Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[BWFC_Insane]

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.

Yeah I get all you are saying. I just think that if you are as Fergal and Schuey say about creating a pathway to the first team for young players then isn’t signing another older keeper in place of Hutch not another block? He’s 22 - say he gets a year in league 2 - and I’d add it’s probably not that easy to get games guaranteed somewhere for a keeper - but say he does - and Bolton achieve their ambition of promotion - we then have exactly the same issue - a 23 year old who we probably say isn’t tested for the championship.

A judgement needs to be made for each player with info we don’t have as to whether they are best served getting games on loan or being round the first team here. And I think for a keeper the equation is a bit different - Jussi for example who came here at a similar age will cite working with Fred Barber as being the most significant thing here - and he basically learned on the job.

[Worthy4England]

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?

Wasn't too long ago when we were citing reasons we missed out on the automatics including amongst them, back up keeper...

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

For £1m we'd be daft not to take it.

I'm not sure having 2 keepers with a season between them is a particularly good idea. TSL by all accounts had a great season last, but there are no guarantees he follows that up here. We've seen with other players that have done great in one place and been bobbins at another just a few months apart. If TSL had a sudden case of the Crellins are we really gambling on Hutch to play week in week out until January and harbour ambitions of top 2/6?

If Southwood goes we need someone with some experience along the lines DSB has cited.

[The_Gun]

For £1m we'd be daft not to take it.

I'm not sure having 2 keepers with a season between them is a particularly good idea. TSL by all accounts had a great season last, but there are no guarantees he follows that up here. We've seen with other players that have done great in one place and been bobbins at another just a few months apart. If TSL had a sudden case of the Crellins are we really gambling on Hutch to play week in week out until January and harbour ambitions of top 2/6?

If Southwood goes we need someone with some experience along the lines DSB has cited.

If we got a fee it wouldn't be anywhere near £1m. I'd guess a tenth of that at most.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

For £1m we'd be daft not to take it.

I'm not sure having 2 keepers with a season between them is a particularly good idea. TSL by all accounts had a great season last, but there are no guarantees he follows that up here. We've seen with other players that have done great in one place and been bobbins at another just a few months apart. If TSL had a sudden case of the Crellins are we really gambling on Hutch to play week in week out until January and harbour ambitions of top 2/6?

If Southwood goes we need someone with some experience along the lines DSB has cited.

If we got a fee it wouldn't be anywhere near £1m. I'd guess a tenth of that at most.

I don't believe the £1m as well. Just saying if it was then hands should be snatched and deal with replacements later

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yeah I get all you are saying. I just think that if you are as Fergal and Schuey say about creating a pathway to the first team for young players then isn’t signing another older keeper in place of Hutch not another block? He’s 22 - say he gets a year in league 2 - and I’d add it’s probably not that easy to get games guaranteed somewhere for a keeper - but say he does - and Bolton achieve their ambition of promotion - we then have exactly the same issue - a 23 year old who we probably say isn’t tested for the championship.

And in turn, I hear you. But I hear AT louder:

I'm not sure having 2 keepers with a season between them is a particularly good idea. TSL by all accounts had a great season last, but there are no guarantees he follows that up here. We've seen with other players that have done great in one place and been bobbins at another just a few months apart. If TSL had a sudden case of the Crellins are we really gambling on Hutch to play week in week out until January and harbour ambitions of top 2/6?

If Southwood goes we need someone with some experience along the lines DSB has cited.

It's not just form (though that is a concern). What if TSL picks up a four- to six-week injury? Baxter was out last season with a thigh (7 games) the season before it was wrist (13 games) and earlier that season Coleman was out with calf (5) and ankle (3) problems.

Hutch has never had a loan above the sixth tier - that's regional football. We had him hanging around for the vast majority of last season - he was recalled in October during Baxter's thigh outage, and never went back out again. Maybe the (then) coaching staff thought he could learn by being around the team – he was on the bench behind Southwood and got a game against Villa, who scored with their only effort on target (although I appreciate the argument that such things are reductive, it's not even like he got much practice that night). I'm very far from sure he's ready, and I'm almost certain we won't know until he's playing very regular football at a decent level. If he's doing that for us, it means bad news re TSL and an enormous risk on our behalf.

[BWFC_Insane]

Yeah I get all you are saying. I just think that if you are as Fergal and Schuey say about creating a pathway to the first team for young players then isn’t signing another older keeper in place of Hutch not another block? He’s 22 - say he gets a year in league 2 - and I’d add it’s probably not that easy to get games guaranteed somewhere for a keeper - but say he does - and Bolton achieve their ambition of promotion - we then have exactly the same issue - a 23 year old who we probably say isn’t tested for the championship.

And in turn, I hear you. But I hear AT louder:

I'm not sure having 2 keepers with a season between them is a particularly good idea. TSL by all accounts had a great season last, but there are no guarantees he follows that up here. We've seen with other players that have done great in one place and been bobbins at another just a few months apart. If TSL had a sudden case of the Crellins are we really gambling on Hutch to play week in week out until January and harbour ambitions of top 2/6?

If Southwood goes we need someone with some experience along the lines DSB has cited.

It's not just form (though that is a concern). What if TSL picks up a four- to six-week injury? Baxter was out last season with a thigh (7 games) the season before it was wrist (13 games) and earlier that season Coleman was out with calf (5) and ankle (3) problems.

Hutch has never had a loan above the sixth tier - that's regional football. We had him hanging around for the vast majority of last season - he was recalled in October during Baxter's thigh outage, and never went back out again. Maybe the (then) coaching staff thought he could learn by being around the team – he was on the bench behind Southwood and got a game against Villa, who scored with their only effort on target (although I appreciate the argument that such things are reductive, it's not even like he got much practice that night). I'm very far from sure he's ready, and I'm almost certain we won't know until he's playing very regular football at a decent level. If he's doing that for us, it means bad news re TSL and an enormous risk on our behalf.

My view is of course predicated on SS and FH being sure that TSL is the right option. And him being the right option.

[Worthy4England]

Our reserve keepers might look better and less worrying for us, if our defensive unit actually did some defending. I'd be shit scared, sat behind our lot, whatever age I was. You have to hope that a couple of key signings alongside someone knowing what a defence is, alleviates some of the concerns.

[BWFC_Insane]

Our reserve keepers might look better and less worrying for us, if our defensive unit actually did some defending. I'd be shit scared, sat behind our lot, whatever age I was. You have to hope that a couple of key signings alongside someone knowing what a defence is, alleviates some of the concerns.

A fair question to ask is how much of our vaunted defensive record (year we lost semi final of play offs) was down to having Trafford in goal rather than really having a tight defence?

[Worthy4England]

For me it's about units and partnerships, not individuals. But what you might say. is that

Trafford, Bradley, Jones, Santos, Johnston - LWB was either Declan John or Iredale were probably better defensively than what we currently have. And sat in front of them we generally had Morley, Dempsey and MJ (until he left) and we had a decent press with Dion/Kacha (not many goals from Kacha, but he was a fcking menace).

You compare that with Collins, Randall, Sheehan and Toal, defensively and they're about 2 Leagues apart. I don't have Toal down as a write off, but I think he's got less defensive nous/positional sense than an "at his best" Gethin.

[BWFC_Insane]

For me it's about units and partnerships, not individuals. But what you might say. is that

Trafford, Bradley, Jones, Santos, Johnston - LWB was either Declan John or Iredale were probably better defensively than what we currently have. And sat in front of them we generally had Morley, Dempsey and MJ (until he left) and we had a decent press with Dion/Kacha (not many goals from Kacha, but he was a fcking menace).

You compare that with Collins, Randall, Sheehan and Toal, defensively and they're about 2 Leagues apart. I don't have Toal down as a write off, but I think he's got less defensive nous/positional sense than an "at his best" Gethin.

Agree with all that bar the Toal/Gethin comparison.

[Worthy4England]

Just watch the number of times we have free players in 6/8 yards out. Free headers, unchallenged toe-pokes - all over the place. They need an organiser next to him. I'm hoping that's Taylor because it sure as hell isn't Eoin.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

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[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles reporting Southwood “looks set to leave” and theorising that he may not be replaced. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ol-rovers/

[Frank Drebin]

Iles reporting Southwood “looks set to leave” and theorising that he may not be replaced. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ol-rovers/

Luke Hutchinson would be the backup then. I’m all for having a route for the youngsters but so long as it doesn’t detract from the aim of promotion, that has to be the priority for me.

[The_Gun]

Iles reporting Southwood “looks set to leave” and theorising that he may not be replaced. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ol-rovers/

Yes, I suspected that one might have legs. I had a quick browse of the Gas forum yesterday, and the story seemed to have originated from posters who appear close to the club.

Anyway, it would be a huge vote of confidence in Hutchinson if he is indeed trusted as the deputy going into next season. Only one game in Div. 3 to his name if memory serves?

[BWFC_Insane]

Iles reporting Southwood “looks set to leave” and theorising that he may not be replaced. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ol-rovers/

Luke Hutchinson would be the backup then. I’m all for having a route for the youngsters but so long as it doesn’t detract from the aim of promotion, that has to be the priority for me.

Honestly I think it makes perfect sense. Wasting resources having a senior keeper sitting on the bench (and by extension any senior keeper sitting on a league one bench is going to be average at absolutely best) is just not a good plan in my view.

When Sharon came to the conclusion that ‘had Baxter not been injured we’d have gone up’ I shuddered as I felt that was entirely the wrong lesson to learn. We need two top keepers is a) not happening and b) not going to change the number of points you get in many cases since only one can play.

[BWFC_Insane]

Iles reporting Southwood “looks set to leave” and theorising that he may not be replaced. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ol-rovers/

Yes, I suspected that one might have legs. I had a quick browse of the Gas forum yesterday, and the story seemed to have originated from posters who appear close to the club.

Anyway, it would be a huge vote of confidence in Hutchinson if he is indeed trusted as the deputy going into next season. Only one game in Div. 3 to his name if memory serves?

But that’s what pathway to the first team means isn’t it? You can’t have all these promising young players and keep saying they aren’t ready - you have to offer a pathway. Or accept you don’t want to develop your own.

Nolan hadn’t played much of any level and debuted in the championship.

Whilst there are instances where young players need proper games - I feel we forget we are in league one where most clubs are blooding their own youngsters.

We also want more signings and it’s clear money is tight. So feels to me like the most sensible thing to do. Cut expenses where players will only make limited impact. Southwood on the bench is a good place to cut.

[Frank Drebin]

Iles reporting Southwood “looks set to leave” and theorising that he may not be replaced. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ol-rovers/

Luke Hutchinson would be the backup then. I’m all for having a route for the youngsters but so long as it doesn’t detract from the aim of promotion, that has to be the priority for me.

Honestly I think it makes perfect sense. Wasting resources having a senior keeper sitting on the bench (and by extension any senior keeper sitting on a league one bench is going to be average at absolutely best) is just not a good plan in my view.

When Sharon came to the conclusion that ‘had Baxter not been injured we’d have gone up’ I shuddered as I felt that was entirely the wrong lesson to learn. We need two top keepers is a) not happening and b) not going to change the number of points you get in many cases since only one can play.

Fair point and yes it isn’t going to change the points total, unless TSL gets injured early doors and Hutchinson doesn’t come up to scratch, but it’s unusual for keepers to get injured, and the staff have faith in Luke Hutchinson. As they’ve recently extended his contract.
If we’re going down the road of blooding youngsters, what are your thoughts on outfield players? For example Iles reporting that we’re looking for wingers and full backs. This got me thinking is Adembola the backup for Dalby? I thought Adembola was impressive in the few appearances he made, but it’s a long old season.

[The_Gun]

I don’t disagree with you at all, mate. I am a massive proponent of developing youngsters, and am very pleased that our new leadership seem to want to walk down that path.

The only slightly surprising aspect is that Hutch is 22, and barring that one game for Crawley last season, hasn’t played above National League North. So this is quite a big jump.