Wooohoooo. The last two days and the squad looks to have shaped up. Need to move a few on and we're in decent shape, player wise and financially. Dont tell masky, but its another one for "an undisclosed fee".
Just looking at transfer market website, we currently have 28 "adult" players registered. Contrary to the Prem which allows a 25 maximum "adult" players Championship clubs can register as many players as they like with some restrictions on the number of loaners they can use for any given match. Of the 28 Murphy the keeper is the only out of contract player still in the squad. One of the 4 keepers one must go so if Murphy is going to the coaching staff or being kept on as no. 3 then, if Etheridge stays with Villa signing Heaton, Smithies should go and get some money back. The under 21 keeper is said to be useful as no. 4 cover. Excluding the 2 youngsters, Brown and Coxe (not named in the 28) we have 4 full backs plus Paterson in emergencies. Should Cunningham go then we would be light in the left back area with no obvious cover apart from Brown. The contracts for Pelts and Jazz expire next year. We have 5 centre backs including Connolly. His and Bamba's contracts expire next year but there has been talk of Bamba getting another year if proved fit. Connolly has served us well over the years and is probably our longest serving player however he has to go. Give him a free for his service to the club. In midfield we have 6 with Damour and Tomlin's contracts running off next year. Damour to go. Tomlin to stay unless we get another creative mf in which case bye bye Tomlin for some cash. 4 wingers all with at least 2 years on their contract. No change. 5 strikers plus the Irish lad Bogler, not in the 28. I have regarded Reid as a striker rather than mf. Ward and Bogle's contracts run until 2020. Madine is my choice for the exit door but with 2 years on his contract we would probably want money for him having paid £6m less than 2 years ago. As I see it it is a choice between him and Bogle. So, 1 keeper, Connolly, Damour and one of 2 strikers to go. That leaves us with 24 but we can sign more. The other thing to consider, which I can never get my head around, is the number of home grown players we should have in match day squads and what qualifies as home grown, just English or Welsh, Scots or Northern Irish as well? Or is there some other criteria? Will try to find info on this.
good observations on the players blue. Agree a keeper, connolley and a striker (madine) need to go, with question marks over a number of others. I think tomlin is becoming a distraction. Him leaving would remove that. For home grown players, they can be foreign so long as they have been with a British club for a number of years (though I cant remember how many) before their 21st birthday. In effect, they have to have done a number of years development in this country. As for squad size, I don't think there is a limit like the prem. Similarly, the loan restrictions are different. A prem side can only have 2 loanees from other prem clubs, though the championship is limited to the total number of loanees in a match day squad.
Further to the above we could have a problem as we must field at least one "Club Developed Player" in any match day 18. As I see it only Ralls and Coxe qualify. If we don't have such a player in the 18 then we can only name 17. A club developed player is one who joined the club before the start of the season before he turned 19 and has a year of training with the club. There may be others outside the above 2 who are not on my radar. With so many other players who have played for 3 seasons or more in English leagues for a number of years I don't see any problems in this area but could be wrong. They are home grown players. We must have at least 7 in our 18 who have at least 3 years with an FA or WFA affiliated club before they are 22. The 7 can include club developed players. Bloody hell they don't make things easy do they? Got to be Einstein to run a football club.
I sense Patterson is being phased out sadly, in our promotion season he was an excellent player. Premier League was on times beyond him, but he has much to offer, endeavour and not s little spunk me thinks!
Looks like the Jacks have missed out on Palmer. Where is all their money going? Plug s in for a hard time there.
Wages for players not playing for them. Their gearing was attrocious. They had the greatest percentage of total income that was TV money and the highest percentage of turnover that was player wages. It was an upside down pyramid that was always going to fall over with relegation. It was pointed out to them several times over the last few years. Finally bit them on the bum. All these sales are doing is balancing the books. They may ridicule us for our short stays in the prem, but they are now paying the price for their stay. A position from which they may never recover.
Employing a schoolboy coach. Selling your best players and handing an employee equity in the club and making low paid workers redundant. What a shambles. Ah well never mind.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/what-cardiff-city-fans-can-16674348 ANOTHER STRIKER TO BACK UP GLATZEL This wasn't really on Warnock's early shopping list, but he could yet land another target from overseas who we're told would be a real bargain for the Bluebirds at around £2m. The player in question is believed to be big, yet would even outstrip whippets Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Josh Murphy as the quickest player at the club. That could be some capture. Cardiff are keeping their cards close to their chest, the player would be back-up to Glatzel rather than first choice, but he's thought to be young and could serve the club well for years to come
Paterson is still not 100% fit after last season's injury. Should be available a couple of weeks before Bamba.
Leeds selling their keeper to Burnley so they need to sign a new one. Assuming Etheridge stays, an opportunity for Smithies?
This has been as good a window as we've had for some time. The players still need to justify their worth, but on paper a decent couple months. If we can move 3 or 4 players on in thr next week it will be a VERY good window. Come on choo and dalman, do your stuff. And good on Tan for providing funds. Not huge, but acceptable. The board have done their bit. Down to the coaches and players now.
Plus with Glatzel signing this has been a good transfer window! Maybe one more signing to happen in the next couple of days and should see us alright!
Need a central midfield player. No creativity at all. All work horses. Other championship clubs have much better central midfielders.
Not surprised. What about others, e.g. Connolly and keeper Murphy, the latter being out of contract? Where did you get the info from? I can't find it.
