January 2023 Transfer Window

[GhostoftheBok]

“We know the [transfer window] timescales – we can’t do anything about them. It is nothing I don’t know. All the people worrying and thinking ‘what are we doing?’ - I know what we need and what we are looking for, we have identified the players we want, and we are working very hard to make it happen.”

This doesn't really tell us much. We could be negotiating fees, trying to convince players, trying to convince parent clubs over loans, etc.

As Worthy said it does indicate we're after more than one, which is what we suspected and were hearing. The first week of a January window is quite a long time to get something done. The final week lasts about 34 seconds. We've two games in that period, meaning we lose about 4 days of possible direct Evatt harassment - so 50% of his working time with transfers is compromised. If deals go smoothly, that doesn't matter. Other people can manage things and Ian can be on Zoom and the like. If deals go south and need genuine time input from the gaffer it will matter. Other clubs are obviously in similar positions, but the reality is he has 4 days where he can devote the majority of his time to getting the (I would say minimum 2) players we need. If he doesn't even get one (and we might grab a panic-buy, but one of his main targets) we're in exactly as much bother as Insane worries we might be. So he's not annoyed for no reason.

[GhostoftheBok]

Depends which argument. Is Claude Rains available?

Unfortunately, he fell out of a plane in Spain...

[boltonboris]

“We know the [transfer window] timescales – we can’t do anything about them. It is nothing I don’t know. All the people worrying and thinking ‘what are we doing?’ - I know what we need and what we are looking for, we have identified the players we want, and we are working very hard to make it happen.”

This doesn't really tell us much. We could be negotiating fees, trying to convince players, trying to convince parent clubs over loans, etc.

As Worthy said it does indicate we're after more than one, which is what we suspected and were hearing. The first week of a January window is quite a long time to get something done. The final week lasts about 34 seconds. We've two games in that period, meaning we lose about 4 days of possible direct Evatt harassment - so 50% of his working time with transfers is compromised. If deals go smoothly, that doesn't matter. Other people can manage things and Ian can be on Zoom and the like. If deals go south and need genuine time input from the gaffer it will matter. Other clubs are obviously in similar positions, but the reality is he has 4 days where he can devote the majority of his time to getting the (I would say minimum 2) players we need. If he doesn't even get one (and we might grab a panic-buy, but one of his main targets) we're in exactly as much bother as Insane worries we might be. So he's not annoyed for no reason.

We could also be trying to shift players on before we can sign any new ones

The likes of Sheehan, Declan John, Isgrove etc will be burning resources whilst not contributing and we can't keep signing players on top of the ones we're not going to use. I think this window has taught us that

[BWFC_Insane]

Isn't Shoretire the replacement for Dapo this season?

He's going to play in the number 10 role not up front. Dapo has in the main played up front.

So no. And given his last appearance was up front with Charles and the injury to JDB - I think it was fair to say that we would have, were he still here, had Dapo in the starting 11 up front or coming off the bench up front on Saturday.

Its pretty obvious and whilst you can say a number 10 is a 'direct replacement' it isn't in the circumstances - when Dapo was barely played in that role.

[GhostoftheBok]

We could also be trying to shift players on before we can sign any new ones

The likes of Sheehan, Declan John, Isgrove etc will be burning resources whilst not contributing and we can't keep signing players on top of the ones we're not going to use. I think this window has taught us that

Could be, but I'd strongly suspect two of the ones we want are unconditional - one being a striker.

[The_Gun]

Isn't Shoretire the replacement for Dapo this season?

He's going to play in the number 10 role not up front. Dapo has in the main played up front.

So no. And given his last appearance was up front with Charles and the injury to JDB - I think it was fair to say that we would have, were he still here, had Dapo in the starting 11 up front or coming off the bench up front on Saturday.

Its pretty obvious and whilst you can say a number 10 is a 'direct replacement' it isn't in the circumstances - when Dapo was barely played in that role.

Yeah, but in terms of numbers, we already have one more player in the squad than we did at the start of the window, so whilst Shoretire is not the exact same player as Dapo, we're not likely to bring in another winger/forward/attacking mid in Jan. That's also taking into account that we'll bring in another striker.

[BWFC_Insane]

Isn't Shoretire the replacement for Dapo this season?

He's going to play in the number 10 role not up front. Dapo has in the main played up front.

So no. And given his last appearance was up front with Charles and the injury to JDB - I think it was fair to say that we would have, were he still here, had Dapo in the starting 11 up front or coming off the bench up front on Saturday.

Its pretty obvious and whilst you can say a number 10 is a 'direct replacement' it isn't in the circumstances - when Dapo was barely played in that role.

Yeah, but in terms of numbers, we already have one more player in the squad than we did at the start of the window, so whilst Shoretire is not the exact same player as Dapo, we're not likely to bring in another winger/forward/attacking mid in Jan. That's also taking into account that we'll bring in another striker.

We went into January with a 4 striker rotation of Baka, JDB, Dapo and Charles.

We are towards the end of January looking at only having Charles and Nlundulu. You can start throwing Kachunga in there if you want but he was behind the others for that role in the main until January.

So if we really want to come out stronger we need to do some work.

Adding in another number 10 was always needed in January but even Evatt is saying we are light now. I don't really see why this is contentious.

[Worthy4England]

I'm not sure either view is contentious? We certainly have one more body than we had, and if Shortire is a 10, then it's in a position we needed it vs Dapo who was generally (not exclusively) in a position we didn't need.

Yes we're still light up front - but Bod's scored three league goals, with mitigating circumstances, we haven't lost a goal every 2 games striker, we never had one.

[GhostoftheBok]

The contentious part isn't needing to strengthen in attack. That's been needed since the summer.

The contentious part is the idea there's some kind of managerial negligence going on, rather than a pretty normal transfer window.

[Prufrock]

Both Dapo and Kacha have started as a forward and 10. It's a real stretch to try to say either was earmarked as one or the other.

Dapo, v talented player who didn't suit the system and so we were trying to get in anywhere. Sometimes up top, sometimes at 10, sometimes (best filed under experimental) at LWB.

Kacha, Evatt trusts and would often come off the bench for SK or as one of the forwards.

Shoretire seems obviously a replacement for Dapo to me. Can play at 10 and compete with SK, and we're told he can play to top too if necessary. Dan for Baka. Which would have least us pretty similar on numbers until JDB got injured, and now we're (rightly after another striker). If that doesn't get done, sure let's panic, but I'd be v surprised if it didn't.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Bod's injury is the confuser.
Optimists see two transfers out, two in (plus cash).
Worriers see three players unavailable, two relatively inexperienced loanees in.
Both sets of people are right, in their way.

[The_Gun]

I think the only contentious point is whether we should now be looking to bring in another two strikers given Dad Bod's injury.

For me, as I stated previously, I would be happy if we manage to bring in one, high quality striker, who can finish more efficiently than the current/past incumbents.

If we shift more players out and free up more cash then there is a discussion to be had on which area of the squad it makes most sense to strengthen, but there would be strong arguments to be made that wing back, central midfield and even central defence are just as in need of reinforcements as up front.

No more outgoings and one more incoming striker would put us at 26 first team players versus 24 pre-window.

[GhostoftheBok]

Couple of unknown Twitter bods linking us with winger Sam Hoskins for around half a million quid. Turns 30 next month, plays his best football off the flanks...would be bizarre and relatively expensive. Bound to be true.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think the only contentious point is whether we should now be looking to bring in another two strikers given Dad Bod's injury.

For me, as I stated previously, I would be happy if we manage to bring in one, high quality striker, who can finish more efficiently than the current/past incumbents.

If we shift more players out and free up more cash then there is a discussion to be had on which area of the squad it makes most sense to strengthen, but there would be strong arguments to be made that wing back, central midfield and even central defence are just as in need of reinforcements as up front.

No more outgoings and one more incoming striker would put us at 26 first team players versus 24 pre-window.

I think everyone would be (assuming they aren't cup tied) the question is how realistic is that?

Nlundulu is a good example. He's probably an upgrade on Baka but at the time common sentiment (including on here) was 'good move to upgrade our 4th placed striker'. Yet now he's not really fit yet is first choice. So I'm not as convinced that we're going to sign a singular striker who is the answer. We had 4 we could juggle who all brought something to the piece even if they were all to one extent or another flawed.

Charles is the goal man who presumably is not leaving the side but we know he doesn't take a high proportion of chances which is problematic. An upgrade seems very unlikely now. Baka had the height and pace and workrate that Big Dan seems to add. Dapo had the skill and trickery and bit of class up front that often wasn't seen but a few games this season definitely shone. Bod was the combination of a workhorse, channel runner and was starting to form a really good partnership with Dion and I think had he stayed fit would have got to double figures himself in the league. He's really been hampered with injuries.

So we're looking for a big lad with a bit of mobility to chip in with say 8/9/10 goals and link with Charles. One assumes.

[GhostoftheBok]

Alan Nixon seeks patreon subs with Adeboyejo link. Says we're rivalling Wigan.

[GhostoftheBok]

RE the two Twitter rumours - the Hoskins one claims we are unwilling to pay the asking price, but the player wants the move.

On Adebyejo, he has a 400k release clause which has been made public (very poor form from his agent, that). So if we do want him that's a simple one of whether he wants to come here or go somewhere else.

[BWFC_Insane]

Alan Nixon seeks patreon subs with Adeboyejo link. Says we're rivalling Wigan.

Nixon is well connected at Wigan so that's probably pretty accurate. He barely reports on us anymore though....suspect he might have burned his bridges with a few.

[GhostoftheBok]

Nixon is well connected at Wigan so that's probably pretty accurate. He barely reports on us anymore though....suspect he might have burned his bridges with a few.

A number of his better contacts have retired or are out of work.

There's every chance the Ade link is true, he'd fit the profile and budget. Wouldn't cost much more than Charles, good background and scoring goals. Also arguably the type we need - strong, bit of pace (more a "powerful runner") and can hold it up. Santos ate his lunch when we played them, but Ade usually bosses centre backs.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

RE the two Twitter rumours - the Hoskins one claims we are unwilling to pay the asking price, but the player wants the move.

On Adebyejo, he has a 400k release clause which has been made public (very poor form from his agent, that). So if we do want him that's a simple one of whether he wants to come here or go somewhere else.

Well, also whether we want to pay a significant slice of the Dapo fee - even if we got a million, it's nearly half - on a 25-year-old who'd scored 12 in 139 league games before this season, including 3 in 100 at this level or higher.

As we know, stats can be misleading, and coaches will see 'headroom' in players, but it's perhaps not the most tantalising bit of player trading I've heard. And his agent sounds a right type.

[BWFC_Insane]

Nixon is well connected at Wigan so that's probably pretty accurate. He barely reports on us anymore though....suspect he might have burned his bridges with a few.

A number of his better contacts have retired or are out of work.

There's every chance the Ade link is true, he'd fit the profile and budget. Wouldn't cost much more than Charles, good background and scoring goals. Also arguably the type we need - strong, bit of pace (more a "powerful runner") and can hold it up. Santos ate his lunch when we played them, but Ade usually bosses centre backs.

I'd throw a few things in. He's having a great season. 11 goals thus far.

However, he's 25 and until this season his best goals return in a league season was......3

Plenty of that at championship level to be fair...but doesn't scream ready for the league up. He's also mainly played in a front three outwide until this season....and benefits a lot from early delivery...

EDIT: DSB beat me to it!