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

[TonyDomingos]

On another note, I had the good fortune of meeting our chairwoman today.

Are you sure? Was it not just Evatt in a wig?

Ian's job is so safe I was wondering if he'd just gone full Norman Bates and replaced her.

So, the training ground. Does it need new showers?

[GhostoftheBok]

So, the training ground. Does it need new showers?

The plumbers came over to fix them but there was a hitch, cock.

[TonyDomingos]

So, the training ground. Does it need new showers?

The plumbers came over to fix them but there was a hitch, cock.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If you just heard a loud clunk, it was Ghost's head hitting his desk.
.

[GhostoftheBok]

If you just heard a loud clunk, it was Ghost's head hitting his desk.

If you'll excuse me I have to go and cut the word "negligence" out of various newspaper headlines and find Chris Markham's address.

[TANGODANCER]

Evatt reckons Dion Charles needs to recover his sparkle. Not much chance really as a fifteen minute substitute. Start him up front with Collins occasionally..

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If you just heard a loud clunk, it was Ghost's head hitting his desk.

If you'll excuse me I have to go and cut the word "negligence" out of various newspaper headlines and find Chris Markham's address.

Maaaaaybe Wiggin's interest prompts us to go for him. Maybe we have a higher target. It'll come out in the wash, I guess.

[GhostoftheBok]

Maaaaaybe Wiggin's interest prompts us to go for him. Maybe we have a higher target. It'll come out in the wash, I guess.

To be serious for a minute, as much as I hate that, it may just be that we've assessed his injury record and decided we've taken enough risks in that area.

He plays over 30 games every season, but he does suffer from foot issues.

[officer_dibble]

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/exclu ... n-charles/

Wrexham/Derby looking at Charles. Seems plausible.

[Harry Genshaw]

Looked. Saw his miss Saturday. Now looking elsewhere

[boltonboris]

Evatt's done the "at the moment he's there player so I can't talk about him" whilst talking about the young Norwegian lad who presumably fits the mould of being another small yet technically talented, attacking midfielder who lacks physicality.

To be fair, he seems like a good un, but again, is he what we need, rather than want?

[Bijou Bob]

I've read elsewhere the analogy used by Shankly, who said (I'm paraphrasing here) "Building a team to win a championship is like pulling together a team to move a piano - you need 8 or 9 to lift and carry the piano and one or two to play it when you get there"

Looking at our squad and Evatt's recruitment, we have:

Wing backs - Schon is arguably a piano carrier, the rest are piano players
Centre backs - Santos and GJ on form, are piano carriers, as is Toal
Midfield - Not a single removals man between them
Forwards - You could make a case for McAtee, played as a centre forward, as being a lifter and carrier, likewise Dion and possibly even Vic, if we played to his strengths. Collins is most definitely a man for the keyboards.

Contrast that with our last winning promotion side from this division - We had two full backs and two centre halves who were lifters and carriers (I don't think anyone would call Wheats a delicate or gifted playmaker). Even our luxury player Ameobi, learned quickly that he had to put a foot in and cover his full back. Pratley, Vela, Spearing and Karacan were all arguably lifters and carriers. Madine was a carrier as was ALF, so we had room for the Postie to be an ivory tinkler.

Looking at the teams above us - they all have a better mix than we currently do. Mansfield, Stockport, Wrexham, Charlton all have players capable of mixing it, in fact 3 of them arguably have very few if any technical players that aren't loans.

Ludonautics need new metrics for their software. Might I suggest;

Minimum 6'0
Played a minimum of 35 matches in 2 out of the last 3 seasons
Yellows and the odd red, not a problem
Despised by opposition fans
Wears shin pads because he needs to

[Worthy4England]

New job for Bob!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

This lad was linked with us, but as he's been described as an "all-rounder" he may be too likely to go run full pelt into a wall
.

.
NB: wears shinpads under rolled-up socks
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[GhostoftheBok]

6' tall hard-tackling defensive midfielder who can play, anyone?

[Bertie Wooster]

He can't even get into Charlton's team.

[officer_dibble]

6' tall hard-tackling defensive midfielder who can play, anyone?

Sounds sensible!

[GhostoftheBok]

He can't even get into Charlton's team.

This being a Bolton signing, there's of course an injury angle. He got done in their Shrews game and had to have an operation on his ankle.

Went straight into the team when fit, then had a falling out with Jones - so brownie points there.

[Bertie Wooster]

He can't even get into Charlton's team.

This being a Bolton signing, there's of course an injury angle. He got done in their Shrews game and had to have an operation on his ankle.

Went straight into the team when fit, then had a falling out with Jones - so brownie points there.

Moving the needle I see.

[GhostoftheBok]

Moving the needle I see.

He's a genuinely good player.

I've no clue what a proper assessment would make of his injury.

What he is is a 6' tackler who covers the entire pitch.