The "Nothing to see here"Transfer thread

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

He was a success for himself. For the team, we went downhill in terms of team performance and points per game. I'm sure from memory, quite a few other stats went South too.

That was my thinking as well. That said, the goals to games ratio Sturridge had was fantastic. I don't think he has come remotely close to that since though...

[truewhite15]

Ricketts 2001-02 stats look better when you consider he was sold in January. Oh what might have been.

anyway, its not necessarily the end of the world if we do or don't sign Beckford - in '95 the scoring was generally shared around the team and we went up through the play offs, in 96-97 Blake and McGinlay smashed in over 60 between them, and we went up as champions. its how the team operates thats the key.

I would like to see Dawson, but whats the sketch at WBA? Surely a young promising defender is someone they'd like to hold onto? Are they just chancing their arm to see if they can get some wedge, if not keep?

Not so, my lord.

Ricketts was on fire 01-02. He played for England towards the back end of the season, and after having a shitter, his form fell off a cliff.

He was with us for the start of 02-03, but couldn't score from open play until we met West Ham in the game that decided who'd be bottom at Xmas. The goal he scored then was in off his backside, his hand, and he was probably marginally offside, but it went in. About the same sort of time, he declared that he'd had enough, and wanted to leave to forward his ambitions as an international, and to win trophies.

He scored twice against Newcastle at home on Boxing Day, to decidedly mixed reactions. Then in January, he scarpered to Middlesbrough for about £3.5M, proceeding to declare that Boro were massive as compared to Bolton, and that their conditions made ours look like sewage works (I paraphrase).

He had a shite start, and his first Boro goal came, you guessed it, against us on the final day of the season. He also got the trophy he wanted, again against us, coming on as a second half sub.

His fall from grace has been both expected and satisfying.

[Harry Genshaw]

He played for England towards the back end of the season, and after having a shitter, his form fell off a cliff.

This is a bit of a myth though. He was worth a call up for England on his in the early part of his 1st season in the Prem. By the time he did appear in the National side his form for us had already dipped.

[bobo the clown]

He played for England towards the back end of the season, and after having a shitter, his form fell off a cliff.

This is a bit of a myth though. He was worth a call up for England on his in the early part of his 1st season in the Prem. By the time he did appear in the National side his form for us had already dipped.

He was a superb one-on-one player ... until that Christmas he fckd a chance up and I don't think he scored another ... possibly ever, certainly for us. I think, oddly, that was v Middlesbrough that Christmas.

He had gone off the boil, as Harry says, prior to his call up. There was a TV programme done on him, showing his new flat and car and he muttered then something about "bigger and better things" ... yet it was only about a month after signing a new contract with us. Hoddle at Spurs and Villa (O'Leary ???) tried tapping him up and BSA dug his heels in.

He ended up not training, threatening to go on strike and being made to train (??) with the kids. What a silly arse.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/playe ... son_id=132" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He'd scored 1 in 12 for us before that West Ham goal. Those against Newcastle were his last league goals for us. He scored at home to Sunderland in the FA Cup and that was it. We didn't play Boro over Christmas.

No matter how he left us, it's sad to see his decline since - and sad to hear some of the stories off-field, too.

[TKIZ!]

If he'd sorted himself out mentally he could have been one of the best strikers we ever had. From all the stories I've read/heard he just wasn't committed to BWFC

[TKIZ!]

If he'd sorted himself out mentally he could have been one of the best strikers we ever had. From all the stories I've read/heard he just wasn't committed to BWFC

For me personally he sums up, as much as I understand good/promising players wanting to move on, why it's not always beneficial for players to only be concerned with their own self worth. I don't wish misfortune on anyone, but in the same breath I don't feel sorry for him either.

True that. It would also help if clubs didn't pay extortionate amounts of money to young players who then feel they don't have to earn it.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

It would also help if clubs didn't pay extortionate amounts of money to young players who then feel they don't have to earn it.

While I understand your point, Ricketts had spent four years scratching around at Walsall before joining us, so it's not like he was cossetted through an Academy being fed grapes and told he was the new Pele. When he left us he was 24, which is hardly wet-eared youth.

[TKIZ!]

Fair point DSB, I was meaning he had no real incentive to stay.

[boltonboris]

I can live with somebody not being fully commited to one club. What I can't grasp though, is the mentality..

He's not a BWFC fan, he wanted to play at a higher level.. So show it! I'm a great advocate of players showing what they've got, playing well, giving us success and moving on for money. That's how we need to operate and it's a good selling tool to young players.

But sulking about like a fanny and not scoring for 4-5 months doesn't get you anywhere

[TKIZ!]

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... s/10484180._/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

[ChrisC]

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... s/10484180._/?

Sign him up Coyle! He will love the pies in Wigan!

[TKIZ!]

Could this mean a raiding of Bolton and potentially Eagles going? He's played under Coyle at two clubs now, seems to get on very well with him and is held in high regard by him. /speculation

Not going to happen, unless the pie-eaters come up with a ridiculous amount of money. Dougie already said he wants to make Eagles and Mavies the focus of the team

[Beefheart]

Could this mean a raiding of Bolton and potentially Eagles going? He's played under Coyle at two clubs now, seems to get on very well with him and is held in high regard by him. /speculation

Not going to happen, unless the pie-eaters come up with a ridiculous amount of money. Dougie already said he wants to make Eagles and Mavies the focus of the team

True, but they're aiming for promotion too (whether that will be realistic is a different argument) and they have the attraction of at least a few games of European football. Personally I hope not, but an alarm bell did ring in my head.

I'd say distraction rather than attraction given that with the community shield they've already got 7 extra games. It'll be enjoyable for the fans I'm sure, but can't see it helping their promotion chances. Coyle does have quite a good record in the cups (forgetting the semi-final of course).

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I wouldn't worry too much about them pinching crown jewels - after a strong season finish here, players would be leaping somewhat into the unknown over there – but they need a few players and he'll want to make his mark. They seem particularly understaffed in defence last season (and he'll be playing a back four) so maybe he'll buy Mears, Ream, Mills and Knight...

In all seriousness it's hard to imagine who would rather play for him than Dougie, except those out of favour under the current gaffer –Mears leaps to mind. Ream is somewhat out of the picture but, as the BN reports today, played either side of the Dawson loan. That may have been born of necessity but he's arguably ahead of Mills, who would probably rather rejoin Brian McDermott at Leeds, while Wheater must wonder what's going on next.

It's possible to make a case for other Coyle signings wanting to flit – he does have a close relationship with Eagles, although you wouldn't expect a sideways move rather than a promotion to a Premier side – but under Dougie many seem to have fitted in (Andrews was praised for holding off his operation) or improved (Pratley, Ngog).

[TKIZ!]

http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfourtw ... coyle.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

Read the first two paragraphs of this 2011/12 interview with OC and tell me it doesn't make your blood boil ever so slightly

[bobo the clown]

Quite honestly ... and accepting that a starting XI place is important to people ... any player who thinks being managed by Coyle is a better option than Freedman would need his nuts examining.

[TKIZ!]

Quite honestly ... and accepting that a starting XI place is important to people ... any player who thinks being managed by Coyle is a better option than Freedman would need his nuts examining.

True that, how long before he sells us Al Habsi back?

[bobo the clown]

http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfourtw ... coyle.aspx?

Read the first two paragraphs of this 2011/12 interview with OC and tell me it doesn't make your blood boil ever so slightly

No, Not "ever so slightly", not "slightly" at all.

What a prick.

(Coyle, not you .... )

[TKIZ!]

http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfourtw ... coyle.aspx?

Read the first two paragraphs of this 2011/12 interview with OC and tell me it doesn't make your blood boil ever so slightly

No, Not "ever so slightly", not "slightly" at all.

What a prick.

(Coyle, not you .... )

Who you calling a pr.....

Sorry couldn't find the sarcastic emoticon to go with the slightly bit