Transfer News January 2023 Transfer window thread

[Nadi-]

The Wickham situation is weird, he left Forest Green a month ago and has just taken a month off, during that time clubs have played plenty of games, up to 15 points worth so if you think he is going to help you win/draw games why would a club and him not come to an agreement? Don't think I have ever heard of a player at this level doing what he has this season, two short term deals for different clubs in the same league with a month of in the middle.

Has been training with Cardiff

 

[uptheus]

Just rubbing it in at this point

View attachment 11965

I’ve said it before, the curse of the players in the new kit photo

 

[uptheus]

Had time to take this in now

We all agree that Taylor is past his best, however we have to point out that a player like him thrives on service. He is not a loan striker who you hit long balls to,which we have been doing all season.
Now you have to play to the strengths of the man you have as your main goal scorer, last season we did that this season we haven’t.

If we are now replacing Taylor with an out of contract player which surely is what’s happened,it has to be a completely different sort of striker.
Connor Wickham isn’t that man,so again I assume that KR will bring in someone who we will say fair enough he is a decent replacement.

If not and there is no replacement or like for like player KR’s position is untenable and he has to go

The thing is, will they be decent if they’re out of contract?

 

[uptheus]

Marty Taylor has been flogged into the ground for the past three seasons due to KR’s inability to build a balanced squad. His legs haven’t ‘gone’ he’s just totally knackered due to the minutes he’s had to play and the ground he’s had to cover during those minutes. This season the tactics have basically been hoof the the ball up to him and let him battle with the opposition back line. We’ve totally failed to utilise him to his strengths. He’s been getting Karl out of the s**t since he’s been here and the thanks he gets is to be completely hung out to dry this season. No wonder he couldn’t wait to get out the door and play for a manager that actually supports him and allows him to do what he’s good at. Which isn’t trying to win headers against giant centre backs!

Exactly this

 

[holdsteady]

Has been training with Cardiff

Like a trial or just training to stay fit? It's a strange thing to do mid season still.

 

[andystroud]

He has been playing as a loan striker yes,but he’s much better when other players are around him and he doesn’t get long balls pumped at him

I think you've been whooshed

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I completely get Taylor going on loan. Sadly, he did look to have lost any pace he once had - but it does have to be said that the service to him from wide was simply awful, and he was an increasingly frustrated figure. Whether Smith can make any more of that service is something to watch out for, but I can't help feeling we have changed the wheel when the engine is knackered. Fingers crossed.

I agree with others though - we needed *more* competent, fit bodies in the squad. Up front and defensive midfield. Konate may or may not be excellent (I have no idea, and neither has anyone else in regards to week in week out L1 football) but he is an attacking midfielder and that was one of the less critical positions to be recruiting for IMO. We needed a tackling, solid, defensive midfielder to allow McGuane and Brannagan to play further forward.

I can't help wondering how enthusiastic Findlay is going to be - either he wanted to go or we wanted rid of him, and in either case he isn't going to be happy to still be here.

For KR to cite Bodin and Baldock as viable strikers is ridiculous. One is very poor at the moment, the other has been out for a year and had no match time at all.

I don't mind at all signing the younger players to get them up to speed for next season - that's the way to go. But if they (like some of our own youngsters) aren't quite ready yet, I hope they aren't chucked in too soon.

Over all, I reckon a 5/10 transfer window.

 

[Millman]

Good review unification.

Apart from the Taylor loan which I fear may be a mistake, there is another glaring failure in the window and that is the lack of a defensive midfielder signing. The center of our midfield has been physically weak all season and this has not been addressed I think this means we could still ship goals, my hope is now we may at least score some.

For me overall this window has been barely adequate. The squad is still paper thin packed with too many waste of space players. We have little cover outside of the first team bar youth players. Currently a lot rides on Smith to provide goals I hope this works, or we further strengthen. We should barring a bad run finish somewhere mid-table.

At the end of this season we face the mother of all rebuilds as this squad is pretty poor, or on loan (and even then we may be stuck with some of our waste of space players who were signed on stupid contracts). There are still massive questions for me over the commitment of the owners to the club and ther plans to take it forwards (especially on the playing side). The manager issue is the big question regarding their commitment or even competence to take us forwards. One thing is true we certainly aren't "going for it" any more we seem to be in a rather minimal cost holding pattern.

 

[captainox]

Was asked to find a stat for something along with other L1 fans.

As of today, of your 14 players with the most league minutes this season, how many were signed in a January transfer window (as oppose to a summer one)?

For us, it's 3: Cam Brannagan (Jan18), Ciaron Brown (initially on loan Jan22), Marcus Browne (Perm move Jan22)

Bolton 7/14
Charlton 1/14
MK Dons 2/14
Portsmouth 0/14
Port Vale 1/14
Sheff Weds 0/14

Granted, only a 25% response so far but it does seem to show that January window's don't see the lionshare of recruitment (or long term retainment?) of regulars.
Will be an interesting one to re-run come May.

 

[OxfordYankee]

I don't mind at all signing the younger players to get them up to speed for next season - that's the way to go.

For whom are we readying them? They’re not ours.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

For whom are we readying them? They’re not ours.

Negru and Mfuni

 

[unification]

For whom are we readying them? They’re not ours.

I think he means Mfuni and Negru who are permanent signings.

 

[The mighty Aldo]

The thing is, will they be decent if they’re out of contract?

Depends, if they are Championship players who could do a job for us,maybe

 

[Older Shotts]

Negru looks like an absolute beast, physically. Can't wait to see him in action.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Negru looks like an absolute beast, physically. Can't wait to see him in action.

I thought he looked like a very nice boy?

 

[OxfordYankee]

Negru and Mfuni

Apologies, I assumed you were talking about the forwards.

 

[Older Shotts]

I thought he looked like a very nice boy?

He's enormous. Looks friendly enough, but i wouldn't want to be up against him.

 

[Front Post]

One important thing to remember is Taylor was clearly happy to take the opportunity to move on at this point.
I expect, he would have only gone to Vale with Clarke being the manager and to play with again one of his best pals/strike partners across his career in Ellis Harrison.

The suggestion on the grapevine was that he was told there was no certainty on a contract for next season and that his gametime would be decreased in the final 18 games, with the other options that have come in and the expectancy that the injured players will be back for selection to impact on a reasonable number of the remaining games. And if he wanted more regular game time, then it would need to be elsewhere.

I do wonder if he or his agent put a little nudge into Darrell Clarke to see if there was any chance that Vale could create a deal that works for everyone.

What we do in the summer if he goes and scores a few goals now will be interesting.
Though this does feel quite final and if he does well at Vale, I'd fully expect him to take a contract there, probably a 2 year on less money than we pay.
I couldn't see us offering more than a 1 year with an option anyway and based on his season so far - that would be completely understandable.

It feels like the classic example of someone having the opportunity for a new chapter, and the fact it can be with a manager who he did so well under before, it's pretty ideal for Taylor.

I already can't be bothered with having to read about what a wrong decision it was after he's bagged a few this month.

 

[Lescottsforehead]

One important thing to remember is Taylor was clearly happy to take the opportunity to move on at this point.
I expect, he would have only gone to Vale with Clarke being the manager and to play with again one of his best pals/strike partners across his career in Ellis Harrison.

The suggestion on the grapevine was that he was told there was no certainty on a contract for next season and that his gametime would be decreased in the final 18 games, with the other options that have come in and the expectancy that the injured players will be back for selection to impact on a reasonable number of the remaining games. And if he wanted more regular game time, then it would need to be elsewhere.

I do wonder if he or his agent put a little nudge into Darrell Clarke to see if there was any chance that Vale could create a deal that works for everyone.

What we do in the summer if he goes and scores a few goals now will be interesting.
Though this does feel quite final and if he does well at Vale, I'd fully expect him to take a contract there, probably a 2 year on less money than we pay.
I couldn't see us offering more than a 1 year with an option anyway and based on his season so far - that would be completely understandable.

It feels like the classic example of someone having the opportunity for a new chapter, and the fact it can be with a manager who he did so well under before, it's pretty ideal for Taylor.

I already can't be bothered with having to read about what a wrong decision it was after he's bagged a few this month.

Far too much rationale for this forum, FP, please reconsider in future, only hysteria is allowed!

 

[holdsteady]

Is Baldock really being expected to be cover this (or any) season though? He hasn't been able to stay fit for years, has been out for nearly a year and is nearing 34, seems a bit mad to expect anything out of him.