Snog, Marry, Avoid: Summer 2023 Transfer Window

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Pan Camara loan to Charlton confirmed. <drums fingers on desk>

[Harry Genshaw]

https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/07/18/lin ... idfielder/

Was this the Irish lad we were allegedly interested in a while back? His position and record suggests he's the type we should be looking at.

[GhostoftheBok]

Kioso is a fantastic player at this level, but as others have said he's the wrong type at the minute.

He'll do very well for Posh and suit their style of play down to the ground.

We need a one-on-one dribbler. Kioso ain't it.

[GhostoftheBok]

Hope that is for B team. Be massively, massively underwhelming if he was seriously considered an option for the first team. To go from talking about the sort of players we are targeting to signing Mathewson would not signal the club is really pushing for promotion. RWB is such a key position and clearly was a big priority to bring in real quality.

Probably worth moving this to the transfer thread.

As Iles said today, hard to imagine him dropping to B level.

That likely means we are hedging our bets and that if we don't get our main target this time we'll settle, in order to get the work done before the season kicks off. Having him training with us is a good thing by that measure, as he should be fit if we pull the trigger.

I'm not sure it says we're not pushing for promotion, but he's definitely not as "combat ready" as someone like Kane Wilson (on paper) and would surely be behind Cogley in the pecking order.

Short term I'd agree it'd be a disappointing signing, though he clearly has ability. He's also small and doesn't have truly exceptional pace, so you have to wonder how readily he'd step up to Championship level. Small lads can make it, but it's an issue.

His plus points are that talent that got him first team football at 15, his relative experience for his age (about 80 first team games) and the fact our system suits his style of play. The fact he'd not have to play right back may offset his physicality issues enough to maximise his potential.

So, yeah. Disappointing, but not one I'd write off by any stretch.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Evatt, whom per Iles is “hinting” we will make a signing before Saturday.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ian-evatt/

We are in an awkward position now because we have moved past the free transfer market and now we are looking at signing players for money.

And when you are putting the club’s, the fans’ money at risk, we want to make sure we get it right.

The players we are targeting are all, or mostly, attached to football clubs. And it is a domino effect at this stage – and we know that once one moves, it triggers the next move.

Clubs haven’t really finished their pre-season tours yet but coming towards the end of the week then most of them should be complete, players will be back, the number of places in each squad will start to make themselves clearer and then hopefully we can get things moving.

But, yes, it is not straightforward. We are doing everything we can to get things done and though I can’t guarantee every one of the four or five will get done by the start of the season, we will be stronger, I have no doubt about that.

[Worthy4England]

I think the phrase "everyone of the 4 or 5" not done before start of the season, leaves quite a lot of leeway...You could see "Well it's 2, and we never promised 5" as much as you could see "we got 5," maybe even more likely. I'd hope its a minimum of 3.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I think the phrase "everyone of the 4 or 5" not done before start of the season, leaves quite a lot of leeway...You could see "Well it's 2, and we never promised 5" as much as you could see "we got 5," maybe even more likely. I'd hope its a minimum of 3.

I think they don’t know, as they’re waiting for other teams.

I was reading just this morning that Southampton, for instance, have “a bloated squad of 37 players” - not all of whom will remain, due to new division and new manager. How that shakes out might decide who and how they loan out. I still suspect Dynel Simeu is on our list, for example, but it’s just an example and there are many more like him waiting to see what happens.

[GhostoftheBok]

I think the phrase "everyone of the 4 or 5" not done before start of the season, leaves quite a lot of leeway...You could see "Well it's 2, and we never promised 5" as much as you could see "we got 5," maybe even more likely. I'd hope its a minimum of 3.

We don't need them all done by Lincoln, but we do need at least one midfielder in by then. You'd expect Evatt will want at least 2 or 3 done by matchday one, but he'd get by with one more in the middle. You're taking a risk with injuries, though.

We have 6 games in August, so numbers will be important.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think the phrase "everyone of the 4 or 5" not done before start of the season, leaves quite a lot of leeway...You could see "Well it's 2, and we never promised 5" as much as you could see "we got 5," maybe even more likely. I'd hope its a minimum of 3.

We don't need them all done by Lincoln, but we do need at least one midfielder in by then. You'd expect Evatt will want at least 2 or 3 done by matchday one, but he'd get by with one more in the middle. You're taking a risk with injuries, though.

We have 6 games in August, so numbers will be important.

Numbers yes but my main worry is quality. We need real quality in across a number of positions. I was hoping this week at the very least would be busier. Not even a sniff at a link for a signing.

[GhostoftheBok]

Numbers yes but my main worry is quality. We need real quality in across a number of positions. I was hoping this week at the very least would be busier. Not even a sniff at a link for a signing.

Broadly speaking, I agree.

[BWFC_Insane]

Hope that is for B team. Be massively, massively underwhelming if he was seriously considered an option for the first team. To go from talking about the sort of players we are targeting to signing Mathewson would not signal the club is really pushing for promotion. RWB is such a key position and clearly was a big priority to bring in real quality.

Probably worth moving this to the transfer thread.

As Iles said today, hard to imagine him dropping to B level.

That likely means we are hedging our bets and that if we don't get our main target this time we'll settle, in order to get the work done before the season kicks off. Having him training with us is a good thing by that measure, as he should be fit if we pull the trigger.

I'm not sure it says we're not pushing for promotion, but he's definitely not as "combat ready" as someone like Kane Wilson (on paper) and would surely be behind Cogley in the pecking order.

Short term I'd agree it'd be a disappointing signing, though he clearly has ability. He's also small and doesn't have truly exceptional pace, so you have to wonder how readily he'd step up to Championship level. Small lads can make it, but it's an issue.

His plus points are that talent that got him first team football at 15, his relative experience for his age (about 80 first team games) and the fact our system suits his style of play. The fact he'd not have to play right back may offset his physicality issues enough to maximise his potential.

So, yeah. Disappointing, but not one I'd write off by any stretch.

So apart from not possessing the qualities we need, nor the relevant proven experience and being a midget who is targeting league 2...it would be 'fine'.

He's not what we need. At all. In so many ways. We've simply got to go out and fix RWB its an absolutely key area to get right and JDC might be decent but we need at least one outstanding wing back and we haven't got one on the left by along way so essential one is recruited on the right. Or it will be the same old mistakes.

[GhostoftheBok]

So apart from not possessing the qualities we need, nor the relevant proven experience and being a midget who is targeting league 2...it would be 'fine'.

"Short term I'd agree it'd be a disappointing signing..."

I would not put that player into this team in the hopes of improving the 11. Full stop.

I do think he could be a player who develops enough to play at a good level in Evatt's system, though. So if we sign him I won't moan and wail and gnash my teeth.

What I could see is Cogley being our mainstay, Sadlier playing when we have the freedom to play a right winger and Matheson playing a hybrid and being allowed to develop.

I don't like that solution, but it could be one.

I also doubt it's Evatt's ideal.

[Worthy4England]

I think the phrase "everyone of the 4 or 5" not done before start of the season, leaves quite a lot of leeway...You could see "Well it's 2, and we never promised 5" as much as you could see "we got 5," maybe even more likely. I'd hope its a minimum of 3.

We don't need them all done by Lincoln, but we do need at least one midfielder in by then. You'd expect Evatt will want at least 2 or 3 done by matchday one, but he'd get by with one more in the middle. You're taking a risk with injuries, though.

We have 6 games in August, so numbers will be important.

Aye - that last bit - There are some teams in there that we might on occasion have struggled against - Cheltenham (a), we've won a couple, lost a couple. Good record v Fleetwood (I think only ducked during COVID), but then we're into some, likely tougher, games.

Wigan, Burton (a), (Sept) Derby, Shrewsbury (a), Reading, Peterborough.

1 in now and 4 on deadline day, wouldn't be great (short term )

[GhostoftheBok]

Aye - that last bit - There are some teams in there that we might on occasion have struggled against - Cheltenham (a), we've won a couple, lost a couple. Good record v Fleetwood (I think only ducked during COVID), but then we're into some, likely tougher, games.

Wigan, Burton (a), (Sept) Derby, Shrewsbury (a), Reading, Peterborough.

1 in now and 4 on deadline day, wouldn't be great (short term )

None of the delay is great, I agree. I'd have liked to have seen us at least 3 players better off by now and in a position where we're not relying on players like Sads and John who clearly wouldn't be here in a perfect world.

However, we're now looking at what we need to do to get the squad through August in strong position, rather than where we'd ideally like to be.

For me, that's at least one more midfielder. Saturday-Tuesday over a month with 4 mids isn't anything I want to see and the B teamers, as much as I like them in preseason, don't look ready to step-up yet. Pizza Cup minutes? Sure.

As much as quality and depth, there's balance. There's no combination of 3 mids from the current 4 that I'd want to put out against top level opposition. So we need another in there to look properly prepared to start the season.

At the back, wide and in attack you can play the lads we have and compete well. Midfield needs more options.

[sonicthewhite]

From what I've found on the web, Matheson seems to fit the mould of a moneyball signing. Loads of potential and talent, big money move gone wrong, now looking to rebuild a promising career. We can certainly do a lot better but we could definitely do a lot worse.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

From what I've found on the web, Matheson seems to fit the mould of a moneyball signing. Loads of potential and talent, big money move gone wrong, now looking to rebuild a promising career. We can certainly do a lot better but we could definitely do a lot worse.

That's the thing. He's not the earth-shaking new arrival for the first team we all crave. But he's one that could have his worth (literally – £1m fee in his teens, on a free at 20) in the long run, if all pans out well.

FWIW Ilesy, in his paywalled piece, isn't making any great claims and seems to be saying the club are playing it cool too. Not even sure if he'd be a 1st or B player - although that wall should be very permeable, squad limits notwithstanding (and Matheson is still underage-exempt in 2023/24).

[officer_dibble]

I also doubt it's Evatt's ideal.

Not when his first choice has pitched up at the team that finished below us!

[GhostoftheBok]

Not when his first choice has pitched up at the team that finished below us!

Sometimes you have to find solutions to issues. You're unlikely to fix everything in a single window.

I had 10 issues with the squad when we came into the window that I thought they should be looking to fix and I thought it was reasonable to ask for 6 to have been sorted by September.

We've fixed 4. Or rather, we have signed potential solutions for 4.

We've not fixed the need for one-on-one flair down the right, but if we can't find that in a RWB then playing Sadlier as more of a winger in certain games may let us muddle through.

We can't muddle through in midfield, though. We are too light on numbers and any numbers we do add must bring quality with them.

[Prufrock]

Is Lewis Hall a mad shout? Would expect he'd have Champo offers at least but you never know perhaps if he wants to play in midfield where he's untested.

[The_Gun]

Is Lewis Hall a mad shout? Would expect he'd have Champo offers at least but you never know perhaps if he wants to play in midfield where he's untested.

Yes.