Tooling up: The summer 2024 transfer thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I’ve lost track. By how many will we be over when McAtee signs?

We'll have 24 for 22 places, but it may be that we don't register CMG until January due to injury. So it may be 23. However, we are apparently after one more after "McAthree" happens later.

Mcatee is the one more isn’t he?

Iles said "up to four" the other day (ie two signings ago). And now Evatt says...

I think there will be more to come. I think at least one, and then we will re-evaluate. We are pretty close to what I want us to look like.

There maybe some exits along the way but that is the nature of football. Football is a game where players want to play and you can only play 11. It is only really the 11 who are happy and everyone else, you have got to try and manage.That becomes more challenging and difficult the more experienced players get. They want that regular first-team spot so to speak and want to finish their week with a match. I understand that, I was a player once. We are not going to hold anyone here against their will. If they find something else that suits them better than we do, we wish them well.

[irie Cee Bee]

Interesting quotes from Evatt.. so who at the moment may not get enough game time and may want to look elsewhere?
Coleman
Jones
Forrester
Matheson
Conway
Sheehan
Morely
Khumbeni
Mendes Gomes - injured
Nlundulu

Thats a long list

[GhostoftheBok]

Seems like we might have to wait until tomorrow for McAtee to be announced. The club are doing the whole "double signing day" bit quite strongly.

[The_Gun]

Anticipation levels for this season have risen considerably, and you’d have to say we now have a very good shot at finishing second to Birmingham.

However, there is a lingering concern in the back of my mind that we’ve gone into complete shit or bust mode. If we don’t go up this time we might be in a spot of bother. We have no young players and our wage bill must be getting pretty chunky.

[GhostoftheBok]

On the wages, yes and no. We're not sustainable at this level (few are), but we are not offering as much as a lot of other clubs. We are around 6th in the division last season and we'll probably be the same this time, albeit we'll be spending more in real terms.

The squad looks excellent, but we shouldn't get carried away. A number of the players we have signed have missed huge amounts of football over that last 2-3 seasons. Lolos is unproven above League Two level and Schon hasn't performed outside the Hungarian league. Arfield is a grandad.

Who have we signed so far that is both reliably fit and proven at this level? McAtee, once formally announced, will be the only one.

I'd suggest the other #10 we sign will need to be in that same vein - almost always available and proven quality.

We may get away with the fitness gamble on all these lads and have a stellar season, but the chances of all of them staying fit must be pretty low. Expectations should probably be adjusted accordingly.

That's not to say I'm down on the business we've done. I think we've done really good work. However, it could all go badly wrong. That's the risk you take at this level.

[The_Gun]

Surely if we’re to sign another 10 it’d have to be an u21 loanee?

[GhostoftheBok]

Surely if we’re to sign another 10 it’d have to be an u21 loanee?

Previously I'd have said yes, but the McCowan bid was very recent and the Scottish journos insist we are still in talks there.

Looks like we might be just getting what we need and then shedding.

[knobpolisher]

With the strength in depth of the squad Mr Evatt will not be able to pull the " injuries have cost us card "

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If we sign McAtee and another 10, then one of those two and Collins starts on the bench. That’s depth.

[BWFC_Insane]

If we sign McAtee and another 10, then one of those two and Collins starts on the bench. That’s depth.

I assume Collins starts with another…..

If we assume options for the 10’s are Lolos, Collins, Arfield, McAtee, Dempsey…

That’s already 5 into 2. I’ve not even included Dan as I expect he goes.

And Vic/Charles as options up top with McAtee I guess also able to play there should it be needed.

Pre Matete Id have said Arfield and Dempsey maybe fill in the 6’s roles but now we have Matete, Thomason, Sheehan and Morley that feels less likely.

[jmjhb]

Players are following McAtee on Instagram now....

[GhostoftheBok]

If we sign McAtee and another 10, then one of those two and Collins starts on the bench. That’s depth.

There can be somewhere around 120 starts between those #10 positions over a season at this level. Last season I think we played 64 competitive games. 49 league (including play offs), 2 League Cup, 4 FA Cup and 9 in the Motors Trophy.

We'll do well if all three are available to start 40 games each with fitness being what it is.

Charles and Dan pushing each other for the #9 spot. ~60 starts
Collins, McAtee, Lolos and another lad pushing for the #10s. ~120 starts
Dan available to play either role as needed.

It's real, meaningful depth in attack that could really kick us on. It's also 30 starts each for the dedicated bodies. Obviously won't be that neat, but shows the load. Even if it's a 40/20 split everyone will get meaningful game time, especially as we sub after the hour mark.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I'm increasingly beginning to wonder if Dempsey's becoming the odd man out. Or one of them, at least.

I know some folk expect Morley to go out on loan and I can sort of see that. But to me we still only have four who can play at 6 - Sheehan, Tomo, Matete, Morley (Khumbeni's overage and will be loaned). We have a lot who can play at 10 - Collins, Lolos, Arfield, Dan if he stays, McAtee TBC, maybe Randell, maybe Schön, and maybe even another 10 if we're truly after McCowan etc.

I'm also not sure Dempsey is truly either a 10 or a 6. He suited being a forward-burrowing 'free 8' last season, but when he's played slightly further forward (before we flipped the triangle in spring 2023) he's often seemed slightly awkward to me. Yet he's never struck me as a diligent deep midfielder. None of which is to say I don't like him, but I wonder if he'll struggle to stand out in this system – and squad.

Also, he's 29 next month. He might be eyeing regular football and we might be eyeing his resale value (he's contracted to June 2026, when he'll be nearly 31).

[BWFC_Insane]

^^It does feel that Dempsey might struggle role wise in this system. However, he would be a good 10 in certain games - but then feels a bit similar to what Arfield might offer there. I think Dan is obvious one to go if anyone would take him as I don’t see him offering anything in this side.

[GhostoftheBok]

You can make arguments for a lot of players.

Forrester may benefit from being the main man in a League One defence for a full season, or even 6 months. You could make the same case for Morley or Dan, but those two seem more vital to our depth at the minute.

I understand people's issues with Dan, but Evatt gave him the #11 shirt and we have got to have 2 dedicated #9s for every games - so even as third choice he's important.

Morley, as DSB says, is one of our 4 entirely natural 6s. Surely we want to keep them all?

In terms of sales, Jones would look vulnerable if not for his injury preventing a move. Dempsey signed a new 3 year deal last summer, so we clearly like him.

I'm fairly sure we've gone through all these issues. Something has to give somewhere.

If we loaned Forrester and didn't register CMG then the current lot (including McAtee) would fit in the 22. Then it's either U21s or one-in-one-out.

[Mar]

Feeling quite positive about the transfer window so far. Would be interesting to see what difference these transfers make.

Quite like the squad we've got prior to the signings. This looks like we've kicked on and improved but time will tell.

[officer_dibble]

We’re into replacing people now - it’s brutal but it happens when you want to progress.

I’d say Dempsey, Jones, Forrester and Dan look most vulnerable.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Interesting quotes from Evatt.. so who at the moment may not get enough game time and may want to look elsewhere?
Coleman
Jones
Forrester
Matheson
Conway
Sheehan
Morely
Khumbeni
Mendes Gomes - injured
Nlundulu

Thats a long list

• Coleman doesn't count against the squad numbers, and I can't imagine his wage is high, so it depends whether he's happy being 3rd choice (again?). (I'm assuming Southwood will be the bench keeper, if/when we have one.)
• Jones - Good egg to have around, good multi-role sub. I doubt he'll agitate.
• Forrester - does look further from the team than most. Two seasons left on his contract, so we could loan him out. Turned 23 this summer, so he needs to kick on.
• Matheson, Khumbeni, Conway - Evatt has said they'll all be loaned. First two are now overage, second is a very good prospect.
• Sheehan - I'm surprised to see his name on this list. Not only was he crucial to us last seaosn, we're also not over-blessed with No.6s and we now play two of them.
• Morley - as a natural 6 he now has twice as many positions (and thus on-field minutes) to aim at. Will probably start most cup games and might finish a few league ones too.
• Mendes Gomes - I'd be surprised if he's agitating for a loan considering he's probably still on crutches.
• Nlundulu - that's the big question. At the moment he might be our third-choice No.9 - although Lolos and McAtee might disagree - and as for No10, there are now loads in front of him. Like Forrester, he has two years left – but he's 25, 2.5yrs older than Forrester. This might be one Evatt has to swallow and move on from.

So from that list, I'd only strongly agree with Forrester and Nlundulu as natural loaning candidates, plus the Matheson/Khumbeni/Conway trio. As I say, I do also wonder whether Dempsey will be further fron the picture than he'd like.

[irie Cee Bee]

After todays activity, feeling a lot better about the team after my lo-o-o-ng Wembley hangover and depression. Signed up for Wanderers TV just now, missed out on the discount period but, once again, living in hope for my team. All on-board!

[GhostoftheBok]

Interesting stuff from the different managers (Dundee and Bolton) in the various local papers today.

Evatt says we "admire" McCowan, but we are currently going no further than that.

Docherty says there are no "current bids" on the table.

The Scottish reporters insist they were briefed that bids were rejected.

All the usual fun of summer. Agent trying to force things to a head, clubs agreeing the play it coy...who knows.