January 2023 Transfer Window

[Prufrock]

Oh I like this game.

Discounting Prem I think the "correct" answer is Ricketts. Exactly what we need and would score a bucket-full in this team.

A couple of others to throw in there I haven't seen mentioned:

Gudni - we'd never concede again and also might actually score from some set pieces.

Mark Fish - would be superb in the middle of a three with licence/insurance to play.

Jussi - might (lol) struggle with the playing out, but he was only 22 when we signed him so would probably mean Evatt never needed to sign a keeper again. And he was obviously mint at the most important bit of keeping.

Claus Jensen - would be a dream Ian Evatt footballer.

As would Frandsen tbf.

[Prufrock]

I loved Henry (as a footballer less so as a human being) and he was absolutely critical to our eventual survival and that oh so glorious escape on the final day. But I can't think of many players we've had less suited to what Evatt is trying to do. He was relatively immobile and patrolled an area on the pitch, usually as DSB says 'aggressively'. A sitter in a Parky system designed to stop teams to allow us to nick games. But he'd be dead on his feed after 20 minutes trying to play how we are right now and probably sent off a lot too. I think that sort of midfield role is the hardest to fill for us. MJ does a decent job for me but splits the crowd because he definitely is less confident on the ball than you'd want. I suspect that someone who effects more turnovers higher up the pitch would be magic.

Still early days, and he needs to maintain it but I think Morley has been excellent in that role recently. Seems to have really settled into it. When he first came in he was trying to force things and create higher up the pitch and I don't think he has quite the engine (to also get back), or the left foot to do that.

Playing deeper he's really improved the defensive side of it and he's superb on the ball. He's got that range of passing (that ball to Bradley at the weekend was Prem quality) but also he looks like he's under less pressure to "make things happen" so if he gets pushed into his left foot he's happy just to go backwards and recycle. He's started to just do simple things really well and quickly, with the odd bit of magic thrown in.

Obviously he's got to put a run together but back to that (I think your) question on who looks like they can play higher, he's definitely got the attributes. Have to bear in mind he's still only 22 (only a year older than Thomason).

[sonicthewhite]

I know he was here only when we were in the top flight but what I'd give for a lge 1 Stig Tofting. By the God's every match would suddenly become more entertaining

[BWFC_Insane]

I loved Henry (as a footballer less so as a human being) and he was absolutely critical to our eventual survival and that oh so glorious escape on the final day. But I can't think of many players we've had less suited to what Evatt is trying to do. He was relatively immobile and patrolled an area on the pitch, usually as DSB says 'aggressively'. A sitter in a Parky system designed to stop teams to allow us to nick games. But he'd be dead on his feed after 20 minutes trying to play how we are right now and probably sent off a lot too. I think that sort of midfield role is the hardest to fill for us. MJ does a decent job for me but splits the crowd because he definitely is less confident on the ball than you'd want. I suspect that someone who effects more turnovers higher up the pitch would be magic.

Still early days, and he needs to maintain it but I think Morley has been excellent in that role recently. Seems to have really settled into it. When he first came in he was trying to force things and create higher up the pitch and I don't think he has quite the engine (to also get back), or the left foot to do that.

Playing deeper he's really improved the defensive side of it and he's superb on the ball. He's got that range of passing (that ball to Bradley at the weekend was Prem quality) but also he looks like he's under less pressure to "make things happen" so if he gets pushed into his left foot he's happy just to go backwards and recycle. He's started to just do simple things really well and quickly, with the odd bit of magic thrown in.

Obviously he's got to put a run together but back to that (I think your) question on who looks like they can play higher, he's definitely got the attributes. Have to bear in mind he's still only 22 (only a year older than Thomason).

Yeah he's absolutely first pick for that role now. Has added a lot of off the ball work. And looks a decent 'holding' midfield player as much as you have holding players these days....

And agree I think further forward his ability to make things happen consistently wasn't quite there but sitting deeper and getting round the pitch I think suits him a lot now that he's found that workrate.

Its a question of who he pairs with and who the number 10 is (when Lee isn't playing) I think that still could be answered. Dempsey was great against Barnsley but I'm still not entirely convinced with him. Not convinced he's one thing or another.

[sonicthewhite]

If you read the comments section on the BN site, which I do to relieve boredom or insomnia, then Evatts reference to signing an exciting player could be any one from;

Jesse Lingard,
Scott Twine,
Anthony Elanga,

Apparently most of those commenting all claim to be ITK

[Worthy4England]

I'm guessing they didn't pick Bale because he's hung his boots up..

[GhostoftheBok]

If you read the comments section on the BN site, which I do to relieve boredom or insomnia, then Evatts reference to signing an exciting player could be any one from;

Jesse Lingard,
Scott Twine,
Anthony Elanga,

Apparently most of those commenting all claim to be ITK

The Anthony Elanga who has loan offers from both Everton and Espanyol on the table? I'm sure he'd be willing to walk himself up from Old Trafford for the chance to play in League One.

[GhostoftheBok]

Regarding "could potentially happen" players of the past - Kevin Nolan would be just about spot on.

Clever and technical enough for this style of football, but with the work rate and grit that would make that '10' role something really special. He'd score for fun under Evatt and generally be exceptional

[sonicthewhite]

Dapo to St Pauli is now being reported by the BN

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... -st-pauli/

[BWFC_Insane]

Regarding "could potentially happen" players of the past - Kevin Nolan would be just about spot on.

Clever and technical enough for this style of football, but with the work rate and grit that would make that '10' role something really special. He'd score for fun under Evatt and generally be exceptional

Love Nolan but can't see the peak goalscoring premiership version fitting into Evatt's team as he wasn't exactly a big runner or presser. I mean he wasn't lazy. But certainly wasn't doing close to what Lee does in that role and I'd have him akin to Sadlier in terms of what he'd offer there. Goals, beautifully timed arrivals into the box. Not a huge amount of impact off the ball.....

[BWFC_Insane]

Dapo to St Pauli is now being reported by the BN

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... -st-pauli/

And it quotes German press who are reporting a fee of £532,000 (600,000 euros).

I feel something must have gone on because that fee doesn't scream 'must sell' and St Pauli doesn't scream 'must go there' to me if I was Dapo.

A fall out? Club deciding they need the cash for someone else? Player wanting away? Agent playing games? Something is a bit weird with this one.

[GhostoftheBok]

Love Nolan but can't see the peak goalscoring premiership version fitting into Evatt's team as he wasn't exactly a big runner or presser. I mean he wasn't lazy. But certainly wasn't doing close to what Lee does in that role and I'd have him akin to Sadlier in terms of what he'd offer there. Goals, beautifully timed arrivals into the box. Not a huge amount of impact off the ball.....

Well this one is purely a judgement call, so I can entirely respect your opinion on it; but for me he'd be exceptional under Evatt.

I think Kev was (and is) far more tactically aware than you've given him credit for there. He'd have adapted to what Evatt asks for very quickly.

[knobpolisher]

Dapo to St Pauli is now being reported by the BN

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... -st-pauli/

And it quotes German press who are reporting a fee of £532,000 (600,000 euros).

I feel something must have gone on because that fee doesn't scream 'must sell' and St Pauli doesn't scream 'must go there' to me if I was Dapo.

A fall out? Club deciding they need the cash for someone else? Player wanting away? Agent playing games? Something is a bit weird with this one.

Not sure an English Journo repeating the words of a German Journo is exactly confirmation of a move.

[GhostoftheBok]

Not sure an English Journo repeating the words of a German Journo is exactly confirmation of a move.

That particular paper would not have printed details like that without a briefing from the club in question. So, at the very least, we should expect they are actively trying to sign him.

[Prufrock]

Dapo to St Pauli is now being reported by the BN

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... -st-pauli/

And it quotes German press who are reporting a fee of £532,000 (600,000 euros).

I feel something must have gone on because that fee doesn't scream 'must sell' and St Pauli doesn't scream 'must go there' to me if I was Dapo.

A fall out? Club deciding they need the cash for someone else? Player wanting away? Agent playing games? Something is a bit weird with this one.

It would be disappointing given how good he was last year.

But I can't see him getting back to those heights in this system, and we aren't changing the system. He's also 25 and must think after last year he's good enough to play at Champo level and doesn't want to sit on the bench in league one as his twenties tick by.

Also strikes me as the kind of kid who'd fancy playing abroad.

From our point of view, if he isn't going to play regularly, his value is only going one way. Suspect we'd like more but think the cash could be better spent (it might be what this exciting signing hinges on, for example).

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Dapo to St Pauli is now being reported by the BN

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... -st-pauli/

And it quotes German press who are reporting a fee of £532,000 (600,000 euros).

...specifically, Iles reports the German press as saying that fee would not deter them. So presumably that's not so much the bid as the asking price.

[TANGODANCER]

If we sell a player like Dapo for that fee we must be mad. How much to replace him?

[knobpolisher]

Not sure an English Journo repeating the words of a German Journo is exactly confirmation of a move.

That particular paper would not have printed details like that without a briefing from the club in question. So, at the very least, we should expect they are actively trying to sign him.

The main football writer at the Hamburg evening news is Herr Adolf Nicko.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Just noticed that Dan Crowley, the diminutive but twinkling No.10 with whom many of us were impressed after his performance against us for Cheltenham last autumn prior to availability in January, has cut short his 18-month contract with Dutch club Willem II to join Morecambe, of all teams, on a short contract.

Clearly something awry there...

[sonicthewhite]

Again, could it be a combination of player is not happy with not being the main man anymore and/or the chance of earning more money in a different league?