Loan Watch 24/25

[BWFC_Insane]

There's a pretty intriguing convo about Morley as to whether he'd actually want to come back! I know he's our player etc. but I doubt we'd press-gang him back.

Iles made the fair point that he’s more of a 6 than an 8, which is currently more of a shortfall. But I would definitely get Azzer back. Madness not to, really, if he’s helping an unexpected rival close off the only available auto slot given Moneybags Birmingham are already Champions Elect (imagine who they’ll sign in Jan if they’re not top…)

Big Dan can stay out on loan though. If we are defaulting to 352 (with the option of 343 if it suits) then we don’t need another attacker.

Problem we have is Morley is a relatively static number 6 who can pass the ball well. Doesn’t offer much off the ball.

Which is not unlike Sheehan. It’s a question then for me of who is better out of the two. And whether that either is the type that we really need given that what we lack in midfield is someone who does the job MJ Williams did. And have lacked that for a couple of seasons. A better player than MJ obviously but for me that is what we lack. Or a very mobile ratter but I have Matete as that.

[brommers95]

Max Conway is doing well for Crewe Alex, most recently providing the assist for a last minute equaliser against rivals Port Vale.

He’s now a mainstay of their team, having started 17 games for them in all competitions so far this season.

A Crewe supporting mate of mine says he’s getting better every game. However, according to said mate (who’s been right about these sorts of things before) Conway’s apparently been told by us that he's not getting offered a new deal at the end of the season and Crewe are in negotiations to sign him in Jan.

I can’t help feel rather disappointed as we’ve been so bad at bringing through youth in the past few years and it sounds like he deserves a shot in our first team at the very least.

It’s only a minor thing, but it only adds to my disillusionment with the club at the moment…

[irie Cee Bee]

I have no clue the current leadership knows what they are doing when it comes to signing players. It seems like being a "nice" guy is a very key criteria to signing players. Good role models. Players who won't give any trouble, can operate in a tippy tappy system, high percentage pass rates and not too young. Being a good role model is one thing, but can they play football instead of playing the numbers/statistic game? Nice blokes do not win football games. We need to sign some not so nice people also who can stare Evatt in the face when things are not going right and tell him the facts as they see it, without being afraid of being transferred out because they hurt his ego. We need some football warriors.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Conway’s apparently been told by us that he's not getting offered a new deal at the end of the season and Crewe are in negotiations to sign him in Jan.

That would be f*cking madness.

And with respect it’s not a “minor thing” to me. Producing players should be a major part of what we do. Maaaaaaybe just maybe we think he’s not all that good, and his sale value is peaking with a club who like him - but it feels very odd and, as you say, disillusioning.

[Worthy4England]

Conway’s apparently been told by us that he's not getting offered a new deal at the end of the season and Crewe are in negotiations to sign him in Jan.

That would be f*cking madness.

And with respect it’s not a “minor thing” to me. Producing players should be a major part of what we do. Maaaaaaybe just maybe we think he’s not all that good, and his sale value is peaking with a club who like him - but it feels very odd and, as you say, disillusioning.

That Markham interview I linked in the other thread DSB, talks about our approach (or otherwise) to the Academy so far...worth a listen mate.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

That Markham interview I linked in the other thread DSB, talks about our approach (or otherwise) to the Academy so far...worth a listen mate.

Will do. In short, is he saying we can’t be arsed? What’s the point of a B-team if this lad has shot straight past it and is being sold to the first bidder?

[Worthy4England]

That Markham interview I linked in the other thread DSB, talks about our approach (or otherwise) to the Academy so far...worth a listen mate.

Will do. In short, is he saying we can’t be arsed? What’s the point of a B-team if this lad has shot straight past it and is being sold to the first bidder?

Yes, with a "so far" rider...

[Worthy4England]

Maybe a bit unfair - it got deprioritized somewhat rather than "can't be arsed"...

[brommers95]

Conway’s apparently been told by us that he's not getting offered a new deal at the end of the season and Crewe are in negotiations to sign him in Jan.

That would be f*cking madness.

And with respect it’s not a “minor thing” to me. Producing players should be a major part of what we do. Maaaaaaybe just maybe we think he’s not all that good, and his sale value is peaking with a club who like him - but it feels very odd and, as you say, disillusioning.

Yes, agreed. My “minor thing” comment was specifically in relation to Conway leaving against a backdrop of what’s currently going on with the first team. But yes, the wider aspect of youth development is concerning as we appear to have a player who is playing well just 19 places below us in the pyramid and we supposedly can’t be arsed handing him another contract.

Maybe he’ll never be good enough to play in L1 but to not even give him a chance doesn’t sit right with me.

Anyway hopefully it’s all bollocks and he’ll be our starting LWB in January in an in-form Wanderers side led by Steven Schumacher…

[brommers95]

Further comment from my man in the know:

“He was excellent against the Vale. Even kissed the badge during the celebrations!

I was amazed when I heard you've apparently already decided to let him go. He looks above Lg2. You must have some wonderful wing backs already! He loves it at Crewe apparently so we're looking to get it done before we get blown out the water on wages in January.”

[BWFC_Insane]

Conway’s apparently been told by us that he's not getting offered a new deal at the end of the season and Crewe are in negotiations to sign him in Jan.

That would be f*cking madness.

And with respect it’s not a “minor thing” to me. Producing players should be a major part of what we do. Maaaaaaybe just maybe we think he’s not all that good, and his sale value is peaking with a club who like him - but it feels very odd and, as you say, disillusioning.

Agreed. I like the look of him. Even if he’s not ready for league one side - I’d prefer to bring him back and give him a chance. Heck if we are not going up as seems likely at least give some promising youngsters some game time.

[officer_dibble]

How sad. Randell Williams is out of contract this summer and we’d rather spend money to replace him than give Max a chance? Sack whoever isnmaking these unsustainable decisions before we end up with Anderson and Holdsworth back here.

[TANGODANCER]

Much is surely going to depend on where we're at league-wise surely when decision time comes? We need a fully fit squad to see our direction rather than putting the cart before the shire-horse. Success breeds success and players will only want to come, loan or otherwise, to a side that's going places. It's all a bit clear as mud right now. I agree the big question is who decides. Currently it's all a bit "Who cuts the barber's hair?"

[The_Gun]

Further comment from my man in the know:

“He was excellent against the Vale. Even kissed the badge during the celebrations!

I was amazed when I heard you've apparently already decided to let him go. He looks above Lg2. You must have some wonderful wing backs already! He loves it at Crewe apparently so we're looking to get it done before we get blown out the water on wages in January.”

I’m not saying your pal is definitely wrong, but this is just hearsay at the moment.

From Bolton’s perspective I would imagine we’d like Max to sign a new contract, because at present we’re not in a particularly strong position. With only six months to run on his deal, we’re going to get peanuts (£50k?) if we sell him to Crewe now. The player, of course, may not be inclined to sign a fresh contract with us if he can’t see a route to the first team.

[TANGODANCER]

I want to be wrong, but if most of our presently injured warriors are available at transfer time, I can't help feeling we'll play the "go with what we've got" song again.

Fully accepting the importance of our financial state, paying out for classy game changers based on keeping our same modus operandum just isn't the answer. Far better to invest in a couple of hard-case midfield types who will make us more competitive at League 1 football. If we can manage to scramble to the Championship, then a full new broom job will be needed. But that's one big "if" right now.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

We're fast-tracking Dubem Eze.

In September he was sent on a season-long loan to tier-6 Chorley, and has helped them chase promotion - they're currently fifth.

However, that loan has been cut short and he's now joined Halifax, who are fifth in the division above, the National League (which really is a national division, unlike the National League North that Chorley are in). With Barnet 11pts clear in the only automatic promotion slot and the next six places all qualifying for the play-offs, he should have a busy end to the season.

What's particularly impressive about this is that Eze - who we signed from Norwich last summer on a two-year contract with the option of a year's extension - still has two underage seasons left after this one, and he's already our second-highest (in terms of loanee club level) 'youth' player after Max Conway – even Luke Matheson's only at tier 6.

Let's hope he continues to progress at this rate, and let's hope that we continue to elevate youngsters to test their mettle - earlier this season we did a similar thing with Trevon Bryan, who's in Eze's year-group, by lifting him from tier 7 to tier 6, and Charlie Hayes-Green, a year older, from tier 8 to tier 7.

On a similar note, we've also in the past week loaned out young keeper Ellis Litherland to tier-7 Matlock Town - earlier this season he was at tier-8 Atherton Colls.

TL;DR: Keep an eye on Dubem Eze, perhaps our best hope outside Max Conway.

[TonyDomingos]

We're fast-tracking Dubem Eze.

In September he was sent on a season-long loan to tier-6 Chorley, and has helped them chase promotion - they're currently fifth.

However, that loan has been cut short and he's now joined Halifax, who are fifth in the division above, the National League (which really is a national division, unlike the National League North that Chorley are in). With Barnet 11pts clear in the only automatic promotion slot and the next six places all qualifying for the play-offs, he should have a busy end to the season.

What's particularly impressive about this is that Eze - who we signed from Norwich last summer on a two-year contract with the option of a year's extension - still has two underage seasons left after this one, and he's already our second-highest (in terms of loanee club level) 'youth' player after Max Conway – even Luke Matheson's only at tier 6.

Let's hope he continues to progress at this rate, and let's hope that we continue to elevate youngsters to test their mettle - earlier this season we did a similar thing with Trevon Bryan, who's in Eze's year-group, by lifting him from tier 7 to tier 6, and Charlie Hayes-Green, a year older, from tier 8 to tier 7.

On a similar note, we've also in the past week loaned out young keeper Ellis Litherland to tier-7 Matlock Town - earlier this season he was at tier-8 Atherton Colls.

TL;DR: Keep an eye on Dubem Eze, perhaps our best hope outside Max Conway.

Eze come, Eze go.

[boltonboris]

So we've only got 1 player on loan in Step 1? Suppose it makes sense considering where we were a few years ago, but thought we'd have a few B teamers playing National League

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

So we've only got 1 player on loan in Step 1? Suppose it makes sense considering where we were a few years ago, but thought we'd have a few B teamers playing National League

Correct, amigo. Charlie Hayes-Green has just been sold there, but that means he's not ours.