Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[BWFC_Insane]

I'll be impressed if Lincoln offer him £35k, a number I suspect Capology have plucked from thin air, as they do. Good on 'em all.

More seriously, IDK - let's see who turns up (and where freebies like Toffolo, if not necessarily him, end up - if anywhere). It's possible if Conway impresses in pre-season we could just go with him: Schumacher mentioned again that Taylor can play left-back, although personally I'd rather the new lad be MMA-monstering in the middle.

I note the talk about a smaller squad to preserve pathways into the first team for younger players and a future review on academy status from Fergal in the BN today.

Results on the pitch ultimately are what matter and they can be impacted by a number of things and who knows if it will work out as I’d say usually when I feel we’ve got the right people it turns out we don’t.

But I don’t half feel like we’re on the right track now compared to before. I mean I feel like everything we did was so wrong. Losing academy was probably not a choice but scrapping U23’s then B team nonsense (and it was a complete nonsense) and approach to signings and younger players was all so wrong.

If Schuey can’t make it happen then Harkin gets a go to pick someone who can but generally I just feel the club is run in a way that makes sense to me now. It feels professional. Maybe we lack the big character style leader and I don’t know if that’s an issue or not. Our success has mainly had those figureheads. But this feels so much more sensible than before.

[Prufrock]

I'd have thought it self evident that if he wants too much money we shouldn't sign him. But none of us know what he wants or what our budget is.

I suspect it's bollocks for the reasons DSB gives, but if Lincoln were in the conversation, we should be too.

[The_Gun]

Lincoln are not in the mix for Toffolo this summer, come on.

[Prufrock]

It's certainly unlikely, but then I don't think anyone would have thought Ollie Norwood pitching up from being a prem regular to Stockport would happen either this time last year. Unlikely things sometimes happen.

[The_Gun]

From looking at the Lincoln forum, this link seems to have originated from him appearing on a podcast where he says he’d like to be involved with them in some capacity again in the future, but crucially, “not now”.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I note the talk about a smaller squad to preserve pathways into the first team for younger players and a future review on academy status from Fergal in the BN today.

So do I. What I also notice is that before he said he wanted fewer than 25 he's now saying fewer than 26, 27. I'm sure it's not purposeful...

[BWFC_Insane]

I note the talk about a smaller squad to preserve pathways into the first team for younger players and a future review on academy status from Fergal in the BN today.

So do I. What I also notice is that before he said he wanted fewer than 25 he's now saying fewer than 26, 27. I'm sure it's not purposeful...

The actual quote is it’s not like we will have a squad of 26 or 27….but probably reflects the difficulty of shifting players.

However I took the comments more broadly than about one season. It’s about a broader principle.

[Worthy4England]

I'll be impressed if Lincoln offer him £35k, a number I suspect Capology have plucked from thin air, as they do. Good on 'em all.

More seriously, IDK - let's see who turns up (and where freebies like Toffolo, if not necessarily him, end up - if anywhere). It's possible if Conway impresses in pre-season we could just go with him: Schumacher mentioned again that Taylor can play left-back, although personally I'd rather the new lad be MMA-monstering in the middle.

I think a part of me will expire, slowly in a corner, if Taylor ends up as a LB. If you're buying CB's buy CB's - yes I get that "in an absolute emergency" - but they're one offs - not transfer strategy. I know it's only his clip reel, but most of his stuff looks to be reading the game in the middle of the park. Out of preference, we'd want a strong LB to stop shit hitting the middle, I have no idea whether Conway is any good at that. If he can also bomb forwards that's icing, not cake.

[BWFC_Insane]

I'll be impressed if Lincoln offer him £35k, a number I suspect Capology have plucked from thin air, as they do. Good on 'em all.

More seriously, IDK - let's see who turns up (and where freebies like Toffolo, if not necessarily him, end up - if anywhere). It's possible if Conway impresses in pre-season we could just go with him: Schumacher mentioned again that Taylor can play left-back, although personally I'd rather the new lad be MMA-monstering in the middle.

I think a part of me will expire, slowly in a corner, if Taylor ends up as a LB. If you're buying CB's buy CB's - yes I get that "in an absolute emergency" - but they're one offs - not transfer strategy. I know it's only his clip reel, but most of his stuff looks to be reading the game in the middle of the park. Out of preference, we'd want a strong LB to stop shit hitting the middle, I have no idea whether Conway is any good at that. If he can also bomb forwards that's icing, not cake.

Counter point - modern game in a 433 your full backs have more of the ball than anyone. This has been true for a while now. So being good on the ball and decent going forwards matters. Yes they need to be able to defend as a priority.

Also agree on Taylor - if we are putting anyone at LB it should be Johnston.

[HMX]

Iredale would've been handy at this stage. Probably happy to compete with Conway too.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I note the talk about a smaller squad to preserve pathways into the first team for younger players and a future review on academy status from Fergal in the BN today.

So do I. What I also notice is that before he said he wanted fewer than 25 he's now saying fewer than 26, 27. I'm sure it's not purposeful...

The actual quote is it’s not like we will have a squad of 26 or 27….but probably reflects the difficulty of shifting players.

However I took the comments more broadly than about one season. It’s about a broader principle.

Yeah fair comment (I was brief as I had to flee to a meeting)

His new quote is "it's not that Stephen will have 26, 27 first-team senior players this season." His unveiling interview he said “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." Both are well-meaning but fairly vague and I wouldn't read too much into either, although the direction of travel is noticeable. If anything, I'm taking it that we know we need a few more and we know it might not be easy to shift some unwanted out. Neither conclusion is mind-blowing.

Also depends how you cut it. You can say we have 25 in the first-team squad but that includes Southwood, Conway, Hutchinson and Warren, whose futures are not yet decided; while most folk agree we need a left-back, two wingers and another striker of some sort. Still a few deals to strike.

[The_Gun]

Is Warren overage? If so, he's surely being earmarked for an immediate loan, because I can't see him taking up a squad space.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Is Warren overage? If so, he's surely being earmarked for an immediate loan, because I can't see him taking up a squad space.

We don't know. So far only his age has been revealed, not his birthday, and it tells us that he may or may not be overage by the EFL definition. I'm sure it'll come clear in time.

Earlier this week Iles quoted Schumacher as saying “We don't know what his career path is going to be like yet. He is going to train with the first team for the first few weeks, and then we make our decision from there on whether he goes with the B team, he stays with us, or he goes out on loan."

Some of it may depend on whether we get any wingers in. We're wafer-thin out there unless we're redeploying a Randall or a McAtee out wide.

[Bijou Bob]

Edited post: Mahoosive brain fart whilst multi tasking, confusing two players) clubs

[The_Gun]

Just going back a page, I just can't see Hull paying anyone in their squad £35k/ week. More likely half of that, if it's that high. There will be one or two clubs with parachute payments blowing that, and I can see Leeds and Sunderland having paid big wages, but very few others.

I would presume agents representing anyone in a free transfer will be asking for what might have been a fee for their client to be split along the length of their contract. That would have to fit in with whatever the wage structure and cap are at Bolton? If that is the case, then we're probably priced out of some deals, at least the early ones. Come late August, some players and agents will have to taper their expectations, which is when they might then come within range.

You’ve lost me here, Bob. Where do Hull come into this?

[Worthy4England]

I'll be impressed if Lincoln offer him £35k, a number I suspect Capology have plucked from thin air, as they do. Good on 'em all.

More seriously, IDK - let's see who turns up (and where freebies like Toffolo, if not necessarily him, end up - if anywhere). It's possible if Conway impresses in pre-season we could just go with him: Schumacher mentioned again that Taylor can play left-back, although personally I'd rather the new lad be MMA-monstering in the middle.

I think a part of me will expire, slowly in a corner, if Taylor ends up as a LB. If you're buying CB's buy CB's - yes I get that "in an absolute emergency" - but they're one offs - not transfer strategy. I know it's only his clip reel, but most of his stuff looks to be reading the game in the middle of the park. Out of preference, we'd want a strong LB to stop shit hitting the middle, I have no idea whether Conway is any good at that. If he can also bomb forwards that's icing, not cake.

Counter point - modern game in a 433 your full backs have more of the ball than anyone. This has been true for a while now. So being good on the ball and decent going forwards matters. Yes they need to be able to defend as a priority.

Also agree on Taylor - if we are putting anyone at LB it should be Johnston.

Not sure what point you're countering? We need decent everywhere, including both RB and LB. Either of them being "great" at going forwards, is needed. But you don't want them to be able to pick a cross up top and no clue as to how to stop a cross at the back. They have to be able to do both, but setting up 1 whilst conceding 2 off your flank isn't a recipe for success.

So I still contend that the "getting forwards" bit is more icing than cake.

[BWFC_Insane]

I'll be impressed if Lincoln offer him £35k, a number I suspect Capology have plucked from thin air, as they do. Good on 'em all.

More seriously, IDK - let's see who turns up (and where freebies like Toffolo, if not necessarily him, end up - if anywhere). It's possible if Conway impresses in pre-season we could just go with him: Schumacher mentioned again that Taylor can play left-back, although personally I'd rather the new lad be MMA-monstering in the middle.

I think a part of me will expire, slowly in a corner, if Taylor ends up as a LB. If you're buying CB's buy CB's - yes I get that "in an absolute emergency" - but they're one offs - not transfer strategy. I know it's only his clip reel, but most of his stuff looks to be reading the game in the middle of the park. Out of preference, we'd want a strong LB to stop shit hitting the middle, I have no idea whether Conway is any good at that. If he can also bomb forwards that's icing, not cake.

Counter point - modern game in a 433 your full backs have more of the ball than anyone. This has been true for a while now. So being good on the ball and decent going forwards matters. Yes they need to be able to defend as a priority.

Also agree on Taylor - if we are putting anyone at LB it should be Johnston.

Not sure what point you're countering? We need decent everywhere, including both RB and LB. Either of them being "great" at going forwards, is needed. But you don't want them to be able to pick a cross up top and no clue as to how to stop a cross at the back. They have to be able to do both, but setting up 1 whilst conceding 2 off your flank isn't a recipe for success.

So I still contend that the "getting forwards" bit is more icing than cake.

I think it’s more than icing in a lot of cases. I mean sure if you set up like say a Parky team then a more robust full back who ultimately defends and can lob some balls into the oppositions box can work - though I suspect he would also want more.

Even Big Sam back in the day felt that a full back had to do as much going forwards as defensively - it’s partly why he spotted Gardner would do well there with his pace and dribbling ability.

I think the role is more mixed today out of necessity. But assuming we aren’t playing wing backs you would on paper look at Cogley and say he’s probably the ideal full back for league one.

[Worthy4England]

Yes - Cogley. But then we often bemoan the ball into the box, but he generally gets back when needed and at least pushes them wide - That'll be more in focus without 3 CD's...

[The_Gun]

Scottish rag the Daily Record report that Celtic have turned down a Bolton bid of £500k for their Irish striker Johnny Kenny.

[The_Gun]

On an unrelated note, I’ve not seen any sight of Dan in the content the club have put out.