Plan for January 2026

[loyalblade95]

In regards to January and us having a bloated squad, this is what Wilder has to work with, based on positions I'd expect CW to play them.

* Deal until January

Hamer and Arblaster included but currently injured

Also including Curtis, based on a deal I'd like to see done for him.

GK: Cooper, A Davies, Faxon = 3
RB: Seriki, Shackleton, Curtis, Polendakov = 4
CB: Tanganga, Mee, McGuinness, Godfrey, Bindon, Zätterström = 6
LB: McCallum, Burrows = 2
CM: Arblaster, Peck, T Davies, Riedewald*, Soumare, Matos = 6
RW: Ogbene, Chong, Ukaki = 3
CAM: O'Hare, Marsh = 2
LW: Hamer, Brooks, Nwachukwu, Barry = 4
ST: Campbell, Ings, Bamford*, Cannon, Oné = 5

Unless I've counted it wrong, that's 35 players, obviously not all of them will be expected to be involved but it just shows how bloated the squad is, and before we even think about signing anyone, those numbers need to be reduced.

Just my opinion and while I hope all of this happens, I don't think some of these deals will happen.

Loans terminated: Godfrey, Bindon, Barry, Ogbene - 4
Sell/pay off: Curtis, Shackleton - 2
Loan out: Faxon, Oné, Marsh, Matos, Cannon, Ukaki, Zätterström, Polendakov, Nwachukwu - 9

15 departures (both permanent and loan) in total, which would reduce the squad from 35 players to 20 players.

Keep: Cooper, A Davies, Seriki, Tanganga, Mee, McGuinness, McCallum, Burrows, Arblaster, Peck, T Davies, Riedewald, Soumare, Chong, O'Hare, Hamer, Brooks, Campbell, Ings, Bamford = 20

Inclusion of Bamford and Riedewald is assuming we retain them in January.

That would give us 4 loan spots to use, and you could make the argument that we'd only need around 5/6 players in which would give us a squad of 25/26.

GK x 1, RB x 1, CB x 1, RW x 2 and potentially 1 CM depending on fitness of Arblaster and T Davies.

 

[Badger Blade]

If its anything like the plan we've seen so far then something more like pinning the tail on the donkey, throwing shit at the wall until it sticks or writing the names of random players on balls, sucked out the gut of Ray Vons hoover.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

In regards to January and us having a bloated squad, this is what Wilder has to work with, based on positions I'd expect CW to play them.

* Deal until January

Hamer and Arblaster included but currently injured

Also including Curtis, based on a deal I'd like to see done for him.

GK: Cooper, A Davies, Faxon = 3
RB: Seriki, Shackleton, Curtis, Polendakov = 4
CB: Tanganga, Mee, McGuinness, Godfrey, Bindon, Zätterström = 6
LB: McCallum, Burrows = 2
CM: Arblaster, Peck, T Davies, Riedewald*, Soumare, Matos = 6
RW: Ogbene, Chong, Ukaki = 3
CAM: O'Hare, Marsh = 2
LW: Hamer, Brooks, Nwachukwu, Barry = 4
ST: Campbell, Ings, Bamford*, Cannon, Oné = 5

Unless I've counted it wrong, that's 35 players, obviously not all of them will be expected to be involved but it just shows how bloated the squad is, and before we even think about signing anyone, those numbers need to be reduced.

Just my opinion and while I hope all of this happens, I don't think some of these deals will happen.

Loans terminated: Godfrey, Bindon, Barry, Ogbene - 4
Sell/pay off: Curtis, Shackleton - 2
Loan out: Faxon, Oné, Marsh, Matos, Cannon, Ukaki, Zätterström, Polendakov, Nwachukwu - 9

15 departures (both permanent and loan) in total, which would reduce the squad from 35 players to 20 players.

Keep: Cooper, A Davies, Seriki, Tanganga, Mee, McGuinness, McCallum, Burrows, Arblaster, Peck, T Davies, Riedewald, Soumare, Chong, O'Hare, Hamer, Brooks, Campbell, Ings, Bamford = 20

Inclusion of Bamford and Riedewald is assuming we retain them in January.

That would give us 4 loan spots to use, and you could make the argument that we'd only need around 5/6 players in which would give us a squad of 25/26.

GK x 1, RB x 1, CB x 1, RW x 2 and potentially 1 CM depending on fitness of Arblaster and T Davies.

Not sure why we'd need to bring in 2 right wingers. The main thing Wilder needs in January is a target man striker, even if Bamford does well, that's not him, and him Ings and Campbell aren't enough up front if you're loaning out Cannon, Marsh and One.

Chong having no real position to call his own and never being fit is a problem as you can't really plan anything around him either being available, or being much use if he is.

 

[Stretch]

In regards to January and us having a bloated squad, this is what Wilder has to work with, based on positions I'd expect CW to play them.

* Deal until January

Hamer and Arblaster included but currently injured

Also including Curtis, based on a deal I'd like to see done for him.

GK: Cooper, A Davies, Faxon = 3
RB: Seriki, Shackleton, Curtis, Polendakov = 4
CB: Tanganga, Mee, McGuinness, Godfrey, Bindon, Zätterström = 6
LB: McCallum, Burrows = 2
CM: Arblaster, Peck, T Davies, Riedewald*, Soumare, Matos = 6
RW: Ogbene, Chong, Ukaki = 3
CAM: O'Hare, Marsh = 2
LW: Hamer, Brooks, Nwachukwu, Barry = 4
ST: Campbell, Ings, Bamford*, Cannon, Oné = 5

Unless I've counted it wrong, that's 35 players, obviously not all of them will be expected to be involved but it just shows how bloated the squad is, and before we even think about signing anyone, those numbers need to be reduced.

Just my opinion and while I hope all of this happens, I don't think some of these deals will happen.

Loans terminated: Godfrey, Bindon, Barry, Ogbene - 4
Sell/pay off: Curtis, Shackleton - 2
Loan out: Faxon, Oné, Marsh, Matos, Cannon, Ukaki, Zätterström, Polendakov, Nwachukwu - 9

15 departures (both permanent and loan) in total, which would reduce the squad from 35 players to 20 players.

Keep: Cooper, A Davies, Seriki, Tanganga, Mee, McGuinness, McCallum, Burrows, Arblaster, Peck, T Davies, Riedewald, Soumare, Chong, O'Hare, Hamer, Brooks, Campbell, Ings, Bamford = 20

Inclusion of Bamford and Riedewald is assuming we retain them in January.

That would give us 4 loan spots to use, and you could make the argument that we'd only need around 5/6 players in which would give us a squad of 25/26.

GK x 1, RB x 1, CB x 1, RW x 2 and potentially 1 CM depending on fitness of Arblaster and T Davies.

Agree with most of that mate, with the exception that I we absolutely need another striker, and one with real pace. That would give us Campbell, Ings, Bamford and the new guy to rotate, which isn't too shabby. I would also try to get 2 CBs, because there is only really Tanganga who fills me with any confidence at the moment, and he is prone to the odd bombscare as well.

 

[loyalblade95]

Not sure why we'd need to bring in 2 right wingers. The main thing Wilder needs in January is a target man striker, even if Bamford does well, that's not him, and him Ings and Campbell aren't enough up front if you're loaning out Cannon, Marsh and One.

Chong having no real position to call his own and never being fit is a problem as you can't really plan anything around him either being available, or being much use if he is.

Good point, even though we've played 2 up top in last few games, I've based it off of the 4-2-3-1 that we've mostly used this season under Wilder.

Wasn't sure exactly what position to put Chong, given we haven't seen much of him but as he can play RW, LW and CAM I put him at RW as him and Brooks (my backup for Hamer at LW) would be our only RW's if we sent Ogbene back.

If we went back to 1 striker up top, do we need 4 strikers for that 1 position?

If we stuck with the 2 up top, we could swap 1 RW target for another ST, even if we keep Bamford who apparently can play as a sole ST but would need wingers alongside him.

Oné and Marsh definitely need loans, preferably into L1, especially Marsh who's getting to that age where he needs to break into the team properly (like Blaster, Peck, Brooks and Seriki).

If Bamford performs well and gets a longer contract, I can't see Cannon getting into the squad so a loan might suit him as well, even if it's just to try and increase his value incase we decide to move him on in the summer.

Similar to how RND is increasing his value while on loan at QPR.

 

[loyalblade95]

Agree with most of that mate, with the exception that I we absolutely need another striker, and one with real pace. That would give us Campbell, Ings, Bamford and the new guy to rotate, which isn't too shabby. I would also try to get 2 CBs, because there is only really Tanganga who fills me with any confidence at the moment, and he is prone to the odd bombscare as well.

Fair enough, I've based it off of 4-2-3-1 rather than 4-4-2, so I thought that having 3 strikers for 1 position would be enough, and thus focus on getting wingers in, but if we persisted with 4-4-2 i would swap 1 of the 2 RW targets for another ST, most likely a good PL loan.

As for CB's, for me McGuinness is backup to Ben Mee (who's a lot fitter than I expected him to be) but I'd like us to get someone like Joe Worrall (loan) or Hellik (permanent) to partner Tanganga.

RCB: Tanganga - McGuinness backup
LCB: Worrall/Hellik - Mee backup

If I was being greedy, I'd sign both Worrall (loan) and Hellik (permanent) as 2 CB targets, be even better if we could get Worrall permanent rather than a loan.

If we can't get both, maybe see if we can find an older CB who wouldn't mind being 5th choice for us and making the occasional sub appearance.

 

[Pintor75]

One, Marsh & Faxon need to think of moving on permanently for their careers as they're not going to figure in our future plans, likewise Shackleton, Curtis, Bindon and Barry aren't good enough at this level. Godfrey is too expensive to be here for wht he's doing, Reidewald and Matos have produced nothing so far imo, Nwachukwu?, never seen him. Assuming we have to keep A Daviies and Ogbene, at least until someone better is signed, which shouldn't be a difficult job that trims the squad down

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Sell pretty much everybody we can and bring in experienced championship players and replace the shitty loanees

 

[s20Blade]

Anybody worth a few quid get rid and prepare well for the free transfers and cheap loans on a standard championship revenue.

 

[bladesince64]

One` and Marsh are the real deal and need loaning out to progress their careers.

Would be a shame to see a Brighton or a Brentford cash in on them when we could benefit from them either as players or revenue earners in the future

 

[MKY]

I have a cunning plan my Lord…..

 

[54yrblade]

Might we get a new fitness coach too?

 

[Upton_Blade]

Might we get a new fitness coach too?

This is the bit I don't get. Under Wilder Mk1 we were always one of the fittest teams going and regularly out ran pretty much anyone we came up against.

This was with Prestridge in charge of that side of things.

What's changed?

 

[54yrblade]

Not sure but it was an issue all last season and this

 

[loyalblade95]

This is the bit I don't get. Under Wilder Mk1 we were always one of the fittest teams going and regularly out ran pretty much anyone we came up against.

This was with Prestridge in charge of that side of things.

What's changed?

It can come down to how players look after themselves outside of training and match days etc.

Pointed it out in one of my earlier replies in this thread, that Ben Mee is a lot fitter than I expected him to be when he signed (after no preseason) and I'd wager it's because he looks after himself off the pitch (diet, fitness etc).

Remember what Mousset was like, for all the positive attributes he had as a player, his off field issues (especially his diet) really hampered his time with us, which is why Hecky got rid of him as soon as he could.

Didzy's fitness improved massively when he signed for us (as he didn't have to travel so far for training/games which was the issue) and he's kept his fitness up at Derby, Notts County and Barnsley ever since.

 

[Upton_Blade]

It can come down to how players look after themselves outside of training and match days etc.

Pointed it out in one of my earlier replies in this thread, that Ben Mee is a lot fitter than I expected him to be when he signed (after no preseason) and I'd wager it's because he looks after himself off the pitch (diet, fitness etc).

Remember what Mousset was like, for all the positive attributes he had as a player, his off field issues (especially his diet) really hampered his time with us, which is why Hecky got rid of him as soon as he could.

Didzy's fitness improved massively when he signed for us (as he didn't have to travel so far for training/games which was the issue) and he's kept his fitness up at Derby, Notts County and Barnsley ever since.

I completely get that and I'm in no way trying to dispute what you're saying at all but surely how players look after themselves outside of work so to speak is down to the management and the culture that they set is it not? They have all the fitness stats on tap so will know if anyone isn't pulling their weight on the fitness front and can deal with it accordingly.

That's why I honestly don't understand the difference in fitness levels from this lot, and last years lot, compared to the glory years of 2016-2019.

 

[Champagneblade]

Thoughtful OP.

I’d imagine that sort of shifting of players would take a few windows.

Can’t say I disagree with the sentiment.

The summer was a clusterfuck really, right up there with the Clough final pre-season where he created a bloated squad of injury prone players and ended up with no centre back.