've noted before that while here, he's hired three goalkeepers: his old mate from Blackpool; a loanee kid recommended by his old mate from Blackpool; and the goalkeeper he inherited at Barrow. I don't think Dixon is a terrible goalkeeper and he's fine as a trusted backup; in fact I agree with Ghost - he's probably not bad enough to relegate us but certainly not good enough to get us promoted.

But watching that midfield last night, we could sign Alisson and Ederson and still get battered. I'd say the priorities for this window now are:

1. CM (an '8' who wants the ball and will take the fight)
2. DM (back-up/sidekick for Williams, without whom...)
3. a 10 (we don't always use them, but we haven't had one since Sarce went)
4. a young loanee forward if (when?) Doyle leaves
5. for me, still, a Taggart CB
6. GK.

[Mar]

It's only right that with a shortness of resources that we don't go overboard on a goalkeeper. I would've expected that we bring in a new one to give extra cover for Gilks' pending retirement.

I didn't expect Gilks' form to be as bad as it has been this season. Certainly he should be getting game time in matches like last night but the fact that we played Dixon clearly shows the desire to win it.

We need a new keeper, it's clear. I rate Dixon and last night is a rarity but it's only a matter of time till additional players are needed in that spot so now is a good time as any to get a loan signing in with a view to permanent.

[Prufrock]

Indeed, however, when I've raised it previously I usually get met with an Evatt-esque 'not our area of greatest concern', which may be true, but it's definitely an area of concern.

Both sides are right there, I think. We can stay up with Dixon, but we definitely can't go up with him - not unless he has a level we're yet to see.

Evatt is consistently taking the cheap option. I think that's because, ultimately, he's arrogant enough to think his side shouldn't need a top 'keeper. Hope I'm wrong, but it's how it seems.

He's not the only one.

Guardiola signed Claudio Bravo for £17m, roughly a quarter the cost of a typical City signing; he was shite, Chelsea won the league. So that summer, Pep spent twice as much on Edersen, making him the second-most expensive goalkeeper ever; they won the league for the next two seasons, and it's looking a lot like four of the next five seasons.

Klopp signed Loris Karius for £4.75m and made him Liverpool's first-choice keeper. He lost them a Champions League final in quite spectacular gif-making internet-breaking style. So that summer, Jurgen spent up to £66.8m on Alisson; Liverpool finished second, won the Golden Glove, the Champions League and, the following year, the league title they'd lost a generation earlier.

Obviously those are ludicrously high comparisons. But I've noted before that lots of very well-regarded managers have more hits than misses. Wenger and Fergie bought some shocking shot-non-stoppers. And while every great side needs at least a very good goalkeeper, finding ones that are good with their feet as well as their hands is a doubly/trebly difficult/expensive thing.

Despite all that, I do think Evatt has undervalued the position's importance. I've noted before that while here, he's hired three goalkeepers: his old mate from Blackpool; a loanee kid recommended by his old mate from Blackpool; and the goalkeeper he inherited at Barrow. I don't think Dixon is a terrible goalkeeper and he's fine as a trusted backup; in fact I agree with Ghost - he's probably not bad enough to relegate us but certainly not good enough to get us promoted.

But watching that midfield last night, we could sign Alisson and Ederson and still get battered. I'd say the priorities for this window now are:

1. CM (an '8' who wants the ball and will take the fight)
2. DM (back-up/sidekick for Williams, without whom...)
3. a 10 (we don't always use them, but we haven't had one since Sarce went)
4. a young loanee forward if (when?) Doyle leaves
5. for me, still, a Taggart CB
6. GK.

I'd agree with all of that, including the order, other than I'd merge 3 and 4 into one Kachunga type (versatile forward player, 9, 10 or wide).

Trying to find mitigation for the keeper sitch is tough. Crellin played youth football for England (up to U20) and his keeper mate recommended him. He then fixed that (but even the Jensen signing was weird).

Then hoping Gilks could keep that up and then Covid (?). Idk, it's not good. Big summer priority unless the right one comes up on a permanent now (or cheap loan).

[GhostoftheBok]

He's not the only one.

Budgets, isn't it. "Good enough" happens a lot with 'keepers.

If you need an entire new squad then the money isn't going to go on the goalie. In the summer there didn't seem to be many about on a free worth having. I think there were some better than Dixon, but they'd have commanded decent wages.

Dixon isn't commanding, he's an average stopper and he's not good enough with his feet to not be genuinely good at the other stuff. I have no issue with him, but we will need better to get where we want to be.

If we were in full flow he'd likely not be noticed as much. We are not.

[GhostoftheBok]

Trial for a very highly rated young goalkeeper.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... oalkeeper/

[The_Gun]

Trial for a very highly rated young goalkeeper.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... oalkeeper/

No idea about this lad, but he's 20 and all his experience is in the Irish second tier, which I can't imagine is a terrific standard. Don't we already have our own highly rated young keeper in Hutchinson?

[GhostoftheBok]

No idea about this lad, but he's 20 and all his experience is in the Irish second tier, which I can't imagine is a terrific standard. Don't we already have our own highly rated young keeper in Hutchinson?

If he impresses he's welcome. No such thing as too much talent coming through.

Can't say if he's League standard for England as it stands, but he's raved about in the Irish system.

[officer_dibble]

Interesting timing. Coincidence?

[GhostoftheBok]

Interesting timing. Coincidence?

Yes. He apparently has a few trial offers, so he is likely making multiple stops on this trip unless someone snaps him up fast.

[GhostoftheBok]

Xav officially signed on.

[Bruce Rioja]

Trial for a very highly rated young goalkeeper.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... oalkeeper/

No idea about this lad, but he's 20 and all his experience is in the Irish second tier, which I can't imagine is a terrific standard. Don't we already have our own highly rated young keeper in Hutchinson?

In 1995 we signed a 6'3" 22 year old goalie from a side in the Finnish 2nd division. That worked out quite well.

[sonicthewhite]

Trial for a very highly rated young goalkeeper.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... oalkeeper/

No idea about this lad, but he's 20 and all his experience is in the Irish second tier, which I can't imagine is a terrific standard. Don't we already have our own highly rated young keeper in Hutchinson?

In 1995 we signed a 6'3" 22 year old goalie from a side in the Finnish 2nd division. That worked out quite well.

One who was initially quite bobbins?

[LeverEnd]

Trial for a very highly rated young goalkeeper.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... oalkeeper/

No idea about this lad, but he's 20 and all his experience is in the Irish second tier, which I can't imagine is a terrific standard. Don't we already have our own highly rated young keeper in Hutchinson?

In 1995 we signed a 6'3" 22 year old goalie from a side in the Finnish 2nd division. That worked out quite well.

That's right, we should be constantly trialling promising young talent. Jussi wasn't signed to be chucked straight in to a much higher level and nor should this lad, especially behind one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Seems a few on Twitter are putting 2 and 2 together after Dixon's mistake, when they're not searching old tweets.
We should be looking to loan an experienced keeper who is kicking his heels in someone's reserves. A modern day Andy Dibble.

[GhostoftheBok]

That's right, we should be constantly trialling promising young talent. Jussi wasn't signed to be chucked straight in to a much higher level and nor should this lad, especially behind one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Seems a few on Twitter are putting 2 and 2 together after Dixon's mistake, when they're not searching old tweets.
We should be looking to loan an experienced keeper who is kicking his heels in someone's reserves. A modern day Andy Dibble.

We should be looking for young talent with resale value all over the park. At least one or two "for the future" lads should be coming in in every window.

[LeverEnd]

That's right, we should be constantly trialling promising young talent. Jussi wasn't signed to be chucked straight in to a much higher level and nor should this lad, especially behind one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Seems a few on Twitter are putting 2 and 2 together after Dixon's mistake, when they're not searching old tweets.
We should be looking to loan an experienced keeper who is kicking his heels in someone's reserves. A modern day Andy Dibble.

We should be looking for young talent with resale value all over the park. At least one or two "for the future" lads should be coming in in every window.

Have we signed any such players since the FV takeover?

[The_Gun]

That's right, we should be constantly trialling promising young talent. Jussi wasn't signed to be chucked straight in to a much higher level and nor should this lad, especially behind one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Seems a few on Twitter are putting 2 and 2 together after Dixon's mistake, when they're not searching old tweets.
We should be looking to loan an experienced keeper who is kicking his heels in someone's reserves. A modern day Andy Dibble.

We should be looking for young talent with resale value all over the park. At least one or two "for the future" lads should be coming in in every window.

Have we signed any such players since the FV takeover?

Thomason?

As a club we haven't been very on the ball with youth development/acquiring young talent for a long time now. Evatt has made the right noises in this regard in the past, but his actions have not particularly painted him as someone who is focused on bringing young players through, and we don't seem to have many/any prospects bubbling under at present.

[officer_dibble]

What about Dapo? George Johnston probably shouldn’t be written off yet either.

[BWFC_Insane]

What about Dapo? George Johnston probably shouldn’t be written off yet either.

Dapo is 24. Hardly someone you can consider a youth talent. He’s in the prime years of a footballers career.

[officer_dibble]

He’s not old!
We got him on a free and he has resale value.
I’d like some more of those please.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Dapo has plenty of potential resale value, as does anyone who we sign on a free.

I would like us to sign more players between the ages of 18 and 23, ones who could more quickly be ready or "men's football". That was definitely the stated aim when we kiboshed the U23s, but in three-and-a-bit windows since we haven't done much.