January 2023 Transfer Window

[GhostoftheBok]

What Ghost said.

With the caveat that I would very strongly favour getting in a young RWB and Keeper this month if Markham could swing it.

[The_Gun]

What Ghost said.

With the caveat that I would very strongly favour getting in a young RWB and Keeper this month if Markham could swing it.

Young players who know they won't play much this season, and may well be behind loanees again next season if we get promoted.

I agree with you, but it looks a difficult task.

[GhostoftheBok]

Young players who know they won't play much this season, and may well be behind loanees again next season if we get promoted.

I agree with you, but it looks a difficult task.

Young players we can get up to speed and integrate this season in order to minimise the amount of work we have to do in the summer.

I really, really don't want to go into a summer needing to find two good goalkeepers, who both need time to settle. I'd also not fancy having to find 3 wing backs if we don't go up.

[BWFC_Insane]

Gethin Jones would be Bradley’s primary back up, no? I’m fine with him coming in to cover for a suspension.

He's not a wing back though. And is also primary centre back cover.

We need a squad to deal with what could be quite a busy second half of the season and (hopefully) onward into the play offs.

If we are selling players we need adequate replacements. Leaving ourselves short would be disastrous.

You don't need much of a scenario where say, Toal is injured, Bradley banned and you look very very bare bones suddenly.

Sadlier also isn't a wing back, and barely plays anyway.

I agree we want to be positioning ourselves as best as possible, but we're not going to be bringing in a world beater to back up Bradley, and only start in the event he gets suspended.

I personally am fine with Gethin covering that position for the remainder, unless we can bring in a longer term prospect who is happy to warm the bench this season.

We've seen how much difference having an actual wing back (Williams) makes over a centre half (Iredale). So lets not start down that road again. I like Jones and the odd game I can see him covering there sure. But come Feb 1st god forbid Bradley was out long term if Jones was our only cover, a non specialist and also our primary back three cover, you could be looking at a big problem.

At least with Sadlier you have him or Jones depending on the situation - do you need a more attacking option etc...whereas without Sadlier Jones is it. And that doesn't fill me with confidence. And an injury at the back at the same time and its deep deep doo doo time.

Why would we want to risk a second half of the season by selling players and not adequately replacing them? Would be madness and just asking for trouble. Evatt made a huge deal about a deep squad after last season showed us the problems of not having one. Why would we thin out now we are 5th and a game away from Wembley? Would be nonsensical to say the least.

I'm not saying we don't bring anyone in if we sell Sadlier, I just think Jones is a decent enough replacement to have for the RWB position, given we also have Randy who can play there. I wouldn't be looking to bring in a specialist for that slot during this window, as it seems very unlikely we'd get anyone good.

Yeah I think a specialist wing back is a stretch.

But we bring someone like Sadlier in who could play the role perhaps a different way to Jones, but also play further forward or cover the forward roles too.

Or we bring in a centre back to free Jones up to only focus on covering Bradley.

I think we need flexibility and Sadlier in theory covers a few roles and I think losing that would mean that we'd want some cover somewhere.

Yes he's not played a lot but you can't assume second half of the season goes as smoothly injury wise as this first has, especially with our pitch now. And we're not mid table. Its all to play for. I don't give two hoots about next season right now. Next season is determined by the next 5 months on the pitch. That is all that matters.

[GhostoftheBok]

I agree with you, but it looks a difficult task.

On the difficulty of the task issue, I obviously agree with you - but I think it might actually be a more difficult task working the summer if we don't get it done.

That's unless Jones is the man to cover that position next season. Regardless of what people see as ideal or not, if Evatt sees him as that cover then it's a non-issue for Markham.

If the plan is to get another RWB (in addition to Bradley or a new Bradley), then the difficulty now has to be compared to the summer.

Can we go out and get a player like Junior Tchamadeu, for example?

[Worthy4England]

It's fine to prioritize this season, but we don't have anyone throwing cash at us. There has to be a balance between gambling cash and getting lumbered with someone we didn't really want, longer term.

[BWFC_Insane]

It's fine to prioritize this season, but we don't have anyone throwing cash at us. There has to be a balance between gambling cash and getting lumbered with someone we didn't really want, longer term.

Yep but I'm not advocating we sell anyone now....unless we have ready replacements that are a better option (or a more willing option).

If we're selling folk just to clear space for the summer I'm not impressed.

[GhostoftheBok]

unless we have ready replacements that are a better option (or a more willing option).

I think this is the issue, but it's also about the players themselves.

If someone actively wants out then we probably need to find a solution in the next two weeks.

If we have someone who either wants out, isn't someone Evatt wants in his side, or is injured long term - we need to see what we can do.

From what Evatt has said we're not forcing anyone out this month for the sake of it.

The only other issue is money. If we can get money for a player now that we might not get in the summer, then you can start looking at how to be creative.

[sonicthewhite]

What about the B team? If in a disaster like scenario we end up with multiple injuries/suspensions then this is where those B team players may have to step up and in to the 1st team to act as cover. Whether they're ready or not is a different matter but it would be their chance for the taking, to prove they have what it takes.

In an ideal world we'd have a 1st team of 22 players with two specialists for each position and each player having the ability to cover two other positions.

We're not in an ideal world.

[GhostoftheBok]

In an ideal world we'd have a 1st team of 22 players with two specialists for each position and each player having the ability to cover two other positions.

We're not in an ideal world.

That wasn't Evatt's ideal world, though. His ideal was a hybrid squad that could play 2 or 3 different systems with equal verve and vigour.

Maybe that dream dies in the summer, who knows. No mention of that being the case, though. Also no real sign of switching systems overmuch.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Question is: While Sadlier can cover several positions, is he actually any good in any of them? And yes, I know he's a winger, but if we don't play that system, what use filling a round hole with a shit peg?

Another idea: We've already signed Sadlier's replacement, sort of, in Randy Williams. It's just unfortunate coincidence that Iredale got injured that week.

Obviously I don't want us to be short-staffed. But when you're selling, you can't always decide that. I'm sure they have lists of replacements; should we overpay to get a back-up?

I can see Ghost's notion of getting a young understudy to train up. Risky, but it's something. Or should we focus money on that position? Or dilute our chase for other positions?

[GhostoftheBok]

Question is: While Sadlier can cover several positions, is he actually any good in any of them? And yes, I know he's a winger, but if we don't play that system, what use filling a round hole with a shit peg?

As things stand, no. He's an impact sub. He's a massive liability defensively and in terms of match control.

However, we do need impact subs. We can always live in hope that he gets his head down and learns the roles.

Can't say I'd put money on it.

[GhostoftheBok]

Obviously I don't want us to be short-staffed. But when you're selling, you can't always decide that. I'm sure they have lists of replacements; should we overpay to get a back-up?

I can see Ghost's notion of getting a young understudy to train up. Risky, but it's something. Or should we focus money on that position? Or dilute our chase for other positions?

We can't overpay for anyone, back-up or...er...front-up. We've not got the leeway.

I'm not sure my idea is necessarily a young understudy, just a young player who can add value and actually do the jobs we need.

The two players we should be targeting, now or in the summer, for our back line are Junior Tchamadeu and Jack Armer. I don't think either is an understudy (not close to a B teamer), both could come in and start fairly quickly - but they'd also be making a huge step up and probably willing to fight for a place.

Tchamadeu could play down either flank and is exactly the Evatt sort for the role. Armer is very much in the Iredale mould, but can play anywhere across that back 5 (though only plays left back or LWB for Carlisle).

Evatt's big thing (rightly) is value. How do we sign lads for not much and them sell for good money, whilst also always having decent players right now? Those two fit that bill.

I am sure Markham has his own ideas about players who fit that bill (hopefully he knows a lot better than I do), but players like that are very hard to sign without finding yourself in a bidding war - which we can't really afford.

[BWFC_Insane]

unless we have ready replacements that are a better option (or a more willing option).

I think this is the issue, but it's also about the players themselves.

If someone actively wants out then we probably need to find a solution in the next two weeks.

If we have someone who either wants out, isn't someone Evatt wants in his side, or is injured long term - we need to see what we can do.

From what Evatt has said we're not forcing anyone out this month for the sake of it.

The only other issue is money. If we can get money for a player now that we might not get in the summer, then you can start looking at how to be creative.

The priority is the next part of this season. If we have to keep players who ideally would go elsewhere then that’s part of football.

The club needs to maximise what we do this season. Anything else would be dreadful and I’d seriously be questioning the running of it. Leaving is short staffed to clear decks or raise money would be ridiculous. Unless we are that desperate that our existence depends on it this season is paramount. And that means having a squad capable of maintaining our position and even improving it. Not letting players leave without replacing them. Happy if we upgrade or at least sidegrade. Not if we just leave the next few months to chance.

[GhostoftheBok]

The priority is the next part of this season. If we have to keep players who ideally would go elsewhere then that’s part of football.

Depends.

I don't think anyone is suggesting we have a fire sale and promote the B team.

We have to put out the best squad possible for Evatt right now. That can be done with an awareness of the impact signings/sales will have on summer business. Indeed, it must.

[Bertie Wooster]

Evening chaps - long time no posts.

Another rumour doing the rounds is that this exciting forward transfer is Shola Shoretire (on loan from Man U), who being honest I have never heard of.

[GhostoftheBok]

Evening chaps - long time no posts.

Another rumour doing the rounds is that this exciting forward transfer is Shola Shoretire (on loan from Man U), who being honest I have never heard of.

Extremely skilful left winger from United's youth sides. Been a stand-out this season off the left, but can play as a striker or down the other flank.

Being fast-tracked by the youth coaches because Ten Hag wants to have a look at him in preseason next year.

How strong is the link?

[Prufrock]

I only know him from Football manager

Think he played in the cup game.

[The_Gun]

Evening chaps - long time no posts.

Another rumour doing the rounds is that this exciting forward transfer is Shola Shoretire (on loan from Man U), who being honest I have never heard of.

He is, or was, considered to be one of their best prospects, so I think that would be quite a coup.

[GhostoftheBok]

He is, or was, considered to be one of their best prospects, so I think that would be quite a coup.

Would certainly be a sign that our overtures to Utd (the video packages etc) have worked.