Do we think NJ will have plans to play either of the 2 new lads on Saturday ? I suspect an unchanged side but both to come on after 70 mins
Reckon they're both in with a chance of starting, keeping Gillesphey in the 11 after his howler which costed us 2 points and being in the play off spots would be a mistake for me and I think Berry needs a rest.
Not sure it would be wise for squad harmony to bring in two new recruits, and young ones at that, for two seasoned pros who’ve got us to joint 6th. He’ll stick to the same 11 with AG and TM on the bench, IMO.
The new boys are 23 and 26, they aren't THAT young by pro football standards (compared to someone like Dixon) and have moved clubs before. I wouldn't be surprised if both went straight into the squad and maybe even the first 11 honestly.
Small is quality but I worry how he would cope on a wet Tuesday night in Madrid…
I know I said Thierry Small had the highest ceiling of all our players six months ago when he was in and out the side but is he being transferred to Atlético or Real Madrid 😲
I can’t remember anyone saying we were going for top 2 this season , in fact the target was to see an improvement on last season and I think we already hit that ? That’s why we were told when Jones took over he was the manager to oversee the 4 year plan ,,,,, in that time they wanted to build a squad not only to get promotion but to stay in the championship comfortably, and we are not there yet .. it would be a disaster to go up and come straight back down.
We had two windows and most likey need another one to finish getting a squad together , we still have players like Aneke that need to be moved on before we can seriously start building that squad .
Said many times you’re not going to undo 10/15 years of assist stripping and poor management in 12 months , as well as building a structure to work from.
You’re forgetting the fact that you consistently praised every one of those owners that we’ve had in that 10/15 year period.
You were even saying on the other forum that supporters should start chanting for Nimer, Farnell & Southall to show appreciation to them for saving the club.
Only RD who had a great idea that would have worked if it had not been for EFL not having the balls to implement their own rules
So why are there hundreds of comments of you backing Nimer, Southall, TS & Farnell then?
It is appreciated that we didn't sell any players in the January window, but a bit like not buying enough quality to get us promoted, selling any of our better players in this window would have been the death knell for not getting promoted, so thanks Nathan for mentioning we didn't sell anybody, but when the club is looking to getting promoted, it would be suicide to have sold any of our better players.
I'm not going to thank the owners for trying to protect their investment, because however many players they sell, they would need to replace them and for every year we are in League 1, it's another £8m-£10m down the pan.
So the commercial realism is, they can't afford to sell players right now because they definitely would be saying goodbye to our (very slim) play off chances immediately.
Indeed. That NJ interview sums it up in a nutshell and backs up why the vast majority were disappointed that we didn't sign a pacey wide man. Us and NJ included. It's done now however and we have still improved the first 11. I think we will start the normal side Saturday and introduce Gilbert on the hour mark. Mcintyre will be on the bench for REG and Gilbert for Anderson or Kanu. Do we start Leaburn or Godden is probably the main question. I'd probably go with Godden again. And my take is also that Ramsey is the most likely of our current squad to play in the Prem.
Out of interest, if you ignore Reading were there any of the top 13 L1 teams who come out of the window weaker than they went into it?
There were a couple of loan recalls like Louie Barry, but I don’t remember seeing any sales of key players moving up the food chain.
Was there?
Doesn't appear so.
Richard Kone was the striker who I thought would move on because the prolific scorer in the Essex league have taken to League 1 like a duck to water with 16 goals in 24/25 so far. Thankfully Kone didn't start at the Valley for some bizarre reason by Bloomfield because when he came on as Sub we could see his talent with a fine goal.
Wycombe gave him a longer contract and will receive a bigger offer than Luton and their new manager Bloomfield offered, come the Summer where he will definitely leave if Wycombe miss out on Promotion and could well move on if a Southampton are interested when they rejoin the Championship. 21 year old Kone replacing 38 year old Vardy could be a possibility if Leicester drop.
Admits we wanted a wide man, other than not much new
Do find it a bit odd that we weren't able to sign a wide player when we've had the whole window and knew we needed one from the start.
If only the target we wanted, whoever that was, could be persuaded to join, would have been good as you say, but there is always a flip side to any negotiations, and if the guy didn't want to come here, we don't want him, we will have to push on with what we have, and I feel confident we will do just that...👍
I assume there was a Target A then Owen Dale didn't work out so Bennette was an " oh he's available last minute" and we just didn't get the paperwork done.
I assume there was a Target A then Owen Dale didn't work out so Bennette was an " oh he's available last minute" and we just didn't get the paperwork done.
I’d throw Tovide in there potentially too. Target A, Dale, Tovide and then Bennette was so last minute because Tovide fell through
Anybody thinking we have 6 championship level starters are crazy. Ramsey and jones maybe. Coventry, TC, Edward’s as reserves, maybe. Leaburn is being dominated by shrewsbury center halves. Maybe one day but not currently
Bold prediction: I think Josh Edwards is a Premier League footballer in the next 2-3 years.
Wouldn't be surprised. He has the size, power and pace and seems a determined young man keen to improve. So I agree, it's a bold prediction but could happen.
I assume there was a Target A then Owen Dale didn't work out so Bennette was an " oh he's available last minute" and we just didn't get the paperwork done.
I’d throw Tovide in there potentially too. Target A, Dale, Tovide and then Bennette was so last minute because Tovide fell through
Oh yes of course. Hopefully that's one we go back to in the summer because he's got the attributes to potentially replace Chuks.
Out of interest, if you ignore Reading were there any of the top 13 L1 teams who come out of the window weaker than they went into it?
There were a couple of loan recalls like Louie Barry, but I don’t remember seeing any sales of key players moving up the food chain.
Was there?
Doesn't appear so.
Richard Kone was the striker who I thought would move on because the prolific scorer in the Essex league have taken to League 1 like a duck to water with 16 goals in 24/25 so far. Thankfully Kone didn't start at the Valley for some bizarre reason by Bloomfield because when he came on as Sub we could see his talent with a fine goal.
Wycombe gave him a longer contract and will receive a bigger offer than Luton and their new manager Bloomfield offered, come the Summer where he will definitely leave if Wycombe miss out on Promotion and could well move on if a Southampton are interested when they rejoin the Championship. 21 year old Kone replacing 38 year old Vardy could be a possibility if Leicester drop.
Do we think NJ will have plans to play either of the 2 new lads on Saturday ? I suspect an unchanged side but both to come on after 70 mins
Reckon they're both in with a chance of starting, keeping Gillesphey in the 11 after his howler which costed us 2 points and being in the play off spots would be a mistake for me and I think Berry needs a rest.
Not sure it would be wise for squad harmony to bring in two new recruits, and young ones at that, for two seasoned pros who’ve got us to joint 6th. He’ll stick to the same 11 with AG and TM on the bench, IMO.
Personally think MG wouldn't be surprised to be dropped after his mistake which meant we're 7th instead of 6th, the same happened to Mitchell. Competition is a good thing imo, which I'm sure the squad would agree with. With Berry I suppose he's had a week to rest but reckon he'll be subbed for Gilbert in the second half at least.
Hopefully with that logic we see Mannion in goal on Saturday too, given that idiots attempt to save their first goal.
Admits we wanted a wide man, other than not much new
Do find it a bit odd that we weren't able to sign a wide player when we've had the whole window and knew we needed one from the start.
Exactly this !
yea great we have kept players but lack of ambition as per usual
other clubs go out after planning and pay the money and wages and get who they want as early as possible its the same as with all other ownerships in the past that they dont want to spend any money
scraping bottom of the barrell while 4/5 clubs at least spend and get their number 1 targets
so boring and predictable
We are so close and pushing for playoffs why not spend and give the manager the tools to get us over the line if we fall short they will be under massive pressure
To be fair to NJ and the SMT, they did what they said they'd do. "One, maybe two signings. But also happy to not do any business." At least they didn't whack out the supa dupa deal phone while under a transfer embargo.
To be fair to NJ and the SMT, they did what they said they'd do. "One, maybe two signings. But also happy to not do any business." At least they didn't whack out the supa dupa deal phone while under a transfer embargo.
They also said that before the transfer window opened, and we were a way off the play-offs. So there has been no reaction or change in strategy after giving ourselves a chance.
We are probably the only team around the play-offs not to strengthen in the window. If anything, there is probably greater exposure to injuries and a lack of squad depth.
Considering the strength of the league this year and it is the first time in years that we have been around the play-offs, it is hard not to be disappointed by the lack of proactive reaction to results and fear this season will end in failure.
To be fair to NJ and the SMT, they did what they said they'd do. "One, maybe two signings. But also happy to not do any business." At least they didn't whack out the supa dupa deal phone while under a transfer embargo.
They also said that before the transfer window opened, and we were a way off the play-offs. So there has been no reaction or change in strategy after giving ourselves a chance.
This was said at the online fan's meeting on 23rd Jan.
Sonny Bradley has signed for Wycombe. Still doesn’t rule out a move for Jones as Swansea are sniffing around their other centre back
Instead of us worrying about losing Jones we should be disappointed that Charlton have not signed Bradley as his partner. Every window we need to come out stronger but it would appear all we’re interested in is having a squad that’s adequate and hope it works out. This window should be about bringing in quality not being forced to replace it. We’re going nowhere fast.
We play a back 3. Jones plays in the middle of it, Bradley would also have to play in the middle of it. Not what we need for the first eleven
I know people lose their heads in January, but we’re going nowhere because we didn’t sign a 33 year old centre back (that has barely played for 6 months) on loan and it’s January the 7th could be a new record
If we’d signed him you’d get people saying oh another Luton reject and he’s not fit because he’s hardly played. But because we didn’t sign him we’re going nowhere
I don't think there was that feeling in the summer. In fact, I think most people were positive about the ex-Luton players. It is only because most of them have been disappointingly poor that you would get that response. Also, I think you are missing SHG point in what I thought was a reasoned post/opinion, it isn't specifically Bradley, more the fact we are mostly talking about losing our best players rather than looking to strengthen.
There has definitely been an exercise in expectation management for this window from within the club. Talk of a bloated squad and player happiness reads as budget to me. There has been nothing said about making a push for the play-offs or addressing the issues with the balance of the squad, just the size.
Actions speak louder than words and, by the end of January, we will understand the true ambitions of our SMT and owners. Maybe then it will be OK to "lose our heads".
That’s a massive assumption that we aren’t looking to strengthen based on fan sentiment rather than anything concrete.
The expectation management might be as much about keeping a lid on potential transfer fees paid as it is managing the fanbase.
I agree, let’s see wait until the end of January to see.
It isn't an assumption, it is what NJ said, "one, maybe two" additions and reducing the size of the squad. It could all be smoke and mirrors to reduce fees, but I suspect selling clubs aren't going to be looking at our pre/post match press conferences and going Charlton don't have much to spend.
To be fair to NJ and the SMT, they did what they said they'd do. "One, maybe two signings. But also happy to not do any business." At least they didn't whack out the supa dupa deal phone while under a transfer embargo.
They also said that before the transfer window opened, and we were a way off the play-offs. So there has been no reaction or change in strategy after giving ourselves a chance.
This was said at the online fan's meeting on 23rd Jan.
The above conversation was Jan 7th. So they were talking about 1 or 2 additions at the very start of the window and before, if memory serves correct.
Comments
I know I said Thierry Small had the highest ceiling of all our players six months ago when he was in and out the side but is he being transferred to Atlético or Real Madrid 😲
At least remember your wind-ups!
I'm not going to thank the owners for trying to protect their investment, because however many players they sell, they would need to replace them and for every year we are in League 1, it's another £8m-£10m down the pan.
So the commercial realism is, they can't afford to sell players right now because they definitely would be saying goodbye to our (very slim) play off chances immediately.
Doesn't appear so.
Richard Kone was the striker who I thought would move on because the prolific scorer in the Essex league have taken to League 1 like a duck to water with 16 goals in 24/25 so far.
Thankfully Kone didn't start at the Valley for some bizarre reason by Bloomfield because when he came on as Sub we could see his talent with a fine goal.
Wycombe gave him a longer contract and will receive a bigger offer than Luton and their new manager Bloomfield offered, come the Summer where he will definitely leave if Wycombe miss out on Promotion and could well move on if a Southampton are interested when they rejoin the Championship.
21 year old Kone replacing 38 year old Vardy could be a possibility if Leicester drop.
Oh yes of course. Hopefully that's one we go back to in the summer because he's got the attributes to potentially replace Chuks.
yea great we have kept players but lack of ambition as per usual
other clubs go out after planning and pay the money and wages and get who they want as early as possible its the same as with all other ownerships in the past that they dont want to spend any money
scraping bottom of the barrell while 4/5 clubs at least spend and get their number 1 targets
so boring and predictable
We are so close and pushing for playoffs why not spend and give the manager the tools to get us over the line if we fall short they will be under massive pressure
We are probably the only team around the play-offs not to strengthen in the window. If anything, there is probably greater exposure to injuries and a lack of squad depth.
Considering the strength of the league this year and it is the first time in years that we have been around the play-offs, it is hard not to be disappointed by the lack of proactive reaction to results and fear this season will end in failure.