Snog, Marry, Avoid: Summer 2023 Transfer Window

[Bertie Wooster]

Sorry Ghost, I don't get it in fact sometimes I don't get you. You told us recently that (with you apparently having previously worked for the club, in a recruitment capacity ?) Evatt is recruiting a team good enough to ensure that should we get promoted, it would also be of the quality to ensure that we stay in the championship - yet we haven't made one signing to date that backs this up & now you are saying that we should promote someone like Carty - is this the model to keep the club in the championship (should we be lucky to get promoted, which to me at the moment we would need to be).

I know that I talk rubbish and spout a load of sh**e, but without being disrespectful - you do come across at times like you are just making it up.

[GhostoftheBok]

Sorry Ghost, I don't get it in fact sometimes I don't get you. You told us recently that (with you apparently having previously worked for the club, in a recruitment capacity ?) Evatt is recruiting a team good enough to ensure that should we get promoted, it would also be of the quality to ensure that we stay in the championship - yet we haven't made one signing to date that backs this up & now you are saying that we should promote someone like Carty - is this the model to keep the club in the championship (should we be lucky to get promoted, which to me at the moment we would need to be).

I know that I talk rubbish and spout a load of sh**e, but without being disrespectful - you do come across at times like you are just making it up.

I'm not entirely sure how to respond to that.

Is your objection that you don't rate the players we have signed, or that you think Evatt doesn't?

As to being disrespectful - this is the internet. Go for it.

[Mar]

Sorry Ghost, I don't get it in fact sometimes I don't get you. You told us recently that (with you apparently having previously worked for the club, in a recruitment capacity ?) Evatt is recruiting a team good enough to ensure that should we get promoted, it would also be of the quality to ensure that we stay in the championship - yet we haven't made one signing to date that backs this up & now you are saying that we should promote someone like Carty - is this the model to keep the club in the championship (should we be lucky to get promoted, which to me at the moment we would need to be).

I know that I talk rubbish and spout a load of sh**e, but without being disrespectful - you do come across at times like you are just making it up.

Do you think the players we have signed aren't good enough to keep us in the Championship?

I'd think that the majority of players we have signed are what the squad has been needing and that should we get into the Championship they would be of a decent enough quality to keep us in the league. I'd say the signings of Baxter, Mendes-Gomes, Adeboyejo and Williams are probably signings you could look to as to keeping us in the Championship should we get there.

Sure there are no major marquis signings that you could look at and definitively think that they're a step above this league, but when they suit our system its probably a case of getting more than the sum of the parts.

We had a similar case in 2016-2017 season when we signed:
Taylor, Beevers, Proctor, Howard, Buxton, Alnwick, Morais, Wabara and Karacan.

You couldn't say we'd signed players to help us stay in the Championship from that squad. Beevers probably being the exception.

It's about getting players that help the team become decent enough to stay in the Championship.


As for the Carty promotion. Well when we're looking at the impact our strikers are having at the moment and theres a decent case for promoting from within. Trouble is, as good as that Carty goal was for Bolton in the cup, he's only got a 4 in 24 record at St. Pats and hadnt managed to make decent headway into becoming first choice. I'd like him to come good but its gonna be a challenge.

We've got strikers being prolific in the B-Team at the moment. We could be trying those out. Finn Lockett & Ben Andreucci have both got three recently. Tuesday 8th August is our cup match, i'd suspect thats our best bet for trying this (FLT starts in Sept sadly) but I think you'd be hard pressed for leaving Jerome out of that side.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

You’d think the EFL (League) Cup match home to Barrow wouldn’t be a host of B-teamers. Maybe Dion gets a rest and either Ade or Big Dan, whoever hasn’t been starting in the league, starts; plus maybe Bod, whom Evatt is expecting back soon. Jerome an option. Maybe someone like Trevon Bryan is on the bench in case the game’s won, give him a whirl against a Div 4 team. But I wouldn’t expect us to go very weak in any cup game, now we’ve had a taste of a run.

[Mar]

You’d think the EFL (League) Cup match home to Barrow wouldn’t be a host of B-teamers. Maybe Dion gets a rest and either Ade or Big Dan, whoever hasn’t been starting in the league, starts; plus maybe Bod, whom Evatt is expecting back soon. Jerome an option. Maybe someone like Trevon Bryan is on the bench in case the game’s won, give him a whirl against a Div 4 team. But I wouldn’t expect us to go very weak in any cup game, now we’ve had a taste of a run.

Certainly not a case for using b teasers but more having them as an option for that game. I'd suspect Jerome would be a shoe in for that match on the basis that we need to know how effective our whole squad is and not just the strongest lineup. We'll not get a second chance prior to the FLT games so that's pretty much our only chance for knowing whether we need to upgrade in that position or not.

I'm certainly of the impression that Jerome is cover for Bod. It'll be hard to gauge how much age is taking its toll on Jerome. He's hardworking but I can imagine it's only a matter of time till the levels drop too much. We couldn't persist indefinitely with SKD and we saw with Heskey that there's only so much effectiveness we can get from aged players.

[BWFC_Insane]

Sorry Ghost, I don't get it in fact sometimes I don't get you. You told us recently that (with you apparently having previously worked for the club, in a recruitment capacity ?) Evatt is recruiting a team good enough to ensure that should we get promoted, it would also be of the quality to ensure that we stay in the championship - yet we haven't made one signing to date that backs this up & now you are saying that we should promote someone like Carty - is this the model to keep the club in the championship (should we be lucky to get promoted, which to me at the moment we would need to be).

I know that I talk rubbish and spout a load of sh**e, but without being disrespectful - you do come across at times like you are just making it up.

Do you think the players we have signed aren't good enough to keep us in the Championship?

I'd think that the majority of players we have signed are what the squad has been needing and that should we get into the Championship they would be of a decent enough quality to keep us in the league. I'd say the signings of Baxter, Mendes-Gomes, Adeboyejo and Williams are probably signings you could look to as to keeping us in the Championship should we get there.

Sure there are no major marquis signings that you could look at and definitively think that they're a step above this league, but when they suit our system its probably a case of getting more than the sum of the parts.

We had a similar case in 2016-2017 season when we signed:
Taylor, Beevers, Proctor, Howard, Buxton, Alnwick, Morais, Wabara and Karacan.

You couldn't say we'd signed players to help us stay in the Championship from that squad. Beevers probably being the exception.

It's about getting players that help the team become decent enough to stay in the Championship.


As for the Carty promotion. Well when we're looking at the impact our strikers are having at the moment and theres a decent case for promoting from within. Trouble is, as good as that Carty goal was for Bolton in the cup, he's only got a 4 in 24 record at St. Pats and hadnt managed to make decent headway into becoming first choice. I'd like him to come good but its gonna be a challenge.

We've got strikers being prolific in the B-Team at the moment. We could be trying those out. Finn Lockett & Ben Andreucci have both got three recently. Tuesday 8th August is our cup match, i'd suspect thats our best bet for trying this (FLT starts in Sept sadly) but I think you'd be hard pressed for leaving Jerome out of that side.

I think the point is that a lot of the talk about why we haven’t signed certain players or have others is ‘we are looking longer term to be able to establish ourselves as a championship side’. Whilst we’ve signed some players with potential to improve I’m far from convinced we’ve built a side as yet good enough for promotion let alone survival in the league above.

I do think you can create an ever changing narrative to fit reality and that does seem to happen sometimes. Why can’t sometimes what Evatt does or decides be questionable? Not everything necessarily is part of a grand master plan that we are just too stupid to see.

We need that physical midfield player and a right wing back. Everyone is saying it. We don’t need more centre backs. Let’s see what Evatt turns up. But let’s not try to rewrite the script based on what actually does turn up.

[The_Gun]

Was there any reason given for John's absence from the squad vs Everton and West Brom? As far as I can tell Evatt wasn't asked about it after either game, but maybe I missed that.

[Mar]

I think the point is that a lot of the talk about why we haven’t signed certain players or have others is ‘we are looking longer term to be able to establish ourselves as a championship side’. Whilst we’ve signed some players with potential to improve I’m far from convinced we’ve built a side as yet good enough for promotion let alone survival in the league above.

I do think you can create an ever changing narrative to fit reality and that does seem to happen sometimes. Why can’t sometimes what Evatt does or decides be questionable? Not everything necessarily is part of a grand master plan that we are just too stupid to see.

We need that physical midfield player and a right wing back. Everyone is saying it. We don’t need more centre backs. Let’s see what Evatt turns up. But let’s not try to rewrite the script based on what actually does turn up.

Everything's up for scrutiny. Whether you want to attribute Evatt's signings to pissing in the wind or to an actual plan is entirely up to you. I get the impression Evatt is at least attempting to sign players to a system. I don't think it's a case of just being hopeful. Whether that's the right thing to do, only time will tell.

As for what we need signings wise, I think its fairly obvious what we need. Rewriting the script based upon what turns up, well our opinion differs from Evatt. Evatt may have decided JDC is our main RWB, just because you're not happy with that level of signing doesn't mean its not part of Evatt's plan. Sure we'll be wanting better, but we'll always want better, such is the nature of the game.

[boltonboris]

He's adding the pace and dynamism he said we missed at times last season.

He identified a number 8 who can destroy and play, but we just couldn't get it over the line. Some fans want a team of big, experienced journeymen who won't sustain any type of continued upwards trajectory. If we don't get them, people won't be happy. I don't get it

[Bertie Wooster]

Latest rumoured signing is Paris Maghoma, who I seem to recall Ghost mentioning a while ago as a potential target ?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Latest rumoured signing is Paris Maghoma, who I seem to recall Ghost mentioning a while ago as a potential target ?

Not so much a target as a good player.

January, when they borrowed him: "MK Dons picked up Paris Maghoma, which is a superb get for them."
February, after we beat them: "Paris Maghoma, the Brentford lad, clearly has loads of ability."

[BWFC_Insane]

Latest rumoured signing is Paris Maghoma, who I seem to recall Ghost mentioning a while ago as a potential target ?

Would he play 8 or 10? He’s a step on from Shoretire. Always impressed when watching but I feel he’s more a nice to have than a must have.

[Bertie Wooster]

Latest rumoured signing is Paris Maghoma, who I seem to recall Ghost mentioning a while ago as a potential target ?

Would he play 8 or 10? He’s a step on from Shoretire. Always impressed when watching but I feel he’s more a nice to have than a must have.

I think that he's more of an 8 (box to box type), not sure if he's decent or not - however its another relatively decent (semi-exciting signing) after CMG. Not the experienced midfield destroyer I was hoping for, but then again he may be a young midfield destroyer ?

It appears to be a permanent signing not a loan.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Latest rumoured signing is Paris Maghoma, who I seem to recall Ghost mentioning a while ago as a potential target ?

Would he play 8 or 10? He’s a step on from Shoretire. Always impressed when watching but I feel he’s more a nice to have than a must have.

I think that he's more of an 8 (box to box type), not sure if he's decent or not - however its another relatively decent (semi-exciting signing) after CMG. Not the experienced midfield destroyer I was hoping for, but then again he may be a young midfield destroyer ?

It appears to be a permanent signing not a loan.

He's the fella that in January was recalled from his loan at AFC Wimbledon to be immediatelty loaned to MK Dons <ouch>

Both sides seem to have divided his time between playing at 8 and 6

This old love letter from a Spurs site (he was an academy lad there) suggests he's also not averse to running with the ball
https://superhotspur.com/2018/12/27/my- ... 19-season/

He's 22 now

[GhostoftheBok]

"Maghoma, Maghoma...my kingdom for Maghoma" was what I said, I think.

A tad dramatic, but I stand by it.

He's a 6/8 in our system.

MK Dons used him as a box-to-box player so they could have a quarterback at 6. Wimbledon used him as a seek-and-destroy defensive mid, who then carried the ball out.

I am very, very keen on this one. He has everything in his locker and just needs the right coaches. A bigger coup than CMG if everything is done.

If he signs we can discuss the issues and where he needs to improve (there's plenty he can work on), but that's an easy 9/10 signing.

[Bertie Wooster]

Apparently the lad is quite athletic & likes a tackle and as DSB says he can also run with the ball. Time will tell but he looks like he's got different attributes to the other midfielders we have, and could be exactly the type what we have been looking for.

[Harry Genshaw]

Another one I hadn't heard of 5 minutes ago but reading all this ^^ I'm already desperate for us to get him!

[The_Gun]

Latest rumoured signing is Paris Maghoma, who I seem to recall Ghost mentioning a while ago as a potential target ?

Would he play 8 or 10? He’s a step on from Shoretire. Always impressed when watching but I feel he’s more a nice to have than a must have.

I think that he's more of an 8 (box to box type), not sure if he's decent or not - however its another relatively decent (semi-exciting signing) after CMG. Not the experienced midfield destroyer I was hoping for, but then again he may be a young midfield destroyer ?

It appears to be a permanent signing not a loan.

An interesting, and quite exciting link for sure, but I'd be surprised if it were a permanent deal. Given he seems to be contracted at Brentford until 2025 and is reasonably highly rated, I would have thought they'd be asking for at least £1m.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

that's an easy 9/10 signing.

So he can play as target man or in the hole?

An interesting, and quite exciting link for sure, but I'd be surprised if it were a permanent deal. Given he seems to be contracted at Brentford until 2025 and is reasonably highly rated, I would have thought they'd be asking for at least £1m.

I wonder if/how sell-on percentages figure in FV's thinking....

[BWFC_Insane]

"Maghoma, Maghoma...my kingdom for Maghoma" was what I said, I think.

A tad dramatic, but I stand by it.

He's a 6/8 in our system.

MK Dons used him as a box-to-box player so they could have a quarterback at 6. Wimbledon used him as a seek-and-destroy defensive mid, who then carried the ball out.

I am very, very keen on this one. He has everything in his locker and just needs the right coaches. A bigger coup than CMG if everything is done.

If he signs we can discuss the issues and where he needs to improve (there's plenty he can work on), but that's an easy 9/10 signing.

I’ve seen him play in a 10ish sort of role before and my recollection is he’s pretty good on the ball but yeah. Sounds like the closest to the sort of player I feel we need that Evatt will go for. Good age.

As a loan be okay.

As a permanent be very interesting indeed.