Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

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I know Ghost has long said we should sign this lad, now 25 and the Fleetwood captain. 6ft3, has settled at centre-back, but has also played at 6, right-back and right wingback, so would offer some serious coverage. Of course, centre-back isn't a priority position, but you can't always decide when targets are available (last summer he was linked with Derby, Oxford, Plymouth, us, Blackpool and Wrexham); and it would presumably mean we need to move out one or two squad players, but y'know, eggs and omelettes.

[TonyDomingos]

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I know Ghost has long said we should sign this lad, now 25 and the Fleetwood captain. 6ft3, has settled at centre-back, but has also played at 6, right-back and right wingback, so would offer some serious coverage. Of course, centre-back isn't a priority position, but you can't always decide when targets are available (last summer he was linked with Derby, Oxford, Plymouth, us, Blackpool and Wrexham); and it would presumably mean we need to move out one or two squad players, but y'know, eggs and omelettes.

IIRC, didn't he fail his medical with the Pie Eaters in January?

Saw him and Hunt play for Fleetwood at Bromley a few months ago. Neither particularly stood out in a 1-0 win for the Ravens. I was keeping an eye on Wiredu because he's ex-Bromley.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

So they say, Tony. Doesn’t seem to be stopping Rotherham…. just an idea.

Anyway, like a demanding dance teacher, ilesy expects more movement this week.

“Firm news on outgoing transfers, and in particular the future of last season’s top scorer Aaron Collins, should also materialise this week.

“Though reports in Milton Keynes suggest a deal to sign the 28-year-old is nearly over the line, the reaction at the Bolton end has been more circumspect. Collins has been on holiday and should be in a position to clear up his future in the next few days.

“Wanderers are also understood to be open to offers for some of their fringe players, including striker Dan Nlundulu, who spent last season on loan with Cambridge United, and midfielder Carlos Mendes Gomes, who started just two games in 2024/25.”
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... eper-loan/

[BWFC_Insane]

So they say, Tony. Doesn’t seem to be stopping Rotherham…. just an idea.

Anyway, like a demanding dance teacher, ilesy expects more movement this week.

“Firm news on outgoing transfers, and in particular the future of last season’s top scorer Aaron Collins, should also materialise this week.

“Though reports in Milton Keynes suggest a deal to sign the 28-year-old is nearly over the line, the reaction at the Bolton end has been more circumspect. Collins has been on holiday and should be in a position to clear up his future in the next few days.

“Wanderers are also understood to be open to offers for some of their fringe players, including striker Dan Nlundulu, who spent last season on loan with Cambridge United, and midfielder Carlos Mendes Gomes, who started just two games in 2024/25.”
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... eper-loan/

Feels all in hand to me. Quietly getting on with it. No sense of panic or frustration that I can detect. No outlandish statements over egging it either.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I was keeping an eye on Wiredu because he's ex-Bromley.

Thought of you yesterday as I drove past Hayes Lane - and just about every other place in SE London - en route to having my son make me a Father's Day dinner.

[TonyDomingos]

I was keeping an eye on Wiredu because he's ex-Bromley.

Thought of you yesterday as I drove past Hayes Lane - and just about every other place in SE London - en route to having my son make me a Father's Day dinner.

Ah! The home of London football!

Hope you had a great dinner!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

A bit more left-field, if you forgive the pun, Schuey could also ask his Everton contacts about Fleetwood's Mackenzie Hunt. Interesting story, this one. Now 23, he was on the Toffees books at age 6 but then his builder dad moved the family to Dubai. They stayed until he was 13 - meaning he got UAE citizenship and has since been called up - when he and his mum moved back so he could rejoin Everton. He stayed there for nine seasons, and in 2023/24 Sean Dyche named on the Premier League bench 17 times, but last summer he turned down a contract extension to get proper football with Charlie Adam's Fleetwood. Flitting between left-back and left midfield, he made 39 League Two appearances and contributed 8 assists, often from set pieces. He's contracted until next summer but presumably affordable.

Hate to nit pick, but there is no path to UAE citizenship without an Emirati father. The only other way around it is if the head Sheikh of one of the Emirates wants you for something internationally that requires a passport. You could be born there, live there 100 years etc but you're not entitled to citizenship unless head bloke decides so. Sport representation I'm guessing is one of those things that might do it

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I was keeping an eye on Wiredu because he's ex-Bromley.

Thought of you yesterday as I drove past Hayes Lane - and just about every other place in SE London - en route to having my son make me a Father's Day dinner.

Ah! The home of London football!

Hope you had a great dinner!

I also drove past Welling United - I assume you boys have beef of some order. Whereas (segue alert) I had home-made chicken fajitas and a tray-baked cake. Nom-nom. 'e's a good lad.

[...]Fleetwood's Mackenzie Hunt. Interesting story, this one. Now 23, he was on the Toffees books at age 6 but then his builder dad moved the family to Dubai. They stayed until he was 13 - meaning he got UAE citizenship[...]

Hate to nit pick, but there is no path to UAE citizenship without an Emirati father. The only other way around it is if the head Sheikh of one of the Emirates wants you for something internationally that requires a passport. You could be born there, live there 100 years etc but you're not entitled to citizenship unless head bloke decides so. Sport representation I'm guessing is one of those things that might do it

Interesting. Fair correction. He's played half a dozen times for UAE but as you say sporting representation is probz different to citizenship.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Interesting. Fair correction. He's played half a dozen times for UAE but as you say sporting representation is probz different to citizenship.

My niece and nephew were born there, so learnt that before I even lived there myself. Its a fascinating place, in that anything is possible if you know the right person. Also known as wasta.

[TonyDomingos]

I also drove past Welling United - I assume you boys have beef of some order.

Feelings always ran high for El Kentio, but there hasn't been one for about 10 years. Welling were relegated to tier 7 in May, which was nice.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

FLW saying deal agreed with MK for Collins; Ilesy also says he thinks it's happening. Thoughts?

[BWFC_Insane]

FLW saying deal agreed with MK for Collins. Thoughts

As are Bolton News.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... n-collins/

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles: "Collins may not be the only high-profile departure this summer, with Schumacher also seeking to bring in a more direct and dynamic style of football to the possession-based brand which has been the norm in recent years." <eyes emoji>

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Does anyone know when the players are due back for pre season training ?

I assume they do

As far as I know it hasn’t been made public but I would say Mon 30 June. It’s usually early July, they’ve had enough time off and there’s a lot of new stuff to learn.

First league games are weekend of 1st August, and our first confirmed friendly is Tue 15 July - but as that’s Barrow we may well have some local warm-ups first. We don’t yet know how Schuey structures his pre-season but most clubs get the motor running with some easier fixtures against hosts glad to have them.

One other thing - some clubs make players report at the end of the previous week for what used to be a weigh-in and presumably now involves much more scientific measurement. Fairly sure we did this under Evatt but as I say there’s a new sheriff in town so we’re all learning as we go along.

Resurfacing this for Bertie because Ilesy says "Schumacher hopes to get at least one more deal over the line before his squad return for pre-season testing on June 24."

[BWFC_Insane]

Iles: "Collins may not be the only high-profile departure this summer, with Schumacher also seeking to bring in a more direct and dynamic style of football to the possession-based brand which has been the norm in recent years." <eyes emoji>

As I said the other day the nonsense brand is over. As is any room for the passengers it brought with it.

[TonyDomingos]

Oh well, I guess I'll get to see Collins at Hayes Lane next season.

[BWFC_Insane]

Any news on the fee? I don’t use the awful social media site these days where this sort of news tends to be. I’d heard last week £700k but interested if there is a fresh line on this anywhere?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles: "Collins may not be the only high-profile departure this summer, with Schumacher also seeking to bring in a more direct and dynamic style of football to the possession-based brand which has been the norm in recent years." <eyes emoji>

As I said the other day the nonsense brand is over. As is any room for the passengers it brought with it.

For what it's worth, I don't agree that Evattball was a nonsense brand, and it came close to taking us up. Not close enough, and clearly it jumped the shark, not helped (indeed symbiotically accelerated) by a purchasing policy that went very badly wrong in Evatt's 18-24 months.

Add in the manager's intransigence - or rather his idea of flexibility reducing from his early, gamechanging "back three, back four, back three" formational fixes to "ooh let's copy what didn't work for Gareth Southgate when he had too many 10s" - and last season was a hell-hole in a life-draining tactical cul-de-sac.

That's why, even though I like Collins and Sheehan as footballers, I'm happy for them to go if we get good offers. I don't think Schumacher will change us into John Beck's Cambridge but he wants us to get forward much more quickly, and that's fine by me. There is a middle ground, there should be flexibility.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Any news on the fee? I don’t use the awful social media site these days where this sort of news tends to be. I’d heard last week £700k but interested if there is a fresh line on this anywhere?

FLW: "For the time being, the exact details of the fee to be forked out to Steven Schumacher's side to land Collins remain unclear, but previous reports have suggested that an equal sum to the £750,000 figure Bolton paid Bristol Rovers in February 2024 is the minimum of what will be required. Nonetheless, it is understood that a deal has now been agreed and the Welshman's arrival at Stadium MK appears imminent."

Iles: "It is understood that Wanderers did agree a sell-on fee for Collins when they bought him from Bristol Rovers but that it only applies to profit from the deal, which at present is an unknown quantity."

[BWFC_Insane]

Iles: "Collins may not be the only high-profile departure this summer, with Schumacher also seeking to bring in a more direct and dynamic style of football to the possession-based brand which has been the norm in recent years." <eyes emoji>

As I said the other day the nonsense brand is over. As is any room for the passengers it brought with it.

For what it's worth, I don't agree that Evattball was a nonsense brand, and it came close to taking us up. Not close enough, and clearly it jumped the shark, not helped (indeed symbiotically accelerated) by a purchasing policy that went very badly wrong in Evatt's 18-24 months.

Add in the manager's intransigence - or rather his idea of flexibility reducing from his early, gamechanging "back three, back four, back three" formational fixes to "ooh let's copy what didn't work for Gareth Southgate when he had too many 10s" - and last season was a hell-hole in a life-draining tactical cul-de-sac.

That's why, even though I like Collins and Sheehan as footballers, I'm happy for them to go if we get good offers. I don't think Schumacher will change us into John Beck's Cambridge but he wants us to get forward much more quickly, and that's fine by me. There is a middle ground, there should be flexibility.

It’s a nonsense in the sense that if you do it realise you aren’t good enough to do what is needed you then need to find something else. Instead it was held aloft as a victory in itself. So to me a complete nonsense that has cost us two maybe three years or more at this level. And brought load of soft passengers into the club that are the exact opposite of what you need to go up.

Thankfully Schumacher and Harkin seem to have cottoned on quickly.

And I’ve said all along there are many many ways to play between this and Beck. We need to find one that is more consistent with the route out of league one and suits whatever players we have come the kick off. I think the very worst thing is to be beholden to any particular style without avenues to change it.