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

[The_Gun]

Whether its a big physical No9 or a big physical non nonsense CB - if we are to sign anyone else in this window it needs to be one of these. IMO we are crying out for physicality & steeliness in the side to complement the Randall types.

We have three big, physical centre backs, so I’m confused as to why anyone would think that’s a requirement.

I also don’t see the number 9 position as an area of weakness at all. We’ve got four lads in the building who will score plenty if given good service, and it’s the latter part that’s been missing for me.

[boltonboris]

We're looking at a £2.5m - £3m investment on this player, which is pretty eye watering for us. Especially as we've already spent money on players in that position that the manager can't get a tune out of..

The more I think about it, the less it makes sense. Apparently we're struggling for training facilities and it needs significant investment. £300k for a new roof on the dome. At least 1 new pitch and the kitchen / canteen area isn't fit for purpose and the players are frequenting the likes of Five Guys for a cheese burger and fries after training.

I know that for as long as time itself, clubs have diverted every available penny to the playing staff, but how do we grow the club, academy, B Team and recruit young players when there is absolutely no pathway into the first team and seemingly no appetite to invest outside of the current 23 man squad?

It all just seems incredibly short sighted and more than a little desperate. If this player doesn't work out and quickly, Evatt should be sacked.

[boltonboris]

What could £2-£3m have done for the club in the long term, with coaching staff, equipment, facilities. ?

[GhostoftheBok]

We have three big, physical centre backs, so I’m confused as to why anyone would think that’s a requirement.

The issue we have is that they don't stay fit.

Rico is the fittest and he regularly plays injured with injections to manage the pain (apparently he's soft and lacks commitment, though).

We could use a big, strong, fast defender who isn't falling to bits.

[The_Gun]

Especially as we've already spent money on players in that position that the manager can't get a tune out of..

Lolos is the only one I can think that we’ve bought in that position, and he looks promising enough as a back up.

[officer_dibble]

The more I think about it, the less it makes sense. Apparently we're struggling for training facilities and it needs significant investment. £300k for a new roof on the dome. At least 1 new pitch and the kitchen / canteen area isn't fit for purpose and the players are frequenting the likes of Five Guys for a cheese burger and fries after training.

Absolutely astonishing if this is true - and not a dig at you at all BB, just if true, we’ve gone from reaping the benefits of controlling diets and every aspect of training to the opposite. And in this day and age it might cost you the 5% we lack in matches against your wigans of the world. And I agree - that’s where we need to spend on the future not another player like we’ve had before.

[GhostoftheBok]

We're looking at a £2.5m - £3m investment on this player

Other clubs in L1 are working on the basis that this cost us ~£2m over 4 financial years, with a bit more if we get promoted.

If you add up any player's total contractual term and fees into a single figure it will be a lot.

[boltonboris]

We're looking at a £2.5m - £3m investment on this player

Other clubs in L1 are working on the basis that this cost us ~£2m over 4 financial years, with a bit more if we get promoted.

If you add up any player's total contractual term and fees into a single figure it will be a lot.

So you reckon we're paying him around £600k over 3.5 years? I'd wager it's more like £1.3m and that's probably being conservative

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I think we’ll keep Lolos on the bench. Reckon he’s done enough, for Evatt at least, with his few goals to stay.

Yeah I reckon he stays around, for a few reasons.

Firstly, the coaching staff will be trying to #download #content.
Secondly, he offers cover at 9, 10 and (attacking) 8. Imperfectly, like, but that's useful utility. I can see him adding fresh impetus off the bench - and he should be fine with being sub.

So mendes Gomes goes then? Which is a shame for me as he is the one who gives us the ability to change formations. Not that Evatt is bothered by that I suppose!!

CMG's been on the bench for the last five games and only used for a total of 46 minutes therein, so clearly Evatt fancies Lolos more (right now). As for changing formation, as you say that ain't happening much within games. Pity, but whatevs.

Even so, I think Ghost might be right and we keep CMG around - deregistering Demps. Whether the maths change if we sign anyone else, i dunno - but surely if we get a centre-back, we don't shunt CMG to make space - we shunt a centre-back.

I also don’t see the number 9 position as an area of weakness at all. We’ve got four lads in the building who will score plenty if given good service, and it’s the latter part that’s been missing for me.

Aye - but the economics are that we might have to sell one of them to fund the incomers. Of course, replacement strikers don't come cheap - but maybe, if we've got enough 8s and 10s, we can play McAtee and Lolos further up, and perhaps pick up a promising kid on loan. It's not perfect, but what is?

[boltonboris]

The more I think about it, the less it makes sense. Apparently we're struggling for training facilities and it needs significant investment. £300k for a new roof on the dome. At least 1 new pitch and the kitchen / canteen area isn't fit for purpose and the players are frequenting the likes of Five Guys for a cheese burger and fries after training.

Absolutely astonishing if this is true - and not a dig at you at all BB, just if true, we’ve gone from reaping the benefits of controlling diets and every aspect of training to the opposite. And in this day and age it might cost you the 5% we lack in matches against your wigans of the world. And I agree - that’s where we need to spend on the future not another player like we’ve had before.

I was told that the players have not been able to get on the grass this week due to the weather - Yesterday was their day-off naturally, but if it's true, it is a concern that when we finally get a mid-week fixture break, we can't use that time as productively as we'd need/like

I know other teams in our division will face the same issues, but they're not committing such sums on players at the expense of infrastructure. JMJHB will know more, but he's not allowed fer't say owt

[boltonboris]

We're looking at a £2.5m - £3m investment on this player

Other clubs in L1 are working on the basis that this cost us ~£2m over 4 financial years, with a bit more if we get promoted.

If you add up any player's total contractual term and fees into a single figure it will be a lot.

What positions did he sign Mendes Gomez and McAtee to play?

[Worthy4England]

We're looking at a £2.5m - £3m investment on this player

Other clubs in L1 are working on the basis that this cost us ~£2m over 4 financial years, with a bit more if we get promoted.

If you add up any player's total contractual term and fees into a single figure it will be a lot.

What positions did he sign Mendes Gomez and McAtee to play?

Not an unreasonable question!

[The_Gun]

We're looking at a £2.5m - £3m investment on this player

Other clubs in L1 are working on the basis that this cost us ~£2m over 4 financial years, with a bit more if we get promoted.

If you add up any player's total contractual term and fees into a single figure it will be a lot.

What positions did he sign Mendes Gomez and McAtee to play?

Not an unreasonable question!

You’d have to ask Evatt for the answer to that one, but neither have the attributes of Randall, who looks like the Maghoma replacement we’ve been missing.

[GhostoftheBok]

So you reckon we're paying him around £600k over 3.5 years? I'd wager it's more like £1.3m and that's probably being conservative

No. The assumption being made on his wages is that we are paying the same as his new contract, which was around £5k a week.

So around £900k in wages. Posh are guaranteed £800k in fees. So when you account for bonuses you probably get to around £2m.

If we go up it'll be a bit more.

As to where were the other players signed to play. CMG has been injured. McAtee was signed to play in a 3, but is now a striker in a 2.

[GhostoftheBok]

Absolutely astonishing if this is true - and not a dig at you at all BB, just if true, we’ve gone from reaping the benefits of controlling diets and every aspect of training to the opposite. And in this day and age it might cost you the 5% we lack in matches against your wigans of the world. And I agree - that’s where we need to spend on the future not another player like we’ve had before.

There's definitely some truth to the idea that they frequent the Middlebrook food places.

Evatt and Rico love a souvlaki, but to hear tell it's only every so often.

[GhostoftheBok]

Dempsey out for the season, as expected.

So there's your squad place for Randall freed up.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I was told that the players have not been able to get on the grass this week due to the weather - Yesterday was their day-off naturally, but if it's true, it is a concern that when we finally get a mid-week fixture break, we can't use that time as productively as we'd need/like

Just on this: Evatt:

“We have trained fully this week, obviously we have had to train at the stadium today because of the underfoot conditions at Lostock. But that is the benefit of having undersoil heating so match prep wasn’t affected. The boys trained really well and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.”

[jmjhb]

I couldn't see the other side of the pitch today

[GhostoftheBok]

I couldn't see the other side of the pitch today

Yeah, the fog looked pretty bad there today. Hopefully everyone gets home safely. Fog and ice not an ideal combination.

[boltonboris]

I was told that the players have not been able to get on the grass this week due to the weather - Yesterday was their day-off naturally, but if it's true, it is a concern that when we finally get a mid-week fixture break, we can't use that time as productively as we'd need/like

Just on this: Evatt:

“We have trained fully this week, obviously we have had to train at the stadium today because of the underfoot conditions at Lostock. But that is the benefit of having undersoil heating so match prep wasn’t affected. The boys trained really well and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.”

That's a relief. So the advice must have been that they weren't able to train at the training ground (again) - The facilities at that training ground really do need upgrading. It will hold us back