In, Out, Shake It All About: January 2025 Transfer Window

[Prufrock]

he'd then be able to argue yes I cocked up the first half of the season but look we've fixed it and have auto form over a long period.

We're a tad stuck up on the Pennines and my neighbour (who works for a nearby footy club) were discussing this over coffee and pancakes t'other day, as a bus blocked the road and nobody was going anywhere.

His view is that Evatt has the safest job in the EFL. He's has injuries and all that, but the result has essentially been to bottom the team out. It's basically impossible to relegate a team with that much quality in it, so he's survived taking it to the lowest possible ebb and is still being handed cash.

I think that's a fair view of it. Evatt's had as bad a time as he could have had and is still solidly in his job. It's inevitable that we get better at some stage and when we do he may be able to translate that into more support from the board.

I think until the end of the season that's right, can't see how he's getting sacked given what hasn't been enough so far. Not so sure beyond that though. Let's see were finish 10th, no way he's here next season imo.

I do think it's possible that it's in Evatt's interests that we stay bad for the rest of Jan, the bigger a contrast he can point to once we have new signings etc the better. "Look, it's fixed".

[GhostoftheBok]

I do think it's possible that it's in Evatt's interests that we stay bad for the rest of Jan, the bigger a contrast he can point to once we have new signings etc the better. "Look, it's fixed".

Not sure about that, but it depends how major this January surgery is.

Football League World has picked up on the stuff around Dion to Huddersfield and so that's the topic of the day on Twitter.

If we start moving on lads like Dion and Vic then we could end up in a position where we're bringing in half a dozen players and really putting the cat amongst the pigeons.

Personally I think Evatt needs to finish as high as possible to survive and that means winning at Rotherham, but we could go into that having sold our top scorer of the last two seasons and needing a "mercurial" playmaker to immediately have an impact.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I do think it's possible that it's in Evatt's interests that we stay bad for the rest of Jan, the bigger a contrast he can point to once we have new signings etc the better. "Look, it's fixed".

But you and I both know that "fixed" isn't the right term if we don't go up in an auto-targeting season. It's not like this theoreticall Evatt would be fixing someone else's mess, he'd be fixing his own: "Sorry, I drove the car into your wall, but I've tidied the bricks up and I thinmk therte's every chance we can build a new wall."

If we start moving on lads like Dion and Vic then we could end up in a position where we're bringing in half a dozen players and really putting the cat amongst the pigeons.

Are we the cat or the pigeons? Or are the pigeons the sh!t-splattering underachieving players hired and coached by a Mr I. Evatt?

I've said before, while I see the cold hard reasoning behind selling Dion, it would be a huuuuuuge call for a manager already under pressure. A defining gamble.

[The_Gun]

I do think it's possible that it's in Evatt's interests that we stay bad for the rest of Jan, the bigger a contrast he can point to once we have new signings etc the better. "Look, it's fixed".

Not sure about that, but it depends how major this January surgery is.

Football League World has picked up on the stuff around Dion to Huddersfield and so that's the topic of the day on Twitter.

If we start moving on lads like Dion and Vic then we could end up in a position where we're bringing in half a dozen players and really putting the cat amongst the pigeons.

Personally I think Evatt needs to finish as high as possible to survive and that means winning at Rotherham, but we could go into that having sold our top scorer of the last two seasons and needing a "mercurial" playmaker to immediately have an impact.

Whilst it wouldn’t surprise me if we sold Charles, it would be quite a shock if it were to Huddersfield. It feels like they’d really have to overpay for us to consider that.

[GhostoftheBok]

I've said before, while I see the cold hard reasoning behind selling Dion, it would be a huuuuuuge call for a manager already under pressure. A defining gamble.

It would indeed.

In the meantime we've had a bid rejected for Jonas Therkelsen, the nippy Norwegian midfielder-cum-forward who was recently attracting the attention of Bodo/Glimt. I mean, yeah...that'd do.

[TANGODANCER]

I'd see Dion more of a saviour on the field than in the bank. There are no guarantees, granted,
but he knows the score and seems settled here. Can we say that about a replacement? One step at a time for me with any additions as plusses . We need a Dempsey replacement right now, which I'm hoping Randell will fill.

[Prufrock]

I do think it's possible that it's in Evatt's interests that we stay bad for the rest of Jan, the bigger a contrast he can point to once we have new signings etc the better. "Look, it's fixed".

But you and I both know that "fixed" isn't the right term if we don't go up in an auto-targeting season. It's not like this theoreticall Evatt would be fixing someone else's mess, he'd be fixing his own: "Sorry, I drove the car into your wall, but I've tidied the bricks up and I thinmk therte's every chance we can build a new wall."

If we start moving on lads like Dion and Vic then we could end up in a position where we're bringing in half a dozen players and really putting the cat amongst the pigeons.

Are we the cat or the pigeons? Or are the pigeons the sh!t-splattering underachieving players hired and coached by a Mr I. Evatt?

I've said before, while I see the cold hard reasoning behind selling Dion, it would be a huuuuuuge call for a manager already under pressure. A defining gamble.

It wouldn't be enough for me. But possibly for the board. Assuming we don't go up, the only way I can see him here is if he can convince them we're going up next. His best argument for that I think is one that runs "I got it wrong first half of the season but look you backed me in Jan and we were outstanding for the rest of the season". It needs a step change.

I guess ultimately what I mean is it has to happen soon. Maybe in his interests is too strong, but I think he'd be better off with a bad Jan but then a storming last few months, than an immediate but smaller uptick that snuck us into 6th but without even looking fantastic.

[GhostoftheBok]

It wouldn't be enough for me. But possibly for the board. Assuming we don't go up, the only way I can see him here is if he can convince them we're going up next. His best argument for that I think is one that runs "I got it wrong first half of the season but look you backed me in Jan and we were outstanding for the rest of the season". It needs a step change.

I guess ultimately what I mean is it has to happen soon. Maybe in his interests is too strong, but I think he'd be better off with a bad Jan but then a storming last few months, than an immediate but smaller uptick that snuck us into 6th but without even looking fantastic.

Also, "We spent money on new signings who are now showing how good they are. Next season they will be ready to go from game one."

Plus, "They've come here to play for me and are flying now. Don't disrupt them."

I've seen chairmen convinced by far less.

[TonyDomingos]

I've said before, while I see the cold hard reasoning behind selling Dion, it would be a huuuuuuge call for a manager already under pressure. A defining gamble.

It would indeed.

In the meantime we've had a bid rejected for Jonas Therkelsen, the nippy Norwegian midfielder-cum-forward who was recently attracting the attention of Bodo/Glimt. I mean, yeah...that'd do.

Would it the the manager's call if someone offered a relatively large amount of money? I could see it being his call if a bid was around our valuation of Dion (whatever that is; I've no idea). But if it was our valuation plus,say, 50%, then I imagine the board would want a say, particularly if there's a risk we need the money to offset lost ST sales further down the line.

[GhostoftheBok]

Would it the the manager's call if someone offered a relatively large amount of money?.

No idea how our board would view that kind of thing.

I imagine we'd sell any of our players if a huge offer came in. That's League One footy.

You've got a declining, depreciating asset and someone offers you big money? You take it.

[The_Gun]

I've said before, while I see the cold hard reasoning behind selling Dion, it would be a huuuuuuge call for a manager already under pressure. A defining gamble.

It would indeed.

In the meantime we've had a bid rejected for Jonas Therkelsen, the nippy Norwegian midfielder-cum-forward who was recently attracting the attention of Bodo/Glimt. I mean, yeah...that'd do.

Watching his YouTube highlights, he looks too similar to Randall for us to buy them both.

[TonyDomingos]

I've said before, while I see the cold hard reasoning behind selling Dion, it would be a huuuuuuge call for a manager already under pressure. A defining gamble.

It would indeed.

In the meantime we've had a bid rejected for Jonas Therkelsen, the nippy Norwegian midfielder-cum-forward who was recently attracting the attention of Bodo/Glimt. I mean, yeah...that'd do.

Watching his YouTube highlights, he looks too similar to Randall for us to buy them both.

Back up for when Randall gets injured?!

[GhostoftheBok]

Watching his YouTube highlights, he looks too similar to Randall for us to buy them both.

Randall is very much a midfielder. This season at least, our young Norwegian friend has very much been a forward. Prior to that, yeah, he was more of a #10.

It does look like Evatt might fancy rescuing his 3-4-3 idea, though. The lad plays right of a 3 for his current side in that same system.

For what it's worth, the Norwegians expect Therkelsen to leave. The suggestion is basically that the club higher-ups are holding out for what they can get, but openly admit he's off. That doesn't mean he's coming here, but they think he'll go somewhere.

Darmstadt and Bodo/Glimt looked at him previously, but seemingly both felt he was too raw (certainly the view in Germany a year ago). Quick, technical, but not ready. Not sure the view in Germany has changed enough for him to get a shot at B.2 level and he won't go lower there. He may come to League One.

He's probably the best "affordable" Norwegian around at the moment. Norway is no longer the source of cheap talent it used to be and their better youngsters are going for at least a few million. Their new (10-15 years) development system has dramatically improved the technical level of their kids and teams like Bodo/Glimt have benefitted. I can't say I know for sure, but the feeling in Germany was/is he'd cost in the region of half a million euros, plus clauses. That may have gone up, though, as he's kicked on this season.

I thought he did well against Tromso, despite the 2-0 loss. Got himself into decent positions and probably should have had a brace. Was also alright against Molde, but gave the ball away in dangerous areas. I've only seen him play one other 90 this season. He scored and probably should have had a hattrick.

One thing to note if you're watching highlights is that he plays in Norway, so many of the lads on the pitch are massive. When you watch the game he will look tiny. He's not, he's just surrounded by 6'4" centre backs.

Very surprised to see him linked to us today. I thought he'd probably end up at Glimt and then be snapped up by a serious club in a couple of years, if he could break into their European squad.

[Bijou Bob]

I can't see us signing both Randall and the Norwegian lad, but us flagging up interest in an alternative, might just temper Randall's agent's demands when it comes to personal terms? Such is the nature of negotiations these days I suspect.

The alternative is that he's seen as a replacement for Vic/ Dion, but I'd sooner see a holding forward come in to complement Collins and McAtee if that's the case.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The alternative is that he's seen as a replacement for Vic/ Dion, but I'd sooner see a holding forward come in to complement Collins and McAtee if that's the case.

Bob, you're not alone in thinking we could benefit from what used to be known as a target man. And it's far from unlike Evatt to have a bigger mon up top - Quigley at Barrow, but also Bod and Jerome, whatever their other benefits (specifically calmness and experience), were taller forwards that stood at least a chance of winning an aerial.

But has there been any inkling of us looking for such a specimen, of late? Who might we consider? And if it came down to an either-or, would the good people of T-W prefer someone who's good in the air or rapid along the ground? I think we've missed pace (whether described as real, genuine, searing, electric, lightning, blistering, frightening or electric) but if I were forced to choose, I think we might be more in need of someone likely to score with the top half of their body.... your thoughts?

[Worthy4England]

If someone had said this "project" was just about rolling lots of dice and hoping we get something that fits at one visit to the table, I might be ok with it. But this project wasn't that at all. When we were asked for patience, the dice rolling was the very antithesis of our current infallible plan. This is now approaching fcuked up gambling. It might pay off, who knows, but if anyone can explain to me why we bothered developing a 20 a goal a season striker (first we had since? Dunno? Ricketts?) and added a back-up that actually whilst we might point to faults still hit double figures only to not play 'em this year (injuries aside)? To then recruit and actually break it and go (quite a long way) backwards?

What happened to "it was a very near miss and just needs a tweak?" give him a bit more time, minor adjustment we scored 124 goals last year? All that jazz, did we miss something? We can rely on our scientific approach?

<---- Rolls dice = 1.

[Worthy4England]

[Bijou Bob]

Valid questions, all DSB. Given that IE has stated that he's not interested in goals that come from set pieces (The most insane thing I think I've ever heard a football manager utter) then I just can't see him signing a big unit anytime soon. The very fact that our centre backs contribute virtually nothing in goal scoring terms raises huge questions for me. At 6'5 and 6'6 ish Toal and the 50pence headed Santos should be getting 6 or 7 apiece every season from corners.

I suppose the other issue and the one that has me screaming abuse from the North Lower most games, is the fact that our free kicks in the opposition half almost never go forward and never go anywhere near the box. Likewise, our corners are incredibly poor, I reckon at least 1 in 3 either fails to miss the first man, or ends up back with our centre halves or keeper. We score so few goals from second balls in and around the box, it's appalling.

[GhostoftheBok]

I think we might be more in need of someone likely to score with the top half of their body.... your thoughts?

That would require us actually crossing the ball to that player.

We do have a #9 type on the books who scores from balls across the box. We just decided not to use his primary skillset. Whenever we did last season he put the ball in the net, but he spent most of his time outside the box. 2 fewer non-pen goals than Dion from 1/3 as many shots last season...any other manager gives him the freedom of the 18-yard-box and sends the ball at him as much as possible.

Still has the same strike rate this season in terms of shots and XG, just not getting any service of any kind.

If we sell Vic and replace him with a "proper #9" then we have got to give that new bloke the ball in the feckin' box.

You can love Vic or hate him, but any new centre forward has to be fed.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If someone had said this "project" was just about rolling lots of dice and hoping we get something that fits at one visit to the table, I might be ok with it. But this project wasn't that at all. When we were asked for patience, the dice rolling was the very antithesis of our current infallible plan. This is now approaching fcuked up gambling. It might pay off, who knows, but if anyone can explain to me why we bothered developing a 20 a goal a season striker (first we had since? Dunno? Ricketts?) and added a back-up that actually whilst we might point to faults still hit double figures only to not play 'em this year (injuries aside)? To then recruit and actually break it and go (quite a long way) backwards?

All football teams are in an almost constant state of flux; even the successful ones need new faces. Hugely achieving managers like Ferguson and Paisley used to recruit every summer almost as a point of principle, to stop momentum becoming inertia: Look how City have flolloped this year, hot on the heels of the one-trick-pony "bald fraud" conquering Europe with a huge striker and four centre-backs.

The key bit is in bold, though. A manager who changes a winning team and wins again is a rotating genius, keeping his troops fresh to conquer new arenas. A manager who changes a winning team and loses is a tinkerman – a phrase that will still follow Claudio Ranieri to his grave despite him leading the unlikeliest English top-flight title in many generations (how long since the last shock that big? Ipswich in 1962?). Fergie changed his XI every single game for something like five seasons, but it didn't matter if they kept winning.

Now multiply that from the single-game focus to the seasonal overview, and that's where we're at. Change in itself is not a bad thing; adaptation is how species survive. Evatt's evolution is currently looking dangerously like it's nearing a dead end.