Deal or no deal? - Summer 2022 Transfer gossip!

[Prufrock]

For which role - if a back three? Santos plays middle. Jones right. Aimson covers both those. Say Iredale on the left Johnston covers those.

So you are either upgrading on Jones who I put down as our best ‘defender’ or Santos who is captain.

Next to Santos in a 4 and right or centre of a three, depending on the game and who is fit. I think there's enough rotation at the back for Geth to still play a lot of football, both as a right back in a four and a right centre back in a three.

A 46 games season and versatility lets players play a lot.

I think we need another centre back. There's no point getting someone to be League One back up if we plan to go up this season.

Yeah agree with that. I think we need another centre back and budget and priority allowing we should be looking to improve on what we've got. If Geth can't get into our best XI next year, we won't be far off.

[BWFC_Insane]

For which role - if a back three? Santos plays middle. Jones right. Aimson covers both those. Say Iredale on the left Johnston covers those.

So you are either upgrading on Jones who I put down as our best ‘defender’ or Santos who is captain.

Next to Santos in a 4 and right or centre of a three, depending on the game and who is fit. I think there's enough rotation at the back for Geth to still play a lot of football, both as a right back in a four and a right centre back in a three.

A 46 games season and versatility lets players play a lot.

I think we need another centre back. There's no point getting someone to be League One back up if we plan to go up this season.

See I agree that we need another centre back. But one as good as you say for my book would be taking the place of either our best defender or Santos. And that’s why I raise an eyebrow because a defender that good creates a selection headache. A good one maybe but still. I’d also say it would mean potentially letting Senior go on loan to develop.

[Worthy4England]

Johnston has been largely excellent since January. I'm not sure why you're still on his back.

I think he’s been awful in many games. Defensively woeful at times. So I fundamentally disagree. I never feel that our defence is secure with him in it.

I just don’t believe he has the consistency or reliability and I’m hoping Iredale will add those.

I'm inclined to agree with you on Johnston. I tend to be pleasantly surprised when he gets things right - which isn't a good place to be.

I mean he's not a bad player, however, the cold, hard fact is that we simply need better.

His bad games have been really bad and he's definitely not one to be relied on as first pick. However I think he's had enough good games and is young enough to keep on and see if he steps up. We definitely need better like you say, but in a year or two he might be it.

I haven't quite written him off yet because he's still young, but you can see why Pies thought they could get a better pick. Going forwards he's great. Defensively he's positionally all ower the shop and often "not there" when you think he should be.

[GhostoftheBok]

See I agree that we need another centre back. But one as good as you say for my book would be taking the place of either our best defender or Santos. And that’s why I raise an eyebrow because a defender that good creates a selection headache. A good one maybe but still. I’d also say it would mean potentially letting Senior go on loan to develop.

That's the trade, though.

I can see the need for some talent to develop in key areas and I've spoken before of players like Tyreece Simpson. That could be the sort of thing we do at centre back.

It's opinion, but to me we need to be a level above where we were last season and to do that we need keystone players. Lads who will come in and just be too good.

I'd like one in each compartment of the pitch....backs, mids and forwards.

I'm not expecting it necessarily, but I think that's what's needed if we want to win the league without it being an against-the-odds thing.

[brommers95]

Loving our approach to transfers at the moment. They seem very calm, measured and done well ahead of time with a clear vision in mind. No waiting till the end of the transfer window.

Yep, well said. A million miles away from the recent past where the recruitment strategy appeared to be - sign anyone recommended to us by their agent. Chinedu Obasi anyone?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yeah it's an interesting conundrum. I don't think Gethin has done much wrong at all - certainly others have raised more questions - but if we accept these truths as self-evident:

(1) the defence is the major area for improvement
(2) Santos is key to Evatt's thinking

...then a right-sided centre-back – one who can play in a two or a three and preferably RB too (for mid-game switching) – is obviously the next upgrade.

Otherwise we're essentially saying that the only upgrade needed was on Johnston. Which is a viewpoint, but a little monocular IMO.

[Bruce Rioja]

Welcome, Jack.

The novelty of us signing players to three-year or longer contracts still hasn't worn off.

I know he's a defender, but I've just seen his goal against Oxford. Bloody hell

Feel free to chip in with a few those for us, owd lad.

[BWFC_Insane]

Yeah it's an interesting conundrum. I don't think Gethin has done much wrong at all - certainly others have raised more questions - but if we accept these truths as self-evident:

(1) the defence is the major area for improvement
(2) Santos is key to Evatt's thinking

...then a right-sided centre-back – one who can play in a two or a three and preferably RB too (for mid-game switching) – is obviously the next upgrade.

Otherwise we're essentially saying that the only upgrade needed was on Johnston. Which is a viewpoint, but a little monocular IMO.

For me the next improvement to the back three isn’t replacing your best defender and most consistent player…

If you want to be better then more consistent and dominant defending is needed and that’s not Jones in the firing line.

You’d be looking more at those who seriously struggled whilst Jones was missing and the fact that as soon as he came back the back line improved markedly. I don’t think it’s Jones that makes way if you sign someone so good they have to play….at least not by any logic.

[Worthy4England]

Yeah it's an interesting conundrum. I don't think Gethin has done much wrong at all - certainly others have raised more questions - but if we accept these truths as self-evident:

(1) the defence is the major area for improvement
(2) Santos is key to Evatt's thinking

...then a right-sided centre-back – one who can play in a two or a three and preferably RB too (for mid-game switching) – is obviously the next upgrade.

Otherwise we're essentially saying that the only upgrade needed was on Johnston. Which is a viewpoint, but a little monocular IMO.

For me the next improvement to the back three isn’t replacing your best defender and most consistent player…

If you want to be better then more consistent and dominant defending is needed and that’s not Jones in the firing line.

You’d be looking more at those who seriously struggled whilst Jones was missing and the fact that as soon as he came back the back line improved markedly. I don’t think it’s Jones that makes way if you sign someone so good they have to play….at least not by any logic.

Well if we reckon that Iredale could play left of a back three and it's not Jones, then I'm guessing you want a Santos upgrade?

[GhostoftheBok]

I found it very interesting that Jack Fitzwater came up in one of the reveal videos.

I had expected him to end up at a good Championship side or even sneak into a savvy Prem club's thinking.

He was well outside my thinking when I looked at "the realm of the possible", but I'm not going to pretend it didn't get a raised eyebrow from me.

He was at Chesterfield with Evatt and Walsall with Baka. My zero percent chance of that one has now reached 1% off the back of a possible easter egg.

[nicholaldo]

I found it very interesting that Jack Fitzwater came up in one of the reveal videos.

I had expected him to end up at a good Championship side or even sneak into a savvy Prem club's thinking.

He was well outside my thinking when I looked at "the realm of the possible", but I'm not going to pretend it didn't get a raised eyebrow from me.

He was at Chesterfield with Evatt and Walsall with Baka. My zero percent chance of that one has now reached 1% off the back of a possible easter egg.

Good spot. Why would he be in the club Twitter account's search history?

[GhostoftheBok]

Good spot. Why would he be in the club Twitter account's search history?

It looked immediately like a hype easter egg. It is probably not that at all, but that was the immediate impression for me.

Dyche went up to Scotland to have a look at him and Brentford have kept tabs, so that's the sort of level of ridiculous it would be if we did sign him. Therefore best to assume I'm seeing things that aren't there.

He'd cost around £600k, so that's not a barrier. Competition very much is.

[BWFC_Insane]

Yeah it's an interesting conundrum. I don't think Gethin has done much wrong at all - certainly others have raised more questions - but if we accept these truths as self-evident:

(1) the defence is the major area for improvement
(2) Santos is key to Evatt's thinking

...then a right-sided centre-back – one who can play in a two or a three and preferably RB too (for mid-game switching) – is obviously the next upgrade.

Otherwise we're essentially saying that the only upgrade needed was on Johnston. Which is a viewpoint, but a little monocular IMO.

For me the next improvement to the back three isn’t replacing your best defender and most consistent player…

If you want to be better then more consistent and dominant defending is needed and that’s not Jones in the firing line.

You’d be looking more at those who seriously struggled whilst Jones was missing and the fact that as soon as he came back the back line improved markedly. I don’t think it’s Jones that makes way if you sign someone so good they have to play….at least not by any logic.

Well if we reckon that Iredale could play left of a back three and it's not Jones, then I'm guessing you want a Santos upgrade?

I think the most sensible and likely outcome is we sign a player who could deputise for either Santos or Jones who is an upgrade on Aimson.

If we sign the quality of player Ghost suggests then for me at least they start in Santos place in a back three. But with Santos in a back four and Jones at RB.

[irie Cee Bee]

Welcome Jack. From all indications you help us to be a stronger squad. Rather him than Gordon at LWB if John gets hurt or at LB if Evatt tactically switches or for Johnston if necessary on form. Good option. I personally have more concerns about Jones than I have for Johnston due mainly to Jones poor passing in the last few months. I thought that Johnston improved a lot. But hey.. a game of opinions.

[nicholaldo]

Good spot. Why would he be in the club Twitter account's search history?

It looked immediately like a hype easter egg. It is probably not that at all, but that was the immediate impression for me.

Dyche went up to Scotland to have a look at him and Brentford have kept tabs, so that's the sort of level of ridiculous it would be if we did sign him. Therefore best to assume I'm seeing things that aren't there.

He'd cost around £600k, so that's not a barrier. Competition very much is.

I think the person who created the video is new to the club and seems quite young. If there's anything in it at all - and as you point out there probably isn't - I expect it was inadvertant.

[GhostoftheBok]

If we sign the quality of player Ghost suggests then for me at least they start in Santos place in a back three.

Is your position basically that if we aren't going to make a signing that would displace Santos (we are obviously not) we also wouldn't do that for Jones?

Do you think Evatt regards Santos and Jones as equally undroppable?

[GhostoftheBok]

I think the person who created the video is new to the club and seems quite young. If there's anything in it at all - and as you point out there probably isn't - I expect it was inadvertant.

Absolutely seems the most likely thing.

[BWFC_Insane]

If we sign the quality of player Ghost suggests then for me at least they start in Santos place in a back three.

Is your position basically that if we aren't going to make a signing that would displace Santos (we are obviously not) we also wouldn't do that for Jones?

Do you think Evatt regards Santos and Jones as equally undroppable?

I think we will sign cover that improves on Aimson. Perhaps with some development scope.

If you want a better more frugal defence then you don’t replace your best defender ahead of someone who isn’t as good at defending.

But I suspect it’s an Aimson upgrade we will look for.

[GhostoftheBok]

I think we will sign cover that improves on Aimson. Perhaps with some development scope.

If you want a better more frugal defence then you don’t replace your best defender ahead of someone who isn’t as good at defending.

But I suspect it’s an Aimson upgrade we will look for.

I'm asking you whether you think Evatt would agree with your assessment.

I understand what you think of Evatt's defensive options. Do you think he views them the same way you do?

*edit* I should add, I don't necessarily disagree with you that what we will do is try and get an Aimson who's a better fit to how we play. I'm mostly interested in how you make decisions about what you think we will do, vs what we should do.

[CambridgeFan]

This is him scoring against Shrewsbury this season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnAol7Jtlc8 (watch from about 35s in)

And it's not a one off. Also worth looking at his brace against Oldham in 20/21. You've made an excellent signing there. Gutted to be losing him but I guess that's how the world works. He goes with my absolute best wishes for the contribution he made to us getting promoted last year and consolidating this year. He's also an absolutely top bloke who embodies all that is good about being a professional footballer.

Interestingly his father, Paul (lives down in Oz) joined the Cambridge Utd forum I'm in and was a frequent contributor. Might have been worried he'd have got some backlash but, as his son hardly ever had a bad game, that didn't happen.

Wishing you all the best for the season ahead and ask away if you've any questions about Jack.