Wilder knows exactly what we need - he knew last summer.

[Houston_Blade]

The but, and this is a dreadfully negative in some ways, is that we don't need to sign anyone. The JTW is notoriously overpriced and full of has-beens, never-weres, and other unwanted poor performers.

I agree that we don’t need to, however the same can be said about all windows. We’ve signed has beens and made them good again and it might work again.

What is for sure that unless it’s for lower league players of a lesser value, we won’t be offering over the odds for players and therefore will be shopping in the ‘has beens’ and ‘needs a fresh start’ section.

 

[sufcboy95]

Knowing what we need and being able to get it are two totally different things

 

[Sean Thornton]

Knowing what we need and being able to get it are two totally different things

Naw. It's easy from an armchairs. Don't start with this real life bollocks.....

 

[BushBlade]

I agree that we don’t need to, however the same can be said about all windows. We’ve signed has beens and made them good again and it might work again.

What is for sure that unless it’s for lower league players of a lesser value, we won’t be offering over the odds for players and therefore will be shopping in the ‘has beens’ and ‘needs a fresh start’ section.

No, the JTW is different from the summer transfer window. You don't always get value for money. Sign the wrong player and you're paying his wages for three years to sit on the bench or train with the kids. If we can't get Wilder's first choices then we're better off waiting until the summer and trying again rather than just get bodies in.

 

[TTMeysh]

Can't really play a defensive midfielder and a No.10. Could play different formations home and away. Don't see why though.

I'd assumed that we would more frequently play an away formation like the one we adopted at the Sty, Leon or Donaldson upfront with Duffy or Brooks in the hole. Basham did well that day in a classic defensive mid role, albeit one played higher up the pitch than usual. That would still be an option with the current squad of course except I feel when Basham isn't on the right side of the back three we miss him.

 

[Sithblade]

 

[Lawrence]

Brooks would be a great signing... if only we had the money!

 

[Houston_Blade]

No, the JTW is different from the summer transfer window. You don't always get value for money. Sign the wrong player and you're paying his wages for three years to sit on the bench or train with the kids. If we can't get Wilder's first choices then we're better off waiting until the summer and trying again rather than just get bodies in.

Wilder wouldn’t sign players for over the odds prices so our target market is people like Leonard with short contracts remaining, people he’s willing to take a chance on or loan signings. I agree we shouldn’t sign for the sake but as long as we have a strategy and follow it we won’t fall foul.

 

[pommpey]

WUEDP?

He 'just knows', okay?

Just like he 'knows' what the transfer budget is.

pommpey

 

[robbiez666]

I think our biggest priority, once again, is holding on to the first team. I can't for the life of me understand why the Summer wasn't filled with speculation about Fleck and JO'C and I'm amazed I still haven't seen much.

Duffy, much as I love him, tired last season and had to be regularly subbed off after 60mins and with Carruthers repeatedly failing to take his chances and the likelihood of a Brooks exit, that's the one position at the moment we really can't handle without changing the system.

The but, and this is a dreadfully negative in some ways, is that we don't need to sign anyone. The JTW is notoriously overpriced and full of has-beens, never-weres, and other unwanted poor performers. It's unthinkable that our current squad won't finish far ahead of our pre-season ambitions and we have the luxury of the first season in years in which we aren't thinking "get out of this division at any cost" - a desperation that has only ever gone against us in the transfer market. I really don't want to see us waste money and ruin the balance of the squad we've been building.

We need to sign the right players not the right now players. The type and caliber we need may not be easily available this window and, if they're not, I'd rather see us shore up and do better business in the Summer and be a real threat next season.

The but, as you so eloquently put it, is that we do need to sign players. Just maybe not permanently.

As you've illustrated, Duffy needs cover. It's ok Samir being shit for 10/20 minutes but Duffy gets injured and then what?

We'll probably be comfortable if we signed no one, but then you have an issue about retaining your best players.

If we signed no one, and had a bad second half of the season and finished say 19th, would Fleck of JoC want to stay if an offer from a money bags championship team came in? Probably not. It would also signal to the team that there's no money and that next season we won't be likely to mount a promotion push.

The trick, as I see it, is to sign players if they're available at a decent price. Target those whose contracts are set to expire and the loan market.

My problem with us saying we're only bringing in one permanent signing is that, if it is indeed the case and Chris isn't playing games, then we could miss out on someone we want to sign who is available at a fair price.

 

[BushBlade]

The but, as you so eloquently put it, is that we do need to sign players. Just maybe not permanently.

As you've illustrated, Duffy needs cover. It's ok Samir being shit for 10/20 minutes but Duffy gets injured and then what?

We'll probably be comfortable if we signed no one, but then you have an issue about retaining your best players.

If we signed no one, and had a bad second half of the season and finished say 19th, would Fleck of JoC want to stay if an offer from a money bags championship team came in? Probably not. It would also signal to the team that there's no money and that next season we won't be likely to mount a promotion push.

The trick, as I see it, is to sign players if they're available at a decent price. Target those whose contracts are set to expire and the loan market.

My problem with us saying we're only bringing in one permanent signing is that, if it is indeed the case and Chris isn't playing games, then we could miss out on someone we want to sign who is available at a fair price.

Do you seriously think there's a player out there with his contract expiring and Wilder doesn't know about it?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Agree but I much prefer the two forwards and the 'No.10', bit indulgent though I must admit.

 

[robbiez666]

Do you seriously think there's a player out there with his contract expiring and Wilder doesn't know about it?

Yes, in Europe

But, seriously, my point was that we should be in a position to sign players if the manager wants them and they're good value. January is a bad time to sign players but I'm sure we signed Clive Mendonca for £3.5k and a bag of nuts one year. No point waiting until summer as they may be gone. Look at players in teams which are underperforming and dangle the bait.*

*I realise our bait literally might be a maggot.

 

[blade too long]

heard a whisper Coles coming in and Billys going out

dont shoot the messenger , but its a fairly reliable mole who fed me it

sceptical about Billy going but football is full of surprises

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

heard a whisper Coles coming in and Billys going out

''What was that?......''

and Todd's (The Dirty Beat) already gone.

 

[blade too long]

and Todd's (The Dirty Beat) already gone.

dirty beat , is that grime

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

[QUOTE="LYDON]

and Todd's (The Dirty Beat) already gone.

dirty beat , is that grime[/QUOTE]

Think we should take a Time Out on this one...

 

[blade too long]

having a bit of a xmas gift my son brought over for xmas

 

[Sean Thornton]

having a bit of a xmas gift my son brought over for xmas

View attachment 35004

You know it's to be eaten don't you?

 

[PokerBlade]

The but, as you so eloquently put it, is that we do need to sign players. Just maybe not permanently.

As you've illustrated, Duffy needs cover. It's ok Samir being shit for 10/20 minutes but Duffy gets injured and then what?

We'll probably be comfortable if we signed no one, but then you have an issue about retaining your best players.

If we signed no one, and had a bad second half of the season and finished say 19th, would Fleck of JoC want to stay if an offer from a money bags championship team came in? Probably not. It would also signal to the team that there's no money and that next season we won't be likely to mount a promotion push.

The trick, as I see it, is to sign players if they're available at a decent price. Target those whose contracts are set to expire and the loan market.

My problem with us saying we're only bringing in one permanent signing is that, if it is indeed the case and Chris isn't playing games, then we could miss out on someone we want to sign who is available at a fair price.

Well, to be frank, if we don't sign a replacement and Duffy gets injured then we kiss goodbye to the play-off dream.

There are different kinds of needs. You always want to improve, but it's not the same kind of need as if we were in that bottom half dozen where we'd be thinking if we didn't get some quality in quick we'd be in serious danger of going down.

I guess my point is that the first half to the season has gone so well that however we finish this season we're going to being able to say we've made clear steps forwards. Every sign at the club since Wilder took forward has been that of real progress and while we shouldn't sit back and say job done, we shouldn't try too hard to force things while we're moving in the right direction.

If there's a player that Wilder wants and the price is reasonable then clearly we should go for it but, if there's not, and if we don't sign anyone because of that, then it won't be a lack of ambition or a step backwards or anything like that. This time it might just be the sensible thing to do.