Transfer News Transfer Window Summer 21

[Shaun Rice]

3-4 quality signings, extended existing contracts and a squad built to aim for the top 2 would obviously make everyone very happy, but that's all hypothetical.

THE FACTS:

We've lost our number one LB

We've brought in a player (Williams) who so far, from the many times I've seen him play, has only ever shown himself to be average.

We've brought in a forward (Bodin) with an atrocious injury record, who's hardly played for 2-3 seasons.

We already have a complete crock up front (Winnall)

We've also brought in a player (Mcguane) who looks like he'll be a great signing, but is currently unsure himself, weather he'll be fit to start the season.

We're on the verge of selling our potentially most valuable player (Atkinson) for well below what he's worth or will be worth in a years time, with only a 35 with a dodgy knee, and a kid with zero experience as back up to our one and only remaining fit senior CB.

We've also got an excellent RB who badly injured his hamstring 3 times last season, due to being run into the ground, because we didn't provide enough suitable cover in key positions.

We've got Jamie Hanson!

You’re not wrong - that was a lazy example to be honest! Does make me laugh though when people think we can just hold onto players for eternity and expect that to work out for everyone.

But do you think we should say no he’s not for sale and then sell if he puts in a transfer request?
It feels like we are the ones pushing the sale not the player?
unless 1.6 m or 2m is an offer we cannot refuse.

 

[Shaun Rice]

Very valid points BUT what then is our plan to get to the Championship and become a Top 30 Club?. Does it come with a realistic plan or more hope we can hit 6th place and overcome the lottery because that too is a ludicrous way to try to achieve what you keep stating is your aim.
We are also selling to a club in the very League we aspire to be in and not for the first time and as i've asked before what would be the cost to replace RA should the miracle happen and our model sees us promoted. What is the potential cost of missing out again or making it and finding a replacement against a player already in the building and actually keeping the talent with us to achieve those aims together?.

You say you are tired of this debate while likewise a few are tired of those whose thought process is we had to sell in case he gets an injury or the usual wont stand in their way nonsense that is churned out every season.

I have no input on the value as it's subjective but on this i will say that if we rejected 1.4m as was suggested another 200k does very little in real terms. it's not about Rob furthering his career, although with our top 30 comments he could achieve that with us and still has 2 years on a contract. if fans are ok accepting this is our model then let's be realistic and stop the constant Manager bashing when things don't go our way because that really is what is ludicrous.

As one of only 2/3 who initially saw the potential in Rob Atkinson very early on and i even went on record that he would be the next Matt Elliott i am extremely pleased that he can further his career.

I have made no secret of the fact i wish we would keep a squad together with the odd tinker and give it a proper chance for 2-3 seasons but i'm told i must be realistic so i guess i will see us more of an Oldham than Forest, Qpr, West Brom type.

The true test of us having a plan to be top 20 club is not the selling of RA. It will be how quickly we bring in and the quality of his replacement.
I always liked Mapps model of at least 2 players in every position and names in boxes for a replacements should the need arise.

 

[Foley]

The players we have brought in so far are MOR. Are they going to move us from 6th with how other teams are strengthening. I dont believe so.

Solid not spectacular. Add to that losing half our defence, with no left back, and i could say im not jumping for joy at our dealings so far.

Who would pay? Our Billionaire owners

Other teams are strenthening? I think that you do tend to underestimate Oxfords transfer dealings and speak up others.
Last season at this stage you were decrying Oxfords situation and suggesting that Bristol Rovers had gone for it and would be up there !

 

[Foley]

Where’s the better quality players that we were promised, can you honestly say your over the moon with Williams and Bodin signings, don’t think we’re going to tear up league 1 from what I’ve seen so far and I think I’m in the majority on this

Williams has 2 promotions from L1 and has almost always been in the Top 6.
Maguane is quality. There will be 4 to 5 more singing.
Does nobody learn that you have to wait until the end of the transfer window to really judge ( and actually see some of the players play?)

 

[RgYellows]

5 weeks until the first game. 2 months until the transfer window closes. Every year!!!!!!

You're right tbf. I can't remember the last time that late transfer dealings harmed our start to the season.

 

[Gregortheox]

The true test of us having a plan to be top 20 club is not the selling of RA. It will be how quickly we bring in and the quality of his replacement.
I always liked Mapps model of at least 2 players in every position and names in boxes for a replacements should the need arise.

Yes it is - if RA leaves for around 2 million quid and we invest that money back in to the playing budget then happy days. With that kind of money we can buy a prospect and a replacement. Just buying a prospect however will leave us in a weaker position.

 

[WRox]

Williams has 2 promotions from L1 and has almost always been in the Top 6.
Maguane is quality. There will be 4 to 5 more singing.
Does nobody learn that you have to wait until the end of the transfer window to really judge ( and actually see some of the players play?)

Exactly, it’s far too early to make any real assessment. McGuane is a terrific start - he has the potential to become a real asset for us.

Williams and Bodin are really low risk, one has been solid at this level for years and the other has talent beyond this league if he can stay fit.

Whether this is a good window or not however will be largely dictated by our ability to replace Atkinson, Ruffels and Barker/Lee though. The rest of the team will be a pretty similar standard, so those are the gaps that likely determine whether we improve on 6th.

 

[oufc1991]

Exactly, it’s far too early to make any real assessment. McGuane is a terrific start - he has the potential to become a real asset for us.

Williams and Bodin are really low risk, one has been solid at this level for years and the other has talent beyond this league if he can stay fit.

Whether this is a good window or not however will be largely dictated by our ability to replace Atkinson, Ruffels and Barker/Lee though. The rest of the team will be a pretty similar standard, so those are the gaps that likely determine whether we improve on 6th.

You could argue that if we sign Whyte we have already replaced lee/barker with bodin and maybe Whyte

 

[Jster]

I guess we've got Cooper for Barker's position.

 

[Bornyellow]

Nicky Cadden appears to have returned for pre season with FGR presume we can rule that one out. Can’t see anything about him signing a new deal yet though.

 

[Shaun Rice]

I guess we've got Cooper for Barker's position.

Keep forgetting about him. maybe with his personal/ family problems sorted he’ll show us what he can do.

 

[5aside]

Until they confirm the 20 player rule that still stands apart from replacing Ruffels every position is covered even if Atkinson does go so why spend money until we no

 

[Swaby39]

Williams has 2 promotions from L1 and has almost always been in the Top 6.
Maguane is quality. There will be 4 to 5 more singing.
Does nobody learn that you have to wait until the end of the transfer window to really judge ( and actually see some of the players play?)

I agree and in fact I would even say as much as 10 games in to the season. Only after a run of matches where we see the shape and some partnerships forming can you really judge. Even then, seasons can turn so quickly and there are always surprise packages in teams and players.

There are always people who will find something fundamentally unlikable about every move made in the market - whether it’s too early, too late, uninspiring, risky, expensive, lacks experience etc etc. So with those, the club will never win even though they so often get it right. I may get to Christmas myself and say they got it wrong this year but on face value I think everything they’ve done to date makes absolute sense and the names connected to us suggest we are looking to be ambitious. it’s hard to criticise our best XI at the moment with a couple of blanks to fill in and I’m looking forward to those coming in.

I’d really like to see Gavin Whyte back, that’s the one that would really get the optimism flowing. But of course there are key positions to fill as priority which will all happen in good time - there really is plenty of time to get those deals done.

 

[Scotchegg]

You're right tbf. I can't remember the last time that late transfer dealings harmed our start to the season.

Maybe you can run through a list of league one clubs who have a finalised squad and we can compare their performances over the season.

Remember @greatunclekip creaming himself over the early business of Bristol Rovers last year or Bury a couple of years back?!

 

[werthersoriginal]

Maybe you can run through a list of league one clubs who have a finalised squad and we can compare their performances over the season.

Remember @greatunclekip creaming himself over the early business of Bristol Rovers last year or Bury a couple of years back?!

He also loved Appleton’s losers Lincoln

 

[WRox]

You could argue that if we sign Whyte we have already replaced lee/barker with bodin and maybe Whyte

I don’t think it would be a difficult argument either - Whyte on one side and Williams/Bodin on the other would be an improvement on last season.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I don’t think it would be a difficult argument either - Whyte on one side and Williams/Bodin on the other would be an improvement on last season.

Well, last season we had random loan players on the wing, that no one had ever heard of. This year we’ve got established league players who have proved their worth. Random loans always give the promise of something amazing but can also be flops.

 

[Junior_1]

He also loved Appleton’s losers Lincoln

The losers who finished above us??!

 

[Jackinthebox]

Well, last season we had random loan players on the wing, that no one had ever heard of. This year we’ve got established league players who have proved their worth. Random loans always give the promise of something amazing but can also be flops.

Take Grayson for instance!

 

[oufc1991]

Take Grayson for instance!

Grayson wasn’t a football player I dunno what he was but he definitely wasn’t a football player so he don’t count