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

[Prufrock]

He's fantastic for this level. Baffled me why he was ever dropped. Southwood is a brilliant number 2, at this level you aren't getting better, but he's nowhere near as good otherwise.

And distribution is a "nice to have" for a keeper. Shouldn't be why you pick a keeper unless they are otherwise very closely matched. It's not like Southwood is Ederson either.

Get him signed.

[jmjhb]

No-brainer for me. If we need 6-7 squad changes in the summer, then I'd rather a keeper not be one of them.

[irie Cee Bee]

Baxter is clearly the better keeper, but he has to learn to play better and quicker with his feet. He looks very awkward when attempting to pass the football.

[BWFC_Insane]

No-brainer for me. If we need 6-7 squad changes in the summer, then I'd rather a keeper not be one of them.

And realistically are we signing a better keeper than Baxter? I’d say no. Now we might sign one with better distribution sure - but maybe not as good elsewhere. But assuming a sensible deal can be agreed I’d be for it.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Schuey can tell/teach Baxter to hurry up at the right moments and distribute better. He's significantly better at the important goalkeeper attributes and as likeable as Southwood is, I don't think he's improving that much.

[The_Gun]

I wouldn’t disagree with the above, and was surprised when he was dropped. I think he’s good enough to be a number one in the Championship, however, his sloppiness/hesitancy on the ball was causing us problems earlier in the season. Perhaps that was a product of what Evatt was asking him to do, though.

[Mar]

Happy that Baxter wants to stay. Seems a decent sort. Were unlikely to get better and I do think a full season with him in net would see us promoted.

Southwoods decent and I get the impression that neither he nor Baxter are setting the world alight at the moment.

It would be nice for one of them to step up and make that spot their own.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Notable that in a very honest post-match interview, Baxter said it's "easier" to be a goalkeeper under Schumacher.

Also notable that Schumacher, also often honest but here perhaps as unguarded as he's been so far, said he'd studied the "data" and felt he needed a change (with a secondary explanation that Baxter hadn't had a chance yet, backing up the feeling that he's combining a promotion push with a squad audit).

I'm sure there's all manner of complicated datasets but the simple view is what we've been saying for a while - you don't often come away from a game remembering Southwood's saves. Ironically he probably made more memorable saves in Bristol than at any time during his run, and he has been improving in this department. It's very reductive but the numbers of goals conceded to shots on target have not been good during Southwood's run in the team:

• Cambridge 2 goals conceded from 2 shots on target
• Charlton 2 from 3
• Huddersfield 0 from 1
• Northampton 1 from 2
• Reading 1 from 2
• Crawley 3 from 4
• Shrewsbury 3 from 4
• Orient 1 from 2
• Wrexham 0 from 1
• Birmingham 1 from 5
• Burton 1 from 6
• Bristol Rovers 3 from 7

As I say it's reductive and not that simple (no accounting for worldies or poor defending) but it backs up the 'eye test' that Southwood doesn't make many saves. (For comparison, Baxter conceded 1 from 5 Stockport efforts on target.)

I like Baxter and I'd like him to stay. I've nothing against Southwood and I agree with Pru that he's as good a No.2 as you're likely to get in this division (well unless you have Birmingham budgets).

[TANGODANCER]

A good keeper who wants to be here and a decent back up one who is prepared to take second selection. Who are we, Real Madrid?. I'd say we were very lucky in this league.

[boltonboris]

Must say I'm surprised about Baxter. Was convinced he was off and that was the reason Southwood was being preferred. If he wants a new deal, get it done. That's fantastic news

[knobpolisher]

Interesting to read the excellent analysis by DSB above.
Whilst saves from shots on target doesn't tell the whole story it is nevertheless quite sobering to read those stats. Some of those shots were undoubtedly in the "almost a backpass " category and not some thunderous effort from 10 yards.
Trafford was perhaps the best shot stopping goalkeeper we have had from sometime and his big plus was he didn't make that many goalkeeping mistakes. An interesting comparison would be how many of Southwoods and Baxters concedes would the man on the Clapham omnibus expect them to make.
All in all if in a parallel universe if I was a bwfc defender I would prefer Baxter between the sticks.

[Prufrock]

No keeper is perfect but Baxter doesn't really make mistakes. He's not the biggest and doesn't save a huge number (but some) amazing saves, but there are very few he concedes I look at and think "ah he should have saved that". It's just his general consistency and predictability for me. He's your classic "not 10 out of 10 at anything, but 9 out of 10 at everything)" IMO. Even his distribution is fine for me (maybe more of a 7).

Tbf Southwood hasn't made any howlers I can remember either, he's just less of a consistent safe presence, and he's small for a keeper so plenty he just can't get to. Bax clearly the better keeper, but Southwood is decent for this level, and a perfect number 2 for us looking a getting out of this division and staying in the one above. Get Bax signed and that's keeper sorted for me .

[irie Cee Bee]

One thing we can all agree to is that we have 2 good goalkeepers for this level. We were told that was one of problems why we never got promoted last season (poor Coleman). So now that we fixed that, why do we keep shipping the amount of goals we do?

[irie Cee Bee]

One thing we can all agree to is that we have 2 good goalkeepers for this level. We were told that was one of problems why we never got promoted last season (poor Coleman). So now that we fixed that, why do we keep shipping the amount of goals we do?

Let me ask the question in a different way since this is a transfer window thread. Which one of our central defender(s) would any of the current top 6 sides in L1 want for themselves as a starter in their team?

[irie Cee Bee]

One thing we can all agree to is that we have 2 good goalkeepers for this level. We were told that was one of problems why we never got promoted last season (poor Coleman). So now that we fixed that, why do we keep shipping the amount of goals we do?

Let me ask the question in a different way since this is a transfer window thread. Which one of our central defender(s) would any of the current top 6 sides in L1 want for themselves as a starter in their team?

So for me, having thought about it, Santos is our best defender, a victim of Evatt's failed system. I suspect he has lost his appetite for Bolton and will not stay. Jones cannot stay either based on performances, so Schuey has room to sign 2 central defenders for next season who will be better than what he currently have.

So far therefore, I reckon we need 2 x #9's, no goalkeeper assuming Baxter stays and 2 x CHs. As my boredom this week continues because we have no game, as I kill time, my next focus will perhaps be on fullbacks/Wing Backs.

[The_Gun]

One thing we can all agree to is that we have 2 good goalkeepers for this level. We were told that was one of problems why we never got promoted last season (poor Coleman). So now that we fixed that, why do we keep shipping the amount of goals we do?

Let me ask the question in a different way since this is a transfer window thread. Which one of our central defender(s) would any of the current top 6 sides in L1 want for themselves as a starter in their team?

I was at Charlton on Saturday and they have two solid centre backs in Jones and Gillesphey, neither of whom I think they’d be in a rush to swap. However, as individuals I don’t think they’re any better than Toal, Forrester, Santos or Johnston. Forino could well prove himself to be at their level, and only Jones would be a clear downgrade if we’re counting him as a centre back.

What stood out about Charlton relative to us was how organised they are. They’re not an adventurous team by any means, but they have a good system and their players all know what they’re meant to be doing. Notably they also don’t play with a midfield ‘destroyer’ or big centre forwards.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

One thing we can all agree to is that we have 2 good goalkeepers for this level. We were told that was one of problems why we never got promoted last season (poor Coleman). So now that we fixed that, why do we keep shipping the amount of goals we do?

Let me ask the question in a different way since this is a transfer window thread. Which one of our central defender(s) would any of the current top 6 sides in L1 want for themselves as a starter in their team?

So for me, having thought about it, Santos is our best defender, a victim of Evatt's failed system. I suspect he has lost his appetite for Bolton and will not stay. Jones cannot stay either based on performances, so Schuey has room to sign 2 central defenders for next season who will be better than what he currently have.

So far therefore, I reckon we need 2 x #9's, no goalkeeper assuming Baxter stays and 2 x CHs. As my boredom this week continues because we have no game, as I kill time, my next focus will perhaps be on fullbacks/Wing Backs.

Interested to read it ICB, could be a good mini-series.

My ha'porth for your "who'd want our CBs?" question:

• I think most L1 managers would fancy trying to get a tune out of Santos.
• Toal is a good defender at this level - physical but comfortable with the ball at his feet (well, his right foot).
• Johnston lacks height but not battle and is also a good ball-player. Left-footedness increases his value too.
• Forrester is a good defending defender. Not the biggest though, which might reduce his desirability.
• Forino - I suspect a few would be scared off by his absence record (this season hasn't helped).
• Jones - a solid yet flexible L1 pro but not really a centre-back, especially in a back four.

And the current top six:
• Birmingham, with more money than God, would have higher targets.
• Wrexham - Parky might like Toal and possibly Santos in his squad, although he might not like the "spare man at corners" thing.
• Wycombe - would be delighted to hire Santos and IMO happy with Toal, Forrester and Johnston. They offered Forino a contract which he turned down to join us.
• Stockport - Santos, Toal, Johnston (they often play a back five), maybe Forino and Forrester.
• Charlton - Santos, Toal, maybe Forino and Forrester. Not sure about Johnston as since December they've switched from a back five
• Huddersfield - might depend on next boss (Iles makes a case it could be Evatt...) but I'd guess Santos, Toal and Forrester would interest them.

Course it depends how you mean "would they want" - if we're talking transfer fees, it's a different convo. The above is for their squad rather than their team...

[Prufrock]

We're at the point now where even our worst players individually are all L1 starters and most of the players are top 6 starters. It's a few additions needed. What and where depend on what the manager wants to do, but there's a solid L1 floor to whatever approach we want to take. It's a good gig to get.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

We're at the point now where even our worst players individually are all L1 starters and most of the players are top 6 starters. It's a few additions needed. What and where depend on what the manager wants to do, but there's a solid L1 floor to whatever approach we want to take. It's a good gig to get.

Yeah. Which only makes it sadder that Evatt underachieved for so long with a very usable squad, but hey-ho, on we go.

Very intrigued to see who Schumacher adds over summer. Up front, Niall Ennis seems a fair shout - he'll be in the last year of his Stoke contract so they'll be happy to literally cut their losses - but I expect we'll also see some sort of 'unit' arrive too. Unless he thinks he can get a tune out of Big Dan

[Armchair Wanderer]

Would it be fair to say, not the biggest, angriest team in the league, and not stuffed full of leaders? Is that fair? As individuals, all great for L1, but as a unit there could be a slightly better mix, maybe. A question more than a statement.

I think someone mentioned recently about certain players doing well to get picked for their countries, then maybe not playing as well so as not to get injured before internationals. I have no idea if that's true or not, but if it is that sounds like a problem to me. It would explain the two losses just before the international break, although to be clear, I have no idea.

Plenty for the new management team to get stuck into.