Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Harry Genshaw]

Didn't Collins play wide at Bristol? Wide attacker or some such modern phenomenon? I recall his debut(?) where he put a peach of a cross in for our equaliser v Barnsley. I am struggling after that though tbf....

[Prufrock]

Right on Tutu. He's a full back. A very good one. But he's not a winger. Talented enough to have the odd good game there.. But not his position.

Absolutely no idea what you're on about with Collins. He's your classic wide forward who can do a job through the middle. A L1 Son Heung Min. Played off the left of a 3 loads before he came here. It's through the middle he's less comfortable, back to goal etc.

[The_Gun]

Right on Tutu. He's a full back. A very good one. But he's not a winger. Talented enough to have the odd good game there.. But not his position.

Absolutely no idea what you're on about with Collins. He's your classic wide forward who can do a job through the middle. A L1 Son Heung Min. Played off the left of a 3 loads before he came here. It's through the middle he's less comfortable, back to goal etc.

You need to remember that some members of this forum are stuck in the mid-90s.

Wide players ~ Ryan Giggs
Strikers ~ Duncan Ferguson

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Right on Tutu. He's a full back. A very good one. But he's not a winger. Talented enough to have the odd good game there.. But not his position.

I may well agree with your opinion but Schumacher has played Tutu (and for that matter Schon) out wide at least as much as he's played McAtee or Collins there, and more (IIRC) than Randall or Lolos.

I don't doubt that Schuey will want more wide men in, and if that happens, Tutu can revert to being an attacking full-back. But then he'll be competing directly with Dacres-Cogley, who has his limitations but rarely misses a game and rarely has an absolute stinker.

While you're on the phone, Pru, where (if anywhere) do you see Randall, CMG, McAtee and Lolos in a 4-3-3?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Remind me: is it better to get our business done early or not? Does early imply we're picking up the chaff?

Kion Etete came late in your window

Seriously though - Iles had an interesting theory about phases in the summer window. You get an early rush when the best freebies are fought over - think Dalby, Taylor, but also Roughan, Ledson, Marcus Harness, Joe Low. Same for players contracted but available - Simons, Jacobs, Ibrahim.

When they've gone, it goes quiet for a bit – partly because you're then waiting for bigger clubs to strengthen and thus release their extraneous players. Clubs can pick up some very good (for their level) players later in the window, but it's a risk as it's out of your hands.

[Prufrock]

Right on Tutu. He's a full back. A very good one. But he's not a winger. Talented enough to have the odd good game there.. But not his position.

I may well agree with your opinion but Schumacher has played Tutu (and for that matter Schon) out wide at least as much as he's played McAtee or Collins there, and more (IIRC) than Randall or Lolos.

I don't doubt that Schuey will want more wide men in, and if that happens, Tutu can revert to being an attacking full-back. But then he'll be competing directly with Dacres-Cogley, who has his limitations but rarely misses a game and rarely has an absolute stinker.

While you're on the phone, Pru, where (if anywhere) do you see Randall, CMG, McAtee and Lolos in a 4-3-3?

I wouldn't read too much into v Collins or McAtee, we had no number 9s and they had to play there. But yeah I do think SS might see Tutu as a winger which would be a mistake IMO.

Though to the extent that Schon and Tutu are wingers, they're probably more like Guns 90s Ryan Giggs for Dalby's Big Dunc. Maybe the plan is FourFour(F*cking)Two after all with them on their natural sides.

CMG is a winger, either side, though I'd be getting rid as he can't stay fit. The other three are all really 10s in a 4231, with McAtee a 9.5 and the others 8.5 (the maths doesn't really work but you get my drift). In a flatter 433, Randall and Lolos 8s, McAtee more a utility front man across the front three. Lolos is shite too though, whatever you do with him.

[BWFC_Insane]

Right on Tutu. He's a full back. A very good one. But he's not a winger. Talented enough to have the odd good game there.. But not his position.

Absolutely no idea what you're on about with Collins. He's your classic wide forward who can do a job through the middle. A L1 Son Heung Min. Played off the left of a 3 loads before he came here. It's through the middle he's less comfortable, back to goal etc.

You have to be able to hold the ball in wide areas sometimes back to goal. To hit the byline also. Things Collins doesn’t do well. But where your Son comparison really falls down is workrate. Those roles demand high workrate to cover your full back when needed offer width to stretch teams come inside, be part of the press.

I’m sorry but Collins has shown no real inclination there and I don’t see it at all. Up top off a striker it’s different. You get him in areas he can hurt teams and his quality can make the difference. Personally for me out wide he’d be too much of a luxury.

But we will see. I doubt he’s here so regardless of the view we need wide players - though I note Warren is a left sided forward….

[BWFC_Insane]

Right on Tutu. He's a full back. A very good one. But he's not a winger. Talented enough to have the odd good game there.. But not his position.

Absolutely no idea what you're on about with Collins. He's your classic wide forward who can do a job through the middle. A L1 Son Heung Min. Played off the left of a 3 loads before he came here. It's through the middle he's less comfortable, back to goal etc.

You need to remember that some members of this forum are stuck in the mid-90s.

Wide players ~ Ryan Giggs
Strikers ~ Duncan Ferguson

lol. I think some still haven’t cured themselves of the delusions Evatt brought.

We need people who work hard up and down the pitch in wide areas. Offer width, pace - want to hit the byline and deliver and have quality on the ball but who also can get into the box.

We had probably the two archetypes for this role in Stelios and Diouf. They played those roles as well as you will see. If we had more pace though I’d not complain.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I wouldn't read too much into v Collins or McAtee, we had no number 9s and they had to play there. But yeah I do think SS might see Tutu as a winger which would be a mistake IMO.

Though to the extent that Schon and Tutu are wingers, they're probably more like Guns 90s Ryan Giggs for Dalby's Big Dunc. Maybe the plan is FourFour(F*cking)Two after all with them on their natural sides.

CMG is a winger, either side, though I'd be getting rid as he can't stay fit. The other three are all really 10s in a 4231, with McAtee a 9.5 and the others 8.5 (the maths doesn't really work but you get my drift). In a flatter 433, Randall and Lolos 8s, McAtee more a utility front man across the front three. Lolos is shite too though, whatever you do with him.

All fair. I do think Randall (and FWIW poor doomed Lolos) has a lot to prove as an 8, but what else do we do if it's a 433?

To me, in that formation our best 'free 8' bombing on from midfield is Dempsey, which reminds me:

Is Dempsey still our player? He has been hardly mentioned. Surely if he is fit after an uninterrupted pre-season, he starts with Xavier and Thomasson in a midfield 3 which would be really strong and competitive at this level.

I have a lot of time for Dempsey, but can see him being loaned out if we can't get shot of McAtee. Shame, as I do think he offers a lot, particularly as an impact sub.

ICB - Demps is still ours and under contract until next summer. Whether he's fit or not is the big question - but in your three-man midfield I would prefer Morley to Thomason. Good to have options and obviously it's not just one XI forever. Not sure I agree with Bob that Dempsey's future is predicated on McAtee - I think if it's a 433 McAtee might become a back-up "front three" player and Dempsey competes for the central midfield.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

But we will see. I doubt he’s here so regardless of the view we need wide players - though I note Warren is a left sided forward….

I also note he's very much being counted (by club and BN) among the "summer signings" for the first team. But I wonder if that's (1) a bit of PR to boost the numbers and (2) incredibly optimistic that he can jump up five divisions in one leap.

[HMX]

But we will see. I doubt he’s here so regardless of the view we need wide players - though I note Warren is a left sided forward….

I also note he's very much being counted (by club and BN) among the "summer signings" for the first team. But I wonder if that's (1) a bit of PR to boost the numbers and (2) incredibly optimistic that he can jump up five divisions in one leap.

Agreed. And the club headline did include ‘top prospect’ which suggests he won’t be close to the first team (excepting early cup games if not out on loan.)

[BWFC_Insane]

But we will see. I doubt he’s here so regardless of the view we need wide players - though I note Warren is a left sided forward….

I also note he's very much being counted (by club and BN) among the "summer signings" for the first team. But I wonder if that's (1) a bit of PR to boost the numbers and (2) incredibly optimistic that he can jump up five divisions in one leap.

Maybe. But then he’s 21. We’ve had him on trial. I doubt we’ve committed resources if we think he’s ’miles off’. If he were 18 sure. But next season he’s 22. And club presumably want to be in the championship….

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Not saying there's anything wrong in signing him, BTW. But if he does vault five divisions then that's a hell of an achievement - for him and for us.

[The_Gun]

I’d make it strong odds against that Warren even makes the bench in the league next season. He’ll be sent on loan and/or will be with the Bs. Maybe gets some minutes in the Trophy.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Here's how I see us right now - well, assuming we get the loanee goalkeeper and widely-expected left-back. First-teamers in caps, subs in subdued mixed-case lettering.
.

lineup.png (151.88 KiB) Viewed 231 times

.
Four other options are Forrester, Lolos, Warren and Adeboyejo (injured till Xmas).

Loads of arguables there - you may prefer Toal to Forino in the first XI, you may prefer Forrester as a back-up, and then we get to the midfielders - but we can see where the squad is shallow (erm, No.9), questionable (wings) and reasonably or arguably too deep (CM, CD).

Remember too that Harkin said he wanted fewer seniors: “I feel if we had a squad of 25, for example, senior first team players, the kids will never get a chance. We have to reduce that slightly but have kids around it so that though injury, suspension or just performing every day in training, the coach will put them in." More exits to come...

PS if anyone wants to use this lineup as the basis for their own thought-dump, go for it: https://www.buildlineup.com/shared/684d ... 065f07fea9

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I love John McGinlay dearly, but an interviewer he is not

[BWFC_Insane]

I love John McGinlay dearly, but an interviewer he is not

Seen worse to be fair.

[TANGODANCER]

Not much mention of a real foot-baller in Schon? . He's a better prospect than just ignoring. Course, since we're just airing opinions, the shoemaker might have a different "last" word..Que Sera,Sera....

[TANGODANCER]

I love John McGinlay dearly, but an interviewer he is not

He's still more a Wanderer than many pretenders. Go John boy..

[Prufrock]

Here's how I see us right now - well, assuming we get the loanee goalkeeper and widely-expected left-back. First-teamers in caps, subs in subdued mixed-case lettering.
.
lineup.png
.
Four other options are Forrester, Lolos, Warren and Adeboyejo (injured till Xmas).

Loads of arguables there - you may prefer Toal to Forino in the first XI, you may prefer Forrester as a back-up, and then we get to the midfielders - but we can see where the squad is shallow (erm, No.9), questionable (wings) and reasonably or arguably too deep (CM, CD).

Remember too that Harkin said he wanted fewer seniors: “I feel if we had a squad of 25, for example, senior first team players, the kids will never get a chance. We have to reduce that slightly but have kids around it so that though injury, suspension or just performing every day in training, the coach will put them in." More exits to come...

PS if anyone wants to use this lineup as the basis for their own thought-dump, go for it: https://www.buildlineup.com/shared/684d ... 065f07fea9

Aye I think we'll see plenty leave, depends on where there's interest I suppose. I think I said at the start the only two I'd be gutted if they went were Morley and Collins (and sounds like one of those might happen!)

All I'm confident of is that I couldn't tell you the XI that will start the first game!