Summer '24 transfer window

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
Just been told of one lads in work his son plays for u18's and last week they were all told to keep away from part of the academy because 2 medicals were getting done. Obviously 1 was Wilson and he said other was roko. Said it's very strange how that one has gone so quiet now.
It’s common to do a medical before things are agreed, especially when getting closer to the end of the window.
 
Just been told of one lads in work his son plays for u18's and last week they were all told to keep away from part of the academy because 2 medicals were getting done. Obviously 1 was Wilson and he said other was roko. Said it's very strange how that one has gone so quiet now.

Please please please!

Great username btw
 
  • Like
Reactions: Samcro
We need two more forwards and a versatile full back imo.
I remain not all that arsed about a fullback tbh. Don't like buying players for injury cover if we can avoid it, plus think there's enough versatility in the squad (and promise in the U21s) as it stands to cover the odd suspension or short injury. Ultimately it's a a 21 game countdown to the next window and I like a gamble.

On the forwards, it seems that the club briefed about wanting two. So I'd imagine we look at another winger if we only get one more striker. The only caveat there is Watson's development. He's been making the bench and starring for the U21s and RLB seems to like him. I kinda hope we just be giving him a shot in a way.
 
Am sure there were some quotes recently from RLB saying he had no plans for another RB and that he can change formation in the unlikely event Hume gets injured.
If Alese IS injured, then maybe the thinking has changed there (or maybe Johnson won't go out on loan)

Hume-O'Nien'Ballard-Cirkin
Johnson-Triantis-Hjelde-Alese

First defence looks good, second one doesn't
We’ve seen how important the FBs are going to be under RLB in terms of being both technically proficient and having the speed and engine to get up and down. Of the rest of the squad, Alese was probably most capable of doing that and then to a lesser extent Hjelde. CBs like Johnson, O’Nien etc will be game enough but don’t have the skill set. I don’t see how a switch to three at the back can be managed with the squad as it is.
 
I remain not all that arsed about a fullback tbh. Don't like buying players for injury cover if we can avoid it, plus think there's enough versatility in the squad (and promise in the U21s) as it stands to cover the odd suspension or short injury. Ultimately it's a a 21 game countdown to the next window and I like a gamble.

On the forwards, it seems that the club briefed about wanting two. So I'd imagine we look at another winger if we only get one more striker. The only caveat there is Watson's development. He's been making the bench and starring for the U21s and RLB seems to like him. I kinda hope we just be giving him a shot in a way.

It’s a shame Huggins is built with crisps because he’s perfect cover for both sides. I really don’t think someone immobile like a Johnson or O’nien covering will work in this system where they're expected to get up and down the pitch regularly and contribute so much offensively, admittedly though I haven’t seen too much of Johnson that’s just off the very little I’ve seen.

Brandon Williams is available on a free iirc I’d be all over that.
 
It’s a shame Huggins is built with crisps because he’s perfect cover for both sides. I really don’t think someone immobile like a Johnson or O’nien covering will work in this system where they're expected to get up and down the pitch regularly and contribute so much offensively, admittedly though I haven’t seen too much of Johnson that’s just off the very little I’ve seen.

Brandon Williams is available on a free iirc I’d be all over that.
I think way to much is made of systems and what players can and can't do. O'Nien for example is very adaptable and can play full back comfortably for us
 
I have seen a French journalist (albeit just one) say it’s a loan without and obligation, hopefully there’s a clause in which just gives us the option, would be disappointing if not, although not an issue we need to worry about now :emoticon-0103-cool:
 
We’ve seen how important the FBs are going to be under RLB in terms of being both technically proficient and having the speed and engine to get up and down. Of the rest of the squad, Alese was probably most capable of doing that and then to a lesser extent Hjelde. CBs like Johnson, O’Nien etc will be game enough but don’t have the skill set. I don’t see how a switch to three at the back can be managed with the squad as it is.
I'm generally of the opinion that O'Nien would be fine there. His engine is perfectly capable. While he's not lightning he'll run for the entire 90 perfectly easily. Not sold on Johnson as cover, personally. However, I think Crompton would do a decent job. Good on the ball, mobile. I'd be looking to him as emergency third choice.

Ultimately it comes down to resource allocation. How many of the next 21 games is Trai Hume likely to miss? He has been available for selection for virtually every game in the past three seasons so the evidence says he's pretty robust. It's a gamble, but it's probably not as much of a gamble as it initially looks.
 
I think way to much is made of systems and what players can and can't do. O'Nien for example is very adaptable and can play full back comfortably for us

He played as a full back in L1 though, amongst a standard of football so bad we thought Carl Winchester was a good full back when he was playing there. I think if it was inverted he’d get away with it but we’re moving away from that to proper attacking full backs. Of course he CAN play there, many players can probably do a job there if they really had to but you don’t want to handicap yourself too much.