Deal or no deal? - Summer 2022 Transfer gossip!

[GhostoftheBok]

Fossey's not coming. Evatt says "we've moved on". I really hope that this is brinkmanship.

Most likely not.

The interest that's come in in the last two weeks has clearly blown us out of the water. I just hope we have a solid Plan B. It's absolutely a shame to miss out on Evatt's main target and Fossey was great, but such is life. The fact it has dragged on may have scuppered a couple of other options, which would be an issue and may be why we've moved on now - to avoid missing out on something else.

[truewhite15]

Cue BWFC-I to tell us the sky is falling.

[BWFC_Insane]

If we persist with the system then we need to be finding a like for like. A Fossey style wing back with pace, strength and who wants to drive on the outside time and time again.

Anyone have a list of those because that’s absolutely the requirement otherwise the system is far less effective.

[LeverEnd]

It happens, and he's just one player. Well done to the club for not letting it drag out and moving on. He was good and I enjoyed watching him, so it's a shame, but we won without him.
I'll remind myself of his injury record and look forward to other signings.

[nicholaldo]

It might well prove to be a blessing in disguise. The thought of signing a player with such a lousy injury record to a long-term contract made me nervous.

[officer_dibble]

Yep, time to move on. Can’t wait for the furore when Sadlier starts at RWB in pre season!

[Worthy4England]

TBF, I think the days of "sneaking one in under the radar" are fairly limited this day and age. The notion that no-one would pick-up on the fact that a working Fossey is actually quite good, don't exist.

[Prufrock]

It's a shame, but we'll live. He was never as good as people made out. With his injury record I think there's a 50/50 shout we never hear of him again.

I'd be v worried if we were just looking to "make do" out there though.

[KeyserSoze]

'That's a shame, be reet' basically sums it up tbh

[Worthy4England]

If we persist with the system then we need to be finding a like for like. A Fossey style wing back with pace, strength and who wants to drive on the outside time and time again.

Anyone have a list of those because that’s absolutely the requirement otherwise the system is far less effective.

I'm a bit confused with "persist with the system" - we did get to a place last season where more than one system was possible (I thought reasonably effectively post-Jan). When Fossey got injured, we went back to a 4.

Any system will be less effective if the replacement Fossey isn't as good as Fossey you had. But that applies to anyone in any formation. In a 442, if I replace my CB with a player who's not as good a CB as the one I had, it isn't going to be as good - the system will be less effective.

That's different from unworkable or the system that plays best to our strengths...a three with a 75% Fossey might still work better for us than a 4 without.

[nicholaldo]

It's a shame, but we'll live. He was never as good as people made out. With his injury record I think there's a 50/50 shout we never hear of him again.

I'd be v worried if we were just looking to "make do" out there though.

I think this is the key point. It'd be a bad thing if we start the season with Sadlier at wing-back having not signed a specialist.

[The_Gun]

We’re right to draw a line under this one, I think. If he wants to play for us then great, but with his injury record he’s not one to break the bank on or to wait around too long for.

I suspect there will be plenty of loanees available that could do very jobs in the RWB position.

[BWFC_Insane]

If we persist with the system then we need to be finding a like for like. A Fossey style wing back with pace, strength and who wants to drive on the outside time and time again.

Anyone have a list of those because that’s absolutely the requirement otherwise the system is far less effective.

I'm a bit confused with "persist with the system" - we did get to a place last season where more than one system was possible (I thought reasonably effectively post-Jan). When Fossey got injured, we went back to a 4.

Any system will be less effective if the replacement Fossey isn't as good as Fossey you had. But that applies to anyone in any formation. In a 442, if I replace my CB with a player who's not as good a CB as the one I had, it isn't going to be as good - the system will be less effective.

That's different from unworkable or the system that plays best to our strengths...a three with a 75% Fossey might still work better for us than a 4 without.

We mainly played three at the back even without Fossey. I think my view is that once you are playing that system without that sort of pace out wide it looks a lot less threatening.

And the weaknesses in it become exposed more.

I would be careful worrying too much about end of season results as they can flatter to deceive.

I’d say now we go back four. Because the main reason for switching was how good Fossey is as a player and that he was obviously best at wing back. But now a back four makes more sense.


442. It’s the future.

[BWFC_Insane]

It's a shame, but we'll live. He was never as good as people made out. With his injury record I think there's a 50/50 shout we never hear of him again.

I'd be v worried if we were just looking to "make do" out there though.

Yeah. He was never that good. It’s why he has multiple championship offers blowing us out of the water and despite seemingly liking it here is destined for a much higher level.

[Prufrock]

He's a good player. If he stays fit there's probably a Champo player in there. Ideally he'd have come back to us.

All that said, I'm far from convinced he's got the nous to make use of his talents higher up the pyramid than that. I'm not surprised that Champo teams with bigger budgets are willing to take a gamble and spend a bit of cash. I'm also not suprised that with our budget we were looking at another loan or not much cash.

Putting it this way, if you'd said we have to lose one of Dapo, Santos or Marlon this summer, I'd have picked Marlon every day of the week.

[Worthy4England]

If we persist with the system then we need to be finding a like for like. A Fossey style wing back with pace, strength and who wants to drive on the outside time and time again.

Anyone have a list of those because that’s absolutely the requirement otherwise the system is far less effective.

I'm a bit confused with "persist with the system" - we did get to a place last season where more than one system was possible (I thought reasonably effectively post-Jan). When Fossey got injured, we went back to a 4.

Any system will be less effective if the replacement Fossey isn't as good as Fossey you had. But that applies to anyone in any formation. In a 442, if I replace my CB with a player who's not as good a CB as the one I had, it isn't going to be as good - the system will be less effective.

That's different from unworkable or the system that plays best to our strengths...a three with a 75% Fossey might still work better for us than a 4 without.

We mainly played three at the back even without Fossey. I think my view is that once you are playing that system without that sort of pace out wide it looks a lot less threatening.

And the weaknesses in it become exposed more.

I would be careful worrying too much about end of season results as they can flatter to deceive.

I’d say now we go back four. Because the main reason for switching was how good Fossey is as a player and that he was obviously best at wing back. But now a back four makes more sense.


442. It’s the future.

We alternated in a few. We only played 8 after Fossey's injury, won 5 of them and drew 3 (all against sides above us).

I'd say we now wait and see who we sign in the intervening, then pick what best suits our personnel.

[TANGODANCER]

Keeping in mind that we're all just expressing opinions, for once I'm totally in agreement with Insane. Losing somebody like Fossey to Wigan would be a real kick in the tenderloins.We're a good side and have amassed a decent squad, but let's not wear false feathers; we've let in a few really soft goals pre-Trafford, and also missed a fair few chances.

Courtesy of the Couch-master and videos etc, I've seen quite a few recent games despite no longer being able to attend physically and a lifetime of playing and watching football does give me a vague idea of what it's about . Fossey is a class player and losing out on him is a big blow. There are still a fair assortment of decent sides in League One now plus Forest Green Rovers Exeter City Bristol Rovers Port Vale and we've got a tough task on if we're going to qualify for promotion.It won't be a cake-walk.

P.S. My view on agents remain unprintable if I wish to remain a gentleman.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

442. It’s the future.

Who's your midfield four?

[officer_dibble]

Santos was the man in a back 3…wouldn’t write it off yet, there are other players out there!

[BWFC_Insane]

Santos was the man in a back 3…wouldn’t write it off yet, there are other players out there!

Like who? With that real pace and drive and engine to do it? I know they are out there I’m just not seeing many we can afford bar loans. And it needs to be someone more advanced in age than a premiership teen.