Snog, Marry, Avoid: Summer 2023 Transfer Window

[BWFC_Insane]

It’s still incredibly dead. No links. No rumours. Nothing. Wasn’t this week meant to be ‘busier?’

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

It’s still incredibly dead. No links. No rumours. Nothing. Wasn’t this week meant to be ‘busier?’

It was. Maybe it is. Maybe things still aren't moving for the targets we want.

It's boring but the alternative, as we discovered earlier in the summer, is to be dripfed names that we then might feel the pain of losing. Two months ago I couldn't have told a Baccus from a bookshop but now he's A One That Got Away.

[truewhite15]

Just because there's no news, doesn't mean that nothing is happening.

[GhostoftheBok]

A number of clubs get back from their tours in the next couple of days or early next week.

Norwich fly back in today, I believe. Forest are back on Monday.

[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.

This was a shitty response from me, but to expand on my point: although his brother is a Wanderers youth team legend, Lewis played quite a bit for Chelsea in the PL last season. I'd guess that top-end Champo is the absolute lowest he'd be dropping for the upcoming campaign.

[GhostoftheBok]

It’s still incredibly dead. No links. No rumours. Nothing. Wasn’t this week meant to be ‘busier?’

It was. Maybe it is. Maybe things still aren't moving for the targets we want.

It's boring but the alternative, as we discovered earlier in the summer, is to be dripfed names that we then might feel the pain of losing. Two months ago I couldn't have told a Baccus from a bookshop but now he's A One That Got Away.

The issue we have at the minute is that this was supposed to be a special summer with a lot of additional spending.

Actually, there's been none. A big deal has been made of the infrastructure work, but FV was committed to replacing the pitch and have now cancelled that work. The money that was supposed to go on that project covers every other piece of spending this summer, so no additional money has gone out at all.

The transfer window thus far looks like a bog standard FV window. Two lads in for lowish fees and then freebies on wages that are below those on offer from other top sides at this level.

So we can be patient, but if that patience ends up in a couple of freebies (like Matheson) and some loanees then people will very reasonably start to ask where the £4.5m unsecured loan went.

Fans were promised a top level League One team and major investment off the pitch. The latter is just existing costs being reprioritised, so they need to deliver the former.

[BWFC_Insane]

It’s still incredibly dead. No links. No rumours. Nothing. Wasn’t this week meant to be ‘busier?’

It was. Maybe it is. Maybe things still aren't moving for the targets we want.

It's boring but the alternative, as we discovered earlier in the summer, is to be dripfed names that we then might feel the pain of losing. Two months ago I couldn't have told a Baccus from a bookshop but now he's A One That Got Away.

The issue we have at the minute is that this was supposed to be a special summer with a lot of additional spending.

Actually, there's been none. A big deal has been made of the infrastructure work, but FV was committed to replacing the pitch and have now cancelled that work. The money that was supposed to go on that project covers every other piece of spending this summer, so no additional money has gone out at all.

The transfer window thus far looks like a bog standard FV window. Two lads in for lowish fees and then freebies on wages that are below those on offer from other top sides at this level.

So we can be patient, but if that patience ends up in a couple of freebies (like Matheson) and some loanees then people will very reasonably start to ask where the £4.5m unsecured loan went.

Fans were promised a top level League One team and major investment off the pitch. The latter is just existing costs being reprioritised, so they need to deliver the former.

FV have provided the money. The issue isn't there. They have cut back on the pitch and there are some concerning signs longer term.

But it simply all points to going up being absolutely essential this season. Evatt decided not to move on two top targets and now its down to him to recruit the star signings we need in the key positions we've needed since January or even earlier.

I think its reasonable to say that the next week or so is the most critical of Evatt's career thus far. Pressure. Lots of it.

[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.

Yes.

This was a shitty response from me, but to expand on my point: although his brother is a Wanderers youth team legend, Lewis played quite a bit for Chelsea in the PL last season. I'd guess that top-end Champo is the absolute lowest he'd be dropping for the upcoming campaign.

Ha! No worries.

Yeah it looks unlikely, I just *wonder* if he wants to play in midfield rather than becoming one of those "good lads who will help out anywhere" and maaaaybe the fact he's never had any senior football there means he'd be willing to drop down.

Does look a long shot mind, even if Connor put in a good word. Suspect you're right.

[Prufrock]

It’s still incredibly dead. No links. No rumours. Nothing. Wasn’t this week meant to be ‘busier?’

It was. Maybe it is. Maybe things still aren't moving for the targets we want.

It's boring but the alternative, as we discovered earlier in the summer, is to be dripfed names that we then might feel the pain of losing. Two months ago I couldn't have told a Baccus from a bookshop but now he's A One That Got Away.

The issue we have at the minute is that this was supposed to be a special summer with a lot of additional spending.

Actually, there's been none. A big deal has been made of the infrastructure work, but FV was committed to replacing the pitch and have now cancelled that work. The money that was supposed to go on that project covers every other piece of spending this summer, so no additional money has gone out at all.

The transfer window thus far looks like a bog standard FV window. Two lads in for lowish fees and then freebies on wages that are below those on offer from other top sides at this level.

So we can be patient, but if that patience ends up in a couple of freebies (like Matheson) and some loanees then people will very reasonably start to ask where the £4.5m unsecured loan went.

Fans were promised a top level League One team and major investment off the pitch. The latter is just existing costs being reprioritised, so they need to deliver the former.

FV have provided the money. The issue isn't there. They have cut back on the pitch and there are some concerning signs longer term.

But it simply all points to going up being absolutely essential this season. Evatt decided not to move on two top targets and now its down to him to recruit the star signings we need in the key positions we've needed since January or even earlier.

I think its reasonable to say that the next week or so is the most critical of Evatt's career thus far. Pressure. Lots of it.

Do we know that? Doesn't seem a coincidence that two of the widely linked ones are ones that haven't happened. Wilson in particular screams to me agents deciding they can try to get him more dosh first with Brum and then Derby.

[BWFC_Insane]

It’s still incredibly dead. No links. No rumours. Nothing. Wasn’t this week meant to be ‘busier?’

It was. Maybe it is. Maybe things still aren't moving for the targets we want.

It's boring but the alternative, as we discovered earlier in the summer, is to be dripfed names that we then might feel the pain of losing. Two months ago I couldn't have told a Baccus from a bookshop but now he's A One That Got Away.

The issue we have at the minute is that this was supposed to be a special summer with a lot of additional spending.

Actually, there's been none. A big deal has been made of the infrastructure work, but FV was committed to replacing the pitch and have now cancelled that work. The money that was supposed to go on that project covers every other piece of spending this summer, so no additional money has gone out at all.

The transfer window thus far looks like a bog standard FV window. Two lads in for lowish fees and then freebies on wages that are below those on offer from other top sides at this level.

So we can be patient, but if that patience ends up in a couple of freebies (like Matheson) and some loanees then people will very reasonably start to ask where the £4.5m unsecured loan went.

Fans were promised a top level League One team and major investment off the pitch. The latter is just existing costs being reprioritised, so they need to deliver the former.

FV have provided the money. The issue isn't there. They have cut back on the pitch and there are some concerning signs longer term.

But it simply all points to going up being absolutely essential this season. Evatt decided not to move on two top targets and now its down to him to recruit the star signings we need in the key positions we've needed since January or even earlier.

I think its reasonable to say that the next week or so is the most critical of Evatt's career thus far. Pressure. Lots of it.

Do we know that? Doesn't seem a coincidence that two of the widely linked ones are ones that haven't happened. Wilson in particular screams to me agents deciding they can try to get him more dosh first with Brum and then Derby.

Yeah - Evatt hinted at it with his 'decisions made to protect the club' etc...

[Prufrock]

I mean sure but that's not inconsistent with an agent saying "all right Derby are offering £15kpw do you want to match it"?

[GhostoftheBok]

I fully expect us to spend money before the end of the window.

What I am saying is we really need to see impact for fans to be okay going into the season, not that I think there's some grand conspiracy.

I'm not in the whole "Auntie Shazza", "Best owners in the world" club; but I'm also not in the emerging group that is asking where the £4.5m has gone.

That second group will be on much, much firmer ground if there's not significant investment in the squad in the next few weeks, though; because the investment in the infrastructure really is minimal.

[BWFC_Insane]

I fully expect us to spend money before the end of the window.

What I am saying is we really need to see impact for fans to be okay going into the season, not that I think there's some grand conspiracy.

I'm not in the whole "Auntie Shazza", "Best owners in the world" club; but I'm also not in the emerging group that is asking where the £4.5m has gone.

That second group will be on much, much firmer ground if there's not significant investment in the squad in the next few weeks, though; because the investment in the infrastructure really is minimal.

For me it’s not so much money it’s just seeing players come in who are considerably better than we have available right now. Doing that probably means giving them more money. But that’s what is needed. Not more ‘can do a job’ types. But some real genuine star dust quality.

[GhostoftheBok]

For me it’s not so much money it’s just seeing players come in who are considerably better than we have available right now. Doing that probably means giving them more money. But that’s what is needed. Not more ‘can do a job’ types. But some real genuine star dust quality.

Yup.

I don't think we've dropped off much from last season, but we've not stepped up either.

What you could say is that we've lost 2 key members of the back 4 that kept us up there last season.

We have got to add quality going the other way. Players who can help us score more goals are vital.

Even 2 more quality additions would be muddling through, if the aim is to win the league.

[Worthy4England]

For me it’s not so much money it’s just seeing players come in who are considerably better than we have available right now. Doing that probably means giving them more money. But that’s what is needed. Not more ‘can do a job’ types. But some real genuine star dust quality.

Yup.

I don't think we've dropped off much from last season, but we've not stepped up either.

What you could say is that we've lost 2 key members of the back 4 that kept us up there last season.

We have got to add quality going the other way. Players who can help us score more goals are vital.

Even 2 more quality additions would be muddling through, if the aim is to win the league.

Quite - because we feel light in overall numbers too. Demps has a bit of a history but you could fairly easily see some youngsters or some pretty square pegs, if we picked up a couple of knocks...

[Bertie Wooster]

Is it Baccus ?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Is it Baccus ?

Is what Baccus, Bertie?

[Harry Genshaw]

Zak Ashworth?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

[GhostoftheBok]

Zac Ashworth joins. A Left-sided player who can also play centre half in a three. Primarily a left wing back.

This means we've been told "no" by one of the players we were targeting, I think; but will check on that.