Deal or no deal? - Summer 2022 Transfer gossip!

[GhostoftheBok]

The obvious thought experiment is to look at our defensive options, assume they stay fit all season and say "Is that set of options enough to give Evatt a better than average chance of winning the league?"

[Worthy4England]

Fairly sure not everyone we sign is in the notional "first XI"...some of them might not be in the second XI and we have a "B team" to fill, which you would expect might require quite a few signings.

[GhostoftheBok]

Fairly sure not everyone we sign is in the notional "first XI"...some of them might not be in the second XI and we have a "B team" to fill, which you would expect might require quite a few signings.

The B Team thing, yes. However, I think we're in a position with the squad now where every first team signing we make should be viewed as either a probable first choice player or a very valuable development asset.

As Evatt put it, "Quality over quantity."

[Worthy4England]

Fairly sure not everyone we sign is in the notional "first XI"...some of them might not be in the second XI and we have a "B team" to fill, which you would expect might require quite a few signings.

The B Team thing, yes. However, I think we're in a position with the squad now where every first team signing we make should be viewed as either a probable first choice player or a very valuable development asset.

As Evatt put it, "Quality over quantity."

Aye - so the question for me would be, if we were interested in Platt, would be be first choice player, development asset or B team "maybe" filler? Because if it was the latter, then it doesn't matter right now whether he could challenge Santos, Iredale, Johnston, Aimson etc.

[BWFC_Insane]

Fairly sure not everyone we sign is in the notional "first XI"...some of them might not be in the second XI and we have a "B team" to fill, which you would expect might require quite a few signings.

The B Team thing, yes. However, I think we're in a position with the squad now where every first team signing we make should be viewed as either a probable first choice player or a very valuable development asset.

As Evatt put it, "Quality over quantity."

Aye - so the question for me would be, if we were interested in Platt, would be be first choice player, development asset or B team "maybe" filler? Because if it was the latter, then it doesn't matter right now whether he could challenge Santos, Iredale, Johnston, Aimson etc.

He’s 24. I’d hope if we are signing him it’s as at the least cover for the first team. Bit too old to consider a development asset and I think signing players like that for the B team is a nonsense personally….

[GhostoftheBok]

The B team should be made up of 15-16 lads who are under the registration age and 2-3 veterans who can coach them through games on the field.

Again, personal take; but I think that's the way of it. Anyone in the Bs who isn't there to improve the other players should be able to step into the first team if they impress.

[sonicthewhite]

Maybe Evatt really does see a player he thinks could develop seriously enough to be a Championship player

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Platt's 25 in October. He may have headroom to improve, but he's no B-team "one for the future". He may be OK as back-up, but on those numbers (again, caveat that I may be misreading them – perhaps someone cleverer could ease my mind) suggest he's not very good at the "defending" part of defending.

Put simply: Is he better than Aimson? With the ball at his feet, possibly; with the opposition charging at us, quite possibly not. And therefore he's quantity rather than quality.

After that run of four clean sheets when we switched to a back three and Trafford (among others) came in, we had 18 games left. We conceded in 15 of them. The only three teams we kept out were Wimbledon, Gillingham and Crewe – all of whom were relegated. In the 7 games of April, we allowed 97 shots on our goal – only Cheltenham didn't reach double figures (Sheff Wed had 22). For comparison, we only had 80 shots in those 7 games.

Our pleasingly powerful strikeforce dug us out of a few holes, and Trafford performed well, but the underlying numbers suggest defensive improvement is needed, which is something I haven't heard a single Wanderers fan argue against. Iredale is a promising start, but I would also like a right-sider that improves us. I get BWFCi's point that such a new face could give Evatt some selection headaches, but rather that than a player who doesn't improve us - whether that's Platt or whoever. If we keep conceding goals at set-pieces - which, for all the coaching in the world, often come down to being stronger and better at heading - then we will struggle to go up. We can't rely on winning every game 3-2.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Maybe Evatt really does see a player he thinks could develop seriously enough to be a Championship player

It's possible, and maybe on the ball he can, but if he can't defend against Fourth Division forwards then he'll have a job on up there.

[BWFC_Insane]

Platt's 25 in October. He may have headroom to improve, but he's no B-team "one for the future". He may be OK as back-up, but on those numbers (again, caveat that I may be misreading them – perhaps someone cleverer could ease my mind) suggest he's not very good at the "defending" part of defending.

Put simply: Is he better than Aimson? With the ball at his feet, possibly; with the opposition charging at us, quite possibly not. And therefore he's quantity rather than quality.

After that run of four clean sheets when we switched to a back three and Trafford (among others) came in, we had 18 games left. We conceded in 15 of them. The only three teams we kept out were Wimbledon, Gillingham and Crewe – all of whom were relegated. In the 7 games of April, we allowed 97 shots on our goal – only Cheltenham didn't reach double figures (Sheff Wed had 22). For comparison, we only had 80 shots in those 7 games.

Our pleasingly powerful strikeforce dug us out of a few holes, and Trafford performed well, but the underlying numbers suggest defensive improvement is needed, which is something I haven't heard a single Wanderers fan argue against. Iredale is a promising start, but I would also like a right-sider that improves us. I get BWFCi's point that such a new face could give Evatt some selection headaches, but rather that than a player who doesn't improve us - whether that's Platt or whoever. If we keep conceding goals at set-pieces - which, for all the coaching in the world, often come down to being stronger and better at heading - then we will struggle to go up. We can't rely on winning every game 3-2.

I agree with this. And it’s also why I’m keen not to end up with a trio of midgets in midfield. You look at set pieces and you need to match sides physically and strength wise. So at least one midfield player ideally can do that.

There is a balance. It’s not just having a big side. Organisation and structure plays a key role. Most goals from set pieces come down to players switching off for a split second. Rather than necessarily losing their headers. But we have on a number of occasions from set plays and open play conceded goals because our centre halves couldn’t win the header - Johnstone has been a key weakness often here - and that has to be something we rectify as we know teams will sit in against us and try and score from set plays at times,

Of our defensive players only Santos and Aimson are close to being sufficiently strong aerially and that’s a fix that is needed. Iredale may help a bit too.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Blackpool's released list includes Cameron Antwi, Ethan Robson and Grant Ward.

Grant Ward's a versatile midfielder, 27 with plenty Champo experience at Rotherham and Ipswich, who was important in Pool's promotion season but promptly ripped his Achilles and hasn't played since – he also missed Ipswich's relegation from that division, alongside us, with an ACL tear, so he's either made of paper, slaughters cats or is very unlucky.

Ethan Robson is a left-footed midfielder - predominantly central, but again versatile - who spent the first half of this season on loan at MK Dons. Blackpool recalled him but didn't extend him.

They've also released young 'uns Ryan Grant, Johnny Johnston, Matthew Liptrott, Charlie Monks and Sky Sinclair (Trevor's lad) – wouldn't know them from a hole in the wall, but I wouldn't be surprised if one or more turn up at ours for B-team trials. Cameron Antwi, a defender/midfielder from the first list, is still underage so he might fancy it too.

Blackpool have taken up extension options on Stuart Moore, Jordan Thorniley, Richard Keogh (!), Keshi Anderson and Josh Bowler.

Meanwhile, Boro have released three old men: Sol Bamba, Lee Peltier and Neil Taylor. Nah.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Of our defensive players only Santos and Aimson are close to being sufficiently strong aerially and that’s a fix that is needed. Iredale may help a bit too.

Iredale should help considerably. If you look at his aerial duel win %age - helpfully, on another of Brommers' blogs (the one about left-backs) - it's up in the high-80s percentile for the Third Division (although maybe Brommers can explain whether this is compared to all D3 players, or left-backs).

FWIW I agree that right now, only Santos and Aimson give me the belief they can win a header. I don't get that sense from Gethin, which means he's part of the problem. He brings an awful lot to the team, but none of them are "set piece impregnability".

[Prufrock]

I thought we needed a CB and to replace Baptiste as well. We've signed Iredale who you'd think would bump Aimson down, and be fighting Johnstone, and Baps barely played second half of the season.

I'd like the other centre back to be another potential first teamer. But I can see how it budgets don't allow for that we might just want cover. Not ideal, but it could be priorities. My argument then I guess would be - should not that be for a potential B-teamer?

[TANGODANCER]

whilst as DSB says I’d not be sharpening pitchforks if he came I’d also be concerned that we once again weren’t addressing properly our issues at the back. And that could potentially be our Achilles heel again.

Sounds a bit like you profess to know more than Evatt, Insaney, what with selling Santos and all this doom and gloom of not addressing issues. Have you thought about applying for the manager's job?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I thought we needed a CB and to replace Baptiste as well. We've signed Iredale who you'd think would bump Aimson down, and be fighting Johnstone, and Baps barely played second half of the season.

I'd like the other centre back to be another potential first teamer. But I can see how it budgets don't allow for that we might just want cover. Not ideal, but it could be priorities. My argument then I guess would be - should not that be for a potential B-teamer?

We can think of it as a one-in, one-out thing – but in that case we need to replace Gordon too. It's slightly more complicated than that because we're hiring versatile players - eg Iredale replaces Gordon but also Baps; arguably Sadlier was bought in case Dapo leaves, but he also sort of covers wing-back (even though you're clear he isn't very good at the defensive side of it); Dempsey was probably bought as a 10 but looks much better as an 8; etc.

I don't think our squad lacks numbers, but if it lacks them anywhere it's at the back. Clearly we want to be able to play a back three (as an option) but in terms of centre-backs we've only got Santos, Aimson, Johnston and Iredale, with Gethin guesting. Working on two per position, that's not enough. (Arguably you could draft in Williams, but I doubt it.)

More obviously, while we would presumably seize quality wherever we can find it, it seems clear to me that the defence is the main area for improvement. If we spend most of our summer budget on two centre-backs who improve us, then so be it. If we're eyeing promotion, it doesn't seem to make much sense to only make one upgrade to the worst unit.

[GhostoftheBok]

Squad depth is a bit trickier, because we switch systems. What we're ideally after is one natural player for each position, rather than two, with two players who can step in and offer different skillsets.

So left back in a 4-4-2 is Iredale, covered by Johnston and John.
Left wing back in a 3-5-2 is John, covered by Iredale and Sadlier (at this stage).
Left centre back of a three is Johnston, covered by Iredale and Aimson (you can switch Iredale and Johnston if prefered)

Right back in a 4 = Jones, Fossey and ?
Right wing back = Fossey, Jones and Izzy.
Right centre of a three = Jones, Aimson and ?

4 centre halfs in a 4-4-2 could be Iredale, Johnston, Santos and Aimson....but I still think we're missing that right-sided defender where the question marks are it should be someone who is primarily a centre back.

I think when you look at Johnston, Santos and Aimson as the 4 centre back options in a 4-4-2 you want a top player in there to push for promotion.

[The_Gun]

Is Iredale actually 6’3 as listed in a few places? If so that goes some way to fixing one of our most obvious defensive deficiencies.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

PETERBOROUGH release three players and put five on the transfer list.

Released: experienced GK David Cornell plus young midfielders Serhat Tasdemir and Kyle Barker.

Listed: keeper Christy Pym, Mark Beevers (stop it), midfielders Jorge Grant and Ryan Broom and striker Idris Kanu.

Broom has been on loan at Plymouth and done well - he's the blond lad, could play in the middle or as right wingback - so they would presumably want him back.

Grant, a versatile and experienced midfielder, scored 13 and made 7 for Lincoln last season, getting into the PFA Team of the Year. He has two years left on his contract so that's presumably McCann shaking things up rather than Posh's usual gambit of trying to get money for players before they lapse. McCann says Grant can play 6, 8 or 10. A solid third-tier player but is that now enough?

[BWFC_Insane]

Of our defensive players only Santos and Aimson are close to being sufficiently strong aerially and that’s a fix that is needed. Iredale may help a bit too.

Iredale should help considerably. If you look at his aerial duel win %age - helpfully, on another of Brommers' blogs (the one about left-backs) - it's up in the high-80s percentile for the Third Division (although maybe Brommers can explain whether this is compared to all D3 players, or left-backs).

FWIW I agree that right now, only Santos and Aimson give me the belief they can win a header. I don't get that sense from Gethin, which means he's part of the problem. He brings an awful lot to the team, but none of them are "set piece impregnability".

I see Gethin as steady enough and combative enough that he’d not be a huge weakness. He’s one of those full backs like Neville who isn’t huge but looks comfortable in a back three.

But there is the danger of sides overloading the far post cross against him and that’s exactly where we could do with an option to add extra physicality in certain games to the back three without losing all of Jones’ other attributes. And of course someone who can when required dominate in the middle of the back three.

I would say that most back threes that work tend to have these hybrid full back centre backs in the wide positions rather than a lumbering type like Aimson. So I’m not opposed to maintaining that mobility. It’s about how we balance it out across the 11.

[The_Gun]

Yeah I agree, Insano. The best players I’ve seen in the wide roles in a three tend to be physical full backs like Kyle Walker and Reece James. I actually think Gethin is better playing as a RCB rather than a RB, as for me the biggest weakness in his game is his lack of end product in the final third. That deficiency is well covered by a Fossey type playing in front of him.

I maintain that we’d now be best served bringing in a promising young CB as immediate cover and to develop into a starter over the coming years.