January 2023 Transfer Window

[BWFC_Insane]

18 year old kids from United…I’m out.

Wouldn’t surprise me though as we’ve had contact with them during the summer I’m told looking at potential loans.

[TANGODANCER]

Our B team don't appear to be breaking many pots right now?

[GhostoftheBok]

18 year old kids from United…I’m out.

Wouldn’t surprise me though as we’ve had contact with them during the summer I’m told looking at potential loans.

Get rid of a high-earning star player for a decent fee and bring in a kid for next-to-nothing to replace him for 6 months?

Sounds like League One to me.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

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.

I like the word "sidegrade".

Still, though. Would you be prepared to accept a worse striker (or 10 or hardworking midfielder) in order to afford a replacement for Sadlier? Accepting that finance is finite, what gives?
.

18 year old kids from United…I’m out.

Mate, I'm sure both you and I worried when we signed Trafford, who was then 19. And without opening a favourite box, I know you worried when we signed Bradley, who was then 18.

I don't know Shoretire from Shinola, but if people say he's one of their brightest prospects (and that's certainly the impression the MEN gives), and Evatt/Markham think he can do a job, then I'll take it. After all, maybe borrowing a player will free up funds for a Sadlier replacement...

[GhostoftheBok]

The reality is we are broke. The manager is looking for certain skill-sets that he can work into a functional toolkit to win games. Part of that is very clearly wanting a "jinky" lad who can get through gaps that aren't there when teams form lines.

We wanted Assal, but he seems to be out of our league in terms of price, even if he's one below us in reality.

This kid is a similar player to Assal, but he's regarded as one of the best prospects in the country (that doesn't always work out, but there you are).

He's almost certainly "a project", but again - we're broke, by any reasonable football standards.

I have no clue if this is a real link or something some bod on Twitter made up because he'd signed him on Football Manager, but if we're moaning about signing one of Utd's best youth players then we've arguably left reality behind in terms of where we are as a club right now.

[BWFC_Insane]

It was a flippant comment about signing Uniteds kids.

I know nowt about him.

Those that do question whether he’s close to ready for league football in men’s teams which is a worry but we shall see.

Certainly wouldn’t class this as ‘exciting’. At least to me. He seems further behind in development than Trafford and Bradley. However, we see what happens with it if it comes to pass. I fully accept we don’t have the resources to sign established players in every case.

[Worthy4England]

Whilst some 18 year old from probably isn't my idea of "exciting," I have zero idea whether he's any bloody good or not. It seems absolutely farcical to write anything off until we see the complete picture. At the moment, every time someone makes a post, it seems like there's a "disaster" waiting to happen. OMG chillz...

[GhostoftheBok]

Those that do question whether he’s close to ready for league football in men’s teams which is a worry but we shall see.

Certainly wouldn’t class this as ‘exciting’. At least to me.

Those parts I agree with. I'd certainly view him as a project signing and would expect him to be coming with a view to an 18 month arrangement, however informal.

Talented kid. Would be interested to see him get kicked for the first time.

I have my doubts about whether this one is kosher, but if it is I'd imagine he is the "exciting" one Evatt mentioned. I do understand why people would be underwhelmed by a totally untested prospect.

[TonyDomingos]

No idea who Sure Tyre is, but I could see him being shirt sponsor next season.

[Prufrock]

You're all getting it. Never get excited.

[GhostoftheBok]

Possibly more of our Irish scouting at work...

[Worthy4England]

You're all getting it. Never get excited.

Taddy Nowak - that was exciting....

[TANGODANCER]

Whilst some 18 year old from probably isn't my idea of "exciting," I have zero idea whether he's any bloody good or not. It seems absolutely farcical to write anything off until we see the complete picture. At the moment, every time someone makes a post, it seems like there's a "disaster" waiting to happen. OMG chillz...

^^This, in spades...,

[nicholaldo]

On the subject of excitement, towards the end of the summer transfer window last season Iles tweeted that there was some potentially very exciting news about to break, "hang on to your hats", etc.

He phrased it as if it was something gamechanging, and I thought it might be that the club had attracted outside investment or similar.

It turns out it was just news breaking of our interest in Kachunga...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Possibly more of our Irish scouting at work...

Grandson of Lou Macari.

[The_Gun]

Possibly more of our Irish scouting at work...

Grandson of Lou Macari.

He appears to be a right back, so would be a strange move for the kid and his parent club, unless it's an Nlundulu 'try before you buy' situation.

[BWFC_Insane]

Possibly more of our Irish scouting at work...

Grandson of Lou Macari.

He appears to be a right back, so would be a strange move for the kid and his parent club, unless it's an Nlundulu 'try before you buy' situation.

Know nowt about him (other than famous family) but seems to be a big lad who has played across the back four.

I think our wide centre back roles are predominantly suited to right backs who can play centre back a bit.

So makes sense to me. Exactly the sort we need to add if we can to add cover and flexibility.

People need to stop thinking that a RB is a wing back. They are not. Wing backs is a separate role entirely.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

First-team coach Alex Neil is experimenting with a back three and Macari - known around the club as Lou - has been playing RWB for the U21s. He's probably third-choice behind Arsenal loanee Harry Clarke and Chelsea loanee Dujon Sterling, while Neil has also picked centre-back Ben Wilmot there.

As BWFCi suggests, it's possible he could also be CB cover.

[GhostoftheBok]

Very much a converted centre half out at right back, so yeah he'd likely fit in well where Toal is. Makes a lot of sense if the idea is to have Jones compete on the right going forward.

Very similar player to Jack Armer, albeit the opposite side, so I'd be fine if this were a genuine link.

[GhostoftheBok]

Alternatively, you could view him as an Iredale for the right - so we have that attack/defensive mix of options that Evatt mentioned.