Deal or no deal? - Summer 2022 Transfer gossip!

[knobpolisher]

Crikey looking at citys 2nd choice keeper Trafford will move up the pecking order

[officer_dibble]

To what, 5th choice?

[BWFC_Insane]

Watching Cambridge at Wigan and have to say whilst Iredale looks a tidy player I don’t see how he fits in here unless we plan to revert to a back four or play him left sided centre back in a three. He’s not a wing back on this viewing.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Watching Cambridge at Wigan and have to say whilst Iredale looks a tidy player I don’t see how he fits in here unless we plan to revert to a back four or play him left sided centre back in a three. He’s not a wing back on this viewing.

I'm not sure Ian Evatt takes your advice much, else he'd have resigned in autumn 2020

But on the topic, I notice that during the week Evatt was asked about Iredale and said something along the lines of "he's contracted to another club". Which basically means we're interested - he's denied other links swiftly enough.

Would you say Iredale is better than Johnston? And could his lack of forward momentum be anything to do with Wigan being Not Bad Really?

[BWFC_Insane]

Watching Cambridge at Wigan and have to say whilst Iredale looks a tidy player I don’t see how he fits in here unless we plan to revert to a back four or play him left sided centre back in a three. He’s not a wing back on this viewing.

I'm not sure Ian Evatt takes your advice much, else he'd have resigned in autumn 2020

But on the topic, I notice that during the week Evatt was asked about Iredale and said something along the lines of "he's contracted to another club". Which basically means we're interested - he's denied other links swiftly enough.

Would you say Iredale is better than Johnston? And could his lack of forward momentum be anything to do with Wigan being Not Bad Really?

I mean it’s hard to judge until I’ve seen him at left sided centre half. Looked solid enough. Looked a good deliverer of the ball. But maybe it’s just me. You can sort of spot a wing back a mile off. And I just don’t think he is one. Few times he got caught up the pitch and looked not very natural chasing back.

As a conventional left back looks good. Maybe as a centre back in a three.

And of course Evatt won’t listen to what any fan thinks and nor should he. I’m not attempting to influence him just offering an opinion.

[GhostoftheBok]

Watching Cambridge at Wigan and have to say whilst Iredale looks a tidy player I don’t see how he fits in here unless we plan to revert to a back four or play him left sided centre back in a three. He’s not a wing back on this viewing.

As I said the other day, he's exactly the sort I said I thought we'd be looking at earlier in the month. A left-sider who can naturally play left centre back, a more defensive fullback option than John in a 4 and a player who can cover LWB when needed.

I'd like to get him and add in a very attacking LWB option who can push John and also play left wing in a 4-3-3 if needed. I think someone like Nicky Cadden would be ideal, but there are other options out there for the role.

If we can add players like that then I'll be really happy with our left side. Then adding someone like Elliott Moore and a RWB would see us set at the back, I'd say.

Regardless, Iredale is a link that makes me excited for the summer.

[GhostoftheBok]

It's looking increasingly like Fossey and Trafford will both be back here next season. Traf spoke after the game about coming back next term with momentum to push on and the watercooler stuff out of London this weekend is that Fossey's future is basically done.

Both those are big steps in terms of understanding what the group will look like for next season.

[BWFC_Insane]

Watching Cambridge at Wigan and have to say whilst Iredale looks a tidy player I don’t see how he fits in here unless we plan to revert to a back four or play him left sided centre back in a three. He’s not a wing back on this viewing.

As I said the other day, he's exactly the sort I said I thought we'd be looking at earlier in the month. A left-sider who can naturally play left centre back, a more defensive fullback option than John in a 4 and a player who can cover LWB when needed.

I'd like to get him and add in a very attacking LWB option who can push John and also play left wing in a 4-3-3 if needed. I think someone like Nicky Cadden would be ideal, but there are other options out there for the role.

If we can add players like that then I'll be really happy with our left side. Then adding someone like Elliott Moore and a RWB would see us set at the back, I'd say.

Regardless, Iredale is a link that makes me excited for the summer.

Looks a tidy player. Was more looking at what role he’d have here. I just don’t think he’s ever a wing back. If you want to make that system work.

But as you say he would provide options in areas and versatility and I agree that players who cover a number of roles are needed here.

[GhostoftheBok]

Looks a tidy player. Was more looking at what role he’d have here. I just don’t think he’s ever a wing back. If you want to make that system work.

But as you say he would provide options in areas and versatility and I agree that players who cover a number of roles are needed here.

If we do bring Fossey and Trafford back then signing Iredale would leave us really close to a full squad - on depth as well as just squad places. We'd be short one centre back and (possibly) one wing back.

Then you're back to the 1-in-1-out we talked about the other day.

I am living in hope that we're not trusting to luck with injuries this time and are going for proper squad depth for a 50+ game season.

We could end up trusting John to play most of the time, with Iredale and Sadlier as options when he is out; but I really want a proper wing back to push John. Sadlier's versatility could tempt us to cut corners, though.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If we can add players like that then I'll be really happy with our left side. Then adding someone like Elliott Moore and a RWB would see us set at the back, I'd say.

I know you say “someone like” Eillott Moore, but Oxford have a contract extension option on him.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/1989 ... -contract/

What about your boy Jack Tucker? Think we’ve a chance there?

[GhostoftheBok]

I know you say “someone like” Eillott Moore, but Oxford have a contract extension option on him.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/1989 ... -contract/

What about your boy Jack Tucker? Think we’ve a chance there?

It sounds like Moore is leaving, but Oxford can demand a fee. I'm not sure that would rule him out, as we do seem to have some money now; but we may have no interest at all. I'm sure we'll get freebies in, but wouldn't be shocked to see us pay a couple of fees.

Tucker has been scouted by a lot of clubs higher up the pyramid than us, but when you look at a player at Gillingham then Bolton may have a chance. I imagine there will be a few interested.

I wouldn't be shocked to see some of our previous links show up in the papers again. Tucker, Hartigan etc.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If we do bring Fossey and Trafford back then signing Iredale would leave us really close to a full squad - on depth as well as just squad places. We'd be short one centre back and (possibly) one wing back.

Then you're back to the 1-in-1-out we talked about the other day.

Under current rules Trafford wouldn’t count, cos goalies don’t. We have 18 overage players contracted beyond summer and I really don’t expect anyone lapsing to get an extension. Iredale and Fossey would make 20, so as you say, (R)CB + RWB would make us full.

I do think we would need another RWB(/RB) if we sign Fossey, who let’s say hasn’t been fortunate with injuries, and might also need fairly regular rotation in what would be his first full senior season. Not saying he’d need resting every fortnight, but you’d be wary of too many three-game weeks.

I suppose Izzy is kinda cover there and we’ve certainly been training up Sadlier to cover both wingback positions, and he seems to have the fitness, grit and crossing. He’s not a natural defender but you wouldn’t exactly call Fossey and Dec the new Hartle and Banks.

The more I look at next season’s squad the more I expect Darcy to be loaned out.

[GhostoftheBok]

Under current rules Trafford wouldn’t count, cos goalies don’t. We have 18 overage players contracted beyond summer and I really don’t expect anyone lapsing to get an extension. Iredale and Fossey would make 20, so as you say, (R)CB + RWB would make us full.

I do think we would need another RWB(/RB) if we sign Fossey, who let’s say hasn’t been fortunate with injuries, and might also need fairly regular rotation in what would be his first full senior season. Not saying he’d need resting every fortnight, but you’d be wary of too many three-game weeks.

I suppose Izzy is kinda cover there and we’ve certainly been training up Sadlier to cover both wingback positions, and he seems to have the fitness, grit and crossing. He’s not a natural defender but you wouldn’t exactly call Fossey and Dec the new Hartle and Banks.

The more I look at next season’s squad the more I expect Darcy to be loaned out.

Yeah, Trafford doesn't count for the squad limit, but we still need another keeper to make a full squad. It looks like Trafford will be it.

I'm of the view that Evatt will see Izzy as cover for Fossey when we need an attacking wing back and Jones when we need more solidity.

As I said before, I'd like someone like Cadden to push John and he's a very attacking LWB, so I can't really moan about Izzy. I like him as a player and love his attitude. If we were absolutely going to see 46 games of 5-3-2 then I'd probably want a more natural RWB to push Fossey, but I think flexibility is the keyword here.

Darcy yeah, I can't see him avoiding a loan. I also suspect we will see Thommo loaned too. He's under age, but we can't put him back into reserve football and he seems very unlikely to get much time on the pitch.

[GhostoftheBok]

It's probably worth shifting the Accy conversation over to here.

I think we have some good players in midfield, but I'd like to go into next season looking at our squad on paper and feeling like we can match any side in any compartment. I'm not sure I'm there in any of them yet.

Obviously the back line needs the most work. I don't know how Evatt feels about his options in midfield and attack once (if) everyone is fit. For me we need to make one change in midfield and one in attack to really be confident of challenging at the top. That'd mean tough calls about who moves on and it'd probably mean getting rid of players I really like, but who I feel aren't top quality at this level.

I'm not sure we actually will make any changes beyond the back line. I don't know how Evatt feels about his options. For me, every section of the team should improve every summer if you want to kick on. I don't feel like we're so good as to change that rule.

*edit* I realise I'm saying this about a midfield that, assuming we play a 3, currently has 3 players per position.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

You’re right of course that a squad needs to keep evolving, especially if you’re climbing divisions. I guess it’s getting tougher to say where the evolution happens, especially with a fairly full complement in midfield and attack.

But it’s an interesting thought experiment for all. Disregarding who might replace them (you can assume a similar but better “type”), which current players in midfield/attack are the next to need improvement upon? Ignoring for now the two young homegrown midfielders, is it MJ? Of the many options across the front line, is it the ex-Prem player Kachunga, or might it be the guy with the “20 goals” song? Difficult decisions, these.

I guess one way to ask the question is: if we go up next summer, who would most worry you about playing well in the Champo?

[Prufrock]

Depends on shape for me. If it's 352 then I don't think we've a natural 10, MJ really struggles (though he wouldn't be in my first XI) and I could also see a case for another striker (they'll all get goals, but I'm not sure anyone will consistently bag through the season)

If it's a 433 (either config) I think we're much more balanced. I think I'd currently pick Mj- Morley- Dempsey (but Sheehan and Lee both knocking on that door) and Dapo-Charles-Sad (but Dadi knocking hard too). I'd like a more energetic MJ or an upgrade on Baka I think.

[Prufrock]

Plus I wouldn't be surprised to see Dapo go.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Plus I wouldn't be surprised to see Dapo go.

This is another factor – after this month we could lose our best wide attacker (Dapo), our best centre-back (Rico) and our best wing-back (Fossey). But that's not really answering the question

For the record, like you, I don't think we've got a natural 10 - Sexy Kieran is arguably the most effective there in terms of system, if not necessarily in creativity, and we can't assume he'd be ready for the Championship in 2023/24 (which he'd start aged 35 and out of contract).


Which raises a side note. Although I'm asking for opinions rather than futurology, I suspect Evatt's answer to the query might be found in the contracts that expire next summer:

Dixon, Santos, Aimson, MJ, Lee, (Tomo), Sheehan, (Darcy), Izzy, Kacha, Baka, Bod.

With the exception of Rico (who Evatt would extend ASAP if possible), and to a greater or lesser extent with the others (I suspect Bod might be extended by Christmas), I feel like all those have a year to prove they're up to the challenge. Especially if it's a Champo challenge.

[brommers95]

But it’s an interesting thought experiment for all. Disregarding who might replace them (you can assume a similar but better “type”), which current players in midfield/attack are the next to need improvement upon? Ignoring for now the two young homegrown midfielders, is it MJ? Of the many options across the front line, is it the ex-Prem player Kachunga, or might it be the guy with the “20 goals” song? Difficult decisions, these.

Those three definitely the most obvious.

Kachunga is the most pressing in terms of upgrading in my opinion. He doesn’t impact games enough to be worthy of a precious squad space in L1, let alone the Champ for me. Tidy enough on the ball but not adequately pacey, tricky, physical nor ‘pass-y’ enough to warrant a regular matchday spot.

Would be nice to upgrade MJ this summer but not sure we have enough wiggle room to get another CM in unless we move a contracted player on and I can’t see anybody being forced out the door this summer. I guess there’s also the option of getting an under-21 loan player from a top academy but that’d be putting a lot of responsibility on a youngster who may not be good enough.

Baka we know can get goals in this division so is fine for now, but you’d definitely looking to upgrade him if we get promoted next season. I guess you could say the same for pretty much the entire squad though.

[knobpolisher]

I think it fantastic that we can look ahead with real hope. A mid table finish this year has been an excellent effort and the fact we briefly had real hope of a play off place is quite remarkable.
I'm not disappointed that we didn't go up, much as I love to see us as high up the football pyramid as possible. A season of consolidation has been just what was required, too much progress too quickly is not always the best option. Next season holds great promise after the dark days of recent years and I for one can't wait.