Transfer Window January 2024 Transfer Window Thread

I imagine one of the "up to 6" will be Joe Bennett, so really we're looking at up to 5 new faces, along with 3-4 current players returning from injury in the short term.

tatabanya said:

I don't see much bed-wetting over transfers?

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At what point did I say there was?
The transfer window threads always turn into a tirade of negativity around many factors across various areas at the club. I’d hazard a guess as these posts get more views than they perhaps would elsewhere.
Just wish we could keep it to the topic in hand, and would love it that other areas of discussion be had elsewhere within the forum so I could actually just read what I came to catch up on.

werthersoriginal said:

Dunno if it's belt tightening or just sorting something for now having missed out on candidates. We'll see whether we spend on players or not soon enough.

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I think it's sorting something because we've missed out on choices A, B and C. You have to then ask why we can't convince people to come despite, by Des' implications, being at the point where contracts are being offered. That's where the belt tightening comes in, why haven't we been able to get our main targets? It's been confirmed there have been multiple interviews, people aren't going to come down or do them remotely just for a laugh, they must be interested in the role. Then we've offered contracts, a couple of weeks of silence or "we're hoping to have it agreed soon" weeks later we've ended up with Hackett. We've not been willing/able to offer good enough packages to tempt people away who are actively interested in the role, all while we desperately needed someone and games were coming twice a week. Not a good look.

Joey said:

I think it's sorting something because we've missed out on choices A, B and C. You have to then ask why we can't convince people to come despite, by Des' implications, being at the point where contracts are being offered. That's where the belt tightening comes in, why haven't we been able to get our main targets? It's been confirmed there have been multiple interviews, people aren't going to come down or do them remotely just for a laugh, they must be interested in the role. Then we've offered contracts, a couple of weeks of silence or "we're hoping to have it agreed soon" weeks later we've ended up with Hackett. We've not been willing/able to offer good enough packages to tempt people away who are actively interested in the role, all while we desperately needed someone and games were coming twice a week. Not a good look.

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Maybe it depends where targets are currently living and come from, could all be down to the famous and much discussed local house price problem!

We have 4 league games before the January window closes.

We have lost Beadle and Mills, since the beginning of January, both featured regularly in the first team.

Edwards is out for the season and Perkins has returned to Leeds.

So that’s 3 players Beadle, Mills and Perkins who were available at end of the year and now they are not.

Three available players suddenly missing from an already injury ravaged squad is significant.

Yes I know Perkins wasn‘t being selected but he still needs a replacement, especially as it’s clear O’Donker is only being given 10 minutes here and there in league fixtures. And what of O’Donker, is he going to be part of the squad until the end of the season? if not another player that will need replacing if he goes out on loan.

If we are serious about a promotion push we need a keeper, a winger and a striker minimum PDQ to replace Beadle, Mills and Perkins, now, not at the end of January. Those 4 games and the points they potentially could deliver could be the difference between a playoff spot or not.

If we have to wait for say a further 3 signings until the end of the month, then so be it. But we need reinforcements in to replace the aforementioned 3 players before those 4 crucial January league games.

Yes we have players coming back from injury, but they will have to be managed very carefully and may not be fully up to speed for 2 or 3 games.

With the loss of Mills we suddenly look very bereft of any pace in the side, can we rely on Murphy to be available until the end of the season? History tells us not. One of those 3 we need now before the run of 4 league games needs to be a pacy winger.

Chippy said:

Maybe it depends where targets are currently living and come from, could all be down to the famous and much discussed local house price problem!

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Of which you adjust your offer accordingly.

I wrote the following in the summer transfer thread...whether we see the same this time around is in the stars, but in my opinion we do have to have confidence in the recruitment policy working again. Whatever happens, we will only truly see on the first day of February.

Honestly forgot what it was like to have an exciting transfer window with one banger after the next, coupled with complete relaxation approaching midnight.

This won't be cheap either so credit to the board as well.

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oufcreport said:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1744735817250246867

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That’s an excellent signing for them. Can’t understand how they’ve had Arblaster, Devine and now Weir there this season.

Things starting to happen now, Lincoln getting Taylor, Vale getting him.

I think we were (quite reasonably given our injury hit squad) thinking that the club might already have signings lined up and ready to go in the first week of January. We definitely need some bodies in before the weekend.

greatunclekip said:

Of which you adjust your offer accordingly.

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But on that basis we‘d pay similar wages for a League One player and staff to what Sunderland, Middlesboro, Preston etc… would then do for a Championship player/coach. I doubt the likes of Charlton and Leyton Orient pay over the top wages because they are based in London, though in this area it may explain Reading’s problems I guess!

andystroud said:

Out of interest, does it make you feel better when you post groundless, negative bullsh!t. Perhaps we should all try it

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It could have been worse. I could of said Poundland.

Ben Waine from Plymouth.

They’re looking to recruit another forward to allowed him to leave (on loan I assume)

Worked with Des in the NZ youth and at Wellington I believe.

Oxy said:

Ben Waine from Plymouth.

They’re looking to recruit another forward to allowed him to leave (on loan I assume)

Worked with Des in the NZ youth and at Wellington I believe.

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Suggestion or actual rumour/interest?

Berliner said:

I wrote the following in the summer transfer thread...whether we see the same this time around is in the stars, but in my opinion we do have to have confidence in the recruitment policy working again. Whatever happens, we will only truly see on the first day of February.

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The problem is that the season doesn’t stop until February while we get everything sorted. Dropping points because our squad isn’t ready in January isn’t any different to dropping them in August, and it seemed like it took us four years to get over that problem.

Oxy said:

Ben Waine from Plymouth.

They’re looking to recruit another forward to allowed him to leave (on loan I assume)

Worked with Des in the NZ youth and at Wellington I believe.

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Not the sort of striker I’d be trying to sign.

There is better than that out there. Seems like we are going down the Konate route again. Wonderful. Dear dear dear.

Leysboy said:

Not the sort of striker I’d be trying to sign.

There is better than that out there. Seems like we are going down the Konate route again. Wonderful. Dear dear dear.

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So you’ve taken a rumour and determined what the club’s strategy is and criticised it. All without a single fact or piece of evidence to support your conclusion.

I’d say it was unbelievable, but in your case, it clearly isn’t.

Leysboy said:

Not the sort of striker I’d be trying to sign.

There is better than that out there. Seems like we are going down the Konate route again. Wonderful. Dear dear dear.

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Seen him play have you? And if so why would you compare him to Konate.

or are you just dropping more poison. Did Des kill your hamster or something?

Did I read somewhere that Des is killing supporters hamsters? Concerning if true.

WRox said:

That’s an excellent signing for them. Can’t understand how they’ve had Arblaster, Devine and now Weir there this season.

Things starting to happen now, Lincoln getting Taylor, Vale getting him.

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Two clubs have signed players , it's going mental out there !!!!