I was expecting Ahadme to end up out on loan (probably back at Cambridge in league 2) with us paying the bulk of his wages.
If Bolton take him off our hands paying the majority / all of his wages we’ve played a blinder.
You're kidding, he's a fantastic target man & a 20 goal a season striker but Jones didn't play to his strengths. If Bolton sign him they will have a bargain on their hands.
No seriously Bolton, you should really go all out to sign Gassan, he's the kind of striker who could fire you to promotion.
Is this the most we’ve ever spent in a transfer window? Or do the PL days beat it
We had that window under Dowie where we spent a lot... On shit
Couple of legends at bargain prices what you talking about
Jesus . Two of the worst players ever to put the shirt on . Dowie should have been locked up !
I will never understand giving Dowie more money in one summer than Curbs had had combined pretty much.
If I remember right, at the time Dowie was appointed, there was a new TV deal agreed - with significantly increased payments to Prem League clubs. Justifying our big spending, didn't Richard Murray say something along the lines that it was' vital Charlton stayed in the Prem'?
We all know how that turned out.
I think the new deal came in the season after Dowie’s appointment. The money they gave him was an attempt to ensure we stayed in the Prem for when it kicked in. The rest is history…
On Small, Apter joining and playing RWB in the friendlies (so far) suggests we'll continue with a very attacking left footed RWB.
Knowing how ambitious NJ is, and that he'll be ruthless (the signings prove that), then my guess is Small wasn't seen as worth a £10-15k a week contract when a player like Apter is a better goalscorer (clear from the stats) and what I think will prove to be a more creative passer (not Small's strength at all) and a better crosser (something he was inconsistent with).
Small's combination of pace, strength and tricks looked unstoppable at times, but if you're going to give a WB the freedom to play like a wide forward, then you want them to be a proper goal and creative threat, as that will justify that freedom. I can see Small's end product improving, but he's never going to be natural in and around the box in the way we'll be hoping Apter can be.
I think the aim is for us to be a better, more extreme version of last seasons team - Small can be remembered for playing a big part in finding this formation and style, but I can see what the thinking might be in the type of player NJ wants in that role.
Small is a defender who Jones pushed further forward. You could tell by his (lack of) finishing that he is not an attacking player.
Apter, by all accounts, is a winger (an old style one according to Steve Bruce). I really hope that 1) we don't try to compare the two and 2) we dont try to use Apter in any defensive capacity as that would be a waste of his talent.
Oh for heavens sake - Small had already agreed a deal with PNE before the end of the season because he didn’t know that we were going to be promoted. If he had known he would have stayed Its not really very complicated
Wouldn't be surprising, but couldn't we have offered a bigger wage that only applied had we got promoted?
We've also replaced Small with a natural winger who scores goals, rather than another wing back who enjoys getting forward. That suggests NJ wanted a different type of player in that role.
Just landed (very late) from Dubrovnik. Hoping by the time I awake Knibbs will be in the bag… The fun just keeps on coming at our club atm. Looking forward to seeing them live at Colchester.
I think Small had very likely agreed a deal with Preston well before the season ended. Ok, not signed a PCA but nonetheless. I mean I certainly knew he was almost certainly off to Preston in the spring and I think a lot of our fans did as well.
On Small, Apter joining and playing RWB in the friendlies (so far) suggests we'll continue with a very attacking left footed RWB.
Knowing how ambitious NJ is, and that he'll be ruthless (the signings prove that), then my guess is Small wasn't seen as worth a £10-15k a week contract when a player like Apter is a better goalscorer (clear from the stats) and what I think will prove to be a more creative passer (not Small's strength at all) and a better crosser (something he was inconsistent with).
Small's combination of pace, strength and tricks looked unstoppable at times, but if you're going to give a WB the freedom to play like a wide forward, then you want them to be a proper goal and creative threat, as that will justify that freedom. I can see Small's end product improving, but he's never going to be natural in and around the box in the way we'll be hoping Apter can be.
I think the aim is for us to be a better, more extreme version of last seasons team - Small can be remembered for playing a big part in finding this formation and style, but I can see what the thinking might be in the type of player NJ wants in that role.
A fair analysis. The question is with Small was could he add the attacking end product to his game. I definitely think the assist were there to be extracted as his crossing was inconsistent rather than poor - he has good delivery in his locker. Goals I suspect would always be harder to come by for him, but 5 or 6 a season wouldn’t be at outlandish hope. His pace and power was an outlet and could get us up the pitch and that element of his game will be missed, I suspect, as I don’t think Apter will be able to drive with the ball in quite the same way. NJ’s made his choice and I trust him, but Small was a huge factor in our success last year, so it’s a big role for Apter to fill.
Honestly can’t think of a single reason to be hostile or snide about CM - other than muscle memory from the people who went all in early with the negativity towards him. On reflection he played a very important part in history.
Totally agreed, every club he has been to, he has left them in more positive place. And those clubs gone on to have success. He put down some important stones for us. As I say, love him or hate him. He has played a very important part in turning our club around
I really don't think we should do the CM conversation on the transfer thread, but the simple point is that whoever agreed that Nathan Jones knew more about football, transfers and good players is to thank for where we are. When it was Scott, Rodwell and Methven pulling the strings we were abjectly shit.
We have owners with deep pockets, but perhaps in only removing AS and CM did they feel the money wouldn't get spunked up the wall ......
Honestly can’t think of a single reason to be hostile or snide about CM - other than muscle memory from the people who went all in early with the negativity towards him. On reflection he played a very important part in history.
He’d like people to believe that but ultimately he got sacked after the worst season in clubs history.
Honestly can’t think of a single reason to be hostile or snide about CM - other than muscle memory from the people who went all in early with the negativity towards him. On reflection he played a very important part in history.
Totally agreed, every club he has been to, he has left them in more positive place. And those clubs gone on to have success. He put down some important stones for us. As I say, love him or hate him. He has played a very important part in turning our club around
Methvan and Donald used Sunderland’s own parachute payments to buy the club and then wrote off the loan. How on earth could that be of benefit to the club? Ask Sunderland fans if he left them in a better place. Just think how this summer would’ve gone with CM and Scott still here. NJ wanted him out and he went.
Oh for heavens sake - Small had already agreed a deal with PNE before the end of the season because he didn’t know that we were going to be promoted. If he had known he would have stayed Its not really very complicated
It’s funny when people speak with authority when they are completely incorrect. We had been promoted by the time he was able to sign a pre contract agreement.
So what ? - do you think his agent wasnt working prior to that point ?
Are you drunk? You’ve literally said he had agreed a deal with Preston before we got promoted and that’s why he left.
Yep
So cat fight over you two. Good luck to Thierry, hope it works out, I have a feeling that he needs a fair wind and a manager who is prepared to put an arm around his shoulder to help him mature and fully realise his talent. My worry is if Preston struggle so may he.
I wonder if Small is having a few doubts about his decision to leave us. 🤔
Would be interesting to know the reason he went in the end.
I get the feeling if we’d really wanted to keep him we could have. Guess we’ll never know
It’s been my suspicion all along and I suspect if given the choice he would have wanted to stay. The manager wasn’t mad on him though, the offer reflected that and there was other interest that actually did want him.
Oh for heavens sake - Small had already agreed a deal with PNE before the end of the season because he didn’t know that we were going to be promoted. If he had known he would have stayed Its not really very complicated
It’s funny when people speak with authority when they are completely incorrect. We had been promoted by the time he was able to sign a pre contract agreement.
So what ? - do you think his agent wasnt working prior to that point ?
Oh for heavens sake - Small had already agreed a deal with PNE before the end of the season because he didn’t know that we were going to be promoted. If he had known he would have stayed Its not really very complicated
It’s funny when people speak with authority when they are completely incorrect. We had been promoted by the time he was able to sign a pre contract agreement.
So what ? - do you think his agent wasnt working prior to that point ?
Oh and by the way a player can sign a pre contract agreement 6 months before the expiry of their existing contract
It’s only a month within the same country, 6 if they move abroad.
But I agree he could have made his mind up months before, even if he couldn’t sign anything officially until June.
I have no inside info on this but suspect he'd already agreed or decided on the move before Wembley.
Oh for heavens sake - Small had already agreed a deal with PNE before the end of the season because he didn’t know that we were going to be promoted. If he had known he would have stayed Its not really very complicated
It’s funny when people speak with authority when they are completely incorrect. We had been promoted by the time he was able to sign a pre contract agreement.
So what ? - do you think his agent wasnt working prior to that point ?
Oh for heavens sake - Small had already agreed a deal with PNE before the end of the season because he didn’t know that we were going to be promoted. If he had known he would have stayed Its not really very complicated
It’s funny when people speak with authority when they are completely incorrect. We had been promoted by the time he was able to sign a pre contract agreement.
So what ? - do you think his agent wasnt working prior to that point ?
Oh and by the way a player can sign a pre contract agreement 6 months before the expiry of their existing contract
It’s only a month within the same country, 6 if they move abroad.
But I agree he could have made his mind up months before, even if he couldn’t sign anything officially until June.
I have no inside info on this but suspect he'd already agreed or decided on the move before Wembley.
And he did have an offer made in summer 2024 which was improved in 2025, Preston probably offered a good deal more and he's gone back North. I think his performance in the cup game convinced Preston that he was the one they wanted, so boxes ticked for all parties.
You lot must be exhausted after endlessly posting all day long. I’m making a cup of tea, anyone fancy one?
Not if you're putting the milk in the pot!
We once had an office cleaner whose duties included making mid-morning coffee. Eventually we found out that she was making it by boiling milk in the electric kettle. The state of that heating element!
Used to work with a bloke who boiled his eggs in the Kettle !
Comments
No seriously Bolton, you should really go all out to sign Gassan, he's the kind of striker who could fire you to promotion.
Apter, by all accounts, is a winger (an old style one according to Steve Bruce). I really hope that 1) we don't try to compare the two and 2) we dont try to use Apter in any defensive capacity as that would be a waste of his talent.
We have owners with deep pockets, but perhaps in only removing AS and CM did they feel the money wouldn't get spunked up the wall ......
Supporters of other clubs when the next player signs.