Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Worthy4England]

I guess what's confusing isn't just the order of command - who reports to whom - but also the order of execution.

If Schuey wants a fast right-winger, does Jimmy Dickinson suggest possibilities or contact them?

What of Ludonautics and our in-house data-miners?

It's alright to have more brainpower round the table and more contacts books - as long as everyone's pulling in the same direction and they don't violently disagree – but there also needs to be rules of engagement. What if (say) Jimmy suggests a young Everton winger and the data folk disagree? Is it a majority decision or does anyone have a veto? Whose is the final say?

And do we really believe Evatt, Markham, Sharon and Ludo all signed off on a seven-figure fee for Joel Randall?

It’s also the question that as you have pointed out previously the advantage of this structure is that if the head coach (nee manager) leaves everything else is in place and carries on. But if Schumacher is bringing in people he’s worked with before in key roles like head of recruitment then that doesn’t work so well. Cos what’s to stop him leaving upwards and taking Jimmy etc with him ala Allardyce? Or the alternative needing a new manager and him not wanting the staff Schuey did?

It all feels a bit two threes vs a six, but with unclear accountability. I mean, we've just been following that model, since which both key participants (DoF and Manager) have left, we scaled back the importance of the B team - so it feels more like a theorist's dream than anything immutable. Just feels really messy. I've yet to hear a single DoF go on the record and say "if it all goes to shit, that's on my watch" - that's not to say they haven't said something akin, just that I've never heard them do so. I have heard plenty of Managers in the "old" model say - you it's on me.

[BWFC_Insane]

I guess what's confusing isn't just the order of command - who reports to whom - but also the order of execution.

If Schuey wants a fast right-winger, does Jimmy Dickinson suggest possibilities or contact them?

What of Ludonautics and our in-house data-miners?

It's alright to have more brainpower round the table and more contacts books - as long as everyone's pulling in the same direction and they don't violently disagree – but there also needs to be rules of engagement. What if (say) Jimmy suggests a young Everton winger and the data folk disagree? Is it a majority decision or does anyone have a veto? Whose is the final say?

And do we really believe Evatt, Markham, Sharon and Ludo all signed off on a seven-figure fee for Joel Randall?

It’s also the question that as you have pointed out previously the advantage of this structure is that if the head coach (nee manager) leaves everything else is in place and carries on. But if Schumacher is bringing in people he’s worked with before in key roles like head of recruitment then that doesn’t work so well. Cos what’s to stop him leaving upwards and taking Jimmy etc with him ala Allardyce? Or the alternative needing a new manager and him not wanting the staff Schuey did?

It all feels a bit two threes vs a six, but with unclear accountability. I mean, we've just been following that model, since which both key participants (DoF and Manager) have left, we scaled back the importance of the B team - so it feels more like a theorist's dream than anything immutable. Just feels really messy. I've yet to hear a single DoF go on the record and say "if it all goes to shit, that's on my watch" - that's not to say they haven't said something akin, just that I've never heard them do so. I have heard plenty of Managers in the "old" model say - you it's on me.

Yeah I mean I assumed that Harkin would build his own recruitment team - maybe in consultation with Schuey but so that all that exists with a head coach in place rather than as the head coach’s team (which it sort of feels like it is).

This is all summer boredom theoretical discussion I’m sure it’s clear internally and in reality.

But the benefits of such a system don’t seem apparent to me if a head coach is still operating as a manger with a director of football doing their admin for them.

Im not disatisfied or anything before people assume I am. I am happy with what the club are doing I do just see some room for at least externally confusion over responsibilities. And I suspect there was plenty of that before - I still don’t think anyone really knows (apart from our insider) what Markham was responsible for and what he was not.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I guess what's confusing isn't just the order of command - who reports to whom - but also the order of execution.

If Schuey wants a fast right-winger, does Jimmy Dickinson suggest possibilities or contact them?

What of Ludonautics and our in-house data-miners?

It's alright to have more brainpower round the table and more contacts books - as long as everyone's pulling in the same direction and they don't violently disagree – but there also needs to be rules of engagement. What if (say) Jimmy suggests a young Everton winger and the data folk disagree? Is it a majority decision or does anyone have a veto? Whose is the final say?

And do we really believe Evatt, Markham, Sharon and Ludo all signed off on a seven-figure fee for Joel Randall?

I can probably find out the answers to most of these.

Football clubs are a little strange with the chain of command but likely Fergal will be both Schuey's and Jimmy's superior/head of department. Jimmy will report to both Schuey and Fergal although it's not clear whether it's just recruitment for the first team or more. I expect this is more of a 'chief scout' role in practice, as I remember Schuey mentioning that he wanted to return to a physical scouting model, as opposed to just data analysis under Evatt.

Fergal will be the 'football' guy in the board meetings as sporting director comprises much more than just the first-team and recruitment.

Ludo had nothing to do with Randall and indeed don't sign off on anything, it's purely advisory. Sharon doesn't solely sign off on purchases and sales either.

Thanks, mate. Illuminating.

Guess that makes sense in terms of reporting. Might seem alarming that Schumacher reports to Harkin, but anyone on here who's been a manager (in the real world as opposed to football) will know that having someone report to you is very different to having the power of life/death/unemployment over them. As you say it's probably more a reporting structure – fine if it's benign, as Schuey discovered with Jimmy Dickinson and DoF Neil Dewsnip at Plymouth; more of a problem when it's not, as Schuey discovered at Stoke with Jonny Wallets.

If Fergal's remit extends beyond the first team and recruitment, does that mean he's also "over" the Bs and youth? Again, fine - it would be a bit weird if not.

On Ludonautics - I believe you when you say they had nowt to do with Randall. Just going on Ian's comments which verged on blame-sharing – but rereading them with this in mind, maybe he should have run his hubristic signing past them...

Chris and his team have their own algorithm, so to speak, and their way of doing things. Ludonautics have theirs, which is different to ours. But for us, it is more about checking boxes. If Ludonautics are saying yes, Chris’ team are saying yes, I’m saying yes and the board are saying yes, the likelihood of failure is a lot less than if only two of the four agree.
If we are all in agreement on somebody, it means it has a good chance of succeeding. With recruitment, around the 50 per cent mark and you are doing well, you are doing OK. That is kind of the process we use, it is about everyone collaborating together to be in agreement. It makes our first trawl easier – who we are looking at deeply and who we are not.

[Worthy4England]

That's the "quote" I refer to when I'm talking about 4 lots of green lights and it being really unclear about who was on the hook. I genuinely can't believe we dropped £1.2m without going and looking, live and in the flesh on multiple occasions. I mean, sure, we'd seen him play against us, but that's not the same as going to a match to just watch the one player and see what they're doing every minute of the 90 off the ball. It's like the old argument that you miss things that are out of shot in video.

[TANGODANCER]

I guess what's confusing isn't just the order of command - who reports to whom - but also the order of execution.

In short, whoever gets rid of "Bolton Wanderers Nil" as a weekly result That's the order of execution that determines success or failure as a management unit, regardless of titles. Of course, should it happen, everyone will claim they wrote the sermon, but that's football.

[TANGODANCER]

A tale of two managers....sort of relevant....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gpWwqZ-SeI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERONNx9GL4A

Now what was I saying about not scoring with headers ????

[jmjhb]

I guess what's confusing isn't just the order of command - who reports to whom - but also the order of execution.

If Schuey wants a fast right-winger, does Jimmy Dickinson suggest possibilities or contact them?

What of Ludonautics and our in-house data-miners?

It's alright to have more brainpower round the table and more contacts books - as long as everyone's pulling in the same direction and they don't violently disagree – but there also needs to be rules of engagement. What if (say) Jimmy suggests a young Everton winger and the data folk disagree? Is it a majority decision or does anyone have a veto? Whose is the final say?

And do we really believe Evatt, Markham, Sharon and Ludo all signed off on a seven-figure fee for Joel Randall?

I can probably find out the answers to most of these.

Football clubs are a little strange with the chain of command but likely Fergal will be both Schuey's and Jimmy's superior/head of department. Jimmy will report to both Schuey and Fergal although it's not clear whether it's just recruitment for the first team or more. I expect this is more of a 'chief scout' role in practice, as I remember Schuey mentioning that he wanted to return to a physical scouting model, as opposed to just data analysis under Evatt.

Fergal will be the 'football' guy in the board meetings as sporting director comprises much more than just the first-team and recruitment.

Ludo had nothing to do with Randall and indeed don't sign off on anything, it's purely advisory. Sharon doesn't solely sign off on purchases and sales either.

Thanks, mate. Illuminating.

Guess that makes sense in terms of reporting. Might seem alarming that Schumacher reports to Harkin, but anyone on here who's been a manager (in the real world as opposed to football) will know that having someone report to you is very different to having the power of life/death/unemployment over them. As you say it's probably more a reporting structure – fine if it's benign, as Schuey discovered with Jimmy Dickinson and DoF Neil Dewsnip at Plymouth; more of a problem when it's not, as Schuey discovered at Stoke with Jonny Wallets.

If Fergal's remit extends beyond the first team and recruitment, does that mean he's also "over" the Bs and youth? Again, fine - it would be a bit weird if not.

On Ludonautics - I believe you when you say they had nowt to do with Randall. Just going on Ian's comments which verged on blame-sharing – but rereading them with this in mind, maybe he should have run his hubristic signing past them...

Chris and his team have their own algorithm, so to speak, and their way of doing things. Ludonautics have theirs, which is different to ours. But for us, it is more about checking boxes. If Ludonautics are saying yes, Chris’ team are saying yes, I’m saying yes and the board are saying yes, the likelihood of failure is a lot less than if only two of the four agree.
If we are all in agreement on somebody, it means it has a good chance of succeeding. With recruitment, around the 50 per cent mark and you are doing well, you are doing OK. That is kind of the process we use, it is about everyone collaborating together to be in agreement. It makes our first trawl easier – who we are looking at deeply and who we are not.

Yes, Jules in the Bs and Dave Gardiner in the Academy will report to Fergal as he is in charge of all things 'football' and will attend board meetings (Schuey, Jules won't).

I know 99% of the interest will be on the men's first-team but there's far more constituent parts that make up the club than just 22-25 players and staff.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Cheers, chum.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Aware I've not been keeping up with released/retaineds - life got busy

LINCOLN
Released: Sam Clucas, Tyler Walker, Ali Smith, Jay Benn
Extended: Adam Jackson, Ben 'Shit' House
Contracts offered: Sean Roughan, Zane Okoro, Paudie O'Connor

Manager Skubala on O'Connor: "He has been an amazing leader. He has been phenomenal for this club, in my eyes. He has grown, even in the time I've been here he has improved, become a better player and become more of a leader. Of course any player of his age wants to try and play at the highest level they can. And it's not always about money, sometimes its about having the opportunity to go and test themselves. Our job is to convince Paudie that we want him to be part of us and how we grow in the near future. It's not a case of finances in this situation, but it's a question of does he want to lead and keep moving this club in the direction we want him to, and do those two things align?"

[jmjhb]

He's someone I wouldn't mind seeing here.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

He's someone I wouldn't mind seeing here.

Paudie? Aye, the sort of nonsense-free Big Man And Leader that a lot of we Wanderers have been crying out for. Indeed, I think I might prefer him to Roughan, truth be told.

Of course, if we signed him there'd be a few folk asking why we're signing a Lincoln reject who's only played four games above this level, but that's football, Kev.

The question is whether he would jump to another team in the same division. It's said that Plymouth offered £250,000 in January, a window after he was "linked with" PNE, Blackburn and Oxford; all the noise this summer is about Huddersfield and Barnsley, so maybe Skubala's comments about testing himself at a higher level is an attempt to put Paudie on the spot. After all, the league table suggests those clubs (and us) aren't exactly a huge leap forwards - even if Lincoln are less likely promotion contenders.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The EFL has confirmed the summer transfer window will run from the start of June to 1 September, mirroring the Premier League with a six-day break in the middle of next month.

Dates for summer trading were issued by the top flight in March with the window containing a short break between 10-16 June to accommodate FIFA's Club World Cup registration period.

After a delay while EFL clubs voted on arrangements, the league has confirmed transfers can be registered from Sunday 1 June to Tuesday 10 June (19:00 BST) and from Monday 16 June to 1 September (19:00).

The six-day break is due to an additional FIFA Club World Cup registration period ahead of the start of the 32-team tournament which runs from 15 June-13 July in the United States.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles reports on reports linking us with PNE leaver Ryan Ledson and Walsall's Jamie Jellis.
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... dfielders/

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Also, the Lower Tiers website is linking us (and Wigan) with a move for Tyreeq Bakinson, who has been named in these pages before (Ghost was a fan).

A 6ft3 central midfielder who turns 27 in October, he's played 83 League One games (Ipswich, Wednesday (promoted), Charlton and Wycombe) and 55 Champo (Bristol City and Wednesday) – and also helped Plymouth to a fourth-tier promotion on loan from Ashton Gate.

Last summer he joined Wycombe, who don't reveal contract lengths or details.

[BWFC_Insane]

Iles reports on reports linking us with PNE leaver Ryan Ledson and Walsall's Jamie Jellis.
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... dfielders/

Ledson with Everton history and local with higher level experience feels like an obvious link.

[TANGODANCER]

Iles reports on reports linking us with PNE leaver Ryan Ledson and Walsall's Jamie Jellis.
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... dfielders/

Ledson with Everton history and local with higher level experience feels like an obvious link.

Neither of them are physical giants at five feet nine or so.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Looks like tweets no longer embed...

https://twitter.com/SportsPeteO/status/ ... 8588666060

Screenshot 2025-05-15 at 21.46.52.png (118.23 KiB) Viewed 428 times

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Ilesy saying Chelsea's former Donny loanee Sharman-Lowe is on a Wanderers "shortlist" of keepers, as we seek another 'senior' (even if it's a young loanee) option to challenge/replace Southwood. All good news to me; Hutch has promise but needs a long loan, preferably D4, to prove himself.

[Harry Genshaw]

Report from my Sheffield Wednesday supporting colleague on Tyreeq Bakinson - "He's awful and would be a disastrous signing for you"
Sounds like he started well then lost his way and a similar tale at Wycombe, where news of the link prompted 1 Chairboy to offer to drive him up here.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Report from my Sheffield Wednesday supporting colleague on Tyreeq Bakinson - "He's awful and would be a disastrous signing for you"
Sounds like he started well then lost his way and a similar tale at Wycombe, where news of the link prompted 1 Chairboy to offer to drive him up here.

Yeah, he does seem to have frequently been described as having all the right attributes without putting them together consistently. Interesting that the other club linked with him is Wigan - so that's both the manager and his assistant from his Plymouth promotion season. One of those where they both might feel they can crack the code again.