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

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Glad I'm playing a game myself tonight

Oh, look at Mr "I have functional knee ligaments"

Yeah, since the fourth bout of Covid I can't do more than one forward-and-back run without falling to the floor, and the back's still not what it was before the slipped disc, but I have no knee-based complaints

Game's 9-10pm so I will be madly scrambling for the phone when I get back to the car, expecting a panoply of star-studded signings but destined to only have Iles fending questions about biscuits

[truewhite15]

On the subject of nicknames - how about "Schumi"? Worked for the 7x F1 champ for years...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yon six-foot defensive midfielder I mentioned at Hull? Looks like he's going somewhere in our division. No indication it's us, but people are on the move.
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Still no indication we're interested, but still nowt else to talk about. (He's a defensive midfielder, not a defender.)

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

On the subject of nicknames - how about "Schumi"? Worked for the 7x F1 champ for years...

Sounds a bit continental to me. Hobes won't be happy

[GhostoftheBok]

Still no indication we're interested, but still nowt else to talk about. (He's a defensive midfielder, not a defender.)

Think their local papers now have him going to Wycombe.

[jmjhb]

Still not heard anything. Have been busy today though.

[BWFC_Insane]

I can anticipate a lot of angst among Bolton fans about this window. And I have significant sympathy with that. But equally Evatt went late. Schuey came in. Which is the most important business we could do. And we aren’t going to do the rebuild (whatever scale you think that is needed) in the last two days of the window in January.

I do think it’s probably guaranteeing we are just bit parts this season. You never know what can happen with a new manager. But the timing always felt like it was see what you can do with what’s available.

The summer I think will need significant changes and a fair few will need to be on their way. Including former first team options.

[brommers95]

I assume getting a signing* in today depends on whether this Randell Williams move to Orient goes ahead due to us being at the 22 player squad limit.

*An over-21 outfielder at least.

Personally I’d like a defensive midfielder in to make us more secure in defensive transitions and allow us to control the game more. I won’t cry if that’s our lot though as I feel we’ve got enough quality in the squad already to get into the playoffs, especially given how weak the league is this season.

[Bertie Wooster]

"We'll go with what we've got"

[The_Gun]

"We'll go with what we've got"

Had to be the most likely outcome before the start of the day.

No issues with that from me.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Still no indication we're interested, but still nowt else to talk about. (He's a defensive midfielder, not a defender.)

Think their local papers now have him going to Wycombe.

Xavier Simons to Wycombe confirmed, at least by Pete O'Rourke.

[Worthy4England]

I assume getting a signing* in today depends on whether this Randell Williams move to Orient goes ahead due to us being at the 22 player squad limit.

*An over-21 outfielder at least.

Personally I’d like a defensive midfielder in to make us more secure in defensive transitions and allow us to control the game more. I won’t cry if that’s our lot though as I feel we’ve got enough quality in the squad already to get into the playoffs, especially given how weak the league is this season.

League is weaker than last season outside of the automatics, a long way off last seasons pace. Brum have 63 points from 27, Pompey were top this time last year on same points, but played 4 games more. Wycombe are on the same points as Derby were on in second, but 1 game fewer.

Three to six deffo lower than last year, Wrexham are 4 points behind where we were in third, Stockport probably 6, Hudds probably 3 adrift and 6-10 on 44 points would have been below 9th place. A play-off miss, given we were targeting autos, would be a pretty huge cock-up.

And yes to a proper DM, if we've given up on Thommo, Matete and Sheehan not being that person!

[BWFC_Insane]

If I’m being honest I think the squad as it stands will struggle to make the top 6. I think a lot would have to go our way to finish in there. We miss too many critical components.

[Prufrock]

Not sure I see that unless we're expecting the manager to be not much better than the last guy. Missing top 6 would not be great for me. It can happen, new manager, might take some time to bed in etc but I'm expecting us to make it. From there who knows, free hit.

[BWFC_Insane]

Not sure I see that unless we're expecting the manager to be not much better than the last guy. Missing top 6 would not be great for me. It can happen, new manager, might take some time to bed in etc but I'm expecting us to make it. From there who knows, free hit.

I don’t think in all honesty we are well balanced. And Collins has to maintain fitness and form because without him we have very little goal threat. Hope I’m wrong but I think there are 7 or 8 better sides than us without some additions.

[Bertie Wooster]

Not sure I see that unless we're expecting the manager to be not much better than the last guy. Missing top 6 would not be great for me. It can happen, new manager, might take some time to bed in etc but I'm expecting us to make it. From there who knows, free hit.

I don’t think in all honesty we are well balanced. And Collins has to maintain fitness and form because without him we have very little goal threat. Hope I’m wrong but I think there are 7 or 8 better sides than us without some additions.

Excellent summary, this is exactly how I see it....however there's time yet !

[sonicthewhite]

Iles saying there's rumours circulating from North of the border about interest in Scott Arfield.

[Bijou Bob]

If Arfield is the answer, then what’s the question? Shipping him out frees up a squad place, although Marc Iles seems to think there will be no incomings tonight. Does the European window shut the same time or is there another day or so and could it be that we’d be looking at free agents later this week? I’m disappointed we haven’t poached any young talent from north west Prem clubs.

[Prufrock]

The window is for the buying club not selling so any ins have to be today unless they're a free agent by midnight tonight.

[BWFC_Insane]

If Arfield is the answer, then what’s the question? Shipping him out frees up a squad place, although Marc Iles seems to think there will be no incomings tonight. Does the European window shut the same time or is there another day or so and could it be that we’d be looking at free agents later this week? I’m disappointed we haven’t poached any young talent from north west Prem clubs.

Window shuts for us today so he frees only after but Iles has said we aren’t looking at frees. I think there is an undercurrent of suggestion that we’ve got no money left. Which is not surprising.