January 2022 Transfer Thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I don't really get why he hasn't reverted to playing two sitting midfielders. He's clearly not averse to it, as he used it most of last season and was very successful with it.

Maybe he will. Morley can sit and pass the ball about. Main problem right now (and indeed since Sarce left) is the lack of a No.10 – so one sitter and two runners has made more sense than two behind one.

[The_Gun]

I don't really get why he hasn't reverted to playing two sitting midfielders. He's clearly not averse to it, as he used it most of last season and was very successful with it.

Maybe he will. Morley can sit and pass the ball about. Main problem right now (and indeed since Sarce left) is the lack of a No.10 – so one sitter and two runners has made more sense than two behind one.

It would seem an easy way to give our centre backs more protection, and it's not like we've been firing on all cylinders up top with this new formation. I'd be happy enough with Dapo playing as the 10.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I don't really get why he hasn't reverted to playing two sitting midfielders. He's clearly not averse to it, as he used it most of last season and was very successful with it.

Maybe he will. Morley can sit and pass the ball about. Main problem right now (and indeed since Sarce left) is the lack of a No.10 – so one sitter and two runners has made more sense than two behind one.

It would seem an easy way to give our centre backs more protection, and it's not like we've been firing on all cylinders up top with this new formation. I'd be happy enough with Dapo playing as the 10.

Aye. I can certainly see the benefit of it and have indeed campaigned for it myself. But then, Dapo has sometimes looked lost at 10 and I'm not sure who plays on the left. (Please don't say Delf, he's suffered enough.)

Meantime, Evatt:
“We have got a bid in for a player at the moment which we are waiting to hear back on and some positive work going on a forward as well, so things are looking positive.”

[Prufrock]

Evatt talked either before or just after the season started about working on both midfield configurations.

V - allows you to push the front three higher as you have more protection to get out to wide areas and the midfielders are ahead of the ball less.

^ - keeps the box in front of the back 4 and tends to turn your shape off the ball into a 442. Harder to get your wide players into the box as much and needs a no.10.

I think it's good to have the option to play either, and change within games.

Tbh being able to have the players to confidently say which one we're playing would be nice

[Worthy4England]

I just wanna win He can do that playing 1-9 or 9-1 formations or anything in between.

The debate is fun, but on points is where it'll be judged...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Trafford signs.

.
Evatt:

James has been on the bench for the first team, which speaks volumes as to what Pep and Manchester City think of him. I have watched him play for England, physically watched him play two or three times now and am a huge admirer of his. He became available and it was a no brainer for us. We thank Man City for helping us out because they have subsidised a huge portion of his wage. He is a big prospect and hugely talented so we can’t really afford to pay him the same sort of money they can.

I spoke to their goalkeeper coach Xabi (Manciscidor) yesterday and he is a big fan of James and he wants to make sure we are giving him the right environment to blossom. We want to give him that chance and I am looking forward to seeing him play.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1 ... ford-loan/

I’ve seen James play a fair bit and watched him play for England a few times. With Chris Markham (Wanderers’ Technical Performance Director) coming from the FA we know people who have done a lot of work with James and how highly thought of he is within the England group and with Manchester City. We’re very lucky to have him and for Manchester City trusting us with him and we think he’ll make a difference to us. He’s only young but he’s a real leader, a big boy, an aggressive boy and we’re fortunate to have him in the building to help us until the end of the season.

https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2022/januar ... -trafford/

City website notably describes him thus:

Screenshot 2022-01-13 at 17.48.36.png (102.66 KiB) Viewed 1331 times

.

[Bertie Wooster]

If he's a vocal keeper that's good, and apparently he's a tall lad although I'm not sure how tall but if he has a presence in goal then he could be decent (he surely can't be any worse than Dixon ?) - IMO he has to be the No1 until he makes any mistakes ?

[GhostoftheBok]

I'll stand by saying that James Trafford is a talented lad.

He's had a bad time at Accy in his first ever competitive football at 19.

He's not what most wanted in, but he's here now. Back him to the hilt.

[The_Gun]

If he's a vocal keeper that's good, and apparently he's a tall lad although I'm not sure how tall but if he has a presence in goal then he could be decent (he surely can't be any worse than Dixon ?) - IMO he has to be the No1 until he makes any mistakes ?

Apparently he’s 6ft 6, so not a small lad by any means.

I’d hazard a guess that City aren’t lending him to us thinking he’s going to be sat on the bench, so it seems likely we’ve given assurances over game time.

[GhostoftheBok]

Apparently he’s 6ft 6, so not a small lad by any means.

Unless he's grown massively since covid started, that's more wiki bollocks. All players seem to gain a couple of inches on the internet.

Must be measuring from the root....

[Bruce Rioja]

Well, he sounds like a goodun, however, given Evatt's previous on goalies I'll reserve judgement. Just hope folk won't be straight on his case though if he does have an uncertain start.

[BWFC_Insane]

I assume he’s a first choice as Dixon is awful. But then I can’t help feel more experience would have helped. What this does leave us is absolute necessity now to get some experience at centre half.

[KeyserSoze]

Apparently he’s 6ft 6, so not a small lad by any means.

Unless he's grown massively since covid started, that's more wiki bollocks. All players seem to gain a couple of inches on the internet.

Must be measuring from the root....

Fnaar?

[GhostoftheBok]

I assume he’s a first choice as Dixon is awful. But then I can’t help feel more experience would have helped. What this does leave us is absolute necessity now to get some experience at centre half.

Would still require finding a new home for Baps, you'd imagine.

I get saying "this is an absolute necessity" about every area of the pitch, but how do we actually make space in the budgets for that player? Remembering we've had to have Trafford's wages "massively subsidised", so it's not like we're throwing money around anywhere.

[BWFC_Insane]

I assume he’s a first choice as Dixon is awful. But then I can’t help feel more experience would have helped. What this does leave us is absolute necessity now to get some experience at centre half.

Would still require finding a new home for Baps, you'd imagine.

I get saying "this is an absolute necessity" about every area of the pitch, but how do we actually make space in the budgets for that player? Remembering we've had to have Trafford's wages "massively subsidised", so it's not like we're throwing money around anywhere.

I’d gladly let any of our current centre backs go to create space. Or shift Baps to a coaching role. But I take your point. However it was number one priority in my view and needs fixing. If we can stop conceding goals it gives us half a chance.

The main problem as I see it is we’ve spent money or invested wages into the wrong centre backs.

[nicholaldo]

I'm quite concerned we don't appear to be searching for cover for MJ Williams.

[GhostoftheBok]

The main problem as I see it is we’ve spent money or invested wages into the wrong centre backs.

It's fair to have that view. The issue is that we came into this window with no midfielders and would have had no strikers if we'd not signed Charles. So whilst we can say the centre backs might not be what we'd like, they at least exist.

[LeverEnd]

Apparently he’s 6ft 6, so not a small lad by any means.

Unless he's grown massively since covid started, that's more wiki bollocks. All players seem to gain a couple of inches on the internet.

Must be measuring from the root....

Fnaar?

Urk urk!

[Worthy4England]

Apparently he’s 6ft 6, so not a small lad by any means.

Unless he's grown massively since covid started, that's more wiki bollocks. All players seem to gain a couple of inches on the internet.

Must be measuring from the root....

Fnaar?

Urk urk!

F-nuk f-nuk.

Titter ye not

[irie Cee Bee]

Seems like James was a midfielder before putting the gloves on. Should fit right in with Evatts philosophy preferring goakeepers who can play. Hope he uses his hands well enough also,

https://www.goal.com/en/news/james-traf ... a31709aee2