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

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Murphy doesn't need to be registered. A senior defender would need space making for him and it may be that none of the 6 centre backs are interested in moving this window.

Oh for sure, I get all that - and that's why I'm not against a young loanee. We need fresh blood and if it's one-ion, one-out - well as you say it's difficult to do the outs on any of them.
• Jones - contact up in summer, so he can talk to foreign teams and might want to keep his powder dry
• Santos - contract up in summer, so we wouldn't get much even if Evatt wanted to sell, which he won't
• Forrester - 1.5yrs left, so if we loan him we have to accept he's then only 6 months from the same pre-contract situation as Geth's in now
• Johnston - 1.5yrs left, worrying injury record, needs fewer minutes not more
• Forino - 2.5yr contract, sicknote, currently injured, frankly who'd have him that he'd go to? Maaaaybe a L2 club?
• Toal - 2.5yr contract, we wouldn't want to sell except for big £ which won't happen until he's back fit

Out of those I'd say Gethin is the most likely to go, and as we saw with Iredale things can happen fairly quickly.

[GhostoftheBok]

Out of those I'd say Gethin is the most likely to go, and as we saw with Iredale things can happen fairly quickly.

I'd support him going, with thanks for his service to the club.

If we were just lacking in one part of the back three I'd be fine with Murphy as a patch, but we're not. None of them are fully right, not even Forrester - who is the fittest right now.

We can't just keep spending and spending and it's Evatt's job to get results with what he has, but asking a 20-year-old to fix a defence that's shipped 39 in 25 games is mildly unreasonable.

Fully fit, Toal - Rico - Murphy is three big, strong lads who can all run. That's not the reality, though. It's a kid and two senior lads who can't sprint.

[jmjhb]

Murphy to be announced at 3pm

[GhostoftheBok]

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

He’s an international footballer who will give us flexibility, who can play centre-back, wing-back or full-back with an eye on us having the option to potentially change shape in the future.

[jmjhb]

Literally just bumped into him whilst posting on here. He's now out for the season

[GhostoftheBok]

Literally just bumped into him whilst posting on here. He's now out for the season

No. That's far too plausible to joke about

[BWFC_Insane]

He’s an international footballer who will give us flexibility, who can play centre-back, wing-back or full-back with an eye on us having the option to potentially change shape in the future.

Sorry I know nothing about the lad but I doubt there are more than one or two footballers in the world who can genuinely play wing back and centre back well and adequately possess the required characteristics.

So either it means - he’s a centre back who will be bullied and can’t defend. Or it means he’s can stand out on the line as a wing back ala Iredale but is never one in a million years. Or most likely he’s a left back but we don’t play that system….

[sonicthewhite]

He’s an international footballer who will give us flexibility, who can play centre-back, wing-back or full-back with an eye on us having the option to potentially change shape in the future.

Sorry I know nothing about the lad but I doubt there are more than one or two footballers in the world who can genuinely play wing back and centre back well and adequately possess the required characteristics.

So either it means - he’s a centre back who will be bullied and can’t defend. Or it means he’s can stand out on the line as a wing back ala Iredale but is never one in a million years. Or most likely he’s a left back but we don’t play that system….

How about let's give the lad a chance first and see where he plays before we condemn him.

[GhostoftheBok]

How about let's give the lad a chance first and see where he plays before we condemn him.

He's shit until proven otherwise. Always the same story.

[BWFC_Insane]

He’s an international footballer who will give us flexibility, who can play centre-back, wing-back or full-back with an eye on us having the option to potentially change shape in the future.

Sorry I know nothing about the lad but I doubt there are more than one or two footballers in the world who can genuinely play wing back and centre back well and adequately possess the required characteristics.

So either it means - he’s a centre back who will be bullied and can’t defend. Or it means he’s can stand out on the line as a wing back ala Iredale but is never one in a million years. Or most likely he’s a left back but we don’t play that system….

How about let's give the lad a chance first and see where he plays before we condemn him.

I mean - I’m doing the opposite of condemning the player.

Versatility is good but I’m doubting many if any at the level we are can be genuine wing backs and centre backs. Versatile players can cover a number of roles I just don’t believe those two are mutually compatible - especially at this level. Cogley can play both but I’d question whether he’s close to good enough as a wing back for example.

[Mar]

Whether he's good or bad for us remains to be seen.

At least we've got quota of Irish lads back up.

[Mar]

He’s an international footballer who will give us flexibility, who can play centre-back, wing-back or full-back with an eye on us having the option to potentially change shape in the future.

Sorry I know nothing about the lad but I doubt there are more than one or two footballers in the world who can genuinely play wing back and centre back well and adequately possess the required characteristics.

So either it means - he’s a centre back who will be bullied and can’t defend. Or it means he’s can stand out on the line as a wing back ala Iredale but is never one in a million years. Or most likely he’s a left back but we don’t play that system….

How about let's give the lad a chance first and see where he plays before we condemn him.

I mean - I’m doing the opposite of condemning the player.

Versatility is good but I’m doubting many if any at the level we are can be genuine wing backs and centre backs. Versatile players can cover a number of roles I just don’t believe those two are mutually compatible - especially at this level. Cogley can play both but I’d question whether he’s close to good enough as a wing back for example.

Looks like condemnation to me.

So either it means - he’s a centre back who will be bullied and can’t defend. <--- I read that as: he's a bad CB as he'll be bullied
Or it means he’s can stand out on the line as a wing back ala Iredale but is never one in a million years. <-- I read this as: he's a crap winger as he's not capable

Let's see how he gets on, it's a relatively low bar at the minute as all he'd have to do is perform better than our current lot.

I suspect George Johnston or Santos may make way to get them out of the firing line for a game or two.

[TonyDomingos]

FWIW, this what the Newcastle Chronicle had to say about him 18 months ago (when reviewing Newcastle's emerging young talent):

Alex Murphy
Newcastle's switch to a front-foot style under Eddie Howe demands a lot from the centre-backs in possession without sacrificing their defensive qualities. It is still early days and plenty of hurdles still to navigate, but Murphy has shown signs he could fit the mould of what's now required with the Magpies.

The Irish defender hit the ground running and captained the under-21s on several occasions before making his senior Newcastle debut in the mid-season friendly win over Al-Hilal. The 19-year-old has proven he has composure in possession and a surprising recovery speed. The obvious test now is a loan move next term, ideally with an EFL outfit.

[BWFC_Insane]

He’s an international footballer who will give us flexibility, who can play centre-back, wing-back or full-back with an eye on us having the option to potentially change shape in the future.

Sorry I know nothing about the lad but I doubt there are more than one or two footballers in the world who can genuinely play wing back and centre back well and adequately possess the required characteristics.

So either it means - he’s a centre back who will be bullied and can’t defend. Or it means he’s can stand out on the line as a wing back ala Iredale but is never one in a million years. Or most likely he’s a left back but we don’t play that system….

How about let's give the lad a chance first and see where he plays before we condemn him.

I mean - I’m doing the opposite of condemning the player.

Versatility is good but I’m doubting many if any at the level we are can be genuine wing backs and centre backs. Versatile players can cover a number of roles I just don’t believe those two are mutually compatible - especially at this level. Cogley can play both but I’d question whether he’s close to good enough as a wing back for example.

Looks like condemnation to me.

So either it means - he’s a centre back who will be bullied and can’t defend. <--- I read that as: he's a bad CB as he'll be bullied
Or it means he’s can stand out on the line as a wing back ala Iredale but is never one in a million years. <-- I read this as: he's a crap winger as he's not capable

Let's see how he gets on, it's a relatively low bar at the minute as all he'd have to do is perform better than our current lot.

I suspect George Johnston or Santos may make way to get them out of the firing line for a game or two.

Yes because you can’t be both things. Would santos or Johnstone be good wing backs? Would Tutu do well at centre half? Tutu is the only genuine wing back we’ve got. He sure isn’t ever a centre back. And Santos or Johnno aren’t wing backs.

It simply means that versatility rarely works across those two roles especially for us. I could buy he can play left back or left centre back. I just don’t buy someone being a wing back or a centre half without there being some significant compromises in one or both the roles.

[GhostoftheBok]

I suspect George Johnston or Santos may make way to get them out of the firing line for a game or two.

That seems like a reasonable bet to make. Rico has a load of fatigue-related issues. Murphy plays Johnston's position in a back three.

[TonyDomingos]

I think the claim that he can play as a wing back might be an error. The BN says he's a centre half who can play as a left back and Eddie Howe described him as those things too. Neither mentioned him being a wing back.

[GhostoftheBok]

Neither mentioned him being a wing back.

He's played as a wingback at youth level and in a couple of senior games in Ireland.

I don't think Ian's suggesting that's his role for us, just that he could "do a job" there is he had to.

[TonyDomingos]

I think the claim that he can play as a wing back might be an error. The BN says he's a centre half who can play as a left back and Eddie Howe described him as those things too. Neither mentioned him being a wing back.

Scrap that - it's Evatt who's said he's also a wing back!

[TonyDomingos]

Neither mentioned him being a wing back.

He's played as a wingback at youth level and in a couple of senior games in Ireland.

I don't think Ian's suggesting that's his role for us, just that he could "do a job" there is he had to.

Thanks for clarifying. And can he play up front or is he a better keeper?