Deal or no deal? - Summer 2022 Transfer gossip!

[GhostoftheBok]

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Nixon is reporting that, as expected, we've also given Barkhuizen an ultimatum.

If he's hanging on for Derby over coming here then it's needed. Kick him to the kerb if not, because that's not a serious position for the player to hold. You can't put a fully functional club on hold until a basketcase gets a takeover that may or may not happen.

Considering Barky is from Blackpool, and has played for his hometown club, Fleetwood, Morecambe and Preston (with, admittedly, a loan at farflung Hereford a decade ago), I imagine it's not so much him as his agent who's agitating for a rival bid. As noted, at this level we aren't talking life-changing salaries that compensate uprooting a family (or indeed facing the choice of leaving them behind or spending hours every day on the motorway).

You can't blame said agent for doing their job – if a rich (or daft) benefactor falls from the sky, it could get him a decent pay bump on what would be his last contract in his 20s - but equally, Ghost is entirely right that at some point we have to get real.

It also hints that whatever we're offering isn't exactly blowing others out of the water, which would fit with previous disappointments Fossey and Tucker – the latter being a potential inverse Barky: not wanting to move too far north, although family is less likely to be an issue for a 22 year old. If in Tucker's case it's not so much geography as salary, then we really aren't spending big. But it could just be a combination of geography and last season's league table, hard as it might be for fans of HMS PTL to swallow that McFranchise might seem to some to be a better short-term option.

[nicholaldo]

That journalist has just quote-tweeted that tweet stating it doesn't sit right with him that the club has deals in place "offering players a fortune" before a takeover is even agreed.

I'd have moved on from Barkhuizen already. It seems fairly clear his primary motivation is financial, in which case we aren't the club for him.

[GhostoftheBok]

I think it's also worth noting that footballers get starstruck like everyone else and the chance to work with Wayne Rooney must be tempting for lower league players. Personally I'm not a fan of his, but you can't deny that he's a star of the game and one of the England greats.

What for Derby and Rotherham might be good offers would be pretty huge for us (very top end of our wage structure), so if we're even matching their bids that's a statement. We're certainly not going to be outbidding them.

Like you say, we'll be relying on his being local and knowing Evatt et al to swing it for us. I think he'd be more of a coup than people are allowing for, if we did get him in. He'd start for any club at this level.

[nicholaldo]

I think it's also worth noting that footballers get starstruck like everyone else and the chance to work with Wayne Rooney must be tempting for lower league players. Personally I'm not a fan of his, but you can't deny that he's a star of the game and one of the England greats.

What for Derby and Rotherham might be good offers would be pretty huge for us (very top end of our wage structure), so if we're even matching their bids that's a statement. We're certainly not going to be outbidding them.

Like you say, we'll be relying on his being local and knowing Evatt et al to swing it for us. I think he'd be more of a coup than people are allowing for, if we did get him in. He'd start for any club at this level.

I don't doubt his ability, I just don't think he really wants to sign for us. I'd have reservations about allocating what would presumably be a significant slice of our budget on a player I suspect prefers to be elsewhere.

On a similar theme, that same journalist has just tweeted claiming Fossey is signing for Rotherham United.

[Prufrock]

That would be...rogue from him and his agent. Wonder if Sadlier has been in his ear telling them how great it is

I mean the Championship, and money, but they don't exactly suit his skill set.

[GhostoftheBok]

I don't doubt his ability, I just don't think he really wants to sign for us. I'd have reservations about allocating what would presumably be a significant slice of our budget on a player I suspect prefers to be elsewhere.

All our players would, in an ideal world, prefer to be elsewhere. They'd all rather be in the Championship or Premier League, being paid more money. Football is about mutually beneficial arrangements these days, not passion for the badge. Barkhuizen preferring to be at Derby, on more money and playing for Wayne Rooney, isn't a capital sin and shouldn't put us off.

Fossey came here and was electric, even though he wanted to be playing for Fulham and has now been pretty clear that we'd have been his fallback position as he suddenly found himself in vogue - despite previously telling all and sundry how passionate he was about coming here.

There's no reason Barky wouldn't come here and also turn it on.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

That would be...rogue from him and his agent. Wonder if Sadlier has been in his ear telling them how great it is :mrgrin:

I mean the Championship, and money, but they don't exactly suit his skill set.

What it tells me (if true) is that he clearly hasn't asked Sadlier about playing wingback for Rotherham, which would be foolish, or disregards the bloke's opinion, which would be c*ntish.

If he wants Championship football, curious decision to move to a club that's been relegated from it twice in the last four seasons. But maybe he's figuring he'll move on again when circumstances dictate. Meantime, he'll be tasked with staying in his own half and tracking back in a team far more likely to lose than win (last two Champo campaigns: Played 92, W19 L48).

[GhostoftheBok]

What it tells me (if true) is that he clearly hasn't asked Sadlier about playing wingback for Rotherham, which would be foolish, or disregards the bloke's opinion, which would be c*ntish.

If he wants Championship football, curious decision to move to a club that's been relegated from it twice in the last four seasons. But maybe he's figuring he'll move on again when circumstances dictate. Meantime, he'll be tasked with staying in his own half and tracking back in a team far more likely to lose than win (last two Champo campaigns: Played 92, W19 L48).

If Rotherham want Barky as a wingback then that's done and dusted. They're set to announce Fossey next week, according to their local lot.

[The_Gun]

Aye, I’m with nicholado on this one. If he’s hanging around waiting for Derby then feck him. Move on to someone who wants to be here and get them in the building sharpish.

[nicholaldo]

I don't doubt his ability, I just don't think he really wants to sign for us. I'd have reservations about allocating what would presumably be a significant slice of our budget on a player I suspect prefers to be elsewhere.

All our players would, in an ideal world, prefer to be elsewhere. They'd all rather be in the Championship or Premier League, being paid more money. Football is about mutually beneficial arrangements these days, not passion for the badge. Barkhuizen preferring to be at Derby, on more money and playing for Wayne Rooney, isn't a capital sin and shouldn't put us off.

Fossey came here and was electric, even though he wanted to be playing for Fulham and has now been pretty clear that we'd have been his fallback position as he suddenly found himself in vogue - despite previously telling all and sundry how passionate he was about coming here.

There's no reason Barky wouldn't come here and also turn it on.

Right, I'm not arguing it should be about passion for the badge or that players don't ideally want to play at the highest level, though.

[GhostoftheBok]

The issue with Barky is what we want him for. If his versatility is key to our plans for him he's very, very difficult to move on from. If he's just another forward then sure.

Missing Fossey wasn't good, but right wing backs are common enough - depending what traits you need. Same goes for Tucker. Wanted him, but centre halves are a thing.

Players who can play any attacking role and wing back on both flanks are trickier to find. In our systems it makes Sads and Barky difficult to look past.

[BWFC_Insane]

We can’t expect to be the dream destination for players. All we can do is make the offer and see. Can’t say I’m mad fussed on Barkhuizen anyway as don’t see where he plays.

As for Fossey it’s a moot point as we were unable to match championship bids to Fulham for him. So whether he would have preferred to come to us or elsewhere in the end probably wasn’t relevant.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

What it tells me (if true) is that he clearly hasn't asked Sadlier about playing wingback for Rotherham, which would be foolish, or disregards the bloke's opinion, which would be c*ntish.

If Rotherham want Barky as a wingback then that's done and dusted. They're set to announce Fossey next week, according to their local lot.

I was talking about Fossey, who for months played alongside Sadlier and could easily have asked him for his opinion of Rotherham. If you have a choice of new employers to move to, surely it's sensible to canvass opinion from those who've worked there.

But as you mention Barky - if Fossey signs for the Millers, that surely means Barky is less likely to go there.

[The_Gun]

The issue with Barky is what we want him for. If his versatility is key to our plans for him he's very, very difficult to move on from. If he's just another forward then sure.

Missing Fossey wasn't good, but right wing backs are common enough - depending what traits you need. Same goes for Tucker. Wanted him, but centre halves are a thing.

Players who can play any attacking role and wing back on both flanks are trickier to find. In our systems it makes Sads and Barky difficult to look past.

Seems pretty unlikely that he would ever have been considered ‘key to our plans’. Derby look to have been in for him as long as we have, and Markham et al won’t have been ignorant of that.

[GhostoftheBok]

Seems pretty unlikely that he would ever have been considered ‘key to our plans’. Derby look to have been in for him as long as we have, and Markham et al won’t have been ignorant of that.

I said his versatility. If what we need is a player who can offer that versatility at a high level then there aren't many about.

[Prufrock]

That would be...rogue from him and his agent. Wonder if Sadlier has been in his ear telling them how great it is :mrgrin:

I mean the Championship, and money, but they don't exactly suit his skill set.

What it tells me (if true) is that he clearly hasn't asked Sadlier about playing wingback for Rotherham, which would be foolish, or disregards the bloke's opinion, which would be c*ntish.

If he wants Championship football, curious decision to move to a club that's been relegated from it twice in the last four seasons. But maybe he's figuring he'll move on again when circumstances dictate. Meantime, he'll be tasked with staying in his own half and tracking back in a team far more likely to lose than win (last two Champo campaigns: Played 92, W19 L48).

Aye, though my mainly facetious point was that as the main beneficiary when Marlon got injured, maybe Kieran lied

"Oh no it wasn't for me, all they wanted me to do was fly forward and do somersaults if I scored, it was awful unless you're really into that sort of thing"


Fossey going to Rotherham bumps up my prediction that we'll never hear of him again to about 60%.

[GhostoftheBok]

I was talking about Fossey, who for months played alongside Sadlier and could easily have asked him for his opinion of Rotherham. If you have a choice of new employers to move to, surely it's sensible to canvass opinion from those who've worked there.

But as you mention Barky - if Fossey signs for the Millers, that surely means Barky is less likely to go there.

Sorry, I misread you then. I supposed it ties in with what I said about our plans for Barky. If Rotherham want him as a forward then Fossey probably doesn't impact it at all, if they wanted him as an option on the right then we may find that the loss of Fossey actually gives us a net benefit. We get a young talent from Liverpool and the knock on is we get Barky as Derby flounder and Fossey goes to Rotherham.

Football is funny like that sometimes.

[Prufrock]

I'd like him, he's looked excellent the few times I've seen him a league up, and he'd add a lot.

But it broadly seems fine, everyone is trying to get the best deal for themselves and that's how it works. Derby seen a basket case but I also wouldn't rule out the Rooney effect. But seems he had our top targets lined up and a time by which they needed to be done before we moved on. I'm happy with that approach (though obviously would rather we'd got them).

[GhostoftheBok]

Liverpool have officially signed Ramsay. If Bradley is coming, it should happen now. He's young, so there's loads of reasons you could knock it; but that's a hell of a "Plan B" signing they've pulled out if we get him.