Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Worthy4England]

I know, I know, it's only a clip reel, but Taylor seemed to have plenty of positional nous. If he's good as his clip reel, he's probably a starter.

[BWFC_Insane]

If I was picking tomorrow...

TSL in goal

JDC - Toal - Taylor - Conway

Simons

JOT - Morley - Tomo - Schon

Dalby

If we're playing those two wide players slightly higher and slightly narrower, then I'd swap Schon for McAtee.

Clear that massive work is needed in wide areas, both defensive and attacking, and in the CF department for depth...

This. 100%. That’s the best team we’ve got but clearly there are issues out wide in both attacking areas and LB.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

…and then you pick your second XI and you see where the deep holes are…

[truewhite15]

I'm actually reasonably happy with the spine of the side now. TSL, Taylor, Simons and Dalby come highly recommended for both strength and skill. Paired with Toal, Morley and Tomo, that's not a core that's likely to be waltzed through all that regularly (I hope).

Obviously, if some absolute crackers become available, then there's nobody that can't be improved upon. But yes, all priority funding should be given to the wide areas at this stage, particularly left back and wingers of either side.

[truewhite15]

…and then you pick your second XI and you see where the deep holes are…

Southwood

Forrester - Forino - Johnston

Sheehan

CMG - Randall - Sharples - Lolos

McAtee - Abimbola

Leaving out Nlundulu of those fit, and Vic and Dempsey as the crocks. Square pegs a-plenty. A side leaker than a broken colander. Not convinced it would have goals in it either.

[BWFC_Insane]

…and then you pick your second XI and you see where the deep holes are…

Yeah but it’s rare that you have two equally good or even close to each other 11’s in this league. I know a few big spenders maybe had that but I think one of the issues we had with Evatt was the desire to have in many cases two equally good players in each position. This means that unless you are loaded - you probably end up with a worse 11 than you want.

[Worthy4England]

It is a bit difficult to pick a strongest XI when we've seen so little of some of them. Dalby for example might be in the sort of mold we were hoping, but I've zero clue whether he's any bloody use.

[The_Gun]

Some noise over on Insano’s favourite platform that Southwood is going to Bristol Rovers.

Would we start the season with TSL and Hutchinson as our only keepers? Seems doubtful.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Some noise over on Insano’s favourite platform that Southwood is going to Bristol Rovers.

Would we start the season with TSL and Hutchinson as our only keepers? Seems doubtful.

Well if that price were anything like realistic we'd rip their arms off!!

[BWFC_Insane]

Some noise over on Insano’s favourite platform that Southwood is going to Bristol Rovers.

Would we start the season with TSL and Hutchinson as our only keepers? Seems doubtful.

I would. A second expensive keeper sitting on your bench is a waste of resources. They won’t win you points.

If they are sure about TSL as they seem to be and have given Hutch a two year deal and as they keep saying are serious about pathways into the side for younger players then I don’t see why not.

You can emergency loan a keeper if an injury does occur.

But when Trafford was here. What difference did the backup make?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

FWIW

https://x.com/trotterchatpod/status/193 ... RfeFFwo0hQ

[truewhite15]

Personally wouldn't like to see Southwood go. He's a good bloke, nice to chat to. He's not a bad keeper at this level. And my daughter would be heartbroken - she's already feeling the pain of both Baxter and Collins going.

But I guess it's one of those "no room for sentiment" situations. If he feels he can get more game time elsewhere, if we feel that going into the season with TSL and Hutch as our keepers is where we want to be, then best of luck to him.

Kids bounce back fast from their favourites leaving the club, right? Right???

[Frank Drebin]

Personally wouldn't like to see Southwood go. He's a good bloke, nice to chat to. He's not a bad keeper at this level. And my daughter would be heartbroken - she's already feeling the pain of both Baxter and Collins going.

But I guess it's one of those "no room for sentiment" situations. If he feels he can get more game time elsewhere, if we feel that going into the season with TSL and Hutch as our keepers is where we want to be, then best of luck to him.

Kids bounce back fast from their favourites leaving the club, right? Right???

I can assure they do, my daughter was besotted with Stuart Holden but she moved on surprisingly quickly once he’d gone.

[Prufrock]

I mean obviously that fee is mental and so I doubt the whole thing, but anything close to that and I'll start the car etc.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

We'll find out soon but I suspect it's utter pony: seems to have been started by a faceless Bristol Rovers account with 254 followers. Not sure where the hell the "transfer tittle" account (98 followers) got the idea that recently relegated Rovers will spend seven figures on a third-tier goalkeeper who's recently seen a major positional threat signed, but it's so funny I had to post it.

If we did get an offer for Southwood - possible but not at that fee! - I think we may well accept it, and perhaps as a back-up sign an old-stager, maybe one who wants to get into coaching and would be on less money than Southwood. On Transfermarkt I can see 8 or 10 freebies aged 30+ who were at third-tier clubs last year. Hutchinson needs a season of games, not sitting on the bench.

[BWFC_Insane]

We'll find out soon but I suspect it's utter pony: seems to have been started by a faceless Bristol Rovers account with 254 followers. Not sure where the hell the "transfer tittle" account (98 followers) got the idea that recently relegated Rovers will spend seven figures on a third-tier goalkeeper who's recently seen a major positional threat signed, but it's so funny I had to post it.

If we did get an offer for Southwood - possible but not at that fee! - I think we may well accept it, and perhaps as a back-up sign an old-stager, maybe one who wants to get into coaching and would be on less money than Southwood. On Transfermarkt I can see 8 or 10 freebies aged 30+ who were at third-tier clubs last year. Hutchinson needs a season of games, not sitting on the bench.

Or he needs a pathway to get a chance with our first team. He’s listed as being 22. Still young for a keeper but I’d not have issue with him being our backup and experiencing the first team setup. I think for a keeper the advantages are substantial. Coaching from first team keeeper coach. Being in that team with first choice keeper and learning. Being part of a team match days and travelling with the squad etc. getting cup games. Maybe even some league games.

I don’t see a major issue with him being back up if that is an area they want to make savings in.

I also think that I can’t think of many occassions where we’ve had a really good keeper with a backup on the bench that wasn’t a problem - maybe only Al Habsi era - rest of the time we’ve basically had a good keeper and a problem if they were injured.

Also I guess I’m biased in that I think Southwood is a bit bobbins.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Or he needs a pathway to get a chance with our first team. He’s listed as being 22. Still young for a keeper but I’d not have issue with him being our backup and experiencing the first team setup. I think for a keeper the advantages are substantial. Coaching from first team keeeper coach. Being in that team with first choice keeper and learning. Being part of a team match days and travelling with the squad etc. getting cup games. Maybe even some league games.

...and I think he should get all that while also playing 40-50 games of actual grown-up football at National League or League Two level. What he needs isn't training, it's experience. As you say, he's 22 - 23 in September. Six months older than Sharman-Lowe. Traf was 19 when he came here. Hutch isn't in their league but we need to find his ceiling and he won't do that without playing.

I also think that I can’t think of many occassions where we’ve had a really good keeper with a backup on the bench that wasn’t a problem - maybe only Al Habsi era - rest of the time we’ve basically had a good keeper and a problem if they were injured.

I'm thinking of a Kevin Poole type. Or Ian Walker. To an extent, GIlks, altho he was keeper coach.

Before last season, probably the only time we've had two 'equal' keepers really fighting it out - since Al Habsi and Bogdan challenged Jussi - was Howard/Alnwick. It's a funny balance with keepers.

Also I guess I’m biased in that I think Southwood is a bit bobbins.

We agree that he's dispensable. We just disagree on what next.

[Worthy4England]

Personally wouldn't like to see Southwood go. He's a good bloke, nice to chat to. He's not a bad keeper at this level. And my daughter would be heartbroken - she's already feeling the pain of both Baxter and Collins going.

But I guess it's one of those "no room for sentiment" situations. If he feels he can get more game time elsewhere, if we feel that going into the season with TSL and Hutch as our keepers is where we want to be, then best of luck to him.

Kids bounce back fast from their favourites leaving the club, right? Right???

I haven't quite forgiven them for Worthy leaving yet.

[Worthy4England]

One million? 1,000,000.00? Been lovely knowing you, hope it all works out, wish you luck in your future career. etc. etc.

I mean I started the window with they can all go. for me, I might be marginally more upset at one or two, but I'm fine with a clear out.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

One million? 1,000,000.00? Been lovely knowing you, hope it all works out, wish you luck in your future career. etc. etc.

Yeah sadly that's not happening, bud... indeed:
https://x.com/EdJohnsonSport/status/1937432052397228276
.

.
Not a 100% reliable source – says he's a freelance journalist, but never tweets links to published work; guess he could be a stringer filing match reports. Feed is about half things that didn't happen, half things that did but may well have been common knowledge by the time he tweeted them.